~Chapter 12 ~
Where was she?
Fear raced through Boromir's veins. He'd lost sight of her direction while running the first man through with his sword after she'd gone past him. The big bastard had been right behind her. By the time he was able to look behind him, both of them had disappeared. He had to find her before that brute hurt her.
It was then that he heard the familiar laughter echo through the trees. He followed the sound, praying he would not arrive too late.
***
The man reached down yanking Katerina to her feet. Passively, she let him, trying to force away her panic, willing herself to remain calm if she were to stand any chance of surviving this night. She had to choose the right moment, for she was going to have to rely on herself. She couldn't just assume that Boromir would find her in time.
So far so good she thought, she just had to choose the right moment, taking care to hide the hand holding the small dagger in the folds of her skirt. He was incorrectly assuming that she had given up because she wasn't struggling to get away from him. She simply allowed him to take her by the arm and head her back toward the campsite. When the campfire came into view her eyes darted from one side of the fire to the other. She saw no sign of rescuers.
Where were they?
What she did see when they drew nearer to the fire was two apparently dead bodies. The man, still holding onto her arm, issued a foul oath as he took in the site of his companions.
Katerina knew this was her only chance; she had to take advantage of his current distraction. She drew a deep breath, preparing herself to run like hell. She closed her eyes, flinging her arm backwards as hard as she could, praying that she hit something important.
He howled in pain, releasing her abruptly and Katerina took off in a dead run. Propelled by fury he lurched after her. Despite her hopes otherwise, she didn't get far. He caught her by the arm, yanking her back and throwing her to the ground. The menace in his voice was undeniable, "Damn you, you stupid little whore."
He stared down at his thigh, examining the steady thick stream blood running down his leg. Towering above her, he met her gaze again, "You contemptible bitch! Did you really think you could kill me? Tis no more than a flesh wound, but no one draws my blood and gets away with it."
He stopped talking abruptly, his gaze more savage than ever. A barely discernible smile curled at the corners of his mouth. His next words were subdued; slow and deliberate, garnering his desired effect, "Blood for blood."
In that instant she knew that all that mattered to him anymore was his revenge. Unable to contemplate the extent of the cruelty he was capable of given the look on his face, she looked at away. As futile as her effort might possibly be, she was still left with only one option.
He bent forward to grab her again. As he extended his arm upward, Katerina swung up with her own arm, attempting to stab him again. With a snarl, he seized her, snatching her back to her feet in one smooth motion. He twisted the arm behind her back and she whimpered in pain. Drawing her even closer he crushed her against his chest as his free arm snaked behind her back to pluck the precious weapon from her captive hand. He waved it in front her before flinging it, with a laugh, out into the darkness.
"You thought to harm me with that little thing." His mocking taunt fueled Katerina's temper and she let her anger override her better judgment. She kicked him. Hard.
'Pain first," he sneered, a vicious grin spreading across his face as the back of his huge hand struck her face. The force of the blow knocked Katerina backwards and she landed heavily several feet away.
She forced the pain away and scrambled to her feet. She took only a couple of steps before a little voice told her to look back. She glanced back over her shoulder, and she froze in her tracks.
Her tormentor stood unmoving, gaping down in open-mouth astonishment at the tip of a sword that was jutting out of his broad chest. He had been run clean through. He glanced back up at Katerina before collapsing in a dead heap right in front of her. Her gaze shifted abruptly upward to the man standing across from her.
Boromir.
The light of the fire appeared to dance in his golden hair. With a fierce yank he withdrew his sword from the dead body. He took a couple of steps toward Katerina when running footsteps caused him to whirl the other direction, his sword ready.
Katerina watched his shoulders relax as he lowered sword when Faramir came into view. Faramir glanced from the dead man to his brother and then to Katerina. With a smile, he lowered his sword, nodding at Boromir, -"I'll fetch the horses."
He disappeared back into the darkness and the two of them were alone. Katerina watched Boromir's every move as he wiped the blood from his sword on the dead man's clothing before bringing his emerald gaze to rest again on her. Casting his sword aside, he stepped over the body, and opened his arms to her, "C'mon now love, it's all over."
Katerina was uncertain whether it was his smile or just hearing the words out loud, but she was finally able to believe it. Without hesitation, she flung herself into his waiting embrace. As the strong arms folded around her, she dissolved against his chest, the torrent of relieved tears streaming down her cheeks. Boromir held her close, his chin resting against her hair, both of them finally confident that she was safe. She was consoled at last by softly whispered words. He stood there with his arms folded around her and he held her like that for a very long time.
