She was so engrossed in her misery that she didn’t notice when a girl around her own age walked in.
"Hello!" a voice said.
Eira jumped, startled, and tried to clean the tears off her face. But it was too late.
"Greetings," she replied, sniffing.
"You have been crying,” said the auburn-haired girl. Her blue eyes were concerned.
Eira forced a smile. "Everything has been a bit overwhelming."
The girl came to sit beside her. "I admire your courage to face your troubles."
Eira smiled again, sensing an attempt at friendship.
"My name is Kaarina. What's yours?" the girl asked tentatively.
"Eira. My name is Eira."
The girl smiled broadly and Eira could feel the love in her heart. "I like your name. May I be your friend?"
"Of course! It is not like I have friends waiting in line."
Kaarina laughed. "Come on, it is not that bad. I am sure people will come to like you."
"I no longer care if they like me or not. I shall just live the best life I can till I am old and gone."
"Oh, Eira, you do not think anyone can ever love you, do you?"
It was Eira's turn to laugh. "I know not what you have been told but the truth is this: no one can love you the way you deserve to be loved. And men? All they want is to make families. They care not if a woman loves them or not.”
Kaarina gaped at her. "You seem to know a lot about love."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Eira asked with an edge in her voice.
"No. I did not mean it that way,” Kaarina apologized. "It is just that I know little about life beyond the boundaries of this village. And you seem to know more than I do."
Eira calmed down, realizing that Kaarina meant no disrespect. It was obvious that she was lonely and needed some company.
"Sorry,” she said.
Kaarina smiled broadly. "It's alright, Eira. I do not think any of this is your fault. But may I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"And you will not get mad at me?"
Eira shook her head.
"Why are they saying you are an evil witch? Did you do something horrible? You know, like rip out a man’s heart in his sleep?"
Eira burst out laughing. Rip out a man’s heart? Really!
While the two girls became friends, Halvar was having a hard time. He was a warrior and farmer, like his father before him. He knew little about women. To be truthful, he hadn’t paid them much attention up to this point. His parents had died before they could arrange his marriage and he had done nothing about finding a wife for himself. He hardly knew where to start, except that he felt he would prefer to marry for love rather than convenience or alliances. Now, he felt that his lack of knowledge about the opposite sex was a hindrance to getting to know the woman that had caught his attention.
He stood beside the stream at the edge of the village, watching the women and children going about their daily business. His thoughts turned to Eira. Not only had her beauty impressed him, but there was something else about her that tugged at his heart and made him want to protect her. He couldn’t figure it out at first but after a while, it struck him. Her innocence! There was nothing sly or deceptive in her demeanor and he had no reason to doubt that her story was exactly as she had told it. He was certain that she was no witch but rather an unfortunate victim of circumstances.
He heard uneven footsteps approaching and guessed that Pallavi had sought him out. He stood to help her up the rocky path above the stream and led her to the rock he’d been sitting on. When she was settled, he sat down beside her and waited for her to speak.
"Young man,” she said. "You look troubled."
Halvar was surprised. "Is it that obvious?"
"Did I not train two young men like you who fought by your side during the wars?" she asked.
"I am sorry about your loss. You know your sons did this village a great honor when they gave their lives on the battlefield. They were of great strength and nobility."
"This is not about my sons. It is about what troubles you. Or, does it please you to make an old woman relive her pains?"
Halvar knew he was trapped. Pallavi had a way of getting right to the point and she detested small talk.
"How was I to know you were going on about me?" he asked, stalling for time.
The old woman snorted. "Enough about the past. Tell me what bothers you."
"Pallavi, the young maiden Eira bothers me," he said.
The sun was slowly beginning its descent towards the mountains in the west. Soon the chill of the evening would descend and it would be time for the chores that had to be done before dark. He wondered what Eira was doing.
"Does it bother you that she’s called an evil witch or that she’s beautiful?” Pallavi asked with a sly grin. “Can you not stop thinking about her?”
Halvar gave her a sharp look. The old woman had known him all his life. There was nothing that escaped her notice.
"What?!" she exclaimed, holding his gaze. "I would be a fool not to notice you looking at her. It appears that you are quite taken with her beauty.”
