Norwegian Love Song
By, Abbey Rose Gould and Alice Hatill
In the midst of the Norwegian summer, a young boy, no older than seven, walked the forest to restock the food supply for his family to eat the next day. As he scoured the woods, carrying a basket of berries and small game, he sang a song quietly to himself.
"I grew up by the sea, I played under the sun. Come to me, come into my dreams. This is my light of life."
A small girl sat between two plants, both bearing glorious blue blossoms. She smiled to herself as she drew pictures in the dirt with a twig. The wind blew the young lad's hair in his face, so he used a cross hairpin to keep it out. As he did this, he saw the little girl, his deep indigo eyes fixed on her. She blushed and waved, he then continued to sing.
"Between the bluebells, sits a girl with blonde braids. A green-eyed angel, with strawberry cheeks."
He sat next to her and tapped her shoulder.
"Hello," he said trying to engage in a conversation with her, "What's your name?"
"S-Sarah Mary Kirland," she said with a nervous gaze.
Sarah had an accent that the boy hadn't heard before, "I'm Lukas Bondevik. It's nice to meet you, Sarah. Where are you from?"
Her gaze turned to a slight frown, "Certainly not here. I-I ran from home. I had to go through so much to afford to come here."
Lukas showed sympathy in his face, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Please, let me help you in any way I can."
Sarah sighed and shook her head, "I don't want to trouble you. I barely know you."
Lukas took her hand, "You won't be trouble to us, my family and I. Now come, it'll be fine. We can get to know each other on the way."
Sarah nodded and walked with him, hand in his. He continued to serenade her with his sweet voice and lovely song.
"The spell has bound me, I was living a dream. Norwegian homeland,
my heart belongs to you."
Sarah smiled gently and held his hand a bit tighter, "I like your song. I think you're very good at singing."
Lukas' cheeks grew rosy, "T-Thank you."
"It's not a problem," Sarah said with a sweet grin.
"Where are you from?" Lukas enquired.
"South Wales, Cardiff to be exact. I ran because my older brothers were practicing strange black magic. It scared me, especially when one of my brothers disappeared."
"I see. Well, you can stay with my family and I as long as you'd like."
Lukas brought her to a small, isolated cottage, and took her inside. There, she saw a girl, about Lukas' age, one blonde braid, azure eyes, holding an infant child.
"This is my family," Lukas told Sarah, "This is my sister, Kjersti. She's carrying our brother, Emil. Is he better, Kjersti?"
She nodded her head, "He just had a colic when you left. He's fine now. Who's with you?"
Sarah stayed silent.
Kjersti raised an eyebrow, "You're not from around here, are you?"
Sarah shook her head, then looked down at the floor.
Kjersti handed Emil to Lukas and walked over to Sarah Mary.
"You don't have to be shy, we're friendly around here." She smiled.
Sarah looked up at Kjersti, "I'm Sarah Mary Kirkland. I ran away from home because things got.....weird."
Kjersti nodded, "I see. Well, you can stay here. There's room in Lukas' bedroom for you to sleep."
Sarah smiled, "Thank you."
"Not a problem. It's getting late, we should all try to rest. Lukas, could you put Emil to sleep while I make Sarah comfortable in your room?"
"Ja, I can do that."
Kjersti gathered blankets and took Sarah into Lukas' room. Lukas carried Emil into his nursery and rocked him gently in his arms. He sang a lullaby to him to coax him into sleep.
"So ro liten tull, gid vi hadde stua full ut av slike små unger. Stua og koven, løa og låven, og en liten haug utpå gården."
Emil drifted into a deep sleep, his face innocent, angelic, and calm. Lukas placed him gently in his crib, flat on his stomach and caressed his white-haired head with a light touch.
"God natt, Emil."
Lukas walked into his room, Sarah under blankets on the floor already fast asleep. Lukas smiled slightly and climbed into his bed. He soon fell into a deep sleep.
Sarah woke up soon after, breathing quickly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"It was just a dream..." she whispered, "That would never happen."
She shuddered in fear, hugging her knees. Lukas woke up when she let out a cry.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I had a bad dream..."
He embraced her, "Don't worry about it. You can sleep with me, I won't let anything hurt you."
Sarah nodded and wiped her tears, "T-Thank you."
Lukas held her hand and took her into his bed. She nestled into him, and fell asleep in his arms as she listened to the steady rhythm of his beating heart.
Everything about Lukas was musical. It was surreal, magical even. His heartbeat had a sweet rhythm, unlike any Sarah had ever heard before. His footsteps created a lovely beat with each step he took. His voice was incredible. His songs were unforgettable, lingering, and you wanted to keep them near. Lukas was exceptionally beautiful, even more so than the greatest symphony.
Sarah Mary stayed with Lukas' family for months, for she had nowhere else to go. They didn't mind her, they started to believe she was family. She had grown awfully attached to Lukas, as had he. His melodic body and symphonic soul stayed within her mind always. She could never forget it.
Lukas awoke early the next night, his eyes fluttering open, the moon reflecting its light in them, making them shine like diamonds. Sarah Mary did the same, but her eyes didn't sparkle. They were a dull, bland, olive colour. However, Lukas seemed to love them. Sarah could never imagine why, but she didn't question him.
Darkness still plagued the land outside, as did light rain.
"It's beautiful outside," Sarah stated with wide eyes, "The way the moon shines on the rain and plants."
Lukas nodded, "Very much so, I agree."
Sarah sat by the window as Lukas hummed a tune. She relaxed and listened to the beauty in Lukas' song. Soon, the sun rose, and they left the room. Kjersti sat in the living room, feeding Emil his breakfast.
"Good morning, Kjersti, Emil," Lukas greeted.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?" Kjersti asked.
Sarah nodded, "Yes, we did."
Lukas nodded in agreement.
"I'm glad to hear that. What are you two planning to do today?
Sarah perked up and looked around the room, "Oh... I-I actually have somewhere to be. Right now."
With that, she ran from the house, leaving the rest in confusion.
"What was that about?" Kjersti asked.
"I don't know," Lukas replied, "Was it something I did?"
"I don't think so. You've done nothing but show kindness and hospitality towards her."
"Kjersti, you act like mum."
She smiled sweetly, "I try. She was good to us."
Lukas sighed, "She was indeed. Poor Emil never met her. Although, we need to act more like a children. Enjoy our childhood. I mean, look at us! I'm a seven year old boy, and you're eight. We're already thinking and speaking like adults!"
Kjersti sighed, "It's true, I wish it could be different. However..." her voice trailed off as she left the room.
Lukas stood in the room, still very confused as to what was going on. When the night approached, Sarah had still not returned. Lukas was distraught, heartbroken. He layed restless in his bed, trying to figure out what he had done wrong. His stomach hurt, and his head ached, all from the stress he felt. He started to cry, it wasn't something he did often, but the emotional pain was too much for one as small as him.
Kjersti heard his sobs and walked in slowly, holding Emil in her arms. There was a sign of worry in the infant's gleaming violet eyes. He reached out his chubby arms towards Lukas, trying to get his attention. Lukas looked at the child, as Kjersti handed him to the other. Lukas smiled slightly as Emil nestled into him, a smile plastered on his face. Kjersti nodded and left the room.
"Jeg elsker deg, Emil," he said before he began to sing a song to the child, "I climbed mountains so high, I discovered the deep. Long to be, long to be part of this dream, this is where my heart beats."
Emil giggled and hugged his brother. They soon fell asleep.
Years passed, but visions of Sarah Mary Kirkland haunted Lukas' mind...
Lukas was now an adult, twenty-four years of age, Kjersti twenty-five, Emil sixteen. Kjersti seemed to have forgotten about Sarah, Emil never did have any memories of her, but she still stalked Lukas' mind.
He hadn't a single restful night since she left. He always had the same dream; a poor girl with violet eyes, screaming his name, sobbing loudly. The only way she was calmed was when he sang to her. After he did, her sobbing would stop, but his body stayed there. Cold, motionless, dead.
After the dream, he would wake up feeling unwell and nauseous. Throughout the day, Lukas would feel waves of guilt and remorse wash over him for no reason. He would then feel the urge to sing, when he did the guilt and remorse would fade, but his ill-feeling would become worse.
Lukas ran from the house, as the fear and pain ate away at him. Into the forest, by the bluebells where Sarah sat. He dropped to his knees.
"I love her..."
"Lukas!" cried a female voice.
Lukas looked up as he saw a raven-haired, violet-eyed woman run towards him. Tears streamed from her eyes as she kneeled next to him. She continued to scream his name as Lukas looked to her, wide-eyed.
"I'm Sarah Mary!" she cried out, "Now, Sarai Valkira. I've been cursed by my own brother. Dying! As are you. Please, run from here, you'll be free of it. Run far from here."
Lukas shook his head and took her hand. Their eyes met as he sang the most beautiful song that has ever been sang.
"Dypt inne i skogen,
Fjellene trærne,
Det er der jeg har ventet lengst,
Det er der mitt hjerte slår.
For du venter jeg rolig,
Lytte til stemmen din,
Så haunting ennå forsiktig,
Jeg må gjøre mitt valg.
Er det deg jeg vil elske?
Er det deg jeg satse på?
Jeg ser opp ovenfor,
Mitt hjerte lengter etter deg."
He pulled her into a deep kiss, sweet and warm, the love filled their souls with euphoria and pure passion. Soon after they touched, Lukas' body went cold, and fell limp and Sarai's arms. Sarai's dress turned white as snow, her eyes emerald-green, and her hair curly and golden. She embraced Lukas tightly, crying into his dead body.
She looked to the aether and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Pam wnaethoch chi wneud hyn i mi, Duw?"
End.