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Ulla Tornaes had been traveling with Indiana Jones for a while now and liked to think she had gotten to know him pretty well. To begin with she had been amused by him, even a bit disappointed. Hadn't taken him seriously. But he had surprised her again and again. He was far kinder, far more reliable, and even far more competent than she had first thought.
But still, some things about him baffled her.
Ulla examined the man leaning over the ice-covered railing. He stared into the mist, as if transfixed by something only he could see.
"What is she like?" Ulla asked.
Indiana looked at her and she could feel his guard coming up. "Who?"
"Who do you think? Alecia. The woman you are doing this all for."
He looked away from her, and into the mist again. "She's beautiful."
"A man does not travel to the literal edge of the world just for beauty," Ulla told him.
Indiana gave him an amused look. "Have you not heard of the Trojan war? Helen? But you are right about Alecia she is that but also so much more."
It was like talking to a brick wall, Ulla thought.
Whenever she tried to pry any details about Indiana's and Alecia'a relationship he clammed up in a way that roused Ulla's curiosity.
"This Alecia is comparable to Helen, huh? I think I want to see this otherworldly beauty, I'm glad I came along."
Indiana gave her a look. Ulla thought he was almost going to ask, but in the end he did not. Ulla wouldn't have minded if he did, she had been dropping enough hints about her love life by now and was certain Indiana could guess.
"She is good, and pure," Indiana said.
"And she left you."
It had been a guess. But the way Indiana twitched and his fingers grasped the railing made Ulla certain.
"She did."
"And this is some kind of a heroic effort to win her back?"
"What do you think of me? It was the right choice. I put her in danger. That's all I ever did. I am not doing this to win her back. I am doing this to keep her safe."
Ulla stepped forward and leaned on the railing. "Heroic."
"Think what you will."
"You have dragged me with you on your quest to slay the dragon for your maiden, so to speak," Ulla said. "I think I deserve to know some details."
"Fine, this is how it is going to go: we will plunge an enchanted spear into the belly of the dragon, I will marry the princess and get half the kingdom. Happy with the plan?"
"Now that is more like it! A truly heroic act. I shall, as your bard, compose a song in your honor, retelling the events!"
Indiana didn't reply.
Eventually Ulla spoke. "You know what? I think I have figured it out."
"Good for you."
"I think you love Alecia. In a way. But I think what you really love is the way you can wallow in your loneliness and put her on a pedestal. You cannot be with her, and that is perfect for you. You can only risk your life in this heroic foolish effort, this grand gesture, but she remains unattainable and safe for you to yearn for."
Indiana glared at her. "You know nothing."
Ulla stepped back. "Fair."
But the way he had looked at her. Ulla was certain she had been right.