'I have fallen in love with you. I am afraid it is eternal and binding. I wanted to stake my claim on you tonight. To make you mine - for now and infinity to come.'

-Farrah Naseem
***

Rayna was just ten when she first saw him.

He was so unlike everybody else in their clan.
He had a shabby appearance, accentuated by his unruly black hair, that concealed one of his eyes.

Those were the most striking feature of his- his piercing eyes. They were the colour of murky water- somewhere between moss and grey asphalt.
His clothes were stained with blood and soot; his feet bruised and blistered.

Rayna had been smitten instantly.

The warriors who had brought him back from one of their patrols, told her father, the chieftain, that the boy was the only survivor of an attack that wiped away his entire clan.

Her father, being the way he was, took one look at the lost, scared, fourteen-year-old boy, and decided to take him under his wing.

Rayna couldn't have been more delighted.
The boy was to be raised as one of their own. It was not something unprecedented; they had often accommodated people from other tribes and clans.

But for the boy, who had lost his entire family, this act of kindness was nothing short of a miracle.

Rayna could never forget the look on his face as he had gazed at her father, who had extended his hand towards him, holding a juicy piece of lamb.
They had been having their evening meals when the guards had entered with the boy.

The boy's eyes had shone with the intensity of the sun.

Rayna had wondered how long it had been since he last had something to eat...

He had not needed much encouragement to have a bite from the meat.

It had been love- or loyalty- at first site for him.
Her father had ruffled the boy's hair, before speaking in the kindest of tones she had heard him use,

"Look at you... You must have been scared. Such a sturdy man, too! What is your name, my boy?"

The words that escaped the boy's thin, chapped lips, were like music to Rayna's ears.

"I- I am Gi- Gillian."
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For the next many weeks, Rayna whispered his name like a chant.

Gillian was soon taken in by the warriors, training with them despite his young age.

Her father's immutable faith in Gillian's abilities and potential, cemented his spot as one of the most favored young trainees of their clan.

Rayna had no reason to be jealous though. She knew that her father's affections for her, superseded everything else.

She was his only child after all; the last remaining link he had to his beloved wife, who had died giving birth to her.

For as long as she could remember, Rayna had never needed to pine after anything.
What she desired- she acquired.
Her father made sure of that.

Even the people of the clan knew the extent of her power, and hence, made sure to stay on her favorable side.
They did little to upset her.

This was the first instance when Rayna felt unsure about what she wanted.
Being a little girl, she was puzzled by her fascination with the new boy.

Gillian's gaze caused a strange uneasiness in her chest. She could not understand how to deal with it. His eyes held none of the appeasement, nor the fear, that the others usually held.

In fact, her presence seemed to have no effect on him.

She tried every tactic she could- walking over to the arena to see the practice, 'bumping' into him at the most inopportune moments...everything.

But it did not seem to have any effect whatsoever on the boy.
Every time, he looked past her; or, if she was lucky enough, greet her in the most respectful manner, before continuing with his task.

Rayna's young mind was frustrated.

She couldn't grasp the idea of someone not paying her the attention she had gotten so used to, over the years.

Maybe that was the start of the doomed obsession that almost destroyed her life...

The idea of taming the untamable- wasn't that a part of a human's primitive nature?
What we cannot have, attracts us the most.

The young Rayna did her own part in claiming Gillian.

For her, having him succumb to her charms was the definition of claiming him. All that young girl had wanted was some attention from the new addition to their clan.

She wanted him to carry out her demands- most of which included gathering the wild flowers, or having a childish spar with a wooden sword.

All the other warriors seemed perfectly fine doing all that; why couldn't Gillian be the same?

But he wasn't.

In the following years, Gillian would brush her off each time she would try to initiate a conversation with him. Perceptive as she was, she even got the distinct idea of his dislike for her. And for the love of nature, she could never understand what he found unlikable about her!

Of course, he wouldn't say that directly to her face. He would remain painfully polite and gentle with his rejections. And that annoyed Rayna even further- that constant aloofness of his.

Granted, she wasn't as beautiful as many of the other ladies of their clan; But none of them could boast of a zeal and fierceness that she carried; not to forget the power that she wielded over the others.
That was not something that any other girl could ever claim to have.

Then again, Gillian seemed immune to all of that.

However, Rayna was not going to sit back, and let him slip out of her hands.
She would have him.

She would have him, even if it were the last thing she accomplished in her life.
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Rayna's smirk widened as Gillian wiped the sweat off his brow.

He looked so very captivating- so virile.

As the rest of the crowd cheered maddeningly for their warriors, who had come back from another of their successful excursions, Rayna chose to remain still.

Instead, she observed the way the veins of Gillian's arms stood against his tanned skin- almost like they were displaying their own rage.

She marveled over his exquisitely sculpted body- lean, but radiating a formidable strength. His hair had gotten longer, and it now curled at the base of his neck.
The sweat made some of the strands to cling to his face, and Rayna was instantly reminded of the boy who had come to them ten years ago.

The man who now stood in front of the retinue, leading the warriors to victory, was almost unrecognizable.

Gone was the scared, timid boy.
In his place, stood a fearless, exuberant warrior, who was loyal to a fault.

Ignoring the innumerable enamored glances that were directed his way, Gillian diligently made his way to where Rayna stood with her father.

"He must be coming for you!"

The girls behind her, nudged her with their elbows, giggling with delight. Rayna simply smiled. She knew that was not the case.

But it would be- soon.

Gillian went down on one knee, presenting his bloody sword to her father.

"Chieftain."

Chieftain Edgar beamed at the man, pulling him up as he clasped his shoulders.

"Gillian, my boy! You did it again! I suppose, I should be used to this by now."

A ghost of a smile crossed Gillian's face.

"All by your grace, chieftain."

"Nonsense! But I will take any praise you lay upon me."
He then turned to the other warriors before continuing,

"Well done all my warriors. We will have a celebratory feast in tonight. Praise to the Goddess of Forest!"

A deafening chorus of celebratory cries rose amongst the crowd, giving Rayna a chance to admire Gillian.
He seemed completely oblivious to the admiring gazes of the ladies.

Rayna cast a sour look at the pair of girls who had been gawking at him. They immediately cowered back in surprise.
Pretty much everyone knew by now, that Gillian was hers. She had made sure to tell off all the girls.

She wasn't afraid of competition, of course. They didn't hold a torch against her anyway.
What annoyed her, was the constant irritation of having someone else, eyeing her man.

"You did great, Gillian."

Rayna spoke as she moved closer to him.

The rest of the people had started moving towards their huts, to prepare for the upcoming feast. Her father had also moved to the other warriors.

This was her chance.

Gillian looked at her with a bored expression, causing a spark of anger to course through her veins.

Here she was- waiting for his arrival since the morn; and he had the audacity to look at her like that?
She had even donned her finest attire for him!

"It was all possible because of my men's efforts."

He seemed absolutely disinterested in having this conversation.

Rayna's anger seeped away through the sieves of his gravelly voice.

"Nonsense! You are their leader. The men would only do as good as the one whose instructions they follow."

Rayna was confused by the sudden frown of his brows.

What had she said wrong, this time?

"Huh...just as expected."

Although it was said in a voice that was no more than a whisper, Rayna heard his words. And they caused her anger to return with a vengeance.

What was his problem?

She decided to ask him outright.

"Hey, what is-"

"I am sorry. I have to be somewhere."

Gillian interrupted her sentence with a sudden jerk of his head.
He strained his neck to look behind him, probably spotting something, or someone, within the crowd.

Rayna was left standing with her mouth agape, as he quickly maneuvered his way through the throng.

A murmur rose behind her, stopping just as quickly, as soon as she cast a warning look at them.

It took another second for her to compose herself. She pushed through the people blocking her path, to make her way to one of the clearings.

From here, she had a clear view of Gillian- and the girl who clung to his arms.

Rayna seethed with jealousy; the feeling so potent, that she felt it would burst through her veins.

Gillian- the man whom she had never even seen with a proper smile, held such a soft and gentle look in his eyes, that she had to rub her eyes to make sure that she was seeing it right.

It was almost impossible to believe that the man looking down at the girl in his arms with such affection- and love- was the same man who had so roughly rebutted her just moments ago.

This wasn't the same man who wielded his sword like a weapon of doom in the field.

No, this was a man in love. There was no doubt about that.

"She is Lynette, the sword maker's daughter. She lives just near the south edge of the village."

Olga, one of Rayna's unspoken followers, stated from behind her.

Although her people did not have the custom of keeping maids, there was numerous girls who had ultimately decided that staying on Rayna's good side would be far more profitable for them.
They made sure to stay a step ahead of her- to get her what she needed, even before she voiced it. They were her eyes and ears.
And this was the first time, they had brought her such valuable information.

The south edge of the village... that was near the practice arena. And Gillian did love swords.

"So that is how it is."

Her chilling tone, sent the other girls wincing at the speculation of what was to come.

Rayna clenched her teeth as she observed the reunion between the two lovers.

She saw Gillian pressing a kiss on the Lynette's forehead.

He was like a different man altogether!

Never in he years that she had known him, had she seen him smile with such uninhibition.

And the girl- the nerve of her!

She pressed her puny body to his like in the most comical way.

Rayna barked out a laugh.

"She is just a child! She isn't even a woman! How old is she? Twelve?"

Olga hesitated before replying, not liking the cold tone of the question.

"No, sh- she is sixteen. Turns seventeen this year. She doesn't go out much."

Rayna saw Gillian lead the girl away from the crowd. They walked, hand-in-hand, till they disappeared out of her line of sight.

She bit the inside of her cheeks, hard enough to taste the coppery taste of the blood.

"Sixteen? Huh! Still a child! And look at her! She doesn't have anything to tempt a man; specially a man like Gillian. What did he see in her? Her scrawny arms couldn't even lift the sword he carries."

Rayna knew her words were meaningless.

Gillian had made his choice.
When, or how he did that, was too late to ask. She had to give him credit for that- he did a great task of hiding that girl from her.

She had heard the rumors of his affection for one of the girls, but her pride had never been able to grasp the idea of him ever finding someone better than her.

If she had been unable to stir his affections, then how could any other girl do that?
What did that girl have, that Rayna didn't?

She had dismissed it as an infatuation. He was a grown man- one who had reached the age of marriage. Soon, he would have to chose his mate. And she would be there, waiting for him. That was what mattered.
For, that was not the choice he would make lightly.

One chose their partners with care- keeping in mind all the benefit that the alliance would bring to them. In that sense, he had no better choice than Rayna.

But now, with this girl, she had to rethink her plans. It was not uncommon for the warriors to marry someone younger. But she had always imagined Gillian to look for a woman who could bear him sturdy children- a part that she fit perfectly.

However, Rayna was no fool. She had seen the way he had looked at Lynette.
That girl probably had him under some sorcery.

He must have already planned to ask her father for a marriage union between them.

If she did nothing, then all her dreams will be shattered.

No, she could not let that happen.

"What do you propose to do?"

Olga tried not to make her nervousness apparent.
She was scared for little Lynette. The girl had never harmed a bee in her life.
And now, she would have to face the wrath of Rayna!

Rayna's face, as she turned to face Olga, was the face of a madwoman- a woman who would stop at nothing to gain what she wants.

Olga shivered with apprehension.

"They are not married yet. What are we getting so worked up about? Gillian is mine, Olga; always has been. I cannot be scared of a little girl. I will have a talk with her later on. For now, we have a celebration to attend tonight. And I have to make special preparations."

Olga wrung her hands in nervousness.

"Special preparations?"

Rayna smiled humorlessly.

"Yes, Olga. Enough of the wait. Tonight is the night, I finally make Gillian mine."
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Author's Note-

Hello to all my wonderful readers!
So, the first chapter is here.
What did you think of it?

Rayna is as steadfast as it gets. She has set her eyes on the target. And locked.
Now, she is going to stake her claim.

What do you think she'll do?

A small warning-
The next chapter's going to be hot🌶🌶🌶

Till the next time! 👋