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Trae af Lif (Tree of Life)
The Trae af Lif exists in a garden corner alone and unassuming to the unfamiliar eye. Many countries have claimed ownership of the sacred tree, but Kári knew the authentic tree lived in her palace garden.
Sitting upon a stone bench beneath the tree she reflected upon the past several weeks back at the palace. It hadn’t taken long for her family to welcome her back into the fold of their love which was both surprising and difficult for her to accept at times. Already they acted as if there had never been any discord between them. The past had been forgiven and their future was imminent.
Aõalríkr lived up to his reputation as an honorable man and set out to woo the heart of her beloved baby sister. They spent almost every day together and as they all sat down for dinner each evening it was becoming more and more difficult to find much fault in the man. It was also grueling to watch from afar as he laughed with and purchased gifts for her sister when all she really wanted to do was be the one to make him laugh.
He was perfect. He was perfect for Sefa.
“You’re looking sullen again, Kári.” Sefa sat down next to her, taking Kári’s cooler hand into her own. “Aren’t you happy to be home again?”
Kári squeezed her sister’s delicate hand, forcing a smile on her face. “Of course, I just need time to get used to all of this again.”
“You mean being a princess again instead of a warrior?” Sefa joked with a grin on her beautifully young face.
“You’re a much better princess than I,” Kári admitted. Sefa looked like she wanted to disagree. Before she could contradict her, Kári continued. “What brings you to the garden anyway, sister? I thought you and the prince were going to the theatre.”
“No,” said a deep voice from behind them. Both women turned to see Aõalríkr stride through the winter garden, his mantle billowing about his sturdy body. As he reached the two women, a smile touched his face as his eyes connected with Sefa. Taking her hand into his own, he kissed the back of it gently before releasing it back to her.
Then he turned his attention to her older sister, a hesitant look coming into his eyes. Kári was at once saddened by that look. Though he was never rude to her, he was almost distant and watchful whenever they were forced to be together. But she always found some excuse to get out of being alone with him.
“I’ll leave you two.” Sefa rose quickly before Kári could stop her. “I want to see if we can have something special for tonight’s dinner. See you later, sister.” Kissing Kári on her cool cheek, she took her leave of them.
Aõalríkr sat down in the seat previously occupied by Sefa. He had been waiting for a time to get her alone to speak with her for days now. But every time he tried to corner her, she managed some excuse to escape him.
“You’re a difficult woman to track down,” he began.
“Shouldn’t you be off buying more gifts and things for my sister? You know a woman can never have too many hair combs.” If there was venom in her voice, she didn’t care.
“How many hair combs do you have?” As he asked the question he looked down at her hair. It was too lovely to need the adornments of a comb or bauble. It was perfect as it was. She was perfect; just as she was.
“I do not have time for silly combs,” she informed him tersely. Though she had to admit when she was watching him present her sister with an ivory and gold comb she had a moment of envy. It wasn’t the bauble itself; it was the look on Aõalríkr’s face when he presented it to her.
Aõalríkr suppressed a smile. He was learning to read her. And over the past weeks with her family he had made great strides to find out as much about her as possible. At first it had been Finnr who had told him of their times during the war. Then when he had met Sefa, her sister, he had spent most of their conversations discussing what she had learned of her sister through the stories told to her by her uncle. And finally he had discussed Kári with her aunt and uncle who had been more than happy to divulge many sad and happy stories of her childhood and adulthood. There wasn’t much he didn’t know about her now; except how she felt about him.
“Your sister is a most endearing creature. We have the most interesting conversations.” He watched as her hands, clasped in her lap, clutched themselves tightly to each other. “But I think she has a thing for wolves. I’m afraid I can’t compete with that.”
At first she thought she had heard him incorrectly. “What are you talking about?” she said, turning to look at him for the first time. The half grin and smile in his eyes took her by surprise.
Aõalríkr took her cool hand into his warmer one. He knew about her father and step-father, her mother’s tragic death and her angry words against her family. He couldn’t make those memories go away, nor would he want to. They made the woman who sat so proud and strong beside him. She would never be like her sister, who was a sweet and beautiful girl, but Sefa was not what he wanted.
He had seen her with her family, and though at times he knew it was challenging for her to be with them again, he also knew how much they meant to her. The look in her eyes when she watched her sister simply sitting quietly reading said it all. More than anything he wanted her to look at him like that one day.
“You said that if your sister didn’t find me compatible with her ideal choice in husband that I should rescind my proposal of marriage.” She looked up at him, still confused. “Sefa and I have both agreed that we are not compatible as husband and wife, but she wouldn’t mind if I were her dear brother.”
“What are you saying, Aõalríkr? Your father and my uncle want a marriage to unite the country. How can you go back now after all the effect it took to get you here?”
“Perhaps another princess would be willing to make the sacrifice in her place,” he suggested slyly. “Do you know of anyone willing?”
Kári glanced down at their intertwined hands. She could almost hear her father’s words in her head. Then she could, his beautifully deep voice resonating inside her head.
Give him your heart and he will be truly yours forever.
Taking her hand from his grasp, she reached for her necklace, pulling out the diamond pendant for him to see. Aõalríkr took the charm into his own hand and at once it grew warm as if it recognized him.
Kári took off her necklace letting him hold it for a moment. He looked between the necklace and her. Finnr had told him that she never removed her necklace; ever. Why would she do so now?
Taking it from him she held the chain over his head. “What are you doing,” he questioned her as she laid the necklace over him. As soon as the diamond touched his skin he felt the change come over him.
“I give you my heart. So long as you have it I’ll always be with you.” A true smile lit her face for the first time in weeks. “I guess you’re stuck with me for awhile.”
“I think I’ll manage. If not I can always ask a certain princess I know to extract my head from my shoulders.” He took that moment to kiss her properly.
Kári pulled back, raising her fair eyebrows and looking up at him. “As long as you wear the necklace, I won’t have to my prince.” Then she kissed him back, sealing forever a union that would last through the ages and be recited in the history of two nations that with their children would be united once again.
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The End.
Thank you dear reader for your interest in this work and sincerely hope you enjoyed this short fantasy adventure. I would much appreciate hearing your feedback on my works and look forward to preparing more stories for you in the future.
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