Chapter 6
HOME COMING...
Shaym bowed his head courteously and regarded Khushi with what gave every appearance of being warm but entirely proper admiration and appreciation.
"My Lady, you are most welcome here. Indeed , it is fair to say your arrival is the cause of much rejoicing."
Though Khushi relied to him " I am most glad to be here. Never did I imagine such a Welcome" but she was not comfortable with him somewhere deep down she was feeling he is not the one whom to trust. Surely Arnav was adept at winnowing the wheat from the chaff. If he trusted Shyam, and clearly he did , she had no reason to do otherwise.
She closed her eyes for a moment, willing her way ward mind to stop. Cease its relentless assessing and simply allow her to enjoy the moment.
"What's wrong?" Aranv said with real concern. His gentleness tore at her, making her hate all the more her inability to enjoy so rare and precious a thing as this home coming.
"Nothing," she assured him with quick smile. "I am merely a little tired."
" I should have thought of that." He said something she wasn't sure what , some gesture perhaps. The crowd parted. She was in his arms, despite her weak protest, begin carried away in the direction of one of the lodges she had seen. It was larger than the others and farther apart.
She had a quick glimpse of the shields bracketing the door before Arnav shouldered his way in. The air smelled of pine. Windows stood open, their oilcloth shades rolled up and their shutters open. A mat of fresh rushes covered the floor. Fresh flowers adorned a table set near one of the windows. Fresh lines covered the bed...
The very big bed with its massive, intricately carved headboard. So too were the half-dozen chests she saw adorned with complex shapes and scenes. The iron braziers were curled into serpentine designs,as was the delicate filigree work surrounding several glass vessels on shelves near the table. Everything was functional yet beautiful,redolent of wealth coupled to discernment.
For Khushi who had known only the crudeness till date, it was almost too much to take in at once. She had thought never to see any place so lovely and warm. Yet this was clearly a man's domain as she saw from the weapons and banners that adorned the walls. Saw, too, what made her eyes widen in disbelief.
There was a book on the table. She recognized it immediately even though she had scarcely ever seen one. It was in a large wooden case, vividly carved and painted,and her fingers itched to touch it.
Following the direction of her gaze, Arnav said," Oh, good, it arrived." He set her down gently, went to the table, and opened the box. A smile wreathed his sun-burnished features.
" One of good friend found this for me. It purports to be the marvelous tales told bu the bride of rapacious lord who was so entertained by them that he spared her life."
Fascinated though she was by the book, indeed by the whole circumstances, Khushi could not help but remark," How terrible. Why should a lord wish to slay his own bride?"
Arnav shrugged. " He had some grudge against all of womanhood. Who knows the workings of such disordered mind. Do you read?"
Kushi hesitated as women were not supposed to read, not where she came from, not according to the dictates of her uncle who though such things for eunuch monks who could be kept properly controlled but never for women, who might garner inappropriate ideas. She had learned in secret, thanks to one such monk who thought not eunuch was an honorable and courageous man.
"Yes" she said at last by looking into his eyes, and she saw a pure happiness after knowing this and respect for her she was not expecting this but was very pleased.
" Oh , good . You might as well know, I have ambitions to bring books and schools to this land."
He could have said he wished to sprout wings and fly to the moon for all the sense that made her. He wore a sword,she could see it across his back. He used it with rare skill skill as she had seen in the forest when he fought with those warriors. He is a King and a Danes.
He dreamed of schools and Books.
"What an...admirable design."
" Some would not think so. Learning is considered a sign of weakness by some,although I have no idea why. To confront the world in a ll its complexity calls for real courage."
She nodded because she could think of nothing to say. He surprised her so easily.
He caught her look and put the book aside. " Enough of this...for now. I will send the women to you with food and water for bathing. All right?"
" Yes ...of course, more than all right."
"There will be a feast." He gestured as though it was of no import."The people expect it, you understand?"
"Yes ...certainly."
Yes and yes and yes. She could say nothing else to him. Books,dreams, food, water, feasts...and that bed, so very close. She allowed herself to look at him just then, really look as she had avoided doing it during the voyage. He stole her breath, this husband of hers.
A Good Sauna, that was what he needed. That and chance to catch his breath. She liked Landsend, he could tell. Cursed her uncle, yet he was shamefully grateful to him for setting her expectations so low. And her fear had ebbed, for which he gave thanks to whatever God deserved them.
He would take her to bed this night, make her his wife in truth. The long nights of the voyage when he had practiced such unaccustomed chastity would be forgotten.
She would be his.
He felt a surge of fierce possessiveness and marveled at it for he had never felt any such with a women. Yet she was his wife,altogether from any who had gone before.
A meek little woman to rub his feet.
He laughed out loud. Praise every deity that had ever existed for sparing him that.
She liked books. He warmed inside.
But first the feast. His people meant well, he credited them for that. They liked her and wanted her to know it. He gazed out over the heavily laden table and thought the women must have labored frantically to produce.
Cleansed by the sauna,freshly shaved and garbed more formally than was his wont, he awaited his bride in the great hall. The people had gathered,all was ready and they had just enough time to begin to stir uneasily when she appeared.
God's blood but she was beautiful. Her hair fell like copper fire down her back till her butt. She carried her head high and she moved as grace personified, he thought, and felt pride swell within him.
She was garbed in sky. Not really but the fabric, whatever it might be, looked like that. He was put in mind suddenly of glorious sunrise into softest blue interwoven with stray tendrils of clouds. The beginning of a perfect day.
Thank heaven he could take her to bed soon.Or as soon as the feasting and merriment were sufficiently progressed that no one would think him lacking in control especially not her,and swore this night he would show her wonders she could not imagine.
Wine flowed and ale and mead. Platters of whole fish were carried by,along with smoked meats,breads,cheese,the bounty of summer fruits and vegetables,even rare confections crafted of spices from the farthest corners of the earth. A king could not have offered better.
Nor was the entertainment lacking. Jugglers and minstrels vied for the greatest applause and no fewer than three renowned skalds, who were always well assured of a welcomed at the court of Arnav,declaimed the great stories of the ages. Arnav himself remained largely silent except to converse with Khushi, who sat beside him and replied to his comments with the same stilted courtesy with which he offered them.
He could not remember ever feeling so discomfited by a woman. And not merely for the reason that the mere scent of her,the slightest glimpse from the corner of his eye,the most accidental brush of her hand against his were each and every one to arouse him.
There he was, possessor of what amounted to several lifetimes worth of most pleasant memories of the fair sex, made to feel a green boy by his own bride.
Night could not come quickly enough...
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Continue Reading next part >
Comments (2)
Hi, Love the story line. Read all six parts in one go. In the beginning had difficulty understanding where this story is leading but now I could follow it. Its a different story from the usual stories. Please continue. Would love to read the future updates. Please add me to your PM list. Thanks. TC
10 years ago
that was a nice update
10 years ago