‘I am pleased to hear it...strangely.’ Gertrud smiled, a genuine grin that was wide and full of teeth. It reminded him of when she was younger, and it felt good to see it again. With the absence of desire, it reminded him that she was still a person deserving of happiness and kindness herself.
‘My uncle chose well in you, Gertrud. You make a formidable wife.’
Her smile dropped a little. ‘I doubt he agrees with you after the trouble I have given him.’
‘What trouble?’ Runar laughed. ‘Thorin was married for fifteen years to his first lady with not a single hope of an heir. You have given him three fine, healthy sons—he would never have had them otherwise. He should be kissing your feet with gratitude.’
A pleased blush warmed her face, which reminded him of Embla, and she gave him a cheerful nod. ‘That is what Thorin says, but thank you for saying it too, Runar. It means a lot to me. You may enter Gudvangen, if you wish...’ She paused, looking towards the gatehouse. ‘Although, you may prefer to remain here tonight.’
As she left, Embla passed her, stopping only a moment to say a few words and hug her sister before joining him by the fire.
She looked suddenly nervous as she approached, and his mouth became painfully dry as he stood to greet her.
‘I thought you would not be back until at least autumn,’ she said quietly, greeting Sten with a gentle pat to his head. For once he was jealous of his dog; he hungered for her touch so badly he felt almost feral.
‘I could not wait that long to see you. Even if you wish to stay here until then, I will remain.’
‘What of the animals? They will suffer without you... You should go back.’
‘I asked Iskko before we left to check on them regularly. If I do not return when thesiidamove to the coast, they will take the animals with them.’
‘Oh.’ She nodded, her eyes wide. ‘You always planned to wait?’
Why had he not mentioned it before?
He suspected it was his pride that had kept it from her. He had hoped that he would not need to wait, that she would have immediately left with him. But he saw how selfish that assumption had been.
‘Yes, will you join me...when you are ready?’
Embla looked across the fire at him, the flames catching in her blue eyes and turning them into liquid gold. ‘Yes, I will...but...’
‘But?’ His throat closed painfully around the apple in his throat, and his fingers clenched so tightly he felt crescents bite into the flesh of his palms.
‘I want to spend a few more nights here first. It has been a long time since I saw my mother.’
He nodded, his fists relaxing; she was not rejecting him outright at least.
‘I expected as much when I saw you with her. You do not have to make a decision right now, but let me know if you want me to build a cabin this side of the mountain or here, and I will begin preparations. Of course, your mother is welcome to live with us, if you wish it.’
Embla gave a surprised laugh. ‘You would do that?’
‘If it means you’ll stay with me, then I will even build a cabin right here.’ He stamped his foot on the hard earth and she giggled.
‘For years I have wanted my own home, and now I have been offered more than one! I would like more time with my mother and it would be nice if she stayed with us for a while, but I doubt she will stay for long. I think she would prefer to live in Gudvangen, so she can stay in the house Thorin has gifted me if she wishes...and if my father allows it.’
‘Do you think he will?’
‘Possibly. Gertrud will help to convince him. Besides, I think his relationship with my mother has changed over the years. He never married her, or acknowledged me, even when Gertrud’s mother died. So, he has no right to keep her with him, really.’
For once, the pain of that rejection did not seem to bother Embla, and he felt his heart swell with pride and love for her. She now knew her own worth, and he was glad of it.
‘Will you marry me?’ he asked hesitantly. Then he rushed to add, ‘Not to force you to stay with me. I just...want you to know how highly I value you...’ He frowned at his poor explanation. ‘I have always done things so badly in the past... I want it to be right and proper with you.’
Embla gave him a teasing smile. ‘Proper? Is that what our time together was?’ At his blush she laughed, and then after some thought, she added, ‘May I sleep with you tonight?’
She bit her bottom lip as if afraid he might refuse her, and suddenly Gertrud’s words had more clarity.
‘Yes, of course!’ He stacked the log with two flat stones. ‘Thelavvuis only small. But I will heat some stones to warm the furs. Rest here for a moment, while I prepare our bed.’
