Upon arrival back at my village I was exhausted. The day had taken a toll on me, I oculd feel my legs drag with the weight of my feet. I came up a lone cobble stone path to a wooden house. It was separated from the rest of the houses, a garden and fence enclosing it. I pushed the gate open, latching it behind me as I started up the stone path.
Around the exterior of the house was a garden, although much didn't grow much in the fall. A few carrot tops poked through the ground, but that was it. Sometime during the spring the flowers would return with vengeance.
I removed my bow and quiver from my back, leaning the hunting gear against an old rocking chair on the porch before entering. I was greeted with warmth and the smell of wood smoke. Maverick sat on a chair close to the fire, leaning towards the dancing flames with his elbows on his knees and hand folded together.
He looked up, before standing abruptly. The chair screeching against the floorboards. I flinched but continued into the house with a stoic face. I could feel the storm brewing in his gaze, the way his boots touched the floor as he grew closer to me.
"Where have you been?" His voice rasped as he cornered me in the kitchen.
I turned to face him, putting my back to the counter. I could smell the mead on his breath as moved his face closer. I had never seen this side of Maverick before, it was dark and dangerous. I put a hand to his chest, pushing him back so he wasn't breathing on me.
"You're scaring me, Maverick." My voice quivered and I looked away from him.
He was going to be persistent though, his hand cupped my chin before grabbing it firmly, forcing me to look at him.
"You made a fool out of me today." His voice was curt with anger.
Sharply he ripped his hand away from my jaw, leaving the area tingling and slightly sore. I parted my lips to apologize and explain when I saw the fast shape of his hand followed by a crack and sharp burn across my cheek. I gasped in pain, raising my hands to cover my face in case Maverick decided to hit me again.
"Don't you ever speak of imaginary things again! Do you understand?! You are my wife and you shall behave, I will not have my name spoiled by a girl playing fantasy." He hollered.
His words hurt more than the blow to my face. Dazed and confused I could only nod in agreement. I had been foolish and I had made a fool of my fiance. I lifted my head sharply as there was a knock at the door.
"Go get dressed in something nice. We have visitors." He informed me before stomping out of the small kitchen.
"Maverick I am sorry." I said after him.
He looked back, eyes dark. "I know sweetie, now go get changed."
I smiled and nodded, ducking my head in respect and leaving the kitchen. I hurried to the room Maverick and I shared, opening up a chest and picking up a folded dress. It unfolded as I lifted it up, the red linen neat and soft against my finger tips.
I set it down against the bed and shrugged myself out of my hunting robes. The tattered red and black pieces of fabric falling to a heap of color at the floor around my boots. I sat down and pulled off my boots making a soft popping sound as they slid off my warm feet. I wiggled my toes and smiled, it wasn't everyday Maverick told me to get dressed up.
Our wedding was three days from now, at sunset. I could only imagine holding his warm hands with the blood red sun setting behind us. The visitors I could hear in the house must of been from another village, probably wedding guests.
I picked up the red dress and slid it on over my head. With the nimble fingers of a hunter I tied up the strings on each of my sides, starting from my hip bone and moving up over the curves of my hips, sides, and breasts. I knotted the top tightly and then pulled on the strings at the front of the gown, the gold trim modestly showing the tops of my chest.
