Eustace had apparently turned out to be Mel's mother-in-law and this panicked her to some extent. But the old woman's good graces, soft countenance, and charisma set Mel and her whole family at ease. Although her brother, Enmel, was somewhat aloof, he didn't have much of a presence. The castle received the guests from Orion with morbid curiosity. While Eustace and Enmel were tall and slender-figured, some of the Orions that came to rest in the castle were huge.
This left Mel questioning what her husband would look like, but she was too shy to ask the old woman, and Eustace didn't say much about her son. The reason they had taken such a long time to get in contact with Urn in regards to the union was that they had encountered a few inconveniences on their end. That aside from the fact that some of their men had to go deep into the woods to hunt for rare creatures and materials that only appeared during a certain time frame within the span of every few decades.Eustace apologized for the delay and brought along numerous gifts for Mel's family, which led to a small send-off party for the young lady. Contrary to what had been expected, Mel had a pleasant evening that day, and the rest of the after-party was spent dining with Eustace, Enmel, and the rest of her family.And for the first time since she was little, Mel spent the night in her parents' bed, as a last goodbye.___________________________The forest floor was trampled by the heavy hooves of large, muscled horses, weighted down by their equally large riders. The evening breeze swept through the hair, rustling the trees as the horses stepped out into the vast clearing, a grey field spreading out before them. Bjorn Beowulf's white hair ruffled with the wind and his blue-eyed gaze narrowed at the large settlement a great distance away. His home."This was a fruitful week," Dov commented, riding his mount to Bjorn's side.Bjorn nodded in answer, the murmurings of fellow hunters behind him breaking his momentary peace and concentration."At long last!" Dov slapped Bjorn's back with a boisterous laugh as he spoke loudly, "We shall finally meet our Chief's sweetheart! Isn't that right, boys?"The men roared with a jovial outcry and Bjorn glowered at his best friend. Dov shrugged innocently and kept laughing, ignoring Bjorn's searing gaze. "Lighten up, man," he added, "This is a joyous occasion.""I wonder how far Sprite is," one of the men commented."Not too far enough," Bjorn growled, wishing the travel would take far longer, eternity even. He had been pushing off this union for the past ten years only for his mother to put her foot down and head all the way to Sprite herself to bring back the young woman.Bjorn gave his mount a light kick and trotted ahead of the others, eager to be away from the jeering men. They hadn't mentioned such nonsense during the hunt. Maybe it had been the excitement from having the clan in sight that roused such unpleasant behaviour from them. "You have been putting this off too far enough, dear friend," Dov chuckled, his horse darting forward to join Bjorn's. "No need to be spiteful about it."Bjorn merely grunted in reply."Really, at least try to be welcoming. Coming as a stranger to a different place can be unsettling for a lot of people. I wonder if her father has even told her the circumstances of her coming here.""Don't," Bjorn warned, darting Dov an annoyed side glance. "Don't even…" His lips turned down in a disturbed frown and he stopped talking."I guess you would like the evening to yourself?"Bjorn nodded. "Yes, Dov. I would. Very much."Against better judgement, Bjorn could feel his stomach churning. He didn't know how to describe the feeling, but he didn't want to call it nervousness. All he probably had was this evening and tomorrow if his mother wasn't staying overnight at Urn."Even if she arrives, I hope her family made the sensible decision of raising a proper woman well able to watch over my domain in my absence… and one who would respect my privacy."Dov raised a brow at his friend and looked away, a smile playing at his lips as he tried to stifle a laugh. "Oh, Bjorn." Dov shook his head. "There is little to no privacy between married partners unless you want your woman to be 'very' lonely." Bjorn frowned but Dov continued, "Then again, I am sure she must be a capable woman."___________________________Mel stood on deck, looking down at the potted peach-coloured flower her mother had given her mere minutes ago. As she held the clay vase in her hands, she recollected Harriett's trembling hands as her mother gave her the gift.Anna stood beside Mel, silently watching the young lady trying to make sense of her mother's parting gift.Mel looked up and glanced back at her mother, her eyes widening as she noted the growing distance between the ship and the harbour as they took to the sea. Harriett stood still, watching the Orion ship depart with her daughter, and Mel's eyes watered, her chest beginning to tighten as she realised she was finally leaving her family behind."My lady," Anna whispered, wrapping a comforting arm around Mel's shoulders and drawing the young woman to her side. "It will be alright."Mel gently shrugged off Anna's hold, holding back her tears with a shake of her head. The wind snapped at her face and she sniffed. She had to be strong. Weeping now on what was supposed to be a joyous occasion would feel like an insult to her new family, and she didn't want to be disrespectful."It is a sad thing having to leave a family you've known all your life."Mel stood at alert and eyed the approaching woman. Eustace stopped in front of Mel and lightly touched her shoulder. "Come in, it will be cold outside the further we go towards the Northern seas."Mel cradled the pottery to her chest and quietly followed the old woman into the ship. From time to time, she eyed the working men who stole brief glances at her, earning a sharp look from Eustace which made them rush about their business. Some sheepishly greeted the new bride-to-be and went about their way. They walked through the polished wooden confines of the ship and she and Anna followed Eustace into a wide cabin. The walls seemed to shine and Mel stood, marveling at the beauty.There were barely any wooden constructions in Urn except their ships and vehicles, and only the richest of clans built a few wooden structures. Then again, those were for plants and vines to climb for support. They were never this elegant."Here, sit down." Eustace guided Mel to one of the posh divans and the young woman sat down, gesturing at Anna with a nod to sit beside her.Eustace sat on another divan facing Mel and her maid."That is a beautiful piece." Eustace nodded at the potted plant in Mel's grasp.A sad smile adorned Mel's lips and she nodded, gazing longingly at the lone budding flower protruding from one of the green stems. "This is her favourite plant… was-until it became mine when I was born."Eustace looked at her silently, a fond look coming across her features. She took a long indrawn breath. "Do you mind if I sit beside you, Mel? I would like for us to be closer since we will become family very soon."Mel nodded. "Yes. I don't mind." She slightly shifted and so did Ana, even though there was more than enough space for Eustace to sit by her.Eustace stood up from her seat and eased herself beside Mel with a sigh, facing her."Will-will my parents be able to come for the wedding?" Mel summoned the courage to ask. Then she paused, her heart beating rapidly in anticipation. Then again, under the circumstances of this union, would there even be a wedding.'I should have paid more attention back when mama was educating me about Orion.'Eustace sucked her lips in and eyed the plant, unable to meet Mel's eyes. "You see, under these circumstances, your family cannot come." She touched Mel's arm and patted it, a sad look on her slightly wrinkled face. "That is how we do things in Orion. However, your family can come anytime, Mel."Mel fought back the tears that built their way to her eyes and unable to hold back she sniffed and rubbed at her eyes with her sleeves. Anna took the potted vase from the lady's app to prevent it from falling off."No. No. I'm sorry. Please don't mind these… tears." Mel laughed nervously rubbing at her eyes.Eustace enfolded her in a warm hug and Mel wrapped her arms around the old woman, her chest swelling as she vented out her pent-up feelings onto the embrace of her mother-in-law.Mel groggily woke up, her head slightly aching. She shifted on the cushioned surface and slowly opened her heavy eyes.She surveyed her surroundings and realised she had been covered with a blanket while sleeping. Her head was apparently resting on Anna's lap too. She looked up at the sleeping face of her servant and immediately sat up, worried the woman's laps would be sore by now. Anna kept on sleeping, and Mel surveyed the room once more. Eustace was nowhere to be seen and Mel properly sat up, leaning back against the divan. She took off the blanket and wrapped it around Anna.Mel's throat itched and her mouth felt dry. She made her way to the door, about to open it and ask for water when it vibrated with a soft knock and was pushed open."Oh." She stepped back with a start as Enmel stood before her.Her future uncle-in-law regarded her with his usual stoic expression. He closed his eyes and gave Mel a short nod. "My apologies for barging in," he said, his voice low and deep. The
For a swift moment, Eustace was dazed, taken aback by the question. Mel couldn't fail to notice it and she paled, wondering if she had offended the woman.Eustace immediately shook her head, an odd expression Mel couldn't place on her features. Whether it was pity, relief, or surprise, the young woman couldn't tell."I don't know if I should be pleased or relieved about the fact that you do not know the answer to that question," Eustace eventually said. Mel relaxed a bit, but still puzzled, she asked, "What do you mean?" "Mel. I am afraid I am not in a position to answer that. Even if I did, I am not certain I would still tell you." She took Mel's hand in her slightly wrinkled one and gave her a soft, gentle squeeze. "It is not a mental burden you should carry. Just know that we won't blame you for the sins of your father."Mel watched Eustace's hand. "But I am… I could have married someone else…" Eustace sighed and averted her gaze. "It saddens me but you're right. My brother and
The sky had been cloudy the morning they set for Orion, the late afternoon they arrived, and the early evening she set foot on the wide streets of the Grime clan. This led to Mel wondering if the sun ever rose in this part of Orion.Mel was faced with a large domed concrete structure and she faltered behind Eustace. Anna was standing at the closed entrance of the building and her mood visibly brightened when she caught sight of Mel.Other servants moved around, carrying whatever luggage from the caravan into the building. From the corner of her eyes, Mel could catch sight of the peeping masses through the surrounding homes, along with passers-by bold enough to linger out in the streets and stare at Mel with rapt attention and excitement.Mel blushed, not used to all the attention at a go. Anna hugged Mel to her side and gingerly urged her into the building. Eustace walked in after them and paused almost immediately. From the floor to the walls, to the spiralling staircase leading upst
Mel went to bed early that evening, not just exhausted from the trip, but disrupted by an entirely new feeling. She never saw Bjorn again for the rest of that evening, but she could clearly recall the shivers that ravaged her whole being at the sound of his voice. A light shiver coursed every surface of her skin and she tightened the covers around her. The fur of the bed covers did little to nothing to alleviate the strange sensation. She could remember the silken white strands of his hair, cut short at the nape of his neck. They hadn't seemed that impressive until he had stood before her. The way his eyes studied her made her giddy. The memory of his deep, rich voice enveloped her with a vague warmth. Her heart ached. She had maybe expected her future husband to be fair-looking, but not this… Mel sat upright, unable to sleep from her burning cheeks. What was wrong with her? She had to get a hold of herself! She slapped her hands to her cheeks and winced at the stinging pain in b
Mel stared at the mirror in a daze, with Annie attending to her hair. Eustace had arrived with some maids to further furnish the guest room and add a vanity for Mel. The young woman had thanked Eustace for the help and when the maids had helped her into an Orion attire, Annie had stayed behind to help her mistress take care of her. As she ran the large brush down the smoth waves of Mel's dark hair, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in the odd silence of the chamber. Mel would usually be relaxed at the soft strokes flowing through the strands of her hair, and her eyes would be closed, on the near verge of falling asleep.But this time… it was different.Mel's eyes weren't just open, they stared at her reflection in a far off gaze. Her mind wasn't in the present, and it was far from Annie's comforting brooding of her hair.Annie did not want to admit what she had noticed the previous evening, but now that she was seeing her mistress in full focus… Mel was smitten with that man.
From that very moment, Mel’s calm morning spiralled into a pit of bottomless excitement, with Lori taking the lead. Eustace had sent Lori to take Mel around the vicinity of Grime. While Eustace had made sure Mel got acquainted with Bjorn’s house, the old mother-in-law didn’t have the strength to take Mel around the settlement.Despite Mel’s attempts of disguising herself, blending in into the simple streets had turned out to be futile. She had the stature of a young teenager in Grime, but the fact that Lori was taking her around the streets didn’t go unnoticed by the residents of the large settlement. And those who had seen her arrive at the shop earlier with Eustace could already tell what the young woman looked like.“Don’t worry, no one will disturb you,” Lori comforted Mel, taking hold of her hand and guiding her out of the markets and into a more secluded street. Mel tried her best not to wobble, her legs weak from walking here and there. Soft pants exited her mouth and beads of s
They sat in silence, the gentle breeze sp1laying across their skin and toying with Mel's hair. Lori's beaded braids were too heavy to be lifted by the soft wind, and so they tinkled instead, guided by the slight motions of Lori's head as she gazed upon the scenery before them, a relaxed smile on her face.Mel stared in awe. The smile had been different from the numerous ones Lori had directed at her earlier that day. The woman beside her now seemed to be at peace, and now that Mel paid more attention to her escort, Lori appeared to have a certain beauty Mel hadn't seen on any other woman in Grime.She had flawless skin with light freckles on the bridge of her pointed nose. Coupled with caramel eyes that matched her brown hair, it produced such a pleasant combination that Mel couldn't take her eyes away. From Lori's dressing, the woman seemed to be well endowed too.Mel glanced at her chest, nearly flat in comparison to Lori's. She had never bothered about her features since she had wh
Mel’s tears from the previous day had held a strange effect on her. She had woken up the following morning with an odd feeling. Her previously heavy heart was now light as if she had expelled all the negative energy along with her tears the day before. The calmness she had woken up to washed over her like heavy rolls of a warm fog.She got up from bed, the relaxation giving way to a firm resolution. She wasn’t just a pitiful woman. She was a noble of Sprite, and if she was to right a wrong done by her father, she had to do it with dignity. Mel stared into space with mixed feelings. She couldn’t bring herself to hate her father. She didn’t even know how to feel. But one thing she knew was that Bjorn would not have asked for this either, but he must have followed through whether he wanted it or not. The least she could do was reciprocate that dedication.Eustace, Annie, Lori, and even the other helpers, noticed Mel’s subtle change. Amidst the knowledge Eustace imparted to Mel about the