A new forest surrounded the lake we floated on. In the middle of the lake sat an island with a single angular home, made of timber and long sloping rooves. Our home.
I paddled our boat to the island. Astrid took in the structure. It must have been the smallest house she’d seen before. Since it had been just me and one other living here, I had no reason to build a large home. Now with Astrid moving in, and eventually children running around, I’d have to look into expanding.
When we reached the small dock jutting out from the island, I tied the boat and climbed out. I then offered my hand to Astrid, helping her onto the solid planks of wood.
Astrid continued to gaze around. “Týr, this place is so much more beautiful up close.”
“Ùna will be happy to hear that. She’s worked extra hard to make sure the grounds were to your liking. She even went out of her way to make sure the garden had what you’d need for any tonics and other curatives you create.”
Astrid blinked up at me. “Who is Ùna?”
Ah, whoops. Seemed I’d forgotten to tell her. “She’s a fae who insists on serving me as a life debt payment after I saved her life. She keeps the house clean, and I gave her full control over the plants outside. She knows that you’ll have more of a say in what we have going forward, but I think the two of you will be able to come to an easy solution where both of you are happy.”
My wife smiled up at me. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“She’s a bit shy, and will make herself scarce for the next few weeks while we spend time together, but you two will meet eventually.” I was looking forward to our hony moone. No one would interrupt us for the next four weeks after the wedding festivities were over. I wouldn’t even leave for any issues with the gods. They’d have to keep their shit together for a full moon cycle.
My body hummed at the reminder of having Astrid all to myself. We were alone on this island, and I’d erected wards in the forest to establish my domain and deter uninvited mortals and immortals alike from straying too close to the lake. I could take her right here on the dock.
My gaze traveled down her body. I swallowed. I could take her out here later. I needed to get her inside the house this time.
Astrid giggled when I collected her in my arms and carried her to the front door. She gazed up at the ridges of both rooves and marveled at the dragon head carvings I’d commissioned. The carpenter had long since passed, but he had been a man of talent, just as Astrid’s own father was.
The door swung open on its own. Ùna’s magic. She hated it when I returned and got bloody handprints on it. Claimed it disrespected and tainted the old wood this house was made from. That hadn’t been a battle I was willing to fight, so I let her do her magic.
I set Astrid on her feet and kicked off my boots while she gazed around the small lounging room. Weapons, tapestries, and shelves hung on the walls. A bench rested against the partitioned wall separating this part of the house from the rest.
A few more weapons were scattered around in various states of cleanliness. I collected weapons from forgotten battlefields. They hummed with the songs of glorious battle before their abandonment.
Her cat came scampering around the partition, meowing loudly. Astrid gave her the attention she craved before she bolted out the open door.
Astrid removed her shoes and wandered further into the house. The firepit in the center roared with warmth, courtesy of Ùna before she disappeared. Her eyes swept to the right, over to the table Bjørn created for me that existed as both a place to eat and to hold council with my closest friends and allies. More tapestries and weapons hung on the walls, along with a few animal skulls.
The pantry was tucked in the corner, behind the stairs to our left that led to the loft, where she’d become acquainted with our bed quite quickly. I’d strategically built a dormer window to be able to gaze out at the scenery from the comfort of the bed, which I knew she’d love come tomorrow.
I drew up behind her, running my hands along her hips to her stomach. Astrid leaned into me.
“If there’s anything you need this house to have, just tell me. I’ll make it happen.”
Astrid hummed thoughtfully. “I’ll keep that in mind. I think it’ll take me a while to adjust to all this before I can even think about what I need.”
I understood. Even though she could go and see her family whenever she wished, this was her home now after twenty winters living elsewhere. This was a big transition for her and I’d give her whatever time she needed.
I nuzzled her neck. “I have a gift for you.”
She chuckled. “Yes, I can feel it.”
I smirked. My cock was ready to burst out of my trousers, but that wasn’t what I meant this time. “No, that’s a different gift. The gift I mean is right there on the table.”
Astrid shifted her attention to the table where something long wrapped in hide sat on top of the hard surface. She pulled away from me and approached the table.
She ran her hand along the leather, trailing the hide up and out where it flared on one end. “What is it?”
I chuckled. “You have to open it to find out.”
She cocked her head, and her hesitation to open the gift confused me. Can she sense what is inside?
With slow, deliberate tugs, Astrid undid the ties holding it together and then unwrapped her gift. The leather fell away, revealing the axe within. Astrid gasped and ran her fingers along the long haft, runes carved along its length. She traced more of them on the obsidian axe head.
