To Be Chosen By A God

Chapter 12

                The next morning, the sunlight streaming in through the windows woke her.   She started awake to see that Micah was awake and watching her.

                “Why didn’t you wake me?”  She asked him.

                He reached for her and she moved in to his touch.  He stroked her face.  “You had a very late night taking care of me.  Besides, I’ve only been awake for about an hour.”

                “Will sugar help you heal faster?”  She asked.

                “No.  I’m not going to be able to use any of my powers as a god today.  Probably not tomorrow either, so sweets won’t give me any boost like it would on a normal day.  That’s not to say I wouldn’t still enjoy sweets, but I won’t heal any faster because of them.”

                “What do you want for breakfast?”

                “Orange juice would be nice.  I don’t know what else.”

                “Ok.  I’ll get dressed and be back with breakfast.  Did you want to sit up?”  He nodded so she helped him into a sitting position and placed their pillows behind his back to help prop him up.  He thanked her and pulled her close to hug her.  She leaned down and hugged him back.

                “Thank you, Chelsea.  I really mean it.”

                She kissed his cheek.  “Any time, Micah.  I’ll just be gone a little while.  Ok?”  He smiled and nodded.  She grabbed some clothing, scooted into the bathroom he usually used in the morning.  After dressing, she hurried out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen.  While she squeezed the orange juice, she thought about what to make for him.  He still seemed almost as weak as last night so would he be able to feed himself?  Would he be strong enough to chew or would he be so weak that all he would be able to do is drink like she was when she first woke up after being struck by disease by Luther?  He hadn’t said he couldn’t eat.  She looked around and spied the biscuits she had made and an idea formed.

                She grabbed up the circular cutter she used to cut biscuits and cookies and set it in the pan and cracked an egg into the open circle.  When the egg was able to hold it’s own shape, she removed the cutter and flipped the egg.  She cut the biscuit in half and laid the open ends on the pan to toast.  She then tipped the egg onto the biscuit, creating a sandwich.  It wouldn’t be a whole lot to eat, but if he wasn’t hungry or couldn’t eat much, it would be perfect.  She made herself some breakfast and brought everything up on the lap tray she had used when she was doing poorly.

                When she arrived back at the bedroom, he was still awake and didn’t appear to have moved.  She set the tray over his lap and sat next to him to eat her own breakfast.  She had brought the stasis crystal in case he needed help to eat.  He didn’t need it to eat the sandwich, but did to hold the orange juice.  She waited until he was finished before eating her own breakfast.  When she was finished, she set the plates on the tray on the backless bench at the foot of the bed.

                “I was only able to give you a quick clean last night; enough to take off the blood and sweat.  If you want, I can give you a better scrub.  I know you like to feel clean.”

                “I don’t want you to feel awkward, Chelsea.”

                “I can do this for you.  I might ask you to clean yourself…..down there, but I can do the rest.”

                “Only if you’re sure, Chelsea.”

                “I’m sure, Micah.”  He nodded and she went to the bathroom and checked the water basin.  It was still full from the previous day so she filled the bucket she had left up here with hot water.  She brought out the large bowl she had brought up but not used last time and filled it from the bucket.  She rubbed a cake of soap in the water with the wash cloth and started with his left arm.  She scrubbed his arm with soapy water and then rinsed it with a clean damp cloth.  She didn’t want him to catch a chill, so immediately dried him.  She moved on to his right arm so first removed the bandages, cleaned the wounds gently and worked on the right arm.  Next was his chest and neck, along with his face, being careful of his wounded cheek.  He had closed his eyes, enjoying being pampered by his beloved.  Her fingers were feather light against his wounds and cool to the touch.

                “Your skin is healing faster than I thought it would.  And the demon didn’t do as much damage as I thought it had.”

                “Killing a god is not easy, as you know.  I told you that a demon had succeeded once, but it was a long time in doing as they had to keep her weakened long enough for the people to stop worshipping her and then for her to age and die.  Demons are strong and their teeth are sharp and their jaws are strong, but even so, penetrating a god’s skin when you are not a god is very difficult.  You could take the sharpest knife here and try to cut my skin, but you would only succeed in giving me the equivalent of a papercut.  You may not have noticed, but Jessa had to have my hands over hers to push the needle through my skin.  That’s why the wounds are shallower than they would be on a mortal.”

                “And men hunt these things…..”  Chelsea muttered, horrified.

                He placed a hand over hers.  “They usually go in groups and have trained for a long time to be able to do it.”

                “Um…I still have your legs to do on this side.  Did you want to get yourself now or after your legs get cleaned?”  A hint of color staining her cheeks.

                “How about you do my legs first and then I’ll know how much I need to do.”  She nodded and worked on his legs.  When she was finished, she prepped the wash cloth for him and he lifted the sheet to scrub himself.  When he was finished, she handed him the clean damp cloth to rinse and then the dry towel after that.

                “Ok, I need to turn you so I can get your back side.”  He helped her to turn himself over and she worked on his back, his rear, and the back of his legs.  He was surprised she had no problem with his rear and while he wanted to ask her about it, didn’t want to embarrass her.  She dried him off and then grabbed the oil to keep his skin from feeling dried out.  She rubbed down his back side and then helped him to again lay on his back.  She worked it into his chest, arms, legs and stomach and used small dabs of the oil on his face and neck.  When she was done, his skin felt supple and moisturized.  He assured her that his privates did not need the oil.  He did, however, love the feeling of her massaging the oil into his skin.  He hoped that one day he could return the favor.  There was nothing quite like being massaged by the person you love.

                Her words interrupted his happy thoughts.  “What about your hair?  I think we could manage cleaning it.”

                “I think it can go another day.  I should be able to move around on my own tomorrow and I’ll clean it then.  Your fingers are amazing, Chelsea.  I would have loved doing this under much different circumstances.”  Some color stained her cheeks but she smiled and nodded.

                “How about I brush it out then?”  He nodded so she took some time brushing it and releasing any knots in it.  It was a little oily when she was done, but would be fine for another day.  She kind of liked seeing him with all of his hair down rather than the hair at the temples and brow pulled back into a tail.  It was nice for a change, but enjoyed it both ways.

                “I need to make up a batch of the ointment and I’ll make lunch too.”  She kissed his forehead and he reveled in the feel of her lips against himself.  Was it only yesterday they had kissed for the first time?  Well…the first ‘real’ time.  It had certainly been a strange set of circumstances that had brought them so close to each other so quickly.  He would not have expected this level of intimacy from her for many months.  It was around three months until the winter solstice and he wondered at what he should make for her.  Shortly after the winter solstice was the summit where he would meet with the other gods.  They did this every fifty years to check in with each other, and resolve disputes.  The end of that month was Chelsea’s birthday.  She would be 18, he knew, and in her village, that was the youngest acceptable age for marriage.  He would offer her The Choice sometime after that and if she said yes, marriage would be within the year. 

                He was still fantasizing about their life together when she came back up with lunch and the ointment.  He was again propped up on the pillows with the sheet covering his lower half, so she set the lap tray over his legs.  It was a simple sandwich that he recognized as leftovers from the day before.

                “I didn’t know if you would want your beer or just water, so I brought both.”  She explained.  He ended up drinking the beer with her help and she kept the water glass and pitcher near him so that when he got thirsty she could make sure he had something to drink.

                When they were finished, she rebound his wounds and then took all the dishes back down to the kitchen, washed them, and checked on what to make for dinner.  She decided on something simple and knew it wouldn’t take long to make.  She went to the wool room and grabbed her socks she was knitting and brought the basket back up to the bedroom.  While he rested, she knitted.

                While she was working on the sock and coming towards the end of the first one, he woke up.  “Chelsea, why are you still here?  You don’t have to.”

                “I wanted to be here if you needed me for anything.  Are you thirsty?”  He nodded so she poured him a glass and held it to his lips for him to drink.  He again fell asleep and she finished the sock she was working on.  She didn’t have enough yarn to make the next one so she quickly went to the wool room and grabbed a basket and a spindle to work with.  She spun for another hour or so and then went down to the kitchen to make dinner.  She just made a chicken breast for him and some green beans.  She wasn’t even sure if he would be able to eat it all.  She cut up his into bite-sized pieces and placed it in a stasis bubble in case he was still sleeping when she got back.

                She brought their food up to the bedroom along with another beer for him if he wanted it.  He was still asleep so she ate quietly and left his food in the stasis bubble.  She returned to spinning and after a half hour or so, he woke up.  She helped him again into a seated position and he was able to only eat the chicken, which he ate with his hands.  He opted for just water instead of the beer.  When he was finished eating and drinking, she gave him a dampened cloth for his hands.  He kept apologizing for eating with his hands, but she just started to kiss him every time he went to apologize.

                He caught on quickly.  “I like this game.  I wish we were playing it when I felt better.”  His arms were loosely around her waist as she sat next to him on the edge of the bed.  “I promise, I won’t be so bad off tomorrow.  Today’s rest has really helped me and another night of it will do a world of good.”  He brushed a few strands of her hair from her face.

                “Don’t feel you have to do a thing if you’re really not ready for it, Micah.  I don’t mind being your nurse.”

                “Thank you, Chelsea.”  He knew he had really chosen the right girl.  The depth of their relationship so soon was a new and wondrous thing to him and he reveled in it.  Never before had he loved so deeply so soon and that it might even be returned?  She may not have said the words to him, but he could see it in her eyes and in the way she washed him and bandaged him, in the way she made him clothing or food.  He leaned over and kissed her.  “I love you.”  He whispered.  She did not say the words back, but he wasn’t expecting her to.  Not yet.  He stayed up with her for a while as she continued to spin.  He wasn’t up to reading, so watched her and they sometimes chatted, but mostly, they just enjoyed each other’s company.

                As they grew tired, she helped him to lay flat again and reclaimed her pillow.  She made sure the rest of the lamps in the house were out and then, after changing into her nightgown, snuffed out the lanterns in the bedroom before climbing in and going to sleep. 

                The next morning he was woken up by the morning prayers.  He listened to them as he also waited for Chelsea to wake up.  She woke up shortly after the prayers stopped.

                She yawned and stretched.  “Good morning Micah.”

                “Good morning.  Sleep well?”

                She nodded.  “How are you feeling?  Up to moving around today?”

                “Yes.  I would like to get clean.”

                “Shower or bath?”

                “I think the bath will be safer.”

                “Ok.  Let me get the water ready for you first.”  She hopped out of bed and started filling the tub.  When it was full, she made sure his soap and oils were nearby and came out to get him.  He had moved so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed with the sheet still covering his lower half.  He had already removed the bandages.

                “Can you get me a pair of sleeping pants?  Or a towel?”

                “Don’t worry about it.”

                “I know you’re not comfortable with my nudity, Chelsea.”

                “I just won’t look.”  He doubted it would be possible, as she would likely have to look down to ensure they didn’t walk in to anything.  He gave her a dubious look.  “It will be fine.”

                She sat down next to him and put an arm around his waist as he put an arm around her shoulders.  He removed the sheet and they stood up together.  He looked over at her and saw her red face.  She had looked.  He chuckled mentally and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.  His strength was low as the venom still coursed through his system.  They walked into the bathroom and she helped lower him into the tub.  She turned bright red again and he realized she must have looked again.  She was doing very well with the entire situation; better than he had expected, really.

                “Do you want me to stay?  Help you wash your hair or your back?”  She offered.

                “Are you sure?  I don’t want you to continue to be uncomfortable.  I know getting me here has not been an easy experience for you.”

                “You not pointing it out has helped and you won’t see my red face if I’m helping you wash your hair.”

                “True.  I will probably be pretty slow moving.  Go ahead and grab your shower and I should be ready for you by then.”  She nodded and headed off to the other bathroom she often used.  She would have to refill the basin in here soon as well as the one in the other bathroom.  Just another thing to add to the list for the day.  Hopefully Micah would be able to move a little today so she could get a few things done without feeling bad for leaving him to himself.

                She arrived back in their bedroom and knocked on the bathroom door.  She heard a chuckle and then he replied, “Come on in.”

                He was still cleaning himself, but had placed a wash cloth over his privates.  “Better?”  He asked.  She laughed and nodded.  She sat on the edge of the stone tub while he finished up and then helped him with his back.  After that, he scooted down a little in the tub and she helped him wet his hair.  He sat back up and she scrubbed his hair with the hair cleanser, helped him rinse it out and then added the oil to it so that it would be manageable and smooth.  When he was clean, she pulled the drain and they waited for the tub to drain most of the way before attempting to get him up out of it.  She had tied her skirts up and had not put on socks or shoes for this venture so had no problem getting in to the tub with him to help him up.  He grabbed a towel and she helped him back to the bed.  He had wrapped it around himself as they walked and once he was settled on the bed, she grabbed another towel and helped him to dry off and dry out his hair.  Once dry, she lightly applied the oil to his skin so that it didn’t feel so dry and tight to him.

                Once he was clean, she checked his wounds.  They were now healed enough for her to remove the stitches so she quickly trotted to the sewing room, grabbed the tiny thread scissors and came back to remove the stitches.

                “You’re healing quickly.”  She said as she snipped away the stiches.

                “A little slower than normal, actually.  It’s the venom my body is fighting against that is slowing me down.”

                “Well, you probably know wounds better than I do.  I can either bandage you back up or you can let them air.”

                “Bring me over the mirror stand, would you?  I can’t make a decision unless I can see the wounds properly.”

                She brought it over and he looked at the wounds, leaning in for a better look from time to time.  “The larger wound on my neck will need some ointment and to be wrapped up again, but the rest look fine.”  He decided.  She did as he said and only his neck ended up being bandaged.

                “What would you like to wear today?”  She asked as she opened his wardrobe.

                “Actually, the clothing you made me would be perfect.”  He replied.  She blushed a little that he liked the clothing so much.  It made her want to make him more.  She controlled her features as she pulled the items out of the wardrobe.  She helped him with the shirt and then positioned his legs in the pants.  She pulled them up as high as she could with him sitting down and then helped him to stand so he could pull them up the rest of the way.  He did not put on his belt or bracers as he usually did, nor did he tuck in the shirt like he usually did either.  He did not pull back his hair after Chelsea brushed it out for him and declined Chelsea’s offer to put it back for him.  She did put his socks and boots on for him and then put her own on.

                She helped him up and they walked slowly down to the kitchen.  She set him at a chair at the dining room table and then worked on breakfast.  After breakfast he could move slowly on his own so while she hauled in water for the dishes and the laundry, he sat at the smaller table in the kitchen that Chelsea and Margaret had used when Chelsea was learning to read.  She set water in a large pot to begin getting hot for the laundry and the dishes and then took several buckets up to the bathing chambers, taking a couple trips to refill the basins.  On the last trip, she brought down the laundry and the bedding.  Micah was a little surprised at how quickly she moved around, and stopping rarely.  When she came back in for the hot water, he made his way out to a nearby bench to be with her while she worked on the laundry.  When she came back in, she used the remaining hot water on the dishes and then set them to the side to dry.

                After that, she worked on lunch by preparing and cooking a roast along with honey cakes, dinner rolls, a loaf of bread, and a multitude of other items that they were low on.  The one-two punch of her being ill and then taking care of him while he was injured had taken it’s toll on supplies and food staples.

                “I try to get most things done in the morning when I have more energy.”  Chelsea explained when he asked why she was doing so much at once.  “I slow down a bit after lunch.”  There was a flurry of movement as everything started to be ready.  Micah got to have a piping hot honey cake and there was just enough time for everything to rest before cutting slices off of the roast for a roast beef sandwich for lunch.  They ate at the small table in the kitchen and chatted about small things.  After lunch, she cleaned the dishes and then filled the basket she used to refill the lamp oil and candles.  When she came back. She put all the food items in stasis bubbles and then swept and mopped the kitchen and dining room.

                She kept a pitcher of water near him and replenished it on occasion.  She had offered to get him a book, but he declined.  Instead he watched her.  He was surprised at how much she accomplished in a day.

                “I’d forgotten that I promised to take you to Barnabus, the leatherworker yesterday.”  He said as he watched her clean.

                “Well, I don’t think you were going much of anywhere yesterday.  Today either for that matter.”

                “But I promised you.  I should have arranged to have Margaret take you.”

                “But she was taking the cart and horses back to the North Village.  And today I’m far too busy to see him.  I can wait for you to be well again to take me.  I’m in no rush.”

                “Thank you for understanding.”

                “You need to stop apologizing for getting injured.”

                A mischievous twinkle entered his eyes as he said.  “I’m sorry…”  He was unable to complete the sentence before Chelsea began kissing him soundly.

                “What was that?”  She asked.

                “I’m…”  He was unable again to even finish the sentence before she began kissing him again.  They did this for another several rounds before he found that he couldn’t get the words out for laughing too hard.  When he quieted, he tucked a stray lock back into the combs Chelsea used to keep her hair up while she worked.  “I feel more alive with you than I have in a very long time.”  He confessed.  “There are so many things I want to do with you and tell you about that I feel like I’ll never get to before they’ve already happened.  I wanted to take you on a proper tour of the Haven, but you’ve already traveled through most of it while driving me back here in the cart.  I need to tell you about the Fifty Year Summit because it will happen after the winter solstice.  When I’m with you, days have meaning again.  Hours have meaning again.  It’s not just a year passing and I don’t notice it anymore.  How about during dinner, I tell you about the Summit and what to expect?  I wasn’t planning on talking about it until it came closer, but we have the time and I don’t want to be telling you the night before.”  Chelsea nodded and he moved to the dining room while she prepared dinner.

                She brought the food out shortly and placed a plate in front of both of them.  As they ate, he explained about the Fifty Year Summit.

                “Every fifty years, the gods that are still alive and have followers in this part of the world meet at a neutral ground.  It was created so that no one has to host the meeting and reveal where their Haven is located.  We gather to catch up with each other on common issues or if another god’s influence is going unchecked.  For example, if I were to be angry for a long time, it starts spreading into my people and eventually to surrounding areas in the form of a need to fight which could lead to wars.  I can do this consciously if I wanted to, but if I leave anger and rage unchecked, it could influence the mortals.

                “So we check each other in this regard.  We may also make trade agreements.  For example, another god’s lands could have a larger amount of dragons and demons and need help in clearing them out.  They would come to me to have my priests make the hunters aware of the issue and payment would also be discussed.  I would not offer to fight another god’s demons and my followers that are hunters would not do it without compensation in another country.

                “Lastly, we talk about territory encroachment and personal attacks.  It is likely that Luther’s attack on you will be discussed.  At this stage of our relationship, you are considered my charge which is the same as anyone else who lives in my Haven.  An attack on one of my charges is not typically a punishable offense.  The agreement between all the gods is that we would never attack another god’s husband, wife, or concubine.  You have not been given The Choice yet, nor have we been married so there is a grey area there that he used.  I would not expect him to be punished, but do expect to be asked questions about what happened by the other gods.”

                “Concubines?”

                “I think that Luther is the only god who still has concubines.  The rest of us prefer a more intimate relationship with a single person, though sometimes Draven will have multiple wives when he can’t choose between two women to be his wife.  He currently has two wives.  Luther will probably disgust you.  He typically will bring a few of his concubines with him and he will usually debase them at some time during the meeting.”

                “Why doesn’t someone stop him?”

                “They are his followers.  By interfering, you open yourself up to be interfered with.  You must not make any remark on it.  I think he does it on purpose so that he can claim interference.  The penalty is that he would be able to take you for a year back to his Haven and do whatever he wanted to you so long as you were still alive at the end of the year.  If either of us says anything about how he treats his concubines, it would be you he would take.  Taking me would just give me the location of his Haven.  The same goes for him, though.  If he were to attack you or attempt to harm you in any way while at the Summit or after we are married, at least one of his concubines would be in my possession for one year.  The only thing is, I don’t think he would care what I did to his concubine.”  She looked down with worry on her face.  “It’s not as bad as you think.  It will likely just be boring for you.”  He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it.

                “When is the Summit?”

                “The end of the first week of the new year.  Why do you ask?”

                “What kind of clothing should I wear?  I don’t want to embarrass you.”

                “You would never embarrass me, Chelsea.  But I will take care of what you wear there.  If you let me, I’ll even style your hair.”  She nodded her agreement and they quietly finished eating.  When they were both full, she took the plates back to the kitchen and they walked to the sitting room together.

                “Would you lay with me on the couch?”  He asked her.

                “Of course, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

                He chuckled.  “The wound is on the right and you lay on my left.  I don’t think it will be a problem.”  He settled himself on the couch and when he was ready, Chelsea got into position with some help.  He wrapped his arms around her and they relaxed; enjoying each other’s company.  “This is one of my favorite things to do with you.”  Micah confessed.

                Chelsea smiled.  “I love you.”  She whispered back

                The words!  She had finally said the words to him!  He was elated and he felt like his heart soared.  “I love you too, Chelsea.”  He whispered back as he kissed her forehead.  She shifted on him so that she could kiss him properly.  As they kissed, he again hardened and she gasped a little when she felt it.  “Excuse my hand.”  He said as he quickly adjusted himself.  She didn’t blush which he had been expecting.  She just waited for him to adjust himself and continued to kiss him.  He was careful to not become too vigorous or forceful with her.  He wanted to rub himself against her and kiss her neck and breasts, but kept his lust under control despite how much he didn’t want to.  He knew she wasn’t ready for any of that but he frequently fantasized about it.

                He finally ended the kiss.  “We need to calm down before I do something you’re not ready for.”  He whispered in her ear.  His warm breath sent shivers down her spine and his mouth had her breathing hard with want.  Her lower lips were aching and she didn’t understand why.  He held her as their hearts stopped racing, his erection became flaccid again, and her lower lips ceased to ache.  He idly rubbed her back as they laid together.  All too soon, it was time to go to bed.  She dosed the lamps and candles as they traveled up the stairs to the bedroom.  Once they were both ready for bed, she again dosed the lamps and they settled into bed.