Choffin knew an illness of the mind when he saw one.

It had been only three days since his friend's wife's departure. Two of which he spent with him, along with Usoff, exploring the endless possibilities of his new-found freedom as he so merrily called it.

They fished for many hours a day, hunted for animals in the surrounding forest, and got into all sorts of mischief as young men had the habit of doing. But by the third day, Lufner had no interest in those sorts of excursions. He refused to leave his house at all.

Choffin saw it earlier on. How quiet he would get, staring off into the distance; many a times in the direction of the sea. He saw it when he would barely listen to a word of Usoff's amazing stories which was blasphemous. To Choffin, Usoff's stories were not ones to be missed or ignored.

Lufner was distant. The most distant he had ever seen his friend in the handful of days knowing him. Yes, he was physically healthy so his sickness was deep within. It wasn't just his mind that was uneased, it too was his heart.

"Oi, Luffy!" called Usoff. He banged the door, Choffin at his side. Lufner never showed at their meeting spot.

"There's been talk of a school of fish going crazy down by the lake, we have to go now before they scamper off."

No answer came and Usoff and Choffin exchanged looks.

Soon, Lufner came at the door looking groggy and uninterested.

Usoff gulped and took a step forward. He rested a hand on Lufner's shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

The morning had long opened and Lufner sported circles under his eyes. Sleep, it appeared, did not find him through the night.

"Yeah," Lufner smiled stiffly. "You guys have fun today. I will join you tomorrow."

With that being said, the door closed shut and Usoff and Choffin ran off to find Zollo.

"Zollo!" Choffin cried. "It's Luffy. Something's wrong!"

Zollo rolled eyes and wiped his chin dry from his jug of ale.

"Am I his keeper? Besides, if there is something wrong with him, you're a healer. Figure something out."

"It's not that kind of sickness, Zollo. You should have seen him. Luffy is not well. We need you to talk some sense into him. I believe it's about Nami."

Choffin agreed.

Zollo rose a brow. "Since she's gone, he looked fine to me. You guys had been running around like idiots getting up to no good. Luffy seemed glad to rid himself of that witch."

"That is not true. Lufner misses her and is doing all he can to hide it but things can catch up to you. One can only pretend for so long."

"Not my business."

Usoff gritted his teeth and clenched both fists. Differences aside, this was serious.

"He is your friend. If it's one person I know Luffy will listen to, it's you, Zollo."

Zollo reminded himself of the day Lufner confronted him and broke his nose all because of that witch. He did not give a damn whether he missed her or not.

"Please, Zollo."

Zollo's neck snapped to a teary-eyed Choffin and his eye twitched as he sat up and rubbed his neck.

"Fine."

Just then, Sangard walked up with food wrapped in cloth. He was on his way to Lufner's but Usoff filled him in.

The food was immediately pushed into Zollo's arms.

"We're counting on you, moss-head."

"Haa?!"

Zollo did not appreciate the compliment but one look at Sangard made him stop reaching for his sword.

"Drop my food, and I'll kick your ass. Make sure Luffy gets it in one piece."

Zollo huffed and took his trek up to the house which was an accomplishment. Finding Lufner's house in under an hour was unheard of in Zollo's book.

He owed his luck to the gods.

Zollo went up the steps and banged on the door. Hearing no immediate answer, he barged right in. The deafening sound of a growling belly stopped him in his tracks.

"Luffy?"

He walked into the dark room to find him sitting in his chair staring at a burning candle. It was on its last 15 minutes.

"Hi, Zollo." Luffy smiled. "What brings you here?"

"Curly-brows sent this."

Lufner took the small pot in both hands and set it on the table.

He went back to sit after requesting to send his thanks.

"Are you not going to eat it?" Zollo asked.

"Later."

Lufner's stomach growled again. Frustrated, Zollo went over and pushed aside the drapes from a nearby window, letting some light in, and had a good look at him.

"You look like shit."

"I cannot sleep or eat, Zollo. I do not know what is wrong with me."

"We both know what's wrong with you, Luffy."

"We do?"

"You miss her."

Lufner's eyes went wide. His jaw stiffened and he leaned forward and ruffled his hair.

"Nami is in good hands. I should not be feeling this way... Did I do a bad thing, Zollo? She did not want to go, yet I sent her away."

"You did nothing wrong. And there is nothing wrong with you feeling this way. You never doubted yourself before so why now?"

"Nami trusted me." Lufner buried his chin in his chest. "I've done a horrible thing."

Zollo despised seeing his friend this way.

"She respected you enough to go along with your wishes. Trust is important to her too so have faith. She will be back stronger than before."

"But-"

"Do you think that that wife of yours would be pleased to learn that you are losing sleep over her? That you're refusing to eat? When last have you taken a bath?"

Lufner scratched his wrist. That had not been since the day he last saw Namitha. Which was not bad for Viking standards. Namitha, however, saw to it that he washed daily as long as it could be helped. Had she been there, she would have scolded him for not taking care of himself, worrying over nothing.

"Trust Nami. Trust she will be okay and that she will find her way back home to you in time. Miss her all you want. That is fine. But do not lose yourself in the process."

Lufner matched his stare, gave a stiff nod, and addressed the food Sangard prepared. A full belly was a great way to start. His mouth watered at the rich aroma and he gladdened. His appetite was slowly but surely returning.

"Thanks, Zollo," he grinned.

Sangard, Usoff, and Choffin all breathed collective sighs of relief from their spot outside the door.

If Lufner could dissolve into such a state, they wondered how Namitha was doing.

Ever since Hanlaug's speech, the villagers' opinion of Namitha changed for the better. Everyone wanted to be her friend. Everyone was curious about her and wanted to spend time in her company. Everyone took care of her.

Namitha fell in love with the community. Jealousy and malice were far away from them for they looked out for one another like a sisterhood. It was the way nations ought to be.

They took turns spending the nights at Magrid's house. Many brought blankets to make makeshift beds around her own.

Namitha handled the popularity well. She was a great listener and her empathy went out to many. Many told her of their lives, struggles, and goals. Namitha encouraged, gave comfort and shared in their hope.

Now this night was to be Namitha's last at Magrid's and instead of taking turns like they did these past two days, all came and crowded every wall and floor of the house.

Tonight they were curious about her. As they were from day 1 but got swept away by her kindness and good mind. Tonight was the final night they would ever get this chance since starting tomorrow, she would be under their precious Earl's roof and sleepovers like these would not be allowed in the great hall no matter how hard they begged.

Namitha cleared rumours. She was the Earl's daughter. She had been recently married to Lufner Modig. It had not been a year and she was not expecting and will not be any time soon. That she was his first.

That last bit had many confused.

"When Lufner Modig was here last, he was asked if he had ever shared a bed with a woman to which he replied yes."

Namitha blinked and tilted her head to the side. Lufner had cleared his name to her where this was concerned but Namitha was curious to learn exactly how this farce came to fruition.

"It was only one woman, however. Her name was Makny. He said that he loved her very much and had spent many a peaceful nights by her side."

Namitha could not believe her ears. She was humoured. At length, after a brief period of laughter, she declared the truth. Makny was his foster mother. The look on the women's faces made Namitha laugh and laugh to the point she struggled to breathe.

This news also gave her relief. Not that she doubted her husband. What Earl Hanlaug had said was now a simple misunderstanding. Lufner could be so vague at times without much thought. It was concerning but never failed to amuse his wife.

"What about children? Many here would kill to be pregnant," one said.

Some villagers would take to the sea to find eligible men to grant them their seed. Either that or had to spend the night with some musty old man from the village. The latter was least desirable. Marriage was rare in Lilyland. Many children born there were girls. Boys were scarce.

"Do you not enjoy each other?"

Namitha blushed. She should have expected questions about her bed life but was still newly married. Talk such as this was embarrassing to her. Surely she had never talked about crowding in bed* with no one other than her husband.

"We do... Very much."

Namitha touched her rosy cheeks and appeared pious and shy. Many flustered at her shyness. She was cute.

"Do you miss him?" asked another. This one was busy braiding Namitha's hair.

"Of course. Every second of the day I miss Luffy. I hope he is taking care of himself and doing okay."

"We must admit that we all thought Lufner was not interested in women. He was a man who did not pounce on an opportunity for a woman's touch. Imagine our surprise when we heard he was married. A feat greater than any one of us could achieve. None of us could bed him much less secure his hand in marriage."

"The gods work in mysterious ways," another said.

The women agreed.

"How did you convince him? We know it cannot be your beauty. Our Earl could not win his heart. And she is a well-known beauty across the seas."

"I cornered him like a beast and held a knife to his neck."

Namitha laughed it off like it was no big deal. The lot of them sweat-dropped.

That was one way to do it...

"That aside. I stated my purpose and I must have said the right words since he was ready to marry me in a heartbeat. Something changed in his eyes and I knew I had won his respect for a lifetime. I had no doubts and today he loves me more than the sun loves the earth. And I love him more than life itself... I love him so much."

Tears welled in Namitha's eyes then and some came forward and hugged her and comforted her with soothing whisperings.

She missed him like crazy and thought that she could scarcely go on without him by her side. However, with companions in such great numbers, Namitha gained the strength to carry on.

The women frowned at her sadness. Their hearts went out to her. But their eyes widened when she stood up, tear-stained face and smiling.

"I'll be okay. He wants me to be okay so I'll be okay."

At that, Namitha stole a cup of neglected ale from the third girl for the night and downed it whole.

She was used to her alcohol. Many exchanged looks and the older ones knowingly clicked their tongues. No wonder she was without babe after many months of matrimony. Namitha knew so herself but did not tell a soul.

She went to sleep that night reminiscing of the past. It brought smiles and laughter to her lips.

She recalled their first serious exchange in the stuffy old shed.

"I'll marry you," he had said and practically dragged her behind him to find her father much to her delight.

Coming to think of it, the sword he exchanged with her was not taken from a grave. The marriage was rushed for it had been arranged. Lufner had no blood family or relatives in the land of Cocoyash but he did have an old sword gifted to him from his grandfather.

Namitha then recalled their first time together.

Lufner slowed and groaned softly in her ear as she tightened and pulsed taking him to a place he had never been before. With fingers in his hair, she kissed him and smiled 'gainst his lips.

Now their marriage was consummated, they were finally made as one.

It had not taken a minute for Namitha to realize something amiss.

"Did you...?"

She looked down between them and Lufner watched her confused as he moved to kiss her cheek and hair.

"Did I what?"

Namitha blushed not knowing how to explain it.

"Did you not like that?" he asked

"I did... But did you?"

Lufner shrugged. Traveling together* was okay. But if his wife enjoyed it, that was all that mattered. He thought by her reaction that he had done a decent job albeit it being his first time.

In a blink of an eye, Namitha had him on his back and took him by the reins.

"What are you-?"

She kissed his neck and face and Lufner set his hands at both sides of her waist and grunted as she moved against him.

His fingers dug into her skin and Namitha slowed and kissed him on the mouth and behind his ears.

"It is not fair, my Lord." Namitha narrowed her eyes and peered down at him. "It is not fair that you do a good job and I am worth only a shrug of your shoulders."

"I've done my job."

"But what about mine?"

Lufner caught her eye as she guided herself down on him. He stifled for breath for he was caught completely off-guard and tensed at the stimulating assault of her soft hips.

"Relax," she said but lost control and fell across his chest. She sighed helplessly in his ears and tried again but could not go for long and struggled to keep a good pace going so she stayed on her knees and shimmied her hips instead. Lufner liked that best. He moved upwards to match her movements and Namitha gasped mid-orgasm as she felt a warmness shoot between her legs.

She mentally paraded and looked to her husband who laid dazed at the ceiling. It was just as her mother described it. Her pleasure was surely his but his was hers also. This was an achievement in and of itself.

She kissed along his chest and blinked as he sat up suddenly, moved her hair out the way, and kissed her skin and lips.

"You're amazing," he said between kisses and Namitha accepted them all. Her smiles reached her eyes.

She fell back and he was on top once more.

"Again?" Lufner's eyes danced about her, now mesmerized. Her warmth engulfed him. Never had he felt so much at home.

"Again."

This round too was a success.

Lufner held her from behind and decorated her back and shoulders with peppered kisses. Bringing her hand up, she encouraged him close and kissed his inviting lips.

She turned in his arms and hugged him close, burying her head in his chest.

When she had to get up to pee, she basked with pride when he was adamant to let her go. When she returned, he opened up the covers for her and held her close. His smiles were everything and she was now more reluctant than ever to leave his arms.

He humoured her with his random bouts and sweet kisses to her lips. She hypnotized him and she was bewitched long before he ever touched her.

Lufner Modig was no longer a distant aspiration. He was now solely hers and now her husband. And how eager he was to appease a lowly, adopted girl who lived under the Earl's roof all her life. But Namitha never deemed herself a waste of space or time. She was destined to leave a mark in the world on a grand scale. If never given the chance, she minded not spending the rest of her life bringing honour to her husband.

Namitha never boasted of her luck. Knew entirely she was luckier than most.

When Lufner pressed his soft head of hair against her forehead and smiled fondly in her eyes, Namitha was certain she possessed the most luck; more than any living creature in the world.

She had her list of attributes she wanted in a husband. He had to be as young as she. He had to be brave. Strong and easy on the eyes. Lufner Modig was strikingly handsome. Namitha tangled fingers in his wild hair and deepened the short kiss he left on her lips. He had to be someone she could respect. Someone who shared her morals and values. The more she heard of Modig, she thought their minds the same. Someone with dreams and hopes. Someone who wanted something bigger than themselves. Someone who made her happiness, wants, and needs their priority.

And so far, so good. It could only get better from there on. And better it did.

i

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i

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Namitha shot awake and gasped mid-scream startling the women who slept near. She could not fight her shaking. Shallow was her breathing and her heart threatened to break free from her chest.

Soon, the entire room was awakened and many drew close expressing their concern, but Namitha could not recall the mare that plagued her.

It took her a moment too long to notice how wet her face was with tears. Soon they poured out in buckets and Namitha held on fast to Magrid who smoothed hair from her face and hugged her by the shoulders.

One hugged her from behind and two more surrounded her at both sides. In their arms, she rocked and wailed like a woman in the heat of labour.

Something frightening was underway. And it had everything to do with Lufner. Namitha just knew it. Had never been so afraid in all her life.

She had to do something. Before it was too late.

To be continued...

*euphemisms for love-making