Page 26 of A Winter Courtship
“Well…um… I just make things from metal,” he said. He could feel all three sets of eyes on him.
“And you stand around, getting all hot and sweaty? I imagine that’s quite a sight.” Ketho gave Lutoth a wink.
“Ketho,” Lutoth said, a slight tone of warning in his voice.
“Sorry.” Ketho laughed. “But it appears the courtship is going well.”
“It is.” Lutoth smiled, glancing at Ulrich, eyes warm and filled with affection.
The firelight’s reflection danced in his eyes. Beautiful. Lutoth was beautiful. Beyond beautiful. And he wanted Ulrich.
Ulrich relaxed, returning the smile.
“Yes, it looks like it is going very well,” Ketho mused, eyes twinkling as he looked between the two.
The conversation continued as they ate. Ulrich felt himself becoming more at ease with Jarne and Ketho’s presence. Although, Jarne still seemed uptight and not keen to engage in conversation.
“And I meant to make dinner tonight for Ulrich’s Solstice gift, but I burnt it.” Lutoth laughed. “Thankfully, Ulrich was there to save the day.” He reached out and squeezed Ulrich’s arm.
“I just opened the windows and put the pot outside,” Ulrich said.
“You saved us!” Lutoth said. “Without him, his cabin would have burnt down completely. And then poor Ulrich and Ethel, that’s his sweet pet reindeer, would have nowhere to live, and it would all be my fault.”
Ketho laughed, and Jarne even cracked a smile.
Lutoth carried the conversation easily, but he constantly included Ulrich, without requiring Ulrich to speak much. He wondered if Lutoth included him intentionally.
“Well, we should return to our cabin,” Lutoth said, rising. “Ethel must be wondering where Ulrich is.”
They said their goodbyes. But as they were walking to the door, Ulrich noticed one person staring at him and Lutoth. Whilst his father wasn’t on friendly terms with most in the village, he tolerated this man, Helor. They spoke sometimes, although not often.
Ulrich had felt comfortable here because his father never ate at the store. He only ever came to buy supplies in the morning. But he should have considered word could get back to his father.
The calm soured in Ulrich’s stomach.
Of course, Ulrich knew eventually his father would find out about him and Lutoth. But just the thought sent his nerves into a frenzied panic. What would his father say when he saw Lutoth, so beautiful, or as his father would say, so pretty, dainty, and weak? Not to mention his father’s ridiculous prejudice against nymphs.
“You’re being a fool.” His father would sneer. “You’re making the same mistake I did. Getting befuddled by beauty. Just look at him.”
Even though Lutoth was a nymph and built for these mountains, his father wouldn’t care. That wouldn’t matter to him. All he would see was how slender and pretty Lutoth was. Like Ulrich’s mother. That would blind his father to everything else.
But his father really did keep to himself mostly, and even if he was on reasonable terms with Helor, Ulrich knew they didn’t talk much. Ulrich hoped Helor and his father wouldn’t talk anytime soon. He just needed a little more time. Then he could rally his courage and face his father.
ChapterSeventeen
Using his tongs, Ulrich held the metal against the anvil. He hammered both sides, the metal growing thinner and longer. This would be one of the hoops for Odara’s grandchildren.
He smiled as he worked, his morning playing through his mind.
“I have to get up,” Ulrich had said. “I have to go to the smithy.”
“No,” Lutoth protested. “Just stay a few more minutes.” Lutoth’s arms and legs, like vines, wrapped around Ulrich, pulling him down onto the mattress. “You’re so warm and good to snuggle with.” He yanked the blanket back into place over them, refusing to let Ulrich leave.
Relenting, Ulrich relaxed, and Lutoth let out a happy sigh. Ulrich only planned to remain in bed a minute or two, but instead, he fell asleep. Before Lutoth, he had never slept in. He had never had a reason to. Finally, he scrambled from bed. Lutoth laughed as they got ready and left the cabin.
Thankfully Ethel had gotten used to the late risings and could wait longer for her morning walks.
It had been two weeks since he and Lutoth had become a pair. Two weeks of bliss and happiness. He didn’t think he had ever smiled as he worked. He didn’t think he’d ever smiled so much in his entire life. His life was just better. Fuller. Happier.
