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The village in the dark : III

The wood we got was plentiful, though we stopped earlier since brother got tired. When we got back to the village, everyone was still gathered at the three houses. Uncle Aelfled and Hrolleif caught the sight of us and started to head our way.

"Quite the time to go get some firewood, Baldr," said Hrolleif

Brother continued on without a reply. "We'll need it for the funeral ceremony," said Hrolleif,

"Bring it all for tonight,"

Brother stopped dead in his tracks, "Are you two insane?"

Aelfled took a step back, but Hrolleif maintained his eye contact,

"Having a funeral ceremony now? We don't have the resources and the luxury to do such things anymore," Uncle Hrolleif slowly made his way to brother and, out of nowhere, threw a punch at him and landed a solid hit.

I dropped the tools I was carrying,

"What are you doing? Leave him alone!" I ran to break them apart, but Aelfled held me back.

Hrolleif continued the fury of punches, and brother took it all without flinching. In the end, Hrolleif spat on brother's expressionless face,

"You are a sorry excuse of a person, Baldr," Brother trailed him with his eyes as he made his way back to Oden's house.

He rubbed off the spit and blood from his face and turned to Aelfled, who was still there, "Don't have the funeral. There were as a family to me as they were to you two, Aelfled, but don't put the village in danger because of this," Aelfled didn't reply but followed Hrolleif to the houses. Brother sighed and started picking up the logs that he dropped.

"Come Freyja, we need to get home,"

He barged in, threw the logs on the floor, and sat on his chair.

"Aren't you going to check for traps?"

"No need," he said,

"Trig is already dead. Light the fire."

I rolled one of the logs to the fireplace and started carving out the core.

"Are you alright, brother?" He had his head down, staring at the empty floor,

"Too many deaths," he said, "And I can't do anything. I wonder how it's not hitting you, Freyja. Maybe you were raised too strong for a person so young,"

"I know they'll be safe. They were all warriors and worshippers. Even father in his own way. I know they'll make it safe to the dining tables of Valhalla,"

He smiled and started rocking the chair slowly. "You've carved it enough. You can light it up now. Wake me up when you have the food ready. Don't let me sleep for long,"

"Okay,"

By the time the log was fully on fire and warmth filled the whole room, he was already fully asleep. I took my time to carve in what I could of my wooden figure. Say my daily prayers. When the log was nearly half burnt, I got up to make the food. I took out the slab of meat. It took more time to melt the ice, then when it finished, I realized it was more ice than meat. I cursed under my breath. I put what was there on the table and went to Baldr.

"Brother the fo—"

"Freyja, it's me, Hugin,"

He continued to knock. I opened the door enough for me to peek through. He greeted me with a shining smile,

"What are you doing here?"

"Father asked me to go and search for any flowers for the funeral. Do you want to come with me?"

"I don't think I can,"

"She can," Brother said. I turned to him with a surprised expression.

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself here,"

As soon as I heard that I went in to get my jacket and hugged my brother.

"I'm not sure if you can find flowers in this weather anymore but go search at the place where we usually get wood. I think I saw some Bleikr flowers there this morning," I smiled and nodded. I closed the door, and I hurried out of the village gates hand in hand with Hugin.

I dragged him to the path Brother and I go to and let go of his hand. We walked with no word, only the crunching of snow under our feet.

"I see that you still enjoy the silence," he said

"I was never the one making conversations, Hugin,"

"So, your father decided to not have the burning after all?"

"Yes," Hugin said, "Brother and Uncle Aelfled talked him out of it. They said that sending them off with flowers is more fitting,"

"And what do you think?" He paused, "I'm trying not to think much about it. I've been thinking more about hunting. Brother and I went out a couple of times, but we couldn't find anything,"

"Yes, it's hard in this weather,"

"Doesn't seem to be hard for your, brother," he said, "I could smell the meat from the door,"

"We should take a left here,"

He stayed silent for most of the remaining path, there then he tried to make conversation again.

"Do you know what else I have been thinking of, Freyja?"

"What?"

"You,"

I instantly increased my pace,

"I think we're already here. We should go search for the flowers," "Why don't we talk about this," "Why don't we search for the flowers and get back home,"

He pinned me against a tree and shouted,

"Listen! For once in your life, listen!" I stayed silent, taken off guard by his change,

"I have lost nearly all of my family. All the people I love, and you are the only one who remains for me, Freyja! And you don't seem to understand,"

He went silent and looked me in the eye, then got closer to kiss me. I slapped him on the face,

"If you value anything left, Hugin, don't you dare try that again," He took a couple of steps back and laughed,

"You sure have changed. Is it because of your brother? I could duel him for you,"

"You wouldn't do that if you value your life,"

"I could kill him," he said, "He's sick. Everyone remaining knows that, and it's only a matter of time till someone comes and finishes the job. I could do that for us,"

"You still don't get it, do you?" He stayed silent. "You get your flowers. I'm going back to the village,"