Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or the characters, they belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Beguiling
Nami woke to the sound of crows cawing outside, loud and obnoxious in that pre-dawn twilight when the sun had hardly become a hint upon the horizon. She could hear the early morning breeze rustle the tapestry on her wall. The wood frame at the top and bottom of the tall piece clattered restlessly, just as annoying as the crows.
She groaned and rolled away from the noise, intent on burrowing in her blankets and furs and going back to sleep for a little while longer. She nestled into a spot warmer than the rest, her sleepy mind thinking it was a mound of blankets and pillows she had curled against. And then she heard a groan that wasn't her own, hoarse and undoubtedly masculine, before a weight settled over her shoulders and another draped over her legs. She stifled a shriek as she pulled back from the person in her bed, but found herself immediately drawn back into the encompassing warmth as he growled softly at her movement.
She screamed.
"What the…?" Kid groggily began to ask. His confusion was answered with a sharp smack to his head, forcing him to pull his arm from around her shoulders to defend against the next strike she tried to level on him. "Ow!" he hollered when she hit him again. "Stop that, woman!"
"Get out of my bed," she shouted, this time kicking at his legs and stomach while she scrambled back, out from underneath the leg he had draped over her.
Kid grunted and curled in when she struck his stomach hard with the heel of her foot, clutching his gut as he sucked in a breath. Her attempt at gaining distance ended when she fell to the floor with a loud shriek.
"Are you done?" Kid grunted, peering over the edge of the bed as she laid sprawled out in a tangle of skirts and blankets and furs. "It's too damn early for hysterics."
"Get out of my bed," she snapped again as she tossed a pillow at his head.
Kid caught the pillow and curled around it with a grin as he pointedly made himself comfortable.
"No way," he said. "I was sleeping better than I ever do until your screaming woke me. I might think about guarding you like this from now on."
She growled. He had better be kidding. If he wasn't, she was going to bed with a knife in her hand to deter him from joining her again.
"Don't glare at me like that. You look like you're planning to gut me like a fish."
"I am," she said flatly.
Kid snorted and rolled to his back, stretching out in bed for a moment. Once he settled, he grabbed the blankets still on the bed, pulled them up, and turned his back to her.
"Don't go back to sleep, you idiot!"
He groaned and pulled the blankets up higher. "Too early to be up. Just come back to bed, Nami."
"I am not sharing my bed with you!"
"Too late," he chuckled.
She sighed loudly in exasperation, pushed off the floor, and grabbed an extra pillow to smack him with. He merely snatched it from her grasp to add to those he hoarded, and curled beneath the covers again. She was dangerously close to strangling him.
With another frustrated shout, she spun away from the bed and stormed to the curtain hanging in the door.
"Oi, where are you going?" Kid grumbled as he watched her over his shoulder.
"I'm too annoyed with you to sleep anymore, so I might as well get ready for the day," she snapped.
He spared a short grunt and then burrowed back in her blankets. She threw her arms up in defeat seeing that he wasn't getting out of her bed any time soon, and left him to sleep. She stomped out to the main room to find most of his men awake, albeit very unhappy with the fact as they frowned at her.
"Don't blame me," she shouted as she turned for the hall to the outhouse. "Your jarl is the inconsiderate ass."
The men all chuckled tiredly at her as she ran off, unwilling to deny her accusation. She barely stepped one foot out of the hall before Killer fell in pace beside her, and she found she wanted to strangle him, too. He didn't react with so much as a flinch to her angry glare as he silently followed her.
"I don't need a guardian to relieve myself," she growled once she reached the privy and slammed the door shut in his face. "Do me a favor and drag that stubborn man out of my bed if you want something to do!"
He merely snorted before she heard him settle in to stand guard beside the door. Apparently there was no chance of being left alone, not until Kid was certain she wouldn't make another attempt at escape. If she had to wake up another morning to find him in her bed, though, she was definitely going to wring his neck.
Dawn came and went before Kid dragged himself out of her bed. He came ambling out to the main room in his rumpled tunic and trousers, yawning wide as he scratched his scalp. He didn't pay any mind to Nami's surly look, and she huffed when he took a seat at the table beside her without a word. Not even a half-hearted apology for intruding on her bed the night before.
She was nearly done with her meal while he took the washing bowl a servant brought to splash his face and clean his hands before turning to the plate they brought him, loaded with strips of pork, eggs, and a good helping of oat porridge. While Kid had slept in, most of the hall had been alive with activity since dawn. The servants had kindled the fire and made the morning meal, the men who slept in the main room tucked away their beds, and when they were done, they headed out to see to the horses and make a pass around the village and docks to see that everything was in order. Even Nami had set to work helping with breakfast. But apparently Kid did not rise with everyone else, and refused to begin his day before eating like the rest of them.
She wished she could have that luxury.
Fortunately Kid was a fast eater, so no one had to wait on him to finish his meal before they could clean up. She helped the servants and thralls clear the tables while the men headed out to work. She heard that a few were riding out to the farms to check on the families leasing the land from Kid, as well as see to the other land owners in the area. Most of the other men would split up between the docks and Kid's shipyard as they prepared their fleet for the summer's voyage.
Nami didn't know how much time she had to finish the task Kid had given her, but she felt it best not to waste too much time if he meant to go raiding. She snagged one of the female servants, a middle aged woman named Gunda who looked like she could stand toe to toe against some of the men in battle, and tasked her to help collect the materials she needed to make the new heraldry flags. With only a few women working in a household with so many men, fabric and sewing materials were in short supply. Two Saxon thralls were already busy mending the men's clothes, and the other servants had plenty to keep themselves busy. Nami needed to make some new dresses for herself, too, so it would be to her advantage to barter with some of the village women for the supplies.
"Where are you heading off to?" Kid asked when he noticed her clasping her cloak on the way to the main door.
Nami spared him a short glance and didn't bother to stop as she passed him, the servant following behind with her head bowed to avoid Kid's sharp gaze. "I need more supplies for your flags, and while I'm at it, I intend to make some more clothes for myself. Don't worry, I'll use the silver I won last night," she called over her shoulder as she waved back at him.
"Wait," he hollered, "you're not going alone."
She paused to glower at him and pointed at the tall woman beside her. "I'm not."
Kid ignored her as he grabbed one of his men and shoved him toward the door. "Axel, go with her," he ordered the man. "Don't let her out of your sight."
She huffed. "I'm not planning to run away again," she said while eyeing the man who approached her. He was one of the smaller men in Kid's circle of brethren, the top of her head reaching his chin. He was of an age with Kid, early twenties at most. A strip of sandy colored hair was braided atop an otherwise shaved head, leaving his grey-blue eyes stunningly visible. Beneath a loose wool tunic and brown trousers, he had a stocky build but she didn't doubt how adept a warrior he was - the two axes he bore on his hip were well worn from battle. She knew he was one of the friendlier men, too; quiet and unimposing during much of the feast the night before. He sat with his friends and laughed to himself at the raucous behavior of his jarl and the others. "You don't need to have one of your men follow me everywhere."
"It's not about you running off," Kid grunted.
"Are you worried one of the villagers might harm me?" she asked warily. "Everyone seemed friendly enough yesterday, and Gunda looks like she's more than capable of offering me some protection." She gestured to the woman who stood a little straighter at her remark. Her long, ash brown hair was held back in a tight bun decorated with braids, and she was dressed in plain brown wool, the same as the other servants, but beneath the dress Nami recognized the form of a shieldmaiden, built with lean muscle and deceptive strength. The pride she showed at Nami's assessment told her that she was right; the woman was a warrior just like the men. "I'll be fine."
"No one here will hurt you, but I'm not about to risk you being off alone in case anyone shows up looking for you. You'll have a guard on you at all times. If anything happens, the woman will stay with you while you escape, and my men will take up the first line of defense should you need it."
She rolled her eyes. "You're being needlessly paranoid now."
"Just take Axel with you," Kid said with a tone that brooked no argument. She pursed her lips in annoyance as the jarl came toward her, but the feeling was lost as he untied the small leather pouch that hung from his belt. He tossed it at her, and her eyes lit up at the sound of silver and gold jingling together. "Get whatever you need with that. Save your silver in case you do need to run."
She grinned brightly and spun on her heel to skip out of the hall, waving the pouch over her shoulder. "Whatever you think is best, Jarl Kid," she chirped happily.
She heard a loud bark of laughter follow after her from the hall. "That's all it took to make you agreeable, woman?" he called after her, amusement lacing his tone.
She turned to walk backwards, grin never wavering as she spied him leaning against the door. "For now. But I'm of a mind to fine you for this morning, so you might want to find more gold if you want to keep me this agreeable."
His hearty laugh echoed off the shacks and houses of the village, and Nami found she wasn't as irritated with him as she had been. Gold went a long way in earning her forgiveness. Kid would do well to remember that.
As they wandered the village, Nami stuck close to Gunda as Axel stayed a few paces behind them. While Gunda was more willing to chat as they walked, her guard for the day seemed to have taken his task too seriously to spare more than the odd response to a question she might call back to him. For a man who walked through a friendly village, he appeared ready to battle anyone who didn't look right. His back was straight, a hand rested on the axes in his belt, and his gaze swept over every person they passed.
"I doubt we need worry about anyone attacking me here," she said over her shoulder. "You don't have to act like a soldier."
He glowered at her. "If Jarl Kid orders me to protect you, then that is what I'll do."
Nami decided it was best to ignore him after that. Let him follow his orders.
She slipped an arm through Gunda's as she slowed to a more casual pace, wandering between rickety carts and tables gathered along a main road. They stopped at a cart brimming with rolls of wool thread and piles of linen.
"I didn't see a loom in Kid's hall," she remarked while fingering a length of red stained thread.
"There is an old one in the servant's quarters," Gunda said. "You may use it any time you wish."
Nami hummed in thought. The servants likely needed it to weave more fabric for daily use and mending. As much as Kid wanted these new flags, it shouldn't take precedence over other chores.
She turned back to Axel. "I heard talk of an upcoming voyage. What do you know of it?"
"Jarl Kid intends to sail to the northwest coast to trade with another Jarl. We have more oak here that they need for their ships," he answered.
"How many ships does he intend to take?"
"Possibly only two knarrs to transport the timber, and four longships that will sail southwest after the trade to pay the Saxons a visit."
"How soon is that voyage?"
"He had planned to set out in a month, but your arrival might have delayed those plans."
Nami nodded to herself. That wasn't much time, and she didn't want to see him delay his plans because of her. He had to think of his village first.
"That only gives me a few weeks to make a dozen new flags," she mused. "I might have to borrow your loom and extra hands from the other servants."
"He's already set a number of the thralls to mend his sails and make new ones for the ship he's building," Axel interjected. "Those take precedence."
Nami hissed in annoyance. That much was true. "I need my own loom," she decided, spinning to glower at the village around them. "Is there a craftsman who can make one quickly?"
"I think Torvald has one he's nearly finished piecing together," one of the thread sellers chimed in. "If it's for Jarl Kid, he would gladly sell it to you."
"That would be perfect," Nami said, turning to bat her eyes at Axel. "Can you do me a favor?" Her guard's brow rose, but she wouldn't be deterred. "I need you to find this Torvald for me and ask about the loom while Gunda and I gather the thread and cloth we need." Axel frowned and crossed his arms, stubbornly refusing, so she came closer and wound her arms through his. His expression turned guarded. "The faster we gather what we need, the sooner I'll be back in the safety of Kid's hall. I'm sure that would please your Jarl." She squeezed his arm and gave him her most charming smile. "And it would please me, too. All this walking is sure to make me weary very soon. I'm still recovering from my injuries." He still looked skeptical, but there was uncertainty in his eyes as he glanced down the street in the direction she guessed this craftsman lived, so she pressed on. "Jarl Kid would be more displeased if he heard I exhausted myself with this trip around the village. But, of course, he's trusted you with my safety and well-being, and I'm sure you know what's best."
Her guard groaned and looked back down at her. She pressed her body as close to his as she could, traced a finger over his chest, and stuck her lip out in a pleading pout.
"Please," she said quietly. "I would truly appreciate it, Axel."
His back straightened and he turned away to hide the faint blush creeping over his cheeks.
"You stay with Gunda," he decided. "And don't venture far from here. I won't be long."
"Thank you," she chirped joyously as she hugged him for good measure. His blush grew pinker when she released him. "I promise I'll stay with Gunda. We'll be waiting right here for you to come back."
Clearing his throat, Axel nodded and stiffly spun away from her to head off on the errand she gave him. She waved at his back until she was sure he was out of earshot, and then turned to the women with an exaggerated sigh.
"Finally," she said, leaning against the cart of wares. "Kid and his men are starting to make me feel more like a prisoner than a guest."
"They mean well," Gunda attempted to argue, but pursed her lips at Nami's withering glare.
"Killer followed me to the privy this morning," she yelled. She felt it best not to share who she woke up to that morning, though she wished she could tear into that subject and vent about the infuriating jarl. She might do just that later, when the jarl was present to hear it. "I'm almost afraid for the next time I need to bathe. Kid might insist on sending a whole army in with me."
"I doubt he would go so far," Gunda once more tried to reassure.
Nami sent her a doubtful look.
"I'm certain you could convince him that you would be fine bathing alone," the servant said, though she sounded far from convinced herself. "You could bathe with me and the other women. He might be appeased knowing you aren't alone."
"He'll still post a guard," Nami said with a long sigh. "But, it might be enough to lend me a modicum of privacy." And if that didn't work, she'd just levy him with a number of fines. She was definitely going to fine him for sharing her bed. At least that way she would be richly compensated for the headache.
Which reminded her. "Enough about that oaf," she declared, pulling out the small pouch Kid had given her. "Let's see how much of this I can spend today."
By the time Axel had returned to say that the craftsman would bring her new loom to the hall in two days, Nami had bought more than enough thread to make cloth for the flags, as well as the dresses she needed. She picked out an array of colors – blue, green, gold, and red – and also bought a few lengths of cloth the women had already woven so that she might begin on a new dress sooner. She even bought up all the linen they had on hand, and they promised to have more woven in the next week if she needed it. She bought a variety of finer threads in even more colors for her stitching and decorative trim, likely more than she would need, but it was Kid's coin she was spending. She also found a new sewing kit and a set of tablets for weaving her trim.
She barely emptied even half of the purse of its silver and hadn't touched a single piece of gold. That could go to paying for the loom, and the rest she would convince Kid to let her keep as recompense for sleeping in her quarters. It could even go toward purchasing a distaff and set of whorls to spin her own thread. Considering the land Kid controlled, he surely could bring in unspun wool of his own, saving them all the cost of purchasing from the villagers. It would be more time consuming, but once she had a good set of her own garments, and had settled in better, it would at least be another chore to keep her busy.
Once Axel had returned, she and Gunda piled their newly bought wares into his arms before he even had a chance to refuse. He could barely see over all of it, but didn't argue as he followed after them, even when Nami stopped to talk to any of the villagers that greeted her. The only complaint he leveled on the task was a drawn out sigh of relief when they finally made it back to Kid's hall and he could drop the load on the first table he ran in to.
Two more of Kid's men were there, likely meant to stand guard when she returned, and they eyed their brother and the mountain of yarn and fabric with traces of amusement in their smiles. They wouldn't escape Axel's fate of helping her, though. If Kid was going to leave these men around to watch her all day, then she was going to put them to work.
"Gentlemen," she greeted with a sweet smile. "I could really use a favor…"
They watched Axel slump down on a bench while Gunda fetched him a cup of much needed ale. The two other guards shared a wary look. They glanced back at her as she leaned over their table, smile growing brighter.
"Please."
Work in the shipyard began to steadily slow late in the afternoon when Kid called for an end to their day. While most of his men began to clean up, he finished hammering in rivets along the hull, securing the last few strakes, while Wire helped cut and blunt them down. The new drekkar was nearly done. They would set to work on securing the wale and the last pieces of inner frame the next day, and then within the week they should be able to treat the wood to ready it for the water.
Kid found peace when he was at work. Building and battle were the two things he was most familiar with, and when he couldn't go to war, he found solace in his ships. Carving and smoothing each plank and rib allowed him to lose himself for hours, his mind so wholly focused on each task that he forgot everything outside of the ship that never failed to instill fear in his enemies. Where women had their weaving, a man could work his own form of magic with an axe and hammer to create something magnificent.
As he worked with his men that day, Killer had been charged with overseeing the men at the docks as they readied the ships there for their next voyage. Since he was near the hall, he was also expected to check in on Nami and the guards he left for her, and report to him with any problems. He hadn't seen the man all day, so he assumed that meant all was well, but when he spied the blond climbing through the trees along the riverbank, he knew the woman was up to something.
"She try to run again?" he asked mid-hammer strike once Killer was nearby.
"No, she's been well behaved in that regard," Killer answered as he came to inspect the newest addition to the ship's hull.
Kid glanced at him uneasily as Killer leaned against a brace. "Then what did she do?"
"She's settling into the hall, and seems to be getting along well with the men."
"And that's a problem how?" he asked with a brow raised. He stopped working altogether to give Killer his full attention, glowering at the flat expression the man wore. "If she's remaining with us, we want her to get along with everyone and feel comfortable in my hall."
Killer hummed in agreement. "I still thought it best to warn you before you got back to the house."
Kid sent him another wary and confused look before turning back to the last two rivets. "You're being needlessly cryptic," he said as he struck at the iron.
Killer shrugged as he moved off to wait for him. Kid tried to shake off the sense of foreboding that came with Killer's veiled warning. So Nami was settling in? That was a good thing. That meant she had accepted her fate, that she would remain with them. She was befriending his men, the people who have sworn to protect her. That meant she trusted them, and the more she trusted her guardians, the more willing she would be to listen to them. Whatever Killer thought he had to worry over, Kid couldn't see it.
With the last rivets in place and the other men trickling off toward the village, Kid called it a day on his own work. After setting aside his tools, he went to the riverbank to splash a handful of water over his face, cleaning off the sweat and splinters of wood that covered him. He took out the tail in his hair to run damp fingers through it and tame the errant locks that had come free, the shorter red strands curling outward along his hairline. Once his hair was retied, he turned to Killer and gestured that they head off to the hall.
His friend was silent as they followed the path leading east along the river, toward the mouth spilling into the fjord his village was built on. Wire trailed along after them, and Kid glanced over his shoulder to share a questioning look with the other man. It wasn't abnormal for Killer to be quiet, but his silence this time made him feel as though he were about to walk into a trap.
At the village, nothing appeared out of place. The people were going about their usual business, preparing their nightly meals, cleaning up their yards, or wrangling their children in to help with the evening chores. When they reached the main square outside his hall, he heard laughter spill from the doors and once again wondered why it was wrong for Nami to be getting along with everyone.
He hopped onto the porch ahead of Killer and froze in the door as he found his answer.
Nami stood in the center of the main room, perched on a stool with swaths of yellow-gold fabric draped over her. Gunda was at her side, pinning the pieces in place for a new apron dress. Both women laughed as one of the guards he left sat on a table and plucked out some bawdy song on a lyre. He was surrounded by more fabric and string, the makings of another dress, this time in a blue lighter than the one she had worn when he found her. His other guard danced around the women, further entertaining them as he pretended to flirt. And then there was Axel, pouring Nami a horn of ale and grinning at the thankful smile she gave him.
Needless to say, Kid was confused.
He wanted her to get along with them, but the scene before him wasn't what he had in mind. Friendly conversation and banter was one thing. Maybe even lend a helping hand with the chores. But what he was seeing were three of his best warriors playing jesters and servants to a Lady of another land's noble court.
He looked back at Killer who merely shrugged and gave a pointed look that said "I warned you," and then turned back to his hall.
He finally bothered to take in the rest of the room. The tables had been moved, along with the raised platform with his throne. A space stood empty near the back corner where a heavy oak chest had once been. The changed layout only further confused him.
"What's going on here?" he finally bothered to ask as he took a tentative step over the threshold, afraid he was about to enter into another realm.
"Welcome home, Jarl Kid," Nami greeted far too politely.
He eyed her skeptically and strode closer. Unlike the previous days when he would come upon her in a cheerful mood, her vibrant smile never broke. The firelight glowing from the center hearth only seemed to make her brighter as the braids and subtle curls in her amber hair shone in the light. It looked as though she had combed it recently, and the braids curling around from her temples to tie in the back hadn't been there when she left that morning, which meant she had spent part of her day on her hair.
She looked genuinely happy and content.
"What are you up to?" he asked, realizing she hadn't bothered to answer his first question.
Finally, her smile fell away, but her good humor was far from lost as she huffed, her cheeks swelling with a sweet, albeit exaggerated, pout. The look only made him more suspicious.
"I'm making a new dress," she answered with that huffy tone.
"I can see that," he said, gesturing toward the table and the clutter of her work. "Why are my men playing servants for you?"
She beamed again. "Your men are such sweet gentlemen," she cooed, turning that playful smile onto Finn, her dancing jester who had finally stopped dancing once Kid spoke. The younger man still leaned toward the woman, happily soaking in her charms. "Axel was a help in the village earlier," Nami continued, her attention back on him. "He found a man who was nearly done building a loom for me to buy, and when we returned, he was kind enough to carry everything Gunda and I bought. Of course, we needed space for the new loom…"
"I got one in the servants' quarters," Kid finally interrupted, glowering at the empty space he could now assume was meant for her loom.
Nami waved him off. "As Axel informed me, you have your servants set to make new sails. I won't interfere with that work just for your heraldry. The sails are more important, but it will be easier and less costly if I weave the fabric myself. It'll also give me more to do in the future."
Kid bit back an annoyed growl. She had a good point on that subject.
"Why couldn't you keep it in your room?"
"I want to be out here with everyone," she huffed. "If I hide away in my room all the time, then I might as well be a prisoner. At least when I'm out here, I can help the others when I'm not working on the chores you've given me. Most people keep their looms in the main room."
He sighed heavily. Again, that was a good point, but none of it explained the scene he walked in on. "And what of my men playing jesters?"
"Oh, that," Nami said, with a dismissive wave. "We were talking and they mentioned a song, so I asked Halle to play it." Kid glared at the other guard who had finally set aside his lyre wearing a bashful smile. "It's no crime to enjoy yourself as you work, Kid."
"I suppose not," he mused, glancing between the three men. "You all will be at the docks tomorrow." He growled at their disappointed groans, and then shot a glare at the smiling woman in the middle of it. "I'm going to have to rotate your guards to keep you from enchanting all of them."
She gasped in a mocking show of offense. "I would never do such a thing." He raised his brow skeptically, and she snorted with laughter. "All I did was show them some kindness, Kid. And they were eager to help and keep me happy. For your sake, of course. You were the one who ordered them to see to my well-being."
"I didn't order them to wait on you hand and foot," he pointed out.
She dismissed him with another wave as she went to inspect Gunda's work. Deciding it wasn't worth the effort to lecture her further, Kid glowered at all the things strewn around the room. She had more items on his table – a new set of combs, hair pins, strips of leather decorated with beads. She had definitely taken some time to play with her hair. Among the accessories, he spotted a thick piece of wool stuck with pins that appeared to be in the shape of a wolf's head. He guessed that was the start of a template for his flags, so that meant she hadn't wasted the whole day with her hair and dresses.
He picked up one of the combs to inspect the finer craftsmanship that went into carving the piece of antler. Whoever made it decorated it with intricate knots, likely spent hours on the piece.
"Should I assume you spent that whole purse today?" he asked, setting aside the comb to take the cup of ale Axel brought to him. His man wore an apologetic look. He couldn't even be mad at them. Nami obviously took advantage of them that day. At least they kept her happy, that would hopefully go a long way in the future.
He might not have to sleep in her room every night to stop her from running away.
"Not even half, though I'll have to pay the craftsman for the loom." Nami's voice was muffled as Gunda helped her out of the pinned dress, leaving her in the simple white linen shift she wore beneath. "I'm keeping the rest as a fine for this morning."
He glared. "I wouldn't have been there if you had just stayed put. I was doing my duty."
She let out a sharp laugh. "Your duty doesn't involve sharing my bed."
"I should have just tied you up," he grumbled into his cup as his men and the servant woman looked at him in open shock. He caught Wire rubbing the bridge of his nose as he let out a long suffering sigh. Killer was the only one who didn't outwardly react, but he was already aware of what had happened. Kid was certain he had his own opinion, but wisely kept it to himself. "She tried to run away," he shouted in an attempt to defend himself.
"And that is why I'm keeping what I didn't spend," Nami stated.
All he could do was growl at her all too smug expression. She stuck her tongue out before spinning away to gather her things.
"Gunda, help me clean up the hall," she called to the servant woman. "Supper should nearly be ready."
Kid glared at the woman as she and Gunda scooped up every piece of stray fabric and thread to cart back to her room. He wanted to be annoyed with her, but as she walked away, he noticed a bounce to her step. Her mood was light, and for the first time she didn't seem to be worrying over any inescapable fate. He was loath to ruin that mood in any way and felt his lingering irritation wane as she vanished into the back rooms.
Killer cleared his throat beside him, and then nudged his arm to draw his attention to the others in the hall. Finn and Halle were whispering in the ears of the other men who were finally making their way to the hall for the night's meal. He didn't miss their conspicuous glances in his direction. When Axel joined in, Kid growled loudly and slammed his cup of ale on his table.
"Stop gossiping about me, idiots!" His outburst only seemed to incite their curiosity as the group crowded around his table with expectant looks. He was beginning to see what Nami meant about giving fodder to the rumors. Well, he wasn't having any of it. "She was trying to run away! Get your heads out of your asses before I shove my sword up there with 'em!"
That night, Kid stayed up long after dinner to talk with his men about their upcoming journeys. As he spoke with Axel about the work Nami needed to do before then, he found he was glad she thought to get an extra loom and supplies that she could keep at the hall. She was safer in the hall with his men, and this way she wouldn't interfere with the thralls seeing to his sails. She was right about that much. He couldn't get anywhere without those sails.
Nami had gone to bed after sitting with Gunda and a few other servants for a while. They had cleaned out the plates from dinner and sat for a while to work on Nami's new dresses, along with the sigil for his ships' flags. He idly listened to their conversation when Nami asked the older servant woman how she came to his hall, eager to know more about the woman she spent her day with.
Gunda had belonged to the previous jarl's household as a servant. Her grandfather had been a bondsman, taken in to pay off a large debt. His children and grandchildren came with him, and remained with the house long after his debt had been paid and the grandfather had passed. They had decent lodging, regular meals, and the men swore their fealty to the jarl in exchange for a chance to go raiding and earn a little extra compensation.
When Kid went to war with the previous jarl to protect his friends' and their land, as well as dole out justice for the compensation he was due, Gunda's family fought on the former jarl's side. The woman had been trained in combat, along with her brothers, and was left behind to protect the jarl's wife and daughter when the men went raiding. She was a shieldmaiden in her own right, but when Kid's men slew her brothers, and the lady of the house took her own life, Gunda laid down her sword in surrender and pled for mercy for the jarl's daughter.
Kid agreed, barring she stay on to help manage the household and thralls as a bondsman. She was little better than a slave like the others, but he respected her determination at the time, and he had won his battle. He didn't need to slaughter the women along with the men, not when they had plenty of uses. And she was a decent enough combatant when she needed to be, so his home would be in good hands if he left it in her care, along with a few of his most trusted men, while he was away.
Hearing her tell the tale again brought it to the forefront of his mind. Nami was obviously more comfortable with the women, and she might be more agreeable if her guards didn't consist entirely of his men. Her clan had been protected by shieldmaidens, after all. She might be more at ease with one.
After she went off to bed, he broached the subject with his men. Gunda hadn't picked up a sword in nearly three years, she would be rusty and could do with some training to strengthen again. The men were mostly agreeable, though there were a few complaints at the idea they weren't trusted over a pathetic woman. Kid had to remind them that the woman in question had slain a handful of men on her own during their battle and was far from pathetic. She would suffice as a last defense should the rest of them fall.
His decision made, he decided to make his way to bed, thinking that he would discuss the matter with Nami and the servant in the morning. As he pushed aside the curtains to his room, though, he noticed the faint flicker of candlelight filtering from Nami's room through a crack in the curtain. His guards hadn't reported anything amiss to him, which meant Nami hadn't made another escape attempt, but he was wary to see that she was awake so late. She might be waiting for everyone to go to sleep so she could slip out.
He shook away his suspicions as he shed his wool tunic, tossing it into the corner along with his leather boots. Nami had spent the whole day buying supplies for her stay here. He doubted she would put that much effort into a ruse to lower his guard. At least he hoped she wouldn't.
He frowned at the curtain as uncertainty continued to niggle at the back of his mind.
He crossed his room in three steps and tugged back the barrier to poke his head into Nami's room. The woman jumped where she sat in her bed, and let out a quiet yelp as the movement caused her to stick herself with a needle.
"What do you want?" Nami shouted before shoving her index finger in her mouth to soothe the prick.
Kid didn't answer immediately as he stepped into her room to look around. He pushed back the tapestry to see the escape hatch was closed up tight. Her cloak hung on a peg at the foot of her bed. Her blue dress sat neatly folded on a chest beneath it, her shoes on the floor. She had piled her fabric and yarn onto a small table he had set beside the curtain, with the pinned template in the middle of it all. She kept her axe propped beside her bed, her knife on the table with the candles.
If she meant to leave in the middle of the night, she would have to move around quite a bit, and surely she knew that would risk waking him.
"I'm staying," she snapped when she understood the reason for his inspection. "You've made it perfectly clear that I have no choice in the matter."
"You have a choice," he grunted, swinging his gaze back to her. She was curled up under her blankets wearing the wool tunic Heat had lent her. She had removed the finer braids in her hair for the night, and bound it back in a long, loose braid to sleep in. The yellow dress Gunda had been helping her pin was draped over her lap and it appeared she had made a fair amount of progress on stitching it together. "I'm just making sure you choose right."
Nami rolled her eyes and turned back to her sewing. "You're just being a stubborn ass," she muttered.
Kid chuckled, approaching the bed. "That, too."
Her lips tugged into a terse frown and she glared as he sat on the bed beside her legs. "You better not be planning to sleep in here again."
"I have my doubts when you say you're going to stay, but you look comfortable, so I think I can trust you enough to leave you be tonight," he mused as he leaned back over her legs. "I was surprised to see you were still awake, though. Seeing as you've been up since before dawn."
"I couldn't sleep." Nami shrugged, focusing intently on pushing her needle through a thick fold of wool.
Kid hummed. "You sure you don't want my company, then?" He chuckled at the glare she sent in answer. "I'm teasing."
Her eyes narrowed in warning one last time before she returned to her sewing.
"You have another dream?" he asked after a moment of thought.
Nami shook her head. He wasn't sure how much he could believe that answer, but he let it drop there.
"I heard you talking with Gunda over dinner," he commented. "You seem to be getting along with her well."
"She's very nice," Nami said, a smile giving away the truth of that sentiment. "I was glad to have her company today."
"Would you feel better if you had it every day?"
She looked up from her sewing at the question; her eyes blinked with confusion. She gave him a subtle nod.
"I'm thinking to let her take up the sword again," Kid explained, "and have her act as your personal guard."
Nami's eyes widened with her gasp. "You'd make her a shieldmaiden again?"
He nodded. "Your clan was protected by them from the start, and Gunda is a good warrior. She's loyal, too. If we're attacked, I can trust her to stay at your side, and if you need to run, you can take her with you while the rest of us stay back to fight. That way you won't be alone out in the wilderness." Nami's mouth fell open in her shock, and she didn't speak a word for a long moment. He regarded her with a raised brow. "Are you fine with that plan?"
Nami shook away her stupor and allowed herself to smile. "Does this mean your men can stop following me around all day? And I won't have to worry about them guarding me as I bathe?"
"You'll still have some of my men with you," he said flatly. "Gunda will be your last defense. My men will stand and fight at the first threat. But…" He sighed. "I'll trust her to guard you in their stead when you bathe. After how easily you manipulated those three today, I don't want to imagine what they'd be willing to do for you if they saw you naked."
Her grin was blinding. "I would charge them every piece of gold and silver they had in their possession, and they would be lucky if they were still capable of having children after they walked away."
Kid grimaced at the underlying threat in that statement. His gut told him she wouldn't hesitate to geld a man if she felt it necessary.
"I'll see that they understand that," he grunted.
"That warning goes for you, too." Her leg nudged him in the back. "Get out of my bed."
"Yeah, yeah, don't start sharpening your knife just yet," he grumbled, pulling himself up with a tired groan. He shot her a grin once he stood. "But, if you ever do want my company in bed, all you have to do is ask."
Her eyes snapped to her knife, and he raised his hands in surrender while slowly backing toward his room. His grin never wavered, though.
"I'm joking," he argued.
"Just go to bed," she huffed, waving him off.
"I'm going. Get some rest, woman." He pulled back the curtain, intent on going to bed before another thought struck him. "Axel told you about the upcoming trip, right?" She glanced up and nodded. "You're coming with us on that." Her eyes widened with surprise again. "I'm taking a large number of my men. The village will be too vulnerable for you to stay here. You'll be safer with us. And I figure, with what you said about sailing and navigating, you'd enjoy the trip, too."
Excitement flit trough her eyes, telling him that he assumed right on that point, but then it dimmed. "You're raiding, too. I'd only get in your way then."
"I'm only meaning to take you on the trading journey to Álasund. You'll return to the village with a contingent of my men to drop off the ivory and oil we'll be getting in return. The rest of us will sail west to the isles to raid. You'll be safe with the men I send you back with, so there won't be any need for you to go further west." He didn't miss the disappointment in her frown and turned to lean against the wall, his arms crossed as he regarded her. "Don't tell me you want to go raiding?"
"I don't want to raid, no," she huffed. "But I've always wanted to see the islands to the west. Genzo never took me on a voyage that far, he only took me to Hedeby to trade. I only know of Britain from maps."
"Sailing the seas must be in your blood," he mused. "That and gold. You sure you're not related to Rán?"
"I'm sure," she huffed.
"I'd prefer to avoid dragging you onto a battlefield, but I'll give some thought to taking you on the raid. If all goes well, they'll pay us to leave again. You won't be in much danger in that case, but it's not a risk I'm willing to take."
Nami nodded her understanding, though she still appeared unhappy.
"Have you ever seen the western coast of Noreg?" he asked. She shook her head, and he grinned. "You'll have plenty to see there. If you're set on exploring, we'll see if this other jarl wants to entertain you with a voyage around the fjords while I take my men raiding." She didn't appear as excited, but she smiled again. The idea might pass when the time came. "I'll sleep on it, though. And you do the same." He pointed at her dress. "You can finish that tomorrow."
Nami pouted at his command, and he waved off the look as he turned into his room.
"Good night, Nami."
"Good night, Kid," she called back. "And thank you."
He paused in surprised, unsure what she was thanking him for. With how determined she was to fight him over everything, though, hearing that simple gratitude set him at ease. And she wasn't crying anymore, which only made the feeling better.
He went to bed feeling light-hearted and content.
She would stay. Even if his future looked bleak because of it, it was still for the best that she remain with them as long as she could. His instincts told him as much, and he wasn't going to ignore that feeling.
She was meant to be there. He couldn't say why, but that didn't matter. She would be safest with his people, and he would do whatever it took to keep her that way.
A/N: So I made up some more Kid crew members in this chapter. Axel is based on the guy with the mohawk you can see lingering in the background of Kid's crew in some panels pre-time skip (and then his story design somehow turned him into a Ragnar Lothbrok look-a-like). Gunda is just a woman I imagine fitting into the crew. I usually imagine Kid's crew being solely made up of men, but I thought the same thing of Law's and now we've learned he does have one woman on his crew, so Kid might have one, too. Either way, Nami needs some women to hang out with, anyway, so had to make up a few OCs for this fic.
By the way, I picked Axel's name mainly because it's of Norse origin, but also it reminds me of axle which I feel fits as a name for Kid's crew. Most of the OCs that aren't based on the little flashes of Kid's other crew members will be getting Norse style names. Oh, and the funny thing with Axel's name that I didn't expect - it's apparently related to the name Absalom. No, he's not gonna be the Norse variation of Absalom, but I found that hilarious. And no, Absalom won't be in this fic. I figure Kid's got more than enough people to kill.
And a note for Stef - I did take a lot of inspiration for the hall from Ragnar's hall on Vikings. It's a very nice looking hall, and I love those leather net curtains and his whole throne set up. And I'm very glad you mentioned getting a feeling of Game of Thrones, because I have been working on A Feast For Crows again, about halfway through, and it's very much helping me write this.
I might be focusing on this fic for a while because I have some action coming up that I want to get to. Also the trip to Alasund and Britain will have a lot of material to further the plot. Alasund, by the way, is taken from Alesund, Norway - everyone go look that up and see the pictures and you might be able to guess who the Jarl he's visiting is. Maybe. When I was looking at western Norwegian towns, this one just perfectly fell into the story for the characters living there. It reminds me of a certain island the Straw Hats visited, a certain island where the characters in this village live(d). Honestly, it's just really pretty and I hope someday I can visit there if I can manage to get to Norway.
Another Straw Hat might be making a guest appearance in Alasund, too.