Chapter 14 #3
The knock was self-assured and masculine, nothing like the tentative and feminine one he’d been waiting to hear.
Torsten closed his eyes in disappointment.
Over the last few days, he’d received many a visit.
His parents, Steinar, Moon, Haakon, even Aife’s brothers, Eirik and Elwyn.
He’d hoped to see Aife herself but it would seem that she was avoiding him.
Since Sigurd and Bjorn had brought him back to the village, she had not visited him once.
Why? Did she feel guilty for causing his injury, as she had hinted at the Saxon village?
Or had she lost interest in him, now that he could do naught but lie on his pallet?
He dearly hoped not, but unfortunately, he could not just go to her and find out.
He could have asked someone to carry him to her hut, of course, but he refused to leave his house other than on his own two feet.
A second knock, more forceful, made it clear the visitor was not going to be dissuaded so easily. Torsten wasn’t sure he wanted to answer, only to be seen in such a pitiful state by someone who was not a close friend. Nevertheless, he called out.
“Enter.”
Feeling more powerless than ever, he watched Sven walk inside the hut with his usual swagger. What wouldn’t he give to shoot up to his feet and give him a slap on the shoulder, as they usually did.
“Brother. Good afternoon.”
To his credit, Sven behaved as if nothing was amiss, as if it were normal that someone his age should lie on his pallet like a crippled old man in the middle of the day.
“What do you want?” Torsten asked none too graciously. Unlike his carefree brother, he was having difficulty pretending everything was as it should be.
“Mother came to see me this morning. She gave me some roasted trout for my dinner tonight. But I’ve been invited to eat with Elwyn and Bee. I didn’t have the heart to tell her but I don’t want the fish to spoil. So, here, you can have it.”
With those words he deposited a wooden plate on the table.
On it was the roasted trout, as well as a chunk of rye bread and some freshly churned butter.
Mm. This seemed like a ploy to provide him with food, but Torsten didn’t comment.
His brother was only trying to help without making him feel bad.
He was a good man, one of the most personable he knew, which was probably what had drawn countless women to him, including Aife.
Aife. The thought of her was a punch to the gut. Was she still in love with Sven?
After their heated encounter the other day he had done his best to ignore the question, but spending his day lying on his pallet with nothing else to do than think meant that he’d tortured himself wondering if her feelings for his little brother had changed.
He’d also wondered if Sven was interested in her.
And if he was, did he intent to act on his desire?
It was not impossible. Torsten had changed his mind about a woman who’d been a childhood friend.
Why wouldn’t his brother, who had a notorious roaming eye, not consider bedding another beautiful, willing conquest?
Aife had done all she could to attract his attention.
So, had she succeeded?
Taking a deep inhale, Torsten decided to ask the difficult question.
He might not be able to will himself onto his feet, but he could at least set his mind at rest once and for all.
And perhaps knowing he had nothing to worry about would help motivate him regain his strength.
He refused to think of the other option—that he would have his worst fears confirmed and lose Aife.
“Tell me,” he said while Sven started to brush the cold ashes from the fire pit into the small wooden shovel he’d taken from the hook on the wall. “What do you think of Aife?”
“Aife?” The arched eyebrow and the surprise in his tone were enough to indicate that Sven didn’t think much of her, aside from the fact that she was a friend. “What do you mean? That I should resent her for what happened to you? Well, I don’t. It was an accident.”
“No, I don’t mean that. I know she is not to blame, as you say, it was an accident. I mean, have you ever considered bedding her?” There. It could not be clearer.
“Aife?” There really was no mistaking the shock in Sven’s voice.
He had not entertained the idea once, would likely never do.
The knot in Torsten’s chest started to loosen.
Perhaps he could set his mind at rest. He wouldn’t have to watch as his charming brother whisked her from under his nose.
“Sigurd’s daughter? No, of course, I have not!
Why would you even think such a thing? Have you gone mad?
Next, you will be suggesting I bed Eirik. ”
Torsten’s mouth quivered at the idea of the two brawny men in bed together. “Well, no, I would not, for it is not quite the same, is it?”
“It is to me.” Sven straightened back up, pan in hand. “We are friends, have been forever.”
“I know, but things can change.” They had already changed, in fact, as far as he was concerned.
Aife was much more than a friend to him now, he definitely had no problem imagining bedding her and he didn’t think himself mad for it.
It was the most wonderful thing that had happened to him in a while, perhaps ever.
She had given him his confidence back, and hope that he could lead the same life as any man.
If he recovered from his injury, of course.
“Yes, things can change but not with…” Sven shook his head, indicating that no matter how much he tried, he just could not see Aife in a different light. “No. I mean, you know, I like her well enough but I will never…”
Instead of finishing his sentence, Sven went outside to dispose of the ashes.
Torsten relaxed. There was no need to insist. His brother would never see her as a possible conquest, never mind wife.
Not that he was looking to settle anyway.
Poor Aife. She had been fighting a losing battle from the start.
Nothing she did would ever make Sven see her differently.
She would never stir his interest, whether she laughed at his stories or kissed other men. It had all been in vain. Except…
Except that it had not. It had made him see her differently. And he was most definitely ready to settle.
Ready to fight and give himself, and her, a chance at a life neither of them had hoped to have.
“Now,” he said with decision, lifting himself onto his elbows once Sven had come back inside.
“Please go get Steinar. You two big brutes will hold me up while I see what strength I have left in my legs, if any. It’s been three days since the accident, plenty of time, I should think, to restore some semblance of vigor to my body and start moving about.
Just…you know. Don’t say anything to Mother or Faeir in case we find out that there is no hope of me ever being able to walk again. ”
There was no pity or doubt in his little brother’s eyes. He merely nodded, as if he’d expected the request all along and had every faith in his ability.
“Well, you had better get yourself back into working order because I’m not carrying you around like a babe. Don’t get me wrong, I’m strong enough to do it, but we would both look ridiculous. Besides, I still need to make you pay for the beating I received the other day.”
The short nod Sven gave would have brought a lump to Torsten’s throat if he’d allowed it. “Yes, you do.”
“Very well, then. Let me go get Steinar.”