Chapter 29 Trapped Souls

• She made it a point to teach them what she had learned over the years. Though they were young, she trimmed the facts and had the historical information sound more like stories, so they would learn to enjoy wanting to obtain as much information, never be willing to settle or stay ignorant. She taught them about other ancient cultures she had studied over the years. Then, of course, there were the parables she had learned over the years from the Bible, but always teaching them something new. She missed teaching for some time, but the boys were always asking questions, and since everything that had happened, teaching them kept her from crying most of the time. She had never felt so alone before, and if it wasn't for her children, she didn't know where her mindset would be. Then again, teaching them the bible reminded her about holding onto faith and remembering embracing her storms. So she knew she had to endure to overcome; even though a tear spilled, Elvinia couldn't help but glance once more at her children and her nephews that she adopted as her own. They had something in common, including herself, because she had lost her parents. Even though she had two parents growing up, she had always felt like an outsider. At least she hoped that Rolf and Ulf never felt different, but there would be a day they would realize they were not siblings but cousins. Bjorn and Kirsten were sleeping next to each other as she breathed in, "Baldr, I miss you so much. Look at your beautiful daughter and your son. I know you are not physically here but are with us in spirit." She knelt, covering the babes with the fur blankets, Rolf stretched out and Ulf curling up just as he had done for as long as she could remember, "Your momma and daddy loved you both so much. I love you two very much as though you were my own. I know that your mother and father are so very proud of you two. May their spirit burn inside you that whenever you think you cannot go on, remember that they live in you both." She spoke those words in a different language, so they didn't hear her in case they played possum. She kissed each of them on top of their heads before slipping back into the kitchen. While they slept, she began making dough for the bread for their dinner later that would go with the stew she was preparing. She swiped away her tears before putting on her coat that once belonged to Baldr, and now it was hers. She had almost forgotten his scent, but there were times she thought he was close; maybe it was her wanting him to be there.
• She slipped on her boots and went outside towards the smokehouse, where she kept the meat for their winter stock. However, she went to the barn where the feed was so that she could quickly feed the animals, and even though the weather was freezing cold, the temperatures didn't bother her. Outside she saw the soldiers near the fire; she knew if she didn't want them to know her secret, she had to appear like the mortals affected by the elements. She had to acclimate to her surroundings; this was her norm for now. Elvinia, once inside the barn, made sure to feed all her animals; she gathered the eggs and milked the goats and cows. She wished she had coffee. It had been too long since she had a cup, carrying the eggs and milk inside. Later, she would make cheese and honey butter for the children. They loved the honey butter she would make from time to time. She placed the items on the doorstep before returning with the basket she would need for the ingredients for the stew she was cooking for tonight's dinner. She looked once more at the soldiers who were watching her; though they had set up a tent, it appeared that they were going to freeze, especially with the wind, for its bite was harsh. The cold and ice didn't follow her inside the smokehouse, where it felt so nice and toasty. These buildings had everything she had modernized as much as she could inside; even the smallest detail had been upgraded to her standards. She had the meat smoking overnight, and she didn't have everything she had back on Earth. She had improvised, and she had managed to fix a freezer, a little different than what she had inside the longhouse. She had managed to fix freezers here; thanks to the waterfall outside. It was powering the entire homestead, and even helped powered the underground rooms, that were built for many other uses. Elvinia finished up with the meat and then put the other ingredients into her basket, like herbs and seasoning she would need, along with the carrots, potatoes, and other items. It was like she had her own grocery store without all the hustle and bustle of traffic. That was something that she honestly didn't miss; once again, she was outside adn the wind was picking up. She wallked over to where the soldiers were and she handed them some warm food and drink, "Come on, so you both can stay warm and not freeze out here." She wasn't going to let them freeze but she had to be careful where she took them because they were still spying on her, but even enemies can show respect. The stable was modern as the other buildings but because it was seen from the dirt road, she had to keep it like it was meant to be here. Up into the loft there was hay and inside the one part of the stable there was a fireplace and the heat kept the stables from freezing.
• "Why are you being so nice to us considering that our captain believes you are hiding something here?"