Dawn broke through the sky early the following morning, encouraging those still asleep to rise and embrace the day. As a shaft of light penetrated through the canopy of branches above Aõalríkr’s head he opened his emerald green eyes to the first rays of this day’s light. Once again he was sitting beneath the ancient tree that he had rested under the previous night. The dream world usually puts you back from where it took you; not always though.
He could see the bustle of activity in the camp as his guards and the eastern warriors were putting themselves together for their journey to the capital. They all looked well rested and he might even speculate that many of them appeared more lively and happier than yesterday. A good dreamless sleep can do that for a body.
Today he would meet his future wife. Though he and his father had been planning this union for months, only now was the full import of his impending marriage sinking in. Then there was another matter. More accurately, another person who’s very presence had turned his acquiescence of marriage on its side. If only he had never stumbled upon her in the woods, it might have been easier to accept his lot as husband to an unknown princess. But now it had all changed. And he didn’t feel quite so self-assured anymore.
“I swear that was the best sleep I’ve had in ages.” Eymundr stretched his long arms over his head as he breathed in the morning air. “What about you, did you sleep all right?”
“Fine,” she answered solemnly. Brushing the long mane of her hross affectionately, Kári nuzzled its warm side as she held onto its bridle. “We should get going now.”
Just then Finnr approached them, greeting Eymundr with a friendly pat on the arm. Plastering a sympathetic look upon his face, he turned his focus over to Kári. She refused to meet his look as she was still upset by his mischievous interference of her dreams last night.
“We’re ready to depart. I’ve instructed the prince’s guards to follow a good length behind us should there be problems in the capital.” When she didn’t respond, he continued. “I imagine we’ll be inside the city gates by late this afternoon; if not before. I’ve already sent an informant ahead of us to warn your family of your arrival.”
“When did you do this?” Kári asked, still holding herself against the flesh of her hross.
“A few days ago,” he answered her straightforwardly. There was no sense in trying to be delicate about the matter. Finnr knew she wouldn’t have sent someone ahead to warn her family of her arrival and he wanted more than anything for this reunion to go well for all of them. “Are you angry with me, Kári? Remember I was only thinking of you.”
Expelling a great sigh, she pulled herself together enough to launch herself onto the back of her hross. The animal didn’t react to the sudden weight on its back. They had known each other too long for it to be surprised by anything Kári did.
She glared angrily down from her seat on her hross. “I don’t care what you do, Finnr. Tell the men that I’m ready to leave. I wish this day were already over with.” With a flick of her hand she and her animal moved away from them into the dense forest.
“I’d really like to know what is going on between you two.” Eymundr remarked as he pulled himself onto the back of his hross. Situating himself in the saddle he gazed down at the shorter man he called friend. “But I’m in too good a mood to spoil it by finding out.” He gave a grime look out into the woods where Kári was even now waiting by herself. He couldn’t see her, but he knew she was there. He felt her grief like it was his own and her turmoil of emotions over something she thought she couldn’t ever possess, but secretly wanted all the same.
“You better ride behind me today, Finnr. Just in case she takes a notion to loping off your head before we reach the capital.”
Finnr nodded his head in agreement.
The capital city of Laeradberg was fast approaching them on the horizon. It could be seen from miles as it was situated on the crest of a large hill, enclosed within a ring of frost tipped mountains. A massive structure of marble and steel, the capital had remained well preserved despite the hardships of the rest of the country. It stood as a testament to the Haldis and Solveig families’ ingenuity and perseverance.
Kári rode out ahead, Finnr and Eymundr quickly flanking her as she approached the city border. The high marble wall face stretched into the sky; an almost impenetrable slab of rock that would dissuade the most foolhardy from trying to breech. From where she sat she could already see the guards moving about above them on the catwalk. By now they were likely informing the gatekeeper of their arrival.
Kári instructed Eymundr to raise her personal flag which depicted a wren bird sitting upon an ash branch holding a piece of the rainbow Bifrost within its tiny beak. Only she possessed such a patterned flag and all who saw it would instantly know who it belonged to.
The gates were quickly opened in welcome, parting to reveal the bright interior of the inner city. This was it. After so many years of running from this moment it was finally here. With a subtle nod to the gatekeeper and the guards lined against the opened gates, Kári rode through, her head held high. She was ready to face her family.
The court rooms where many of the politicians and associates of the royal family came to converse and make plans, was surprisingly empty today. A guard had led Finnr, Eymundr, Kári and Aõalríkr into an anteroom where they were asked to wait before the royal family would greet them.
Kári was still not speaking to Finnr and Aõalríkr refused to even look at Kári. They had spoken little to each other during the day. She had seen, however, Finnr take Aõalríkr off to the side as they conversed in private. She told herself she didn’t care what had been said between them. The truth would come out now for all to witness. In a few moments Aõalríkr would have some of his questions about her answered.
The steel and glass doors to the private parlor where the royal family accepted personal guests was opened by a short balding man that Kári did not at first recognize. When she had left he had been a young man. He smiled his greetings to them all, addressing Aõalríkr as he welcomed them into the parlor.
The four of them strode down the long room as they made their way to a sitting area placed near a roaring fireplace. Something fragrant was burning within a pot on the fire, bringing the smell of spring into the otherwise cold and sterile room.
Kári had barely reached the sitting area when a woman of similar looking age to her turned about in a rear facing chair and literally gawked at her. Her long dark blonde hair fell over the upholstered arm of the chair, nearly reaching the floor. Her eyes widened as she took in all of Kári. Then she was on her feet and rushing for her.
Kári wasn’t at first aware of what was happening until the young woman was in her arms, holding herself tightly to her body. Instinctively her own arms came around her to hold her tight. Several inches shorter than Kári, the young woman’s head seemed to fit perfectly over her heart.
My sister, she thought.
Sefa Haldis held onto her older sister as if she was afraid she would slip away again. All she had to remember her sister was a small cameo that she kept on a stand by her bed. She looked exactly the same as she had in the picture, which was what surprised her so much at first. She had changed much, but her sister had remained the same. Looking at them, no one would suspect their vast difference in years.
Sefa’s mother had birthed her late in life and had died when she was young. And her only sister had left her to fight in a war that had lasted far longer than expected. But now she was home. This time to stay, she hoped.
“I’ve missed you so much, Kári. Please don’t ever leave us again.”
Kári could feel the warm tears as they damped her skyrta and once again she felt warmth penetrate the diamond pendant about her neck. “I’ve missed you too, sister,” she whispered into her ear.
Ragnarr and Lína Solveig stood quietly by their chairs as they watched their nieces as they embraced. Sefa had been so excit
ed when news had arrived that her beloved older sister was returning to them. Ragnarr felt a deep weight lift from his heart as he once again saw his niece after so many years of wondering about her fate. She had returned to them whole and this time he would make certain that she never felt the need to leave them again.