When All is Lost… Part One
Hello, and welcome back to Caught in a Daydream! This is a pretty big moment, Because I’m going to be sharing one of my stories publicly for the first time!
I’m a little nervous, so any feedback would be much appreciated! Leave a comment below letting me know what you thought of the beginning of this story.
Now, without further ado, I give you…
“Where the North Wind meets the sea.”
Elsa paced back and forth in the small hut she now called home. The toddler in her arms squirmed. She brushed a finger gently down his nose. His big blue eyes, that were so much like hers, blinked sleepily.
“There’s a river full of memory.”
She hugged the child tighter to herself and snuggled her cheek against his.
“Sleep, my darling, safe and sound for in this river all is found.”
The little boy’s chest rose and fell evenly as he finally slept. His little fist curled up against his cheek. Elsa rubbed the small knuckles lovingly and sighed. Now that he was asleep, it was time.
It had taken less time for him to fall asleep than normal. On any other night, Elsa would have been relieved, but not tonight. Now all this meant was that she would have to say goodbye sooner.
She pushed aside the door of the hut and stepped out into the moonlit clearing. Her husband spotted her from his place by the wagon, and strode over to her. “Is he asleep?”
Elsa nodded.
He gave a resolute nod. “Then, my dear, I’m afraid it’s time.”
She blinked quickly in a fruitless attempt to keep tears at bay. When she could not stop them, she lowered her head to keep Nikolas from noticing. She should have known better.
Nikolas placed a hand under her chin and tilted her head so he could look into her tearful eyes. “It’s okay to be sad, Elsa. But this needs to be done.”
“I know,” she whispered. He held out his arms to her, and she pressed close to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, careful not to disturb the child. “I just wish there was another way.”
“As do I. But I promise you I will watch over him. I will guard our child with my life.”
Elsa knew he would do as he said. Nikolas had never given her any reason to doubt him. It didn’t make any of this any easier. Her plan was simple, yet it would be one of the hardest things she would ever do.
Being separated from her husband and son was not something Elsa was looking forward to. But when bandits, rogues, and all sorts of other ne’er do wells were intent on coming after her and her son for their powers, the safest thing to do seemed to be to split them up.
Elsa looked up at Nikolas. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“You are the strongest woman I know. This is for your protection, as well as his,” he nodded to the boy. “You have to let us go.”
Nikolas gently took the child from Elsa’s arms, and she let him. She placed a kiss on the toddler’s forehead. “Goodbye, my darling.”
Nikolas kissed her gently, and brushed a hand on her cheek. “We will be together again, I promise.”
Elsa watched as her husband mounted into the wagon, filled with all the things he would need to survive with their son. He turned one last time and lifted a hand to her in farewell before he urged the reindeer on.
As Nikolas and the child faded into the darkness of the woods, a single solitary snowflake drifted from a cloudless sky.
*****
Well, there you go! Part One of When All is Lost… I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to check in next Monday to read Part 2!
Until we meet again, keep on dreaming!
~Jadyn