It was a sunny day. The breeze was blowing in gently from the North, cooling down the summer's day. The girl standing outside preferred the cold, it wasn't suffocating like the heat. It was brisk, it kept her feeling good. As she stood outside of her home, letting the wind hit her, she looked out to the sea. She was clearly looking for something, scanning the waves for a sign of an arrival, but nothing was coming.
She ran inside the meagre house, blowing the door open with her entrance. "Momma!" she called out to a young woman, no older than 25, standing at a stove. Her blonde hair swirled around as she turned to face her daughter, a couple of spots from the stew dotting the white apron that she wore. "Momma! I thought you said Daddy would be home today! You said that!"
The mother smiled at the exuberance the young girl was showing. "Sammi, I told you he should be home today. The fact that he is late is a good thing. It must mean that he's brought in lots of fish for us."
"I know, but I still want him here. Why don't the fish come here instead?"
Mother laughed. "Oh Sammi, it would be nice if the seas worked that way, but nature wants us to work for it. If everything was just handed to us, that would defeat the purpose of life wouldn't it?"
"I guess," Sammi sighed. Just then a large chunk clattered on the dock in front of the house, loud enough to shake the island. For Sammi, it harrolded only one thing. "Daddy's home!" She took off out of the house, leaving the door wide open. Her mother walked over to the door, standing in the doorframe, watching her little girl run off.
The boat that came up to the dock was small, not bigger than a tugboat, but for Sammi it contained the most precious cargo of all. A large man, built like a mountain, with a scruffy blond beard ringing his face like a halo of snow at it's peak, emerged on the bow. He leaped off, landing on the dock with a large rope in his hand. He made a quick not around the front post, securing his livelihood.
"Daddy!" Sammi exclaimed as she ran and jumped at the man. He was ready for her, arms wide open as she nestled into him. "Daddy, I missed you! It was like you were gone forever!"
"I was only at sea for two weeks there Sammi," he told her as he held her close. "You couldn't have missed me that much."
"But I did! Ask Mommy! I was watching for you Daddy! Every day!"
"I bet you were. Come, let's go assure Mommy that I'm here safe and sound."
"OK!" The man carried Sammi in his arms up the little hillside where Mother was still waiting. "Hello Katerina dear!"
"Welcome home Juha," Katerina replied, giving her man a quick kiss as he reached the door. "How was the haul?"
"Well, I can say that between me and Magnus, we brough in enough fish that I won't have to go out for another month."
This news perked up Sammi's ears. "Really Daddy! You'll stay here with me!"
"Can't have my little Viking going around without protection, can I?"
"Yay! Yay!" Sammi jumped out of Juha's arms and ran around, too excited to contain herself. "Daddy, let's play now! I want to play now!"
"We can play later Sammi. I'm sure your mother has got dinner ready now."
"You did always have great timing. Take at seat at the table, I'll get it ready."
"Yay!"
[hr]
The unconscious body laid on the ground, unaware of the events around it. That the foe that cost her the rest of the battle was taken down. That the people of Lasklee could rejoice in defending their island. That there was a giant ship looming over the town. All that played were the memories of a more innocent time.
