Chapter 13

Rika screamed in alarm as things caught fire. Finn jumped up from their bed and he lifted her to her feet. They needed to escape from the hut immediately.

"The door is blocked!" She grabbed up her thin shift and hugged it to her. Pain shot up from her ankle and she cried out again. She couldn't find the wooden crutch.

"I need to break a hole in the wall here!" Finn said, slamming his body against the wood. The wall was flimsy and partly gave way as he hit it.

From outside came voices, mostly of men, but some from frightened women. Someone right outside where Finn stood told him to hit the wall again. He did and it gave way more. Men outside pulled open a gap big enough for escape. Finn turned to his bride and put an arm around her, balancing her and lifting her through the hole. Someone on the other side reached for her. It was her uncle Anders.

Finn had time to reach down and grab one of the bed covers as he realized that he was about to step outside naked. He held it in front of his body as he stepped into the hole in the wall. His mother was there and she helped him get free. They moved away from the fire.

"What happened?" he asked, shaken and confused.

"A branch fell from the tree onto the roof," Anders said.

Finn looked up and saw in the light of the fire that a moderate-sized branch was on the damaged roof and the leaves were curling in the heat. He could feel his heart pounding as he looked at Rika. Her mother had come with some piece of clothing which she slid over the girl's head and down her body. Rika was decently attired and standing on one leg while keeping the injured one up off the ground. She held onto her mother for balance.

As Finn and his mother moved farther beyond the heat of the fire, he kept the bedding close in front of himself. He should not have been embarrassed by his nakedness, but he was. He leaned close to his mother and whispered. "Do you think Celesta had a hand in this? Why would a living branch break loose?"

"I wonder the same thing. If she did, I doubt she anticipated starting a fire. At least I hope she did not intend to burn you and Rika."

Finn noticed that both of his younger brothers had come from the big house. They came close and Niklaus asked, "Are you hurt?"

"No. I'm alright. But it was alarming to be stuck in the hut. The door was blocked by the fallen roof," he explained. "Our candle started the fire."

"Oh. I'm glad you and Rika aren't hurt."

"Me too, Niklaus. Run and get my other pair of pants. Hurry." Finn still had the bedding against his front, but his backside could feel both the heat of the fire and a cool breeze. He moved over to where Rika stood against her mother. "Are you alright, my love?"

"Yes, but I'm shaking. This is a little more than I expected on my wedding night," she said with a tentative smile. She had not lost her sense of humor.

"It is a lot more than I was expecting," Finn agreed as he watched the fire destroy the little hut. No one tried to put out the flames. There was no reason to do so. Finn was glad he had not worn his good sword into the hut. He had seen no need for it while bedding his bride.

Now that the danger was over, a few jokes were made by some who where drunk from the festivities. Finn was accused of making some really hot love to his bride and setting the place of fire. One man complimented him on his prowess and said the gods looked upon him, but in confusing ways.

Finn suspected the real problem was Celesta, who was nowhere in sight. He looked around and saw no sign of her, while just about everyone else in the village was gathered about. When Niklaus returned with a pair of trousers, Finn managed to put them on without exposing himself to people. Unlike some men, he was too modest to bare himself to all.

He expected young Kol to make some silly comment, but the boy was too enthralled by the fire as the walls collapsed into a heap, sending up a shower of sparks. Care was taken that the fire did not spread.

"Did you lose anything important in the fire?" someone asked Finn.

"Some nice clothes. The silver should survive and I can find it."

"I'm glad Mother has my wedding dress," Rika said. It was made of silk and there was no other silk in the village. "Finn, I want to go to my house and get more clothes to wear."

"Alright. I'll come for you shortly," her new husband said. It had already been decided that the couple would be using Mikael's house. With no children yet, they could both use Finn's bed. It offered little privacy, except under the bed covers. While Esther and Niklaus might choose to look away from the bed activities, Rebekah was likely to want to know what was going on and Kol would want to know how.

By this time night had fallen and the remains of the hut was a pile of burning embers. Since the fire was not spreading, it was left to die out on its own. Only the loss of Finn's nice clothing was of concern.

The wedding celebration continued because there was food to enjoy and drink to be had. There was limited music to enjoy, but everyone took part in the singing. Finn and Rika, deprived of their private bed activities, joined in with the festivities. Even Celesta returned from wherever she had been. She stayed away from the newlyweds.

Later, when Rika came to Finn's bed, she whispered, "This seems so strange."

"I know. We'll get used to it. Kol, get back in bed!"

The young boy, standing now beside his brother's bed, didn't move. "Is Rika going to sleep here now?"

"Yes, she is. She's my wife now, so we sleep together," Finn said, trying to be patient.

"Like Mother and Father?"

"Yes. Now get back in bed. Go on. Just because Father isn't here doesn't mean you can be disobedient."

"You aren't my boss," Kol pouted.

"Yes, I am. Father left me in charge."

Esther, who had been outside, came inside, saw Kol, and walked over to him. "Back into bed or you'll be sorry, young man."

Knowing his mother could cast spells, the boy decided not to try her patience. He returned to the bed he shared with his sister, who was sound asleep. She sucked her thumb and sometimes kicked him in her sleep, but he was used to it. He was glad she had passed the time of wetting the bed. On chilly nights it was good they could sleep against each other and they never woke during the night and felt fearfully alone.

Hours later, in the dim light of dawn, the new couple quietly kiss and touched each other. "I love you," Finn whispered in her ear.

"I love you too." She grinned at him. They had managed to make love one time during the middle of the night, but it had been a strain to keep quiet. Their bed along the wall was between Esther's and Niklaus', each of whom had a bed to themselves with Mikael and Elijah away. Getting out of bed, Rika had a nightgown on, but Finn had to pull on trousers. His wounded arm was much improved, but he had to hand his bride her new crutches.

Rika didn't know what Esther expected of her when it came to cooking and chores. The older woman told her to help Rebekah dress, which freed Kol to get into mischief. He took food to the dog Thor that was tied with a rope near the door. The dog kept guard during the night and was always happy to see his people in the morning. On really cold nights, he was allowed to sleep inside.

Finn and Esther were not the only ones to go to the burned down hut and look at the charred remains. Several people looked it over. Finn dug through some of it until he found two broaches that had been on his clothes. He had not taken his big sword inside, although he had worn it during the ceremony.

Esther was more interested in the broken tree branch. To Finn she pointed out that the limb was not rotted or dead. The remaining part looked quite healthy. Rika's uncle Anders was also there.

"That branch should not have broken," the man observed. "Why do you think that happened?"

"I can think of a possibility," Esther muttered.

"Oh?" he asked.

"Someone who didn't want my son to marry Rika."

"Like who?"

"I'd rather not say. I have no proof."

"Not Mikael. It had to be someone who is here and with magical powers, didn't it?"

"Likely."

"That narrows it down. You and the Bennett family are the ones with such powers," Anders said with a scowl.

"Anders, don't say anything. Let it go. I think I might find a way to annoy a certain person in small ways. Alright?"

"If you say so, Esther. But I don't like this. Finn and Rika could have suffered serious burns."

"I know. It is lucky the wall of the hut was easy to break. I must think of some sort of retribution." She will pay, Esther thought grimly.

A/N Will Esther aim magic at Celesta even though she is not sure the girl is to blame? If the girl is guilty, will she try something else? Thanks to all of you who are reading my other stories. Thanks for the comment on A Few Broken Bones.