Next Morning

Erik awoke early the next morning after a goodnights sleep. For the first time in a while he and his family had gone to sleep with their belly’s full after a good supper, succulent fish that he and Ulla had caught the previous day and cooked to perfection by his Mother. His catch would do them for a good while, and would fetch a good price at market that would more than cover their bills. To Erik’s delight, his Mother seemed happy for the first time since his Father had passed away. She said of how things may now finally get better, and how they hopefully not have to move away. Something which Erik sincerely hoped would be true.

His Mother and younger sister left to go to the market whilst Erik got himself out of bed. He knew they would be away for some time, as they would usually be at the market till early afternoon and then got and visit his grandmother till late afternoon. Which meant that Erik had plenty of time to spend with Ulla later.

Erik first made his breakfast, some simple porridge with some berry’s mixed in, and ate it whilst reading an old book that had belonged to his father. The book was a collection of stories of old folklore that told of the usual creatures. It told stories of Trolls who lived in the mountains, and kept hoards of treasure hidden. Of Elves that would dance in the mist, leaving circles of mushrooms where they had been. and of Dwarves that lived deep underground, and were the greatest smiths and craftsmen. He had been told all theses stories a child, and remembered how they captured his imagination, and made him wonder about the world and its mysteries. Though now, he knew better. And that these were but stories and not truths.

He flicked through a few more pages as he finished off the last of his porridge, skimming through the stories he had heard time and time again. Just as he was about to close the old book, something caught his eye. Erik had thought he had almost memorised the stories in this book, but this one he could not remember being told as a boy. It told of a young boy who set out to fish at a nearby lake, just as he had the day before, and on his way, he came across a beautiful young woman. Who was so beautiful and dazzling the boy felt as though he had to catch his breath. The two made polite conversation, much as he had with Ulla the previous day, but the boy then noticed something rather peculiar about the beautiful Woman.

Coming out from under her long skirt, was a cow tail. Which told the boy that she was no ordinary girl, but a Huldra, a spirit of the forests. The boy knew that it was forbidden to comment on the tail of a lady of the forest, if it was not done in the correct manner. He bowed before the lady, and said politely ‘Milady, I see that your petticoat shows below your skirt’. The lady thanked him and adjusted her skirt so her tail could no longer be seen, and the told the boy to go fish on the other side of the lake before saying goodbye. That day the boy caught many fish, a recognition of his politeness to the Huldra.

Erik closed the book and began to ponder on the story, as it was eerily like what had happened to him the day before. He had had bad luck with his fishing, and after he had been visited by a mysterious lady, to whom he was very polite to, and his luck improved and he caught many fish. Erik thought about how Ulla had said she lived in the forest, and how she had taken care when sitting down, as if she was trying to hide something that was underneath her skirt. He wondered for a moment if Ulla was such a creature, a lady of the forest, but he soon put those thoughts to the back of his head. And put it down to simple coincidence that the two stories were eerily similar.

Erik the washed up and then began to prepare the picnic for him and Ulla. He took out a large picnic basket and filled it with bread and cheese and some jams. As well as some fruits and nuts for snacks if they were still hungry. He also put in some mead for them to drink, which was made with honey, lingonberry’s and pine shoots. A very old and traditional mead that had been enjoyed by people for generations, and Erik found to be quite delicious.

After getting himself ready, dressing up in some clean clothes and combing his hair and beard so that it was no longer a mess so that he looked his best for Ulla. He then put on his boots which he had cleaned the night before so that they were immaculate, and set out with the picnic basket in hand to meet Ulla at the clearing west of the village. He began to feel the butterfly’s return as he made his way through his village, remembering her warm smile, and looked forward to meeting Ulla again.