As roosters orchestrated the new day and as light crept through the windows, Lufner and Namitha were wide awake engrossed in conversation.

"How come I've never heard of your mother?"

"History favours men."

Namitha kissed his lips and moved away to see his expression. To her delight he wore a smile bigger than the one he gave her the moment she waked.

On his wrist, she spotted a purple-bluish bruise.

"Where did you get this?"

"Don't you recognize it, shield-maiden? This is your doing. Don't worry about it. It's just a bruise."

"It is not just a bruise." She examined the area. "And don't flatter me. I have never been in battle. My father will never allow it."

"Would you want to if given the chance?"

Namitha got up and sat naked at the side of the bed.

"Now that you're no longer in your father's house, don't you desire to pick up a sword and shield in battle, shield-maiden?"

"I am but a wife."

"A very strong wife."

"And future mother to your children. When that time comes I wish to be alive and of good health. If I can fight to protect my children, that will be enough."

Luffy trailed a finger down along the burrow of Namitha's spine and she bent and lulled her head back. She did not mind his touch. After learning what he was capable of, he was more than welcome.

"My lord."

"Come back to bed."

"Do you wish to ravish me again now that you've come to know a woman?"

"I haven't come to know a woman. I have come to know you."

Namitha spun around; a fury in her eyes and a deep frown on her face.

"Aren't I a woman?"

"You are my wife. The greatest woman I'll ever come to know."

His words pleased her greatly and she combed her vibrant orange hair over to one shoulder.

"Why have you orange hair like the sky at sunset while your mother and father have not?"

"So you noticed. They took me in as a babe and raised me as their own. My mother could not conceive. And I pray to the gods that I will not come to know such fate."

"Come."

At his command, Namitha joined him under the furs and watched him carefully.

She invited a kiss and when he pressed his lips and licked the sensitive parts on her neck, Namitha wanted to vanish into thin air. His tenderness was unbearable and left her shuddering for more of his touch.

She married a man familiar with the battlefield, who looked death in the eyes many times and laughed right back. For this reason, she thought that she was going to be treated like a drum but he handled her instead like a harp made of the finest of gold.

"I'm all caught up in your web and I don't ever, ever want to leave," he said smiling to himself when her fingers buried in his hair.

Namitha shivered in delight. She both wanted and needed him but had to put a stop to his advances.

"Luffy, my lord."

"It's just Luffy."

"I cannot lie with you again. Not now."

"Why not?"

"I have not yet healed. Do remember that I was a virgin. You were everything but gentle with me."

"I simply followed your orders."

Namitha's face bloomed.

"Also..."

Her voice was stern and she pinched his wandering hand that landed on her behind.

"Ow."

"Also, I do not wish to get pregnant so soon."

"What makes you think that you're not pregnant now?"

"I'm not."

"But what if you are?"

"Then it will be fate."

Lufner gave up and flopped on his back. His wife pressed soft lips to his wrist.

"What about exploring? Would you come with me then?"

"Yes. I would not mind seeing the lands you dream of seeing again as well as the ones you have yet to see. Cocoyash is the only land I've known all my life. I would like very much to see more of the world. But..."

"But?"

"You must first convince my father. He would rather die than put me in harm's way."

"Why should you listen to him?"

"He is my father."

"And am I not your husband?"

"He is your chieftain. The Earl of these lands. The very lands you call home."

Lufner surrendered to deep thought.

"I will find a way."

He looked at her and his lips parted.

"I thought you'd never smile for me again. Did you not enjoy our first time together?"

"I did."

"And are you not glad that I am your husband?"

"I am."

"Well smile for me. Let me see that you are happy. You do not have to hide anything from me."

"And what if I'm sad. Do I smile?"

"No. You have right to weep. And right to be upset. When you are, let me know so I can make it better again."

"And what if you can't?"

"Then we will work at it together."

His wife smiled again, laid her head on his outstretched arm and pressed his hand to her chest. And said,

"My heart is now at ease."

"What was wrong with it before?"

"Nothing. Now I believe without a doubt that I can truly come to love you."

The day was spent meeting the neighbours Lufner owed so much of his life and well being.

Kind housewives, large families, humble men and widows were among them congratulating him on his wedding and beautiful bride. Telling him as they bid him close and within Namitha's earreach that his wife was a breath of fresh air and a sight for sore eyes. The old men who had long lost interest in women said that she made them feel young again.

Namitha's cheeks grew pinker than a rose and she further acted bashful towards them being new to all the attention she was getting. After all, she had been confined to her father's house most of her days like a Christian nun in hopes to keep her away from the greedy eyes of men who would as her father said snatch her away to either keep for themselves or to sell to some rich peddler for a high price. Or worse yet, to be seduced in her innocence by a man unworthy of her weight in gold.

It was the children who jumped onto Lufner's back and pulled his arms that liked him best. The girls would hug his waist and ask him to share a story or two and the boys begged him to run with them to see who was the fastest. He made them win every time. And it was deemed a feat each would take with them at supper to share deeming themselves great having beaten Lufner Modig, the strongest man in the village at a simple leg race fair and square.

Their mothers and fathers and the old people would praise them with applause and cheers and they all would agree that they had never seen chests puffed so high.

They were even granted a small cup of ale as further accolade which they graciously accepted feigning the existence of tendrils of hair growing on their chests or the exponential growth of muscles in their biceps.

Be it man or beast, woman or child, Namitha saw with her own eyes that Lufner was an amiable man. She had heard much of it for herself but she saw it true. As a man of many credentials, he not once treated a soul with ill intent and regarded everyone in ways any man would want to be treated.

Her heart swelled even more.

In the marketplace, they bought food since Lufner's house was void of it for reasons he did not say.

Namitha owed it to his huge appetite and remembering what he said about their kind neighbours made the predicament even more plausible.

The sun left the sky and upon returning home, they worked to put the goods away and prepared a simple but hearty supper with great success. Together, they spoke excitedly about memorable events of the day around the light of the fire.

Once the chatter died and nothing save the cracks of firewood could be heard, they exchanged glances and small smiles knowing full well what the other had in mind to do next.

It was Lufner who closed the distance between them. And when Namitha placed a hand on his thigh he, in turn, pressed an unchaste kiss to her lips.

That was all it took to fall back under the spell that bewitched them the day before. A predicament that befell many a newlywed couples which could not be helped. It was an even more hopeless situation with the both of them being so young at heart in both mind and body for they had found a newness that they thoroughly enjoyed and were very much good at.

Whereas his kisses made way as far as below her waist, she found that she sported a second pair of lips that needed his kisses just as much as the former. And she proved to be quite the explorer, discovering there were more ways than one to enjoy each other. Noting, for instance, the way Lufner liked his hair tugged and how much he loved it when she pulled at his ears with her teeth and his willingness to be kissed as many times as she pleased.

Despite him having the upper hand with strength, she was able to keep up with him in the beginning but alas, she quaked and cried blissfully upon reaching her peak a second time and Namitha became as a body that lacked bones. So she could do nothing more than hold onto him for her dear life, moaning weakly in his ears at the same time wishing that he would never stop.

"Hey, Nami."

"..."

"Nami?"

She was out like a flame at dawn and Lufner 's smile fell away. He wanted to stay up and talk like they did the night before. Wanted to hold her in his arms while she charted fingers through his hair.

It was lonely without her and Lufner Modig never liked being alone.

He perked up when she turned his way and nestled in the crook of his arm.

"You must be really tired, huh, Nami?"

Namitha made a little sound as if acknowledging the call of her name and Lufner smiled to himself, fashioning the covers over them both. He stroked her curls and kissed her cheek and moved to give the same treatment to her lips.

Sleep couldn't find him to his dismay no matter how hard he tried.

It was his thoughts that haunted him.

To be continued...

Author's Note:

Thank you always to those that take the time out to read and review. You're the bestest of the best. :3