Page 7 of A Winter Courtship
They passed oreads, who watched them and whispered. Then an oread came toward them, looking between his mother and Lutoth. Finally, his gaze fixed on Lutoth, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Is this my son?” the strange oread choked.
“It is,” his mother said, voice strained, hand tightening on Lutoth’s.
The man knelt and pulled Lutoth into a hug.
Lutoth hadn’t known what to do. It had been a strange and awkward experience for Lutoth, meeting the oread who was his father. It took a while before he warmed up.
Over the years, he and his father had bits and pieces of time together. During one of their visits, his father asked his mother for Lutoth to stay with him.
“Lutoth is a sylph!” Lutoth heard his mother saying. “He is not capable of staying with his feet firmly in one place.”
And so Lutoth continued to travel with her, and when he was old enough, he travelled alone. But after so many years, he found himself growing weary of always moving. He found himself yearning for a home, somewhere to rest his feet. Somewhere secure and safe amongst the mountains and rocks. And he wanted someone to share a home with.
He’d been feeling that way when he visited Ores eleven months ago. He saw Ulrich, and all the pieces slotted into place. Like fate. And he decided he wanted a home in Ores with Ulrich.
Still, after his father’s words, he doubted himself. So he didn’t approach Ulrich.
He needed to prove to his father, to the others, and to himself that he wouldn’t leave. That he was not fickle and could remain constant. So he remained in the valley for the past eleven months, planning his courtship without visiting Ores or seeing Ulrich.
Instead, he’d used that time to plan a proper Solstice courtship. And today he’d finally put it into action.
He spotted Auntie Mila, his cousin, Sero, and Sero’s partner, Aryn, speaking with Lutoth’s father at the entrance of his father’s cave.
“How did it go?” Auntie Mila asked as he approached.
“Well,” Lutoth said. “I think.” He laughed, giving a nervous smile. “Ulrich seemed surprised, but he took the wrin flower.”
Auntie Mila clapped her hands together as an excited noise escaped her.
“That’s good, son,” his father said, beaming. “Very good.”
“He did seem a little shocked and taken aback.” Lutoth hoped that was all right. He’d never been serious about anyone before. He’d had lovers. Many. But only temporary. He didn’t want Ulrich to be temporary.
“It isn’t surprising that he was shocked,” Sero said. “He keeps to himself a lot, and being courted no doubt startled him.”
“I’m sure it went well.” Lutoth’s father squeezed Lutoth’s arm.
“Of course it did! Why wouldn’t Ulrich want someone as beautiful as Lutoth?” Auntie Mila said.
“Was meeting him different from how you imagined? Twenty years is a long time,” Sero asked.
Lutoth thought of the big man’s shyness, how easily he’d blushed, and how sweet he’d been to his reindeer. Still so gentle.
“He was just as I remembered,” Lutoth said softly. “Although much bigger, obviously.” He paused. “But maybe I’d thought, or hoped, he’d recognise me.” Maybe smile at Lutoth like he once had. “But I’m in no rush. I can be patient. I’m determined to win his heart.”
“I’ve never spoken to him much. To be honest, he’s always seemed a little intimidating to me,” Aryn said. “So big and brooding. Whenever I walk past the smithy, he’s always pounding away and grunting.”
Lutoth hadn’t seen Ulrich at the smithy, but he suddenly felt a desire to drop in and watch the man at work.
“He gets sweaty when he works,” Sero said, a twinkle in his eyes as if he knew exactly where Lutoth’s mind had gone. “And sometimes when he finishes, he takes off his shirt and wipes it across his chest.”
“He may look intimidating, but he’s just shy,” Auntie Mila said. “He’s just a big bear who needs some love.”
“And Lutoth is more than happy to give him some love,” Sero said with a laugh.
“And he understood everything you said?” his father asked.
