A tear escaped her eyes. Her mother used to love watching sunrises and sunsets with her. She would have loved to see this one.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she heard her father say from behind. He landed a hand over her shoulder, giving it a light, comforting squeeze. He had read her thoughts. “And I agree. She would have loved it.”
“I do miss her so.”
“Me too.” Another squeeze. “And I worry for you, Gytha. I think I know why you’ve been sad lately.”
“Sad?” She had tried her best to hide her feelings and she had hoped her father would not have noticed.
“Yes. Having recovered little Osberga was good but it means that we don’t get to see Wolf anymore. Or…Haakon.”
Gytha took in a sharp inhale. He did know. Despite her efforts to try and behave normally, he had seen her despondency and he’d attributed it to the right cause. “Oh, Father, I don’t know what to do.”
“If that is because you’re worried he would only want you because you’re the reeve’s daughter, then push this idea from your mind. Haakon doesn’t care about that.”
No, she didn’t think he did. But that still didn’t mean he wanted her. “I don’t know what to do,” she repeated.
“It’s easy. Go to him.” Her father turned her so that she could face him. “If you think he has been as sad as you have been in the last month, if you think there is even the slightest chance he wants you as you want him, then go to him.”
Her eyes started to burn at the thought of finally being reunited with the man she had fallen in love with.
But was it really as easy as her father was saying? From the start, everything between her and Haakon had been skewed. They had kissed before knowing each other’s names, they had been sent on a mission they had not chosen and forced to work together. Some people had been told they were betrothed, others had assumed they were married. She had played a role to hide her inadequacies, he had taken her for a woman of experience. It had all been a whirlwind of lies, misunderstandings and false impressions.
But despite all that, what she had felt had been real, and what they had shared meant everything to her. Haakon hadmade a woman out of her, he had given her confidence, he had helped her through the most difficult loss of her life, and he had restored her faith in men.
She couldn’t think of a single thing she had done for him in return, a single reason why he would want her.
So…would she be humiliated if she went to him and told him what she felt?
There was only one way to know. But it required courage, courage she wasn’t sure she possessed. She inhaled sharply. She would simply have to find that courage, wouldn’t she? Perhaps fate had nothing to do with this, perhaps it was all down to her and what she was capable of.
“Go, daughter. Your mother didn’t hesitate when she thought she wanted me. Fool that I was, I was waiting, thinking it would never work between us because her family would never accept a man like me.” He gave a rueful smile, lost in memories. “Don’t let Haakon be a fool like I was. You only get one life. Go live it.”
Gytha straightened her back. She wouldn’t be less brave than her mother, who had gone to the man she loved and made sure to get him.
She gave her father a hug. “Yes. I will.”
Haakon had just startedto saw the branch in two when a knock on the door caused his grip on the tool to slip. Dismayed, he looked at the cut on his forefinger.
Sorðinn! Injuring himself was the last thing he needed.
“What is it?” he asked in a snarl, opening the door with unwarranted violence, before taking in a sharp inhale.
Gytha was standing in front of him.
“What are you d-doing here?” he stammered. “Is there a problem with Osberga?”
That silly question was the first thing that came out of his mouth. But he knew everything was fine, having seen the little girl earlier that day. So why had Gytha come? He had spent so much time imagining what he would do the next time he met her, and now that the moment had come, he had no idea what to do—or say.
She bit her lip, looking at a loss herself. “No, I’m not here for Osberga. I’m here for me. I…” Her voice trailed when she saw the blood on his forefinger. “Oh, but you’re hurt!”
He gave a rueful smile as he gave his explanation. “That’s because I was cutting wood. A branch from the tree next to Wolf’s hut that needed trimming.”
Would she answer what he hoped she would? To his delight, she did. “Are you aware that most people would cut wood outside their hut?”
“Yes. Very aware. But I don’t think that women who sew in the middle of the forest can criticize me.”
The smile she threw him was blinding. How he had missed that, along with the joy she sparked in his heart!
