Hey everybody! So at long last, chapter three is up. As usual, please R&R!

CHAPTER THREE: Recovery

My breathing echoed loudly in my ears. I heard several voices surrounding me. I opened my eyes slowly. I was laying on a bed in what seemed to be the medical ward. I frowned, confused. Why would I end up here?

I tried to shift myself into an upright position, but I was stopped by a stabbing pain in my shoulder. I hissed, my hand flying up to my shoulder. I moved my loose-fitting tunic to the side and saw my shoulder swathed in bandages. I collapsed back down on the bed, the events of the war coming back to me in one flood of gut-wrenching memories.

I tried to get up again, but a hand pushed me down.

"Rest, Haley. You were injured in the skirmish," said Frigga. I rubbed my hand over my face. I winced as several bruises protested against the movement. I relaxed. Everything hurt. My head pounded in rhythmic pain.

"Kaden! Abarrane! Are they hurt, too?" I gasped, tensing at the thought of either of them injured.

"They are fine. They have been wanting to see you for a while now," Frigga said, amused. "That Kaden is really persuasive."

"Yes, he can be," my eyes darted around the room, searching for any familiar faces. Nurses tended to the many wounded. I hid my disappointed face when I couldn't see either of my friends.

"Did we win?" I asked. I turned my head to look at Frigga. She shook her head sadly. "There were too many. More than we expected. Unfortunately, they are still expanding throughout Vanaheim."

"But who's they?" I muttered under my breath.

"Just a group of bandits. Don't worry, they'll be taken care of, and this time you won't be in harm's way."

"What? You're taking me out of the Asgardian army? That's unfair! One injury and I'm out forever? That's hardly justifiable," I said wildly. Frigga looked away to search through a couple bottles of herbs. "You aren't ready to fight yet. This battle has proved that to me."

"You mean you aren't ready for me to fight," I countered. "I did plenty myself! Without me, our losses might have been greater! Abarrane and I took out their heavy weapons! Now they only have a few hundred men on foot. I need to finish out this battle."

Frigga opened her mouth to reply, but she was cut off by an enthusiastic voice coming from across the hall.

"Haley! You're awake!" shouted Kaden. He tripped to a stop beside my bed, calling out apologies to the people he disturbed along the way.

"Kaden," I greeted him. Kaden grinned broadly. "I knew you'd be fine!"

"It was just an arrow," I said. Kaden clapped in excitement. "Good! Then that means we can finish those pesky bandits off together!"

I just stared at the floor. I saw Kaden's face drop. "What? You can come back, right? You should heal completely."

"Yes, but Mother seems to think that I needn't fight anymore," I grumbled. "She's cut me off from the one thing I'm good at."

Kaden said, "I know what you're saying, but maybe Queem Frigga has a point. Maybe she doesn't want you to be good at fighting and it be your purpose in life."

"She doesn't control my life. I do," I snapped. "And I'm going back to finish that war, so help me. I don't care what anyone says."

Frigga looked up from her herbs. "Haley. That's enough. I need you to rest. Kaden, you can see her later."

I could tell Kaden was about to protest, but he went away without saying another word.

Frigga unwound my bandages gently. I saw the injury and winced. That arrow had really done a number on me.

Frigga muttered a few words under her breath, running her hands over my shoulder. They briefly glowed blue, then she leaned back and reached for a bottle of some medicine.

"That magic should stop any infection, and this medicine will help it heal faster," Frigga pushed the cork back inside the medicine bottle after pouring a bit on a damp cloth and pressing it to my wound. "You're gonna have a bit of a scar."

"I don't mind. I can say I got it in my first battle," I said proudly. Frigga wound some new bandages around my shoulder. "And you're last battle. And that's final," she added as I opened my mouth to protest again. I moved to get up when she had finished, but Frigga pushed me back down.

"You need to rest. You can leave for a little while tomorrow morning when you've adjusted to your condition," Frigga stood up and smoothed out her dress. "I'll be back with some food. You haven't eaten in a while."

I noticed the aching pains of hunger in my stomach when she moved off. I leaned my head back into my pillow and watched some of the other nurses caring for other injured men. I recognized a couple from training. One even gave a tight smile.

I tracked a couple of lazy dust motes, bored out of my mind. My foot tapped against the end if my cot restlessly. I hated doing nothing for so long.

Soon enough, Frigga returned with some food and I ate it all quickly. She took the plate away and I watched the other nurses leave for the night as soon the men they cared for were in a stable condition. I fell asleep early out of boredom, and the following morning I was driving Frigga insane with my questions of when I could go and take a walk. I could feel the restless energy burning inside me.

"Fine," Frigga said finally. "If you feel well enough, then you can go get me some herbs that we're running low on," Frigga dug around in the pocket of her dress and pulled out a piece of paper with a list of herbs written in her neat handwriting. I took it from her and stuffed it in my own pocket, along with some money she had given me. I stood up, leaning against a wooden beam as the world spun around me. I caught my breath after a few seconds and the pounding in my head had ceased.

"Haley, are you sure you can make it? You lost a lot of blood in the battle," Frigga said, worried when she saw me stumble. "And the battle only took place two days ago."

"I am fine, just a little tired," I said. To prove my point, I walked briskly out the door and into the glow of the afternoon sun. I breathed in the fresh air gratefully. I hated the stale air inside the infirmary that was tainted with blood and sweat. The smell clung to everything, and unfortunately, it had latched onto my clothes.

I didn't want to go and change, so I headed down to the market, counting on the smell of the vendors selling all sorts of food and trinkets to mask the scent of the infirmary on me. I didn't need anyone guessing I had just come back from a war.

I pushed my way through the throngs of people to reach the stall where we usually bought our herbs from. Various vendors called out their wares, and to any inexperienced market-goer, it was a confusing, colorful, and busy place.

I was waiting my turn to speak with the man selling the herbs when I heard a familiar stuffy voice behind me.

Oh no, not her, I groaned internally. My suspicions were confirmed on who it was when the crowd parted to let a tall, willowy girl through who was dressed in an expensive looking dark blue dress. Her brown hair was styled perfectly, and she wore a flirtatious smirk.

"Hello, peasant girl. I haven't spoken to you in a while," the haughty voice said.

"Hello, Dagny," I muttered. Dagny had no idea I was actually part of the royal family, along with everyone else. She had just known me from the classes that we had taken as young girls in correct etiquette. Gods, how I hated those classes...

"Well, you are looking scruffy as usual. I see you've even got a nice injury. Did your clumsiness finally catch up with you?" Dagny said spitefully.

I had the greatest temptation to just come out and tell her where I had gotten my injury, but I kept my mouth shut.

"That is none of your business," I said. Dagny smirked. "Everything is always my business."

"Just because your father is a rich, important member of the royal court doesn't mean you get to stick your nose into everyone's business," I said shortly. "Speaking of your father, does he know you're out here by yourself? You know how he feels about you wandering around in your own." I wasn't trying to save her from getting in trouble, I just wanted her gone.

"Well, at least I have a father that worries about me," Dagny said smugly, checking her perfect nails on her right hand for any invisible specks of dirt

That was it. Something within me snapped, and I lunged at her. I just wanted to hurt her. To make her feel like she'd make me feel all of those years.

I hit her across the face and she gasped, her cheek glowing red. She lunged at me but I sidestepped her easily. She shoved me, my breath catching in my throat when she collided with my injured shoulder. I was about to hit her back, when I was yanked back by a particularly strong arm clutched in the back of my clothes. I turned to see Thor standing there in his armor, his blue eyes blazing. Dagny gasped and immediately curtsied in the presence of the firstborn prince.

"Haley, why are you fighting this lovely girl? What ever has she done to you?" Thor asked. I felt anger surge up in my throat at his ignorance. "She was insulting me. She deserved it."

Dagny looked surprised and confused that Thor knew my name. I threw her a haughty glance. She narrowed her eyes.

"I am glad you were defending your honor, but fighting this girl won't help you at all. Why, you two are the same age! Shouldn't you be friends?"

"I will never be friends with her," I spat. Thor sighed. "I'll have to take you to Mother. Fighting shouldn't be tolerated."

"Says the man who fights almost every challenger no matter where. That seems rather hypocritical, Thor," I said. Thor tightened his grip on me.

"That is different. We are grown men, you two are young girls who should be getting along rather than fighting."

I cocked my head, confused at his logic. "That doesn't make any sense."

Thor ignored my comment and pushed me in front of him. "Walk."

I caught one last glimpse of Dagny looking smug before I was herded back to the palace.

"Thor, Mother should be in the infirmary," I said when we passed by the medical ward. Thor shook his head. "She was having lunch with Father before I left to join my friends at the tavern, which was interrupted by your fight."

I didn't feel one ounce of remorse for interrupting Thor's rendezvous with his friends. In my opinion, I was saving the poor bartender from a very rowdy crowd.

"Wait, Father is going to be there?" I said. I paused suddenly. Thor nudged me forward again. "What do you have against Father?"

"Nothing," I said under my breath. "He's just never really liked me."

"What was that?" Thor asked, missing my last comment.

"Never mind."

Thor led me into a smaller room where Odin usually went when planning battles. Thor shoved open the door without knocking first. I winced along with Frigga at his nonchalant manner. Odin was standing behind his desk, a map spread out in front of him. He looked up at us, his one good eye seeming to bore a hole in me. I avoided his gaze pointedly.

"Mother, Father," Thor announced loudly. "I caught Haley fighting with another girl. I figured you would prefer to take over it."

"Yes Thor, thank you," Odin said. Thor bowed his head slightly and went out the same way he came in- loud.

Frigga looked exasperated. "Haley, why were you fighting?"

"She provoked me. I am not sorry for doing it. She insulted me and she has deserved it for years," I said without hesitation. Frigga put her face in her hands, not even bothering to ask who it was. I knew it was the wrong thing to say, but it has just poured out of me. I was so angry. Dagny had insulted me for years, and I hadn't done anything about it until now. I had always kept it cooped up inside me, and now it was all coming out.

"Haley, you cannot just fight if someone insults you! You have to handle it the right way," Odin instructed.

"What, by ignoring it? I have for years, but nothing has changed," I said angrily. Odin stood up straight. "Haley, you have constantly gotten into trouble for the past eight years. Sometimes, I wonder why I ever took you in."

I felt all the air go out of me as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I never knew Odin had hated me this much.

"Why do you hate me?" I asked suddenly. Odin wrinkled his nose, surprised. "I don't hate you."

"Well by the way you have treated me for years, I doubt it!" I shouted, headed to the door. Frigga stopped me. "Haley, we just want to know why you fight so much and act so rebellious."

"Ask your husband that. He should be able to tell you," I said. I walked out of the door, ignoring Frigga asking me to stop. I could hear Odin asking Frigga something. I ran into my chambers and yanked the door open. Why me? Why is it always me? It was always me and Loki. I could understand him not liking me, but his own son?

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind. No sense in worrying over nothing.

I opened my book Beasts of the Nine Realms and started off where I had last stopped and waited for my punishment. I could hardly wait.

Just a quick question: Is Thor too OOC in this chapter? This is before "Thor" and when he learns humility and all of that, but I'm not sure if I made him too ignorant. Thanks for reading. :)