Namitha came through, eyes blinking adjusting to the light. As the seeress foretold, her life had been preserved but that was not Namitha's biggest concern at the moment.
Why was Lufner carrying her? Why was there not a single scratch on her body and where was the beast? Did it just walk away? Did Lufner come to her rescue and chase it off?
Things were not adding up.
She shivered, recalling her near-death experience. Was there even a beast standing behind her to begin with?
"Glad you're awake, Nami."
"Where is it? Where did it go?"
"Where did what go?" He laughed nervously and Namitha was late in picking up on his tone as she glanced frantically about scanning the trees, snow and bush.
"There is something out there. A bear or wolf... It almost-"
Suddenly Namitha's blood went cold as she heard the beastly growl again. This time it was a lot closer to home and she shrieked and buried her face in Lufner's back. Her arms closed around his neck to the point Lufner struggled to breathe.
"Hey, let go."
Namitha did as asked, and slowly let herself down. When he turned to face her, he was pinned under her scrutinizing gaze. It dropped down to his stomach and as if on queue, it bellowed a loud, resounding growl. A deafening silence followed. The air changed for the worst and Lufner fell on his behind in the cold, cold snow as his wife took a step closer.
"I can explain!"
"You..."
Zollo chugged a large gulp of mead and seconds later looked solemn into the mouth of his leather bottle to find it was indeed empty. He thought the first helping would last him at least two days and the thought of his depleting stash made him uneasy. However, today might just be his last so indulging did not seem half as bad. Throwing care to the wind, Zollo went straight for the second.
He looked off into the woods. Lufner had been gone for a while and it was about time he was to come back. He mused about him being lost.
"What's taking them so long?" said Usoff. He too looked down the path Lufner ventured. A nag of perturbation present on his face.
On his way back, he scored a boar and Sangard was busy preparing it along with the rest of the game.
He expected Lufner and Namitha would have been back by now. It was getting late.
"IDIOT!"
Out the wood to their clearing came Namitha with Lufner behind her, rubbing his head. The woman was livid and a fight was amidst.
No one dared say a word. Not even Sangard who had eyes only for the boiling pot of stew and roasting meat.
They had all had run-ins with the couple's bickering every now and then. Today's was different.
"What are you guys on about this time?"
Usoff who was assumed to be the weakest of them proved to be the bravest.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Namitha went straight to the tent. It wasn't the best set-up but it sufficed.
"I am going to rest for a while. And no one and I mean no one disturb me." She cast a look at her husband, huffed and pulled down the covering, shutting off completely the tent's entrance.
Silence ensued.
Namitha did not show for supper. Sangard had hoped that the food's aroma would have drawn her out but that was to no avail. Usoff tried to lighten the mood by reciting one of his epic tales but not even that was enough to lift Lufner's spirits. Zollo even offered to share his stash of mead but Lufner did not bat an eye at the drunk's generous offer. Sangard was relieved that he at least ate his usual helping of food.
When the men were filled and when their tired bones demanded rest, they looked forlorn at the inviting tent they spent all day to set up, dreading the thought of sleeping on cold snow.
Just then, Namitha emerged and to avoid confrontation, they all scrambled in after her.
With an extra coat around her shoulders, she went over to her husband. He did not crave rest as much as his companions and stayed put on the log near the fire.
Not even her presence was enough to move him.
"Luffy."
Blinking up at his wife, Lufner took a bowl and filled it to the brim with fragrant stew from a clay pot Sangard left warming by the fire.
He handed it to her.
"Eat," he said.
Namitha did not take it right away and he glanced up to see her frowning, brows pinched together and eyes drowning with uncertainty not knowing where to begin.
She took the bowl and placed it to the side and stooped in front of him. Without hesitation, she wrapped arms around his waist and pressed herself against his frame.
The wool coat fell away and landed in the soft snow.
"How can I eat or sleep knowing that we're like this? No matter how hard I try, I can't stay mad at you."
"What I did today was stupid. It wouldn't happen again. I'm sorry."
He was meaning to give her a good hearty scare but felt a stab of regret when his wife collapsed face down in the snow right in front of him.
"No. You meant no ill-will. And I can tell you're mad about something... I'm sorry I hit you."
"I'm not mad. I deserved it."
Namitha had no objections.
Lufner surrounded his arms around her and rested his chin in her auburn hair. It was then he felt her relax.
"I'm upset about something else."
"So you are mad."
Lufner decided not to hide it any longer. Yes, he was mad and for good reason.
"Danger lurks behind every rock and you must never let your guard down. What if that wasn't me and an actual beast? What would you have done?"
Namitha left his arms and sat at his side. Guilt bore on her bones heavy like stone.
"I'm mad because I could have lost you today. And if that happened I would not know what to do with myself.
"If my ambitions mean putting your life in danger, maybe we should reconsider. I can forget about the voyage and we can stay home. And I will be a good husband and father to our future children. Maybe take up the Earl's offer... Today proved to me that I would do anything and abandon everything if it means never losing you."
His wife hit him over his head again. This time she was not sorry.
"Ow..."
"Idiot. Death favours no man. You don't have to seek danger, it'll surely find you no matter how peaceful a life you lead.
Stay home and be a good husband? Take up my father's offer? Don't make me laugh. My husband would never stoop so low to abandon his dreams and ambitions.
"Life is about risks and as your wife, the last thing I would do is convince you to do something you do not want. Do you think that saying all that makes me a bit happy, Luffy?"
"...No."
"And I know what else you're thinking. Nothing you say or do would make me change my mind about coming with you. I'll be with you all the way and back."
Lufner began to perk up at her words, a smile broke on the surface of his lips.
Namitha smiled a small smile and looked at the warm fire, her voice and eyes lowered as she spoke.
"Today when I passed out in the snow and you saw me like that, I was afraid you would think of me as weak. To tell you the truth, I was more upset with myself than with you."
Lufner took her hand and smiled at her with all the fondness in the world he could muster.
"I did not think that. If I turned out to be a bear, I wouldn't have been able to fend me off on my own either. Maybe with sheer luck but you did nothing wrong. You fainting upped your chances of survival. You're still strong in my eyes."
That made Namitha's heart glad.
"So you trust me?"
"I have always trusted you."
Namitha smiled and held his hand tighter.
A wolf howled in the distance and an owl flew above them to commence the night's hunt.
"Just promise me that as long as it can be helped to always have someone with you just in case."
She narrowed her eyes and went close.
"Why am I the only one making promises?" she teased.
"Because..."
"Because?"
She pecked his lips and watched him grin like a 12-year old boy given his first arm ring.
"Promises are important. If they're carried out, trust will be sustained."
"Is that so? Well, it can't be helped then. I promise."
Lufner held his other hand out and smiled to himself when his wife presented hers.
"I like it best when we're not fighting all the time, Nami."
"Me too. However, our conflicts whether big or small create opportunity for us to understand each other better and I think that's a good thing."
"Yeah."
He went for the bowl again and placed it in her hands.
"Eat. Aren't you hungry?"
That she was and Namitha tilted the bowl to her lips and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. It had cooled down some but was hot enough to warm up her whole body.
Lufner snickered.
"It's good, huh?"
"Very."
"Sangi's food never fails to surprise me. There's another thing."
"Hm?"
"Usoff said that you did a good job on the hunt today. I'm proud of you."
Namitha who had just finished eating and had licked her lips clean, sheepishly smiled and scratched the back of her head.
As a reward, Lufner kissed her on both cheeks and when she flashed an even bigger smile, nothing in existence could make him happier. He tilted her chin and stole a kiss from her lips.
"Luffy?"
"Mm?"
"Can we talk about this morning?"
Lufner rose brows at this.
"Sure."
"When I asked you to make love to me as if it were your last, I did not mean it."
It was just a tease, a minor jest.
"Oh. Did you dislike it?"
"No. And you know I didn't. When you do things like that, my deepest fear is not having you always to myself. You make me want to spend an eternity with you."
Namitha's face burned but she went on.
"I love you so much."
"That makes me happy."
"You've always done so, so much for me and I am worried that I haven't given you my all as your wife for the gods know that I could not have asked for a better husband.
"I swore to you that I would make you strong but it feels like I'm taking more from you than I give. You have made me strong. When it comes to my mother, you've taught me how to steady my weary heart and to hope for the best. Taught me that my happiness is more important than my sorrows. And I'm eternally grateful to you for showing me that.
"I swear I'll do better."
Her gaze was firm but the droplets of tears falling on her cheeks proved otherwise.
Lufner pulled her in for a hug and she inhaled his scent and held onto him tight.
"I'm a better man because of you."
"Liar."
"I'm being honest."
Namitha let a sob escape but she was able to keep it together. She attempted to dry the tears but they kept on coming.
"I've always been selfish. I was ready to abandon everything when I had no choice but to marry you but since then, I've come to value those around me thrice as much. You work hard to make me happy and I have never felt more loved by anyone than the way you love me.
"You encourage me always to see the bigger picture and just today, you reminded me of the importance of my dream and to make it better, you swore to be by my side no matter what. It is I who could not have asked for a better wife."
Namitha awoke with the dawn and although her surroundings were dark, the men's snoring and her husband's warmth beside and around her were apparent. The streak of light around the tent's entrance revealed that the sun's arrival was imminent.
She recalled Lufner making mention of a nearby lake and she thought to herself that she could really use a bath. The scent of smoke stuck to her hair and she missed the luxury of bathing. A dip in the frozen lake would do her wonders so she abandoned where she laid and stepped over the sprawled men.
Suddenly, a rough hand jotted out and wrapped around her clothed ankle, stopping her in her tracks. Namitha had to hold back a scream.
"Where are you going?"
That voice belonged to Zollo.
"Down by the lake."
"Alone?"
His hand wrapped tighter.
"Yes. Alone. The sooner you unhand me, the sooner I'll be back."
"You do not know what's out there."
To say that Namitha was annoyed would be an understatement. However, she thought back to her promise but she would rather bathe in filth than have Zollo come with her as watchman while she washed. She did not want to wake Lufner up either. They spoke well into the night and he was very tired when they turned in. He needed his rest.
"I'll be fine."
"No. Something is out there. Didn't Lufner tell you? He found tracks belonging to a bear. These woods are no longer safe. They were never safe to begin with."
"What?"
Lufner did not tell her.
"When he saw Usoff return to camp alone, he went immediately to find you. You've put him through something worse than death and that's the thought of losing you. Don't go. Stay here where you're safe. Is that clear?"
Zollo would not forget the way Lufner's whole countenance changed upon seeing a returning Usoff unaccompanied by his wife. The man barely got a chance to explain Namitha's whereabouts when Lufner rushed past him heading into the direction he came. He had seen Lufner both at his best and worst but at that moment, he was the most afraid he had ever seen him.
Namitha released a shaky breath and at the same time, Zollo freed her and watched as she made way over back to Lufner's side.
He then released a sigh and flopped on his back, closing his eyes to salvage any little sleep his body needed.
The woman Lufner married was a stubborn one but clearly not stupid. A domineering woman who knew when to submit but one thing was sure and that was she had a mind of her own and a brilliant ability of reasoning. And for that, she had his respect.
His mind wandered back to the place he called home, the things he left behind: the ever-flowing mead, his warm bed... But something was amidst. More important than his longing for alcohol and the comforts of women.
The doctor had arrived.
"Please let me see the ill woman!"
Choffin banged on the door of the grandeur longhouse. He had been out there for hours. When he first came, he was laughed at and spat on by the Earl's men. He had not known that the woman he was sent to treat was someone of great importance. She was the Earl's wife and he had yet to see the Earl. The guards just would not let him.
His frustration was reaching its peak. He gritted his teeth as tears pooled from his eyes.
The information he got was to come quick and without delay for the woman was dying. That she was fighting the disease for years and nothing could help her. She was unable to live a normal life and Choffin made the trip unaware of the dangers that awaited him. The journey was a long and tiring one but he made it.
He was not drawn by money or reward but the compassion he felt for the sick and frail. Belhild was the mother of someone important to the wife of the man who sent him and that she would be broken if anything were to happen to her. And Choffin knew exactly what it was like to lose a loved one. He himself lost a father. He missed him every day. Choffin did not have many enemies but he would not wish that sort of pain onto anyone.
Just then, the door opened and he fell forward on dry wooden floor. A far contrast to the damp, cold snow outside.
"The Earl would like to see you."
Choffin scrambled to his feet and gathered up his bag. It tinkled with the sound of glass which housed many his dried herbs, balms and potions.
He removed his hat from his short curly, light brown hair and sniffled, nose scrunching up highlighting his most dominant features which were not his big brown eyes but a large array of freckles scattered across his cheeks. His clothing swamped his frame making his already small body appear even smaller.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
The Earl's words cut deeper than a knife. He had been ridiculed for as long as he could remember. But every day he worked towards ignoring the agony that came with it.
"You intend to cure my wife?"
"I was called here for that same purpose but I did not intend to have this much trouble. All I intend is to help her. Despite the way I look, I know what I am about. Where is the one that sent for me? Surely he can prove that all I have said is true."
Earl Genzic clicked his tongue and grumbled under his breath. He had sent for Lufner but the servant girl returned saying there was no one at home. Neither he nor his wife and the neighbours hadn't seen him since the previous day.
There was talk about them going to the woods. All he wanted to know was that his daughter was safe and sound. The unknown bothered him to no end.
This man for all he knew could harm his wife but he appeared to be sincere. Earl Genzic took pride in his ability to spot a man of good character.
Healers in the past had an inkling of what troubled Belhild. The signs were there, however, no amount of sacrifices or inscribed runes were enough to heal her. He disregarded all urgings to have her cut and bled. She was suffering enough and he could not bring himself to allow it. However, at this point, Belhild could use any help she could get.
He had to trust him.
"Very well."
Belhild huffed, chest rising and falling with the sharpest of pains. This she had to deal with for as long as she could remember. Pain, pain and more pain.
"Apart from the pain, does she have malaise, the occasional fever, decreased appetite, nausea?"
"Yes. All that and much more."
Belhild slowly opened her eyes to see a figure carefully rummaging through a large bag.
Her eyes adjusted and she could see Genzic standing at the door. His arms were folded. His guard was up.
The pleasant aroma of potent herbs and medicine filled her nose. She recognized the pungent smell of wormwood, elecampane and chamomile. It pleased her. Smelling anything had been a pleasure she had lost weeks ago.
"You must be the doctor."
The healer took note of her weak, strained voice.
"Yes. I'm Choffin and I am here to help you."
He had a look at her arm, checking her pulse, and pressed a hand to her heated head.
All this time, Belhild had a good look at him.
"You're the cutest thing. And to be verse in the knowledge of herbs and medicine, you must be good at what you do."
Choffin's freckles disappeared behind his reddened cheeks and he smiled a smile too wide. He had to bite his tongue conscious of the fact that the Earl was hovering just behind him. The last time he had an outburst, the villagers had him running for the hills.
He bowed his head low when she reached out a slender hand to pat his wayward head of curls. His cheeks stained further.
"Thank you for coming."
To be continued...