The Gift Wife - Chapter #95

Free Enterprise  - The Gift Wife -  Chapter #95


Tyr literally slept for 27 hours straight. He had only awakened because of an overwhelming need to make a mad dash for the fresher.

“Go wash while your at it. I'll have things freshened up by the time you come back.” a feminine voice said. It was Desi.

Tyr considered the dynamics of his household while he showered. It was up to each individual wife to decide when she wanted to see him, and in doing so she could demand his presence anytime. However, in situations where the wives developed a close bond with one another, they would all back off and leave one out in the open. It was somewhat like leaving a virgin sacrifice for the village dragon.

Yesterday after the Repast, all of his wives had withdrawn early except, Desi. She was obviously "it".

When Tyr returned to the bedroom, Desi was dressed in comfortable clothing, had prepared a light meal, put fresh linen on the bed, lit scented candles in the darkened room, and, had massage oil ready.

It was the perfect romantic set up, but Tyr frowned.

“What's the matter, Tyr?” Desi asked.

“My head hurts.” Tyr replied.

“That's because you're still wearing this thing.” Desi said, as she reached up and removed the circlet from Tyr's brow. Tyr raised his eyebrows in surprise. As soon as she removed the thing, the pain was gone.

“You fell asleep before I got a chance to take it off, and I didn't want to disturb you by trying to remove it while you slept.” she explained as she handed the circlet to him. Tyr wondered if there were other untold stories of leaders falling asleep with their crowns on.

“There is also the possibility that you have a big head, Tyr.” she said further. Tyr frowned at her dangerously.

“Even though Barbarossa was an Alpha Nietzschean, you are taller, larger and heavier than him, so quite naturally you have a larger head than him. If this is one of his crowns, you will definitely have to commission a master metalworker to measure your head, and craft your own custom collection of crowns.” Desi said, and smiled.

“Collections of crowns? Tyr asked I only want one.” he continued. Fondly gazing at his father's circlet.

“I know, Tyr. But you will personally need a collection of crowns to match the affairs of state you attend. The more elaborate and official, the more. . . . .” she started.

“Ostentatious and ridiculous-looking the crown.” Tyr finished.

He distinctly recalled what his brothers nicknamed “The Monster”. A large, heavy,two-tiered, and bejeweled monstrosity of a diadem that was supposedly Drago's Crown. Like his fore-fathers, Barbarossa steadfastly REFUSED to wear it, so the thing remained on display in of the local museums.

After comparing the historical accounts and vids of Drago, he'd come to his own adolescent conclusion that: "Drago would've had to be out of his Nietzschean mind to wear a thing like that!"

“Yes, unfortunately.” Desi replied, interrupting his thoughts.

Tyr cringed inwardly realizing he may have been wearing a crowns equivalent of jeans and a t-shirt. All the while meeting with high-level officials who had arrived to offer condolences for Barbarossa.

“Sometimes you simply cannot win for losing.” Tyr thought, and sighed.

“During times of great sorrow,and or stress, no one has the time to consider what crown to wear. Or even remember to wear it at all.” Desi said sagely. Sounding very much like Khan. “Someday I will tell you about the time when my Father Cochise forgot to wear his warbonnet for the Semi-Annual Chiefs Council. . . .” she continued, as she took Tyr by the hand and led him to the table where the meal was set up.


* * * * * * * * *


Much later. . . . . .


“Cochise GAVE you to Barbarossa to be his wife?” Tyr asked, as they both lay entwined in an embrace.

“Yes, in celebration of a newly formed allegiance between the Anasazi and Two Wolf clans, I was given to him and thus was Barbarossa's first and only Gift Wife.” she replied.

The concept of “The Gift Wife” was not a strange one. It hailed back to Ancient Earth, Vulcan, and countless other cultures and races. It was where one tribal or clan leaders gave one of their daughters to a rival tribe or clan leader, to seal an allegiance with them.

The concept was thus: If your enemy had your daughter as part of his family, it was a sure hedge and insurance against him making war against you. And vise versa. It was also used to strengthen friendships between clans, tribes, or prides. With Barbarossa and Cochise, it was the latter.

“When I arrived, Barbarossa had just dismissed his wives. Talk about arriving in the midst of high drama! Some of his former wives were being escorted out and crying at the top of their lungs, and here I came! Tongues are probably still wagging at warp speed to this day! ” Desi said. “Victoria was all by herself and needed someone to take help care of Barbarossa, so I stepped in to help.” she continued

Putting to rest questions in Tyr's mind about whether they connected or not.

“He liked me to read to him the most. I helped Victoria with him to the point where she was forced to hire the two nurses.” she continued. Tyr thought back to where he'd first walked in and Barbarossa was in the process of throwing the nurses out. He seriously wondered if that whole scene was a set up.

“Even though towards the end, he became very ornery, and grouchy, because he was in a lot of pain during the last few months, Barbarossa was a good and honorable man, Tyr. I'm sorry I did not know him longer.” Desi said.

“I am sorry I did not know him longer, too.” Tyr said. Desi held him as the tears flowed.