Loki groaned as he began to wake, he could recall seeing something worrying, but as he went to call out, something hard and heavy struck him in the head. Opening his eyes, he realised his vision was blurred and groaned again.
"Lay still," He looked around for his wife, who was clearly close by. "I mean it, rest on the pelt."
"What…happened?"
"An ambush, we lost Bjorn," Ivan informed him.
Loki cursed when he heard his wife hiss he tried to get up again. "What happened?"
"Nothing." She dismissed.
"Ivan?"
"Lie down, will you," The other man growled. "She has taken an arrow to the shoulder getting your sorry hide to safety."
"Maebh…"
"It is fine, it smarts a little."
"What.… He tried to rise. "What sort?"
"Johan, sit on him," Maebh ordered, the other man doing as he was told and forcing Loki to the ground again. "It does not matter, it will be out in a minute."
"Ivan?"
"Broadhead," The other man responded.
"Are you planning on going through Ivan for this whole conversation?"
"Well, you will not tell me anything."
"There is nothing that I can tell you that will not cause you to try and get to your feet and come over."
"Is it sore?"
"Well, it is an arrow to the shoulder, it is hardly fun."
"Is it deep?"
"It did not break the bone we think, I will live so long as I keep it clean." She stated. "What of your head?"
"I am seeing double of everything and considering the only thing I can see right now is Johan's rear end, that is a cruelty, one is unwanted, two is torture." Maebh could not help but give a small laugh as Loki extended his hand, hoping she was close enough to reach, to his relief she was. "How did we escape?"
"I found you and brought you to the horses, your midriff should hurt slightly, I threw you over the horse."
"I thought I was just nauseous from dizziness," Loki rubbed his head, wincing as he felt the bump. "How did you bring me to the horses?"
"She had you over her shoulders, I swear I never thought someone so small could be so strong." Ivan commented. "Not to mention, I am using a searing hot blade on this shoulder and nary a peep."
"Try birthing two children in one afternoon, after that this seems like a warm evening stroll," The warrior woman forced through gritted teeth.
"I am so grateful to be a man, I will state that here and now," Johan stated. "If I get off, will you attempt to get up again?" He asked Loki.
"No." he rose and sure enough Loki remained where he was. "So what are we to do?"
"We are going to have to move soon, that trick will not keep them at bay long," Ivan commented.
"Trick?" Loki inquired.
"I made it seem like we went west by using a horse to gallop the wet ground, but Ivan is right, the horse will stop or be spotted and they will try and find us again this direction. How long more?"
"A day," Ivan pointed to the hills ahead. "Over them, right on the other side, a village of our ownership."
"Thank the Norn's," Johan sighed.
"How long more will you be at that?" Maebh indicated to her shoulder.
"Almost done," Ivan indicated to Johan to stand in front of Maebh giving her something to lean into while the man took hold of the arrow's shaft. "Ready?"
"Just do it." She inhaled deeply and waited.
Ivan nodded his head as though counting 'one, two, three' then used the knife he had to pull open her skin as much as possible as Johan pulled.
Loki watched helplessly as his wife's eyes widened in agony and heavy tears fell from her eyes in pain, but she did not utter anything, as much pain as she was feeling, she forced herself to continue to breathe deep and not make noise. Loki felt her hand in his, careful not to hurt him, he squeezed hers gently and she seemed to register it, looking down at him caringly. A freshly heated blade was placed to the wound to sear the flesh closed and hopefully prevent infection before they could get home. Again Maebh suffered in silence before the would was wrapped.
"They will be here soon." They turned to see Johan on a high rock, "They are coming this way, about two miles."
"We need to go," Maebh ordered as she rose to her feet. "Get the horses." She looked to her husband, who was still on the ground, his pallor and glazed look telling her he could not remain on a horse if he tried. "Loki."
"Go without me." He ordered.
"What, no!" she fell to her knees next to him.
"I am not able to move, we both know it, I will slow you down, go."
"No," Maebh shook her head violently. "I will stay with you, do not make me a widow."
"I rather you a widow, than make our children orphans," Loki stated logically. "Go."
"Your Highness, we have to leave." Ivan encouraged.
"No, I cannot leave you."
"You have to Maebh, for the children," Loki stated. "Our children need their mother." He looked to Ivan and nodded.
Ivan, who was a man of similar build to Volstagg, grabbed Maebh and dragged her away, using the pain of her shoulder to divert her attention long enough to ensnare her properly in his arms. "Let me go." She shrieked as she kicked and thrashed, desperate to get back to Loki. "No." she eyed her husband on the ground.
I love you." He stated, his tone calm and accepting as he watched her being carried to the horses.
"No," Maebh begged, not wanting to leave him. Ivan continuing to force her away as she slumped in defeat. Placing her on the horse and then mounting it himself, he gave one last look back towards Loki, who Maebh could not keep her eyes off, and kicked the horse's sides to get him to canter off, leaving Loki alone to face the oncoming slaughter, praying to the Gods he could give his wife enough time to get away, to return to their children, to live on.
