Jane feels lonely and isolated. Sure, she can paint and it gets easier and easier to talk to the others, but they don't really have much to talk about. No common interests or hobbies, and the language makes it worse. Jane isn't interested in sewing, weaving, embroidery and similar crafts like many other women, and not woodcraft or metalwork in my workshop. Caecilia is interested in learning to draw people and things, and Jane help her with tips etc as she sketches. But Jane doesn't really have anything in common with the rest of us - including me. I've only shared the same world, not the same life style. She isn't used to being alone in this way, and none of her usual hobbies or interests exist or work here. It was bad in Hildifjoer, but there she worked long days. It has been more or less of a problem since she came here to Alfheimr, which she also told me when we met.

Unfortunately I don't really know what I can do to help her with that, but just speaking English helps. Her language skills are improving and she understands more and more, but it is not the same thing. I of course understand her, but we handle it differently. I am somewhat introvert, while Jane like most of my company is extrovert, and she's always had a boyfriend and friends. Jane have never been alone for long periods of time. If she felt alone, she lived in a city and it was easy to find something to do or be social. Jane asks if she can sit next to me and lean against me while we talk, but makes sure I know there will be nothing more than that.

So she switches to my couch, and it gets a little uncomfortable between us, especially over where my arm should be, but as she tells me to lay it around her waist. So we just sit there. Jane leaning against me while we talk about everything. I let my thoughts wander while we talk about more normal Midgård subject, and as usual I jump between topics and goes on tangents, from projects, plans, problems and more. Jane seems to find it comforting and I see and feel that she is starting to relax. She just feels so isolated, and the music on her cell phone doesn't help. She's heard all the music before, so many times, and she didn't have many songs saved in offline mode. Unfortunately, Jane has an iPhone so I can not transfer files to it. Or from it.

I have charged Tom's android mobile, and I have deactivated the password on it. But there isnt much useful there either. I have transferred some pictures to a folder and zipped. Jane got to help and say which ones we should save, and I chosed everyone on her as well, even though I tried to avoid looking at the sexier ones. Tom mostly watched Netflix, and used Spotify for music.

We move on to other subjects and even though she is a Brit, she is not a Monty Python fan, and hasn't seen 'The Holy Grail' and the other films. It is kind of fun to tease her as Jane seem to take it personal whenever I know parts of brittish culture better than her, but she enjoy the conversation. It feels normal. Of course, Jane has seen a lot of clips from Monty Python sketches etc. They are famous. Eventually I realise she knows parts of the parrot sketch and the lumber jack song. I refer to Alith as a 'Norwegian blue' considering her origins in our world, and that Alith is a 'bird' with blue hair. Jane smile and answers; 'Remarcable bird the Norwegian Blue, beautiful plumage' and refer to Aliths breasts. Jane even manage to turn the expression about "Pining for the Fjords" into sex with me. I avoid giving her any confirmation, but she seems to have guessed that I've had sex with Alith.

I ask if Jane wants to see a movie. I only have a few with me, but all but one are in English, and she directly bite, but ask if we can make a whole movie night of it. Some unnecessary junk food, something to drink etc. There is no popcorn, chips, soft drinks and so on here, so we have to get creative, but Jane says she will try to find something good and disappears, much happier and motivated.

I find Kari and we find Iselin weaving in her room while she talks to Caecilia, and I explain about Janes depression issue and that I will cheer Jane up with a movie night. Its best if none of them are there as I can't interpret, and the film will be completely different. Better let Jane have a movie night to cheer her up, and make her feel as much Midgård normal as possible. I will have a movie night with Kari another evening.

Kari confirms that she has often seen Jane being sad, especially when she thinks no one will see it or in her room. Jane have sometimes been red-eyed after tears. Jane doesn't seem to want to show it and be a burden. I briefly explain the difference in personality between us, introvert and extrovert, and how we get energy, which makes them understand us a little better. They never though about it like that. I continue explaining that Jane has a hard time talking and getting that energy even though she is with us, due to language problems and interests. They cannot really understand the huge difference in life style, and only Iselin knows that Jane could've driven down to Borgarsandr and returned over an evening, but not even Iselin understands what it is like to live in a modern big city. There is so much to do which they have never heard of, like museums, shops, theater, cinema, cafés, nightclubs, activities, sports and more.

We decide that everyone will try to find something that Jane might be interested in here - and pretty much by reflex I dismiss Caecilia's expected proposal for more sex - but I notice the unexpected 'more'. Kari promises to take Jane riding even though the island has limited options, as Jane apparently rode much when she was younger. We have already explored the island a few times, and taken the small boat over to the other side and gone for a walk there. But it is something to do. We need to get a bridge to both the larger island and Orusingen to have more options, variety and be able to take longer trips. I'm going to try to convince Jane to try weapon training with the guards. I still train about twice a week for an hour or two, and carry my sword at least a couple of times a week to get used to it. Alith and the others try to get me to train more, and that I should train my grip strength more as well, but I don't intend to be a full-time warrior, and don't really enjoy the training as is. I realise I am humming Iron Maiden's 'Weekend Warrior', even though it is the wrong activity. I believe that is about football.

I've showered and wait in the couch dressed in Midgård cloths. Tablet ready, but in power save mode and with the display folded down over the keyboard. Elvira knocks and comes in along with Alith. The food Jane arranged is crispbread with some blueberry jam, and thankfully extra plates and two of he new glasses. A bottle of apple cider for me, and a jug of water and a bottle of wine for Jane. I know that we bought a few barrels, and we took most of the luxury items and the more luxurious food from the B-mansion, and there was plenty of imported wine and spirits as well as a lot of wheat bundles. Alith is curious about something Jane said to her, but I simply don't understand what Alith tries to say. Its completely mangled.

Jane arrives after maybe five minutes; newly showered and in her own modern clothes - shirt and jeans. When asked, Jane grins and repeats "Hello Polly!" in English to Alith, and we both laugh as it is from the parrot sketch. Alith expression is wonderful, but how the hell do I explain it? I just say that it is an obscure Midgård reference to a Saga given her hair color and that she is a woman, and that translated it means 'Hello Polly'. And that it isn't insulting. Jane giggles and smiles when I start singing 'I'm a lumberjack...' with silly movements, and Alith walks away confused. I'm happy for what Jane gets, and Boomstick was worth so so much.

So I show Jane her movie options and she chooses 'Atomic Blonde' which she hasn't seen, but she like my summary. She love that she havn't seen the movies I have, and thus have them to look forward to.

Before we start, I ask if Jane is interested in trying new things; maybe she'll discover something new, and I ask her to accept all the suggestions she gets. Try them for two or three weeks and if she doesn't want to continue, she knows for sure and has done something in the meantime, which she is happy to go along with on. I guess she really feels as an outsider and alone.

So we get comfy and watch as Charlize Theron is badass babe Lorraine, while drinking our drinks and chewing crispbread as a snack and trying to avoid crumbles or making a mess. Jane sits with her legs pulled up on the couch and leans against me, and gets a small dose of Midgård. Jane complains she miss coffee. And real tea.

Jane tease me that I know what that is like, when Percival wakes up with two women in bed. Jane wants such red sunglasses, and the film reminds her of all her beautiful high-heeled shoes she is missing, and she inform me that she has a nice Louboutin collection - had. Like it should mean much for me. So she pause the movie and give me a short lesson in their greatness, including giving me other shoe designers names, and I recognize a couple from movies etc. I point out that she can probably get something primitive but similar made here, but they will be horrible everywhere. Jane slaps me lightly on the shoulder, and says I don't understand and she doesn't care if she can wear them outside or not. I suggest she can have something made as a variant of the Swedish clogs, which Jane still thinks are so ugly. Practical, but ugly, and she has already given suggestions on how to decorate them, either embroidery, impressions in the leather, by holes or by painting them. Everyone in the household has been given Swedish clogs, and many like them as they seem to be good durable work shoes, which are very easy to slip the foot in and out of compared to their leather shoes, and clogs don't absorb moisture and clay from the ground. Especially after the wood have been oiled.

We continue to watch the movie and Jane likes Delphine's shoes and Lorraine's knee boots. She had a couple of those too. Sometimes Jane feels very stereotypical.

I find it uncomfortable with sex scenes in movies, which Jane has a lot of fun with when Lorraine and Delphine are in bed together, so I get back at Jane and tease her by whispering;

"I believe you know how that is."

Jane turns stiff before she bury her face in her hands. So I pause the film again, and angrily Jane mumbles through her hands;

"Oh, piss off! That bloody lying tart! Caecilia said she wouldn't tell even to you!"

I guess I was right, so I make it a little worse while protecting Caecilia's small mistake;

"Actually, you just confirmed a guess."

Jane is entertainingly quiet and still, before she turns away and buries her head in a pillow while she make angry annoyed noises, so I drink some apple cider and wait for her to gather herself. After a few variations of 'twat', 'tosser' and a very satisfying emphasized 'devious bastard', she takes a few deep breaths, let go of the pillow, signals I should shut up, downs her wine, refills it and unpause the movie. I say nothing while the sex scene continues to play, and we continue to see the film in the quiet, while eating crispbread and sipping on our drinks. But Jane feels much better as the credits begin to scrolls, and she like the movie. So I give Jane a hug, and reluctantly she hugs me back.

"Honestly; I do not care. Please spend time with Caecilia if you both want too, as Caecilia is very open minded and seems too be insatiable." Jane has stiffened and held her breath, but begins to relax and breathe again. "Just make sure that Iselin ain't jealous." I hear a small held back snort from Jane. "Wow. How ironic wouldn't it if my fiancée is jealous that my courtesan is also sleeping with my best friend. My female best friend. Now that is a thing I never expected to say. I mean about jealously and so on, not that my best friend is a woman. But you're all adult females so no-one here will mind - since legally speaking; you are not having sex."

Jane snorts and giggling.

"It's more ironic that you probably appreciate your courtesans and future wife's bisexuality more because they like to have sex with each other, than the occasional threesome with you. Although that threesome must be awesome, and don't even try to deny that you like it. I know they do. My room is underneath Iselins. I appreciate you thought ahead and added soundproofing between floors, but it is not completely effective. " I havn't really thought about Jane having the room underneath Iselin, but sound travels between floors even with about 15 cm saw and shavings between the wooden floor and the ceiling as damping and insulation. It was a very good idea that I got them to do something more than just a wooden floor, but the surroundings are very quiet and double glazed windows muffle the sound from outside.

"It is also ironic that you have a harem of young women, and all except Ciara with higher - or much higher - sexdrive than you, and you really feel burdened by it. Happy - but burdened. It is like they're all in some kind of feedback loop, influencing each other to go home and shag their boyfriends - which is you. They might not really understand you like I think I do; like why you just froze for a fraction of a second when I said you have a harem - like you just did again - or why we both call Caecilia a courtesan instead of her legal title. Hell, I feel less dirty about having had 'Courtesan Caecilia' in my bed, instead of 'Caecilia the ...' you know. Your life would be so much easier emotionally and physically, if you instead felt entitled to 'take a woman' when you wanted, but we all really appreciate that you're not an arsehole, and that you like to cuddle and just make them all feel loved and satisfied. They love you so much more for it.

I can not even claim its just because you're a modern man, considering how the average 'modern man' in our world probably is, or how they would be here. Definitely not if that include every country and religion. Yeash! If you really can effect and shape this world as much as you might, it will probably make Alfheimr a better world than ours. At least some parts of it. Just the equality and rights for women if the Norse avoid something like Christianity, and manage to repel other religions. Do you have a plan for that too?"

"Yes."

"Why did I even bother to ask?" Jane sighs and stares at nothing. "I wonder if we can really understand them, like how much they love having their own rooms. We might take it for granted, and you obviously prioritized privacy while designing this wonderful mansion, but it is such a statement of importance, wealth and luxury to have that privacy here - no matter what roomsize - and I do not think either of us really can get it, because we've always had it. I've heard them gush that their room even have a door. With a lock. A part of your house, that you unequivocally consider to be theirs. Where you will knock and wait for permission, even to the servants room. You are practically a King with absolute power, and this is your Castle, but you have given away parts of it to the staff, without thinking twice. And a couple of them used to be slaves.

The maids absolutely adores their maid room with a huge glass window, central heating and with actual personal beds, and luxury mattresses. No sleeping pelts or sacks of hay on the floor in the kitchen or common room for anyone, not even shared beds, and lets not even mention the guards. You are spoiling everyone, and making them all feel so special. You've even made sure they got drapes around each bunk bed to have even more privacy - truly a space of their own - so no-one doubts how important you see that. Which makes it funny that particularly Caecilia invade your privacy all the time, and you allow it, while you wouldn't invade her privacy. They just don't really get it, although I have tried to tell them."

We just sit quietly for a few minutes before Jane speaks again, and she seems uncomfortable, but so do I as soon as she start to talk.

"I'm not bi... I just needed to feel someone close, to have someone in bed with me again. To hold someone. But one thing led to another... and I guess I sort of hoped it would. Wanted it too, even though I get what you mean about her age, and why you would like them all to be my age. And as I said, I'm not bi. Gods, I was desperate. I appreciate what Caecilia did and I needed it. I really needed it. I really miss feeling someone close." Jane is silent for a moment, sighs and leans her head against my shoulder and hugs my arm against her; "This is the longest I've been alone for at least ten years, and I have no real friends here to take my mind of it and make it better."

"You have a friend here. Me. When you need to, and as long as this thing work, we can see a movie together, even if its the same movie. After that we can still talk about movies or modern life. Take walks, play silly games or just sit and talk like now. I'm glad that you came here to Alfheimr, and that you searched me out. You're the only one I can really talk to. Thank you for being here and being my friend."

Jane hugs me a little harder, and I feel my shoulder get damp. I will not release her until she shows signs of wanting to be released. We just sit there, not saying anything, but gradually her hug has become softer, and she has dried her eyes. She gives me one last hard hug.

"Thank you, Robert. Really, thank you for calling me your best friend before without thinking about it. You really meant it."

"It's what friends are for. Having fun, spend time together and making you feel embarrassed and better at the same time. You'll be okay. It's one hell of a culture shock."

Jane just sits and resignedly laughs while she keep hugging me, but it's more because she already has her arm around me.

"You're my best friend in the world. My only real friend in this world."

This feels a little too sad and emotional, a little too intimate, so I try to lighten the mood a bit.

"Well, that is good and bad news. Good; because I really like being your best friend. But bad because; what would you call a women saying her best friend is every known human male in the world?"

Jane giggles a playful 'Piss off', gives me one last strong hug, empty her wine glass and says she needs to pee, which I also need, so we both laugh and it's a good silly end.

The days are becoming shorter with less than 10 hours of daylight, with 40 minutes of twilight on each side of that, and the evenings are very dark. But the maids have learned to take care of the oil lamps and overall the light is 'acceptable', and it is cozy and warm inside the house. The steam boiler seems to work well enough, which is a huge relief. More rooms could use interior windows, but they will be installed when they're finished.

I looked in on the guards and Hillevi plays chess against Gunhild while they sit in the gloom in their day room. The outer doors are all locked, and I don't want them to stand guard outside or patrol in the dark; it just feels idiotic considering the threat, the environment and how few they are. It is better that the guards are safer inside the outer protection and obstacle, instead of passing through it and possibly opening the way for the enemy to enter. It is also more difficult to eliminate a couple of guards without anyone noticing, and to shoot arrows through double glazed windows with 20 cm separation and the iron bars isn't easy or effective. Gunhild lets me know that Bodil has gone to bed early to take the night shift.

We should have a couple of more guards.

Its too early to sleep, so I head for my study and work on the Risk game. Kari soon comes in to watch what I do, so I grab her around the waist and hug her towards me and explain it's a new game, different from what they have played so far. Kari kiss the top of my head and whispers what she wants us to do, and what she is wearing under the dress, so I put the work aside and spend time with my stately and sexy concubine.