This is a new segment I decided to insert before my previous chapter four. My apologies for those who have read through before, for the false hope of an update in furthering of the storyline. For those of you newcomers, enjoy as you go. Please review/critique as you see fit. Cheers!
"Pssst."
Sigrid rolled away from the noise and tried to fall back into the fitful sleep she'd been having.
"Psst." There was only a slight pause, most likely for breath, before the noise sounded again. "Psst."
Sigrid didn't bother to open her eyes or roll over. She knew the annoying sound belonged to her sister. "What is is Tilda?" She felt her sister roll around on the bed behind her and very soon felt her sister's breath fanning across her own cheeks. She cracked open one eye to see that Tilda had sat up and was now leaning over her, her eyes alight with delighted mischief.
"I think we should do something."
Sigrid closed her eyes again, "You always think we should do something. Now can we do that something tomorrow?" She shifted her body forward, trying to roll away from Tilda without having to roll over the bed in order to do so.
Tilda was having none of that, however, and surprised Sigrid when she laid hold of Sigrid's shoulder and rolled her back onto her back. Sigrid opened both eyes then and blinked up at her sister in confusion. Her sister now looked determined and Sigrid knew well enough that whenever Tilda was determined something drastic was bound to happen.
"What is it that you're on about, Tilda?" Sigrid gave up her attempt to sleep and instead joined her sister in sitting up on their bed.
"I think she's perfect."
"Who?
"Katun."
Sigrid frowned, "Perfect for what, may I ask?"
"For Da of course!" Tilda smiled in the face of Sigrid's continued confusion. "Don't you see? She's practically been gift wrapped for us!"
"No," Sigrid shook her head, "I don't see how her accidental appearance has anything to do with da or gifts." Sigrid frowned. "Why would she be perfect for da?"
Tilda sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, "You're older than me and you can't see how lonely he is?" Sigrid continued to frown. She still wasn't quite following Tilda's line of logic. "He only has us, Sigrid, you, me, and Bain. He lost mum years ago and there's been no one since then. And he only barely has friends with the townsmen. Don't you see that he needs a friend?"
"So you think she's perfect for him, as his friend?"
"Maybe more," Tilda smiled, "I like her Sigrid. I know we haven't known her for long, and even she doesn't know herself well yet either, but I think it could work. Don't you?"
Sigrid closed her eyes momentarily. It was true, what Tilda said, about their father not sharing any sort of friendship with people of the town. There was mutual respect or the like but nothing akin to friendship. And it was equally true that in the years since her mother's death she'd never seen her father so much as look at another woman with any sort of romantic interest. Sigrid wasn't selfish enough to think that her father should remain a widow for the remainder of his days. In fact, that thought pained Sigrid the more she contemplated it. He wished for each of them to marry well and have their own families and if that happened then what would be left for him? An empty house in which they would all occasionally visit? She shook her head at the thought and banished it. No, Tilda was right. The timing of Katun's arrival and the very nature of Katun herself was too well-matched to overlook. She'd seen the way her father took to Katun. It was a natural inclination towards her that Sigrid had never seen her father have towards anyone aside from herself or her siblings. Tilda, though her approach was immature and hasty, was onto something for certain.
"Well?" Sigrid looked back at her younger sister's expectant face. "Are you going to help me make it happen or what?"
Sigrid smiled, "Tilda, tomorrow we shall do something."
Tilda hid her face in her pillow to muffle her own squeal of delight, earning a chuckle from Sigrid. Both girls curled close to one another for warmth, and comfort, and soon drifted to sleep with dreams of just how it was they were going to lighten the dark world their father had come to live in with the presence of none other than Katun.