Chapter 11
Gerda and Rollan sat together with Captain Oscar around a large pot of soup and all had a bowl in their hands filled with the creamy liquid.
"I could only offer you potato soup here at the ride. It's actually meant for my entire ride, but you can eat as much as you want. I can take the chance and look for other ingredients to make myself a new one," Said Oscar seeing Gerda smile, while Rollan drank from the bowl.
"That's really hospitable from your side, Captain," Commented Gerda making the sailor smile, then notice Rollan had finished his soup.
"You too. Serve yourself. There's enough," Said Oscar using the spoon inside the pot to take out the soup to fill Rollan's bowl again.
"Gracias," Responded Rollan, then Gerda held out her bowl at the sailor, which gave her a scoop as well.
"Thank you," Responded Gerda. "This soup here is very good," Complimented the blonde making the sailor chuckle.
"Don't need to tell. It's just the basic ingredients and some salt and pepper," Explained the captain making Gerda nod.
"I love that kind of soup, where the cream is added into it. It always tastes so delicious for me," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Ah good. Your boyfriend here could use some lessons from your mother to please your mouth sometimes, right?" Asked Oscar winking at Rollan, which got embarrassed at the man's comment and Gerda covered her mouth to avoid chuckling.
"Actually, we're friends," Corrected Rollan making Gerda nod.
"Yes. Consider, we're theoretically even best friends," Mentioned Gerda making Oscar nod.
"Oh, that's good too," Commented the captain, then got up and picked up his bowl along with the empty bowl, that lied in front of the weasel, which had lied her head over her paws to nap. "I'll be right back," Said the captain making the duo nod, which watched the captain walk upstairs to the steering area. Gerda looked back at her soup with a smile, then began to drink from the bowl, while watching Rollan slurp his soup quicker, afterward he licked his upper lip to clean off the soup and he rolled his eyes at Gerda, which chuckled at his deed.
"It's all fluid. I can eat them quicker," Commented Rollan, then Gerda slid closer to the Spaniard.
"Usually the best thing about eating is to take your time and appreciate the company," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Correct," Agreed the Spaniard. "I was letting my hunger take over,"
"I'm glad to have at least a warm dinner before going to sleep after the few days of traveling," Commented Gerda seeing Rollan nod agreeing with the woman.
"Yes," Agreed Rollan, then he remembered an idea. "Talking about warm dinner…..when we get back to Kai, we should all three together go eat something for real. Something more solid,"
"Before we leave Malmö you mean?" Questioned Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Yes, or we can also do it later. I understand, if you two want to get home first,"
"Well, I will be already happy if Kai and I find each other again. I think he might consider respecting you now, compared to the last time you two saw each other,"
"I'd be glad to be friends with him," Confessed Rollan making Gerda smile, then heard a strange musical noise and both looked together upstairs to see Captain Oscar come down with a violin over his shoulder, which he had started to play.
"Oh that was your violin. I had no idea, you had one," Spoke Gerda while Rollan nodded glimpsing up at the captain.
"My father used to play it when he was around his 20s," Commented Oscar. "He taught me how to play it. I usually would play it to him or anyone else. Currently, I haven't played it in a while and I thought I could take this opportunity to show it to you,"
"I'm no expert in music, but I would love to hear it," The blonde said as Rollan nodded agreeing as well.
"What kind of music do you play with it?" Questioned Rollan, then the man began to play slightly peppy music on the string instrument, making Rollan smile and move his head to the music, while Gerda chuckled amused at seeing the sailor play. Luta woke up to look at the man playing the instrument, then she covered her ears to avoid hearing the play. Rollan and Gerda exchanged looks with one another, both seeming to agree, that the sailor played pretty well for a long break. Oscar walked across the deck while playing the instrument with the young adults watching him on their spot, amused by the scene. Gerda looked at Rollan, which admired the man's move to the rhythm of the music, afterward the raven-haired exchanged looks with the blonde.
"It really gives me the energy to dance," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod. Gerda beamed at the friend, hoping he would join her and he showed her his hand, where Gerda stared at. "Wanna dance?" Questioned the woman making Rollan nod, then he got up on his knees, so she would take his hand and both got up together.
"Uh you do know how to dance?" Asked Gerda making Rollan nod. "I don't," Confessed Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you," Offered Rollan. "To make it easier for you, follow my instructions. We just have to take our hands together like this," Explained Rollan locking his hand with Gerda's then moved it aside and the other hand he placed it behind her back. "You put your free hand over my shoulder or behind my neck. Wherever you feel good with,"
Gerda placed her hand on the shoulder, then looked up at him waiting for the next step.
"And what now?" Questioned Gerda then Rollan rolled his eyes at the side signaling, that the time was right now and he took her to waltz together slow, so Gerda could get with the rhythm. Oscar during the play changed the tune to go a bit slower, so they could be in sync with the music. Gerda had immediately understood the easy steps of the dance, then nodded at the Spaniard, which smiled and along with the blonde they have gotten quicker with their movements together. Oscar moved his bow on the violin differently to give it another sound, thus giving the duo a different approach and change their dancing routine.
"Good, good. Waltz isn't the only way you can dance," Spoke Oscar watching the duo together dance. Rollan took his hands away from Gerda, beginning to dance differently, more hyper than before and Gerda copied the raven-haired, which beamed at the blonde. Oscar laughed amused and began to tap as well around them to the music having the amount same joy as the young guests were having.
Alfida and Kai sat together in the airship looking at the sky together sharing a large fish together, that was cut in small pieces.
"There's nothing more delicious, than eating grilled salmon. One of the best fishes on the Scandinavian sea," Stated Alfida making Kai nod.
"I rarely eat salmon. It is delicious, that I have to admit. I have just preferred the Atlantic cod more…..Of course, the other reason is, we're used to having it more often," Mentioned the artist. "You have eaten it before, right?"
"I almost ate all kinds of fish, we find in the ocean. We, pirates, aren't only good at tricking and stealing. We're also good at fishing,"
"Yes, you used to ride on the water before. So you would fish when needed,"
"Exactly," Stated Alfida. "We still fish on our ship, when we're on the water, but mostly at the harbors,"
"Good," Commented Kai picking up a piece of salmon to eat it. "What did you put on the salmon besides the salt? Lemon?"
"Yes," Responded Alfida. "I had a few days ago steal lemons from a tree to squeeze its juice into a bottle. We only have the salt and pepper bottle here, when I passed by that tree I thought it would be handy if I could take some,"
"Good idea," Confessed Kai followed by Alfida picking a piece of fish meat to shove it into her mouth. "Tomorrow….do you think we will see Gerda this time?" Questioned Kai seeing Alfida swallow the fish down and shrug her shoulders.
"That's a good question. If things went right for her and Rollan, they should be here by us around the afternoon. This is just my guess, they could take longer,"
"I'm fine if they will take longer. I just hope they get here safe and sound or…...at all," Mentioned Kai, then Alfida took a piece of fish again and admired her boyfriend. "It's worrying for me to wait for it," Admitted Kai, then Alfida kissed him on his cheek.
"Your patience will pay off. Trust me. You will see Gerda again and you two will share one of the longest hugs you probably have ever shared," Stated Alfida making Kai nod.
"You're right, I really won't feel like letting her go at that moment," Commented Kai making Alfida chuckle. "Rollan…..well, I don't know, what he will do. I know he was traveling with that guy Pastor, which….wait, wasn't he here on the ship with us?" Asked Kai looking around the empty area only to see three pirates playing cards together while eating fish as well.
"Uh I don't know," Responded Alfida, then whistled at the pirates, which glanced at their captain. "Did you guys see Pastor, the other Spaniard?"
"He left before and said something, he was going to do a surprise to some girl he just met," Commented the pirate making Alfida nod.
"Okay, we'll see about that later. He seems like he's capable of fighting, when necessary, right?"
"I think so. He said he went through the guard academy just like Rollan," Responded Gerda's brother."Good, cause I'm not prepared to go defend a damsel in distress at the moment," Commented Alfida making Kai chuckle.
"What if I was that damsel in distress?" Questioned Kai jokingly, then Alfida hit her boyfriend on his back. "Ouh!"
"You're an exception," Answered Alfida with a smug grin, while Kai cackled at her deed. "Boy, we still got plenty of fish to eat," Mentioned Alfida making Kai nod with a smile at his girlfriend.
"I know. I just want to try to enjoy the evening with my girlfriend. Despite the circumstances," Said Kai making Alfida smile and pick up one fish, watching Kai look up at the sky, then she whistled calling his attention, so he could see, that the girl wanted to feed him. Kai smiled at her idea and accepted it. Afterward Kai pointed down at the fish, hoping the woman would accept his offer as well, afterward he picked one piece up and gave her the bit as well. Kai admired the girlfriend eating the fish with joy, then he lied down on the ground to look up at the sky seeing the stars above them.
At the ship of Captain Oscar, he stood on deck steering the ship following the light of the moon shining on the ocean. The rest of the deck was empty, only filled with the goods he was meant to deliver. Down under the steering area, there was a small candlelight reflecting on the glass of the ship's cabin. Inside the two friends, he had just met at the harbor before were located to rest for the night.
Inside the cabin, Rollan and Gerda sat together on the corner on a pile of wool covers. Gerda was closer to the edge, where a box had a candlelight on top, which she used as help to read the book she had in her hands. Luta lied near the candlelight resting and Rollan had opened his backpack to look at the clothing he had brought for the ride. Rollan took out three pullovers, then placed them on the back to form a pillow for himself, then lied his head down over them and got up to put his bag on the side. Rollan looked at Gerda reading the book, then glimpsed over her shoulder, wondering, what she was reading.
"Is it the same book from the train ride?" Questioned Rollan making Gerda nod.
"You know I'm not really tired and thought about taking a read," Mentioned the blonde making Rollan nod.
"I'm not tired either, but I thought if I could lie back down and try, it would work," Mentioned Rollan. "These wool covers are pretty decent to sit on,"
"I agree on that," Commented Gerda. "In case, I still freeze, I can use my new jacket,"
"Yes, that was worth the money," Confessed Rollan. "It only feels now colder for me on the outside, when it got darker,"
"Yes. Also when Oscar played on his violin it was getting pretty cold, but I think the fact we were both dancing kept us warm,"
"Right," Commented Rollan. "It was really entertaining. You, also. You learned pretty fast," Complimented the Spaniard, making Gerda smile.
"Thank you. You have been teaching me well back there. It was also amusing for us three all messing around and not taking things seriously for once. That's a great thing to do once in a while."
"Right. Sometimes a balance is good. You can't always handle everything in life so serious. Too much fun maybe too. At least depending on what. I had to learn that from the guard academy. I would always take the parkour tasks for a game. All because I never understood what the point of them were until I had to catch one thief myself," Explained the Spaniard making Gerda nod. "It went well and gave me a new lesson for my life, allowed me to accept the risks I would take in the future,"
"Your town is going to love to have you around them looking for order and serve them," Commented Gerda making Rollan smile abashed and caress his neck.
"There are more of us though. One thing I know is, that my mama would be proud," Stated Rollan making Gerda nod.
"Your mother needs to know something. Despite being alone, she raised you very well. You're kind, educated, fearless and you know quite a lot of things, not many men around my area know. You can dance, ice skate and you read books. How many people around our age would find this on a man absurd?" Questioned Gerda putting her book down to listen to him.
"A lot, perhaps…..although I have to confess, most of the guys I know from around learned dancing. Major of them hoping to gain a love interest during March's Spanish festival,"
"And you never had the luck to find a love interest by yourself?" Questioned Gerda watching Rollan shake his head.
"I used to be doing something else during those days and never found anyone interesting," Commented Rollan watching Gerda grin and place her hand over his hand.
"Those girls missed a lot about you. They should have taken the time to get to know the real you," Stated Gerda having eye contact with the Spaniard. "You're unique. Your friendship is one of the purest ones I had ever had. You didn't hesitate in putting your life in the game just to help me back home. You're able to maturely discuss issues, I couldn't figure out myself, not even with the help of my own fiancé. I'm so glad to have such a gem as you as my best friend, whether we're talking to each other in person or writing each other letters. I appreciated every moment with you," Said Gerda to a smiling Rollan, which was stirred by the blonde. "Don't ever change, Rollan,"
"Gracias….Your words mean a lot to me. In the other hand…..I don't know, how I should formulate this...you're not just an ordinary woman. You're extraordinary," Stated Rollan making Gerda widen her eyes at his comment. "You're generous and good-hearted. You have shown every person you met, that things can go for the better. You've done it with Orm, Alfida, our King Harald, King Arrog, and even the Snow Queen. All changed for the better thanks to your voice of leading. The world never was flawed in any way. The world is just flawed in some people's eyes, whose own mistakes aren't visible to themselves. I was one of the latter ones. I had dark power let take the best out of me and you have opened me a second chance, which I took in order to show you, that I wasn't that boy you saw accepting the Fire Demon's powers. I was the boy, that realized he had found one of the most amazing persons ever and lost her, not realizing, what he had had before. I lost her a second time when I feared to tell her how I deeply felt for her. Because I believed I didn't accept my past mistakes or the other way around,"
Gerda smiled enamored with his words, then slid on her knees closer to the friend about to speak to him, but noticed he wasn't done yet.
"I admire our friendship very much. It's one of the best gifts I have received in this world. I have always wished the best for you, you simply….deserve to be happy after all you went…" Rollan got stopped by Gerda, who covered his lips with her hand and demanded him to be quiet.
"I know the rest of your conversation and I know I would have liked it," Stated Gerda removing her hand from the confused Rollan, afterward Gerda placed her open hands on the side of his neck to plant him a long kiss on his lips, making him wide his eyes in shock, turning red. Afterward, Gerda got off his lips to look at the confused Spaniard, then chuckled about his bewildered facial expression. "Que pasa?" Asked Gerda looking at Rollan, which seemed to have blocked at the situation, then Gerda clapped gently on Rollan's cheek. "Rollan…," Spoke Gerda, then Rollan shook his head returning back to reality.
"Sorry…..I….I wasn't expecting this," Commented Rollan followed by Gerda placing her hands around his head and lean her forehead on his.
"I know. It doesn't matter now. I want you right now," Asked Gerda pressing her lips on Rollan's again wrapping her arms around his back and kneel on top of Rollan's legs as she began to smooch with the man, which allowed her to and closed his eyes letting her do it so. Gerda swung herself with Rollan down at the covers, moving her hands back at his face to get wilder with the smooching causing Rollan to groan in joy, thus waking up the weasel, that was napping on the box and spotted the two on the covers. Luta widened her eyes shocked as she noticed Gerda shove one of her hands down into Rollan's shirt to try unbutton the first button. Luta looked at the candle, then used her tail to wipe out the flame turning the room into the darkness to avoid seeing, what was going to happen next.