Page 67 of Haakon's Fate
“You’ve become very skilled,” Gytha observed, eyeing the tartlets filled with ground nuts and honey her friend had decided to add to their contribution. It was not doing her a disservice to say that cooking had never been one of her strengths.
“I have.” Eadhild laughed. “Because I’ve realized that it’s really not that difficult to make something tasty. Apparently all Ineeded to gain confidence was someone to appreciate what I do and thank me with bone-melting kisses.”
Yes. Gytha supposed that bone-melting kisses would make many everything better.
Toward the end of the afternoon, everyone made their way to the center of the village where trestle tables and stools had been set up around the well as was usual for special events. Gytha sat with Eadhild and Halfdan at one end of a long table. Her father had taken the place between Wolf and Sigurd, while Haakon was sitting next to his brother-in-law Thorfinn and opposite his sister. This, unfortunately meant that he had his back to her. Not only would she not be able to talk to him, but she wouldn’t see him either.
Apart from that, the banquet was a success, everyone eating and laughing in merry company. Matilda and Osberga, flanked by Inga and old Elfida, were at the center of attention and spoke to dozens of well-wishers.
Arne and Edita did cause a stir in the middle of the meal by announcing they intended to get married before the month was over. While everyone clapped and shouted their congratulations, Gytha stole a glance in Haakon’s direction. He had turned to face the couple so she could see him, for once. There was an odd expression on his face. Did he think, like her, that the moment was ill-chosen, a poor attempt at diverting people’s attention to them? Probably. She didn’t think he was regretting having lost Edita, at least.
When the music started, she hoped Haakon would ask her to dance. But he stayed where he was, arms crossed over his chest. She remembered how she had danced while the troop of musicians had played, imagining his gaze on her. She would never dare dance this way here, in front of people who knew her, in front of her father. And she didn’t fancy dancing for or even with anyone else.
So she used her recent illness as an excuse to refuse the few offers she received from men. No one but Haakon would do, but apparently, he was not interested. And tomorrow, she would leave.
She stood up, determined to go speak to him. At the same moment his father called out to him and led him to a group of men drinking in one corner. The opportunity was lost. Sick to her heart, Gytha sat back down.
After bringing her and Haakon together in an unexpected way, fate seemed to have decided that it was time for them to part ways. They had shared all she had meant for them to share, and that was all there was to it.
It was not long before she returned to Eadhild’s hut and burrowed under the furs her friends had prepared for her.
The following morning, her father announced that he had to go back to town and she couldn’t think of a single reason to delay their departure.
Eadhild was the first to hug her. Then it was Wolf and Merewen’s turn to offer their goodbyes. Finally, Matilda and Osberga both threw themselves into her arms at the same time, sobbing.
“Thank you, thank you so much for what you’ve done for us.”
“Please. It was nothing.”
Gytha was on the verge of tears herself, but she had the impression it had little to do with the gratitude they were showing her.
She stole a glance to the side of the hut.
Haakon, who, thank God, had actually come to see her off, had still not said a word. He was saddling Bear, taking extra care, running his hands all over the horse’s legs and rump, as if in search of an injury they both knew wasn’t there. If she didn’t know any better, she would have said he was giving the animalthe caresses he wanted to give her. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking.
There was a strange lump in her throat. This time it was over. With Osberga safe with her mother once more, there was no reason for the two of them to meet ever again. She could always claim she wanted to visit Eadhild to come to the village of course but it felt disloyal to use her friend as a pretext to come see someone else.
“Goodbye, Haakon,” her father said, bringing an end to the painful moment. “And thanks again.”
“Yes. Thank you for everything you did for me,” Gytha murmured in turn. “During my illness and during the ride to the village.”
Would he understand the allusion to their night in the shepherd’s hut? Something flashed in his blue eyes, indicating that he had.
“It was my pleasure,” he murmured back.
Pleasure. At the word, everything within her dissolved.
Not only that but her insides felt as if they were wrenched apart. Yet she remained silent.
Where was the assured, brazen woman she had tried to be in his presence? Now was the time to call her back.Shewould make sure this parting was as it should be, make sure he understood her heart was breaking in two.
Gytha climbed onto her horse and rode away without a backward glance.
20
This morning the sky appeared even wider than usual, and ablaze with colors. Long strands of crimson and orange stretched over a mass of purple clouds so dense it looked as if mountains had appeared overnight over the horizon, changing the landscape. The illusion didn’t last long. Little by little, blue patches of sky pierced through the mass, the flames faded away and soon, nothing was left of the dramatic flare that had transformed the world the space of a precious moment. The sky was restored to his usual, pale blue.
The display had been as brief as it had been spectacular, reminding Gytha of her time with Haakon. A few short weeks of shocking intensity followed by an interminable month of lethargy.
