Ùna: Like All & Like None

Chapter VI

I was led outside into the icy wind to begin my departure. An emerald green carriage waited outside, led by two horses. The driver clutching his arms as he braced the cold. The goodbyes were quick and formal as Hilde loaded my belongings into the back of their carriage. The driver jumped down to open the door for me and Theodore held my hand as I got inside. The seats were lined in plush brown velvet. Embroidered curtains hung in front of the windows. I was eager for Theodore and Ernest to get in already, so the cabin could begin to warm up from our breath. But they took their time talking with the driver and inspecting the carriage. My family had already when back inside, not waiting to give me that final look before we pulled away. After several minutes, Theodore got in sitting across from me and his father slid in to sit next to him. The driver shut the door and off we went.

Theodore leaned forward to me, "Are you excited Ùna? Nervous?" But I looked back at him puzzled unsure of what to say. Smiling softly, he said, "Don't be, here let me take these and I'll get them warm." He slipped my gloves off and tucked them inside the chest of his jacket. "Until then let me care for your hands." His warm strong fingers wrapped around my hands, stroking gently. I smiled back at him.

Ernest scoffed rolling his eyes at us, "Of course she is nervous. This is surely the nicest carriage she's ever been in." Leaning back in his seat, he tightened his jaw- "You know girl, you ought to be very thankful for us taking you into our family. My son had many potential suitors back on the mainland." I felt my tongue tie, but I pushed out "Yes. Yes sir I- I am very thankful. Thankful to both of you, truly."

"What girl? Can you not speak clearly? I can't pay attention to you when you stutter. You best make sure she fixes that Theodore, less you want your children to be idiots." Theodore just sat blankly looking at our hands. I wondered if he had been fixed in the same way I had. Conditioned and broke like a horse. He looked back up at me, I could feel him sharing through his gaze that yes, whatever I was thinking was correct. It remained silent for some time.

The wind began to really pick up as I could feel the carriage resisting against it. A thick blizzard quickly swarmed around the carriage leaving nothing visible more than a foot outside the window. We still pushed forward, and I couldn't imagine how the driver, let alone the horses, could see in what direction they were going. "This weather is much worse than I expected it to be", Theodore said staring out the window. "I knew it would be this nasty. Its an omen", Ernest said while looking me up and down. "Right- well the plan is Ùna, we are to stay at my father's manor for the night. Which we should be arriving at in the next hour or so- due to these conditions slowing us. Then, we will all depart at daybreak to the mainland."

"That is- if- fate is in your favor", Ernest added, his eyes boring into me again.

His stare locked into my skin kept me still and aware of my body. The cabin had become so cold that our breath was now visible inside. Theodore had thankfully returned my gloves to me, slipping them back on my now stiff fingers. They had warmed so nicely against his chest. The gesture did work in easing the uncomfortable feelings Ernest had been giving me. I watched the ice slowly creep up the glass as the windows had started icing over. But then something unusual- unbelievable caught my eye. "Were those- no, it can't be" I thought. Piercing yellow eyes, practically glowing through the blizzard, Staring right at me. I looked back at everyone in the cabin. Ernest had finally given me a rest and returned to looking out his window. Theodore was also turned looking out his father window. So, I looked back, and there it was. A wolf strolling slowly on the shoulder of the road. His head turned directly at me as he walked alongside the carriage. And I knew it had to be that same wolf. It was so much bigger now that I could see it up close. His head practically at the height of mine in this carriage. I couldn't break the eye contact as my heart began to slow to a heavy beat. Then just like that, it stopped in its tracks, vanishing behind us in the blizzard.