LITMIR.BIZ

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of love,” I rebutted. “Gerulf has the most humorous sense, and he recognizes me for a beautiful and bright woman, who is kind and gentle.” I continued, “We are just becoming acquainted with each other. If I see he feels nothing more than respect as a friend, I will curb my heart.” I said with dignity.

      “I am encouraged by your good sense in these matters, Ermentrude. I really do want you to fall in love, and someday, wed someone as unique as yourself. I will always guard your back, for I am your only true and dear friend,” Saskia spoke.

      “I will always be glad for your guidance and your watchful eye, Saskia.”

      We continued on, through the mountains, searching for little animals to capture and eat for a midday meal. Our stomachs growled. Why is it that bread does not keep a stomach satisfied? One must always hunt for meat, when no cheese is available. We would have to hunt for our food soon, or else our stomachs would grind themselves with pain, making it impossible to think.

      Saskia spotted a fat, gray, furry head popping in and out of it’s hole. So, with great stealth, she crept around behind it’s home, about ten feet away, and waited behind a shrub, for it to reappear. With her mother’s ax raised above her shoulder, she saw the creature leave its hole, and flung the ax swiftly at the poor mite.

      I had never witnessed such good ax-throwing before, and I was determined to learn how to perform such a feat. After Saskia pulled the animal away from its hole, and she retrieved the ax, I begged her to show me how to throw the ax with greater control after the midday meal. She agreed, for she loved to use weapons with great showmanship. I was eager to be her student. Yet, in my excitement, I had forgotten that Gerulf and I were to have our next meal together.

      After our delicious meal, we walked over to a brace of trees with a wall of large boulders behind it. Saskia handed me her ax, showing me how to aim it at the target. The ax felt heavy and wobbled in my hand. I threw it several times and missed the target, so I continued to practice, determined to become as skilled as Saskia.

      “You are throwing straighter now,” Saskia encouraged me, “so, throw with more force!”

      She again demonstrated how to position my arm and hand to torque the ax, so it would fly in a defined path toward the center of the target, which was an old shield tied to a tree trunk. I attempted to throw the ax with increased force; I finally succeeded and whooped out loud, “WOO-HOOOO!”

      Somewhere above the target, I heard a deep voice shouting, “WHOO-HOOOO!” and thought it was an echo of my own excitement. I realized that someone was standing on the boulder, just behind the trees, yelling at me. It was Gerulf!

      “Hailsa . . . ax warrior! So this is where you are hiding. I had to look for you, since you missed our meal together! Remember our agreement? Did you forget so easily? Gerulf pretended to be crushed by my missed appointment with him at midday.

      “Oh! Gerulf . . . I am deeply sorry! How could I forget a wonderful occasion, such as a meal with you? Please forgive me, Gerulf,” I apologized.

      “Well, I can easily see why you forgot, with all of this to entertain you. Remind me never to miss a meal with you! I might be your easy target,” he smirked.

      “How could you suggest that I wound you? For I have just helped to heal you. I would only throw the ax on special occasions, such as flirting with another woman, or taking Brunhilda without my permission, dear Gerulf,” I said.

      “I must say! You won’t have any concern over that! Do not worry about throwing the ax at me! I will be on my best behavior, sweet girl,” Gerulf assured me.

      “AHEM!” Saskia cleared her throat, bringing our attention to her frowning face.

      “How much longer must I stand here and wait for you both to end this chatter and get on with the business of practice, Ermentrude?”

      “Oh, ja, er . . . Saskia, we must return to the ax, of course! Do you mind, Gerulf? Oh, I forgot to introduce you to each other. Gerulf, this is Saskia, and Saskia, this is Gerulf.” I awkwardly introduced them. “But, of course you knew that when I mentioned that . . .”

      “You really are a silly girl, Ermentrude!” Saskia shook her head, laughing.

      Gerulf carefully jumped down to the gravel below. He walked over to us, as handsome as ever. I melted at the sight of his blue eyes and smiled wistfully.

      Saskia searched my face to determine if it was friendship I was feeling, or wanton desire. “That’s what I was afraid of,” she scrunched up her mouth. “You’re in deep, deep trouble.”

      I turned my head to speak to her, but it was too late—he was near me. He kissed me on the head, as a brother would do, and he took my hand, leading me away, as he bid Saskia farewell with, “Good to have met you, Saskia.”

      I dropped the ax on the ground and stared up at him—those eyes put me in a trance every time I saw them. How could this happen to me? I wondered.

      We walked around to the other side of camp, where we had some privacy behind a wagon, whose inhabitants were bathing in the river.

      “Ermentrude, because you did not dine with me today, I must hold you to our agreement by asking you to ride with me this afternoon. We can talk of all the things we have experienced in our lives. I want to know more about you. I enjoy your company.” Gerulf’s words pleased me, and I wished to have his arms wrapped securely around me.

      “I am sorry that I forgot, Gerulf. I guess you would be welcome to ride with me . . . and Saskia.” I said.

      “Who is Saskia, by the way? Is she your guardian, or merely a friend? She is not your sister, but she is close to you, am I correct?”

      “Ja, Saskia is all those to me. Saskia is my dear friend. We have been close friends ever since we were small children. She is regarded as a sister by me, even though I do have a little sister, Ava.”

      “I see. You do everything together?” he asked.

      “Ja, we eat together, sleep together, ride together, hunt together, bathe together,” I chattered.

      “Perhaps you should ask Saskia, if I may ride and eat meals with you,” he suggested.

      “Great idea! I will ask her today!” I said, with eager intention.

      “Splendid! You go ask her, and I will find my horse. Meet me at the river when it’s time to ride,” Gerulf explained.

      I raced off to find Saskia and my horse, with excitement in my footsteps. Gerulf seemed very interested to know me better. It appeared he had interests similar to Arnold and Bertram. This time, I welcomed the pursuit.

      I found Saskia demonstrating her ax-throwing skills to six or seven children, where I had left her earlier.

      “Hail, Saskia, I have a question to ask. Would you mind if Gerulf rode with us this afternoon? Oh, and we are supposed to eat together at meals. I hope you don’t mind. He will expect you to be with me, of course. You are a dear friend.”

      “I do not mind at all. I will be your conscience, as I listen to your conversations. I shall judge Gerulf’s true nature,” she answered, acting as if she were my guardian.

      “Oh, thank you, Saskia! Let’s go to the river and meet him.”

      We led our horses to the river, where they drank thirstily. Soon, Gerulf approached on horseback, with another horse and its rider. This must be his friend, whom he thought to bring along, since Saskia would be riding with us. How wonderful! The four of us would ride together.

      “I thought to bring my friend, Anselm with me,” Gerulf explained, “so Saskia and he can become acquainted.”

      Saskia liked what she saw, but didn’t intend to appear too eager to mention this to me. She liked to play a cat and mouse game, perhaps? Saskia edged closer to Anselm, looking him over.

      “I see you are a good hunter such as me! You wear your knife and ax, ready to throw without warning, Anselm.” Saskia spoke directly

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