Page 5 of A Winter Courtship
Bile rose in Ulrich’s throat. He pressed his hand to Ethel’s fur, glad she couldn’t understand his father’s words.
“I wonder if your brother will visit us this year for the Solstice. Or perhaps he’ll stay in Bordertown like last year. Ungrateful brat. Too soft for the mountains, that boy.” He spat on the ground. “Always has been. He is much better suited to Bordertown and all their city ways. Better off with your mother’s family.”
“He had to work last year,” Ulrich said.
“That’s what he told us.” His father shook his head. “After all I’ve done for him, I still can’t believe he’d abandon me. It was hard work looking after two young boys after your mother died. But I did it, and how does he repay me? By leaving. Too much like his mother.”
Ulrich’s hand tightened in Ethel’s fur.
“I should never have married that woman. Too pretty. Too dainty. Too weak to survive these mountains. But I was caught up in her beauty,” he said. “If I had been thinking clearly, I wouldn’t have married her. Then I wouldn’t have been left with two boys to look after on my own.”
She didn’t choose to leave us. She died.
“I should have married someone from Ores,” his father went on. “Not some small-boned, part-nymph chit from Bordertown. Only the tough survive here. Mark my words: don’t get caught up in some pretty creature’s spell. That’s my warning to you, Ulrich.” His father stared at Ulrich as if waiting for Ulrich to respond.
Ulrich said nothing.
“Well, you best be off,” his father said. “Already a bit late to be starting work, isn’t it?” His father glanced at the sun. “Wouldn’t want anyone stopping at the smithy and not finding you there.”
Ulrich nodded. “I’ll go now,” he said, and Ulrich and Ethel walked off.
Ulrich knew no one would be waiting at the smithy, and even if someone had turned up, they could wait a few minutes or just come back later. It wouldn’t be a big deal.
Still, he couldn’t help but feel that he’d failed his father. Again. It was like every time he stood before the man, Ulrich felt ten years old and two inches tall. Like he was a little boy, desperate for a word of approval. Approval that never came.
ChapterFour
It was finally happening! After a year of planning, Lutoth was finally courting Ulrich!
The wind danced along his skin as Lutoth strolled through the forest. A giddy smile danced on his lips. A mixture of nerves and excitement had flowed through his blood as he approached the man.
But it had all gone well! He’d spoken to Ulrich. He’d heard the man’s deep, rumbly voice that warmed Lutoth’s insides until he thought he’d melt like a puddle into the snow. Ulrich’s dark-brown eyes had stared at Lutoth. And Ulrich had taken Lutoth’s Solstice gift.
It had been everything he’d hoped for. Although, perhaps not everything.
The man had seemed confused and unnerved, not exactly pleased with Lutoth’s approach. But he’d no doubt just been surprised and taken aback. Perhaps he’d be happy to see Lutoth tomorrow. He hoped Ulrich would be happy to see him.
Lutoth practically vibrated at the thought of seeing Ulrich again and presenting him with the second Solstice gift.
Eleven months he’d waited. Eleven months since he’d first laid eyes on Ulrich. Although, that wasn’t true. It had been the first time he’d laid eyes on Ulrich in about twenty years.
Eleven months ago, he’d been at the Solstice festivities in Ores, looking around whilst standing by a firepit. He’d been with Sinoe, Yael, and Yurem, oreads from the valley, as well as Sinoe’s new companion, Edwin.
The others spoke about some potter and Ori, another oread from the valley. But Lutoth barely paid the conversation any attention. Instead, he fixated on one person. On the big, hulking man standing with a reindeer.
At first, Lutoth couldn’t explain why he was so captivated. The man seemed withdrawn from the others in the village, his expression sullen and shoulders hunched. Like he couldn’t wait to leave. Lutoth felt drawn to him. But he didn’t know why.
Then the man looked at the reindeer. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of oats to feed her. The man’s demeanour relaxed, eyes softening. He smiled.
Lutoth’s chest tightened almost painfully.
He knew that smile.
It had been about twenty years, but he would never forget that smile. He’d been but a youngling of fourteen. Back then, the boy would smile at Lutoth just like he smiled at the reindeer. A sweet smile. Lutoth remembered that smile and how it had awakened feelings and yearnings inside him.
His first crush.
The burly man looked nothing like the boy he’d played with when he was fourteen. Back then, the man had been on the small side. But since then he’d grown and grown, amassing muscle and facial hair. But Lutoth knew it was him.
