"I'm sorry."

An apology was the last thing Lufner expected.

"For what?"

"Missing."

Fear did not come to mind. Not even when she stood over him and dislodged the weapon. Not even when she pushed him down hard so his back collided violently with the floorboards.

Instead came exhilaration and Lufner's love for her deepened even so now she was after his life.

Namitha straddled him like a horse and she held the blade in both hands high above her head.

"You're serious?"

"I'll make it quick."

"Don't I at least deserve to know why I'm being killed?"

"Oh, I'll tell you- after you're dead."

Mercy was nowhere found in Namitha's eyes. Lufner was quick to accept his fate.

"I don't get it, but I'll miss you."

With that said, all countenance was lost. Namitha's hands shook and the metal clang to the floor as fierce tears escaped her eyes.

Ashamed, she attempted to stand but Lufner had pulled her close so she dampened his neck and sleeve.

Anger clouded her logic. Sadness ruled the day.

She was strong. She was fierce. Everyone became slaves to love at the mere thought of being in her presence. They were stepping stones beneath her feet but she did not need love. And she did not need fairy tales.

She had her sword and she had strength. She did not need protecting.

So she thought until a Viking by the name of Lufner Modig came along.

Who was she?

The one and only daughter of a warrior rumoured to have single-handedly slayed a dragon. Her mother was a powerful shield maiden and she followed in her parents' footsteps years after their deaths.

Her hair was long, straight and dark like the night without a single star. Her beauty was the admiration of women and the infatuation of men. Because of this, they did everything she asked without question or complaint. A ruler to her people- a role she took seriously.

Hanlaug was her name.

She thought little of Lufner Modig the first they locked eyes. He and his men were requested to come to her lands to help settle a land dispute.

He protected her twice in battle. He protected everyone.

Once victorious, they spent a week celebrating and Hanlaug allowed it, even sheltering and feeding the men as long as they caused no harm to the female-dominated village.

It was only when Lufner and his men came upon her accidentally one day bathing without weapon or guard, her first thought was to have them all killed but Lufner hustled them away.

He asked for nothing in return and at length, she thanked him. His kind smile sent her way, however, struck her heart to stone.

His continued kindness broke down her coldness and contempt. She was undeserving. She of all people knew that yet he treated her like a close companion. Even her people saw change in her. Their iron-fisted leader dissolved into a shy, chaste girl.

Hanlaug adored being in the same room as he, listening to his laughter and tales of adventures past.

Many women had an eye for him but he cared not for them much less invited any to his bed.

Lufner proved to be a great listener. Hanlaug told him things she would never tell anyone. Not even her dear sisters. He was her safe place. Her Valhalla.

Four times he asked her to spar with him and four times she called defeat losing her footing to fierce wildness in her heart for she could not look him in the eyes. Could not hold a weapon against him.

The shield maiden who had vowed to keep her heart to the battlefield was in love.

Lufner Modig, however, who had high regard for her strength, lost interest altogether.

On the day of his departure, Hanlaug was desperate. He turned down her invitation to her chambers. Everything she did and said did little to change the Viking's mind. Nothing could convince him to stay.

He so happened to say he would visit again but Hanlaug misunderstood.

He would marry her then and make her his, she thought. He loved her, she thought. But she was wrong. The gods had other ideas.

When word came of his marriage, Hanlaug left her homeland to see things for herself.

She tracked Lufner down with ease. Behind a dark cloak, she hid and watched from afar.

His wife was young and fair but nothing compared to her. What Lufner saw in her was beyond Hanlaug. Her observing continued for days until the wife spotted her one November day. Hanlaug had returned home since but could not stay away for long. She needed to regain what was rightfully hers.

So she approached Lufner's wife to tell her nothing but the truth.

"Namitha, is it?"

Hanlaug was regarded curiously. Her height was taken in. She was a lot taller. When she disrobed, she took in her shiny, lustrous hair, and her well-made garments while her hair on the other hand was covered with cloth. Her dress was plain and worn. Donned solely for the purpose of performing housework.

Despite all this, her pretty wine eyes shone through her disarray and her skin had not a blemish or line. Her bright eye-catching curls played gently about in the wind.

Namitha did not flinch at her presence as others did. Her shoulders remained straight and her posture erect. Hanlaug at once knew she underestimated her. This was not what she expected. For a shield maiden, she was thrown completely off-guard.

"Something of yours?" Namitha fastened a sheet with a peg. "What might that be?"

"Lufner Modig."

The work of the wife's hands ceased.

"Luffy? I do not understand."

"He's mine."

The look Namitha sent her could kill.

"You may have heard of me. My name is Hanlaug."

Familiarity shone in Namitha's eyes. She knew a handful of famous names. Hanlaug's was no exception.

"And what business does a notorious shield-maiden like yourself have with my husband?"

Namitha pretended not to recall her earlier declaration. Silently, she dared her to say it again.

"Lufner, many months ago, declared love for me. I do not mind that he has taken a wife. Because of distance, I was not privileged to be his first, but I am here at last to change things.

"He may say that he loves you but I'm the one he truly loves through and through."

Namitha continued her work. Her features remained unfazed.

"Does he know that you are here? My husband?"

"He does not."

With folded arms and stern eyes, Namitha asked next, "And why is that?"

Hanlaug's face flared.

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"Worse. You are calling my husband a liar."

Hanlaug faltered. She was enraged. Wouldn't dare do that. Not to the man she loved.

"You believe you are the only woman that he's ever loved, that he held close at night.

"You were not his first and would most certainly not be his last. Don't believe me? Ask him yourself."

With that, Hanlaug left, having torn Namitha to pieces.

She was not his first and only? Did he love her like he said he did? Was it all a lie? Namitha did not believe it. Not a word.

She prided herself in being her husband's first. His first kiss, his first love, his one and only life partner. He was her first as well. They grew together with experience and love so Namitha hesitated not to give her all to him as he had given his all to her.

Their love she believed was commissioned by the gods so it troubled her to no end to receive such news. Her husband was many things but a liar was not one of them.

The humiliation ruined her better judgement. It was too great and she needed peace. Jealousy was far from her but she was livid.

Also could not deny the little voice in her head convincing her that somehow, someway, Hanlaug was indeed telling the truth- which diverted her anger from the shield-maiden towards her beloved husband.

He disappointed her and as a result, she was going to take exactly what was promised.

His life.

Namitha told Lufner everything. He listened without word. At length, he wiped his wife's tears away and calmed her with the truth.

"The only woman I have ever loved is you."

"But my lord, she made mention of sharing your bed."

She shivered at the thought.

"I've only had you. I want only you."

The look given her was sincere. Lufner lost fingers in her hair and kissed her lips.

"I can never love another like how I love you. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Tears squeezed past Namitha's closed eyes as he kissed her cheek and touched her nose with his.

She hugged him close, staring hard ahead of her, plotting her revenge.

"I'm sorry for doubting you."

"You never doubted me. If you did, I'd be dead."

He chuckled then and Namitha did not hide her smiles or amusement.

"Did you know that she loved you?" Namitha played with the ends of her hair.

"Truly, I have only come to know love, when I learned about you. It is kind and gentle and most rewarding. With you, I am the happiest of men.

"If Hanlig loved me as she said she did, it went unnoticed. It was not proven either in word or deed."

"You're mine, aren't you?"

"I'm yours."

Resurrected were Namitha's power and pride. She had his lips then but the skies began their downpour and the two hustled to secure the laundry. Even the ones forgotten managed to dry well.

"What now?" said Namitha. She busied herself folding the clothes the best way she could.

Lufner misunderstood and stepped forward to claim her but Namitha had other things on her mind, turning away to secure the linen in trunks.

"Hanlaug will surely return. What should I do when I face her again?"

"Tell her the truth."

"She is convinced otherwise."

"I will talk with her."

"No."

"No?"

"You do not understand women, Luffy."

"I'm married to one."

"Then you must know this is no light matter. I'll handle it."

Lufner took her hand and smoothed a thumb over her fingers.

"Are you certain?"

"I am."

Her plan was all coming together.

"You don't plan on taking her life, do you?"

Namitha smiled gently up at her husband and gleamed into his troubled eyes.

"Of course not."

The thought did come to mind but she had locked it away. She, however, kept the key close. Throwing it away was out of the question.

"She is a shield-maiden. I am a common housewife. What harm can I do?"

Lufner said nothing and watched her put the last of the laundry away with a hum on her lips. When the trunk closed, it echoed into the quiet room and the carefree look she gave him whilst pulling off her hair tie to set her orange ambers free had him holding his breath. For a second, he forgot how to breathe.

"Hungry?"

To be continued...