Valknut

CHAPTER|30 Destiny Awaits

“Asdis? Who is Asdis?” Catriona asked. Kieran was just as speechless as Olaf. 

“Someone call Klaufi. He needs to be here.” Olaf said, his voice hoarse. 

After a repeat of their discoveries for Klaufi’s benefit, Olaf summarized what he believed happened. Klaufi was still in shock, much like the other three people in Catriona’s room. 

After a long silence, Kieran spoke, “So essentially what yer saying is that it’s possible someone stole Asdis during the Saxon raid and then raised her as their own?” 

Olaf nodded. “What other explanation can there be for this?” 

Again silence. 

Klaufi spoke for the first time, “How can ye be sure? Couldn’t there be another similar medallion?” 

“Perhaps yes. But if we were to check, I would bet that this is the one my parents made for Asdis. Ye see, each eagle and medallion set is unique. None are similar. The metal and design perhaps yes. But there is a secret to each set. The stones in the eagle’s eyes match a hidden stone on the medallion.” 

“If such is the case, then let us put all doubts to rest. Do ye still have the other half of this medallion? A demonstration is in order, yes?” 

Olaf nodded. “I'll fetch the other half and then we'll see if I'm mistaken.” 

Olaf walked out of Catriona’s chambers and headed to his own. Once there, he dug deep into the trunk that contained his personal belongings. A minute later, his fingers closed around the pouch he sought. Without opening it, he walked back to Catriona’s room all the while wishing and praying that he was indeed right. It wasn’t so much about Asdis’ return that drive him to pray such. Asdis had died 20 years ago. He had never loved the girl; they both had been two young to feel that way for each other. 

True, he had mourned her loss. He had been duty bound and he had been young. An awful death for someone with whom he was to build a future with, had been devastating for him and something he had to come to terms with. The implications of this set not matching however, were even greater. What if it didn’t match? Would that then mean that Catriona belonged to another from his family? The entire walk back, he wracked his brains trying to think of conversations that might have revolved around unfulfilled marriage arrangements. There were none. There couldn’t be! 

Once the others had huddled around him, Olaf opened the pouch and withdrew the necklace his parents had presented to him on his wedding day. He pointed to the stones set in the eagle’s eyes. “The eagle in this set has flecks of topaz for its eyes. Now the medallion please?” 

Catriona handed the medallion to Olaf. All watched quietly as Olaf flipped it over and sunk a finger nail into a nondescript crack at the back. All three gasped as the medallion separated into two with a soft click. In the center of the medallion, shone a bright yellow-gold topaz – chipped in corners. As if parts of the stone had been removed on purpose. 

 “Asdis…” Klaufi whispered looking at Catriona, tears welling up in his eyes. “It’s been 20 years my sister”. That said, he walked slowly towards her and embraced her. 

Needless to say it was an awkward moment for all present. While Catriona contemplated on the implications of this discovery, Klaufi was thrilled to bits. It was a sweet yet sorrowful moment for him. While he was reminded of his parent’s death and all the years he spent grieving the loss of his family, he was ecstatic to have one member returned to him. Albeit the brother-sister bond that he would have liked didn’t exist between them, it was not too late to start all over again. In his excitement, he went on babbling about how pleased the rest of his family would be to learn that Asdis lived – unaware of the tension mounting around him. 

“Can I have a few moments alone with Olaf please?” Catriona whispered. 

Kiera and Klaufi nodded and walked out of her room. As the door closed shut, Olaf embraced Catriona and spoke, “What is wrong my love? Aren’t ye happy?” 

“How can I be happy? My whole world was just flipped upside down. My parents weren’t my parents… I was wed at a young age to a boy I barely knew... I didn’t get to know my brothers and sisters... I was forced away from the only family I knew when my so called parents died…yer telling me that I’m a whole other person with a completely different identity and ye expect me to be happy?” 

Olaf pushed her back just a tiny bit, enough to be able to look at her. “But that boy was me Catriona. It doesn’t matter who raised ye, yer parents were still yer parents. Were they not nice to ye?” 

Catriona nodded. But she still seemed to be upset. “Who am I supposed to be now? Asdis or Catriona? What of my upbringing? Am I supposed to forget everything and become a whole other person?” 

Olaf pondered over her questions before replying, “Regardless of the choice ye make - whether ye chose to embrace yer new family or whether ye chose the upbringing and values and beliefs yer parents brought ye up with...I would be happy. Ye are who ye are my love, for yer life, the love ye received and the adversity that ye faced has molded ye such. Nothing changes that.” 

When she looked unconvinced, Olaf continued, “Ye are still my pretty one and I will always love ye for the person that ye are, not for the family ye grew up with or without.” 

“Although being married to me already does simply some things” he chuckled. She couldn’t stop the slow grin that she now felt coming on. She playfully hit him on the shoulder before speaking, “Stop that nonsense. As far as I’m concerned, we're not married yet and if you intend on being happily married to me, ye best be asking me - again - this time on one knee.” 

Olaf didn’t need to be told twice. As quickly as the words came pouring out of her mouth, he fell to one knee and asked her to be his wife. 

“Catriona, as children, we weren’t married under the best of circumstances. Yet here we are, 20 years later, as two completely different people, pledging our love for each other. This is our destiny. Ye are my soul and I have waited for ye for so long. Will ye do me the honor of being my wife?”