The Dragon Slayer Arrives
Sigurd Haldane was coming that evening to move into Agnes’ home, the one that she and Erik had furnished together in preperation for their new life, which had ended all too soon. Sigurd was to stay in what would have been the nursery for Agnes and Erik’s first child. Sigurd was all Agnes had, really, so it seemed fitting they stay together, for the time being.
Agnes, part Swedish herself, knew her Norse mythology and understood Sigurd to be named after the heroic dragonslayer of legend. His last name, roughly translated, even meant “half-Danish”! This was all a great comfort to Agnes, a cerebral woman who had always believed in signs, and the greater symbolism of the universe. So, who better to help her slay her demons and battle her loathsome depression, than The Dragon Slayer himself!
Sigurd arrived just after 10 o’clock at night. Agnes was already quite tired, since she never felt fully rested these days, anyway. Her sleep schedule was erratic, and it fluctuated with her moods. Still, she wasn’t irritable when Sigurd came. She was just glad to finally have him there.
“Sigurd! Welcome Home!” Agnes said, truley happy for once, but still unable to crack much of a smile.
“Hey Aggie, it’s good to see you. Really good, actually. Thanks for letting me stay.” Sigurd said, smiling and speaking with sincerity.
“So I know you are probably tired, but thank you for staying up to greet me! It’s been a rough first day at work, and I just want to hit the sack myself.” Sigurd said. “Where would you like me to sleep?”
"Welcome Home!"
Agnes looked over Sigurd for a moment. He really did look like a real dragon-slayer, with choppy Saxon-blonde hair, and the body of a police officer! Despite her thousand dollar security system that she had installed in the house to protect her priceless possessions and family heirlooms, she somehow knew that Sigurd alone could fend off an army of 10 burglers, if need be! It gave her piece of mind, like having a large guard-dog around.
“You can take the room at the end of the hall, its directly to the left of the stairs. I know it’s small, but it was going to be…” her voice trailed off, suddenly very sullen as she thought of the baby that never would be.
“I know, I know, you don’t have to say it out loud.” Sigurd comforted her.
Sigurd examined Agnes as she stood before him. She was so pale, and rail-thin, too. Thinner than she usually was. She was all in black, and wearing no make-up, either. Still, he could see glimpses of the Agnes he had known before Erik had died, and he knew that she wasn’t yet too far gone. He knew he could help her; Erik wouldn’t stand for Agnes to wither away after his passing, and never accomplish all the things she had wanted to do.
“You know Aggie, I brought you something, and I hope you’ll forgive me for it! But I know how much you want to be a writer, and I know Erik really believed in your writing. I know that you don’t like modern technology too much, but I figured that you needed a computer to type up your writing, so…I got you one. It’s in the car. And don’t worry, it’s not an eyesore, because it’s made to look victorianesque. Something they call “Steampunk”. “ Sigurd said, smiling.
Agnes suddenly felt a warmth spreading inside her cold body. And, slowly but surely, a wide smile spread across her face. She was beaming! She hadn’t thought about her writing for such a long time, but Sigurd had jogged her memory now! Also, it didn’t seem quite so tedious a hobby when she could use a computer instead of a pen and paper! Especially if it wasn’t a modern-looking eyesore!
The ice was not broken, so to speak, but it was quickly melting. Despite how tired they both were that evening, Agnes and Sigurd ended up staying up for a few hours more, to talk.
The two caught up on old times a little, but when the past became to painful, Sigurd listened to Agnes’ sorrows and comforted her, and she listened to his as well. They started to plan the weeks ahead: they decided that they would have dinner together every night. Agnes liked this idea very much, because it would get her accustomed to cooking again, and would get her back on a normal, healthy schedule.
Agnes and Sigurd catch up!
When Agnes started to yawn more frequently, and Sigurds body ached more and more after the long day at work, they both decided to retire to bed.
“Let me show you to your room.” Agnes said.
They climbed the stairs. Sigurd looked around him, taking in the gloomy lighting in the halls. The big paneled windows that let in the eerie light of the moon didn’t help the mood, either. No wonder Agnes was so depressed! He had made up his mind: he would slowly help her make some simple, but crucial changes, that would hopefully improve her spirits a bit more.
Agnes and Sigurd in the eerie stairwell.
“Aggie, I can’t thank you enough. This is really great of you, inviting me to stay here.” Sigurd paused, then said, “I promise we will take care of each other now.”
He stood by the threshold of his new room, about to open the door.
Agnes Crumplebottom gulped, and fought back a flood of tears. She had felt so happy tonight, but now that she saw Sigurd standing outside the would-be nursery, she was right back down where she started.
“Goodnight Sigurd.” She said plainly, and she excused herself to her room.
Sigurd Haldane took no offense to Agnes behavior. After all, he himself was still bent out of shape after Erik’s traumatic death. No one could have expected it. It was just so sad, because Agnes and Erik had had a real bond. They had been so content with each other. Sigurd had never found a shared peace with anyone he had ever been with. In fact, he had been somewhat jeleous of what Erik and Agnes had together… that is, until Erik died. Then he had felt guilty for his envy.
When Sigurd entered his new room, he saw that Agnes, despite her depression, had fixed the room up with a blue-green theme, and nice, new furniture. He couldn’t imagine how hard it had been for her to be in the baby room, moving out baby furniture and toys while she was still so upset, just to clear a space for him. She had went through a lot of trouble, and Sigurd was touched by the gesture.
Sigurd is moved by Agnes' kindness.
Sigurd did not sleep too well that first night, despite the comfortable bed and the furnishings. But Agnes, down the hall, alone in her big bed, experienced the most peaceful sleep, with the most beautiful dreams.
