CHAPTER XXVI
It was unspoken but agreed that every day Michael would come to Haldora’s and stay with her for a while or the whole night. They would either talk for hours or just lay together in silence or take one another in each other’s arms and love each other throughout the night. On one such night, laying in front of the fire and exhausted from making love. Michael laid on Haldora’s back, kissing her shoulders as she explained how there was a ritual that involved love making and how it was very beautiful to think of it.
- Does that mean one can’t shake and shimmy all night long as one wishes; you would have to stop for a bunch of ritualistic stuff? -, he asked after hearing the explanation.
- You don’t stop to do the ritualistic stuff. You do it at the end. They just believe you’re going to do it once. -, she explained.
- I don’t want a bunch of witches to tell me how often I can make love to my girl!
- So I can’t tell you what to do?
- You’re the only witch who can.
Michael slid his legs in between hers, spreading them, while he kissed her neck.
- You hex me and make me freeze like a rock, just like my car used to do whenever we were in the middle of nowhere.
- Old red? -, she asked surrendering to his caresses.
Michael stopped kissing her.
- How do you know I had a red car? -, he asked leaving her frightened of the answer.
Michael rolled to the side and held his body with his elbow, waiting an answer. Haldora looked visibly troubled.
- Hal? How did you know?
- I’m afraid to tell you. -, she answered.
Michael reached for his pants and put them on. He sat down in the sofa, while she reached for his shirt and put it on. She sat on the floor with the fire lighting her back. He stared at her in fear of what she had to say.
- I know you had a red car because… that’s what you drove when I first noticed it you right outside that window. -, she explained point to the window.
Michael looked back to it. He got up and walked over to it. He could see the bus stop. She got up and walked over to the window.
- I could see you park your car over there and then walk over here and wait. I would sit here and watch you. -, she explained.
Michael looked confused and frightened.
- I sold that car four years ago. You’ve watch me for four years? -, Haldora nodded shyly, - Four years?
- I was attracted to you but I’m not the kind of person to make moves. I would form plans to get to know you, but never followed through. Then the days stretched into weeks, weeks to months and then years. -, she explained.
- And then you met me online? -, Haldora gave no answer right away denouncing an ulterior motive, - You didn’t just meet me, right?
- I searched you out! –, she admitted.
Michael walked away from the window and sat on the bed with his head in between his hands. Haldora remained by the window looking at him, dreading his reaction.
- Why didn’t you tell me you knew who I was before, when you chatted online?
- The internet was anonymous enough, so I could… get to know you. I never meant for us to meet. I just didn’t know how to tell you that I had seen you without sounding like a stocker.
Michael didn’t raise his head and Haldora had no idea of what his feelings were.
- Are you alright?
- Give me a minute to process all this.
Haldora walked back to the sofa, as she was passing the bed, Michael got up and grabbed her arm. Haldora was frightened by the gesture, but his expression was not of anger.
- You watched me for four years and you searched me online for God knows how long and when you found me… what did you feel?
- I was happy, even more so when we started to chat. I felt excited to hear from you.
- And yet… you were content with just being a friend? And you were worried I was cheating. You just waited.
- I never anticipated it would come to this.
- But it did. You got your wish and I got a great girl.
Haldora lowered her eyes in embarrassment, with his index he raised her chin so that their eyes could meet.
- Once you think about it… it’s kind of romantic, in a psychotic kind of way.
Haldora laughed at his statement. He let go of her arm and held her face between his hands. He pecked her lips. She smiled holding him as strong as she could, so strong in fact that Michael was uncomfortable by the grip, but said nothing. They held for as long as Michael could stand Haldora’s strong grip. He unlocked himself from the embrace and pulled her to lay in the bed with him. She snuggled against him, laying her head on his shoulder.
- So are you going to tell me what made you watch me for so long?
- No!
- Come on. Boost my ego a bit. It’s flattering to know some one took so an interest for so long.
- Never! -, she said in a teasing tone.
- Please!
Haldora was silence, relieved at his reaction to one of her secrets. The only one he could ever know. She lied throughout the night, even after Michael had fallen a sleep, just watching his chest move with each breath and breathing deeply of relief.
The Sun brought with it Halloween. And it was very high in the sky when Michael awoke. Haldora was quick to make Michael leave her alone, as soon as he got up. She needed time to prepare if she was going to perform her ritual and make it to the party. They agreed he would come back at night to dress his warrior armor.
Haldora locked herself out on her garden and began her preparations with care. She took the herbs she needed and the utensils she would use and the supplies she had bought before in the magic shop. The afternoon was passed with Haldora carefully laying each object in it’s perfect position, after drawing a circle of rock salt on the floor, around her altar. It’s was dusk when she was ready to dress her white robe and enter her circle. Haldora greeted each of the Towers associated to which cardinal point, by lighting a candle to them, and then began to greet the spirits of goodness that came to her. She could hear them, he could speak to them and now they were not at all scary. The ritual took a long time. She had requests and blessings to undertake, and most important of all she had to keep the bad spirits away from this world. As she did the ritual she thought of her mentor, long ascended and of Otr, once her only friend. Both were no longer part of the spirit world, there were someplace she could not reach, but she could still feel them and the gifts they had given her. When it was over she didn’t take so long to dispose of the objects of the altar as she did setting them up. She took everything and laid it to the fire. She watched the candles melt and the herbs burn, leaving their sweet aroma in the air. Only after all we burned did she disrobed. She was now ready for her first party, since her death.
Haldora brought the armor and the dress to her room. She laid them both on the bed and enjoyed a long soothing bath until Michael tapped on the shop’s glass to announce his arrival. Haldora greeted him, wrapped in a towel and took him quickly upstairs before someone saw her in such composure.
- Are you gift-wrapped? -, Michael teased as they went upstairs.
- No, I was in the bath. There’s your costume. You want to star putting it on now, it takes a while.
Haldora left Michael alone with the armor as she went into the bathroom, carrying her dress. Michael struggled for a while, what to dress first. Haldora dressed too quickly for a normal person and braded her hair as she had not done in too long. She left the bathroom, to find Michael still at odds with his costume. He stopped to marvel on how beautiful she looked in her blue velvet dress and her new hair style.
- Valquiria! -, he called her.
- Haldora! -, she corrected.
She came close to him and helped him to dress the tunic and woolen pants and gloves, then laid the metal coat, than was heavy on his shoulders. She tightens his belt and the leg chaps. He was ready to go; all that was missing was the helmet.
- Come, sit. -, she asked. He sat on the bed and she started to brace his hair in the fashion of the time. In that moment she felt as she longed to feel back on those days, when she long to tell her warrior she was in love with him. If they had married she would perform these exact movements for him, before he would go for battle. As she remembered the battles in her village, she was suddenly surrounded by sadness, as she remembered her warrior’s tragic death and her own.
Finally he was ready. Michael got up and took a long look at himself. He was amazed how well the armor had fit. Haldora rose from the bed and tied the sword to his belt and set his helmet on his head.
- It’s dark in here! -, he joked.
The helmet covered the whole of his face. There was a metal coat hanging from the underneath the eyes. Haldora lifted the metal coat and kissed his lips gently.
- You’re ready for battle, my love. -, she whispered.
- Ready my horse, woman! -, he joked. Haldora laughed, - And speaking of horse I don’t think I can drive in this.
- We can walk over. It’s not that far.
They were off on their way. The Viking warrior and his lady. On the streets they met with many others who also had dressed up for Halloween. There were scary monsters and cute outfits, people missing limbs and with swords or knives stuck on various parts of the body. Haldora could see spirits mingling with the living. Many or just long departed relatives, coming to check up on the ones who stayed, but some were the naughty spirits, enticing people to commit the craziest deeds.
The party was already in full throttle, when Haldora and Michael arrived. Anna came to meet them by the door.
- Anna, you’re a fairy.
- Yeah, I wanted to dress as a witch, but I kind thought you wouldn’t like it! -, she explained.
- Good call! -, Michael spoke from personal experience.
- You guys look great! So life-like! -, she noticed, as she looked at Haldora to show she knew the costumes. Haldora just smiled. – The Viking and his Lady, cool!
- Thanks, it was Hal’s idea! Or should I say Haldora’s? -, he asked and Anna looked at amazed at the fact that he knew her really name.
-Well, the bar is in the back and the rest is up to you, mingle and have fun.
Anna walked away to speak to other friends. Haldora and Michael walked through the party, admiring the many costumes.
- Do Viking warrior’s dance? -, Michael asked.
- They did in my day!
He took off his helmet and led her to the dance floor, where he held her close and swayed smoothly, though it was not that kind of music that played. Haldora snuggled within his embrace to get as close as she could to his body. She could feel his heartbeat on her cheek. It played the melody to which they danced.
Anna watched the couple throughout the night. She was happy to see they poured happiness towards each other. They danced and drank and spoke to no one else but themselves. They were separated from the rest of the world, focused only on each other. Anna couldn’t remember when she had ever since her friend bare such a smile. She could recollect all of Haldora’s life and it had always been one of suffering and hiding, but now she was among people again and looked to be as happy as ever. Michael played an important part in her happiness, because of it, she wouldn’t let go of his hand throughout the entire night.
The time came when tiredness took over Michael and he removed himself and Haldora from the party as discretely as possible, so discretely in fact, Anna did not notice until they were gone a while. The way back home was made in record time. Michael held his lady close as they walked through the now silent streets. He was in a hurry to get home, though his breath and blush denounced his tiredness. Haldora remained tireless as always.
Finally inside Michael threw himself to the bed, feeling the pain of the metal against his flesh. He let go a slight yelp.
- Besides being heavy as hell, this thing hurts. -, he complaint.
- Let me help you out of it.
Michael rose from the bed and allowed Haldora to remove the items of metal, till he only dressed the woolen garments. As soon as he felt free he kissed his lady on the cheek, she looked at him surprised.
- Thanks for a lovely evening. -, they held, - How does a Viking warrior make love? -, he whispered to her hear.
- Quickly! -, she answered, - Scandinavia is a cold place.
As they unlocked from their embrace an aroma flared Haldora’s nostrils, it was a scent she could recognize but was unwilling to acknowledge. Michael seemed unaware of it. Haldora looked at the fire and was forced to admit to herself what she already knew to be true. The fire had turned green. Before Haldora could form another thought, she felt Michael slip from her arms to the bed in a sound sleep. She tried to touch him to awake him, but before she could move, she felt her body fly across the room and hit the wall behind her, loosing consciousness…
