Chapter 4
Hours later Gerda and Rollan managed to leave the accident location along with a couple of other passengers in a carriage to return to the next village in the Netherlands. Rollan had his head leaned against the wall and Gerda sat next to him caressing Luta on her back, which napped on her lap.
"If it wasn't for this accident we would be in Malmö right now or halfway through the route," Spoke Gerda, then looked at Rollan, which had his eyes closed to rest. Gerda smiled about seeing him sleeping, then leaned her back against his arm sensing him move and open his eyes to look at the woman, then yawned.
"I'm sorry," Apologized Rollan. "Are we there yet?"
"No, I thought you were sleeping and I leaned my back on you," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Oh okay. You can, if you want," Offered Rollan, then Gerda placed her head against his shoulder. "You're tired, aren't you?"
"Yes. I want to sleep, but I can't find a way to sleep," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"In trips like this, it's not easy," Commented Rollan making Gerda nod. "When I could, I would use my jacket or anything else," Mentioned Rollan, then noticed, that Gerda could use it as well. "Hey, I can borrow you my pullover," Rollan mentioned opening his bag to take out a dark-gray pullover, then handed it out to Gerda.
"Here, use it," Offered Rollan making Gerda smile amused, taking his pullover.
"That wasn't necessary," Responded Gerda watching Rollan shrug his shoulders unworried about having offered her the pullover, then she placed it between his shoulder and the back of the seat and placed her head on the pullover, while Rollan watched her. Gerda tried to adjust the pillow around her head, now having it over Rollan's shoulder, and lied her head again on him making him chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Questioned Gerda.
"Nothing. You just placed your head again over my shoulder, but it's fine. I don't mind it," Answered the Spaniard hearing the girl snicker.
"Oh….alright," Spoke Gerda. "Are you thinking about writing your mother a letter, when we arrive at our destination?"
"Uh I haven't thought about it yet," Responded Rollan. "Perhaps I should just in case. Not because of the accident we had, but the fact we're taking a different route. What about you? I mean…..did you write your parents anything when you were gone?"
"Oh I did write together with Kai a letter mentioning, that we might have a second stop on our way back home. If there's a chance I write a new letter and tell about, that Kai and I got split and that none of them have to worry about me. You happen to be on the ride too. That will make them feel at least relieved,"
"Your parents do really care about you a lot. They're really good people,"
"Yes. I'm so glad, that they have returned back into my life. Kai and I went through a lot before we found them again. Things are better now," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Talking about parents, you don't have to, I'm just curious, how are your future parents-in-law?"
"Bodhi is an eccentric inventor. He's a very hard-working man. I didn't see him as often as his wife. The times I have seen him at the work he has always shown kindness to me," Mentioned Gerda. "Merri, is as I mentioned once before, a wizardess. She's that sort of woman, that looks for everything. She basically strives for perfection. Sometimes it gets scary for you. She has also asked me a couple of times to do certain things differently,"
"Doing things differently? How so?" Questioned Rollan curious, watching Gerda place her hand in front of her face to ponder about a moment, she and her future mother-in-law had spoken.
"Well…..I had tied my hair differently than usual and she questioned me if I could keep it in the way I have it right now. My mother had done that hairstyle on me, cause she was curious to see how it would look on me. She was trying from an image collection she had gotten from the Snow Queen to see, which sort of hairstyle would be perfect for the wedding dress, but as you see Merri didn't really like it,"
"But…..you should be the one picking the hairstyle or your mom," Commented Rollan making Gerda nod.
"I still do like the way my hair looks though. I questioned Mars about her, but he says she has always been like that. To him and May, she's the same, currently, because of the wedding she seems to be more over him and me,"
"Okay, this is kind of an unnecessary pressure over you two I feel," Commented Rollan making Gerda smile.
"Yes. She could be nicer sometimes. She just doesn't seem to understand me. She barely knows me and my family. The only thing she knows about me is, that I'm a magician, the daughter of Master Vegard and of course the story of the Snow Queen,"
"The basic info everyone knows?"
"Yeah, we can say that basically. The only person out of the family to know me better is Mars. Despite that, he's still different from what he was at the start. I think the wedding and his mother putting her hands everywhere probably throws him off as well,"
"Perhaps. I can't say it well. He could still be somewhat defensive about when she talks to me, but he doesn't say a word,"
"I admit, I wouldn't like it if my mother wouldn't talk well with my future wife. She wouldn't do this, but if she would I would ask her to leave it,"
"You and Mars have very few things in common, otherwise you're both different from each other,"
"What are your differences?" Questioned Rollan as Gerda placed again her hands on the pullover to adjust it over Rollan's shoulder.
"Well, where should I start? He's slightly self-absorbed. If I had to compare him with you or Kai, both of you are kinder,"
"Doesn't he treat you well?" Asked Rollan surprised.
"Don't misunderstand me, I mean by that he doesn't often talk to you about other problems beside his. Or he doesn't help to look for a solution,"
"Okay, that's not quite helpful for you,"
"You on the other hand, you do listen to my problems and eventually help me out to find the solution. Well before you returned to Spain. Through our mails you couldn't really help me out, but you still figured out a way to give me any advice, that could help me out. This I appreciate about you. You're on that aspect kinder,"
"And what do I and Mars have in common? Same hair color?" Questioned Rollan making Gerda snort.
"How should this be a personal good thing?" Questioned Gerda feeling Rollan shrug his shoulders. "You're both adventurous and have that inner child in you,"
"Okay, sounds like we could get along," Commented Rollan making Gerda smile.
"I'd like to see that," Commented Gerda. "Well, he doesn't know anything about you. He just knows the….uhm bad things Alfida and Kai told once,"
"Oh…." Noticed Rollan, then Gerda placed her hand over his arm.
"Don't worry. I'll let him know, that you're good inside," Promised Gerda making Rollan smile, then sensed her press her head gently against his shoulder.
"Gerda…..about that with him not really listening to your problems. Don't let him ruin your life or anything else if he doesn't give you the help you deserve. If he can't help you out, that's okay, but if he really appreciates you, he should make an effort to help you," Explained Rollan making Gerda nod.
"I know, what you mean. Thanks for listening," Responded Gerda while Rollan sat beside her with a neutral facial expression not having a decent feeling about the friend's love interest.
The parents of Gerda and Kai were inside their store together looking at an envelope they had recently opened up, which had their kid's name on it.
"Look darling, it really is Gerda's letter," Commented Vegard taking the letter out and Una pointed down at the letter at a different calligraphy down under a neater one.
"And Kai's here," Mentioned Una, then Vegard faked a cough before he took the chance to read it loud for the two.
"Dear mom and dad. Paris was a wonderful place. We've been everywhere and even got to see an opera together about the swan act, which mom always wanted to see when younger. It was a memorable night. Kai grew to love it as well, despite not being a fan of it. We're leaving tomorrow on the 18th and eventually we might take two days. They had no tickets to Murmansk and we're going to Malmö first, afterward, we have to look if they have another airship to our home. I can't wait to see you two again. Love Gerda. Hi mom, hi dad, this is from Kai. Paris was amazing, the bread, the museums, the one museum with wax statues. They had one of the Snow Queen and one of a younger version of Gerda. Hers didn't look anyhow like Gerda thought, except maybe the hair color and the body size. It was amazing to see the many famous persons in that museum. Even a few artists I like had their own wax statue. The opera mom liked was actually good. Gerda took me there so we both could see it together. I sold two paintings I made during my trip to random citizens, that admired art and got to keep a few more coins for our return. We have to go as Gerda said through Malmö first, then we have to look how he go from there. If we have the chance we write you two another letter to inform you about our route. Can't wait to return back home. In case any of you sees Alfida, give her a hug from me. Greetings Kai,"
"Good to know they're alright," Commented Una making Vegard nod. "They're both alone out there in the big world. Not for every one of their age it's not as easy to handle,"
"Our kids are mature enough. You heard how Kai gushed about Gerda putting heart and soul to care for him and herself without us around. They're both strong," Stated Vegard feeling proud about his successors. "You have seen back with King Harald, she was putting herself through a lot without magic to take him down and save us,"
"Yes I have," Answered Una, then spotted in front an elder man looking at the mirrors around the store, then Una smiled and made her way toward the man. "I'm going to see if he needs help," Stated Una earning a smile from the husband, which observed her approach the man and tell him about the one mirror he was looking at. Vegard folded the mail back, then heard the bell of the door ring as it was opened back and Vegard recognized the inventor's son Mars enter the place along with a taller woman. Vegard waved at the duo entering the shop, then leaned his hands on top of the counter.
"Mars, Mrs. Lee. Good to see you again. I just happen to receive a letter from Gerda and Kai," Announced Vegard watching the duo stop by the counter.
"Hello Vegard," Greeted the woman. "How are your kids doing?"
"Hello Sir," Greeted Mars afterward, then Vegard showed the letter to the duo.
"They're good. They just left Paris and are returning home together," Commented Vegard. "I just received this letter from both,"
"Why are you two children traveling together without an adult supervisor?" Questioned Merri making Vegard chuckle.
"Gerda and Kai are old enough to travel by themselves. Both, mainly Gerda have gained enough maturity during my and Una's absence to move on through their lives. I trust my two children well enough, that they can come back home safe and sound," Commented Vegard.
"Okay, you know I worry about your daughter as well, Vegard. She's the future of us all. She will create a better future for our businesses. Yours will be highlighted more, so you're able to get more clients, while ours will grow with the additional new inventions brought by my husband and further on my son Mars," Explained Merri while Mars nodded with a normal facial expression. "Their kids will be our successors and just like us, be great with their future magic gift. It doesn't really matter from whom it comes, both of us have a great power, and our children do it as well. I'm certain, they're going to be a blessing to our world," Explained Merri while Vegard nodded listening to the talk of the woman.
"I can assure you, everything is fine with Gerda. She's the most powerful out of the two. She can take care of herself when she's in trouble. I know her very well," Commented Vegard, then handed out the letter to Mars, which looked at the writing along with his mother.
"Her brother could use a course in writing," Commented Merri earning a nod from Mars, then Vegard shook his head about the judgment the duo gave towards his son.
"You know many famous artists, had bad handwriting, but this didn't mean anything bad. Actually, this meant, their brain is quite more advanced than from any other human being with good or decent handwriting," Stated Vegard, then Merri took away the letter from Mars's hands to return it to the brunette man.
"I had thought about something for both Gerda and Mars, but we can wait with that until she's back. She will be back tomorrow or the day after that?" Questioned the half-Australian woman watching Vegard take the letter back.
"Two days, eventually three. They had no free ship to get here, so they had to go to Malmö first, afterward, they will look for an alternative ride here. To France it did work out with the one airship ride, that was available here. It's already amazing to see, that after the invention of the airship, people have worked on it together to create air fleets in several countries," Commented Vegard making Merri smile proud.
"See? Inventions are quite good for our timeline. Without Bodhi's improvements of the driving force, we wouldn't have the airships which we see today," Stated Merri making Vegard nod, then Merri grabbed Mars by his shoulder to accompany him to the exit, so both could leave the place together. Una looked at the door behind them close, then groaned annoyed about the woman.
"What's with this woman and our daughter?" Asked Una looking at her husband in annoyance watching the man shrug his shoulders.
"It's up to Gerda if she wants to go along with this decision or not. She has been a pain in the ass since the formed engagement about four months ago. I thought even I had the impression, that Mars and Gerda didn't seem to be invested in their relationship as before the proposal…" Confessed Vegard looking out of the window together at the guest checking out the one window to see the reflection of himself shown an altered animal version making him chuckle.