Felmer arrived at the house and knocked on the door. Lelis opened it, and he entered. Felmer walked lazily and sat in the living room. The captain and his uncle, Fesker Roser, were talking and drinking tea. Felmer came forward and met his uncle.
"You have grown, boy!" His uncle said happily.
"I have!" Felmer replied with a tired smile.
Then his uncle picked up his tools and headed towards the workshop.
"Wanna come with me, captain?" He asked Captain Irnik.
"Sure…" The captain said and went to the workshop with him.
Felmer sat below and extended his legs to rest. Lelis was sitting on a sofa on the other end, wrapped in a red blanket, reading a book.
"Where are the others?" Felmer asked her.
"They are out to get some things for tomorrow's festival. Melfer is sleeping in Asfal's room." She replied, looking at the book. "This is not the place to sleep."
"I am too tired. I haven't slept properly for the past six days." Felmer replied. "What are you reading?"
"Chronicles of Silvett…" She replied.
"Oh, that! I have read all five volumes." Felmer replied with closed eyes.
"Really? Your mother gifted me on my birthday two years ago. I am reading them for the fifth time. This series is this good!" Lelis was happy to know that Felmer had read that book.
'Actually, I gave those. Those five are all mine.' Felmer thought.
"Why won't you buy some other?" He asked.
"Well…Books are expensive…" She replied hesitantly.
'Oh yeah! Not everyone is rich like me. I shouldn't have asked that!' He thought, realising his mistake.
"Well…Read the ones you have. They are worth reading a thousand times." He said, took off his coat, and placed it on his face.
"Dinner time is coming…" She said.
"I will eat when I get up," Felmer replied and dozed off.
Lelis looked at Felmer, but he was already asleep.
"That was fast!" She said. And then she began to read her book again.
Time passed, and soon, the next day arrived. When Felmer woke up, it was still dark, and the sun was far from rising. He looked here and there. It was dark around him, and he felt a blanket over him. It was the same as Lelis had. He placed it aside, put on his coat, and stepped outside the house. It was extremely cold. He rubbed his hands and set out for a stroll.
He walked on the street. Two guards passed by and looked at him.
"Be careful, it's very cold." One of the guards said as he passed by.
Felmer nodded and kept walking. The city was empty, and there was light fog. Snow was falling slowly. Many farmers and workers were leaving their homes.
'Early risers, they are." Felmer thought.
He walked through the empty streets and then went to the open fields. There, he saw Asfal and his uncle cutting firewood. Felmer slowly walked up to them, shaking with cold. He stood near them and greeted them.
"You are awake?" His uncle asked.
"Well…I slept early yesterday. So I am awake now." Felmer said, rubbing his hands.
"You are wearing fewer clothes. It is very cold." Fesker said.
Felmer nodded and stood straight.
"Want my help?"
"You are late for that. We are almost done." Asfal replied from above. He was in the tree, cutting wood.
"Oh! You can do work as well?" Felmer said jokingly.
"Of course I can!"
Fesker chuckled and looked at his son cutting the branches.
"Lelis told me there is a festival today?" Felmer asked his uncle.
"Yeah, there is…" He replied.
"Of what?"
"It is a national festival. It is taking place today because our weather masters are saying that spring will arrive in two days. So this festival is to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring."
"Oh…" Felmer nodded in amazement.
Asfal came down, and then he and Felmer picked up the firewood. They went back to the house.
At sunrise, they all had breakfast, and then all the young folks left the house and went to the fields. They were there to assist Emily and Asfal with caring for their goats and to help with the festival's work.
Felmer and Melfer fed the goats and patted them on the back. Flexin was a little hesitant. A male goat was looking at him. Flexin was slightly scared of it. He was safe because the goat was behind fences. He got closer and threw the grass near it. This made the goat angry.
Felmer and Melfer watched their brother's reaction and thought of a trick. When Flexin turned away and began to walk away, Melfer moved closer and patted the goat's head. He slowly opened the fence door. Felmer threw the grass in Flexin's direction. The goat saw two targets and charged at Flexin. Flexin felt it and turned to see the goat running at him. Only one thing came to his mind. Run!
He began to run forward, screaming with fear.
"Mama! Mama!" He screamed and ran with all his might.
Felmer and Melfer began to laugh at the show. Asfal saw it and ran towards the goat. As the goat was about to his Flexin, Asfal grabbed it by the horns and stopped it. Flexin ran towards Elna and Emily and hid behind them. Felmer and Melfer laughed and laughed.
"Are you two mad? He could have died," Lelis shouted angrily.
"Die?" Melfer said, tears in his eyes.
"Then…There will be written on the tombstone. 'Dumbass came under a goat.'" Felmer said, adding to the joke.
The two of them laughed more and held their stomachs. Flexin looked at his brothers, a tear rolling down his cheek. Elna hugged him to calm him down.
After getting scolded by Elna, they began to help the locals in arranging the stalls, tents, wood posts, and many other things.
The time passed by in jokes and work, and time flew by. Before they could realise it was night and time for the festival. All preparations were done.
Felmer was in the house, in Asfal's room, getting ready. He wore black clothes. And over it, a long coat of the best fabric. He looked at his hands and wore black gloves. He crouched and tied his black leather boots. He wore a grey muffler, and after checking himself in the mirror, he left the house.
As he walked through the busy streets, he soon arrived at the venue. Countless stalls, selling books, decoration pieces, furniture, daggers, swords, food, jewellery and many other diverse things. Colourful lanterns and fire torches brightened the night. Children, women, and men walked around and made the area lively.
Felmer went to the centre. There, everyone, except Lelis, was present. In the centre, horse and archery tricks were taking place. At some distance, many young men were performing traditional folk dances, and some were singing folk songs and poems.
Felmer stood and watched the show take place. The king and the nobility had arrived, given a speech, and then left the area. They were celebrating inside the palace. Felmer was invited as well. But he refused, saying that he wanted to spend time with his relatives.
So, here he was, looking at the performances. He stood for a while and then asked Melfer.
"Where is Lelis?"
"Oh! Where is Lelis?" Melfer said mockingly.
Felmer stared at him.
"She was out in the stall area. Window shopping, maybe…"
Felmer nodded and then turned back. Elna came from behind and stopped him.
"Adult advice…" Melfer mocked again.
Flexin, Benny, Asfal, and the captain laughed. Elna took Felmer aside.
"It is a tradition to give gifts to others during this festival." She said, grabbed his hand, and placed a bag full of gold coins into it.
'DAMN!! She is rich!' Felmer thought, amazed by the bag's weight.
Elna winked at him and then went inside. Felmer placed the bag in his pocket, adjusted his sword and went towards the stalls. He walked through the crowded area and then arrived at the stalls. He began to walk slowly, looking around and checking each stall one by one. He had no idea what to gift her.
As he walked through the stalls, he spotted Lelis. He didn't approach her and watched what she was doing. She was standing in front of a jewellery stall. She was checking the items. Soon, a beautiful hairpin, with a tulip flower designed on it, caught her eye. The golden stem and the pink flower made the hairpin beautiful. She asked for the price, then her smile faded. She hesitantly placed it back and then walked away from the stall.
Felmer immediately understood and then decided what to gift her. He slowly walked towards that stall and looked at the hairpin.
'It is beautiful…' He thought, observing the hairpin.
The shopkeeper was an old lady. He asked her the price.
"It is 25 gold coins." The lady replied, smiling.
"25!?! What the fu…' He thought. His jaw dropped.
Felmer could afford it, but it was still expensive.
"Any discounts?" Felmer asked.
"No!" The lady answered immediately.
Felmer looked closely at the hairpin, making sure he wasn't getting fooled. He understood it wasn't fake.
'Ugh…I will buy it. No time to argue.' He thought and pulled out his bag.
He paid the lady and took the hairpin. He walked swiftly and saw Lelis far away, walking towards the open, empty fields. He picked up his pace and followed her.
Melfer and Flexin were behind him. They had a spyglass in their hands and were following Felmer.
"We would see what those two will do?" Melfer said with a smile.
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Flexin asked.
"Life is all about taking risks."
Felmer arrived at the vast, empty fields, full of dried-up grass. In the distance, Lelis was sitting on a large rock, looking at the night sky. Felmer walked up to her and sat beside her.
"How do you know I was here?" Lelis asked, lost in the stars.
"I saw you come here…"
She exhaled and then looked ahead towards the distant mountains.
Melfer and Flexin hid behind some bushes and watched the two of them through their spyglass. They were getting the best zoomed-in experience.
"Do you know? I still remember the day you said those words." She said.
"It's not a thing worth forgetting." Felmer followed.
"Yeah…" She chuckled. "I ran away in embarrassment, and after all that time, we meet now."
"Ten long years…" Felmer said.
"Correct. Ten long years." She said and looked at Felmer. "Were you telling the truth back then?"
"Yes, I was…" Felmer looked at her.
"Then say it again…"
"Wasn't the letter enough? I wrote it all myself."
She chuckled and smiled. "You are right. It was more than enough."
Then she placed her hand in her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. She opened it, and two rings appeared.
"I never understood why you sent both." She said.
Felmer picked up one of them and looked at it.
"It still shines bright." He said and wore it in his right hand.
"I think you had to wear it on my hand," She said, looking at Felmer wearing the ring.
"Wear the remaining one…" He said.
Lelis smiled and wore the ring. She looked at it.
'It is indeed beautiful.' She thought.
"I remember the day the letter arrived. I was shocked and confused. But as time passed by, I understood what each word meant." She said and stared at the night sky. "I still have the letter, safe in my drawer."
Felmer smiled and looked at his hand.
"That's a good thing."
Lelis got down from the rock and looked at Felmer, smiling. She said, exhaled and opened his mouth to say something.
"I have the same feeling as you have for me."
Felmer's eyes opened wide, and he got down as well. He looked at Lelis and nodded.
Felmer walked around her and stood in front of her. He looked behind her and spotted his two brothers afar, staring at them. He knew what to do with them.
He pulled out the hairpin from his pocket, held Lelis's hand and placed it on it. Then he closed her hand. Lelis immediately opened her hand and looked at the hairpin in joy. It was the same, she refused because of its price. She was extremely happy. Her cheeks became red, and her eyes opened widely. She immediately wore it.
She kissed Felmer's cheek. Felmer was shocked again by the immediate reaction.
Felmer stood still, stunned.
Melfer and Flexin became happy as well. They were shocked as well.
"She kissed. She kissed!" Melfer exclaimed.
"On the cheek, cheek!" Flexin followed.
Lelis thanked him again, smiled at him, and then left. Hopping happily. When she had left and was out of sight, Felmer knew what was left to do. He exhaled deeply and understood what happened. He processed it all and then began to walk towards the bush where his brothers were hiding. He walked towards them and began to get close. They understood.
"Ugh…Isn't he coming towards us?" Flexin asked.
"Ugh…It seems so…" Melfer said. "Get up!"
As they got up, Felmer saw them and began to run. Fear instilled the two brothers, and they rushed out. Flexin tripped, balanced and ran again.
"Flexin, fast!" Melfer said, running away.
"Wait for me!" Flexin said and followed his brother.
"Wait, you!" Felmer shouted and picked up the pace.
The two brothers ran towards the stalls and ran past the happy Lelis. Felmer followed fast.
"Come back, you bastards!" Felmer shouted angrily.
Lelis watched in confusion and, after some thought, began to walk again. It was a happy night for her.