Epilogue
Freija
I’d never been into Halvar’s quarters and realized now that that had been wise. The place looked like a bear had run rampant and made a mess of half the contents.
“Erm… Have you thought about tidying?”
“I barely spend time in here anymore, why would I need to clean?” he said while searching for some maps of our eastern mountains.
“Fair enough.” For the past few weeks he’d slept in my room, and I couldn’t recall a time I’d been happier. Waking up in his arms was a blissful feeling that I was never letting go of.
Looking for somewhere to perch for the rest of the quick visit, I found a single chair cast aside, one leg broken. The only other spot was the bed, which wasn’t an option thanks to the man in front of it.
Ancestors, this room needed to be cleaned. I wasn’t always the tidiest, but it looked like Halvar had let a wind storm in here. Papers and plans were strewn about, the hearth looked like it hadn’t seen a broom in months, and a torn up uniform sat in one corner.
“What did you do to this uniform?” I crossed the room and picked up the remaining tatters. Small rectangles had been ripped from it.
“It didn’t fit.”
“So, you used it for fire fuel?” I asked, turning to face him.
He paled. Eyes locked on mine. What was that look?
It couldn’t be worry, could it? I glanced back at the material in my hands.
The soft gray wool was standard for all of our uniforms, with silver threads and leather straps used for embellishment and utility.
I held it out again and a memory flashed across my mind.
A memory of two gifts. Books that had been wrapped in gray material like this with a little note, H.
I gasped and spun around. “Those books weren’t from Hans.”
Halvar didn’t move.
“They were from you!”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me assume they were from Hans?” I set aside the material on the table and crossed my arms.
Halvar mimicked my posture. “It was safer that way.”
“You may have a point there.”
“I always do.”
My mouth hung open. “Careful there, soldier, you’re getting a bit cocky.”
He gave me a sly grin. “Don’t you know it.”
Oh goodness, did I know.