How she had raged at him!
Now she wished he had spoken true. She wished her pride and fears had not stolen her happiness from her. She should have begged him to return for her in the autumn...sooner even, but now she wasn’t sure if he would ever come back!
What would he be doing now?
Probably milking the goat. Which she suspected would end in disaster, as Heidrun was a grumpy beast at the best of times! Embla had found that singing to her helped, and Runar had always been impressed by how much she’d got from her. Still, it wasn’t as if he needed Embla to milk his goat. He could manage without her easily, and would go on living as well as he always had.
‘I never knew that you could play,’ said Gertrud softly, and Embla jumped at the sound, the lyre screeching in protest at her clumsy fingers.
Gertrud was standing beside Thorin in the doorway to the sewing room, and Embla swallowed back her horror at being caught with one of their prized possessions in her lap.
Would they think she had taken liberties with her recent rise in status?
‘I am so sorry! I was bored and...’ She fumbled as she put away the lyre, wincing as another string squeaked in protest.
Gertrud’s warm smile reassured her as she walked over to join her.
‘Don’t be sorry. You play beautifully. It would be nice to play with you in the future. Did Runar teach you?’
Embla nodded.
Gertrud and Thorin each took a seat by the fire facing her. Thorin’s voice was warm and filled with memory as he said, ‘Runar is an excellent musician. He used to come and play at our feasts occasionally. His father was a master of the lyre. Be glad that you were taught by the very best.’
Was that how Runar had met Gertrud, at one of the feasts? Had he played for her?
She glanced at her sister, but there was no awkwardness in her manner at the mention of Runar’s name, and she even smiled. ‘And Thorin taught him, so my husband is complimenting himself, really.’
‘Were you close friends with Runar’s father?’ she asked Thorin.
He laughed. ‘We hated each other for years, and I thought him far too wild and irresponsible. But that is sometimes the way with brothers.’
Embla gulped, as the knowledge clicked into place like a key in a lock. ‘Runar is your nephew.’
That was why he had only been banished; Runar had mentioned a kinship with Gudvangen, but she had presumed it was a more distant one. But the fact Runar owned the land beyond the mountain made even more sense to her now.
‘Yes.’ Thorin nodded, and then he took a deep breath. ‘Embla, I have something to tell you. But first, Gertrud and I wanted to reassure you about some things... We have made mistakes in the past, and we have decided to make some changes.’
Gertrud interrupted to add, ‘We have taken you for granted, and I know I am to blame for that. You are my sister and I should treat you as such.’
Embla shook her head. ‘It is how it has always been. You are not solely to blame.’
Gertrud dismissed her words with a wave of her hand. ‘When you came here, I should have treated you differently. I was away from our father’s Hall and his influence and as the mistress of my own home, I could have behaved as I wished. But I kept to the old ways because it suited me. I was afraid of becoming a wife and mother, and after Runar... I believed I had already failed as a wife.’
Thorin took his wife’s hand and kissed it. It was a demonstration of affection Embla had rarely seen between them. But then, her life had always been spent with the children, and no one truly knew how couples were behind closed doors.
Thinking back to how she had behaved when she’d first arrived in Gudvangen sent a wave of guilt through her.
‘I was young and believed I knew all there was to know about babies. I thought I knew better than you, and that was wrong of me. Ketil’s birth was difficult, and many women struggle to recover from their first. I think... I took advantage of your weakness, because I wanted to prove myself useful to you, and so I helped more than I should have... In fact, I took over.’
Gertrud gave her a watery smile. ‘But I allowed it and was glad of it. While you were gone, your mother explained some truths to me. Now I feel as if we have been given another chance, and I want it to be better this time. Do not think of yourself as a servant any longer—we are family. Never again will you be indebted to us, or feel as if you have to earn your place.’
Embla took a deep breath. ‘If we are going to be truly honest...’ Gertrud’s eyes widened, but she leaned forward with interest, and it gave Embla the confidence to continue. ‘I cannot spend every dayresting.I will lose my mind with boredom!’
Thorin laughed. ‘I told you, Gertrud!’
Gertrud glared at him, but then nodded at Embla. ‘If you wish to remain in the Hall and be one of my ladies, you are welcome to join me. However, Thorin suggested you might prefer to continue your work as a wise woman, looking after the women and children of Gudvangen. Either way, you should have your own home, and the men are building it as we speak.’
Embla’s face felt numb. ‘Is that where you went this morning?’
