“You were big yesterday. You saved my life and Britta’s.”
Nik offered a wan smile. “Yes, a real hero. All I managed to do was get you both out. Mace sucked the water from your lungs. Jens and Foss killed the Nøkkendalig – a thing my entire people have been too afraid to attempt.”
“Hey, now. You rescued me. You led the rescue team that saved Queen Lucy of the Other Side. That’ll make a good headline, for sure.”
He sipped his tea as the candlelight danced on his sun-kissed skin. “You’re too kind.”
“The one time you can actually brag, and you’re being too modest. I don’t get it.”
“Soon I’ll become the biggest criminal in Nøkken history. Worse than the Nøkkendalig. I’ll be hated and my parents shamed in front of the country. Forget Bjorn and rescuing you. That will be my legacy.” He held his teacup up in salute. “Well, it was nice while it lasted.”
I placed my hand on his. “That’s assuming you get caught, which if all goes well, you won’t.”
Nik smiled at me in that way parents get when teenagers start talking about the problems in the world and how they can be fixed. “The Nøkken portal is deep underwater. There’s no way a Tomten can vanish me that far and live to tell the tale. It will be guarded, for certain. I’ve thought it through.” He sipped his tea. “There’s no way I won’t be found out. I’ve made my choice, and I’m okay with it. I’ll be sentenced and executed, and that’s the way of it.”
I rested my toes on his. “I know why Jens and a few of them feel the way they do about Be. But what makes you so certain it’s an evil place worth getting executed for?”
Nik avoided my eyes as if looking into them might reveal his secrets. “I lost a friend to Be. A dear one.” He kept staring into his cup. “Kirk.”
“Ah.” I nodded in understanding, recalling the times I’d noticed Nik checking out Jens’s stellar backside. “I’m guessing your world isn’t as accepting of your ‘friendship’ with Kirk as you’d like, huh.”
“We don’t speak of it. We were young, teenagers, and his parents found out. They sent him to Be to hide their shame.”
My mouth fell open, and I’m surprised a slew of four-letter words didn’t come flying out. “Can people do that? Force someone into Be?”
“In the end, it has to be their decision, but there was not much choice in the matter. So Kirk is gone, and I am alone. I wandered in the mountains often to have space for my grieving. That’s how I met Bjorn. He’s been a great comfort to me through the years. As you can see, I’m well past marrying age, and people are starting to talk.” He took a sip, his eyes turning steely. “When Alrik presented me with his plan, I did not hesitate, and I will not hesitate tomorrow when it’s time to end the gateway that took my… myself away from me. Pesta will pay, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
I let his anger settle for a moment before speaking. “Well, you’ll be happy to hear that the world evolves. People change. Maybe not soon, but it does happen. Used to be like that in my world. Still is in some places.”
“Used to?”
“Not so much anymore. In a lot of places, men can even marry each other.”
He set his teacup down in shock. “That’s not possible. Society would never allow it.”
“There’s always going to be those people who treat others in ways they’ll regret in twenty years, but they’re everywhere. But yeah, it’s possible. Legal. In some places it’s totally normal.”
Nik gripped the table and stared at me with such intensity, I was nervous he might shout when he opened his mouth. “Are you telling me the absolute truth?”
I cocked my head to the side. “Why would I lie about that? Of course it’s true.”
He leaned over the table, grabbed my face and kissed me square on the mouth before I had a moment to protest. He held his face inches from mine and stared into my eyes with bold determination. “We have to find a way for me to live through this and see your side. I don’t care what it takes. I’ll do anything. I just need to know it’s possible. That people like me can be happy.”
He released me, and I flopped back on my chair, flabbergasted. “I thought that was the plan anyway, so that works for me.”
“Lucy, you are fair, that’s for certain. Jens is a lucky man.”
I drained the last of my tea and stood, holding my hand out to him. “Gossip’s really that bad around here?”
Nik nodded with disappointment painting his eyes as he took my hand. “Bad enough for parents to send their children to a soulless eternity if they disgrace the family name.”
“Then let’s give the locals something to talk about.” I pulled him to standing. “I’m beat. Let’s see how your mom freaks out in the morning when we come out of the same room. How fast do you want to bet that spreads around town?”
Nik was taken aback by my daring. “Are you serious? What about Jens?”
“He’ll understand. I’ll have to tell him about Kirk, but he can keep it to himself.”
“Are you sure about this?” He towered over me, sizing up my commitment as I nodded.
“Sure. But for the record, I was amazing in the sack. You could barely keep up with my double-jointed flexible human female ways.”
He held up his hand in promise. “I will look appropriately exhausted by your acrobatics in the morning.”
“Oh! First things first. Do you have any shaving cream?” Yeah, that was a non sequitur.
“Um, yes. Why?”
“I owe Foss a little payback. He’s out cold, right?”
Nik retrieved the shaving cream, and I plopped a dollop in Foss’s outstretched hand. Let that teach him to be a jerk to me.
Nik hefted me over his shoulder like a caveman, spilling my giggles all over the place as he stalked past his parents’ bedroom to his. Their door cracked open, and I knew the gossip mill would be grinding out the good stuff before noon.
Nik dropped me onto his bed and we chatted in whispers as we prepared for some much needed sleep. We lay next to each other, comparing our worlds and laughing at the differences. When the laughter turned to yawns, Nik kissed my forehead. “I think it’s time we actually slept together.”
I rolled onto my side facing away from him and felt his body shift next to mine. “Nik, could you sing me to sleep? I know your magic doesn’t work on me, but I really like the sound of it.”
His smile was evident in his tone as he brushed his fingers through my long hair. “As you wish, darling. Sleep well, my queen.”
Nik sang to me soft songs telling the history of great Nøkken heroes and their daring feats. His voice was warm chocolate melting over my body. Then he paused, and the key shifted to a minor tune, his volume quieting as if sharing a secret of great import to him.
One day, long ago the fear of trolls filled the globe.
But children play and women sing because the Nøkken triumphs ring.
Man of Valor, that’s our Nik. When he walks by, our hearts beat quick.
Men and women, much we owe. We bow to Nik, true Nøkken hero.
There was a sadness to his voice as he sang the tune filled with slow, sad notes that were meant to be joyful. “Nik,” I whispered, reaching my arm behind me to brush his cheek with the back of my knuckles. “Thank you for saving my life.”
He caught my fingers and kissed each tip. It would’ve been sexy if I wasn’t head over heels for Jens, and if Nik wasn’t, well, gay.
I rolled onto my back and brought his head to my chest so I could stroke his fluffy hair. I’d never pet anything so soft, even Henry Mancini. Nik continued singing as he pulled the covers up over us.
I closed my eyes, and though there was no magic to it, I drifted off to sleep with my true Nøkken hero resting in my arms.
Twenty-One.
Bewitched by Charles
“So that was a neat little trick with the shaving cream,” Foss said, his expression surly as ever. I was beginning to wonder how thin the layers of curse were that Mace was peeling ba
ck. Granted, he hadn’t choked me since, but he was a long way from Ward Cleaver.
“Glad you liked it.” I’d heard his defamatory exclamations when he awoke with the white cream smeared all over his hand, face and hair. It brought me no uncertain amount of joy to get his goat. “Think of it as one prank for every time you called me and Britt little rats.”
Just as I got my porridge perfectly seasoned with cinnamon and sugar, Foss reached out his large mitt, cupped the back of my head and shoved my face down into my breakfast. “That’s one payback for every time I’ve regretted going on a journey with women slowing us down.”
Charles and Jamie made exclamations of protest, but Jens knew better. He sat back, an ankle resting atop his knee and a lazy smile on his face as he ate his porridge.
I wiped the oats off my face, grinning at the game that had been unleashed. This would be fun.
Before we set out on our trek along the outskirts of Nøkken, Charles and Nik put as much protection on us as they could in the privacy of the parlor. Nik sang a song to increase our energy and focus. Charles unleashed his bizarre several-noted whistle I still could not make sense of, explaining that it would help us work in better spirits with each other and open us up to new ideas that might show us a way to get Nik out without getting caught.
Then Charles pulled me to my feet, held onto my hand and whistled in almost a whisper. My ear gravitated toward his mouth just as it had the first time he’d enchanted me so. I had no idea what it would do, but my body drank in the different pitches and savored every note that bent my mind to his will. His lips caressed and puckered on my ear, lulling me into whatever trance he wished for me. He had one hand around my hips and the other cupping my chin. I felt completely secure, my body oddly boneless.
When Mace released me, Jens snatched me back, shattering my drugged haze. He’d been on and off grouchy since I informed him of why I slept with Nik. He understood, but I could tell he was unhappy about it. “Don’t do that to her without telling me what it’s for, Mace. She’s my girlfriend, not yours. Plus, she’s my charge. I should know how she’s being toyed with.”
“Toyed with? You sound like a jealous fool,” Mace replied, unfazed at Jens’s mood. To be fair, Jens was always in a mood.
“How would it sound if I punched you in the face?” Jens challenged.
Mace looked around the room, incredulous. “It would sound like you’re a jealous fool! Am I saying it wrong?”
I moved between the two oxen and pressed a hand to both their chests. I kissed Mace’s cheek and said to him, “You’re my brother. Quit winding up my guy.” Then I turned to Jens and said, “You really think I’m going to leave you for my brother? Quit being weird.” Then I licked the side of his face from chin to temple. He was not amused, but my spirits were soaring out of nowhere.
My intervention wasn’t as helpful as I was hoping, but at least they fumed silently after that. I was too excited to see the land of Nøkken to care.
Nik’s mother brought me extra pears after breakfast and made sure I had too many apples stuffed in my pack for the journey ahead. We told her Nik was showing us all around Nøkken. She was so thrilled that her son had a prestigious prospect that she did not question the lie. “You’re just an absolute doll!” I exclaimed, pinching the woman’s cheeks. My head felt like it was floating, and everything was funny, including Foss, who was never funny.
I tied the laces of his rugged leather boots in quadruple knots, laughing hysterically when he moved to put them on and could not. His frown was hilarious to me, so the more he used it, the funnier it became. I was outright cackling by the time we left.
We set out for our grand Nøkken adventure early in the morning. Uncle Rick and Charles separated from the group to venture into the main city to purchase more supplies. The rendezvous point was two whole days’ journey away.
Henry Mancini went nuts at the innumerable amount of giant multicolored birds that fluttered around in the air. It was early autumn, but other than the crisp breeze that had an undercurrent of warmth to it, nature around us was burgeoning spring. Tulips bloomed everywhere in the boldest colors so vivid, you would swear they were painted. Some appeared tie-dyed, growing straight out of the ground. There were lilies and enormous snapdragons that stretched almost as tall as small trees, bending every which way with the wind. One of the snapdragon mouths fell open, and I laughed when I realized I could fit my entire head inside. There were tropical birds and average Midwest birds and giant feathered friends I’d never heard of before. Some of them sang songs that were so beautiful, I felt lighter than a feather as I scampered along after my puppy.
Since we were walking on the outskirts of Nøkken, we didn’t see many homes. The locals we saw were only in the distance, but I could hear them.
The song of the Nøkken was crazy. Since I wasn’t from Undraland, it had no effect on me, other than sounding pretty. I mean, some of the most engaging voices I’d ever heard. Move over, Auto-tunes. Double melodies coming from one mouth, trilling and beckoning for all they were worth. Nik had to sing much of the way just to keep our crew from following after the airy tunes.
I could tell Jens wanted to be grouchy, but I was too happy to let that fly. Colors were a beautiful thing. After being surrounded by mountains that were gray, gray and more gray, it was a breath of luscious air to be smacked in the face with Technicolor.
I raced Henry Mancini until my heart pounded with elation. I was not climbing harrowing heights. There were no softball-sized venomous spiders. The Nøkkendalig were pretty well obliterated, and I had my regular clothes back that Nik’s mom had washed during the night.
I pumped my legs, laughing at the ease with which Henry Mancini beat me. We ran, just me and my dog, until my head started to throb. I turned and found the others much farther back than I anticipated. Jamie was laughing, a nice big belly one that rang out across the prairie. Jens was trotting in my direction, his face too adult and serious for my liking.
Jens waved his arms to flag me down. “Didn’t you hear me? I’ve been calling for you to slow down.”
“I can’t!” I answered, my heart racing. “I’m too happy. This place is gorgeous! Can we live here when it’s all over?”
“No. Get back here!” Jens yelled. “You’re giving yourself a headache.”
“I don’t care!” I shouted back, running with Henry Mancini. I tripped and fell in the grass, rolling around in the green with the dog I always wanted.
When Jens trotted toward me, I was ready. Grin as wide as my face, I stood and jumped up on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing his surprised mouth like I never had before. I devoured him, pulling his hair and squeezing with my thighs. He was so taken aback that he lost his balance and fell on his backside, taking me down with him.
This did not deter me. I mean, I’m the girl who stole her teacher’s car and parked it at a strip club for calling my brother “chemo boy”, so I can be pretty determined. I pushed Jens further into the tall grass and kissed him over and over. His protests melted under my fervor until I tried to take his shirt off.
“Wait, Lucy! Stop for a second.”
I pulled back from his lips and delivered a loud raspberry to his toned stomach, making him jerk in surprise. I contented myself burying my nose in his belly button and biting the skin beneath lightly. Henry Mancini barked at us, which for no reason at all was the funniest sound I ever heard.
“Oh! You know what we should do? We should get Indian food from that killer place in Indiana. Indian food in Indiana! Ha! Remember that? And then I could eat it off your face like this.” I straddled his chest and mimed eating buckets of Spicy Rogan Josh off his face with my hands. “Curried Jens. Delish!”
“Lucy, what’s your deal?”
“My deal? I’m so happy! And I think we should celebrate. Right here.” I planted a rough kiss on his lips to stifle his protest. “Oh, man! You taste good even without the curry.”
“You know they can see us, right?” Jens
tried to resist me, but I was on high octane.
“Then they’re gonna get a good show.”
I heard Jamie’s barking laugh, uninhibited by his station or propriety, followed by Britta’s astonished gasp. “James! You can’t do that out here!”
“Why? Why not? Why can’t I kiss the woman I love? I’m filled with the stuff. Absolutely exploding with love for the most beautiful Tomten alive!” he shouted, declaring his love for all of nature to hear.
“Jamie! What’s gotten into you?” Britta pushed him away, her blush visible even from a distance.
“You have!” He tapped his forearms. “You’re in my veins! Every beat of my lonely heart sings for you! Every night, I go to bed thinking about you, and each morning, I get out of bed only for the hope of seeing your face.”
She gasped, straightening her bonnet that he began unlacing. “You can’t speak of such things! What about Freya? You’re promised to another woman and you’re laplanded to Lucy. You can’t possibly begin to tell me how this could work.”
Jamie held up his hands to the Heavens, a new man coming from the baptism of whatever set me off. “I renounce my claim on the Tonttu throne! I renounce my title, my status and my father!”
Foss, Tor, Nik and even Jens stopped to stare in shock at Jamie, who looked more alive than he ever had been. His grin was bursting off his face, chest barreled and life – real life filled every pore of his body. He was a new man…
…on bended knee. “Britta, will you marry me? Most wonderful woman I’ve ever known. Be my bride!”
Britta stumbled back into Nik, who barely had enough wits about himself to right her. “What?” Foss, Nik, Britta and Jens exclaimed as one.
Jens dumped me off of him, which made me laugh. I pumped my fist in the air. “You do it, Jamie! You get your girl!” Then to the sky I belted out a triumphant, “Carpe diem!”
Jens was on his feet, eyes wide and hand over his mouth as he witnessed what he thought he would never see. His sister wept as she nodded her answer.
Nokken Page 12
