Epilogue

ONE MONTH LATER

"She's so beautiful."

Gazing at the baby girl asleep in her arms, Dunne wiped a tear from her cheek. Was there anything more moving than a newborn child? She couldn't think of one single thing. Bee snuggled closer to her and sighed with contentment.

"Finally I have a girl cousin!" her daughter whispered in her ear, doing her best not to wake up the sleeping babe. "I only had boys before."

From the pallet, Frigyth smiled the radiant smile of new mothers. "Elwyn is happy as well, you know. He's wanted a sister for years."

"A sister!" The little girl's eyes went round as coins as she turned to look at Bj?rn, who was standing by the door. "Of course, that's what I need! It's even better than a girl cousin! Bear, please, could you give Mama a little girl? Husbands are the ones who give their wives children, aren't they?" Suddenly she didn't sound so sure.

"They are," Bj?rn growled, crossing his arms over his chest. "And believe me, I'm doing my best to give my wife a little girl. Or a little boy. I'm afraid that's something not even us husbands can choose."

Dunne knew she had gone crimson. Indeed, he was doing what was required to make her with child every night, and sometimes even during the day. At this rate it would be a miracle if she did not give birth to their first babe before the spring. But as they had been married for just a month, it was too early to tell, even if she had started to wonder whether her monthly courses were not overdue.

"Are you really doing all that's needed?" Her daughter came to face him and planted her fists on her hips, looking remarkably like a disapproving matron. "You had better ask Uncle Sigurd where men find babies because he has found plenty already. I'm not sure you know what you're doing since Mama is not yet?—"

"Talking of Sigurd, Bee, would you go get him for me?" Frigyth asked, interrupting the mortifying conversation. "I need a word with him but I'm too tired to get up. He will be in Wolf's hut."

"Of course!" The little girl left without a backward glance.

"Thank you," Dunne told her sister with a sigh, handing her the baby back. "She is getting far too bold, I'm afraid."

"She's perfect, just like her mother." Bj?rn came over to place a kiss over her temple. "But all the same, I have no wish to be harangued about my ability to…find babies ever again. So I will have to redouble my efforts to make you with child," he added, whispering in her ear.

Dunne's heart skipped a beat—or two. "Heavens, Bear, have mercy! A woman needs her sleep."

"Mm. And a bear needs his cubs. I cannot wait to see you hold our daughter or son. I only wish they have your eyes."

Bj?rn gave her cheek a tender stroke and her heart threatened to escape from her chest. It was too much love for one person.

"We'll see. As long as they are cherished and happy, I care not."

"No, me neither. And they will be loved, whether in fifteen or fifty years' time."