But apart from his discomfort at Tara’s parents’ reaction to him, Tara herself was still a mystery. Despite the dam-busting flood of tears that released all the pent-up emotions of her life as a slave, he felt that he was still no closer to knowing how she felt about him.
He was startled when an arm slid around his waist from behind and Tara laid her head against his back. He swung around to face her and held her close.
“I did not hear you approach,” he said.
“I can be as silent as a cat,” she replied, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “I missed you when I awoke,” she added. “I thought I might find you here.”
“The animals help me to think,” he said.
“What were you thinking about?” she asked, snuggling her head under his chin.
“You,” he said.
“Why were you thinking about me?” she asked.
“Tara, I feel as if I do not know you,” he said. “There is part of you that you do not share with me.”
She drew back and looked at him but said nothing.
“I brought you here to set you free,” he told her, even as it broke his heart to say it.
“Set me free?” she asked, puzzled. “Do you not want me anymore?”
“No, no, no!” he exclaimed, horrified that she had misunderstood. “I want you more than I ever have!”
“Then what do you mean?” she asked.
He took a deep breath. “I love you, my precious Tara; I love you with all my heart. That is why I brought you home again. I am giving you the choice, my love. If you wish to stay here with your parents, in the land of your birth, you can.”
She gasped. “You mean … you brought me here to return to the life I had before?”
“Yes, if that is what you want. I want you to be happy.”
She flung her arms around him and clung to him as if she would never let him go. “Oh Erik, I am happy!” she exclaimed, tears gathering in her eyes. “You have made me the happiest woman on earth!” She drew back and looked into his eyes, seeing only kindness and love. “Coming home has filled a hole in my heart,” she said. “It has been wonderful to see my parents and family again.” She took a deep breath. “But as wonderful as they are, I do not belong here anymore. I did not know that until now. I always thought I would like to return to the life I left behind.” She reached up and smoothed a fair lock of hair off his brow. “I am not the same person that left this place. Oh Erik, what a wonderful gift you have given me! My freedom and my return to my family.”
“What are you trying to say?” he asked quietly.
“I love you, Erik,” she said shyly, a faint blush tinting her cheeks in the golden glow of the early morning sunshine. “I love you more than I ever thought possible. I just did not realize it until you gave me this choice. You loved me so much that you were willing to let me go if it meant that I would be happy. How could I fail to love you in return? My place is with you, Erik. Wherever you go, my place is there. My heart belongs with yours.”
A huge grin split his beard, so red-gold in the early morning light. His blue eyes sparkled with delight. “You mean …?” he asked with a catch in his breath.
She nodded. “When we leave here, I will be going with you,” she said. “Wherever we go, it will be together.”
EPILOGUE
“Brendan!” Tara exclaimed as she opened the door to her old friend. “I did not expect to find you on my doorstep!”
The older man hugged her. “It is good to see you again!” he exclaimed. “Where is Erik?’
“He will be home soon. Come, tell me of the news from Norowegr.” She led him to the table and they sat down.
“I have been here for several weeks,” he said. “I went into the country to my old village to see if my wife and son are still alive.”
“And?” she prompted.
“They are indeed. We had a very happy reunion. My wife thought I was dead, of course. I am fortunate that she did not marry another.”
“So what brings you to Dubh Linn?”
“I wished to repay Erik the money that he spent on setting me free. And the money that I owe him for the lease of the longhouse after you left.”
“Oh, Brendan, Erik forgave you that debt before we left!”
“It matters not,” he said. “I wished to repay it. There is enough there for Inger, also.”
“Tell me of Inger,” she said eagerly. “Is she well?”
“She is,” Brendan said. “She knew she would be lonely in the longhouse after I left, with only Kappi for company.”
“Dear Kappi,” Tara said, her eyes soft. “I do miss him.” After much deliberation, she had decided to leave Kappi with Inger. The old woman adored him and had no one else to love.
“Inger went to visit Leopolda one day and they realized that they both love Kappi and are both alone. So Inger has moved in with Leopolda and now they both spoil that cat.”
Tara grinned. “I can imagine,” she said. “The pair of them would be fussing over his every move.”
“And cooking up every delicacy they can think of to tempt him,” Brendan laughed.
“It will be good for them to have each other and Kappi,” Tara said. “I am so glad that I persuaded Erik to set you both free.”
“I will be forever grateful to you both,” Brendan said. He reached into his cloak and pulled
