Chapter 10
Gerda and Rollan had jumped off the train about a half an hour ago, making their way together to the harbor seeing currently only three different airships parked on the sea. Two more regular ships were at the docks as well, but had the entrance open to its ship, while the air vehicles had their door closed. During the walk, Gerda recognize a small queue of people by a corner, which had an arrow pointing down at the cabin revealing it to be selling tickets.
"There is a cabin. This is our chance to see if they have any tickets to Malmö. We're so close, they must have some," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Con certeza! It's like their neighboring town. They should at least have one, if we have to wait for tomorrow it's fine," Said the Spaniard moving further with the blonde towards the queue that only had two in front of the booth.
"What shall we do, if there's only one ticket for the flight, if there I any?" Questioned Gerda watching Rollan shrug his shoulders.
"If there really is one, take it and I will look for an alternate way," Answered Rollan. "Important is, that you get back home in time,"
"Your manners are kind. I prefer to stick together with you until we're both in Murmansk. I have to tell my parents about all this. You never have evaded a way to help me get back to Kai and return home. I think without you I wouldn't have made it so far," Commented Gerda making Rollan smile about her comment.
"You could have, of course. You're the Gerda, that saved her brother from the Snow Queen. You have crossed an entire frozen country all on your own to find your brother. And traveling over a snow-covered area compared to the landscapes we had are way more complicated,"
"I wasn't alone there as well. I had Orm. Sure at that time, I couldn't trust him to 100%, but we became good friends over the days, that passed,"
"Great," Commented Rollan. "I actually have to admit, I'm glad we could stick together on the trip. It's more amusing than when we're alone," Gerda nodded smiling at the Spaniard, then took a step further to wait for the last guest to buy a ticket.
"You leaving home earlier was the best thing you could do. Otherwise, we couldn't have seen each other earlier and spent time together….even if it's an odd situation,"
"Si," Agreed Rollan watching the guest leave with his ticket and Gerda approached along with Rollan the booth, watching the vendor store back into a box the coins he earned for the ticket.
"Hello Sir. Have you by coincidence two tickets for a flight to Malmö?" Questioned Gerda watching the man shake his head.
"I'm sorry, I sold the last tickets about an hour ago and the ship left. We have one to Helsinki, Kristiansand and Den Haag. You'd need to wait a day or two until the ship arrives back from Malmö,"
"Okay, is there a way to buy two tickets in advance?" Questioned Gerda making the man shake his head.
"It's not possible at the moment. It works a few hours earlier thought," Answered the vendor making Gerda nod and look at Rollan. "Let's try another time," Commented the blonde making Rollan nod, then Gerda thanked the man and made her way along with Rollan away from the booth to look at the sea.
"Okay, we gotta wait," Said the Spaniard making Gerda nod, then felt Luta climb out of her bag to get up on her shoulder to look around the area. "What shall we do?" Questioned Rollan watching Gerda shrug her shoulders, then look down at the port spotting a man using a wooden cart to carry a barrel into a ship. Gerda grabbed Rollan's arm to point down at the sailor, making Rollan nod.
"I think he's putting goods into the ship," Commented Rollan watching Gerda show him from where the man was taking the barrels from. "Do you think he needs help?"
"We could help him out. Eventually, he might as well know another way to Malmö, if we're lucky," Responded Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Who knows, maybe he can take us with him?"
"That would be cool, actually," Confessed Gerda making Rollan smile and both walked together down at the port to encounter the man inside the ship placing the barrel down. The duo observed the man return to the exit, then he spotted them and smiled at their sigh.
"Oy, you two love birds are here watching the old Captain Oscar loading the ship with some classy wine," Spoke the gray-haired man, that seemed around the 50s. Gerda chuckled while Rollan grinned amused by the man's comment.
"We thought you could use some help, sir," Offered Gerda making the man laugh.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting this. I really like that offer. I just don't know, if there's a second cart around there," Commented the man looking around the area while scratching his cheek, covered with gray hair. The man spotted near another ship a cart standing, then he smiled and went down to the duo to bring his own cart. "Take this one, I'm taking the one over there," Said the man making the duo nod, then Gerda took the cart by the handle and walked along with Rollan towards the few barrel rolls on the ground. Gerda placed the platform in front of the object, then calculated how she should use it and figured it out, then shove it under the barrel to pick it up. Rollan helped Gerda hold the barrel on the cart, then walked beside her leading her on the front up at the board to enter into the ship, afterward at the entrance made sure the woman wouldn't lose her balance in any way.
"Where are you carrying those barrels, if I may ask?" Spoke Rollan watching the captain coming behind them with his cart.
"I'm going to Falsterbo," Responded the captain. "Do you two need to go anywhere?"
"We have been hoping to find a route to Malmö. My brother and I were on a separate ship and mines had lost its course. We've been going through different routes hoping to get closer to him," Gerda explained making the captain nod.
"And your brother is in Malmö, you say?" Questioned the older man making Gerda nod.
"He's waiting there somewhere for me. It wasn't planned, that we would take longer," Stated Gerda exchanging looks with Rollan, which nodded.
"You know, I kind of like you two. Out of all the youngsters I have come along, you two were the first to offer help, despite there not being a need for me. I appreciate it when people help. This I have to admit,"
"What does that exactly mean?" Questioned Gerda making the man chuckle.
"If you two want, I can let you two board on my ship and I drop you there at the harbor of Malmö. Afterward, I will continue my route to Falsterbo. I don't have a time limit to deliver it at the moment, so we're cool,"
"Wow, we'd be eternally grateful for your deed, Captain Oscar. Rollan and I are very happy to be coming with you. Rollan loves adventures and has experienced several things in his life," Commented Gerda making Rollan chuckle embarrassed.
"Well, I did, but I'm sure you have experienced a lot of action in your years. That sure is more interesting, than what I have to tell,"
"Sure, I'd be glad to tell you them," Promised the ship captain.
Later on board, the captain stood behind the wheel steering the ship out of the harbor while Rollan and Gerda stood together at the front looking at the sea together. The weasel stood on the railing admiring the water as well, then looked up at the blonde, which had her eyes glued on the ocean. Rollan leaned his arms on the railing, earning Gerda's attention, who looked at him with a smile and placed her hand on Rollan's back. Both met each other's eyes and smiled.
"We're finally going to see your brother Kai again. You'll see, tomorrow we will find him and we call all return," Spoke Rollan making Gerda nod.
"Thank goodness this issue is almost solved. If it wasn't now for our captain here," Stated Gerda looking back at Oscar focusing on the steering making Rollan nod, which had gazed at the man as well, then returned his look at the blonde.
"Soon you're back at your home and you can get prepared for your big day," Commented Rollan. "Before that day I will need to see, what I should wear. My current clothes aren't that nice to use on a ceremony," Mentioned the Spaniard watching Gerda nod. "I'm sure you don't want me to look odd on your big day?"
"My big day…...To be honest, I'm not as interested in it as I used to be before," Confessed Gerda making Rollan furrow his eyebrows confused.
"Why not?
"Might sound strange, but I'm not really interested in getting married now," Mentioned Gerda, then Rollan turned around to focus on the blonde's comment. "This just doesn't feel right for me,"
"The moment?" Questioned Rollan watching Gerda shake her head.
"We both know Mars and I don't have the ambition for a commitment of this size. I should have told him earlier, that I didn't want this reunion,"
"When did you realize that?" Questioned the Spaniard.
"I'm not sure though. I know I felt empty, due to the low interest he showed in our relationship. I had told him about it, yet he seemed disinterested in it. I have pondered about telling him, that I wanted us to stay as friends instead, but…...suddenly, when I wanted to tell him that both our families happened to be around, his sister May, some random villagers…..he proposed to me and promised me to do his best for the two of us,"
"And then you…...believed he feared to lose you and did that spontaneously or do you think he hoped you'd be better by that?"
"I don't know. I actually didn't want to accept it. I don't even know, why I accepted it. It was kind of spontaneous,"
"What are you going to do then?" Questioned Rollan. "Have you got an idea?"
"I want to talk with my parents first. They need to know the whole story. I will tell it Mars as well. Just it might sound difficult to do so,"
"You're being honest. That's the best thing you can do in this case. They have to accept it. You both have to agree on this engagement, not only him or you," The Spaniard stated making Gerda nod. "If you need a hand or someone to be there with you. I'll be that guy,"
"I'd be glad to accept it," Said the blonde making Rollan smile, then Gerda moved away from the Spaniard to pick up her bag she left over a barrel to look into it and Rollan stood back by the railing with his arms over it, then looked at Luta, which began to lick her paws then the raven-haired gazed out at the ocean.
At the evening, Mars sat with one of his friends at a table each holding a different drink. On their table they had an opened bag filled with Scandinavian crisp bread and fewer cookies. Mars took one of the brown crisp bread, which he took a bite of and his friend glared at it sternly.
"Why did your mother send you that?" Questioned the friend. "There are snacks here at the snack counter as well. More…..amusing snacks,"
"My mother wanted me so badly to take those, 'cause she doesn't believe anything served here is good. If you want to hear my honest opinion, Mikael, the more I ate of it the more I begin to despise it,"
"Come, when the snack counter has fewer costumes let's go there and get us something to eat," Suggested Mikael making Mars nod.
"Alright, I leave the food here on the table. I can't return with the full bag back to my mom or I might get into problems," Stated Mars making Mikael roll his eyes.
"Dude, I really hope, when you leave your parents, that your future wife won't be like that,"
"No, she won't. She also doesn't seem to enjoy my mom's presence about certain things," Commented Mars making the friend nod.
"I'm not sure, how she's got the patience to endure your mom. If I knew my mother-in-law would be like yours, I would have left to get milk and never return," Stated Mikael making Mars cover his mouth surprised about the statement. "Don't be surprised, you yourself said, that your mother is too controlling over certain things,"
"Yes, yes I did," Commented Mars, then Mikael took a sip from his drink, followed by Mars and the brunette man looked at the groom. "What?"
"What is that drink you got there? It better be vodka," Stated the friend with a frown watching Mars shake his head, then Mikael approached the drink with his nose to smell it and glared at the friend. "Mars, this is your bachelor party. All the other grooms are drinking alcohol as well. Come on and do the same. You don't have to drink a big amount. Just a glass,"
"Alright, fine, but I'm really not fond of alcohol," Commented Mars making the friend nod.
"Ask the barkeeper for a pina colada or any sweet drink. I'm sure one of them will be good for you," Commented Mikael making Mars nod, then get up and walk through the crowd at the bar, where a few baristas were mixing drinks for the guests and he stood behind a man, which was waiting for his drink, which he received.
"One Daquiri for you, young man," Said the barista watching the man take the cup and move on, then Mars stepped forward to greet the barista.
"Hello, I'd like to have one pina colada," Ordered Mars making the man nod.
"One Pina Colada coming up," Responded the barista, then Mars placed his arms on the counter and looked back at Mikael, which gave the friend a thumb up. Mars tapped with his finger on the counter waiting for his drink, then watched the guest beside him leave and a blonde woman threw herself at the counter with a strange laugh.
"One Mai Tai please!" Ordered the woman followed by a snort making the barista nod and begin to prepare the drink.
Mars got a little bewildered with the woman and looked at the barista, trying to ignore the young woman. The blonde looked up at Mars, then began to laugh and fake horse noises making Mars wide his eyes confused about the situation.
"What a nice ponytail you got there," Said the woman passing her hand under its tip, making Mars bite his teeth a little bothered by the woman. "I have never seen a man with a ponytail,"
"Funny story, my mother likes my hair, when it's long," Commented Mars. "If I should tell you my honest opinion, I would like to have it shorter too,"
"You're funny. Is your sister getting married too?" Asked the woman watching Mars shake his head.
"Actually it's me," Corrected Mars watching the woman burst laughing.
"You're going to marry your sister? You're so funny!" Commented the woman while Mars faked a smile at the misunderstanding.
"No, I'm going to marry another woman"
"Oh wow and your sister knows that?" Asked the woman, while Mars looked aside at his friend bothered with the woman seeing Mikael sit there, afterward his second friend sat back on the chair to see the two at the bar.
"Guys, one of you is looking for a woman, right?" Asked Mars, then the woman watched the barista hand out the pina colada to the raven-haired man.
"One pina colada," Said the barista, then Mars grabbed the drink immediately and speeded back to his friends, which began to laugh at seeing Mars return with a red face.
"What happened back there?" Asked the friend making Mars growl.
"That's not funny, Oliver. That's invasion of privacy," Complained the half-Australian man making Oliver nod.
"We know that, but drunk people don't know, what they're doing anyway. Let her do, what she wants or until she's sent off by the staff," Said Mikael making Oliver nod.
"This night here is going to be random anyway. You're not the only groom here and the staff has prepared for the many of you a special occasion," Oliver mentioned. "You will be called along with other grooms and brides to the front. I promise it's going to be fun,"
"You know many of us have a different way of considering things as funny. If you believe a drunk person throwing herself at me is funny, that wasn't," Mars mentioned, followed by a barista pass in front of him to look at the table of his friends, which pointed at Mars, then the barista looked at Mars.
"You must be Mars Lee," Asked the barista making Mars nod, then the barista grabbed the duo-nationality man by the arm to lead him across the crowded room to a table, where five men stood and two women. "You're one of the lucky grooms, that has been invited to see the golden bananas on the VIP spot,"
"Okay," Responded Mars stepping between two men, which were looking at the stage in front of them, afterward a curtain was pulled back to reveal three women and a man dressed all in yellow and at the corner stood three string players and a drum. The guitar player slowly pulled on his strings, then the violin and cello players joined the man followed by the drummer, so the dancers would begin to dance in sync for their main guests. Mars dropped his chin, surprised about what his friends had pulled him into, and noticed beside him the engaged humans have joy at the dance interlude, even the brides themselves. The yellow-dressed dancers got down on the ground to move their hips making the people smile and get a few guests to whistle. Mars stepped back embarrassed by the situation, then watched all the people block his sight while they were dancing.
"Why do people enjoy seeing half-naked people dance?" Questioned Mars, then cried as someone jumped on his back and he looked behind to see it was the drunk girl from the bar.
"Hey Marko!" Greeted the woman followed by Mars trying to bring her down by moving her hands down gently.
"The name's Mars, not Marko. I'm not Slavic, I'm…"
"Funny name, my name is Mercury," Stated the woman with a giggle. "Annie Mercury,"
"Okay, nice to meet you," Mars said, then the blonde waved at the front to see a bride copy her back and Mars glimpsed at the drunk woman. "That's your sister?" Questioned Mars making the woman nod.
"Yes," Responded Annie, then watched Mars get pushed against her, which fell down on her butt and began to laugh and Mars looked behind himself to see behind him a couple had begun to dance among the other guests on the floor, that were copying the man on the stage, which had pulled up one of the VIP brides to dance with. Mars observed all the others dance, then looked down at Annie, which tried to get up making him roll his eyes and get down to give the woman her hand.
"Get up," Asked Mars, then Annie looked at the dancing crown along with Mars, then cackled.
"Why are we the only ones not dancing?" Questioned Annie making Mars frown.
"Cause we're not married," Responded Mars unimpressed, then Annie grabbed his hands and shook her head.
"We don't need to be married. We can dance randomly without needing to have any relationship. Come on, you act like it's your first night at a dance bar," Stated Annie making Mars nod. "See? Come, it doesn't matter if we can't dance, what matters is, that we dance!"
"That doesn't make any sense," Stated Mars, then shrieked as Annie pulled him around to dance, then he somehow tried to follow her lead slowly getting in sync with the rest of the crowd.
Oliver and Mikael were dancing as well with two other women enjoying the music coming from the stage, then Mikael moved away from his partner and began to do a stunt on his own, earning laughter from Oliver, which came to copy it. Afterward, the two began to laugh and high-fived each other, then looked through the crowd hoping to see their friend Mars, which Oliver made it to find, afterward both dropped their chin as they encountered the woman Annie grab Mars on his shoulders gently to kiss the man on the lips, which had widen his eyes in shock at the situation.
"That's an accident. That girl was..."
"That girl was definitely drunk", Mikael said along with Oliver, which observed Mars close his eyes enamored with the kiss, letting himself go with the issue making the two men swallow hard at seeing his sudden facial expression change.