Gods.
Rurik whipped his head around to face her, his attention drawn by her howl and Finn watched as she grabbed his dagger and sliced his throat, her teeth pink with blood. He fell to the floor, his arm catching the weapon that pinned Disa, his mouth gaping soundlessly like dying fish, and Disa screamed once more.
Finn’s panic disappeared in a flash and he took command of his senses. This ended now. He’d taken a man’s weapon and killed two before the others even realized they were in danger, and the two unarmed guards fled out the door as he eviscerated the third. Free to move, he stepped over his brother without bothering to see if he lived and caught Disa just as she meant to fall.
“Disa, open your eyes,” he commanded. Her lashes fluttered briefly but her lids stayed shut. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he gripped the hilt of the sword, jerking it free, somewhat surprised to see how deep his brother had managed to drive it into the wood.
“FUCK,” she gasped, the pain hauling her back into consciousness.
“Keep still,” he said quickly. “I know it hurts, but it’s about to hurt a lot more. Keep still.”
“Don’t move?” she asked wheezily. Her blooded smile stripping any dark humor he may have felt.
“I’m going to pull this out on the count of three. Ready?” Disa nodded grimly. “One--” He pulled the sword out swiftly and Disa mouthed soundlessly, eyes rolling back into her head. “I love you,” he apologized as he dropped the sword to the ground with a clatter and caught her crumpled body, lowering her gently to the floor. “I love you.”
“What the hell was that!” she cried, twisting in pain.
“Keep still.” He ripped the bottom of her underdress and wrapped it tightly around her stomach. “I love you,” he repeated as he tightened the makeshift bandage.
“I don’t love you, you stupid bastard.”
He let out a harsh laugh and clenched his shaking hands. “Liar.”
Her lips moved indistinctly, her eyes closed.
“Disa?” She didn’t respond. “Disa, wake up,” he ordered, scooping her to his chest and dashing out the door unarmed. He met with little resistance as he stormed down the hall, and the few mercenaries that lingered jumped out of his way. He was sure he looked a sight: murderously determined and his arms full of a blood soaked girl.
Finn flew down the stairs, praying to the gods the woman who’d seen to his head was still below, tending to the other injured prisoners, or else hiding from the incessant bells and fighting men. He was forced to jump a corpse at the last step, paying it little mind, his eyes glued to the door below the keep he’d emerged from less than an hour ago. Could that be right? It felt like ages.
Finn was trying to decide how best to shoulder through the entrance when it flew open, jerking his head back just in time to keep his nose intact. “Finn!” a familiar voice exclaimed.
Finn blinked as he took in the Lawspeaker’s sudden appearance. “Elrik?”
“Finn, you’re--”
“I need to get by,” he pleaded, raising Disa in his arms.
A small gasp issued from behind Elrik who turned with an annoyed expression. “I told you to stay back.”
Finn squeezed his eyes shut briefly in thanks as the woman he’d been looking for shoved her way past Elrik. “What happened?” she asked, her hands roving over Disa’s head and neck.
“She was stabbed. I didn’t get a good look at the wound; I thought it more important to come find you. You know something of healing, yes?”
She murmured in agreement, her focus intent on Disa. “Is all this blood hers?”
“No. She slit my brother’s throat,” he added as an afterthought more for Elrik’s sake than anything else.
“There seems to be a lot of that today,” the healer grumbled.
Finn looked with confusion to Elrik who shrugged in reticent agreement. “I’m sorry, what’s your name again?” The small woman leveled him with a disbelieving glare.
Finn felt the hair on his arm raise just before Elrik’s eyes strayed over his shoulder and widened in alarm. He dropped instinctively, thinking to dodge the swing of a weapon, pivoting awkwardly to block Disa’s body from further harm.
Sharp whistles saved him the trouble as the approaching assassin took two arrows to the back. Finn saw the archer framed at the entrance to the hall and recognized him from the woods, the one who’d been with the woman he saved, the woman who…
“Hey” the man shouted. “Have you seen my girl?”
Finn hesitated only for a moment. He wanted to do this better but Disa was hurt and there was a battle raging. “She’s dead.”
The archer stared at him and shook his head. “Not possible.”
“I’m sorry,” Finn confirmed. “She rushed into the upstairs hall and straight into a mercenary’s arrow. She fell out the window.”
The archer continued to stare as if waiting for the rest of the story, as if waiting for the part where she didn’t die. A shout and more alarm bells made Elrik and Finn flinch, battle ready, and when he looked back the archer was gone.
“Get inside,” Elrik barked as he shoved the woman back through the door before standing aside to let Finn pass
“This way,” gestured the healer, indicating the cell a few down from where he’d been kept. She opened the door and squealed as a knife flew out the opening and lodged in the earthen wall behind them. “Stop doing that!”
Finn didn’t question her when she waved him in once more and instead strode forward to lay Disa on an already bloodied cot in the corner. “Does she seem pale to you?”
“Move aside,” the girl said, pulling a reluctant Finn away.
“Dalla no,” Elrik said. “You swore the last one was the last one. I’m getting you out of here. Now.”
“Be quiet, Elrik,” she replied as she gently unwrapped the bandage. “And someone get me the knife that Sela keeps trying to kill me with.”
A girl Finn hadn’t noticed in the corner ran outside to obey. “Is she going to be alright?” he asked. Or pleaded maybe. Finn didn’t care.
“I’m not sure. The wound is clean and the bleeding seems less than I would have imagined, but it worries me that she’s still unconscious.”
Drums sounded from outside, the vibrations making dust jump off every surface. Elrik cursed under his breath. “It’s too late. They’re here. Dalla.”
“Hmm?” she responded without looking up.
“Look at me.” She tore her eyes away from Disa’s stab wound that she’d started to cleanse with water. “Do not move from this place, do you understand? Do. Not. Move.” Her mouth was a hard line but she didn’t respond. “Dalla--”
“I understand, I understand.” Elrik bent low and planted a hard kiss on her lips. She waved him off as Disa started to stir, her hands raking at her stomach.
“Disa.” Finn dropped to his knees, his hands on either side of her face. “Can you hear me?”
“Finn, we have to go,” Elrik prompted.
He ignored him. “Disa?” She didn’t answer or open her eyes, just tossed her head, her fingers clawing at her dress.
“Sela, come help me hold her down,” Dalla urged, and the woman moved to her side so quietly, Finn had forgotten she was there all over again.
“Finn, the drums. The men are gathering. You need to see to them.”
“Fuck the drums,” Finn growled. “I know what the drums mean; fuck the drums.”
“There have been too many leaders here today, Finn. Your men need instruction and your people need protecting. You must see to them.” Finn tried to ignore the Lawspeaker, focusing everything he had on the woman he was meant for, the woman his brother tried to murder. “I’m leaving someone here that I love, too, Finn,” he said through gritted teeth, his hand biting into Finn’s shoulder. “And I’m leaving her here for the sake of someone you love. Help me keep them safe.”
He was right. Finn knew he was right. Disa would kill him if she knew he eschewed his duty for her sake. He stroked h
er hair and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “You promised. Don’t forget you promised.” He kissed her on the forehead and forced himself to rise.
“Let’s kill them all swiftly, shall we?”
Finn.
Disa woke with his name on her lips. “Where’s Finn?”
“She’s awake, can we go now?” asked a voice.
Disa’s eyes peeked open and the burning pain at her side washed over her. “Fuuuuuucccck.” Someone gasped and someone else laughed. Disa tried to sit up and look, but a woman’s hands were on her.
“Slowly, slowly. You’ve been stabbed.”
Disa glared up at her bleary eyed. “Yeah, I know. Where am I?” she asked, gingerly pushing aside the makeshift bandage around her middle to look at the wound.
“You’re below the main hall, in a cell. You--”
“In a cell? Where’s Finn?” she panicked.
“No, no you’re fine. Finn brought you here to have me tend your wound before leaving with Elrik to join the other men.”
Disa’s brain tried to catch up, the pain making her sharper than she should have been after the last brutal kick to the head Rurik had given her. “Elrik? The Lawspeaker?”
“You’ve heard of him?” Dalla smiled.
“Yes. Or no. Just what Finn has told me. What other men?”
“They’re fighting above. Clearing out what’s left of the brothers’ army, I suppose. It’s been hours. We’ve had no word.”
Disa started to sit up and Dalla helped, urging her to be slow. “Elrik and Finn are fighting?” she asked again, breathing hard from the simple act.
“And Grim,” added another woman across the room.
Disa frowned at her. “Grim is above? He’s ok, I mean? He escaped?” The woman nodded. “And we’re sitting down here because?”
“You’ve been stabbed,” and “No idea,” the women declared in unison.
Disa smiled as the two exchanged frustrated glances. “I’m Disa.”
“Dalla,” said the petite blonde woman who was even now fussing with her bandages.
“Sela,” the dark haired one replied.
“Nice to meet you both. Now help me up, I’m going to find Finn.”
“Ha!” Sela cheered, moving quickly to help Disa stand. Dalla grimaced but moved to her other side. “You can stay, you know,” Sela teased, leaning forward to see Dalla’s face.
“Oh, please. I was never going to stay. I just don’t think she should be going. Can you stand?”
Disa tested her balance and as long as she favored her left side, the pain wasn’t unbearable. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Well, you did promise Elrik.”
“I did no such thing,” Dalla protested. “He said ‘Stay here, understand,’ and I said ‘I understand.’ Which I did. I understood perfectly that he wanted me to stay here. Never said I was going to do it.” Sela grinned at the healer’s logic. “Will Grim be upset with you?”
Sela snorted. “Let’s go.”
Making her way up the stairs was the hardest thing Disa had ever done in her life and by the time they’d reached the landing, her vision was starting to blur. They opened the door just enough to see that the entrance hall was empty. “All clear,” whispered Dalla.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Disa asked, swallowing the urge to whimper.
“I’m going to find a girl Finn mentioned. He said she’d been shot and fell out a window?”
Disa flinched at the memory. “Yes.”
“I’m going to start over there, see if she’s alive or if anyone else needs tending.”
“I’m going to find Grim.”
“I’m going to find Finn.”
They stood awkwardly for a moment. “Do you want us to find Elrik for you while you’re treating the wounded?” Disa asked.
“Gods, no. He’ll just lock me in that cell. You’re too weak to be on your own. You’re going to open your stitches.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Sela offered. “The men are bound to know where the other is if they’ve managed to sort themselves out.” Sela looted the body of a mercenary nearby and took his sword. “Here,” she said, handing Disa a dagger from her belt. “Should be easier to wield that than steel.”
“Good luck,” Dalla whispered as she slipped out the front door.
“What’s wrong?” Sela asked, watching as Disa stared down at the small silver blade she’d been given. “It’s a good knife.”
“I know it’s a good knife. It’s my knife. Where’d you get it?”
“Holmland,” she answered. “Long story.”
Finn’s throat ached as he bellowed orders to his men. It was more like routing mice from the larder than seeing an enemy chased from your village. The mercenaries were falling one by one, either to their knees in surrender or on their bellies at the point of a sword, and now that Grim’s men had joined them, there was no doubt of their victory. Still Finn fought like a man possessed. The sooner they ended this, the sooner he could get back to Disa. The last image he had of her, writhing in a blood soaked dress on a blood soaked mattress, was haunting his every step.
Finn brought a sword down hard on one of the brothers’ archers and knocked him from the battlement with his shield. Clear the walls, Finn thought. Clear the walls and you can leave Birger in command. It’s almost finished. He’d seen the first tier of walls rid of these bastards, now he only had the upper walkways left.
“FINN!” The familiar cry made his heart leap with hope and fear. “FINN!”
Finn looked around for the source frantically, spotting her one level below, her body pressed to the wall as she shuffled along the narrow walkway towards the closest ladder. “What...What are you doing? DID YOU CLIMB UP THE LADDER?”
“No, I flew.”
Finn hopped over the edge of the wall and dropped the ten feet to the lower walkway, jogging towards her limping form as he knocked aside anyone in his way. “What are you doing?” he asked again as he pulled her to him, his hands in her hair and on her face and over her shoulders. “What are you doing?”
“I think that might have been one of your men,” she frowned as she tried to look over the edge at the boy Finn had unceremoniously booted.
“Hey!” he growled, the force of it demanding her attention.
Disa pulled him to her and kissed him hard, and Finn answered in kind, taking care not to squeeze her too tight though the urge was great. It figures they’d find each other in the middle of battle. Their love was born of battle; why not seal it with one?
Finn could hear the cheers of the men as hoof beats pounded away in the distance, the thud of bodies fewer and farther between. They’d won. They were safe. They’d delivered justice on those who’d massacred the innocent.
But Finn didn’t care. He just wanted to kiss his wife.
“How long till Finn returns from Holmland?” one of her many new sisters asked.
Disa straightened her aching back. “Hopefully before nightfall,” Disa answered. “I fear this babe will be born with or without Helga.”
“That’s a bad idea, baby,” Grim scolded lightly as he stepped into the room, shaking the rain from his boots. “Helga will not be pleased.”
“You made it!” Disa laughed. “She’s had the last three, I dare say it’s getting boring for her.” She offered her cheek to Grim.
“Babies are never boring,” cooed Dalla, her eyes going hazy.
“Ok, then you can have this one,” Disa groaned as she plopped back on one of the many piles of furs Finn had set about the keep should she need to rest.
“How about I just deliver him if Helga doesn’t make it.”
“Sounds good. And it’s not a boy, it’s a girl.”
“We’ll see,” Dalla smirked.
“Gods, I hope it isn’t another boy.” Disa sucked in a breath as another pain shot across her belly. They weren’t too close together yet. “Wait for your father, little one,” Disa whispered, her hand rubbing back and forth. She smiled despite her
self. Her whole family would be here soon along with the newest member. She never imagined she could be so happy, not in her whole life, and certainly not after that terrible night. But she was. She was so, so happy.
“Where’s your wife, Grim? I may need her sooner rather than later,” Dalla asked, eyeing Disa knowingly.
“Oh, no. No, no. Sela doesn’t do babies. She’ll be glad to see it once it’s arrived and not a moment before,” he laughed.
“The great warrior queen will slaughter her enemies but cowers before birth?”
“Yes,” Grim agreed. “And after the horror of the last one I witnessed, I don’t blame her.”
Disa drew her brows together, thankful for the distraction. “What last one?”
Dalla sighed. “It’s a long story.”
She liked her family’s long stories. Disa sat up straighter, prepared to be enthralled, when she heard the unmistakable pounding of feet taking the steps two at a time. She smiled instinctively, the tension she’d unknowingly held melting away.
Finn burst into the room, soaked through and flecked with mud. “Am I too late?”
“Just about,” Dalla answered as Disa grimaced and clutched at the furs and blankets around her. “Where’s Helga?”
“Attending to another birth, would you believe it?” Finn crossed to Disa and knelt beside her while she struggled to breathe evenly through the pain. “I got all the way there only to turn right back around. My horse has seen better days. Someone should probably—“
“I’ll see to it,” Grim offered quickly, his eyes darting to the ceiling as Dalla tucked herself between Disa’s legs for a better look.
“Coward!” Disa shouted after him.
“I guess it really will be me then,” Dalla mused. “No matter. I believe we’re about to see your little boy any moment.”
“Girl!” Disa growled through clenched teeth. Dalla patted her on the knee sympathetically before bustling out the door for more clean linens.
“Girl or boy, it’ll be alright,” Finn whispered against her ear.
“It’s going to be a boy, isn’t it?” Disa cried now that they were alone. “As punishment! I’m being punished!”
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