Runar struggled to lean the three poles of hislavvuagainst one another without dropping his ties. It had been a while since he had built one, and he was glad no one from thesiidawas here to watch his fumbling.
How have I forgotten how to do this?he grumbled to himself, as he struggled for the third time to balance the poles against the notches.
His mother would be horrified to see him now, and Iskko would have laughed until he was sick.
Thankfully, neither of them would ever see this ill-madelavvu. Iskko would be tending to Runar’s animals in his absence, and if thesiidaleft for the coast before he returned, then they would be added to his mother’s animals.
I am distracted. That is why I am struggling,he said to himself, and tried to ignore the stares from Gudvangen’s walls.
After speaking with Embla yesterday, he had finally accepted his fate. A part of him had always expected she would stay for longer than he would have hoped. Which was why he had made arrangements for the animals before he left. Still, it was disappointing that she would need more time...
Autumn! That would mean spending spring and summer in this pathetic excuse for a lavuu.
But what had he expected? That she would take one look at Gudvangen, happily leave with him, and never return?
Odin’s teeth!
He had been stupid, and not only that, he had upset Embla enough with his poor choice of words that she may no longerwanthim to wait for her.
‘Perhaps longer...’she had said, and he spat out a curse as the pole slipped once again from its notch.
He had originally planned to live in the caves and come back occasionally to check on her. But he realised now that wasn’t enough, and although he could not stay in Gudvangen, he would make his feelings for her clear with his actions—because his words had failed him as they usually did.
He had not wanted to trap her with words of love, but now he feared he had not done enough to show her how much he cared.
It had taken him a night and day to go to the cave and bring his supplies down to the settlement—not only the large pack he had brought with him from the cabin, but also all the supplies he kept stored within the cave, like thelavvu.
Yesterday’s talk with Embla, and the walk back to the cave, had firmly fixed a plan in his mind. Stealing the woman he loved had previously ended in disaster, so now he would be patient and wait for her instead. Allow her time with her family before she made such a difficult decision.
No matter how long it took, he would wait for her to accept or refuse him. It would be a kind of courtship, he decided, and he would accept her choice...although he suspected he would need to bend further for her. Perhaps he should build a cabin this side of the mountain...
No, he was getting ahead of himself!
He needed to wait to hear what Embla wanted. He was still struggling with the poles when Thorin came out to speak with him. Runar watched him approach, and was relieved to see the man was still healthy despite the whiteness of his beard and the many new lines on his face.
‘What are you doing, Runar?’ asked the Jarl, looking at his camp with a curious expression.
‘I have decided to live here for the time being.’
‘Why?’
Runar avoided his gaze, but he kept his voice firm. ‘Because I want Embla to marry me, and I am waiting for her to accept me.’
When the pole Runar was tying slipped and began to fall, Thorin pushed it back into place with one hand.
‘So, you have no plans to steal her from me this time? I am glad to hear it, especially as it ended so badly before...for everyone.’
Runar stepped away from the now tied posts and faced Thorin. ‘Last time was a mistake. Will you allow me to stay here, or not?’
Thorin scratched his white beard thoughtfully. ‘Once again, you have acted before asking for my permission. However, I see no harm in your staying here for the time being...as long as you stay outside the gate.’
‘Thank you...’ Runar hesitated before adding, ‘Uncle.’
Thorin smiled. ‘It has been a long time since you called me that.’
‘I was bitter,’ Runar admitted, feeling truly foolish for how he had behaved in the past.
Runar had stopped calling him uncle after his father’s death, because a part of him had blamed Thorin for encouraging his father to go Viking—which was unfair, because his father had always enjoyed it.
