Page 2 of A Winter Admire

Laughter rang in his ears. He looked towards Ulir and Torin. His body flushed with embarrassment.

“Looks like you are better off sticking to your plants and books, Edwin,” Torin said.

“It’s safer for a klutz like you,” Ulir said.

Edwin noticed the sprig of Solstice berries, a red bow wrapped around it, pinned to Ulir’s shirt. A Solstice gift, no doubt from Torin. In Ores, it was a tradition to give Solstice gifts during the Solstice season, the four weeks leading up to the day itself. No one had given Edwin any gifts so far.

Ducking his head, Edwin strode away, trying his best to ignore their mocking laughter as he shoved his hands in his pockets and hurried on between the cabins towards the forest.

Before he’d left for Bordertown, back in his teenage years, he’d had a crush on Torin. His sparkling blue eyes and wide smile had captivated Edwin. They had been friends, or so Edwin had thought. Foolishly, he’d thought Torin may even return his feelings.

After weeks of pining, he had gotten up the courage to approach him. Palms sweaty despite the winter cold, he’d walked up to Torin, hands clasping a sprig of Solstice berries wrapped in a small red bow. Just like the one Ulir wore today.

He’d held out the gift, hands shaking with nerves. “I care very deeply for you, Torin. Please accept this Solstice gift as a token of my adoration and love.”

Shock had passed over Torin’s handsome face, his eyebrows drawing down. He’d looked away, staring at a cabin behind Edwin, as if too embarrassed by Edwin’s words to even look at him.

“Edwin, I could never think of you in that way. No offence, but… Well…look at you!” Torin had said, gesturing at Edwin like he was offended that someone like Edwin would ever think he was good enough for someone like him.

The memory still stung, even years later. To make matters worse, Torin had then accepted a gift from Ulir. Edwin had seen Torin wearing it proudly the next day. Torin and Ulir had made sure Edwin saw the gift. The two had been together since. Ulir was beautiful, slender, and tall. He was someone worthy of Torin.

Since then, Ulir had openly hated Edwin. Edwin never understood why. It was Edwin who had been rejected, not Ulir. But Edwin had learned his lesson and had kept his heart guarded, terrified of making the same mistake again.

He reached the edge of the village and escaped into the forest. If only he could escape the humiliation and memories of the past so easily.

ChapterTwo

Edwin trudged through the snow, trying to get as much distance from Torin and Ulir as possible. He’d moved back to Ores from Bordertown in the spring, and in those nine months, it felt like their tormenting had only gotten worse. Ulir had become particularly ruthless.

As he walked, he tried to focus on the forest and push thoughts of Torin and Ulir from his mind. His heart raced, and his face burned with embarrassment, but as he continued, the stillness and calm of the forest seeped into him.

The forest was bathed in soft winter light, and the dark bark of the trees contrasted with the pristine snow. He took a deep breath. The fresh, crisp air filled his lungs, and some of the tension in his chest unwound.

The wilderness always did that for him. It always made him feel better. It was one of the reasons he couldn’t stand Bordertown. In the capital, there was nowhere to breathe. There were no forests or mountains. There was nothing wild. He took another deep breath.

He didn’t want to think of Torin or Ulir. Not when he held a letter from his mother in his hand. He paused and wiped at the smudges that marred the envelope.

When he’d left Bordertown to return to the small village in the mountains, he’d been so sure he was making the right decision. He’d been so unhappy there. So completely miserable. But if he was honest with himself, he hadn’t been happy here in Ores like he’d thought he’d be. Before he’d moved to Bordertown, he’d lived with his family. The winter nights hadn’t seemed so lonely and long back then.

Winter Solstice had always been the favourite time of year for his family. Back then, the nights had been filled with voices and activity. He could still imagine his mother chopping vegetables for a stew, or see his sister as she knitted a new cap for him, or hear his father reading aloud a novel he’d managed to acquire from Castle Evermore.

There had been gifts from his parents. It was common for parents give small gifts, often sweets, cookies, cakes, or candied nuts, every day throughout the season. And as a child, he would often search in the forest for gifts for his parents. He’d always felt a sense of pride handing them a pinecone or a pretty branch tied with a red bow. Some years, he’d done it almost every day in the lead-up to Winter Solstice.

His mother and father had smiled and laughed, appearing so pleased with his meagre offerings. Edwin swallowed at the memory.

He’d been so happy then. They’d been happy.

Their family had lived in Ores for generations, but several years ago, a cousin had moved to the city and gotten a job in a pub. The cousin had written a letter, suggesting that their whole family should come. She’d said that her boss could give them all jobs in the pub.

So they’d gone. His family loved Bordertown. Edwin hated it. He hated everything about it.

But perhaps now, this close to the Solstice, his family were remembering all the years they’d spent together celebrating the season. Perhaps they would ask him to return to the city, at least to mark the occasion. He’d have to travel there, which was a couple of days’ journey. And true, he’d be back in Bordertown. But the idea didn’t seem so terrible anymore.

He wanted to see his family. He hadn’t seen them since he had returned to his little mountain village earlier in the year. It would be nice to spend the Solstice with them. And it would give him a chance to get away from Ulir and Torin.

And he wouldn’t be alone for Winter Solstice.

He broke the seal.