Sangard's hand lifted closer and closer for a feel of the woman's milky soft skin. He wanted very much to trace a finger over her full, dainty pink petals and to have his way with her however and in whatever fashion he liked.

In the corner of his eye, he espied movement but paid it no mind.

"Don't be scared. I won't hurt you," he cooed but that still was not enough to convince her.

The woman took a step back and her mouth formed into a frown in a manner resembling a wilted tulip with its head drooped low.

"Stay back."

Sangard flinched. His palms grew clammy with sweat and his eyes darted from left to right. It was difficult finding the right words to say.

"Why would I do that?"

He was not used to being refused. The ladies fawned over him, practically throwing themselves at his feet. Then again, it went without saying that the woman Lufner had taken for a wife would be different than most. Nevertheless, his resolve remained the same.

"I'm warning you."

Sangard gained closer. A tight smile dressed his face.

"Exquisite flowers like you are the hardest to find, Nami-jya."

Her mouth drew back in disgust.

"Don't call me that."

"It suits you."

To Sangard, women were soft, delicate flowers and there had not been a flower to this day he did not like. And what a flower this Namitha was.

With swift, careful movement, Sangard grabbed at her arm but alas, that was his second mistake.

For a moment he saw nothing. Earlier, he recalled a loud crack ringing in his ears. Behind his eyes, almost oneiric, were blotches of reds, blues and greens appearing and disappearing about him.

Sangard sat up from his place on the floor and held his head.

Recovering his senses, he glimpsed a small clay pot grasped in Namitha's right hand and Sangard was not sure if it was his skull or this same pot he heard earlier. The pain proved unbearable and a warm hot liquid poured down his face.

Sangard knew what it was. It was blood.

His blood.

He cursed under his breath having let his guard done. Maybe the shitty-green goblin was right. His death might come by the hands of a woman but Sangard did not care and thought the notion ideal. He would not have wanted it any other way.

The woman from where she stood watched him hard, cautious as a deer of what other tricks he had up his sleeve.

"That wasn't very lady-like of you, Nami-yja."

"Not very lady-like, you say? How about this?"

Her foot launched forward mercilessly between his legs and Sangard grabbed at his groin, folded into himself and groaned, holding back a scream. Finally, he was at death's door.

The pot clanged loud next to him and Namitha took her leave.

"W-wait."

Her steps echoed away. The door slammed shut.

Not a soul was left in the room she left her husband.

From the window, Namitha saw him and the green-haired swordsman.

Zollo was leading him out the back door with an arm slung over his shoulders. Usoff had left. Gone back to the fields no doubt.

"Luffy," she called.

He turned around, so did Zollo and Namitha made sure she avoided all eye contact with the man. She did not trust him.

"I'm going back to the house."

Lufner cocked his head, "Alone? You didn't finish your meal."

"Yes. Alone. Take time to catch up with your friends. And as for the rest of my share, you can have it or better yet, feed it to the dogs."

With that said, Namitha turned on her heel and headed up the dirt path.

"Aren't you going after her?" Zoro resumed his staring and was awed by how the wind toyed with her hair as if it were an untamable aura of flames.

"Nami can take care of herself," Lufner said. He went back inside and emerged with Namitha's bowl in tow.

One thing concerned him. Not that he minded her leaving without an explanation. He knew that look. She was upset and he could not pinpoint why.

"Is that so?"

After long, Zollo wore a smirk that contorted into a mischievous grin.

"Did you hear something earlier, coming from the kitchen?" asked Lufner.

"The cook probably dropped something. Who cares?"

The remnants of the dish were long devoured and Lufner licked his fingers clean.

"I see that you've at last bedded your wife."

"And what of it?"

Zoro's suspicions were correct. He saw the puce marks on her neck she failed to hide with her hair. And now Lufner had the air of an experienced man.

"We should throw a feast."

Lufner loved feasts but for something like that, he did not see the appeal.

His continued silence made Zoro smirk even more.

"Or we can hit the brothels in the next village. It is never too soon to be acquainted with a mistress. You also need a slave girl. I know one. She'll be perfect for-"

"No."

Zoro clicked his tongue but picked up his confidence and resumed his job being the demon on Lufner's shoulder.

"All woman aren't the same, Luffy. They come in different shapes and sizes. I know of some personally who come rather close to the beauty of your wife."

Lufner eased off the devil's arm weighing heavy like regret on his frame and matched his height.

"I'm not interested in your brothels or your women."

"You are a fool."

"Well let me be a fool. Being a fool is better than being a blind man."

"Do I look like a blind man to you?"

Lufner gave no answer. Instead, he walked down to the calm flowing river and stooped to wash his face and hands. Zollo did the same.

"I apologize. You are a loyal and honourable man. One even I have come to respect and I was a fool to not expect you to extend those like qualities to the woman chosen for you as a wife."

Lufner listened and looked on as the little fish bob and break the water's surface. He immediately thought of dinner.

"I respect your wife. And I have taken a liking to her."

Lufner's attention switched to his ignorant companion.

"You have?"

"Yes. She's a well-shaped woman, a well-flowered woman. Not like those girls who have not yet grown into their bodies who throw themselves into the arms of any man who looks their way. Many of which have lost their fathers in raids and war. Nor is she tainted by the obtrusion that comes with bearing children."

"What are you getting at?"

"We have fought together and protected each other's backs on the battlefield. We are equals."

He paused deciding it best to choose his next set of words wisely.

"As your best man, allow me permission to share your wife. They say the arms of a free woman are far superior to any other. Liked to being truly free even though one has been free their whole lives."

"You want me to share Namitha with you? My wife?"

In the dead of silence, Lufner's expression was unreadable.

"To put it frankly, yes."

Namitha sat by the fireplace with a drink in her hand and turned to the creak of the door.

Lufner was home.

"What are you drinking?" he asked unsaddling his bag and jacket.

"Mead."

"Isn't it a bit early for that?"

"I needed the drink after..."

"After?"

"... You trust your friends, don't you?"

"I trust them with my life."

Namitha downed her drink.

"Sangard told me to give you this."

Lufner presented a sack laden with aromatic herbs and spices.

"Throw it in the fire." Namitha poured another drink. She brought quite the supply from home and it was a good thing she did.

"Did Sangard tell you that he made a pass at me?"

"He did."

"And what did you do?"

"I punched him in the face."

Namitha's eyes went round.

"He deserved it."

"And Zollo. He stared at me like I was some prize to be won."

"He wanted me to share you."

Namitha's blood ran cold.

"But don't worry about it. I also punched him."

"Hard?"

"Yes."

"How hard?" The cup of mead was forgotten and Namitha rose to her feet.

"Hard enough to split open a tree."

Namitha couldn't contain her joy. Justice was served and it felt damn good to be stood up for, to be defended. She gave Lufner a kiss, a wide grin adorning her face.

"Are you still friends?"

"We are. All those two care about is women. They disappointed me today but it won't happen again. Sangard wanted to apologize.

Namitha opened the bag and put each of its contents to her nose.

"Do you forgive them?"

Namitha shot him a fleeting look and headed to the kitchen. Lufner was right behind her.

"Why should I?"

"I'm asking you to forgive them."

"This is not a good enough apology and what of Zollo? What apology does he have for me?"

"None. He claimed he did nothing to offend you. And I agree with him."

"That's where you are wrong, husband. If they want my forgiveness, they have to apologize to my face."

"But-"

"No buts. You did not marry a slave girl. I am the Earl's daughter and most importantly: your wife. They did not only insult me, they insulted you also. I'll accept nothing less."

"..."

Namitha busied herself and gathered the pots and pans.

"Dinner will be ready soon."

"Do you need help?"

"I'd like that."

Dinner filled them with satisfaction and Namitha's face bloomed bright at the praises Lufner sang. The spices made a whale of a difference and Namitha reckoned that it was the only good thing the cook had going for him.

Minutes after his third helping of food, Namitha left her chair, pushed his dishes away and took their place.

Lufner's eyes filled with confusion until she leaned forward and captured his lips.

She reached for his hands and guided them down her waist to her hips but they barely settled. There was no hold. He made no move to embrace her.

"Husband."

Namitha waited and waited but Lufner remained as still as can be. He said nothing. Only stared. She might as well be hugging a tree.

"What is keeping you from me?" She brushed the licks of hair from his eyes. "Are you upset about what I said about your friends?"

"No. You're right. They should apologize."

Again she kissed him. Still no reaction.

"Have you grown tired of me, Luffy?"

"No. Of course not."

Namitha rose a brow.

"Acegir?"

"No."

"Why won't you kiss me? Did you forget how?"

She smiled hoping to get a reaction from him but her efforts were not reciprocated.

Instead, Lufner drew her forward till she sat across his lap.

"Not tonight," he said.

"Am I not enough to please you?"

Namitha's voice cracked and Lufner brought her close.

"Why do you doubt yourself? You are more than enough. More than I could ever ask for."

"Then why?"

"Help me learn more about you."

"I left my old life to become your wife. Who I was does not matter. It is the woman I have yet to be that matters the most."

"It matters to me, Nami. Let me know what you were like as a little girl. Tell me about what makes you laugh and cry, what makes you boiling mad and your deepest of fears. I want to know it all. Can you do that for me?"

Namitha nodded slowly.

"My job is to serve you."

"That is also my job. To serve you and to be a good husband."

He kissed her then and Namitha was too caught up with her thoughts to notice.

The gods had undoubtedly chosen for her a man who knew how to cherish her in the way she always wanted to be cherished. And that she thought was far greater than all the riches in the world.

"When will you stop amazing me? Huh, Luffy?"

"When I die?" He laughed but quieted all at once when her face crinkled and became wet with tears.

"Why do you cry?" Lufner caressed her hair and she took his hand and held it tight between hers.

"Don't die. Please. Always come back to me."

"I cannot promise that."

"Yes, you can." Her voice grew more stern with each word.

"You will one day have my children. To remember me by."

"You did not understand. As long as I am your wife, you are forbidden to die."

"Nami..."

She refused to listen to any more of his nonsense and sobbed silently. Each of her tears fell on their clasped hands and a part of him broke.

Lufner took Namitha in his arms. He did not mean to scare her. Honestly.

He did not like seeing her this way but it filled him with indescribable warmth.

"No one has ever cried for me before. Not like this."

Dying was what every Viking lived for. It was something that kept them going as well as the thrill of heart-racing battle. And though he considered himself strong, it was his duty to fight for his people. One day he could mess up and would probably die... Everyone died some way or the other. He wanted Namitha to understand that. But she was as stubborn as he was.

"It is because I care for you, Lufner."

Lufner grinned big and gave Namitha one kiss each to both her cheeks.

At length, he said:

"Okay. I've decided. I won't die. I'll break free from the walls of Valhalla if I have to. Just so I can find my way back to you."

He summoned a smile on his wife's face.

"You will forfeit Valhalla for me?"

"I'll do whatever it takes. There is probably no greater adventure than being with you, Nami. It is strange but I'm sure of that."

Namitha blushed red.

"You don't mean that. Surely you don't mean giving up on faring out to sea. What of adventure and new lands?"

"Unfortunately I'm not a good liar. I meant what I said. I love you too much to go back on my word. And as for the sea, I'm going no matter what and you're coming with me."

She saw qualities in him that no one else did and she took the time out to listen to him, no matter how pathetic and small he made himself out to be. She acknowledged his feelings of worry and sadness instead of telling him to get over it like he had been accustomed to hearing his entire life. He appreciated that a whole lot.

He wanted to protect her and he swore to the gods right there and then while touching her stunned face and kissing her warm, parted lips that he would do so even if he was stripped of everything he was worth.

Laying together in bed surrounded by a light of a dying flame, Namitha watched him on her side as his eyes closed, counting how many blinks it took him to fall asleep. Before the last two, he looked over at her and smiled a small smile making her lose count and it sent her heart in a frenzied flutter.

She observed how his hair would fall and flow over his ears and eyes with each little movement and the slow steady rise and fall of his chest.

Soon came rattling snores and Namitha did not hesitate to close his mouth shut. He knotted his brows in and Namitha pressed lips to his face.

She waited for him to acknowledge what he said but he never did. And Namitha thought it best not to bring it up.

It was amazing how those three little words made her feel. Like she mattered more than air, more than life itself.

Not long after, she fell asleep with her hands combed halfway through his hair.

Every minute with him was an adventure. More so, even now.

To be continued...