"Heda, your shoulder."

Gustus her guard sounded concerned but said nothing more. He was merely reminding the Commander that though she was the Heda she was still mortal and could be injured.

Lexa lowered the sword she had just used to kill the final scout of the Ice Nation and looked down. The hilt of a boned knife sat awkwardly in left shoulder. The scout had been brave before his death and had plunged his weapon before she had stabbed his heart.

Though she could only feel a dull prickling sensation in it, she knew her shoulder was seriously injured. Her black blood dripped threateningly down her armor and her left hand was not responding to movement as it normally did.

Lexa cursed, not in pain but in frustration. This was to be a simple excursion that was why she had brought so few guards with her; half of who now lay dead on the blood spattered ground. She was merely to visit Tondc to check on their warriors many of whom had been injured by the great gorilla.

But no, nothing was simple when you were the Commander. Not when Nia the Queen of the Ice Nation was growing ever bolder in her attempts at Lexa's life. These last few Ice Nation scouts were no doubt bounty hunters of her people that had been banished. Lexa knew that Nia had promised to lift their banished should they bring her the head of the Commander. These poor fools, Lexa had not merely been born as the Commander she had earned it. As a young Nightblood she had exceled at hand-to-hand combat and could easily fell an opponent twice her weight and size.

"Heda you mustn't." Gustus pleaded as Lexa gripped the hilt of the knife to remove it. "You should have a healer do such a labor."

Lexa turned her head to her loyal guardsmen. "I will not return to Polis with the Ice Nations symbol imbedded in my body." With that she pulled the thin white knife smoothly from her flesh. That was when the pain came. Lexa felt her head grow light and her legs weak.

"Come Heda." Gustus was at her side and began to lead her to her horse. "We must return you to the capitol."

Lexa weakly climbed upon her large dark stead and gripped the reins tightly. She felt a twinge of worry when her left arm shook as she tried to grip. It was if her arm and her head were no longer connected. Her hand and arm would simply not listen to her commands.

"No. Gustus." She said firmly through gritted teeth. "Polis too far a ride. I required a healer now. Tondc just as well equipped with skilled healers. Nyko still is chief there if I am not mistaken."

"Yes Commander." Gustus agreed climbing upon his stead.

Lexa's injured shoulder made riding difficult but not impossible. She was silently grateful for the relatively straight path that led to Polis. She as Commander would not enter into one of her villages being unable to ride. She could not show such weakness; especially to a community so close to breaking.

The ride took a surprisingly short amount of time or maybe it just seemed like it. Lexa felt her head going in and out of focus the longer they rode. She was grateful that Gustus had served her for so long that he knew when to ride ahead and lead the way for her. Normally the Commander road behind no one but today she may not have even been able to remember what roads to take.

XXXX

"Heda." Heard the familiar cries of her people as she passed through the streets of the quaint village of Tondc. The heads of the citizens lowered in respect as she passed. Normally she may have acknowledged them with a nod of her own head but at the point all of Lexa's strength was being used to keep her body from falling from the horse.

"Greetings Nyko." Lexa said as she reached the largest head located in the centre of the village. Nyko stood tall and proud. He was a strong and wise leader and commanded respect from his people. His tattoos spoke of his intelligence, compassion, and strength. A combination rarely found all within on Trikru. Lexa was fond of him and knew that he would not take her current situation as weakness.

"Allow me Heda." Nyko said as she slowed her horse. He held out two large arms that did the equivalent of lifting her from her horse. The pain was blinding as he moved her and Lexa bit her tongue to prevent a single cry from escaping her lips. Supporting the majority of her weight Nyko led Lexa into his tent.

"Azgeda?" He asked acknowledging the wound on her shoulder.

"It can be assumed." Lexa said harshly. "Please bring your best healer." She said attempting to stand as tall as possible.

"Of course Heda." Nyko said nodding. "However, I should warn you, many of our healers are overwhelmed with our warriors who still recover from the attack. Most healers have not slept for nearly three days." He seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing. "I dare not say that our commander does not deserve the best of our healers but I do feel that I have warriors in greater pain than your own."
"I shall accept whoever you deem fit Nyko." Lexa said simply not having the strength to argue who would treat her shoulder. Her sole concern at the moment was when she would be able to lay down.

"I do have a very skilled Apprentice who has recently awoken from a day's rest."

"They will do." Lexa conceded, thinking that Nyko must have had someone more equipped to treat than a mere apprentice but she was in state to enforce her position being barely able to stand.

"Very well Heda. I shall fetch her." Nyko nodded. "Please make use of my own bed Heda. The healer will be here shortly."

"Thank you Nyko." Lexa said and he bowed and left the tent.

Sighing Lexa sat herself on the edge of the large oak bed and clumsily began to undo her armor. Her left arm was at this point limp more like a burden than a limb. She had just succeeded in removing her breastplate when the flap of the tent was thrown open and a young woman entered.

"Heda." The woman said bowing her head slightly. "I was sent to assist you."

"Yes." Lexa said surprised at how young the girl looked. Healing apprentices often spent years training yet this girl's face was fresh and young, perhaps only one or two years younger than herself. Her complexion didn't do well to age her, the girl's face was full of dark freckles that were primarily seen in children. She hoped that Nyko had good judgment and despite this girl's predicted age was skilled enough to treat her arm. "What is your name?"

"Costia." The girl said clearly. She is nervous, Lexa thought. Though she was doing well to mask it with a confident stance and strong voice. Lexa had long since learned to read deeply into one's emotions and thoughts and this girl was nervous. And why shouldn't she be? She was healing the Heda.

She had better not kill me. Lexa thought cynically.

"May I tend to your wound Heda?" Costia asked, hesitantly approaching Lexa on the bed. The girl was tired; there was dark circles under her bright green eyes. With how exhausted this girl looked Lexa wondered how the other healers were fairing.

"Yes. Costia. You may." Lexa said turning so her should was facing the girl.

"Thank you." Costia said and suddenly her fear was gone, in its place was the hard determined healer with an injured patient depending on them. She quickly tied back her long reddish hair with a rag and set to examining Lexa's shoulder.
"Heda?" Costia asked hesitantly after of moment of prodding the wound. "Did you remove the blade that pierced you?"

"Yes." Lexa said firmly.

"But why?" Costia said confused.

"I was not going to keep such a travesty imbedded in me." The thought of the Ice Queen branding her made rage bubble inside her.

"Oh Heda." Costia said sympathetically beginning to crumble some dried herbs in her fists. "You mustn't have done that. You've lost so much blood because of it and your nerves have been exposed all along your ride here."

"It hurts not." Lexa said listening to her healer's thoughts but still knowing she had made the correct decision. The wound did hurt but Lexa knew the shame of entering the village baring and enemies knife would have cut her deeper.

"Should this happen you must keep the weapon in the wound until I or someone of my training and can remove it." Costia said firmly with the hint of what Lexa perceived as a reprimand given to a small child who had committed some ill doing.

Lexa turned her head and stared at the young healer. Costia caught her eyes and immediately looked down remember who she was addressing.

"Forgive me Heda." She said quickly. "I merely am concerned for your health." Costia began mixing her new herb mixture with warm water adding a dash of different plants now and then. Lexa looked at the concoction in disapproval.

"I believe that this wound is more than a simply salve can treat young Costia." She said skeptically.

At this Costia laughed a warm laugh.

"Heda this is not for your wound. It is for you."

Lexa must have let a hint of confusion cross her face.

"You must drink this Commander. Then I can address your shoulder. You wound is too severe for me to mend while you are speaking with me. You must sleep.

She handed Lexa the steaming mixture in a cup. "Drink this Commander and when you wake your shoulder shall be mended. Lexa sniffed the dark green mixture apprehensively.

"Don't fear Heda. It does not taste too badly. I added a sprig of mint to aide with the flavor."

Lexa grunted. "Poor tastes mean nothing to me." She said harshly and downed the medicine in a single swallow. It did taste particularly foul Lexa thought but the mint did improve its quality slightly.

Costia laughed warmly once more. "Clearly Heda." She said grinning.

Lexa felt pride swell within her. She was the commander. She was strong, her power was only a limited as she made it, and today was all-limitless.

The herbs worked surprisingly quickly. Within a moment Lexa felt her eyelids growing heavier. For a moment she feared that this young healer had all but poisoned her. Of course not, she thoughts feeling her brain growing fuzzy. Nyko brought her to me. She must be quite skilled and loyal.

"Here now." Costia said helping Lexa lay on the bed and propping her shoulder onto a larger cushion. "Rest Heda, and when you wake all will be well."

There was something soothing in the young healers voice and Lexa felt a peaceful calm spread over her body. She had not been this relaxed for quite some time. This girl will make a brilliant healer Lexa thought as the tempting tendrils pulled her into a deep sleep.