Anna's home was very small: a tiny bedstead, a medium sized trunk, one table, a chair and a hearth; precious little else. The redhead helped Elsa inside and into the chair sat beside her table. She carefully raised the blonde's legs up to the level of the table, apologizing for the pain.

Elsa grimaced, true her leg was painful but the sight of her injured ankle was nauseating. Blood seeped from the many wounds and, though she was not certain, she thought she caught a glimpse of her bone exposed by one of the gashes. She looked away; it was not a pretty sight.

Turning away from her limb, she apologized earnestly for the red stains forming on the wooden surface. Anna frowned, not at all bothered by the stains, her mind preoccupied with how best to tackle poacher's snare, as she filled a mug with water for her guest. The blonde thanked her and took the cup and sipped quietly, watching Anna add wood to the embers in her hearth.

It was cold and dark in the little cottage; they would need the fire's light to work.

Once the fire was burning brightly, the redhead stood from the hearth and moved across the room, to the far side of her bed, to retrieve a small box full of tools. She hoped she could remove the trap without causing any more damage, but it was doubtful. Elsa stiffened when she saw Anna pull a hammer and what looked like a large nail or a spike from the chest, along with a few other tools.

The blonde dreaded the pain that would accompany freeing her foot. She had half-entertained the notion of just leaving the jaws in place. Elsa flinched as each item was placed on the table in front of her. Anna noticed and immediately reassured the blonde, "It will all be fine, Elsa. Trust me." This last seemed to be equal parts statement and question, with a hint of pleading.

Elsa gulped, but managed a frail smile. "I trust you," she replied meekly.

In addition to the tools, Anna produced a short, brown bottle and placed it on the table. Elsa raised her brow quizzically. Anna drew a shaky breath, "I am almost ready to get started," she said, gesturing toward Elsa's trapped foot, "I promise to be gentle...but it will hurt so I thought, perhaps, some whiskey..."

The blonde smiled as reassuringly as she could, "Thank you, Anna. I think, under the circumstances, a whiskey might be exactly I need," she concluded, pulling the stopper from the bottle with trembling fingers. Elsa took a large mouthful of the liquor, squeezing her eyes shut. The liquid burned its way down her throat, warming her belly.

Several more swigs followed and before long, the warm sensation in her stomach spread outward through her limbs and with it came a calmness and a certainty that everything would, in fact, be all right - Anna would make it all right.

When Elsa seemed comfortably intoxicated Anna gently took the bottle from her hands, taking a generous swallow herself-to calm her nerves-before stoppering the bottle and setting it aside. Anna examined the mechanism once more before picking up her tools and setting to work, "Ok, Elsa," she said with a gulp, "here we go."

The trap was certainly spring-loaded and the spring itself appeared dependent on just one pin in particular. Anna hoped that removing this pin would release the tension on the metal jaws, thus freeing Elsa...but she was not sure. She chewed nervously at her lower lip, her gaze flitting up to meet Elsa's eyes. The blonde stared back at her confidently, eyes sparkling, "You can do it," she told her.

Anna breathed deeply and began to work the pin loose from the spring mechanism. The pin moved, but in very small increments. Each tiny shift of the pin sent vibrations into the jaws of the trap, making Elsa whimper. She gripped the edge of her seat, gritting her teeth against crying out. Overall, the process -though slow- was much less painful than either had anticipated. Of course, it might have just been the whiskey dulling the pain. It was difficult to tell.

At last, the pin fell free from the trap, dropping the spring from the mechanism. The metal jaws clamped tight around Elsa's ankle loosened slightly. Anna breathed a sigh of relief as she carefully pried the trap open and removed it from Elsa's leg, letting it drop to the floor with a metallic clatter.

Elsa released the breath she had been holding. The redhead looked over at her and smiled brightly, "There," she said with a wink, "See? No problem." Elsa chuckled briefly, relieved that the ordeal was over. However, her smile quickly gave way to new pain as circulation returned to her foot. She hissed, watching blood ooze more quickly from the teeth marks.

Anna's heart was lightened, the bones were not broken and the gashes, though serious, were not more than she could handle. "Let's get this cleaned up," Anna said, gently wiping away the blood and examining the rows of wounds more closely. The leg would heal. She smiled again at the blonde, "It looks as though you will yet recover," she joked, "How does it feel?"

Elsa felt that was easily the most ridiculous question she could have been asked. Her ankle throbbed, her foot and toes stung and prickled as feeling returned. She decided to humor her rescuer, "It feels much better."

The redhead laughed, "Oh, Elsa! You are a terrible liar," she said, rolling her eyes.

Elsa had the grace to blush, "The truth is...it hurts," she said, bluntly, "Very much."

Anna went to her trunk, returning with bandages, a needle and thread, and yet another small brown bottle. She opened the bottle and sighed, "This may sting a bit," she said, pouring the bottle's contents unceremoniously over the blonde's leg.

Elsa drew a sharp breath, gritting her teeth. "Gods!" she shrieked, trying to pull her leg away. The redhead gripped her leg with a firm but gentle hold. Anna thought she heard a quiet curse escape the blonde's lips.

Anna apologized profusely, "The potion will help cleanse your injuries and stave off infection. I am sorry. I wish it did not burn so."

Tears ran down Elsa's cheeks as she struggled to recover from the surprise agony of Anna's potion. The redhead frowned, apologizing again as she threaded a small curved needle, "Several of your wounds need closure." She lit a stump of candle from the fire in the hearth and used its flame to sterilize the needle, "You must stay very still, Elsa," Anna spoke calmly, "I will try to make the stitches as even and attractive as I can." Elsa steeled her courage and took a deep breath, nodding at Anna to begin.

Anna worked carefully, closing eight of the most severe gashes with small, neat stitches. She was confident that, should the wounds scar, the stitching would ensure the best possible appearance.

When Anna finished stitching, she tied a careful knot in the thread and set the needle aside, a slight sweat on her brow. Elsa examined her ankle, marveling at the expert stitch work. She thanked the redhead repeatedly. "Do not thank me yet," Anna said with a small smile as she poured more of her antiseptic concoction into a large bandage.

The blonde's grateful smile morphed into a frown as the soaked linen was tightly wrapped around her ankle and lower leg, "That potion of yours hurts more than anything," she groaned, holding her leg.

Anna giggled in response, "Perhaps, but I daresay it hurts less than having to amputate a putrefied limb." Elsa shuddered at the thought, suddenly embarrassed for complaining. Anna apologized, she had not meant to upset her new friend, "Well, shall we move you to the bed? I think you will find it much more comfortable. Let me clean myself up first."

Still feeling stressed, Anna took a second long swig of whiskey. She carefully rinsed her hands in the basin and turned back to Elsa who still sat in the chair with her legs propped up on the table. She helped Elsa stand up on her uninjured foot and guided the girl over to the bed. Elsa tried to protest but Anna cut her off, "You cannot sleep in the chair you know."

Not to be denied, Elsa retorted, "Neither can you sleep on the ground. Please. There is enough space for two."

Anna snorted, "Hardly...but I think we can make do for tonight." The redhead chuckled, pulling a green woolen blanket over the injured blonde, "What were you doing in the Kingswood this evening anyway?".

Elsa shifted uncomfortably, "I was...taking a walk," she began, "Just...enjoying some time to myself."

Anna eyed the blonde skeptically. Elsa clearly did not want to say any more about her reasons for visiting the woods. Before Anna could ask any further questions Elsa interrupted with one of her own, "Why were you in the Kingswood, Anna?"

Anna smiled, settling herself on the bed next to the blonde, "I was watching ice fairy magic by the pond..."


Sorry it's been a while since I have updated any of my stories...I've been rather grossly lacking in inspiration. Hopefully, getting a chapter out will help get things going again.

As always, suggestions, questions, comments, and even rude remarks are welcomed and encouraged.

Reviews, of course, are welcomed, encouraged, and GREATLY appreciated. =)

Til next time...