Good Morning, Smár Einn!
Thank you to Mel and Jill!
.: Þrír Tigir ok Fjórir :.
My newfound confidence lasts all of three minutes. The moment a large shadow falls over us from behind, my heart seizes in fear. Tove, who is much better at keeping a calm exterior, turns around.
"Tove," a deep voice says. "Who is this that accompanies you?"
I look up at the tall man. He's got fair hair and light eyes, not quite green but not quite brown. Hazel maybe.
"Sten," Tove says, a tight but gracious smile on her face. "How good to see you."
His eyes haven't left me, and I feel them burning through the layers of my clothing, exposing me the longer he stares. I have to fight myself from crossing my arms over my chest.
"This is Bella Egildottír, my sister," Tove says, her tone snapping a little sharper to get his attention.
He blinks and looks at her.
"Your sister?"
Tove nods. "She is the sister of my husband and has come to live with us."
At this, Sten shifts, his posture relaxing slightly. He looks back at me and offers me a smile that is almost charming. "Bella, what a unique name," he says, nodding his head to me. I don't bother to explain it. In fact, I'm feeling so intimidated by him and his presence that I suddenly can't remember a single word in their language.
"We have business to attend to," Tove says, pulling on my arm gently.
Sten nods, blinking and finally looking away from me.
"Yes, of course. Do not let me keep you." He looks back at me. "Bella, it was an honor to meet you."
I lick my lips. "You too." I squeak. His eyes are too intense, and I'm pinned in them like a deer caught in the scope of a rifle.
"Perhaps our paths will cross again," he says, dipping his head once more.
Tove nods before tugging me onwards.
"All right." She sighs. "I will admit, I didn't think this through."
I look at her in surprise. "What does that mean?"
She shakes her head. "Most of the men are good, but I have forgotten about those who…" She pauses, glancing over her shoulder at where I sense Sten is still watching us. "Some men want too much."
Her words send a cold sweat through me.
"Am I safe?"
She nods, looking back at me. "Yes, of course. Sten may try to court you, but he respects Egil too much to do anything inappropriate. You are safe."
Her reassurance isn't doing much for me, and I swallow hard, trying to bury my fear.
Tove leads me through the village, toward the shore. I've not been this close to the sea so far, and when it comes into clear, unobstructed view, I'm swept up in it. It's beautiful, with towering mountains on either side of the inlet, and water so crisp and blue I can feel the chill of it in my lungs from the shore. This world is magnificent and beautiful and raw in a way I didn't know nature could be.
Tove is busy talking with someone about provisions for our trip, but I cannot take my eyes from the landscape.
"What do you think of our fjǫrðr?"
Edvard's voice is like a breath of fresh air after being submerged under water too long. I look up at him to see him standing beside me, gazing out at the landscape.
"Edvard," I breathe, close to tears.
He looks down and offers me a small smile.
"Hello, Smár Einn."
I want to cry. I want to reach out to him, to wrap my arms around him and get lost in his kiss. I want to never be parted from him again.
I can't do any of that, at least not yet, so I suck in a sharp breath that tastes like the sea.
"W-what word did you say?" I ask, my voice shaking slightly.
"Fjǫrðr," he says, motioning to the mountains and the water.
"Fjord," I repeat with my English accent.
He glances at me, and his smile is so slight but fills me with a longing deeper than the waters in front of us.
"How have you been?"
It's only been a few days, but it feels like a lifetime.
"I've been well," I tell him. "Egil and his family are good to me."
He nods, looking relieved. "I am glad to hear it," he confesses.
I take a shaking breath.
"How are things at…" I want to say home, but it's not my home anymore.
He seems to understand though because he nods. "Things are well. You are greatly missed."
His words sink into the darkest, coldest places in my soul and thaw the ice that I've carried in my heart since I left his home. The warmth in me is aching with longing, but it is good to hear his words nonetheless.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, glancing around.
He looks as well toward the woman Tove is speaking to.
"The same as Tove," he says. "I've been coming nearly every day to prepare for the journey."
I glance at Tove, who is giving me a satisfied smirk.
I love her for doing this for me.
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. "Thank the gods for Tove," I whisper. Edvard looks at me and smiles softly.
He opens his mouth, preparing to say something, when a voice calls out his name. We both turn to see Sten striding in our direction. I don't miss Edvard stiffening next to me. "Eðvarð, it is good to see you." They reach out, clasping hands quickly. I get the sense that on Edvard's end, it's out of manners, not happiness to see the large man. "Have you met the lovely Bella Egildottír?"
Edvard looks at me and gives me a small smile that is devoid of his usual warmth. "I've recently had the pleasure," he says. "I was just asking about her brother. I have business with Egil and hoped to see him in the village today."
There is still suspicion in Sten's eyes, but he nods as if he accepts this answer from Edvard.
"Yes, of course. Bella, is Egil around?"
I swallow thickly. "Yes," I say, not sure if it's actually true but hoping it is. "He shall be along shortly."
There is a horrible, tense moment between the three of us, though it is mostly between Edvard and Sten. I have clearly walked into the middle of some history, and there is nothing more that I want than to back out of it quickly.
Before I can make a move, I hear Egil's voice calling to Tove, and I'm moved to almost tears. Egil's appearance breaks up the tension between the men in front of me as he strides over, pulling an arm around my shoulder.
"Bella, there you are. Tove needs help taking fish back to the house."
I nod. "Yes of course." I don't dare look at either Edvard or Sten as I turn tail and run back to Tove. My face is too easy to read, and I know if I looked at either man, my emotions would be on full display.
Tove has a deep frown on her face as she watches her husband deal with Edvard and Sten. "What is it?" I ask her.
"Nothing," she says, her tone tight despite the dismissive air she's trying to put out. "Egil will sort them out."
I want to ask her what she's keeping from me, but then she motions to a basket of dried fish. I pick it up, securing it on my hip as she secures her own basket. "Come, Bella. Let's go home."