It was the night before Oswald's Wedding to Valdis of Denmark.
Eivor walked up the longhouse stairs for the last time, to her room that Oswald had lent her for the past few nights.
It had been a long day for her, and she just wanted to retire to bed and then go to the wedding the following day, now that her work and alliance with Oswald was almost done.
Just when she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard a voice. Along with some music gently being played.
Curious, she got up slowly stepping carefully over the wooden floorboards so as not to make a noise.
Creeping up to the bedroom next to her, she peered in through the small gap through the door
Oswald was sitting by a fireplace, lost in his own world, eyes closed with a Ukulele singing to himself.
Eivor watched on, breath hitched on her throat. It was hard to imagine Oswald as a romantic poet behind closed doors.
Perhaps he's practising for the wedding tomorrow on how to woo Valdis She thought as she listened in
You dropped those letters on me hard
I'm not ready for this part
We're having fun isn't that enough
And labels only mess it up...
Cause now we're laying here
It's late at night
You say you love me girl
I don't know why
It might be too late to apologise
How can I tell you that I love you when I don't?
How can I tell you that I love you?
Eivor's heart stopped for a moment. She frowned. Was Oswald feeling nervous about marrying Valdis? Was he thinking of Chickening out at the wedding tomorrow? Was singing a way to calm himself down?
I shouldn't be listening to this, but for some reason I just want to stay here. His voice brings something about me, some sort of calmness in a strange sort of way.
So she stayed longer, listening in through the door.
Broken hearts are hard to heal
Wish I could tell you what you want to hear
But I can't control the way I feel
How can I tell you that I love you when I don't?
How can I tell you that I love you?
Oswald sighed, opening his eyes - briefly taking a breath and looking around the fireplace in front of him.
Why am I even doing this? I still have to marry her tomorrow, it's not like Valdis can hear me anyway or Eivor. Oh well, Just one more song then I'll go to sleep.
Eivor looked through the door once more now that Oswald had stopped singing.
He looks so upset and torn here. Does he not love Valdis? He looks like he has a war going on on his mind.
She was about to sneak back to her room, when Oswald's voice and the music came back. So she peered in and listened in once more.
The greatest Romance, Lightning strike to my heart
There was no chance of ever falling apart
Cause I've been running from the sun
And I've got nowhere left to hide
Eivor watched on, heart beating rapidly in her chest as Oswald closed his eyes, raising his voice slightly, closing his eyes and singing in a passionate manner.
Every night I close my eyes
And I wish I was still in love
Trying to fight, at war with my mind
It's going to kill me to give you up
Darling, this is going to hurt
Because I loved you first
But Someone will love you better
Last time I hold you
Hate that Love can be a thing you lose
There's nothing you or I can do
We were fools to fall, and it's nobody's fault
Cause I've been running from the sun
And I've got nowhere left to hide
Every night I close my eyes
And wish I was still in love
Trying to fight, at war with my mind
It's gonna kill me to give you up
Darling, this is gonna hurt
I won't regret it
'Cause I loved you first
But someone will love you better
Oswald finished the last note, softly and gently with a tear falling out of his eye.
Eivor looked away from the creak, unable to look and listen any longer.
She quickly scurried away, stepping over a loose twig that had found its way to the floor in the process.
Oh shit. She thought heart pounding quickly
Oswald heard the noise too. Quickly wiping away a tear, he walked towards the door and looked out: "Hello? Who's there?" he called out, Only to see the corridor empty
Confused, he went back in closing the door behind him
Probably just the wind. Time to get to bed.
Meanwhile, Eivor lay on her bed, heart pounding.
That was close, far too close.
Once her heart had calmed down, Eivor pondered on what she had just seen and heard from Oswald and realised it left her more questions than answers after hearing that.
What did he mean by that he was hurt that he had to give up on somebody and that somebody was going to love that person better?
He looks like he really loves said person and doesn't want to let them go, but because of Valdis he has to.
Not everyone is as fortunate as you, Eivor. Being able to choose who you marry.
Perhaps he has a secret girlfriend somewhere that we don't know about. Only he does.
Oh well. It's not your business. You already invaded his privacy. Just don't mention it at the wedding tomorrow and you should be fine. It's not your place to say anything. Besides, it might ruin the alliance and friendship and you don't want that.
Shaking those thoughts off, Eivor settled into the sheets once more for the last time.
Author's Note: I got this idea when I was scrolling through Youtube music and discovered a young artist called Johnny Orlando. When I realised how much Johnny looked like Oswald (he is literally a human doppelgänger of Oswald, just google his pictures and you'll see) I just had to write this. The songs are actually two of Johnny's so all credit goes to him. Poor Oswald pouring his heart out, while Eivor is all oblivious to his feelings for her while the poor boy is struggling.