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Chapter Text

With elbows on the table, head in hands and slight blurred vision caused by the mead, Birna is sitting at one of the tables of the longhouse, studying intensely the Jarl and her second in command.

At that distance, Birna can’t hear what Eivor and Randvi are talking about. She doesn’t care, though. She needs to see, not to hear. Because yes, Birna is drunk, but not blind.

There is something going on between the two women. Since months, no, even years. Since her first arrival at Ravensthorpe, she saw a bond stronger than a simple friendship. She saw fondness, devotion, love.

Ah, Birna loves love. She loves to love and to be loved. She loves how love could make you feel: powerful and vulnerable, strong and weak. She loves to listen to love stories, to how people fall in love, how they care for their beloved, despite all the circumstances. How the threads of fate bond two people for life.

That’s why Birna is staring at her friends, who are chatting and giggling at another table. Because they are hiding a love saga. Of that, Birna is dead sure.

Somebody waves their hand in front of her. Birna blinks, grunting a little at the distraction sitting next to her. Vili gives her a pat on the shoulder while he follows where Birna’s eyes looked at.  

“Why were you staring at them?” he asks with curiosity as Rollo sits next to him, bringing some mead for Vili and Birna. “Who was staring at who?” the younger raiders asks. Vili points Eivor and Randvi with his chin. Rollo hums but doesn’t understand the reason why.

Finally Birna turns to her fellow raiders. She narrows her eyes, whether for the mead or concentration, they can’t tell. “What do you think about them?”

Rollo knits his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

The conversation must have sense only in Birna’s mind, because Rollo and Vili really don’t know what she means. “Well, Eivor and I have been friends since – ”

But Birna stops Vili with a shake of the head. “Don’t care. I mean, about them together.”

Vili shrugs, still not understanding what Birna means. “They are… good leaders?”

“No!” Birna exclaims impatiently. “I mean –”she uses her hands to make a show of two people kissing, so Vili and Rollo raise their eyebrows in realisation. “Ah! Like that!”

“Finally!” Birna groans. Rollo gives a looks to the two women and then to Birna. “Do you think there are together?”

Birna takes a long sip of mead before answering him. “Maybe they are together, maybe not,” she waves exaggeratedly  her hands as she talks, to the point Vili needs to dodge them, “but they are clearly in love with each other. Come on, look at them!”

Vili and Rollo do observe them, but after some moments Rollo speaks. “I’m sorry but I don’t see anything.”

He earns a groan of disappoint from Birna. “That’s because you don’t see beyond the end of your penis!”

The younger raider snorts a laugh. “Sorry to disappoint you, oh almighty Birna.”

Vili strokes his chin as he thinks. “Our friend here could be right, though. I mean, I recently noticed Eivor is the kindest person when she is around Randvi, she is so only with her and the children.”

For this, Birna looks at him with shining, wide-open eyes. “Yes! That’s right, she is!”

“But then again, they could be just good friends,” Vili adds. Birna’s eyes roll with annoyance. “Friends my ass! You don’t look at your friends with heart eyes! They are in love, I’m telling you.”

She takes another sip, before almost slamming it back down on the table . “You know what? I bet that half of Ravensthorpe knows that Eivor and Randvi are in love with each other!”

Rollo chuckles. “Sure, we could ask the people!” he jokes, but Birna turns her head with a deadpan stare. “Deal.”

“What is happening?” Rollo whispers to Vili, who shrugs. “I think Birna wants to ask around.”

“And why not?” Birna’s words are slurred at this point. “It won’t hurt!”

Vili hums with a smirk. “Even better, why don’t you ask directly to Eivor and Randvi?”

Birna doesn’t answer, just snorts a laugh. She looks down to her mug.

Vili turns to Rollo and laughs. “No way. Can you imagine her asking them?” But Rollo doesn’t laugh along. “She is doing it,” he says as he glances at their friend with eyes wide open.

Vili follows his gaze and his jaw drops. “Oh oh.” It’s true, Birna is stumbling towards the leaders of Ravensthorpe, ready to ask them a very uncomfortable question.

“Should we stop her?” Rollo asks as he moves to stand up, but Vili blocks him with a hand on his shoulder. “Nah, let’s see how it will go!”

“Sunbeam! Sunset!” Birna announces her presence with a shout as she approaches. Randvi is a little taken aback. “Sunset?”

Eivor half-smiles. “I believe it’s your new name.”

 Birna nods and giggles. “Yes! It’s for your –” she points her own head, “you know?”

“Yes, I figured.”

“Do you like it?”

“Well – ” Randvi starts to say but Birna sits in front of them, hitting the table and making it shakes so forcefully that Eivor and Randvi have to secure their mugs with both hands. Birna smiles, mouthing an apology before drinking the rest of the mead.

“So!” Birna begins, “Why am I here?”

“Um, that’s our question?” Eivor says, looking at her raider with confusion. “Question! Yes!” Birna exclaims, the word reminds her to her mission.

She places her palms on the table, trying to give her friends a serious stare – a  very difficult task at this level of drunkenness.  

“You,” she points her finger to Eivor, who furrows her brow, still confused. “You are happy.”

Eivor nods slowly, taking her time to understand what she means. “Yes? Things here in Ravensthorpe are going well.”

“I’m not talking about Rav –” hiccup “– sthorpe. I mean, you are not suffering anymore.”

“I don’t understand.”

“For loveee.” She sings the word loud.

If she were sober, Birna would have noticed the brief panic look Randvi and Eivor exchange. But she is very drunk, so her eyes are only focused on the mug in her hands. She brings it to the lips, taking an empty sip and overturns it to see if mead is indeed all done. Just a drop falls on the wood of the table, she sighs sadly.

She looks back at her friends, who follow her antics with a pitiful look. “Am I rrright?”

“Birna, you’re drunk,” Randvi states as she quickly takes her own mug away from the drunk raider’s stealing hands.

Birna snorts. “No! Yes! I am dr– ” a strong hiccup interjects her again, but she raises a finger, wanting to make a point, “but also! I am … I am… What am I?”

Her vision sways like sea waves during a storm, her friends’ faces become nothing but incoherent moving lines. She strives to focus but it is too much. Her mind doesn’t register any voice, ever her own. Finally, her head falls on the table and everything goes black.

“Ugh, my head.”

Gunnar must have used his hammer on Birna’s forehead, it could explain her hangover. She brings a hand over her brow, rubbing it in a vain attempt to relieve the headache, wincing a little when she finds a lump.

She opens her eyes with great effort. She is in her bed in the barracks, did I really manage to come back here? Taking a look around , she notices just a few fellow raiders in the same room, the rest must be already active. She sits up with a groan, her stomach wracked by nausea.

What happened last night?

She remembers Vili and Rollo, Eivor and Randvi as well. Fragments of conversation… but about what?

When she thinks she is brave enough, Birna stands up and slowly goes out the barracks. She immediately finds the two men at the dock. They are sharpening their weapons at the dock, enjoying the calmness of the morning… or afternoon, Birna is too hangover to glance up at the sun and figure out what time of the day is, so she says tentatively “Good …morning?”

“Look who’s back from Drunkenheim!” Vili exclaims, his tone too loud for Birna’s headache. Rollo laughs a little at her red spot on her forehead. “That must hurt.”

Birna just grunts in reply. She stretches her arms, taking a deep breath. “I suppose I was very drunk yesterday. Thanks for bringing me home.”

Vili huffs a chuckle. “Well, yes, you were very drunk. But Eivor and Randvi brought you home.”

“Ah,” Birna nods, then her eyes pop out, the conversations she had with them comes back into her mind. “Oh.”

“Yep,” Rollo says, smirking at her, “About that, did you ask them?”

“I, uh…” she rubs her temple, trying to recall. “… not really. Did they say anything?”

Rollo shrugs. “Nothing, just to take care of yourself.”

“You know where to find them, if you want to ask again,” Vili jokes.

Birna puts a hand under her chin, contemplating. The two men wait, occasionally look at each other confused.

Rollo is the first to grow impatient. “…So?”

Finally, Birna starts to explain her theory. “Alright. I think they will deny their relationship if I ask them. But do you remember what we’ve said yesterday? We could ask the people.”

“Wait, I was joking – ”

“But now I’m not, Rollo. We should really ask around.”

She throws her hands up in frustration when neither of them speaks. “Come on, guys! It will be fun!”

“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s a little bit strange?” Vili puts forward, “And why do you want to do it? I mean, it’s not even a love story for yourself.”

“I know it’s strange, alright?! Why do I want this? No fucking clue! Maybe because it’s peacetime, and I’m so bored and don’t know what to do with myself. Maybe because Eivor and Randvi are my friends, and I hope the best for them. Maybe because it could bring me joy to know they are together and they love each other, because maybe, and I say maybe, I’m reflecting the love I had for Soma on them. Maybe! I don’t know!”

Vili and Rollo remain silent for some seconds after her outburst, then the latter declares “Alright, let’s do this.”

Birna blinks in surprise. “Really?”

Vili grins. “Of course. You already convinced us at ‘peacetime’,” he claps his hands. “So, my suggestion is to begin with Gunnar. He has known Eivor and Randvi for the longest time, I think.”

Birna’s face is a mix of a smile and a baffled expression. “Do you really want to do this? Asking people weird questions?”

“Yes!” they answer in unison, then Vili adds “Asking weird questions for a friend!”

The blacksmith is quite perplexed when the three raiders walk towards him, standing in front of his forge with friendly smiles. Even Brigid, who is sitting on the bench near her husband, raises an eyebrow at them.

“Good day to you, drengir. How can I help you?”

None of the three raiders speak, a little embarrassed. Birna nudges Vili. “Come on, it was your idea!”

“No, it was your idea!”

The youngest raider turns to be the brave one. “Okay, I’ll ask! So, Gunnar – my lady,” he gestures gallantly at Brigid, who smiles jovially and bows her head, “Birna, Vili and I have a suspicion.”

“A suspicion?”

“Yes, about our Jarl and Randvi.”

Even before they could begin to explain themselves, Gunnar’s eyes widens and he laughs. “Ah, so you think they are in love, too!”

The trio laughs in surprise. “Wait, you too?!” Vili says incredulous.

“Of course! I know they’re soulmates since Randvi joined the Raven Clan. Eivor is an iron-fisted drengr and she makes sure everybody thinks so about her, but how gentle – ”

 “And soft she is when she speak with Randvi!” Birna finishes his sentence, her tone grows exponentially enthusiastic, “Yes! We noticed it too!”

Gunnar has something more to say.“And let me tell you something. Just before our return to Ravensthorpe from Glowecestrescire, I said something like wanting to give farewell to the land and then be on our way home. Do you know what has she said? She said ‘Randvi will be eager to meet Brigid’. Not the Raven Clan, not Sigurd the Jarl. She said Randvi’s name and her name only!”

Birna puts a hand on her chest, a delightful surprised expression printed on her face. “By Freyja, they are basically wives!”

Brigid wraps an arm around her husband’s and speaks in her native languages. Nobody comments, confusion written on their faces. “She says that they looked at each other with utterly fondness at our wedding,” Gunnar translates, so the trio finally lets out a collective “oh!” and Brigid grins.

Like Birna said the previous night, Gunnar believes that many residents suspect the same.

Vili also tell the blacksmith they want to ask around, so Gunnar suggests his neighbour Hytham, because he is a dear friend to Eivor and Randvi. Especially the strategist and the Hidden One, they became close friends and kept each other company when Eivor was travelling across England.

“And of course, no word to them about this round of bet!” Rollo recommends. Gunnar puts a fist on his chest. “I promise! Let me know how it will go! I can’t wait to forge their arm rings!”

The three warriors say goodbye to the couple. Birna’s grin is the widest. It starts very well!

Sitting outside his bureau, Hytham is reading a letter from his mentor Rayhan when he sees the group of raiders approaching. He smiles cordially at them, before returning to the letter. He believed they would just walk by, but then he raises his head again and meet their staring eyes, making him a little uncomfortable.

“Um, can I help you?”

This time, Birna begins. “Good morning, Hytham!”

“Good afternoon,” he corrects.

“Whatever. We  have a question. Since you settled here, you and Randvi became really good friends – ”

Hytham frowns. “We are not together, if it is what you want to ask.”

Birna waves her hands in front of herself. “No no! That’s not what you think! I mean, since you and her are good friends, maybe she told you something…”

He keeps frowning. “Something… like?”

Vili decides to be more direct. “Do you know if Randvi and Eivor are together?”

Hytham blinks and doesn’t say anything for some moments. The trio tries to understand his expression, but it seems to be impassable. The Hidden One finally speaks. “Why are you asking me this?”

“We have some suspicions,” Rollo replies, looking at him with a serious stare. “Come on, did Randvi tell you something? Or did Eivor?”

Hytham folds his arms in front of him. “No, and even if they had told me, do you really think I will betray their trust?”

Damn it, he has a point there, Birna thinks. “Alright,” she indulges, “but do you think they are together, or at least in love?”

Hytham shrugs. “I guess, yes.”

“Mhm, you are too vague,” Vili states, Birna and Rollo hum in agreement. They think they have cornered him, but Hytham rolls his eyes, not yielding at their inquisitive stares. “Listen, I do know nothing and I do not particularly care if they are a couple. But as a friend, I simply wish them the best with all of my heart.”

Understanding that they won’t extort any information from him, Birna sighs. “Alright then. Could you please not tell them our suspicion? We don’t want to create some misunderstanding or making them angry.”

Hytham smiles sincerely. “You have my word. Go in peace.”

As they walk away, Hytham ducks his head to hide an amused grin. He is indeed a good friend for the Jarl and her second in command. He will bring the secret in his grave if necessary, rather than betray their trust.

“Ah ah!” is the reaction Tove has when the trio expounds their mission. Birna smiles at the tattoo artist. “Glad to see you agree with us!”

“Pft, of course!  Those two are sharing heart eyes since Sigurd’s and Randvi’s wedding! Eivor did say nothing but I know her since she was a child, and I’ve never seen her so enamoured of someone!”

Birna gives a glance to Vili. “You were also at their wedding, weren’t you? Didn’t you notice as well?”

“Yes, but I don’t remember much of it …”

“Drunk?” Birna guesses with a smirk. Tove laughs. “Very much, and he was too busy sleeping with Thora!”

“Tove!” Vili scolds.

“Who’s Thora?” Rollo asks curious. The tattoo artist answers for him. “Randvi’s sister.”

“What?!” Birna shrieks before bursting into laughter when Vili blushes. “S-stop!  That’s another story, alright?! Tove, thanks for embarrassing me! We go on!”

“Any time, Hemmingson!”

“Hello warriors, I saw you coming,” Valka greets them without turning her back at them, continuing to wash calmly her bowls in the water near her hut.

“Your inner eye scares me sometimes,” Vili mumbles, a little allured by the seer.

“No, I literally saw you coming from Tove’s house.”

He feels like an idiot. “Oh…”

The seer finally turns to the trio with her characteristic calmness. “Are you searching for the wisdom of gods?”

“Yes, maybe,” Birna sneers, “but also your own wisdom.”

The raider elicits a sincere puzzled look from Valka. It’s the only reaction that surfaces, though. Valka’s face is as unperturbed as a statue when the three raiders ask her what she thinks about the leaders of the village.

“So?” Rollo says when the seer remains silent, her tranquillity almost annoying for them.

“So yes, I think there’s something between Eivor and Randvi, too.” Valka states but her words are too vague. Birna can see the same demeanour Hytham had. “That’s all? Nothing like ‘the gods waved a fate for them’, or ‘they are meant to share the same path’?”

“You have a very romantic soul, Birna, but I don’t think I can help you more than this.”

“Come on, neither of them confided in you?”

Valka crosses her arms in some gesture of defiance. “And even if they did?”

Vili rolls his eyes. “You won’t betray their trust, yes, yes. Hytham said the same thing.”

The seer knits her eyebrow and smirks. “Did you ask him too?”

“Actually, we are going to ask to everyone.”

“Ask what?” The three warriors almost gasp when Sigurd appears behind them.

Sigurd is deeply changed by the ill-fated events of the past and for this reason he is the last person they want to shoot the question to.

He did recently severe the bond of the marriage with Randvi, but Birna, Vili and Rollo are afraid of how he would react if he becomes aware of the tryst between his ex wife and his sister. Knowing such a fact would question his honour? Would the people think he can’t keep neither a wife nor the title of Jarl? They don’t wish to hurt him or worse, to make him furious, taking his anger out on the (possible) couple.

But Valka has another plan. “They are conducting a survey about Eivor and Randvi.”

“Valka! Listen Sigurd, it’s not what you think!” But he ignores Vili. “What about them?”

“They think they are together.”

What comes after shocks them. He laughs. He laughs boisterously. He stops for a moment to give some herbs to the seer. “Here what you have requested, Valka. See you later.”

Sigurd gives a last look at the surprised raiders, bursts again into laugher and walks away. Valka merely grins as she turns at her work. She hears Rollo whispering “What did just happen?” Still confused, they walk away.

Valka would have laughed too, the trio is oblivious to the fact that they have spoken with Hytham, Sigurd and her, the very few people who know about the secret story between her friends.

Valka suspected it for a long time, since the very first winter Randvi joined the Raven Clan, she didn’t need strange seidr. It’s a fact clear like the sun. No matter how hard Eivor fought against her destiny, she couldn’t fight her love for Randvi. No matter how hard Randvi strived to be a dutiful wife and Jarlskona, she couldn’t deny her love for Eivor.

Ah, Valka is glad those days where she had to listen to their outbursts (separately, of course), are now just water under the bridge.

She smiles with affection, though. If the people don’t mind, it should put Eivor and Randvi’s mind at ease. After all they have done for the community, they deserve some peace, too.

Since they didn’t eat a proper lunch, they heads towards the bakery to have a snack, the smell of fresh bread and cake makes Birna’s empty (but still a little upset) stomach growl. So, Tarben becomes the next person on their list. The baker offers them some bread rolls.

“Ah, they are delicious! I could marry you right away!” Vili moans full-mouthed. Tarben laughs flattered. They shoot the question while they’re still eating. Tarben confesses he is a little sad that Eivor rejected him some years ago, but also he is very happy to know Eivor’s heart is in very capable hands. He always had a high opinion about Randvi.

“She is special, it’s clear why Eivor admires her. And well,” he chuckles, “I did not conquer Eivor’s heart, but surely her stomach!”

Birna laughs, then gives him a sincere smile. “You are a good man, Tarben. And for this,” she gestures the bread roll “you have both my heart and my stomach!”

Another deep laugh comes out from the baker’s chest. As they finish to eat, they are about to leave when a voice makes them turn.

“Hej, Tarben! Is my order done?”

“Yes, Eivor! Here you go, enjoy your meal!” Eivor takes the chest full of bread and honey cakes. She sniffs them and sighs happily, as usual the smell is divine.

“Thank you very much!” she says cheerfully and turns to walk back to the longhouse. She meets her raiders’ surprised eyes.

Eivor tightens protectively her arms around the chest. “It’s not for you.”

Rollo smirks. “Isn’t too much for a person?”

“I’m about to have a meeting.”

“With Randvi?” Vili asks spontaneously. Birna almost slap him for that but all she does is a tight smile.

“And the scouts, yes,” Eivor shoots them a suspicious glance. “Why are you asking?”

Birna chuckles nervously. “Nothing, Sunbeam! Sure, you need to speak with Randvi. She is your advisor.”

“Yes, and your second in command.” Vili adds.

“Uh-uh, and your dearest… friend,”  Rollo says, his voice dropping down at the last word, his eyes down as well in shame, clearly conscious of the fact he unnecessary spoke too much. Birna resists the urge to slap him too, she just prays the gods Eivor will not notice their odd demeanour.

But their Jarl shoots them a last look and comments “You guys are weird, and I will find out if you are up to something.”

Birna waits for Eivor to walk away, then she glares at her crewmates. “Idiots,” she hisses.

Vili and Rollo open their mouth, wanting to apologise but she raises a finger. “No, shut your mouths! Let’s continue!”

“Lovely women! My best clients!” Tekla chirps when the three raiders walk into her brewery.

“Yes, yes, but we mean, what do you think about them together?” Birna emphasizes the last word to make the brewer understand. In fact, Tekla lets out an ‘ah!’ of realisation and giggles. “I believe they would make a nice couple!”

After Tekla, they proceed with their mission and the next person on the way is Bronson, but the fowl farmer isn’t so keen to have a friendly conversation like the other clansmen.

“Great! Another secret love story!” he grunts. “I don’t care!”

“Sorry, but everybody knows about your daughter Mayda and Bertham, it’s not so secret,” Rollo says. The ireful cry coming from the farmer scare even his chickens, the fowl starts a noise pandemonium, making Bronson even angrier. Birna, Vili and Rollo have to run away before the farmer could hit them with a pitchfork. When they think they’re safe from Bronson’s ire, they burst laughing.

The sun is already disappearing at the horizon, so they retire into their barracks, but not before grabbing some small mead barrels from Tekla.

“Crewmates! We have mead!” Vili announces and a roar raises from the raiders. It’s surely not like a real feast, but some mead and some bread to share create a good atmosphere of camaraderie, and of course the main topic is the betting round.

Luta, Eivor’s lieutenant, is the first to thrown some coins in the middle of the room. “Ten silver coins that the Jarl and Randvi are together!”

Bjorn Bloodtooth, more full than the mead barrel in front of them, is the second to make his coins rain. “Me too! Ten silver coins that… eh … whatever…” he falls asleep near his bed.

Bragi grabs a jute sack. “Stop throwing! Here,” he puts his own money in it, “Ten for our beloved leaders!” The skald raider collect the money from all the raiders. “And let’s hope I will sing at their wedding!”

“I vote against it,” Finnr says calmly and everyone go silent and turn their head at him with a surprise look.

“What? Are you mad?!” Hrefna slurs. Finnr smirks. “Ah, don’t get me wrong! I’m think they are a wonderful couple, too! But at least, if we are wrong, I win all the money!”

“You sly dog!” Rollo throws a bread roll at him as a laugh rumbles in the barrack. As the hours pass by, the raiders grew quieter and quieter, as well as the entire village.

It’s late in the night now, it’s time to sleep and the Ravens return in their own beds. Everyone but one.

“Good to see you, darling,” Randvi welcomes Eivor with a coy smile. Sitting on her bed, she watches Eivor closing the door of her room, careful not to make any loud noise.

“Hello, my love,” the blonde drengr greets her back, mirroring her smile.

“I thought you’d never come.”

Eivor snorts. “I’m not so late,” she says in her defence, then her eyes become softer, “Of course I would come to see you.”

Of course, tomorrow she will meet King Ceolwulf of Mercia in Ledecestre to discuss about the growing bandit group that is threatening the Mercian trade routes. It will be a short meeting, but Eivor won’t be in Ravensthorpe for the entire following day. Of course she would come to see Randvi.

Randvi leans back on her hands and tilts her head sideways, still grinning impishly at her lover standing in front of her. “Take your time, my Jarl.”

The truth is, she doesn’t want Eivor to take her time and it seems neither does Eivor, who takes off frenetically her tunic, then the boots.

Randvi bursts into laughter, muffled by her own hand on the mouth, when Eivor kicks her boots out of the way, swearing a little under her breath and jumps on her bed to litter kisses across her light freckled face.

Chapter Text

“Yes, I heard your roars yesterday during the night shift, so here my coins,” Eydis gives the trio her betting money with a big smile on her face, “I would be very disappointed on them if they are not together!”

They met the chief of the barrack right after they woke up and she was about to go to sleep. “Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to lay down, but good luck with your mission!”

Birna wishes her a good rest, but suddenly she has an idea. “Eydis, do you know where are Sunniva and Norvid? I didn’t see them last night.”

“They are leaving Ravensthorpe for a mission per Jarl’s request. You will find them at the stables if you’re lucky enough.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks!” Birna looks at her friends, unsure of what to do. “Should we wait for their return?”

But Vili starts to run. “Last one to the stables is a fífl!”

“Thanks again for your help, Randvi!” Petra chirps happily as they bring the hunting trophies to her brother Wallace. The two women woke up early in the morning to hunt, new fur is needed to make blankets for the raiders’ beds, according to Eydis, and in order not to be always confined to the map table, Randvi offered her help. She did it for the village, of course, but for herself too. Hunting was one of her favourite activities when she was still in her birth clan.

“No need to thank me, it was a pleasure. And if you need my help again…” Randvi’s voice trails off when she sees Vili, Birna and Rollo running and giggling like lively children from the docks across the village. The strategist and the huntress follow them with bemused eyes.

When the group of three disappears behind the longhouse, Randvi sighs like a mother would do. “What in the name of Odin did they do this time?”

Petra laughs. “Did you hear the chickens yesterday?”

The look Randvi gives her implies she didn’t. “What’s with the chickens?”

“Nothing bad, I promise. But yesterday evening I heard loud clucks coming from Bronson’s farmer and I saw them running away like they just did. I tried to ask Bronson but I believe he was too irked to have a conversation. He grumbled something about Mayda, but sincerely, I don’t remember.”

Randvi gives her best to understand the event, but the names of the raiders, of the farmer and of his daughter just keep spinning in her head without a logical sense. “What? I’m even more confused than before!”

The huntress smiles sympathetically. “I am as well. Have a good day!”

Randvi pinches the bridge of the nose, hoping that in this busy day she won’t also have to babysit three grown-ups.

“You just run across the village to ask this question?” Sunniva states, but a knowing half-smile appears on her face. They were indeed lucky to find the scouts at the table. Norvid was already on his horse and Sunniva was tightening the saddle, when the raiders ran to them breathlessly.

Still catching her breath, Birna points her finger to Sunniva’s smirk. “Ah, you know or suspect something, too!”

Norvid huffs a laugh. “Well, we are scouts: we observe and we gather information!”

“So you know for sure…?” Vili asks tentatively, but Sunniva shakes his head. “No, but like he said, we noticed something.”

“Like, the faces Randvi makes whenever we come back from a scouting. She relaxes only when we say Eivor is safe and sound. Right, Sunniva?”

“Yes. Or how Eivor’s eyes are constantly looking for Randvi whenever there is a feast or a festival.”

Norvid giggles. “Ah, the joy in her eyes when she finally sees her!”

“And the sunken tower.”

Birna tilts her head. “The one in Grantebridgescire?”

“Yes, Grantebridgescire was my first scouting in England and as I gathered some information about Soma and the Summer Army, I found the tower. I know that Randvi has a fond of Roman ruins.”

Birna hums with a malicious smirk. “I know that place. It’s quite romantic.”

Sunniva grins in enthusiasm. “Exactly! And you know what? Randvi told me she went there with Eivor!” The scout clicks her tongue, a little disappointed. “Unfortunately, she didn’t say anything else, only the gods knows what happened on the sunken tower.”

“Mhm. Interesting…” Vili comments, crossing his arms. He dips his head as a sign of thanks. “Have a safe journey!”

Sunniva mounts her horse, adjusting her sit on the saddle and giving a last grin. “And you, good luck with your scouting!”

Since they are right at the stables, the trio approaches Rowan. The stableman doesn’t have juicy gossip like other clansmen,  he simply replies at their question with raised shoulder and an unsure “I guess?”

“He can read a horse’s mind but cannot see a matter of a fact, unbelievable!” Birna comments, eliciting a laugh from her friends.

“It’s possible?” is the answer they get from Alvis and Holger. Rollo snorts. “Seriously, guys? You know Eivor and Randvi since Norway and all you can say is ‘it’s possible?’ In which realm do you leave in? Definitely not here in Midgard.”

“I simply don’t know!” Holger exclaims, then tries to joke, “I mean, I believe Randvi is more in love with the map table because she’s always there!” their laughs are cut off when Birna snarls at them.  

“How dare you offending my friend?! Do you know how much she works everyday for this village and its safety?! For everyone, even for your lazy asses, you bacraut!”

Scared for their lives, the twins bow their head and several sorry! come out from their mouth.

They aren’t sure if asking Octavian could be a good idea, the fanatic of the Roman Empire is as eccentric as the artist brothers, but total unexpected, he has a story to share too.

He hums in contemplation. “That’s could explain the panic look when Eivor…” 

Three heads lean forwards, all ears. “When Eivor what?”

“I once asks Eivor if she had ever been in love,” Octavian starts to tell, they listen to him like curious children, “If she ever had known the agony of seeing a loved one in someone else’s arms. I remember her eyes and now I understand she knew this agony! She didn’t answer the question, though.”

Birna puts both her hands on his shoulder. “That’s great! Thanks for sharing it!”

As they exit the Roman museum, Rollo turns his head back to Octavian. “Out of curiosity, who is your beloved one in the arms of another?”

Octavian shows proudly the Roman artefact Eivor took from Maximilian of Lunden. “This beauty!”

For a brief moment, they look baffled at the statue. Vili is the first to react. “Are you for real?!”

After avoiding any eye contact with the fowl farmer when they pass by, their next stop is the Hunter’s hut. Lucky for them, Yanli is also there, paying a visit to her friends. Two birds with one stone – three birds, considering Wallace too.

Yanli and Wallace don’t say anything new, but they do not seem too surprised either. Out of the blue, Wallace looks at his sister, clearly something came into his mind. “Maybe that’s why…”

Petra grunts in annoyance. The trio observes her embarrassed behaviour. “Do you mind explaining it?”

“Petra had a crush on Eivor,” her brother whispers, but Petra hears him, so she hisses an insult in the Saxon language, eliciting a laugh from everyone in the hut.

“Yes, I did have a crush on her, it’s nothing wrong!”

“I think she still does,” Yanli quietly mouths, but at this point the huntress decides to ignore any tease. “I will not dwell on the subject! I just want to say, I don’t understand why Randvi encouraged me to confess my feelings to Eivor, but now I see why Eivor refused me.”

“Aw, the things you do for love,” Birna comments with dreamy eyes. She can imagine Randvi fighting jealousy but still wanting the best for Eivor and Eivor refusing Petra because her heart belongs to Randvi.

Ah, what a love saga.

The drengir thanks them for their time and exit the hut, but shortly after Birna comes back “You know,” she whispers to Petra, “if you like tall, sturdy Viking women…”

She smirk delightfully when Petra plays along. “There are plenty of them in this village. Have you any suggestion?”

“I might have. You know where to find me,” Birna wiggles her eyebrows, considering the huntress’s giggle like a victory. Vili and Rollo’s call puts a stop on her flirt.

“Birnaaa!”

“Alright, yes, I’m coming!”

“I spoke about it with Hunwald once!” Swanburrow says cheerfully,  the baby that bears his father’s name sleeps soundly in her arms. “We always thought they could be a wonderful couple!”

“Definitely a better couple than Randvi and Sigurd!” and “I thought I had seen something!” and other similar comments come from Gudrun, Gudmund, Runa, Viggo, Kari, Leofric and Winfrith.

“Obviously it’s love, she lets Eivor stab my maps!” Olsen grumbles.

“They are cute together!”  is the comment from the not-so-secret couple of Mayda and Bertham.

“You are up to something,” is the accusation they receive from Randvi when they bump into her, already wearing her typical frown and arms crossed.

Birna snorts at her. “No!”

“It’s not a question, Birna. I’m sure of it.”

“Why are you thinking we are up to something?” Vili looks at her with defiance, his chin up, and Randvi looks back with an arched eyebrow. “Exactly how a guilty person behaves.”

“Nobody is in danger,” Birna hopes to reassures her, “You don’t have to worry.”

But Randvi is a little worried, after all she is talking to the grow-up version of Knud, Eira and Sylvi. Even more troublemakers than the children.

The stare she gives them with her light blue eyes are piercing the very souls of them. But for the sake of the mission, they will endure as long as they can.

So they stare back at her.

Randvi remains silent. They remain silent.

Randvi narrows her eyes. They narrow their eyes.

After some maddening seconds, Randvi finally gives up and sighs frustrated. “Fine. Keep your secrets.” She turns her back, but not without a warning,  “I will find out anyway.”

Birna can’t hold back a laugh. “That the same thing Eiv –”

Vili and Rollo react quickly: the first one snaps a hand over her mouth, while the other grabs her from the legs, all three disappear behind a bush before Randvi could turn around again.

“What have you just said – what the fuck?” She swears when she doesn’t find Birna, Vili and Rollo. Mystified, she looks around, but the drengir are nowhere to be seen. Therefore, with a muttered ‘nevermind’, Randvi returns to her work, too busy to play Hide and Hunt with three adults with a childish souls.

Safe behind their hideout, Vili takes his hand away from Birna’s mouth. “Who is the idiot now?”

“Sorry,” she apologises with a toothy smile. “Now we’re even.”

“Frankly, I thought they were a couple the first time I met both of them,” Reda tells them, “They acted – they still act as they were. I was really confused when I found out Sigurd was Randvi’s husband.”

Rollo nods. “I see. Thanks, child.”

“Child?!”

“Sorry, little man?”

“Ugh, just leave it.”

Merton is playing Orlog with Mundi by the time the trio approaches them. “Sorry for the interruption,” Vili begins, then looks at the game set. “Gods Merton, you are going down so bad.”

“It’s not true!” the fisherman hisses between his teeth. They shoot the question, not expecting a particular story. In fact, they just comment with the usual ‘they look good together’, and ‘I guess the fish pie receipt Randvi asked some time ago is for Eivor!”, before returning to the game that leads to an inevitable defeat for Merton.

However Arth, the fisherman’s nephew, has something to tell. “At Gunnar and Brigid’s wedding I saw Randvi and Eivor withdrawing.”

Birna and Vili blink. “What?!”

“Did you see something?” Rollo asks with hope.

The boy shakes his head. “No, I didn’t. I was talking with Tarben.”

“Damn it, Tarben,” Birna mutters under her breath, then she gives a little pat on his shoulder. “But thanks anyway!”

A woman is approaching the three raiders. “Hi, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I heard about your round of bets.”

“No problem, Nessa!” Vili reassures her with a friendly smile, “do you have a story to share?”

Nessa’s giggle implies she has a good one. “Oh, I have. Do you remember when Eivor had to travel to Vinland?”

Vili says no, he was still in Snotinghamscire at the time. Birna and Rollo nods, so the ferrywoman continue. “Long story short, before the departure Randvi gave Eivor some thrall clothes, you know, to not raise any suspicions, and some last advice.” Her grin grows wider ,“I remember Randvi telling her ‘only taking care of our prized drengr’, and you can imagine her voice and the look she gave to Eivor.”

Birna, Vili and Rollo exchange some smug grins, but Nessa is not done yet, “And as she walked away, do you know what Eivor did? She was checking her arse!”

The three drengir gasp like adolescent girls.

“No, she didn’t!” Rollo says incredulous.

“I swear, she did!”

“Scandalous!” Vili comments with a laugh.

“They are shameless!” Birna exclaims with a hand over her mouth. Nessa nods, still grinning. “Told you I had a gossip, too!”

Birna pats her on the arm. “You deserve a mug of mead for your service!”

Nessa frowns a little at her over-cheerful mood. “I did nothing but… thanks?”

It’s mid-afternoon when the trio meet another trio.

Knud, Eira and Sylvi are playing near Gunnar’s forge. Birna has an idea, she tells Vili and Rollo so. She is curious about the point of view of the children, because they see the world in a different way. For them, small things are big and big things are small. So Birna is wondering  ‘how do the children see the secret love between Randvi and Eivor?’

She is glad that the little ones are the last people to speak with, they could use the conversation as a recap of the survey.

“Hello children,” Birna greets, kneeling in front of them. “Can we join you for a while?”

Eira and Sylvi giggle when Vili and Rollo wink at them. Knud nods. “Do you want to play with us?”

“Sure, but later. Now, sit down,”  she gestures the bench near Gunnar’s house. “I have a story to tell you.”

As the children obey, Birna asks Gunnar, who is cooling his forge, his work done for today, “Do you mind if we stay here?”

Hands on his hips, Gunnar smiles at her. “Do you mind if I listen as well?”

Birna chuckles fondly. Of course they don’t mind each other company.

In turn, they tell the children what the people of Ravensthorpe have said about Eivor and Randvi. Bragi would be proud of his fellow skald raiders, they use simple yet entertaining narration and Knud, Sylvi and Eira listen enraptured. As expected, they laugh loudly when the raiders tell what happened with Bronson’s chickens. They sigh an ‘aw’ now and then when they hear all the comments full of love and they agree in general to them.

Lastly, the drengir tell about the odd demeanour Valka, Hytham and Sigurd had.

“Why did Sigurd laugh?” Eira asks, puzzled. “That’s a mystery for us, too,” Rollo answers to her question, “According to you, what could be the reason?”

Knud hums in contemplation. “Maybe because he thinks it’s absurd that Randvi and Eivor are together,” he says but after some thoughts he gasps “or he knows about them!”

Birna grins her approval. “Good thinking, Knud!”

“And what do you think about Valka and Hytham?” is Vili’s question, “Do you think they know too?”

The children look at each other, they are really unsure about what to answer. To help both the raiders and the children, Gunnar put it from a different perspective. “Let’s assume that Valka and Hytham are aware about their secret love. Why did they tell nothing to our friends here?”

“Because it’s a secret?” Sylvi answers tentatively, the adults nods with a smile, beckoning her to continue. “And when you tell a secret to a friend, they must not tell anybody.”

“That’s right.”

Eira pouts. “But we all are Eivor and Randvi’s friends!”

Birna laughs, then kneels in front of her and pinches her cheek. “Yes, we are. Although I’m a little bit offended they didn’t confide in me,” she puts dramatically a hand on her chest, pretending to cry until the children stop to giggle, “If you tell a secret to all your friends it’s no more a secret, no? Maybe they are afraid of our reaction.”

Gunnar looks away for a moment, smiling sadly. What Birna has just said makes him realise: this could be the real reason of all the secrecy.

Gunnar knows Eivor enough to understand why she is scared: her greatest fear is losing someone dear to her. She loves her people, she doesn’t want to disappoint them. Her fear is not unfounded and Styrbjorn and Sigurd’s actions did only perpetuate it. He sees how much Eivor strives to get everyone’s approval.

His attention drifts back when Birna stands up. “They will tell us when they are ready.”

The children hums in agreement. Vili claps his hands. “Alright, my future fellow raiders!” Knud, Eira and Sylvi roar loudly, they can’t wait to be old enough to join Eivor’s crew. “Let’s play Hide and Hunt before the sun goes down!”

“Bye, Gunnar!” the children waves their hands to the blacksmith, he waves back with a big smile.

“Thanks for your time, Gunnar!” Birna cries with a grin, then follows the others. As he watches them running away, Gunnar sigh and smiles with fondness. If only Eivor and Randvi know how much they are loved…

Another day in Ravensthorpe comes to an end, and Birna, Vili and Rollo returns to the barracks, bone-tired for sure, but a warmth is stocked in their hearts. In the years, Ravensthorpe has become a beautiful community, thanks to its leaders. Everyone is a friend, no matter if Norse, Dane, Saxon or else.

Birna closes her eyes, a thought lulls her to sleep; One day we will pay back all the love they give.

It’s late in the night, it’s time to sleep, the Ravens return in their own beds. All but one.

Randvi has worked so much during the day, giving her best to complete all of her tasks before the sunset, so she could sneak out when everyone is asleep.

If she reckons right, she was just a young girl the last time she rode a horse, hair free from any braids, the wind running through it as if to stroke her. Hers is an adventurer’s heart and now it’s singing. For years it was chained to a table, to a role, to a man she never chose for herself.

She rides in the night, feeling a wildling again. Even younger, she dares to say. It’s Eivor that makes her feel so.

She doesn’t care if they have hide for a while, if they have to reduce their love in escapades in the night. It’s a price Randvi pays gladly.

Randvi finally see the Ragnarsson’s lookout, the meeting point between Ledecestre and Ravensthorpe. It’s not just a point written on her map anymore, she could see with her own eyes.  It was Eivor’s idea, the view on the top is wonderful, she has said to Randvi – perfect place to brood and look sternly at the horizon, Eivor added to get successfully a smile from her.

The Jarl of Ravensthorpe didn’t choose the place to see the view, though.

Sýnin is flying around the lookout; Eivor is already up there, she smiles to herself. As expected, the raven recognises Randvi and announces her arrival to its master with a caw. Eivor looks down to her lover, who dismounts from her horse. “You found the place, I see.”

“Why do you sound surprised?” Randvi pretends to be offended as she ties up the reins of the horse to the structure,  “I was the one who studied the map and guided you through England, remember?”

She hears her laugh. “Come up here, my leiðarstjarna,” Eivor invites her with soft voice. Guiding star, Randvi is thankful to the darkness of the night for hiding her blushed cheek.

She climbs the last ladder and in no time, Randvi’s arms are full. Eivor traps her between  her body and the wooden structure and kisses her as if she has waited for years for this moment. As if those years of yearning are still affecting them.

“I know it sounds funny,” Eivor murmurs between the kisses she is leaving reverently on Randvi’s face and neck, “but I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day.” She tightens the hug to pull her closer. “I missed you.”

It is funny, Randvi agrees, even ridiculous. They didn’t see each other for just one day. They have already born longer distance, but that was before, when they believed their love was just a fanciful dream. Now, even a single day doesn’t pass in a blink of an eye.

“I missed you, too,” she said back in a simple whisper, because it is the truth. The funny, ridiculous truth.

Randvi sees a hint of Eivor’s crooked smile, before drawing in again, the kiss more passionate, the hug more tightened, like they are trying to melt into each other and become one thing. In fact, Randvi feels like someone has stolen the air in her lungs when Eivor abruptly withdraws.

But Eivor’s outstretched hand is not a end. It’s a start, it’s a promise. So Randvi takes it, their fingers entwine immediately, a genuine smile blossoms on her face when Eivor brings them to her lips.

Their time is borrowed, tomorrow they have to return to their rule as leaders, but Randvi couldn’t care less as Eivor guides her to the furs she has prepared for the night, sinking slowly together in the dream that has come true.

The dawn is breaking already. It means that Eivor and Randvi have nothing more than a few hours before they will return to the village. Separately, like two ships in the night.

Propped on one elbow and caressing Eivor’s upper chest with the free hand, Randvi is watching her lover’s face with a tenderness that almost makes her heart aching.

Eivor’s eyes are closed but she is not sleeping, her fingertips are trailing idly the path of Randvi’s spine. The lips are curved in a peaceful smile. Looking at it, Randvi deeply hopes Eivor is feeling nothing but peace in her heart. No more alliances to forge, no more members of strange Orders to kill, no more tormenting dreams from other realms.

Just a village to run and a love to discover and rediscover every day. It feels like a gift from the gods, to see Eivor like this. She decides to keep her comment about the three raiders’ odd behaviour for herself.

But suddenly Eivor opens her eyes, her hand stops caressing her back. “Birna, Vili and Rollo acted strange in these days, did you notice?”

Oh well, she has noticed too.

“Yes, I did. I asked them yesterday but they said nothing.”

Eivor snorts, then a thought makes her frown. “Do you think…?”

She doesn’t need to finish her question, Randvi already knows what she meant to say. At first she just shrugs in reply, but willing to lighten the mood, she huffs a chuckle, “Well, I’m not looking forward to hearing their teases.”

Eivor groans dramatically. “Especially Birna’s.” She takes in her hand the strand of Randvi’s hair that has just fallen from her shoulder to the space between their bodies, twirling a little.

“I don’t like to keep secrets from my friends,” she mutters, the furrow returns in her brow, “We are doing nothing wrong, but…”

They already had this discussion, with Sigurd too. With Valka and Hytham as well, and all of them have given the best support. But they are not all people.

What will my people think about it? Will I be considered a thief? Will Randvi be considered a – she doesn’t even dare to think about that word, Randvi went through so much things, she doesn’t deserve to be labelled like that.

 Eivor hopes that one day she would look back and think that all these concerns were useless.

“I know,” Randvi speaks when Eivor doesn’t anymore, knowing perfectly what is troubling her. She offers a reassuring smile as Eivor looks back to her, a well-known insecurity is written in her eyes. Eivor puts her hand on hers, still lying on her chest, and when she open her mouth to speak, Randvi already know what she is about to ask.

“Will you still –”

“Yes.”

Eivor smiles but she sighs, ready to reason with her. “Oh Randvi.”

“Oh Eivor,” Randvi imitates her deep tone to mock her, glad to elicit a chuckle from Eivor, then she cups Eivor’s scarred cheek. “I have already told you,” Randvi says with adamant tone, maintaining eyes contact, she hopes Eivor could see in her eyes how serious she is, “I’m more than happy to be by your side, even if it means to hide for a while. Even until Ragnarök is upon us.”

She kisses Eivor’s cheek and indulges there for a while, until she hears a delightful laugh from her lover, feeling Eivor’s hand pressing gently her back to pull her closer. Then Randvi moves to straddle her lap, a smug smirk on her face. “You won’t get rid of me so easily.”

Eivor sits up to wrap her arm around her waist. Randvi feels her heart swelling with utterly fondness as Eivor leans her chin against her chest and looks up to her with a smile that outshines every dark memories. “I don’t want to.”

“Good.” She threads her finger through the blond hair and ducks her head to brush her lips against hers. Eivor smiles in their slow, passionate kiss. Her beloved strategist really likes to have the last word.

Some moons later, it’s time for another big feast in Ravensthorpe’s meadhall and Birna is drunk again. It was not her intention, but the Ravens drinks to honour Randvi’s first raid with them. The Jarlskona let her strategist be the captain of the crew and the raid of the bandits’ camp was a complete success.

To be honest, Eivor isn’t the only one admiring Randvi, who ditched her usual simple braid for a high ponytail, her curls red like wildfire – a fierce and charming look, more fitting for her.

The word Skål! is shouted every now and again. Birna is having a lot of fun. She gives big pats on Randvi’s back, praising her, telling the people the tale of the Slayer of the bandits. The Ravens laugh every time Randvi needs to correct her exaggerated details (“Don’t believe her, I can’t throw an axe so far!”, “He was not as big as a Jötunn!”, “I didn’t fly like a Valkyrie, Birna! It was a lift!”).

Finally, Randvi rolls her eyes, steals her horn to prevent any more drunken non-sense and tells how the raid really went in a realistic but still entertaining way. Everyone listens to her, enraptured. Birna looks around, finding Eivor not so far from them.

Once again, Birna is drunk, but not blind. She can see perfectly the way Eivor is looking at Randvi.

Memories of the past flash through her mind, she smiles nostalgically.

It’s like seeing herself from outside her body. It’s like seeing herself watching Soma with love and devotion. She remembers how she felt whenever she looked at the late Jarl of Grantebridgescire talking with the children, or roaring to her raiders atop a table, or winning at a drinking contest. 

Speaking of which, she was so distracted by her thought, she barely had notice that Randvi has just defeated Vili. He dared to challenge her, but the self-proclaimed Mead Queen is the winner.

She closes her eyes and hums with a drunk smile. She is so sure about Eivor and Randvi, she has a good nose for these things, for love.

Maybe they just need some encouragement.

As if Gunnar has just read her thought, he stands up, his balance precarious due to the amount of alcohol he has drunk, and follows Eivor with his eyes. His smile grows wider and wider as Eivor approaches Randvi. He looks at the two leaders standing in front of each other, and he can’t resist any longer.

 “Kiss her, Eivor!”

The hall turns silent after Gunnar’s shout, it stops abruptly any music, any chat. Birna reopens her eyes in shock. Has he just yelled it?!

Perhaps it’s the mead that makes a person bold, because after some seconds, Vili is the next. “Yes, Pant-less! Kiss her!”

Or perhaps it’s finally time to pay back all the love Eivor and Randvi have given to them. So Birna starts to incite the Ravens, clapping her hands. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”.

One by one, the people follow her and the chant grows louder and louder. Every member of the clan is screaming, eyes fixed on Eivor and Randvi.

Overwhelmed by the love and support coming from the loud crowd, the leaders of the clan look at them, then into each other’s eyes.

The moment is coming, Birna can feel it, excitement explodes in her heart. She grins ear to ear and throws her hands in the air. Finally, finally, Eivor and Randvi’s love is no more a secret, they are kissing in front of their people.

The Ravens’ cheerful shouts could wake the dead and Birna is obviously the loudest. She couldn’t care less about the happy tears rolling down her cheeks like rivers in flood or about her lower lip quivering. She is not ashamed to be happy for her friends.

Birna throws her arms around Vili and Rollo. “Yes! We did it! No, they did it!” She barely hear Rollo’s gleeful laugh and Vili answering “Yes, we all did it!”, all swallowed by the screams.

Taking a look around, she sees Gunnar crying exactly like her, even sobbing, like a proud father. She sees Brigid smiling fondly at the no-longer-secret-couple, then cupping her husband’s face, wiping some tears with the thumb.

She sees Sigurd and Valka exchanging a complicit but affectionate smile. She sees Sigurd raising his horn to Hytham, who answers with a grin and a nod. Ah, there they are, the keepers of the secret!

She sees the raiders roaring like they have just won a battle. It is indeed a victory. Finnr is laughing, he seems very happy to have lost his bet.

She sees Petra and Tarben. Not even a hint of jealousy on their faces, just a genuine smile.

She sees Sunniva and Norvid ribbing at each other and pointing a finger at their own eyes, as if to say We knew it! We saw something!

She sees nothing but joy sparkling in every people’s eyes and smiles, their hands keeping clapping. Even the children, usually grossed out by any public display of affection, are jumping from excitement.

Lastly, she sees Eivor and Randvi pressing their forehead together, laughing delightfully. A big weight gets off their chest. They are not afraid anymore, they are loved.

Ah, Birna loves love. Especially when love wins.