Thrown Through Time

Chapter 19

Sophie opened the door and was about to step outside when she realized Eirik was sitting on her front steps with something across his knees. She thought for a moment, trying to remember if she'd promised to meet him that morning and had forgotten, but she couldn't recall any conversation about them doing anything. "Have you been out here very long?" she asked, closing the door behind her and sitting beside him.

"A few minutes. I know how you don't like getting up too early," he smiled.

"I don't mind getting up early if I have something to do." she said. "We didn't make plans, did we?"

He shook his head. "No, I just wanted to give you something this morning before you get too busy."

"Too busy doing what?" she eyed him suspiciously.

"My father has a feast planned for this evening. In your honor."

"For what?"

"For saving us. The city."

She frowned. "I did what anyone else would have done," she said. "It wasn't anything special."

"No one else had the knowledge you did," he said. "We could have done everything in our power, but we still would have lost a lot of people."

"Well, he doesn't have to throw a party."

"Throw a party?" he asked.

"Plan a feast," she muttered.

"Of course he does. That's what we do around here,"

"I don't have to stand up and give a speech, do I?"

"A speech?"

"Do I have to get up in front of everyone and talk?"

"Probably not. But everyone might come around and talk to you,"

"Fine."

"I brought you something. But maybe I should present it at the......what did you call it? A party?"

"Yeah. We call them parties," she laughed softly.

He seemed to be considering, but finally handed her the long, slender item that he had wrapped in some kind of thin material. "I'll give it to you now."

"What is it?"

"Open it and find out."

She unwrapped it, finding a very fine looking sword, encrusted with jewels around the hilt. It was slightly larger than the children's sword she used for sparring, and appeared to be well made, and very sharp. "Did you make this?" she pulled it free of the leather scabbard and stood up to swing it around.

"I did."

"It's perfect!" she said, amazed that it was larger but still as light at the one she'd been practicing with. "When did you make it?"

"I started working on it just before the plague came through." he said. He cleared his throat. "I was hoping it could be.........a wedding present."

"You thought I was going to get married?" she laughed, returning the blade to the safety of it's sheathe before sitting down beside him.

"I was hoping you might consider it," he said softly.

"But....to who?" she asked.

"To me,"

Her mouth dropped open.

"I know you've been adamant that you wouldn't marry Ulriech, and he's married now anyway, so thankfully that's no longer an option. But I was hoping that you weren't completely opposed to marriage."