Namitha could scarcely sleep.

Lufner awakened to her stirring.

When asked what was wrong, he received no answer and proceeded to wrap his arms around her waist, bring her close and smoothed his hand along her skin. Her arm shot out then and she gave his elbow a small squeeze.

They faced each other in the dark and Lufner let her go.

Gentle fingers ran through his hair and not long after, she stood to leave.

It did not take long for Lufner to go after her. He sat himself down in the sitting room and watched as she lit a candle and poured herself a drink.

"Drink with me, Luffy," she said.

Without hesitation, Lufner took the cup of ale. He rarely drank but given the circumstances, he had little reason to refuse.

He tilted the cup to his lips and leaned back in his chair as the warmth from the beverage engulfed him. He stuck his tongue out at the sourness and frowned.

Namitha poured herself a second, sat at his feet with her head on his knees and reached up to touch the hand in her hair.

"Remember what I said, Nami."

"Again with the lecturing..." Namitha eased herself up and downed her ale.

Lufner moved to sit beside her and sipped his cup.

Namitha regarded him closely. The candle light flickered in his face and dark eyes. She cupped his face and took for herself a kiss.

"Tell me you love me."

"I love you."

The next kiss was given without question or thought. Namitha wrapped arms around his shoulders. Her head pressed close against his.

"Finish your ale, my love," she said.

"But I don-"

'Shhh' Her fingers pressed and slid down his lips. To his ears, she whispered again:

"Finish your ale."

Lufner gulped and finished his cup and dreaded the instant his wife poured him another.

Her smiles were enough of an encouragement so he drank and drank, all while she kissed his face and played with his hair. Not once he questioned it. Just did what she said.

"Luffy!"

Lufner was awakened with a start as his friend Usoff came bursting through his front door. His eyes were full of panic. Beads of sweat hurried down his face.

"Why are you still asleep?"

Lufner looked up from his position on the floor. His body securely covered with a blanket.

"And where's Nami? Don't tell me-"

Usoff's suspicions were right. Namitha had left without saying goodbye and had done so right under their noses.

Lufner sat up, his hand half-way on his face and in his hair trying to get his bearings right. His head spun but he managed to remember falling asleep after the fourth cup. Remembered his wife being right at his side.

"What are you talking about, Usoff? Nami is-"

He looked down beside him and then to the door where her bag was. Both were no where in sight and it dawned on him.

"She's gone."

Lufner's dejection summoned a smirk on his face and he covered his forehead and stomach and bellowed a hearty laugh.

His wife was something else. If that was her way of getting back at him, she sure got him and she got him good. However, he did not think her so eager to leave his side.

"I can still see the ship leaving the harbour. We have to go now!"

Usoff hurried Lufner and together they went over to the harbour to see the ship moments away from the horizon.

A figure stood by the hull and Lufner knew it was Namitha.

He called out but his voice could not reach her. Together they watched her sail away.

Lufner looked on. A solemn expression on his face.

"How long?"

"A month."

"Nami will be fine, Luffy."

"I know. But would it have killed her to bid her husband farewell?"

Usoff laughed and rubbed a finger under his nose. He then draped an arm over Lufner's shoulders.

"Cheer up. She must have had her reasons."

Usoff could smell the ale and pieced together all that happened. Namitha had listened to his sagas closely. Using one's weakness against them was the oldest trick in the book.

Suddenly, Lufner fell on his back taking Usoff with him.

"O-oi!"

To his relief, Lufner laughed in merriment but the little tears that settled in the corner of his eyes did not go unnoticed.

"I'll wait for you, Nami!"

Hanlaug stared hard at Namitha's back. She remained standing all while watching her homeland become smaller and smaller as if finally getting a glimpse of the vastness of the world.

For a woman who had never stepped foot on a ship, Namitha was doing extremely well.

Hanlaug decided to test her further and demanded that the sails be unfurled and smirked immediately as Namitha went quickly to grab hold of the mast. Yet her eyes were still fixated on the place she called home.

"Did you forget something?"

Namitha remained silent and Hanlaug left her to reclaim her seat near the figurehead. It resembled a snake.

She would never forgive her for waking up their camp way before dawn, announcing it was time to go. Eager to return to their lands and families, the shield maidens were fast to obey; leaving Hanlaug no choice but to follow suit.

She wanted more than anything to see Lufner before setting sail. Hanlaug was mad Namitha denied her the pleasure.

They met once after the Holmgang. There, Lufner entrusted his wife in her care.

Barely a word was exchanged between them. It was only for a month. How bad could it be?

"You."

Namitha addressed the call. It could have been anyone but she knew right away she was the one in mention.

Hanlaug crossed her legs and reclined in her chair.

"Your goal is to become stronger, correct?"

"I am at your disposal."

Hanlaug smirked at those words. She fancied throwing her off the ship but entertained the thought in mind alone.

"Margrid."

A small flaxen haired woman with short bangs hovering over her eyes dropped the oars and stood at the call of her name.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Let Namitha here take over for you. You could use the break."

The other women gasped and stopped their paddling and watched the scene closely. Letting an Earl's daughter do such a thing was unheard of. They expected her to outright refuse but Namitha hopped to the task without complaint.

Everyone was taken aback. All but Hanlaug.

She hooded her eyes, pleased at her obedience and announced that they would arrive home in the morning. Lilyland was a couple miles upstream from the mainland. It took a day's journey with good weather to reach Cocoyash and back.

The rowing was tiring and hard work. The scorching sun was not kind but the waters were still and welcoming. Many took note of this and deemed it their best voyage to date.

When night fell, all the women were asleep at their stations. Namitha stayed awake.

She bit her lip as she touched the callouses on her hands. They stung. Compared to her many weeks of laundry, rowing took a different toll on her hands and fingers. They were red all over and some parts threatened to bleed.

Frustrated, she swiped at her eyes with the back of her hands and cursed the wind.

"Are you okay?"

Namitha held her breath and breathed a sigh that it was not Hanlaug. Instead, it was Margrid.

She sat before her and expressed concern upon seeing her hands. From her bag, she revealed a sort of cream and after nursing the wounds, wrapped them with makeshift bandages.

"Thank you."

It was nice to have someone willing to talk to her other than the Earl. The other women did not dare; fearing to get on Hanlaug's bad side or holding a grudge for almost cutting down their leader. Either way, she did not let it get to her.

"You're strong."

"Strong?"

For a woman to have abandoned her husband without saying goodbye, being called strong was the last thing Namitha expected to hear. She needed to leave fast before she exposed her sorrow to not only him but the dreaded Hanlaug. Her pride would not allow it. It was the act of a coward and Namitha hated herself for it.

Her frame shook and she surrendered to tears.

"How could he? Of all places, why with her?"

She sobbed silently and Magrid held her close around the shoulders.

"You miss him, don't you?"

"He sent me away to be humiliated."

He said he loved her.

"That is not true and you know that. Luffy would never do that to someone he cares about."

"You know Luffy?"

"They are very few who do not know Lufner Modig's name. I am indebted to him. He saved my life."

There was an inkling of hope and Namitha made sure to hold fast to it.

"Can I rely on you?"

"Of course. That makes us friends."

Namitha smiled her first since stepping on board the cursed vessel. Fresh tears resurfaced and she hugged Magrid close. She would do anything to see her husband again. And if that meant spending a month in Hel, so be it.

Namitha slept through the night. Her lack of sleep from the night before caught up to her. When all rose to the wake of dawn, she stayed fast asleep.

When one went to wake her, Hanlaug was against it.

"Let her rest."

Everyone marvelled at her kindness and praised her for it too. Hanlaug silenced their accusations.

"Do not get me wrong, she is going to need all the sleep she can get for what I have planned for her."

When they reached land, some unloaded and went their separate ways.

Magrid stayed behind at Namitha's side. She looked to Hanlaug who sat pensive.

Namitha was a foreigner who she had to introduce to her people. Not only a foreigner but the love of her life's wife. Soon rumour would spread so there was no use hiding her identity.

Hanlaug huffed and stood.

Some women stayed back to gather the sails and anchor.

Margrid said, "Has it been decided where she would spend her days, my lady?"

"Luffy left her in my care so she will be under my wing for the time being."

"If it is not too much to ask, can she stay with me?"

Hanlaug rose her brows and regarded the young shield maiden.

"You have no husband and no children so she will not be much of a burden on you, I suppose. But are you sure?"

"Namitha is my friend. She may not look it but she is hurting deep inside. I would like to help her get back on her feet."

Hanlaug thought long and hard. Not having to deal with her on the daily was tempting but she made a promise.

"Your friend, you say? Very well."

Magrid smiled and before she could thank the Earl, Hanlaug then said.

"But only for a three-day. She will spend the rest of her time here under my roof. You will be her companion. Let her know the ropes, the rules, and our way of life. Ensure she behaves. Can I trust you with that?"

"Yes, my lady."

Hanlaug nodded and went ashore where an attendant waited with a horse. The people celebrated her safe return. Later they were to throw a banquet in the great hall in her honour.

Namitha did not take the news so lightly.

"We will surely tear each other's throats out before the week is through."

She gathered her bag and made way up the path to Magrid's house. It was not a long walk from the harbour.

She knew eyes were on her and she could barely make out their whisperings but caught a few words here and there. She was not welcomed. Some wished her dead.

Lilyland was beautiful and boasted many streams and rivers. Despite the small aging male population, there were children everywhere. It really was a land of women. Women dominated male professions; be it hunting, shaping iron or building boats. It surprised her but she was not there for siteseeing. She was to be miserable and Hanlaug would without a doubt make her life a living Hel.

She had Lufner to thank for that.

The banquet was a fine one. Hanlaug turned out in her colours. It was no competition but Namitha was glad she brought with her one of her best gowns. She did her hair and had an air about her that demanded respect. Many marvelled. Many stared. Any debate on who was the finest divided the nation of Lilyland but it mattered not to the women in question. Both were confident in their skin. There was no comparison between them.

The music played and there was much feasting. Two women sat at both sides of the Earl. Namitha learned that both were her sisters which made sense since they frowned at her every move.

Hanlaug stood and the room went silent.

"Thank you for arranging this feast to honour my return."

The people cheered.

"As you may know by now, I left Lilyland in search of my love but returned without him. Instead, I returned with his wife."

The people who remembered Modig's kindness did not extend that like admiration towards Namitha. After the rumour had been confirmed, she received many remarks of disapproval and hurls of insults. Some called her a thief and a witch. The words that followed were not so kind. Her table was positioned near Hanlaug's for all to see.

Namitha bit the inside of her lip but did not let their harsh words get to her. Her posture remained undisturbed and she barely flinched. Magrid, who sat just beside her, looked on worried.

"Silence!"

The quiet that followed was immediate.

"Is this how you treat my guest? I'd have you know that it was Lufner himself who entrusted her to me. She may be my rival, but any guest of mine shall be given utmost respect. I did challenge her right to Lufner's hand and she has proven herself worthy to be at his side. Even worthier than me."

Namitha's eyes grew wide.

"He loves and cherishes her. Therefore, your job as my people is to make sure her time here is a comfortable and memorable one. Lufner gave me his trust and anyone against this will be cut down without delay. He put his life on the line to defend these lands and we are in his debt. Anyone in opposition is free to step forward."

Hanlaug placed a hand on her sword in wait.

No one dared come forward.

"Very well." Hanlaug turned to Namitha. The shock on her face was taken in stride. Hanlaug smiled her way and Namitha was compelled to stand. At once the hostility in the room disappeared without a trace and Namitha for the first time acknowledged Hanlaug for what she was.

"Welcome to Lilyland."

To be continued...