A dazzling smile answered him. “Anyone who knows me knows that I always keep my promises.”
After one last exchange of well wishes, Eahlswith and Sven exited the house. Outside the sun had pierced through the clouds, causing the thin layer of ice over the snow to glimmerlike a thousand tiny diamonds. It was a spectacular sight, and would be even more beautiful in the village, away from the filth and the bustle of the narrow street. After five years living in a town, Eahlswith was ready to go back to the peaceful setting of a village.
“Let’s go see the reeve, see what transpired with your sister and Richie’s family,” Sven declared once he’d tightened the girth on Gulltoppr’s saddle. They had already gone to her house to get the white bone comb and the few possessions she wanted to take with her to his hut. “I just want to ensure she is making amends for her and Godstan’s carelessness in some way.”
“Yes.” The boy might never regain the complete use of his leg. Ealawynne should pay for that. “While you were gone, the reeve and I agreed she should work for the family, who are chandlers, for three months, time for Richie’s leg to heal. She will go from kitchen to kitchen collecting fat to make the candles. The backbreaking and dirty work should teach her some humility.”
“Perfect.” He smiled at her. “And when the three months are over, I will make sure he sends her back from whence she came, with an interdiction to come to town ever again on pain of far more severe punishment.” The smile died on his lips. “It’s only because she is your sister that I didn’t make her pay for what she made you go through.”
Eahlswith placed a soothing hand over his arm. She was grateful for his leniency, because, unlike Ealawynne, she wouldn’t have been able to live with the death of her twin on her conscience. “I know, and I thank you for it. And in the end, nothing happened. You saved me, remember?”
“Come, my love.” He gave her hand a squeeze.” Let’s go to the reeve. And then we can go home.”
“Turn right, please.”
Sven obeyed the request, though he had no idea why Eahlswith would want to veer off course now. After visiting the reeve, who had confirmed Ealawynne would indeed be working for the chandlers for the next three months, they had agreed to go straight back home.
She guided him toward a clearing that soon became familiar. When she jumped down from Gulltoppr and signaled that he should do the same, he’d already understood what she wanted to show him. Taking the hand she extended to him, he followed her to a young, particularly straight oak. On the trunk, recently carved, was a roundish shape complete with what looked like a beak on the left side and two spindly legs underneath. It was the carving she had done for Edwin the day she had confided in him, the day they had eaten snow together.
“A wren?” he guessed, giving the hand he was holding a squeeze.
“A wren,” she confirmed, her voice barely above a breath. “Do you still have your dagger? I need to carve another symbol.”
He reached into his boot and gave her the dagger that had allowed him to free himself and save her from certain death. It was fitting that it should be the tool that would leave a trace of their love in the heart of the forest.
“Please stay this time,” Eahlswith said, a shy smile playing on her lips. “This is about you.”
He watched as she started to etch the new symbol next to the little bird. One tiny nick at a time, she painstakingly created an image in the tree bark.
“I know it doesn’t look like much but it’s not exactly easy to do,” she said once it was finished. She sounded dubious, and a little disappointed with her efforts. Sven wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her to his flank.
“It’s an elf.” He knew because he’d hoped that would be what she would choose. And once you knew, you made sense of the admittedly crude drawing. “A female elf.”
“Yes. But it?—”
“But nothing. It’s perfect.” Certainly better than anything he could have done. He should definitely learn to be more creative.
“I love you, Alva. I have never loved anyone half as much as I love you in this instant and I thank you for wanting to declare your love to me to the world,” he said, cradling her face in his palms.
“I love you too.” She smiled and handed him the dagger back. “So now that the world knows, let’s go tell your family.”
“Osbert took the news into his stride, but I think the people here will be somewhat surprised to hear of my upcoming wedding,” Sven said as they made their way back to Gulltoppr, who had found a patch of grass not covered in snow to nibble on.
That was putting it mildly. Everyone at the village, his own family included, thought marriage was the furthest thing from his mind. He would delight in showing them that it was what he’d wanted from the start. As to the news that he was to have a child within the year, he wasn’t sure what they would make of it. What was certain was that he would strive to offer this baby a childhood as happy as his had been.
“Let’s go see Steinar and Cwenthryth first,” he decided, nudging Gulltoppr into a trot.
His brother and her best friend. It seemed appropriate that they should be the first to be told their news.
They found the whole family, all six of them, outside the hut, making the most of the sunny day to work in the garden. Thetwo boys were sorting out root vegetables, selecting the ones that had best be eaten immediately from the ones that would keep. Steinar was digging a trench in which to put the vegetables that were to be buried for later use. Cwenthryth and Sanna were preparing the straw that would be used to cover them and little Liv was asleep, warm in her cot under a layer of furs. It was a perfect scene of contentment.
“Sven.” His brother’s greeting was matter of fact. Then he stilled and took another, closer look. His gaze fleeted to Eahlswith. “Sven?” he repeated, putting his shovel down. “Do you have something to tell us?”
“Yes, I suppose I do.” He took Eahlswith’s hand. “I am getting married to my very own Saxon beauty.”
Cwenthryth let out a gasp and he was sure she would have thrown herself into her friend’s arms if she had not already been holding Sanna on her lap.
“Oh, but that is wonderful news!” she cried out. “Does it mean that you’re going to live here in the village next to us?”
