When they walked into the room, Dakran was greeted with the same sight as before. Rom huddled up next to Edýia, his bandaged hand resting on her stomach, with his head buried in Edýia's curly hair. As they approached the bed, Edýia's fragile figure and paled expression became clearer. Her eyes were closed, but she looked half dead. Rom raised his head, groaned and hissed in pain, looked at his hand and turned to them. He looked distraught, with red puffy eyes darkened expression. Dakran was looking at his past self. He knew that look, pain, loss, despair plastered all over Rom's face.
Maya placed the volsa cub on the bed. The beast yawned again, taking no notice of its surroundings, stood up and limped its way to Edýia, culling up on her chest.
Maya frowned, looked at Dakran and then at Rom. Sadness flashed in her eyes for a moment but it disappeared and she turned to Rom.
" Little Dak seems to like Edýia!" Maya gave him a small smile and touched his broken hand.
Rom's head bobbed up and down, he quickly glanced at the volsa on Edýia's chest and took a deep breath, stood up and walked to the fire.
He didn't feel like talking. Words he thought were useless to him. He stood there in front of the fire and didn't move for the longest time, like a stone.
Maya took a deep breath, and looked up at Dakran. He was looking at Edýia,. His fists balled up, his jaw ticked, and a tear escaped from the corner of his eye. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. There was nothing any of them could do, she was at Ruma's mercy, and they weren't sure she would do anything. Dakran glanced over to Rom and sat on the bed next to Edýia, taking her hand in his. She was bearly clinging to the last thread of life. Her hands were cold, and she was as white as the snow. Dakran placed his hand on Edýia's forehead. It was warmer than her hand, and her chest was bearly moving.
" Her brother came looking for Ruma!" Rom broke the silence, and Dakran took his eyes off Edýia and looked at him.
Dakran hummed " Which one? What did he want?" Dakran stood up and walked to where Rom was, placing his hand over his shoulder.
" Helm!" Rom scoffed " Allfather wants to punish Ruma for having interfered in the matters of the living!" he let out a peal of sardonic laughter and plopped himself in a chair in front of the fire.
Dakran sat in the one next to Rom " Can he not help?" Dakran frowned and clasped his hand under his chin.
" No!" Rom narrowed his eyes at the fire " Helm said it's her purpose!" his voice broke, a tear-streaked his cheek, and he quickly wiped it off with the back of his hand.
Dakran stared at the fire and didn't say anything.Rom's pain was something he had lived through countless times, and it never got easier. He had lost many people that he loved, and throwing himself to the shikari crossed his mind several times. He has never been able to follow through. Dakran glanced over his shoulder to Maya, and now he was happy that he didn't.
" You should have some rest! Maya and I will watch over Edýia!" Dakran stood up and patted him on the shoulder.
"You can sleep in the chamber next to this one!" he pointed in the direction of the chamber, but Rom didn't move, didn't even look at him.
Dakran raked his hands through his hair and walked to Maya and Edýia, who sat on the bed leaning against the headboard and watched over Edýia, playing with the volsas fur.
" I have to speak with Haren! Tomorrow will head to the border to check on things!" Dakran kissed Maya's forehead.
Maya nodded and smiled " I'll be here with Rom and Edýia!" she said in a small voice and looked at the volsa on Edýia's chest.
Dakran nodded, took her hand in his and kissed her delicate, small hand. Maya blushed when he smiled and winked at her. He swallowed a chuckle. It wasn't the right time and walked out of the door.
He had to try and make Haren understand that Maya would be his wife soon and that behaviour will not be tolerated. He was welcome to do as he pleased with everyone else, but Maya was off-limits.
Dakran pushed the door to Haren's room. He looked around and found Haren slumped in his chair in front of the fire. Haren looked over the chair's backrest and returned to staring at the fire.
" Why are you here?" Haren barked from his chair even before he had a chance to sit down.
Dakran took no notice of his sour mood and sat down " I need to talk to you! I need you to shut the fuck up and listen! You're my bother and let many things slide, but it needs to stop! Maya!" Dakran paused for a moment and swallowed a smile " Maya has accepted to be my wife! " Dakran tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn't, and his lips pulled up in a wide grin. Haren frowned and scoffed.
" You're marrying her?" he asked in disbelief and waved him off.
" Yes!" Dakran was unequivocal in his statement.
" She's been tapped, and you know it!" Haren annoyingly pointed out.
" It doesn't matter! He is gone and is none of my concern!" Dakran retorted with a scowl.
" I love her!" Dakran paused for a moment " It doesn't matter if she isn't a maiden anymore! You're worse than Sala!" Dakran snorted, miffed that his brother was so hung up on the old religion.
" Times change!" Dakran exhaled and glanced at Haren briefly.
Harem hummed " They do, but still Dakran, we don't take women like her to be our wives, mistresses, yes!" Haren reminded him of their stupid traditions with a smirk.
Dakran gave him a dirty look " I don't care, Haren, who says what and what they did aeons ago! She will be my wife, and that is that! You will treat her as such!" Dakran brooked
" Fine!" Haren chuckled " You'll be the laughingstock of the land, not me! We use women like her for one purpose only. To get our cocks wet, and that is that! We don't give them a fucking title Dakran. We fuck them and nothing more! It is the way of the North and has been since the dawn of time!" Haren spewed more nonsense out of his mouth. Dakran clenched his jaw. His hands were trembling. Haren wouldn't let go of their stupid traditions. Dakran didn't give a shit about their dumb beliefs. What was the point of holding on to something when almost the elden folks were no more?
Dakran inhaled " Listen!" Dakran paused for a moment " It is happening, whether you like it or not! I'm telling you because you are my brother, my only family. Now, I need you to let this shit go and behave! Now, tomorrow we are leaving early, have some rest!" Dakran stood up without giving the cunt the chance to say anything more. He couldn't bare to listen to his nonsense anymore. Haren wasn't wrong, but he didn't care. It didn't matter what she had done before. It was none of his business.