1 January 1622

Happy New Years'! Simonn and I leave tomorrow, but today we just sat at home with tea while a snowstorm blew around us. We talked about things-light things like books we read or which teas we like, and heavier things like his nightmares and my worries.

I'm excited to see my love again. I'm also excited to see Dolora-she means so much to me. It'll be so nice just to see my family again-just to touch them. I know it's not "pure" or what have you, but I like touch. I like hugging Simonn and Dolora and I like doing other things with Sigmun (including just kissing).

I'll see them soon.

2 January 1622

We left today. We're not going to stop in the towns on the way back-we're just going to travel. Since we can take a more direct route, it'll be only eighteen days. We're also going to travel a little slower, because we were both exhausted when we got home last time.

We'll be back with them soon enough.

4 January 1622

We brought a tent this time, and it feels a little safer when I sleep in the tent with Simonn breathing next to me. It's kind of nice just to know there is someone there, and that there is something between me and the rest of the world.

I'm having nightmares, but that might be the snow.

5 January 1622

We have snowshoes of course, but it's still hard to walk through the snow. I don't often wear pants but that's what I've been wearing lately because I can't walk in skirts. December's never as snowy as January but this time the snow is just terrible.

7 January 1622

Last night I was reading with a candle when Simonn sat straight up and said, "Holy-I-Dianna?"

"I'm right here."

"I-I had a dream."

"A future nightmare?"

"No. I don't think so. I just had a bad dream."

I nodded and said, "I know all about bad dreams."

He smiled weakly and I hugged him for a long time, until we both fell asleep again.

8 January 1622

We get closer to Sigmun and Dolora with every step we take, and it gives me hope and strength to keep walking towards them through this snow. My muscles ache and somehow the sadness feels…heavier, I guess. It usually feels like a weight in my mind and right now that weight feels especially heavy.

Maybe it's the cold. Maybe I'm just tired.

10 January 1622

Ten days to home. Technically we're leaving home, but I really believe that wherever my family is becomes my home. So when we see them, we'll all be home again.

The snow's been getting worse. Blizzards frighten me a little-they always have-and I wish I was with Sigmun right now because he's afraid of storms and I want to be able to comfort him. I hope he's alright. I hope Dolora's alright, too, but I know she's not afraid of storms. Sigmun is petrified of them.

I'm alright, in my mind (except my usual melancholy). I just hate being away from my family.

11 January 1622

More travel. We're just walking through empty fields with our packs, not talking much. We must look almost spectral to anyone watching-two lone figures, not stopping or speaking, marching steadily through the fields. It must be an odd sight.

12 January 1622

I only have one pair of pants, and they're getting quite dirty, but I can't travel like this in skirts. I don't like wearing pants much-it's too confining. I like wearing my skirts. (I'm not too fond of my bodice sometimes, but that's not important.) It's not like we can stop to do laundry. That would be so much work-stopping, getting a washboard and basin, starting a fire to melt snow, getting soap…too much.

It's fine. I don't mind much.

14 January 1622

Right now Simonn and I are huddled in our tent, wrapped in all our blankets, because there is a huge blizzard outside and we can't leave. We can't see enough to move-we can't even look for a village to shelter in. I'm…I'm truly afraid. I'm shivering because we can't build a fire, despite all the firewood we've been carrying. But all the preserved food we bought in our village should last us through the storm, until we can get to the next town.

I hope so.

15 January 1622

The blizzard is still blowing. Simonn and I have been confined to our tent for the whole day, and night is beginning to fall (I think). I'm afraid and I'm just glad I'm not alone, because I would not be sane without Simonn here next to me. We're just holding each other, wrapped in blankets for warmth.

Whatever Dolora did to this tent to keep out water is working extremely well. Thank heaven.

16 January 1622

I think the blizzard was a little less intense today. It's hard to tell, but I think the wind blew a bit softer. Simonn and I still couldn't leave the tent. We've been sleeping and eating and mostly not talking, just waiting for the snow to stop.

We talk a little, but we mostly just sit and wait.

17 January 1622

Today we could leave the tent, but it wasn't enough of a letup to travel. We need to get to another town and get food and refuge. Neither of us have been sleeping much. We need a kind preacher to take mercy on us and let us sleep in his church.

We'll be out soon. We each just took turns walking around the tent today, stretching our legs.

18 January 1622

We could walk further today, but we couldn't see any villages nearby. But the storm is slowly passing and I think before long we'll be alright.

19 January 1622

Today we packed up and traveled until we reached a village, where Simonn promptly collapsed on the steps of the church. The minister, luckily, was inside the church and let us in.

"We've been in the woods for five days," I said. Simonn wasn't unconscious, but he was weak. He's skinny as a stick and so I assume he just doesn't have the natural padding I do. "I'm sorry to ask, but we need food, and if we could just stay here for a night or two…"

"Of course," he said. "Let me see what my wife can cook up."

"Thank you so much," I said.

"Would you and your husband like a bed somewhere?"

"Oh, he's not my husband. That's who we're traveling to meet. If there's a bed, he can have it. I'll sleep on a pew."

"We do have one spare bed," he said.

"Hey, Simmie, you alright?"

He looked right at me and said, "Dianna. I will not let you sleep on a pew while I sleep on a nice bed."

"You just collapsed on the church steps-I won't make you sleep on a pew."

"Well…you had a kid."

"Yeah, years ago!"

He rolls his eyes. "Fine, but tomorrow you get the bed."

"Alright."

So we ate with the preacher and his wife, and I'm about to sleep in the church on a pew. I feel safe here. Churches always feel that way to me. I'm not sure where I stand religiously, but I feel safe in churches.

20 January 1622

One more night in this village and then we'll move on. With the deviation we've taken, Simonn and I worked out we'll get to the village they're in on the 29th. We sent a letter ahead, so hopefully Sigmun and Dolora won't worry too much.

21 January 1622

After some good hot meals and a night on a nice bed, I feel so much better and ready to finish our journey. We bought some food in the village for the rest of the trip and even had a chance to wash my pair of pants. We're on the road now, both feeling better. I think we're also more chatty, but maybe that's because we're getting closer.

23 January 1622

More travel, and we're getting so close. We haven't seen or passed through any villages, and I don't mind. I'd rather just get there.

25 January 1622

There was more snow today, but it wasn't really a blizzard. We just pushed through it and slept close to each other, so we could hear each other's breath and share some body heat in the cold weather.

26 January 1622

I actually went hunting today and got a squirrel, which we were able to cook into a sort of stew. It's quite good, actually, and feels very filling. It's nice having a hot meal once in a while, especially in cold weather.

28 January 1622

We'll be back to them tomorrow afternoon, give or take. We're so close.

29 January 1622

When we got to camp today, Sigmun threw his arms around me and before I knew what was happening I was lying in snow with my love's face hiding in my hair, saying, "I was so worried!"

He stood up and immediately tackled Simonn much the same way, except Simonn's much taller then I and was expecting it so he didn't fall over.

"I was so worried about you guys!" he said again, and he hugged both of us close. "Mama said you were fine but with that blizzard…I've never been so relieved to get a letter from you."

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," he said back.

We three just stood there for a long time, until Dolora walked by and said, "Oh my goodness," and hugged us, too.

Sigmun cooked for us and I changed my clothes because Dolora insisted on mending my pants. It felt nice to be back in my skirts. It was so comforting to be home. I truly would like to go out in the woods with Sigmun, because it's been a while and, though I love him, I want him as well. But it's too cold for that, so I'll satisfy myself with kisses and sleeping next to him until it's warmer or we can find a place to stay.

The food was delicious, and I can't wait to go to sleep. I'm so tired.

30 January 1622

I felt so warm last night cuddled up to my love, and it felt so incredibly safe to be back with my whole family together. Dolora and Simonn both fell asleep earlier and so Sigmun and I just kissed for…maybe not hours, but a long time. It felt wonderful.

I didn't do any work today, and Sigmun told Simonn and I he would feel better if we rested for one more day.

31 January 1622

Today we started working again. I took over lessons from Dolora in the church and once again I felt that wonderful feeling of teaching someone the most long lasting skill, the one that leaves its mark: how to read and write. How to tell the world that once, we were here.