Necklace of love {&Ubbe}

Two light eyes, full of hope and innocent closed peacefully while the darked-haired girl almost ended her story. A story about a great warrior who once lived, fighting for his king and the things he believed in. A warrior who went to Walhalla and would fight and drink with his fellow warrior friends. Naemi always told her sister and brother a story before they went to sleep. And it had always the same, great warrior in it as a reminder of the man their father was. Ebba and Bjarne were only 2 years old when he died and they probably didn't remember a thing of him. Naemi on the other hand, remembered him every day. Curious if he would be proud, if he would have done things the same way. Sometimes even a little bit sad maybe, sad that he wasn't able to see the little ones grow or to see how she has grown so far.
"And then the warrior went back home. You know who were waiting for him at the side of the water?" Naemi said quietly to her little siblings. "His children!" Bjarne answered enthousiastic. Naemi smiled towards her brother. "Indeed, his children who he loves dearly." And that was the end of the story. Naemi kissed her little siblings goodnight, went out of there tiny room to see it was still light outside. Her mother smiled at her, she had heard the story Naemi had told. Naemi smiled back before going outside, straight towards the shoreline.

Everytime her father came back from where ever they he went, he would made a little shell necklace for her and Ebba. She wore them for days nor weeks, and it always made her happy. Now she wanted to do the same for her sister. Naemi knew the way through Kattegat like the back of her hand and found herself at the shoreline easly.
It began to dusk, what is the perfect time to seek for shells. The water calmed down and if you knew where to look, you could find them easly. So her father said. But Naemi had never looked for shells, even had no idea where to start. So she just.. Started. Her light eyes were focussed on the sand while her mind found peace hearing the sea moving. Her face lighted up when she saw the first shell and in all her excitement she ran towards the white tiny shell.

&Ubbe

It was tough, being the oldest child of a man who died years ago. Taking care of her little siblings, making sure her mother was happy and well. Naemi carried a lot on her shoulders, had many things on her mind and was still evolving herself. She loved taking care of her family, she loved them with whole her heart. But sometimes it was hard, difficult and did it look like a never ending story.
Like the bedtime stories Naemi tells Ebba and Bjarne. Stories about one great Viking, that one man who died years ago. Normally she would kiss her siblings goodnight, talk a bit with her mother and then join the others in the village. Or she would go to Helios for a ride, for a cuddle or just because she wanted to be near him. But this time was different, this time her story brought up memories. Naemi went to the shoreline, her feet knew the way while her mind was still repeating those memories.  

”Naemi, please. Listen to me, it’s already late. You’ll see him tomorrow.” The little girl heard her mother, but the words didn’t come through. Her eyes where looking at the sea with excitement and hope. The woman stroke the long, dark hair of the little girl and in that moment, the boats arrived. “There, mother! There!” The girl screamed, cheering and clapping. The woman smiled, and other villagers surrounded them to welcome there loved once home.

When she arrived the shoreline, her search began. Naemi wanted to make a necklace for Ebba, like her father always did. People who knew Naemi, wouldn’t probably say that she had a loving heart. Sure, she could be nice to be around with, but would always have her doubts and that cold look. But for the once she loves or trust, she would do anything. Now she wanted to see Ebba smile again, feeling like she used to feel:  loved.
Finding those shells wasn’t easy, if you didn’t even know where to start. The night was coming and the sun was going down so the moon could take her place. It was still light enough to search, so Naemi started walking while her feet were leaving prints in the sand. She was focused, obviously a woman on a mission. And then she found her first shell. She ran over to it, not knowing one of the Ragnarsson was watching her every move. Naemi picked up the shell, looking at the fine patron of lines on it. It was mostly white, here and there some brown spots. ‘See that you found where you were looking for.’ A voice said out of the sudden. He sup priced her and because of the scare she almost dropped the shell. Naemi turned around and got her act together immediately when she saw it was one of Ragnars sons talking to her. She smiled a bit and twisted her head a little to the right. ”Indeed I did,” She said, her voice calm and clear. ”At least one of it.”
Naemi wasn’t sure if Ubbe would recognize her, if he even knew her name.  ‘And here I was thinking you found something big.’ Ubbe said and Naemi grin a bit. She took her eyes of him to look at the shell, turning it around between her fingers. ”Why do boys always want to have ‘big things’?” She asked him, pulling up her eyebrows with a teasing look in her eyes. ”This little shell could become something big, if I can find other shells.” She then explained to him. Naemi looked at the shoreline again, stepped aside and picked up another shell. A dark one, this time.

The man grabbed his arms around the little girl, pulling her close to his chest. “I’ve missed you, father.” The little girl mumbled with a smile from ear to ear. “Look what I made for you,” The man said softly. The little girl her eyes grew while clapping enthusiastic with her little hands. “It’s a necklace I made for you, a necklace made with love.” Her father whispered in her ear before giving her his present. In that small moment, the girl felt victorious and so well loved. A necklace made out off shells from across the sea.

Naemi looked at the sea while it softly touched itself before striking the sand. It was a long time ago, but the memories kept repeating in her head. She almost drowned in her own memories, if it wasn’t for the little shell she found in the sand. The young woman ran over to it like she would lose it if she wasn’t fast enough. Ubbe scared her when he spoke and Naemi felt a little caught because she hadn’t see him coming. They train together and she didn’t want to give him the feeling she would let her guard down for just a little moment. And maybe it was too late for that, but it would not happen again soon for sure.
Naemi was truly sup priced when Ubbe said her name, as she thought he wouldn’t know her by name. ‘We are boys Naemi, what do you thing. We always want something big.’ He replied. Naemi turned the shell between her fingers while her eyes looked at Ubbe. ”How predictable,” She said with a teasing tone in her voice. ”So you never take pleasure with small things?” She asked him, putting double meaning in her words. There was a little grin around her lips, but it didn’t take the slightly cold and distant appearance away.
‘Is that a direct order for me to help you looking?’ She heard the amused tone in his voice and a she laughed a bit. ”Only if you can deal with your losses.” She said back, wobbling with her eyebrows. She picked up the second shell she found besides her leg, showing it to Ubbe. ”Ready?” Her voice sounded amused and Naemi made herself ready for a run. ”Set, GO!” When she said the ‘go’, she pushed against Ubbe’s arm hoping for a head start. ”The first with 20 shells wins.” There was nothing wrong with a little healthy competition.