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CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 29

“How is London?”

“It’s London,” Elin replied. “I’m here for work, not fun.”

“Well, how is work, then?” Ingrid asked.

“It’s a summit of prominent royal families to talk about the monarchy’s future in their respective countries; how do you think it is?” Elin asked, laughing.

“I miss you,” Ingrid told her.

She’d said that on each of their nightly phone calls since their first date.

“I miss you, too,” Elin replied.

And Elin had said it back each time.

“Will I still get to see you tomorrow?” Ingrid asked.

“Yes, I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

“Why, exactly, are you picking me up in the morning?”

“You got your surprise date. Let me have mine,” Elin said.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ingrid teased.

“I like it better when you call me Elin,” she said.

“I like that, too,” Ingrid replied.

“I bet you do,” Sarah Anne spoke from behind Ingrid.

“You bet I do what?” Ingrid said. “And when did you get there?”

“I walked out of my room right about the time you told her you missed her,” Sarah replied.

“Is that Sarah?” Elin asked.

“Yes, she came out here to interrupt my phone call, apparently. What made me think I would want to live with my sister?”

“Hi, Elin,” Sarah said louder.

“Tell her I said hi,” Elin replied on the other side of the line, hearing Ingrid’s sister.

“She says hi, too,” Ingrid told Sarah.

“When is she coming back?”

“Sarah, I’m on the phone,” Ingrid scolded her sister.

Elin laughed and said, “I have to go anyway.”

“What? No.”

“Sorry; I have a dinner with Alex and her parents tonight. Palmer and Elizabeth already went back to St. Rais, and Mari is out with Erik.”

“I thought Lillian went with you, too.”

“She did. She’ll be there,” Elin said.

“Oh, good,” Ingrid replied.

“Why?”

“I was starting to think I should worry about you and Princess Alexandria over there.”

“Worry?” Elin asked. “About–” She laughed. “Alex?”

“Yes, but I don’t call her Alex.”

“She’s not my type,” Elin told her, still laughing. “We’re more like cousins. Technically, we are cousins.”

“Distant,” Ingrid noted.

“Ingrid, I don’t like Alex like that,” Elin replied. “You’re not really–“ She paused. “Ingrid, I like you. I want you.”

Ingrid smiled and said, “Have a safe flight home, okay?”

“I will. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“I can’t wait,” Ingrid told her.

“Oh, big sister… You really do have it bad, don’t you?” Sarah asked once Ingrid had hung up.

◆◆◆

“Hi,” Ingrid greeted.

“Hi,” Elin said, smiling at her. “Can I come in?”

“Yeah. Sarah is out shopping, by the way. So, she won’t–”

“Won’t what?” Elin asked, turning around to face her once she was in the apartment.

“Um… Interrupt.” Ingrid swallowed.

“Interrupt what?” Elin teased.

“I haven’t seen you in a week, Elin,” she said, pulling the woman toward her. “Kiss me.”

Elin leaned in, and Ingrid pressed their lips together, not wanting to wait any longer. Elin’s lips were just as soft as she remembered, and Elin had this way of making Ingrid feel like she was in charge of the kiss when, really, Elin was directing the whole thing. Elin’s hand moved to Ingrid’s cheek, cupped it for a moment, and then moved into Ingrid’s hair.

“The car is waiting,” Elin told her when she pulled back just a bit.

“We don’t have to go anywhere. We can just stay here and keep doing this,” Ingrid said, pulling her back in for more.

“I don’t actually drive the car, so we can keep doing this the whole way there, if you want,” Elin replied.

“Oh, yeah?” Ingrid said. “How long is the drive?”

“Well, the drive isn’t all that long,” Elin shared. “But then there’s the plane, and I don’t know how to fly, so we can do this there, too.”

“Elin, where are we going that we have to take a plane?” Ingrid asked, her face pulling back in shock.

“Can you just pack an overnight bag?”

“Overnight?”

“Oh, not… It’s not because of–” Elin stopped herself, breathed in and out, and then added, “It’s not because of that.”

“Of what?” Ingrid teased her.

“Sex,” Elin said softly.

“It’s not?”

“No. I don’t know. You’re teasing me right now.”

Ingrid laughed and said, “Yes, because you’ve yet to say the word ‘sex’ without whispering it like it’s wrong for us to be talking about it.”

“It was a couple of months ago,” Elin argued.

“Oh, I see,” Ingrid replied. “Well, it’s okay for us to talk about it now.”

“I know. I’m just still getting used to that,” Elin said. “So, can you pack a bag?”

“I can. We’re really flying somewhere?”

“It’s a short flight,” Elin replied.

“Okay. You didn’t go crazy planning something, did you?”

“What? No,” Elin said, clearly lying.

Ingrid laughed and asked, “Do you want to see my bedroom? You can wait in there with me while I pack.”

“Your bedroom?” Elin asked.

Then, she tripped over the table behind the sofa.

◆◆◆

The Island of Senja had been called Norway in a miniature form because it harbored all of the different landscapes of the country on one island. And even though it was an island itself, it also had many beautiful lakes where one could take in perfect landscape reflections, especially in the fall, with all the golden leaves and the snow-capped mountains in the background. It had a jagged coastline on the northern part of the island with many fjords and gorgeous peaks. Finally, if that wasn’t enough, the Northern Lights were typically very present there in the late fall, winter, and spring. Because of the geomagnetic location of the island right in the middle of the Auroral Oval, the Northern Lights often lit up the entire sky, making the island a hot spot for travelers hoping to get a perfect view of the nightly event.

Ingrid had to admit that, despite living her entire life in Norway, she’d never been to the island. Of course, that made sense: the island was over fifteen hundred kilometers from Oslo and would take over twenty-one hours to get there if she drove. She hadn’t had the time or the money to make the trip. And when she and Sarah Anne had planned their vacation together, naturally, they’d planned something outside of their home country, thinking they could see Norway anytime. Wasn’t it usually true, though, that one would go explore the faraway lands and miss the things closest to home that might be just as beautiful?

As they flew over Norway, Ingrid didn’t regret not coming to Senja. She much preferred sitting next to Elin, whom Ingrid knew was watching her watch the landscape change out the window.

“It’s beautiful,” Ingrid told her.

“It is, yes,” Elin replied.

Ingrid didn’t turn around, but she did blush. The plane landed not long after taking off, and they were whisked away in another car that drove them to wherever Elin planned for them to go. It was midday, so there was a little traffic, but not nearly as much as in the city. Ingrid didn’t mind at all, though. Elin was holding her hand in her lap as she checked emails on her phone, and it felt oddly perfect.

“Sorry. I just have to respond to this, and I’m all yours,” Elin said, taking her hand for a second to type a message.

“It’s fine. I know how hard your job is, remember?”

“It’s just Markus. He wants me to talk to my father about titling Steven.”

“What?”

“Steven served my father well; it’s not that I don’t think he deserves a title…”

“It’s that you shouldn’t have to talk to your father about it.” Ingrid finished for her.

“Exactly,” Elin replied, still typing away. “I think, sometimes, Markus forgets I’m the Queen now.”

“You should remind him,” Ingrid suggested with a smile.

“Your Majesty, we’re here,” their driver announced.

“Perfect timing,” Elin said, putting her phone away and adding, “Most people don’t know about this place. It was actually a gift from Elizabeth’s father to my family, if you can believe that, but it’s not on the people’s radar because their taxes didn’t pay for it.”

“Where are we?” Ingrid turned to look out the window.

“We’re at the royal residence in Senja.”

“I didn’t know there was–” Ingrid turned back to her. “Oh, no one knows.”

“Right,” Elin said. “It’s very small and meant for quick private getaways. I think you’ll like it, though.”

It was September, so there wasn’t yet snow on the ground, but the trees were golden-yellow, red, and brown already, and there was a chill in the air. They appeared to be on private property, but there were a few homes nearby that Ingrid could see out the window.

“I sent security ahead of us. They’ve checked everything out and will stay in the adjoining properties. No one knows we’re here, Ingrid. We can just be alone and, for once, not be interrupted.”

“That sounds perfect,” Ingrid replied, smiling.

When they got out of the car, the driver took their bags and headed up a short staircase and inside the house with its dark-wood beams and beautiful stonework. It was rustic; the front of the house faced the coastline and had large windows. But it wasn’t until they were inside, though, that Ingrid really got a chance to take it all in: the entire roof was made of glass.

“It’s thermal,” Elin explained, following Ingrid’s eyeline. “We’ll be warm.”

“It’s beautiful, Elin,” Ingrid said.

“It’s just a small one-bedroom place in the middle of nowhere.” Elin shrugged.

“Yes, beautiful,” Ingrid replied.

Once the driver had dropped their bags, he left them alone, and Ingrid realized this was only the second time they’d been truly alone. The first had been at her apartment only hours ago, but even then, security had been down the hall, and her neighbors had been on the other side of the wall. She stared at Elin for a long time. Elin stared back for a minute before she looked away, likely, nervous. Ingrid loved that she made Elin nervous, maybe a little too much.

“The fire’s nice,” she commented, trying to help with that nervousness.

“Yes, they set that up for us. I didn’t ask them to do that, but it was very nice of them.”

“Do you want to sit by it?” Ingrid asked.

Elin’s phone rang, so she pulled it out of her purse to check the readout.

“It’s my mother. Can you just give me a minute?”

“Of course.”

“Help yourself to whatever you want. The kitchen has everything we need, I think, and… I’m sorry. I–”

“Elin, it’s fine. Talk to your mother.”

“I’ll be right back,” Elin said, heading down a short hallway that, Ingrid guessed, led to the bedroom.

Ingrid took the time to explore the living area, which had a very comfortable-looking sofa and a matching chair. There was a table made of rugged dark wood and a burgundy rug in front of the wood-burning fireplace. The kitchen had modern appliances and tile work that seemed almost out of place, but Ingrid was very happy about the fancy coffeemaker and fully-stocked refrigerator. There was a small dining table that matched the one in the living area, and that was about it.

“She just wanted to know if we made it safely,” Elin said, emerging from the hallway.

“Your mom?”

“Yes.”

“She knows we’re here?”

“Well, I told her and Lillian. Technically, I had to tell a lot of people where I was going… But they don’t know you’re with me. My mom and Lillian do, though.”

“You told your mom about us?” Ingrid asked, softening at Elin’s expression that showed concern.

“Is that not okay?”

“No, it’s great. I just didn’t know they knew.”

“My dad kind of knows, too,” Elin added.

“Your father knows we’re here?” she asked.

“No, he knows we’re dating,” Elin clarified.

“He does?”

“I came out to him – to my whole family, actually – and I told him I liked you.”

“And what was his response?”

“He said he liked you, too,” Elin replied, laughing lightly.

“What?”

“Not like that, obviously. He just liked working with you.”

“And he’s okay with this?”

“He’s dealing with it in his own way.”

“Which means?”

“Well, at first, I told him I was gay and that I liked you. To that, he responded by calling the King and Queen of the United Kingdom and, essentially, told them that he thought Alex and I should spend more time together.”

“He did what?” Ingrid crossed her arms over her chest.

Elin walked to her and uncrossed them for her.

“I then told him that, it turned out, you liked me, too. I told him we’d gone on a date and that we were going on another. I also told him that Alex and I will never happen, and that it’s time he lets me figure out my love life on my own.”

“You told him all that?”

“On the phone, while I drove to the airport this morning to fly home,” Elin confirmed.

“I’m a little jealous, you know?”

“Because of Alex?”

“She’s a Princess and will be a Queen, like you. She’s also out and very attractive, Elin. It’s like they make all you royals in factories or something; you’re all so gorgeous.”

“You think I’m gorgeous?” Elin asked, smiling shyly at her.

Ingrid cupped Elin’s face and said, “Yes, I do.”

“But more than Alex, right?”

Ingrid laughed and added, “Way more than Alex. You’re the one I want here with me.”

“Same,” Elin replied.

Ingrid kissed her quickly and asked, “So, what do you want to do?”

“Well, I have a few ideas,” Elin said.

“Yeah? I have one.”

Elin laughed and said, “Come on; we’re going for a hike.”

“That’s not the idea I had, Elin,” Ingrid told her.

◆◆◆

Thankfully, Elin had an easy hike picked out for them. Ingrid wasn’t much of a hiker, but she enjoyed getting outdoors when she could, and this was a great way to do that and spend time with Elin. They started off from the fishing village of Mefjordvær and followed a well-placed trail to Russehula, named after Russian explorers who invaded parts of the Norwegian coast in the 1300s. They rested a bit at Russehula but didn’t take advantage of the bonfire spot where most people would stop to prepare their food since there were a few people already there and Elin didn’t want to be recognized. From Russehula, they continued farther out to Knutskjærringa, the legendary site of Senja’s last witch burning. By the time they finished hiking and made their way back to the house by car, the weather conditions had changed from chilly and sunny to wet and foggy, but there was still a fire ready for them at the house.

Ingrid changed in the bathroom while Elin changed in the bedroom. They each chose comfortable clothing, and outside of that day trip to the hot springs in St. Rais, it was the first time Ingrid had seen the Queen in anything other than formal wear or, at least, jeans.

“You look cute,” Ingrid spoke, pointing to Elin’s flannel pants.

“I probably should wear something better for dinner, but I’m cold, and these are warm.”

“You look great, and you look comfortable. Come here.” Ingrid reached for her before adding, “I’ll warm you up.” She then ran her hands up and down Elin’s arms quickly. “Today was perfect.”

“So, I was thinking we could eat and then take a nap,” Elin said, pulling Ingrid against her body.

Ingrid wrapped her arms around her, smelling the salt air and woods on Elin and loving it.

“Nap?”

“I sort of have something else planned for us if you’re interested,” Elin explained.

“Well, I’m interested in hearing about it,” Ingrid replied.

“There’s this private boat that will take us out on the water at night.”

“Okay…”

“It’s a Northern Lights tour. I mean, you don’t really need a tour of them – they’re just kind of there. But he shows you the fjords and… I don’t know; there’s wine and food, I think. He… I guess he talks about the island, and I thought…”

“Elin, I’d love to go on that boat with you, but we have a glass ceiling here. We don’t need a fancy boat with wine to see the lights. I’d love it if we could just lie in bed and look up at them together.”

“You would?”

“What about me makes you think I need some fancy trip like this, Elin? I love this. It’s amazing, being here with you. Hiking today, holding your hand, stopping when we were alone to kiss – all of that was pretty much a dream day for me. But I don’t need fancy or extravagant; I just need you. It took me three years to figure it out, but we’re here now, and I just want to eat dinner by the fire with you and talk for a while until the lights appear. Then, we can just lie next to each other in bed and watch them dance.”

Elin’s eyes welled with tears.

“Did I say something wrong? I’ll go on the boat, Elin. If you made special arrangements, I’ll–”

“I did, but I can cancel them. It’s not about that. I’m sorry. I–” Elin took a step back and wiped at her eyes.

“What is it?” Ingrid asked.

“I never thought you’d want me,” Elin said honestly.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Ingrid moved toward her and pulled her back in. “You’re all I want.”

That night, they ate a light meal in front of the fire. Elin told Ingrid about the night she came out to her entire family, and then Ingrid listened intently as Elin explained the rules of water polo since she knew nothing about the sport. After that, Ingrid talked about her new job and her growing up in Oslo with little to no money, and how her mom made the most of it. Around ten, they retired to the bedroom, choosing to lie on top of the thick blankets, and they watched.

“You know, Elizabeth and Palmer had a date like this,” Elin spoke as she took Ingrid’s hand.

“They did?”

“Back when they first met,” Elin replied. “Palmer had never seen them. I know you have; I just thought–”

“I’ve never seen them like this,” Ingrid interrupted, causing Elin to turn her head toward her. “They’re dancing in your eyes, Elin.”

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