Page 181 of North Is the Night
Milja places a hand on my arm. “It was the will of the gods, Siiri. No one is to blame. The girls arrived at the break of winter,” she goes on. “They were such a gift to us, a balm after those dark times.”
“And Riina?” I press, desperate to give Aina any good news. “Satu?”
“She returned home,” Helmi replies. “As did Satu. But my parents are dead. I was living with an aunt who never cared much for me. She thought I was a burden. I came here and met Aina’s people and felt so at home. You’ve all been so kind to me,” she adds, glancing around.
“You’re a good girl,” says Mummi. “You’ve found your place here.”
Helmi smiles, blushing as she takes a sip of her tea.
I lean back in my chair. “Ahh, you’re my brother’s intended?”
She nods.
“When do you marry?”
“In a fortnight,” Mummi says for her. “And we’ll all be made very happy by it. Helmi has been living here with Milja. But when they marry, she’ll come live with us.”
I reach for my cup of tea, and all the women look at my tattoos. “You don’t need to be afraid of these,” I say with a smile. “They’re not the marks of Kalma or a witch. They’re the marks of a shaman. To rescue Aina from Tuonela, I went north to find Väinämöinen. He taught me how to cross over the realms. He gave me the marks.”
“How did you break her free?” Helmi whispers.
“In the end, Tuoni let her go,” I reply. “He realized she was safer in life than in death.”
“Gods be praised,” Milja says, eyes closed.
“There’s something you should all know,” I add.
They all look to me, expressions wary.
Aina gave me her blessing to do this. It has to be done. They have to understand. “Aina is pregnant with Tuoni’s child.”
Gasps go up around the table.
“That is why we haven’t returned to you sooner,” I explain. “We’ve decided to wait until after the child is born. Aina needs comfort and rest and safety. We have that where we are now.”
“And where is that?” Milja presses.
I give her a weak smile. “North... that’s all I’ll say for now. But wewillreturn,” I add before she can protest. Reaching out, I take her hand. “Aina and I are returning south. The gods have given us a sacred mission.”
“A sacred mission?” Liisa echoes from her spot at the end of the table, her fair brows arched high.
I nod. “We’re going to free our people from the Swedes and their god. We’re going to unite the Finns. We’re going to fight... and we’re going to win.”
Silence meets my pronouncement. Four sets of eyes gaze at me in fear and confusion.
Mummi breaks the silence first. “Siiri...”
“I’m not Siiri anymore,” I say, letting the last hammer fall. “Well, notonlySiiri.”
“Who are you?” Milja whispers.
Pulling on the ancient wells of magic pooled deep inside me, I raise my hands and begin to hum, singing a song of spring—fresh rains and budding flowers and new blades of grass. I let my music pour out of me, filling the air. The women cry out as they see the light of my magic in my eyes. I wave my hand around the room, quickening my spring song. Garlands of flowers snake around the rafters and up the walls—great blooms of fireweed and purple harebells, daisies and yellow irises. Water lilies bloom from our teacups.
I let the song fade and stand, placing my hands flat on the table. The women look all around in shock. The inside of Milja’s house now looks like an enchanted garden. Bees and butterflies flutter amongst the blooms. I smile, reciting the last few lines of my farewell song. “Watch for me at dawn of morning, that I may bring back the Sampo, bring anew the harp of joyance, bring again the golden moonlight, bring again the silver sunshine, peace and plenty to the Northland.”
Mummi nods with tears of pride in her eyes.
“I am the new Väinämöinen,” I say. “His magic is mine now. And I am here to tell you faithful few: I am coming. Look for me journeying down from the north. A queen will walk at my side. Tell everyone: Väinämöinen returns.”
