When Namitha rose that morning, she vowed that there will be a wedding and so said so done.

Earl Genzic could not be more pleased.

"Today is a joyous day. My daughter is married! May the gods smile upon this blessed day. Skol!"

"Skol!" The guests resounded and raised their bull horns brimming with ale.

Buoyant music played in the background and those who wanted to dance to their heart's content did so with all the merriment in the world poised in their hips and prancing legs.

The ceremony at length was nearing its end and a toast was made for the bride and groom in the name of the goddess, Freyja.

Namitha set her attention on her husband seated beside her, raising her horn to clink with his.

"Skol, " she said.

"Skol."

Lufner smiled that handsome smile of his, replaced his bull horn in its holder and resumed eating the grandeur meal before him.

He fascinated her.

"What is your name again?"

The woman glowered and the Viking scratched his hair.

"I'm sorry."

"Namitha."

"Okay."

"Say it."

"Namitha."

"Good. Don't you dare forget it."

"How could I? You're now my wife."

Namitha narrowed her eyes and watched him lick his dish clean. She touched the bloodied ring on her finger as if reminding herself of what she had done. But even then she felt no regret.

"Did you want something?"

"Oh yes. Are you going to eat that?"

Nami regarded her barely touched meal of seasoned pork and buttered bread. To her right, her third cup of ale stood dry.

"Haven't you had enough already?" she said but before he could answer, she had long given him her plate. Lufner devoured it in a matter of seconds.

"Whatever is the matter with you? Not hungry?"

"No."

"But it's good."

"I know but I've been anxious all day and my stomach has no need for food."

"Anxious? Why?"

Earl Genzic stood up from his throne and took one long drink from his cup. After having his fill, he wiped his greying beard dry and said in a loud voice,

"It is time for the bride and groom to enter the bed-chamber."

"What?"

Lufner was suddenly dragged from his chair and was taken by the same two men -who captured him- out of the hall. His friends gave him hard, agonizing slaps on the back.

"It's about damn time."

"You lucky bastard."

He and Namitha were guided to a room some distance away from the celebrations.

Upon entering, Lufner had a look around the candlelit space and seated himself on the bed for other than the floor, there was nowhere else to sit. The wedding lasted all the hours of light and despite being grateful for the interlude, it did not take his mind off all the delicious food that awaited him in the great hall.

"Why must we rest now while everyone else gets to stay and have all the fun? I am not yet tired. Let us return to the ceremony."

"We can't."

"Why not?"

Hesitant at first, his wife joined him in bed and carefully removed her shoes and coat.

Then she laid down placing a hand on her chest.

Lufner followed suit, lying on his back beside her. His arm happened to brush hers and Namitha held her breath.

"Are you really that tired? The party is not yet over."

"If you leave, you will end up getting us both in trouble."

"Really? That's not fair."

"Nothing is fair."

Lufner hummed in agreement.

"What do we do now?"

"Don't you want to make me yours?"

Troubled, Namitha wondered whether or not she was desirable. Lufner made zero attempts to touch her.

"But now you are mine as I'm yours. Did we not establish that? We exchanged swords, rings. Did all the rituals."

"All but one."

"What is it that we have to do?"

"Consummate our marriage."

"You mean..."

Nami sat up to peel her dress off but Lufner held his hands out.

"Stop. You're shaking."

The garment barely made it passed her shoulders.

"It is my first time. I have never been with a man."

"And I have never been with a woman."

Nami gaped at this for that was the last thing she expected to hear.

"We do not have to."

"But the ritual."

"Screw the ritual. You're not ready."

"Are you?"

"No. Is there anything else we can do?"

Together they thought long and hard.

"Perhaps a kiss?"

Namitha refashioned her dress and peered hopeful into his eyes dark as night.

"Husbands and wives do that all the time, don't they?"

"Yes. They do."

"Well, that should be easy."

At that, Namitha advised him to remove the flower crown from her head, and once done, she took his rugged hand and made it rest on her rosy cheek.

She closed her eyes feeling its warmth curve along her chin and blushed as Lufner moved some of her hair away, securing the orange strands behind her ears.

He addressed her pink lips in all their fullness and splendour. Had never done this before either. The woman-folk when intoxicated by ale in the days of old would try to force themselves on him but he never gave them the pleasure. Instead, he would divert them into another man's welcoming arms or did his best to stay out of their way altogether. It was a strange sport that befuddled him greatly but now he was a married man and wives, he heard, had needs.

The kiss was short-lived but satisfactory. Nothing like how Namitha imagined it but she thanked the gods it wasn't a gut-wrenching, sloppy mess. It was warm like a hug. And the many more that would surely follow made the poor virgin want to cry out with joy but she remained cool-headed in fear she would make a fool of herself.

Lufner's hand lingered but soon fell away. He smiled a little smile and it bloomed into a full-on grin.

"You can call me Luffy."

"Luffy."

"Yeah! That is what my friends call me." 'Shishishishi'

"Can I call you Nami?"

"Sure."

He nodded and smiled some more while she played with the hem of her skirt and the curled ends of her hair.

"Tell me about yourself. You're strong aren't you?"

"I know how to defend myself."

"That's good."

She faced him and caught Lufner staring at her lips.

He said, "Don't you smile? You have it hidden somewhere. Where is it?"

"I have no reason to smile."

"You married me, have you not? Isn't that enough?"

The corners of Namitha's mouth began their upturn. And soon she was showing pearly teeth. A giggle escaped her and Lufner for a split moment forgot how to breathe and immediately curled an arm around her waist as if catching a fish with his bare hands.

His bride's face filled with confusion and she bowed her head low only to have it nudged back up again by a gentle thumb to her chin.

The thought of pulling away did not come to mind. In his arms, she grew weak like a newborn kitten. In the many years to come, she would reminisce and say honestly that it was the weakest she had ever been in her life.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I've seen many beautiful women but none with a smile quite like yours."

Namitha blinked a total of three times and searched his eyes.

"Is it ugly?"

"Far from it."

Remembering the caress of her silky lips had him wanting more. He wanted to kiss them longer. Deeming it a sport that even he wanted to master.

His wife did not share the same idea, however. She had questions.

"Is it true that you've never been with a woman?"

Their noses briefly touched and Luffy reluctantly released her and laid once again on the straw mattress. Its softness, he noted, rivalled his.

"It is true."

"Why? What about when you go to new lands, don't you marvel at the foreign women?"

"I've never been interested. Adventure is all I want. It is my calling."

"And now you have me?"

"Now I have you, I'll learn how to cherish you like how I yearn for the sea and the pristine lands beyond it."

What he said thrilled Namitha. Her eyes glistened and her cheeks flushed red.

She did not know that Lufner was a poet. His use of words was exquisite.

"What made you change your mind? Why did you marry me?"

"What use is there talking about it now?"

"Tell me anyway."

He scratched the scar under his eye.

"You know why. Had it been anyone else, I would have never made it this far."

A glint of triumph lit Namitha's face.

"You wouldn't do something you didn't want to do, would you?" he asked.

"Of course not. You?"

"No. That goes against what it means to be free."

Lufner smirked, closed his eyes and exhaled slowly out his nose.

When he opened them back up again, he saw his wife gleaming down at him as if his person was made of fine gold.

"Tell me about your travels, Luffy. Tell me what it is like to be on the battlefield with the gods on your side."

He watched her prop her head on his chest with her arms crisscrossed awaiting his stories with a touch of a smile.

Lufner grinned excitedly. Namitha was in for an earful.

To be continued...