When the day started, I was sure I’d be alone and that I’d have no way to ignore the pain of it. Moving to Vinland seemed like a good idea and it mostly was except for all the times I’ve found myself longing for the companionship I used to have. So yes, I was sure that today would be a disaster and that I’d be unbelievably sad. But as I was walking in the snow with firewood in my arms, I caught the glimpse of a face I thought I would never see again. She smiled in that mischievous way of hers, Synin perched on her shoulder and she didn’t even react to the feeling of it.
“You should tell your pretty bird to avoid giving away your position if you don’t want anyone to know where you are.”
There were so many things I wanted to do or say because I missed her from the moment she walked away years ago. I could have teased back, I could have been serious and told her to stop being facetious. But what I did in the end was not what she thought that I would, her reaction said it all. What did I do? Let the wood fall in the snow, strode up to her and Synin took flight as I wrapped my arms tightly around the elusive artifact seeker. I closed my eyes and felt my heart miss a beat when she wrapped her arms around me.
“What are you doing here, Kassandra?” I smiled when I decided to tease her. “Caused more nightmares?”
“That was only once and it was just bad luck.” It wasn’t bad luck for me… “Are you here to attack more women in cemeteries?”
I can’t help but laugh slightly at her jab. “It was your fault, there were bodies everywhere around you.”
“They killed each other, I had nothing to do with that.” I roll my eyes affectionately at her answer. “It’s not even the point anyway.”
We parted slowly and I immediately missed her warmth, but looking up in her eyes from so close made my heart swoon. She always seemed really beautiful in my opinion, but from so close I could swear that she was beauty personalized. I managed to convince her to stay tonight…Which is exactly why she’s here with me right now, looking up at the stars and smiling in the way she does when she’s thinking.
“Isn’t there a tradition that is celebrated back in England during this time of the year?” I look at her in questioning.
“Are you talking about Yuletide?” She nods at my question. “Yeah, it’s usually very nice. “Have you never experienced it before?”
She shakes her head, but keeps her eyes on the stars and I wonder if she can feel my gaze on the side of her face. I wonder what it would have been like to celebrate it with her. Would she have laughed like she did during that wedding on the Island? Would she have felt overwhelmed to be surrounded by the clan? Would we have kissed under the mistletoe? I blush hotly at the thought of it and can’t help but wish I could have gotten a taste of her lips underneath that plant I hate so deeply. Maybe it would have made the thought of the scent of mistletoe on Baldr’s body less overwhelmingly heart crushing…
“Alright, I’ll celebrate this Yuletide thing with you.” Then she smirks mischievously and I narrow my eyes. “Even though I don’t believe in it.”
I roll my eyes at her quick comment. “It’s only about love and harmony, Kassandra. During Yuletide, there’s no more fighting.” Usually, there wouldn’t be…
“You might want to celebrate with someone else then, I’m not the greatest believer of love and pretend harmony.” I smirk at the opening she just gave me.
“For a woman who doesn’t believe in love you were awfully fast into swearing your heart away to me. See the sword at my hip? Wanna know who gave it to me?”
Her eyes widen and I know that she realizes just how romantic that gesture had been. I had followed her out of the longhouse when my heart screamed in agony at letting her go. I told her I didn’t want her to forget me and she said that she didn't want me to forget her either. So, she gave me her sword and walked away with one last sad look at me…I cherished the sword for what it was and I couldn’t leave it behind. She smirks again, I roll my eyes and just know that she’s gonna tease me to get away from the vulnerability of this moment.
“Perhaps a lapse of judgment on my side? What can make you say assuredly that it was out of love?” She looks at me in wait for me to accept the challenge.
“Because you’re a tough woman and I can see you don’t open your heart easily? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re very tenderhearted under all that mischief.”
She narrows her eyes, but I don’t back down and just then something falls between us. Synin caws in the sky, I look down and my eyes widen at the sight of what resembles a mistletoe. Is my raven trying to get me to kiss the woman I fell in love with so quickly? I wonder if she knows about the myth, but then I see the flustered look on her face and I smile teasingly. She definitely knows about it and I hope she wants it just as much as I do.
“Want to honor this yuletide tradition with me as well?” I hope I won’t be crossing a line with what I’ll say next… “That’s the one tradition I definitely want to honor with you.”
The bright smile she gives me then makes it clear that we’re both looking forward to it. I hold it up just a little over my head, she laughs warmly at the challenge issued in my smile and leans in slowly. I close my eyes when she’s close enough, my heart pounds when her lips connect with mine and this is definitely the best Yuletide of my life. I know the myth to be wrong and that kissing under the mistletoe is just a poetic part of a story. But it doesn’t stop me from thinking our kiss will be enough to spread the love I’ve been needing to get through this time of the year…