"I'm sorry, but I don't know where you're talking," Arthur replied.
Gilda exhaled softly. She seems to have a burden of mind that is enough to make her tired. It was visible because the expression on her resigned face and her body getting weaker daily seemed to describe what Gilda felt.
"Gilda..."
"yes?" asked Gilda as she turned to look at the Troll sitting beside her.
"I'm sorry," Arthur replied with a look of a guilt-filled spoon.
"Sorry? For what?"
"Because a monster like me has harmed you a lot. You and your citizens lost much of someone you care about." Arthur looked down embarrassedly in the face of Gilda, who hadn't made any comments yet.
"I can't say that I forgive you. But is there anything you can do to make amends for yourself besides the word sorry? I don't think there is. I don't know what reason is behind your actions. What is clear is that we, as human beings, especially as residents of Tanee village, never feel that we have done anything wrong with you. So I don't understand any of this," Gilda said.
Her eyes filled with tears after revealing her heart. Someone next to her is the enemy who kidnapped her mother, but he was also the one who helped her from danger during the time he spent time with her. Arthur silently sculpted speechlessly. At the same time, Gilda was still talking, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Since my mother's departure, I have been educated hard by my father as a tireless tough woman. I had to be both a warrior and a protector for my citizens because I was the only daughter of a few village leaders whom the citizens admired. I shouldn't even complain if I feel something doesn't fit my heart. But I'm sure dad did that for my good as well. To me, Emmett is a good, loving, and strong father. If he sees me crying, he may hit me with a wood blade to strengthen my mentality. However, look at it now I failed to be the daughter of dad's dream. Now I'm crying, and I don't know why these tears keep flowing without me stopping,"
Arthur was even more confused about not knowing what to do. It was only this time that he was faced with this kind of situation. Moreover, dealing with women, just staring at each other has never been.
Arthur plants gave the leaves he had just picked to wipe away Gilda's tears.
"I don't know what to do, Gilda. Because everything that has happened has a certain purpose, I can't tell you," said Arthur.
"Then, what am I here for? Why didn't you kill me the first time we met?" asked Gilda with a smirking eye and a face full of disappointment.
"Gi-Gilda, I don't ... ok, all right. I can't do much. But, I'll meet you with my dad as my apologies. Although it can't make your mother come back, at least you can talk to dad about this kidnapping. Say whatever you want, may it... we can no longer let you down," said Arthur.
"But, are you sure your father or the other Jotuns won't attack when they see me later?" asked Gilda uncertainly.
"Therefore, tonight, I will also see my father. You and Pipi wait here. I'll talk to him first so that he can listen to you. How about it?"
Gilda nodded in agreement.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds with smiles adorning their faces. However, at the same time, the two realized that this was quite strange, making them amused each other.
"Sorry," Gilda said quietly as she pulled her arm back and then averted her gaze. Arthur also did this, who felt more awkward in front of the girl whose full name was Gilda Valrick.
"So, I'll head to Howa's cave and meet my father. Please don't go anywhere before I come. I won't be long," Arthur said, shifting the conversation.
Arthur also left; according to what he said earlier, as long as he stepped in, for some reason, Arthur was made strange by the events he had just experienced until he smiled at himself along the way. Soon, he noticed something strange right before Howa's cave. A quarter of the trees around the cave look charred with a charred smell that is still smelling even though it is not pungent. That indicates that a few hours ago, there might have been a small fire that had just occurred. Fearing something might happen to his family, Arthur quickened his pace towards Howa cave.
"I'm home! Dad, Auntie, Maurie, where are you guys?!"
Hearing his child's voice from a distance, of course, Rudolf was taken aback and ran as tightly as possible in the direction of the sound source.
"Arthur is that you?!" said Rudolf. He had already seen the silhouette of his son from a distance.
Arthur ran over to the father, who was also approaching him. The pace of the two came to a halt as they hugged each other at the same point and let go of each other's misses. Rudolf's two eyes filled with tears as if he couldn't believe that his son was now back.
Like sugar shrouded in ants, the Jotuns are very happy about Ivar's arrival.
"I'm happy to see you guys are ok. At first, I was very scared when I saw some charred trees burning right in front of this cave. What happened?" asked Arthur curiously.
Rudolf and several other Jotuns turned their heads to each other. This made Arthur even more suspicious because his family's movements were strange.
"Arthur, you're just here. You'd better rest first to restore your stamina. Ah, are you hungry? It just so happens that this Aunt of yours has prepared delicious food for all of us," aunt Kara denied.
"Ok, Auntie. But, I want to have a one-on-one talk with my dad. So, do you mind leaving me alone with dad for some time?
"Of course. We will wait for you and Rudolf at the dinner table."
Shortly after his family left Ivar and his father, Ivar invited Adolf to speak at the mouth of the cave, hoping that no one would disturb their conversation.
"What's the matter? You look very serious as hell. Is there a problem?" asked Rudolf. His son had just come from a long trip but didn't look exhausted at all.
"Dad, I need to say something to you. But, before my remarks are over, I hope you don't interrupt my conversation unless you want to ask. With a note, you have to restrain your emotions if there is something you disagree with. How about it?" asked Arthur.
"Sounds weird, but all right. Just say it." Adolf retorted.
"You know, I deliberately ran away from this cave at the beginning because I was tired of our unchanging circumstances. I'm trying to distance myself from you, my family, and my best friends, Volka and Gus. However, something happened, and it changed my mind about coming back here. I'm willing to bet that you won't believe what I'm saying," Arthur said with a face.
Hearing the beginning of Arthur's story, Rudolf seemed to know what his son would tell. Of course, he knows because, if we recall, Rudolf was once told by Maleen, the old witch, that Arthur left with a human child. However, Rudolf pretended not to know and tried to hear his son's explanation first.
"What is it?"
"I met Gilda, the leader of the village of Tanee!"
Rudolf's conjecture is correct. But, at first, he felt anxious because he feared his conjecture was wrong and something terrible would happen to Arthur.
"So? Where is she now? Why didn't you bring her here?" asked Adolf.
"Well, that's the point. At the beginning of the accidental encounter, he fell unconscious in shock. Because we were both lost, we traveled together here," concluded Arthur.
"Wait, you brought her here still in a conscious state?!"
"Listen to me first, Dad. She hasn't gotten here yet, but she's around here. She will come here if I have already bagged permission from you. She wanted to talk to you something about something, and it was an essential thing. I don't think it hurts if you do that with her. After all, she won't go anywhere and is in our territory. If she does anything wrong, it's her decision to accept the bad things that will happen to her later," Arthur said.
"I'm not sure I can do that, Arthur. Don't let this backfire on our own!"