Aebbe's Story
14. Confessions

I took the stairs two at a time and Aelfie kept up with me. She jumped up on my bed making herself comfortable. The tears started as I got to my room. I tried to wipe them away, but annoyingly they kept coming back. I started when I heard my door close. Meig had followed me up. Her strong features registered concern.

“Hey, are you alright?” she asked. I shrugged, not trusting my voice. “Who was that guy?”

“He’s my ex-fiancé. I was supposed to marry him but I ran away the night before,” I explained.

“And he followed you here,” she said, glancing around like there might be other ex-fiancés about to jump out of my closet.

“Yeah, I… I guess he was just checking on me. I mean, it’s not like he was a bad guy or anything. I… It’s just not what I see myself doing with my life. I know, I’m weird. I know that,” I rambled.

“No, no. I think it’s admirable that you do what you want and he seemed to be okay with that, too. That’s nice,” she said a little wistfully.

“It’s weird, though. Have you ever…just now, when I kissed Kaarlo, I got this funny feeling between my legs and now I can’t seem to stop crying. What’s wrong with me?” I asked her, sniffling and wishing I could stop.

She looked really surprised.

“Haven’t you ever been in love?” she asked. I thought that was about the vaguest question I’d ever heard.

“No?” I answered. “I don’t think so. How would I know?” She smiled and wrapped her arm around me. We stepped up to the window and looked down on the street. Kaarlo seemed to be ordering some men around. They were loading a coach. That was a relief. He’d be home in under a month then in fair comfort. Not that he seemed soft, but I don’t think he hunted for his food every day either.

“You’ve never felt that down there, before?” she pressed.

“No, I mean it’s like my blood days, but I’m pretty sure it’s not that,” I said, but now I was thinking about it maybe I should check only it would be a bit awkward with Meig here.

“He’s good looking,” Meig commented looking out the window again.

“Yes,” I said rather indifferently. “He is.”

“Is he a good rider?” she asked and I was pretty sure she was making fun of me.

“So I hear,” I responded refusing to rise up to the bait. “And he’s good with a sword, too,” I said beating her to that punch, frowning at her. She smirked.

“So… you don’t mind the idea of him with another woman?” she asked, looking back out the window. I frowned.

“Of course not. Who else would he marry? A horse?” I said, but the annoying tears kept up. When Meig noticed this, she continued.

“And how do you feel about not kissing him again?” I frowned at her when she turned to me. I was embarrassed to think she had seen us kissing earlier.

“I didn’t ask him to kiss me,” I said, my voice rising, stepping away from her.

“I didn’t say you did,” she replied putting a calming hand on my arm. “But, if you never kissed him again… how would you feel about that?” That seemed another ridiculous question. I mean, I hadn’t been on kissing dates for years and didn’t really miss them. Only…

“Well, I did feel awfully nice. Maybe more so than some others. But…” I stared at Kaarlo as he moved about the street still wiping at my tears.

“But…” pressed Meig, drawing my eyes back to her. I shrugged. It was hard to put things into words.

“There are plenty of men available for that, I guess. Not that I’m looking,” I added quickly.

“You certainly don’t have to look,” she said a small grin on her face and I frowned at her. “Or find… Don’t have to,” she said looking back out the window, relaxing her face when she saw I was still frowning at her.

I looked back out too and just then Kaarlo looked up and saw me. I tensed. Could he see I was crying? He raised a hand in greeting and I returned it, putting my hand on the uneven glass. It looked like he had a couple guards and a small retinue of servants with him. As a nobleman, of course he would have people from his household with him for such a long voyage. Most people don’t go traveling around on their own in the wilderness. I smiled to myself.

Of course, I’m not like most people. I wiped my tears away and noticed they had stopped falling. We stood there together and watched as Kaarlo’s carriage was finally loaded and he stepped into it with a final look up at my window. The coachman latched the door closed and hopped up to his seat at the back and the driver got to his bench and took up the whip and reins and got the team moving forward. We watched as it turned down the road going out of town and went out of sight. And that was the last time I cried.

That is the end of the novella. I have started to think about expanding the story. They go to the mines for some adventures. Maybe she'll get called into Westfall to help with Kaarlo?? I think there is much potential with this small introduction. Let me know what you think and if you've any interest in hearing about her continued story.

Thank you for your readership and support!

-RR

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