38 Bouquet of Gardenias

Tyr and Macha reached Montfort Hall and Macha looked around. She had never been to this part of the city before. The street was bright from the business signs that flashed in the night, reflecting the falling snow. There was a lot of noise from people calling customers into their shops. Carts and mounts moved along the cobblestone streets in a hurry.

Montfort Hall's tiled exterior created a bright pillar that stretched into the sky. It spiraled from the base to the roof, twisting up towards the sky. Macha stared awestruck at the building. The architecture impressed her, and she wondered how long it took to build.

Tyr saw her staring at the hall and explained, "The spiral represents moving forward. The late King Njord, Freyr's father, commissioned for this to be built because he wanted people to remember to keep progressing. When we won independence, he said that was just the beginning. My uncle believed you should always try to improve mentally and physically."

Tyr tried to buy the tickets, but Macha insisted on paying for them. She knew something upset him today, and she wanted to make tonight her treat. The inside of the building reflected the outside's spiral pattern. A stage was built in the center and the seats wrapped around it, rising as the floor continued to the ceiling.

Tonight would be the concert's last performance and many of the seats were vacant. Macha picked seats away from the other patrons. She figured the privacy would make the performance seem like it was just for them.

Tyr wanted to get Macha something since she bought the tickets. It touched him that she tried to cheer him up even if he had been a boor to her. He realized his attitude earlier was childish and foolish, and he refused to tell her what had irritated him. Despite not sharing his secret with her, she still wanted to comfort him. He leaned over and whispered in Macha's ear, "I'll be back before the show starts."

"Mmm..." Macha nodded. She was too busy taking in the beautiful carvings in the building to care. Macha was amazed at the fine details that decorated her surroundings. Someone carved the frames of the chairs with leaves and flowers and each chair had a different design.

Tyr hurried down to the ground floor. When they arrived, he noticed a flower shop across the street. He wanted to surprise Macha with a bouquet. Tyr jogged across the busy street, a bouquet of white gardenias stood out from the colorful flowers. The flowers reminded him of how Macha stood out from anyone else he ever met. Tyr asked for the shop attendant to wrap the bouquet with a red ribbon and he made his way back to Macha.

When Tyr returned, he saw Macha tracing her hand along the railing in front of the seats. She stood, stroking the railing while admiring the small details carved into it. He wished Macha would pay that much attention to him.

Tyr moved silently behind her. He hid the bouquet with one hand behind his back and leaned his other hand on the rail in front of her. His body encompassed hers, "Miss me?" he whispered playfully into her ear.

Macha turned around. Tyr's voice surprised her and sent a thrill down her spine. He had a devilish smile on his face which made Macha's heart flutter. "You startled me," she breathed. Macha covered her cheeks with her hands, worried he would notice her blushing.

Tyr brought the bouquet out from behind his back and handed them to Macha. She looked at him with surprise and accepted them with both hands. As she closed her hands around the ribbon, her hand briefly touched Tyr's. He confessed, "I wanted to get you something since you treated me to the concert tonight." He studied her reaction and was pleased with the tender expression in her eyes.

Macha brought the white flowers up to her face and breathed in. They had a sweet, heady scent that wrapped around her. "Thank you. I've never gotten flowers before," she whispered and lifted her lashes to look up at Tyr. Macha wished he would not be so charming. It made it hard not to fall for him.

The lights dimmed, and they took their seats. While the audience clapped Macha snuck a peek at Tyr. His eyes watched her, and she looked down at the bouquet.

When the music began a great sea of lights emerged from the instruments. Unlike Freyr's story that was monochromatic and used silhouettes, these instruments could make a multi-colored scene. The musicians made realistic images come to life that had depth, shape, and smell.

The colors given off by the musicians merged to begin the story. A twilight sky emerged. It consisted of a pink and purple gradient with blue clouds lining the horizon. The scent of salt water filled the room as a boat with three fishermen docked to unload their boat. The men hopped off the boat, and each man thought about the family they were going home to.

Tyr enjoyed the music but enjoyed paying attention to Macha even more. He imprinted the image of Macha's feet moving back and forth in her seat whenever she was excited into his mind. Her feet did not touch the floor because the seats were too high, so her legs dangled while seated. Sometimes she would stand up to get a better view of the images that moved past them.

The first man had a tall and slender body. The string instruments depicted him as he dreamed about the modest wife he would return to. She would greet him with a warm smile and draw his bath. Then he would cook her a meal and they would enjoy each other's company.

The second man was small and skinny. Flutes showed him come home to his loving mother, who had raised him by herself. His father had died when he was young and his mother took on sewing jobs to make ends meet.

The final man looked to be young, athletic, and good looking. The horn section played, and the story followed this man walk home. He had a beautiful wife who denounced him for being away for so long. While he was working their child fell ill. Their once perfect marriage succumbed to bitterness, assumptions, and misunderstandings. It showed the wife leave him and his sick child to be with a lover. The father lied to his child. He told the boy that his mother went out shopping, but the child had overheard his mother's screams. The concert ended with the man singing to his child while the boy breathed his last breath.

The music faded, and the images disappeared. Tears fell from Macha's eyes, and she turned her head to hide them. She could imagine trying her best to provide for a family, only to come home and have it broken. Macha then imagined how it would feel to have a child die in her arms. The pain was so great that her tears fell harder.

Tyr saw Macha's tears fall onto the white petals of the bouquet. Her empathy touched his heart. Macha did not look beautiful while crying, but she did not look ugly either. Her eyes reflected her sorrow and made Tyr want to comfort her.

Tyr pretended not to notice her tears and looked to the side. He thought about how he took the leap tonight and tested his feelings for Macha. He had never been so close to anyone before but had almost ignored these feelings. Now he was certain, he liked her.

The certainty of his feelings shocked Tyr. He turned his head to check on Macha. She finished wiping the tears away from her cheeks. Macha gave him a forced smile. Her voice quivered, "It was a beautiful story. Thanks for coming with me."

Tyr shook his head. "No, thank you. I...," he caught himself. He almost did what he hated. Tyr realized he almost confessed his feelings to her without knowing how she felt. "I enjoyed the concert. It made me feel better."

Hearing Tyr mention he was better improved Macha's mood. The story ended on a sad note and was the first time a concert ever made her cry. "What made you so upset, anyway? Is it something I can help you with?"

Tyr contemplated her question. He laughed, "You could help me." Tyr got up out of the seat and made his way to the door. He smiled at how she was the only person in the world who could help him.

"How?" Macha called, following him.

Tyr rustled her hair. He knew she wanted an explanation, "I was upset because I had to make a life-changing decision. If you really want to help, become a woman who can accompany me everywhere." He wanted Macha to be with him always.

Macha pursed her lips. Tyr's response was unsatisfactory. She was already training hard so she could help him and stand beside him. Hrod's initial dislike of her did not bother Macha, but she wanted other people to feel like she was worthy of being Tyr and Luna's friend. Macha did not want to stand in their shadows forever. Her goal was to go on missions with them.

Macha wished Tyr explained what his life-changing decision was, but she figured it was too personal. She hoped he made the right choice.