“Another day will soon pass, yet I haven’t been able to divert my sight!” whispered she into the wind. But the wind said nothing in return. It kept going, flowing down to the valley, carrying Solveig’s sight to the shadow of her past. The valley, the village. The place she used to belong. The place where they buried her parents. She left it, chose to exile herself in the mountain, in the name of love.
“Ah, Peer, I yell at your name every night. Even after all this years, your scent still lingers within me. My whole body still recall your gentle embrace bestowed upon me. Hitherto, you left under the reason to see the world,” whispered her again. Her grey hair was touched by the gentle wind. Moving around her cheek, as if wanted to cheer that old lady up. She recalled the event from eons ago, when Peer kidnapped the bridge. When Peer met her for the first time, when she fell for that deep eye, despite her parents’ discrepancy. When she decided to chase him, telling him that his beloved mother passed away. When Peer asked him to move in for the first time. When the desire was too strong to bear, that she finally ran to Peer, felt the freedom for the first time. What did she say? “Ah, Peer. I am free here. I can breathe easily here. Unlike in the crowded village down there!”
She lived here with Peer for some moments. Till one day, Peer came home with an extremely pale face. He told her that he needed to go away from here. To see the whole world, to explore the unexplored. Nothing else. But Solveig could see the spark of love in those eyes. That the real reason to leave her is out of love. She could see the pain in those eyes. A pain to leave Solveig alone. At that very moment, Solveig understood that he had to leave, in order to protect her.
The daughter of the mountain king. The ugly troll dwelt underneath the mountain. His daughter was so crazy about Peer that she wanted to kill Solveig. To replace her position in Peer’s heart. The evil spell that would make her beautiful again once Solveig died. By Peer’s depart, the troll would never lay hand on Solveig, for there was no more man to have.
The owl croaked already. Solveig raised her body. She was tired. Ages had sapped her physical strength. For one last moment, she laid a sight to the valley. And she stood up in bewilderment. Her heart seemed to stop beating. A familiar figure drew near. No, it was not that familiar, different. So different from the last time Solveig saw him, but her heart knew it was him. It was Peer.
She had no more strength, but Solveig tried to approach him. His hair was as grey as the ashes, wrinkle all over that tired face. He kept trying to come to Solveig. Seeing her, he increased his pace.
Right under the pine tree, Peer laid his head on Solveig’s lap. Calmly, she caressed his hair. So old, so tired. His age had consumed his strength; his adventure had worn him out; the journey had eradicated his vigour away. The only life force of Peer was emitted through his eyes. Still as blue and as deep as ever.
“I’m finally home, Solveig dear. Please, forgive me for leaving you here all alone!”
“Ssssh,” Solveigh touched his lips. “Save your energy, dear!”
Peer held his wife’s palm. “Solveig, where have I been all this time?”
Gently Solveig embraced him. “You’re never going anywhere, Peer. You are always in my faith, in my hope, and in my prayer!”
Peer smiled at her. And the rising moonlight shone his remnant. His last smile had taken away all that is left. He finally knew where he was all this time.
Solveig sighed again. “Ah, Peer. Now you finally know your home!” And a teardrop rolled on her cheek, whilst the stars started to sparkle in the sky. The black calming blanket of the night covered those two in a warm cocoon. Meanwhile, one of the brightest stars started its journey falling across the sky.
(Disclaimer : Peer Gynt and Solveig are character from Normandy folktales. It has been adapted into opera by Henrik Ibsen.)
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