Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 78

“One completed, two to go,” Lumi said to Joulupukki as he lifted the mud guard in front of them. He wanted to give Joulupukki the chance to talk if he wanted to. His weary eyes sagged gently as he drove the hreinin deer through the darkness. They spoke for a while about nothing and tried to determine how long they had been gone from the real world, deciding it had been less than four days. They had plenty of time to complete the goals that they had set. When they left they still had twenty seven days before the coronation and the next part of the journey would be the easiest. They flew through the night. The sleigh handling beautifully. As they rose above the clouds their familiar friends shone bright and clear and the moons smile glistened with a comforting glow. It was so calm that several of the deer dozed as the rest kept the sleigh aloft. The conversation waned and Joulupukki suggested that Lumi slide into the cabin and get some rest, but when he looked over at him, he found him wrapped in his blanket, already fast asleep. “You do not know how much I appreciate you joining me on my silly adventure, my friend,” he whispered to the sleeping elf. They flew straight through, only stopping once to let the deer rest and eat, refreshing their magic grain and making sure they were all well. Reaching Nordgrend should not be difficult It was only a turn of the earth or so away, now. His mind was focused on the reason for returning as he guided the team, finally to be able to reunite his mother and father, but another thought kept encroaching upon his contemplation, Jessica. He found it very difficult to keep her from his mind. Should he find her when he arrived? Nordgrend was a small hamlet and it would not be difficult to do if he wanted. Every cell in his body burned to see her, but it was simple selfishness on his part. It had been well over a year since they had spoken. She would surely be married by now, when he lived there, every eligible man in the hamlet wanted her and many had already proposed marriage to her. He thought of the time of year and realized, with disappointment, that she was likely away on the caravan. Why was he so distressed? In his mind he had already decided it would be best not to see her. Why would she want a half human / half elf freak. That was one thing that Rian was right about. If he explained all that had happened in the last year she would surely be repelled by him, perhaps even disgusted. He could not bare the thought of the fear that he would see in her eyes. Why did his mother bring them to this place. He had learned to live with his loneliness before Jessica. Now all he could think of was her. Lumi crawled through the door in the cabin ready to take over the reins shortly before Dawn. “Here, I've brought you some dried fruit and biscuits.” Lumi handed the food to Joulupukki as he slid into the seat beside him. “I'll take over now and you can get some rest,” he offered, but the half elf did not move. “There is no need,” he replied to Lumi. “We are almost there, across those mountains, halfway up the valley.” “This is a beautiful place,” Lumi looked around him. “I understand why you chose to live here.” “Wait until you see the little village. It is more than beautiful. It is...,” he hesitated for a moment then said what he felt in his heart, “...magical. The people who live there are the kindest I have ever met and the children, oh, the children remind me of Ceridfen's cottage, happy and playful and strong and always with a smile that will melt the ice in anyone's heart.” Lumi watched as a warm smile encompassed Joulupukki's face, and he watched as he wiped the moisture from his eyes, then he watched as something much more serious took over his expression. Being with Joulupukki had made him aware of the intricacies of reading other's moods but he could not at this moment read Joulupukki's. “Are you OK my friend?” He asked sincerely. “Yes,” he replied, “These past days on our trip have been cause for an emotional upheaval inside of me. I have been flooded with thoughts and emotions more deeply than I had anticipated. Thank you for accompanying me.”