Cara walked through the hallway wondering why she had ever agreed to assist her sister that day.
When people were asked about the daughters of Tyr, Everyone would automatically think of Sif, the warrior ally of Prince Thor, formidable and able to best most any man in the arena, they would have to think for a moment to recall his other daughter; Cara's name was never the first to pass anybody's lips.
Cara was younger than Sif and was very much in her older sister shadow from much of their childhood, though she was not bothered by such things. In fact, she had been accepted, not only as a healer's apprentice but as Eir's, the most coveted of such positions, so Sif's choice in pursuits were of little concern to Cara. The sisters never saw themselves and being in competition, as both lived such different lives and had different aspirations. When Sif became a warrior, Cara was elated for her, and when Cara was chosen by Eir personally, the Warrior Maiden was the first one to let everyone know that Cara was her sister.
Cara sighed as she set out the different chores she would be required to do for the day. It was one of the reasons Eir had told her to be the best candidate for her apprentice, she was always thinking ahead ready for something new and unexpected. When the door of the healing rooms opened, she had thought it would be just as simple scalding from a hot pot or even a small cut from a knife preparing the food for dinner, she was not expecting a member of the royal family. 'Oh…' She looked at the prince standing across from her looking somewhat sheepish. 'Can I assist you, your highness?'
'I…' Loki looked around. 'Is anybody else here?'
'No, your Highness.' She smiled politely, wondering if there was a reason he asked such a thing. ' I can call on Eir if you would prefer?'
'Your Sif's sister, correct, Cara?' the question seemed half a demand more than anything.
'Yes, your….' She watched as he turned on his heels and bolted from the room. Assuming it was because of her link to his brother's friend, Cara thought nothing more of it and continued with her chores. she had all but forgotten of her earlier encounter with the prince by the time she returned from lunch to hear Eir speaking with someone behind a curtain.
'Of course, Your Highness, I just need to wait for Cara to return.'
'Cara?'
'My apprentice.'
'No!'
'No?'
'No, not her.'
'Has Cara done something to warrant such reactions, your Highness? If she has, it is my duty to know of such.'
'Her sister….'
The Lady Sif?'
'Yes, she…'
'Has Cara revealed personal information of a sensitive manner to her sister concerning a patient?' Eir demanded.
On the other side of the curtain, Cara felt our blood run cold at the allegation, having never done such a thing and knowing to do so would have her immediately expelled from her apprenticeship. She was all but finished and Eir had spoken to her regarding becoming a permanent member of the palace's healers. Anger and fear coursed through her as she waited to see if her career and all of her hard work was about to be obliterated because of a lie.
'No.' Relief flooded her. 'But were she to….'
'Your Highness, were she to do so, Cara would lose her licence and she would be forced from her apprenticeship as well as face a disciplinary.'
'How so?'
'All healers, even apprentices, are sworn to secrecy regarding our charge's care. I cannot reveal to you anything Thor discusses with me on one of his visits unless it is a matter of life and death, Cara is forced to adhere to the same oath and if I am honest, of all the healers and apprenticeships on my staff, Cara is the one I would wager would not break her oath upon pain of death. she and The lady Sif are not very similar beings for siblings, but they are identical to the Lord Tyr in that manner. loyal and honourable.'
'So she is not likely to reveal anything?'
'No, my prince. She very much wishes to become a permanent healer here, I do not think it she would jeopardize her chances of her dream career to mess with you over something so minor.'
'Very well.'
'I'll just see if….oh!' Eir opened the curtains to see Cara standing against the far wall looking a mixture of emotions that told her the younger woman have been privy to the conversation. 'Cara, I need disinfectant swabs and also a wound stitch kit, please.' The healer tested the waters with her clearly upset apprentice.
'How long?' Her voice cracked slightly.
'Three inches.' Cara nodded and immediately set about the task at hand. on her return, Eir appeared to have gone to check something else, but knowing what was expected of her, Cara set about what was required.
She bowed as she approached the prince, noting the way he was cradling one of his arms, and the level of damage it seemed to have received somehow as he seemed to have the decency to seem somewhat remorseful for his accusations.
She looked at his arm and assessed the damage for a moment before readying what was required. 'I am going to put this on the wounds now, it may sting.' She informed him.
"May?"
'It varies from being to being.' She gave a polite smile before taking his hand to extend his arm, then pressed a swab to his skin, causing him to hiss.
'Does it ever not sting?' he asked through gritted teeth.
'Not from what I had seen.'
'Even Thor?'
Considering the conversation he had just had with Eir, Cara suspected the prince to be testing her. 'Everyone I have treated or seen being treated with it has had some form of reaction, some more than others.' She stated politically. Loki said nothing more, watching as she dabbed each wound on his forearm before gently trying them. 'Now, I am going to give you a small bit of this ointment, it does not sting, it is actually quite soothing.' She explained.
'Why do you do that?' Loki's curiosity got the better of him. 'Why do you explain everything?'
'I like to allow people to know what I am doing to them, I find it makes them more comfortable with the process. Would you rather I didn't?'
'No, please continue, is actually pleasant to be aware of the procedure.'
Cara nodded slightly and she turned his arm to reveal a far larger and deeper cut than she had tended to on the other side. 'The problem with daggers.' she smiled, continuing her work. Loki said nothing in response.
She has all but finished stitching his large cross on the door of the healing rooms burst open, startling them both as a woman walked in. 'There you are.' She declared. 'I was getting worried. What…what is this?'
'Some small wounds that needed tending, nothing more.' Loki explained.
'Oh, those things, why are you wasting this busy healer's time with a few scratches, she has far more important things to do.' The woman dismissed.
Cara said nothing as she finished stitching the wound which Lucia could surely see was quite deep.
Lucia, was the daughter of the Lord Tywin, the ambassador of Vanaheim, and Loki's significant other. Cara had seen them together at events and personally thought them ill-matched. Loki seemed more at ease speaking with delegates, his mother, and even on occasion even his brother and his brother's friends. Lucia, on the other hand, was more inclined to be found in the centre of things, laughing loudly and in need of an audience. Cara suspected that their match was more one of opportunity on behalf of Lady Lucia, but she felt no right to comment. Lucia was beautiful, but her manner never appealed to Cara, and now, with Loki clearly in need of medical attention and her dismissing it, Cara felt even less inclined to like the other woman.
'I will bandage it now, just come back in the morning and it should be as good as healed but they seem a little red so I would be worried in case of infection so we best check it again then.'
'Of course.' Lucia smiled, putting her arm around Loki's. 'Come, Dear, your brother said that he and the others are going to demand entertainment for dinner this evening.' She pulled on his wounded arm causing him to wince.
'Thank you.' Loki commented as he rose to his feet. Cara nodded slightly. 'And with regards earlier…..'
Cara put up her hand to silence him. 'Completely understandable.' She smiled, turning to clean away the used material.
'Come on, Loki.' Lucia insisted, her tone alike to that of a petulant and impatient child.
When Loki hissed once more, Cara turned to face them again, noting that Lucia was again gripping his already injured arm tightly and that her nails, new false ones, left indentations on his skin, identical to the ones she had just treated.
