Chapter Text
The next morning, they left at dawn. Because Yusuf still was having hangovers, he tied his horse's harness to Nicolò's saddle to prevent any accidents or getting lost.
"Tell me," Nicolò said. "How are you feeling, Sunshine?"
"Very funny," Yusuf groaned. "But for your information, it still feels like my head is going to explode."
Nicolò looked at Yusuf with a smirk.
"You survived drinking with Andromache," Nicolò said. "And you will also survive "Drinking Jól"."
"This might feel even worse than drinking with Andromache," Yusuf replied. "And that is saying something."
Nicolò laughed before eating one of the nuts he picked up at the market yesterday while Yusuf rubbed his temples.
"Tell me," Yusuf asked. "What was the "Drinking" thing?"
" "Drinking Jól"," Nicolò replied. "According to Father Harald, back in the 8th century, the Nordic Christmas party consisted of one or more midwinter drinking parties held in December until mid-January. At the drinking parties, they celebrated that they were slowly but surely moving towards brighter days, and they asked the Gods for a good new year. In particular, people toasted and drank to the God Jølner, who, according to the stories, had stolen the recipe for beer from the God who had invented beer. Jølner gave the recipe to the humans."
"So, Jølner did what Prometheus did just with beer instead of fire?" Yusuf asked, and Nicolò nodded. "Well, it's good to know that spring is coming one day."
"That is one way to look at it," Nicolò replied. "Do you want a nut?"
"No thanks, my stomach is still feeling sick," Yusuf replied. "So, what was it I drank?"
"Mead. It's made out of honey and water," Nicolò replied. "It explains why it tasted so sweet."
Yusuf groaned as he rubbed his temples again.
"Please promise me, Nicolò," Yusuf said. "That you'll try your best to keep me away from mead in the future."
Nicolò laughed.
"That is one lost battle," Nicolò replied. "Because as long as you love your sweet things, I can't help you."
Yusuf pulled Nicolò's horse closer to him.
"Well," Yusuf smirked. "You are the proof why I can't stay away from sweet things, Love."
Yusuf leaned towards Nicolò to kiss him, but because Yusuf had zero coordination left because of the hangover, he ended up knocking both of their horses, and they ended up in a big snow dune.
"Sorry," Yusuf said. "That wasn't a part of the plan."
"Yeah, right," Nicolò replied. "Remember, what happens next is your fault."
Nicolò took a handful of snow and threw it in Yusuf's face. It took only a moment before it evolved into a full-blown snowball fight. It was one of the funniest things they had done in ages. After a while, Yusuf begged for mercy, and Nicolò used his body to press Yusuf down on his back. They kissed until they started to feel how wet their clothes were. It was there they decided to find shelter for the night.