Page 45 of Ulf's Destiny
“I know. So rest a moment. I’m not going anywhere.”
16
Ylva woke up alone. Night had already fallen, which did not surprise her. After weeks of worry and debilitating morning sickness, she was exhausted. Relieved by Ulf’s unexpected support, comforted by his embrace, she had collapsed into oblivion. Was it the middle of the night?
In the corner of the hut, she saw Judith curled up on her pallet, asleep, with her back to her as usual. Ylva smiled to herself. Thanking her friend would have to wait until the morning, but she would definitely thank her for ignoring her wishes and going to get Ulf. It had turned out to be the best thing she could have done.
Careful not to make any noise, Ylva left the pallet. Seized by a sudden need for fresh air, she decided to go outside. No sooner had she closed the door, than she saw Ulf, sitting on a log by a huge fire. Taking advantage of the balmy evening, and not wanting to disturb the women, he had settled there for the night. Above them the sky was awash with stars, a most beautiful sight.
Ulf stood up at her approach and took her hands in his. “Feeling better?”
“Yes, thank you.” She suddenly felt shy in front of him. “Though, I have to warn you, I expect to be quite ill in the morning. It’s been the same for the last three months.”
“Have you been suffering badly then?” He sounded worried.
“I have no real point of comparison, but I would say yes, more than the average woman. Not that I mind,” she hastened to add when his frown deepened. “I love my—our—baby already.”
There was no answer, only a squeezing of the hands. In the flickering light of the flames, she could see the emotion on Ulf’s face. He was thanking her for not resenting this child that had turned her life inside out. Other women might have.
“So, what now?”
His answer came out without hesitation. “You are coming back to the village with me.”
Was she? Was that what he had decided while she slept?
She made to talk but he stopped her with a cutting gesture, the epitome of the forceful Norseman. “Do not think to deny me. We need to talk about this, see what we can do. This is my child as well, and I too, love him or her already.”
He placed a hand over stomach, as if to prove it.
Ylva melted—then gasped.
“What?”
“The babe kicked again. Here. Didn’t you feel it?” Just as Ulf started to shake his head, there was another nudge. His eyes went as big as cart wheels. She could not help a smile. He had not been lying when he’d said he loved this babe already. “It never happened before today. Or, at least, I was not certain that was what I felt. Now I am.”
It felt hugely significant. It was as if the baby had waited for this day, and the first meeting with its father to say hello. It was such a beautiful, emotional moment, and against all odds, Ulf was here to share it with her.
“You two are coming back with me tomorrow,” he said, looking twice as determined as before, now that he had felt his baby. “You need to see someone to check that everything is fine and that this lingering morning sickness is normal, someone who will be able to give?—”
“I cannot go see your mother,” she cut in before he could suggest it. “Surely you see that such a visit would be too awkward.”
Had she made love to Ulf, it would be embarrassing enough. But how could she tell his mother what they had done without dying of shame? Not that she intended to tell anyone who the father was for now or what they had done together. Everyone would assume this child had been conceived the normal way and she would not contradict them.
“Yes.” He seemed to agree that it was best for her not to see his mother. “I will take you to old Helga. She will be able to help you.”
There was a pause.
“Please for now, do not tell her that we—who the baby’s father—who?—”
She wasn’t ready to have everyone know what she and Ulf had shared when they had not even discussed the future.
“No.” Ulf’s eyes were two blue flames in the firelight. Fortunately, he seemed to agree that it was too early to announce their news. “I will just tell her that you came back to the village to tell us where you had settled, and took the opportunity to check that all was progressing as normal, having no one reliable at hand near your new home.”
Yes. That would be best, even if eventually they would have to tell everyone what was happening. At some point, Ulf would want to tell his family that he was going to be a father, and in four months’ time he would introduce his baby to them. But for now, they needed to adjust to their new circumstances and find away to deal with the enormity of the situation, decide what they were to do.
Only that morning, she had been wondering who to raise this child with and here she was, in Ulf’s arms, assured of his support. It seemed too good to be true. And it was all down to one woman.
“I was angry at first, but Judith really did the right thing. I’m so happy I could kiss her,” she murmured, smiling to herself.
