Morning had broken and Namitha awakened in bed. Sitting up slowly, the blanket of fur fell away at her waist and she searched her memory in vain since she could not remember covering herself with it nor the exact hour she fell asleep.

The sleep was wiped from her eyes and she looked over at her snoozing husband. She remembered his stories. How much she didn't want sleep to take her for his stories were full of wonder and adventure farther than her imagination could ever dream of.

Namitha laid back down facing him and reached a hand out to touch his hair only to jump in fright as a hand shot out to stop her.

Lufner awoken from slumber blinked up at the captive limb and loosened his hold. If it were someone else, their arms would have long been twisted and broken beyond repair.

"You startled me," Namitha said.

"Sorry. It's my instinct."

Namitha cocked a brow and her heart fluttered in delight when he turned on his side towards her.

"It'll take more than that to scare you. Wouldn't it?"

"I can't say you're wrong."

Lufner smiled and waited for his wife to do the same but it never came.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Your stories," she said and then pulled up the tail of the fur that clung to her legs. "And for this."

"You're welcome."

Namitha moved timidly forward and Lufner lied in wait. Her fingers found his hair and as no space was to be left between them the door opened. It was one of her mother's servants. Her name was Connisse.

She bowed her head and Namitha sat up to welcome her. Unease was present in her voice.

"Connisse, is my mother okay?"

Lufner looked between Namitha and the servant girl. He did not know much about the chieftain's wife. Had heard of her sickness. But that was long ago. It was a wonder she still lived.

"Her condition is stable, my lady. However, that is not the reason I am here. Earl Genzic wants you and Lord Lufner in the halls to join him and his men after you've washed. The bathing arrangements have been prepared."

Lufner and Namitha separated and met again at the Earl's table.

Upon seeing each other again, they moved fast to secure a seat beside the other but without their knowledge, their seating arrangements had already been made thus.

In the room sat the Earl and his counsel. They welcomed them in silence and once seated the mood lifted like a cloud of fog. Genzic was all smiles and by the scent of his breath, Namitha could tell that he had one too many cups of mead.

"Are you okay, Father?"

On his face, Namitha swore she saw long streaks of salt.

The old man was distressed but carried it well.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I trust that you two had a great night?"

Lufner was already digging in, taking a liking to the variety of meat.

"We did. Learned a great deal about each other too," he said between bites.

Genzo gave his audience a look and the men cheered.

By this, they knew that the wedding night had been a success.

Namitha's face got all warm. Even though nothing happened, her father was embarrassing her.

Lufner, thank the gods, did not utter a word about the matter but seemed more interested in the food on his plate before him than conversation.

Afterwards, Lufner met Namitha's mother.

Belhild was her name. He pitied her seeing how she used every ounce of her strength to sit up in bed to greet them with a brave face. Her skin pale and her eyes dull. Her hair thinned against her scalp and her bones jutted out from beneath her skin.

Lufner was no healer but even he could tell that Belhild was dying.

He nodded her way and stood rigid when Namitha fell to her knees and wept, pressing each of her mother's hands to her cheek. Her glistening tears glided over them.

"My child."

"I'm here, mother. And so is my husband."

"My lord. Please take good care of my daughter."

Her son-in-law gave another nod, this one firm and Belhild breathed a sigh of satisfied relief.

"Can you give us some time alone, please?"

"Of course. I will wait in the hall."

When Lufner left Namitha kissed her mother's hands.

"When are you ever going to be well again?"

"You know better. My time on this earth is coming to an end."

"But there is always a cure. Always."

"Never mind a cure. I've lived a full life. Now that you have for yourself a husband, I can now move on. The gods have granted me my final wish."

"Don't say that."

"One day you will understand. Now it is time you focus on building a life with him. Think about starting a family and being a good wife, Nami."

Namitha sobbed and Belhild stroked her hair.

When she calmed down, she asked.

"How was the night?"

"It was wonderful. Lufner is a man beyond my expectations."

Belhild smiled.

"Did you give yourself to him?"

"... No. I was not ready."

"When will you ever be? The time is now. You are married. It is your duty as a wife. You must not wait long."

"I won't."

"He is the one you want, yes?"

"He is."

"Then prove it."

In the hall, Lufner ran into his long time friend Zollo. He was amongst the boys who obtained their arm rings the same time he did.

"My friend," he grinned, "Are you lost?"

"I'm not. This place is just too damn big. All these walls and bends. But I found what I was looking for."

"And what's that?"

"You."

"Me?"

"You didn't lay a finger on that wife of yours, did you?"

"No. She was not ready."

"Was not ready? Virgin?"

"Yes."

Zollo smirked taking pleasure in getting his guess right. For he was a simple man. Only simple men took pleasure in such things.

"Just like you. I could not have thought of a better match. You could have had loads of experience in preparation for your wedding day but were never interested in the prostitutes that I've brought to your doors. Now you have a woman you're bound to for the rest of your life telling you what to do."

"Namitha is my wife. Not a whore you find on the side of the street."

"When will you be ready then? In the next week? Month? Years?"

Lufner said nothing and Zollo scoffed and left to find the exit of the god-forsaken place. Lufner did not bother to tell him the door was a few steps away in the opposite direction.

It served him right.

Not long after, Namitha came to his side.

"My lord."

"How is your mother?"

" She's resting now. Thank you for allowing me time to visit her before we leave."

"I don't live too far from here, so you can visit her whenever you like. I believe that will make her very happy."

Namitha thanked him and blinked confused when he gathered her up in his arms. On her head, he rested his chin.

"You said you'll make me strong?"

"You have my word."

"Then I'll be a good husband."

Lufner's home was not as big as hers but it was humble. It was the home he and his friends built together. He lived there for less than a year so it was fairly new.

Owning a home was his first shot at independence. Otherwise, he opted to bunk with friends or the woman down the street who helped raise him when his grandfather was away.

It had been several years since he last saw his grandfather. But one thing for sure is that Lufner was certain that Garpsten was alive and well somewhere in the world. He would not perish so easily. Lufner believed the gods quivered at the thought of having a man like his grandfather in Valhalla. He survived many shipwrecks and wars and have sent many men to their graves. Death it seemed feared him entirely.

"Your father rewarded me greatly so much so that I was able to build for myself a house. And now he has given me a wife."

"He admires you as I, my lord."

Namitha helped Lufner unload her things and had a proper look around. It was a modest home. Also fine for raising children. The neighbours she met along the way were not just kind, they kept to themselves and Namitha liked that very much.

"I don't do everything on my own. The neighbours help me out with laundry. Sometimes meals. They take care of me."

"Have you no servants?"

"No."

"I see."

Luffy smiled and showed her the room where they would sleep and went as far as to show her the chests where he kept his clothing and his second pair of shoes. He didn't own much so there was space available for her to store whatever she desired.

He was proud of his home. Usoff came over some days before and helped him tidy up in expectation for his bride. The only reason Lufner allowed it was because he had told no one of his plans to escape. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing.

"What do you think?"

"It's nice. I have to get the hang of things but I'll do my best."

"I'll help you."

"You're a good man."

"So I've been told."

Namitha stepped close and surprised him with a press of her lips.

Lufner's eyes grew round like two shields. She had his full attention.

"I'm not truly yet your wife so please," She kissed him again and a strange tightness appeared in his chest. "Make me yours."

"When?"

"Now."

Duties had to be fulfilled and though hesitant, Lufner had an idea of what needed to be done.

He kissed back and she tugged him closer. Her warm lips enticed him but failed to be enough. He wanted to know more of her. Wanted to know what she was truly capable of. So he pulled away and peered into her waxed eyes.

"I have a request."

"What's that?"

"Can you handle a sword?"

Confused, Namitha only nodded unsure of what was about to happen next.

At that, Lufner went over to his bag and drew a sword. He tossed her another which she caught effortlessly in mid-air.

"First impress me."

Namitha unsheathed the blade and took her stance. Lufner's brows went up. Her form was excellent.

She came at him and the clang of metal echoed, filling the room.

Namitha's chest heaved. Spent, she fell to her knee. Her blade cast out her hands rattled on the floor four feet behind her. She had never fought so hard in her life. Lufner fought her seriously and barely held back. He did not take into consideration that she was a woman. And though it upset Namitha at first, she deemed it an honour.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" he asked lifting her up with an arm under her thighs. She panted finding it hard to catch herself. They had fought for at most 15 minutes.

"My mother was a great shield-maiden in her youth. She taught me everything I know."

Lips worked their way up her neck and Namitha moaned deep and tried pushing him away. Her efforts were futile. There were on his bed which very recently became theirs. Lufner had kept his word.

"I like strong women."

Namitha wanted time to find calm but Lufner wouldn't let her. His mouth covered hers and Nami dug nails in his arms as she struggled to kiss back.

"Luffy, please."

He released the metal clasps and laces of her dress. And eased her up on his shoulder to properly rid her of her clothing. The hot air she blew on his neck wasn't making things easy for him and he struggled to restrain himself from ripping the cloth asunder.

Her hands took a hold of his shirt and lifted it above his head and she kissed his bare chest, his neck and she squealed when he forced her back down to attack her in another earth-shattering kiss.

Namitha's eyes fluttered closed and she focused on his wandering hand trailing down from her neck, down her ample, soft breasts, exploring undiscovered land.

She became his atlas and laid weak and helpless shivering with need for her adventurer.

A strange wetness poured from between her legs.

She clung to him breathing deeply as his mouth left her lips to pursue the same journey, lingering in the lands around her stomach and Namitha's toes curled. To her navel, he pressed a gentle kiss.

She spread her long legs and Namitha squeezed her eyes shut and panted for her dear life. For a while, Lufner did not move and soon she heard him shuffle off the rest of his clothing.

"My lord..." She said barely above a whisper.

"It's okay." He climbed back over her wearing nothing and she smoothed her hands over his strong shoulders and hugged his neck. Her forehead was kissed and Lufner whispered the same words again in hopes to soothe her.

"It's okay."

Her mouth closed over his and she stifled for breath feeling him ready and positioned at her doors.

The ceiling and floor fell away. There was nothing. Just them. Time stood eerily still. His breathing became her breathing and each breath he took filled her lungs. Each breath she took filled his.

"I want you," he breathed finding it harder by the second to control himself. "But you're shivering like a leaf. We can stop."

"No. I don't want to. Have me now before I change my mind."

Lufner let himself in and Namitha's back arched, her mouth fell open. She grasped at the covers and whimpered and moaned but Lufner took his time. He kept going and going and Namitha wondered when it was going to end. Her body ached little and the sinful grasp of pleasure overcame her. When he stopped Namitha came to the conclusion that Lufner was gifted in many ways. His size being one of them.

His features strained. His body still and focused. His breathing boiling hot and laboured on her skin and his face flushed, a bright shade of red.

"Are you okay?" he asked and Nami trailed her fingers along his face grateful for his care but there were more pressing matters at hand.

She tugged his hair and crashed his mouth on hers. Her legs crossed and tightened bringing him even closer and this time it was him doing the crying.

"What are you waiting for?"

To be continued...

Author's Note

Awsme Grl here. How are you liking the story so far? Any concerns? Dislikes?

Let me know. Thanks for reading.