Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 80

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How simple are the circles in which life turns How strange are its tangled fingers Through intricate woven tapestry burns The wonder that yet lingers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They made their way to the mercantile using the paths less traveled, Lumi hiding his ears with his hair as best as he could, the deer having been left on the plateau unharnessed and grazing the fresh new grass. In deed, Raðulfr, was happy to see him, giving the big half man a hearty hug and stepping aside for him to enter. Joulupukki hesitated a moment before entering. “What, I have to invite you in now? You know you are always welcome here my son. Are you back for good? Who is your friend?” He turned to Lumi as he asked, suddenly placing a hand on his mouth. “Oh, my,” he exclaimed, no judgment only surprise. “I will wait outside,” Lumi offered. “Nonsense, any friend of Joulupukki will always be a friend to this family and will be welcomed as such. You will come sit with us and we will talk and laugh over food and drink.” “Father, I am sad to say that Joulupukki and his friend, Lumi, can not stay long. He is in search of an elf who he said was living alone in a cave in the northern mountains. I told him you had a story that might be able to help him.” Raðulfr's expression changed from mild confusion to out right curiosity. He looked at Lumi again. “You are not the first elf I have encountered, Lumi, was it?” Lumi nodded. “Many years ago before I was married, and many years before my beautiful daughter came along,” he reached out and took her hand, “I was traveling through the far north as a simple trader. I had this silly idea that I could make my fortune by visiting the small hamlets that dotted the top of the world. I was young then, and I guess a bit foolish. I spent many moons traversing the land along the northern sea, stopping for short periods in each hamlet, selling my goods and making a decent living. They were always happy to see me with my trinkets and baubles. That was one of the reasons I was so taken by you and your mother when I met you. I left a very small village along the northeastern coast on my way south to resupply my goods, when I was caught in a snow storm. I wandered unable to see more than a few feet in front of me for who can say how long. At least for several days but its hard to say, not that it matters now. There was no shelter to be found, so I dug into the snow as best I could and there I would have perished if not for the benevolent appearance of a kind old man. At least I first thought of him as a man. I have no memory of this, but I understand he dragged me on a sledge to his home in the side of a mountain. Over the next few weeks through his generosity my health strengthened and my confinement became difficult. He saw that I was well enough to leave and offered to guide me to a small village where he, on occasion, traded. He said it was not the closest but it was the most open to strangers. That village was of course Nordgrend where I chose to settle and build a life for myself, all because of the kindness of that stranger. He never tried to hide from me and the significance of his uniquely shaped ears did not dawn on me until later when I realized he was an elf. I saw him several times afterward, the last time shortly after Jessica was born. He seemed happy that my life had turned out so well.