Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 90

“I am sorry I slept for so long, Lumi. I should have relieved you a couple of hours ago,” Joulupukki apologized as his head appeared through the door. “Can I get anything for you?" “No thank you,” was Lumi's response. “Jessica has been taking quite good care of us while you slept.” He saw her sitting on the bench between the two elves. He extracted himself from the small opening and leaned forward giving her a kiss on the top of her head. “Thank you my love he whispered to her. Have all of you been awake this whole time.” “I fell asleep beside you almost as soon as you did,” Jessica replied. “We have been awake,” Bréagán answered through a deep yawn followed shortly by Lumi's wide open gape.” “Here, let me take the reins and you two crawl into the cabin. Bréagán, let me apologize for the size of the entrance.” “Apologize? Joulupukki, if it is suitable for a king than I can assure you, I will make due.” Joulupukki could tell that Lumi had been updating their new companion with tales of his short lived fame. He appreciated the fact that he did not call him king by name, using Joulupukki instead, obviously Lumi's doing. He traded places with them and watched as they disappeared in to the cabin. “I guess it's just you and me for a while,” he said to Jessica placing his arm around her and drawing her close. She pressed her body against his and they snuggled. “No reason to be cold, don't you think,” Jessica offered. The half elf removed his cloak and wrapped it around her. “You look so good in green,” She stroked the soft white collar of his coat. “You know you saved my life by giving me these.” “How so,” she asked. “If it weren't for the over coat and cloaks I would surely have froze to death on my trek northward. I was caught in a winter storm just after leaving Nordgrend. Your coat kept me warm and the cloaks provided a soft warm bed to rest my head on. Each night as I lay down I would breath deeply your flowery scent and dream of nights with you.” Jessica blushed, “I didn't want you to forget me.” “Never,” he assured her. They talked for most of the night, laughing and singing together as if he had never left her. He even let her guide the sleigh for a time, telling her each of the hreinin deer's names. She called out to Sprinteren when she realized he was the same deer that had accompanied Joulupukki and his mother to Nordgrend. He turned his head to look at her and through the darkness she could have sworn he winked. Eventually the young human woman grew tired and fell asleep snuggled against him. This was pretty much the way the next several days went, two teams, Lumi and Bréagán, Joulupukki and Jessica, as on the way north, stopping only once. They brought the sleigh in the same as before taking care not to let the humans in the hamlet see them. As the team landed they quickly released the deer for grazing on the now dead grass and headed for Raðulfr's longhouse. The two elves wrapping themselves in scarves drew no attention from the the humans walking the streets. It was a much colder morning than during their earlier visit. It had been sixteen days, their time, since they last walked the streets of Nordgrend. Jessica was eager to see her father but Joulupukki thought it best to make them aware of the time difference when flying in the sleigh. “Before we go in to see your father, you need to know that flying with the deer creates a strange disturbance in how time flows.” He was speaking to both Jessica and Bréagán. “I'm sorry,” Jessica questioned Joulupukki, “I don't understand.” “I can't explain it now. It is something that we don't understand yet. I am just asking you not to bring up how much time has passed since we have been gone. You have felt it as sixteen days but for your father it has only been about four.” “That is interesting,” Bréagán said completely engrossed. “I promise we will discuss it later.” Joulupukki opened the door for Jessica who entered first.