Blood like lava following under bruised and opened skin. It was the worst state she'd been in a while, perhaps a reminder of her more impulsive younger years where she'd take on more than she could she chew. Unfortunately, this seemed like one of those moments. The troll and surgeon worked on the main wounds in a cell surrounded with guards, while Anna and Krisstoff cleaned and covered wounds that had reopened.
"The needle barely pentrates her skin. I need to go back to my office, see can i find or create some form of adhesive to close it." The doctor stated quickly before standing, her hands red.
"Or we could try fire." Kristoff said not missing a beat, all eyes on him.
"What, it doesn't seem to affect her right?" He continued.
Anna began to nod, before speaking
"So we cauterzise it, but using what?"
"Causterizing a wound does a lot more harm than good. She better off with an adhesive." The doctor replied
"Yes, for a human which may i remind you isnt everything she isn't" Anna continued.
The doctor looked at Zlya before turning to the troll.
"Anything thoughts?"
The troll had his hand raised elevated above the wound, moving it slowly from side to side. He released a deep breath before speaking.
"She's too weak but like you said she's lost too much blood. Either way the outcome looks the same."
"Cauterisation it is then." She spoke with a heaviness before turning towards some guards.
"We don't know how she will react so both of you need to be far from her when it is done."
"There's no way we're leaving you here" Anna exclaimed.
"It's not up for discussion Anna." He spoke calmly before gesturing for Kristoff to take her.
"Seriously!" She yelled a Kristoff moved to remove her.
"Anna he's right its not safe for us here, okay"
"They're right Anna its not" A voice from behind them spoke.
As Elsa emerged, several guards that had previously been speaking with the doctor bowed before moving past her and out of the cells. Outnumbered Anna began to move with Kristoff close behind. As she reached Elsa she spoke.
"So I take it you're staying then."
"Grandpapi and have a better chance of restraining her alone as opposed to all these soldiers. I can't risk anyone else getting hurt, even her." Elsa said gesturing to Zlya
"Then please be careful." She said as she hugged Elsa tightly, before Kristoff almost pulled her off as several guards enters with what appeared to be a sword in a bucket covered in coals. It hung by a pole carried by two guards, who then slowly brought it down to the surgeon, offering her thick leather gloves before she reached for the sword. Pulling it out to reveal red hot steel mostly toward the end of the sword.
In that short time Elsa had managed to connect the hand and ankle cuffs to the surrounding walls, while Grandpapi motioned his hand above Zlya's face.
"Ready?"
Both Elsa and grandpapi moved slightly backward.
"Ready."
With that the doctor carefully lowered the sword on top of the abdomen wound. As the sizzling started the rest of Zlya's body began to emit steam, quickly increasing in heat. Elsa was ready her fist circulating with bright blue crystals.
"Elsa wait" Grandpapi spoke calmly.
Within seconds the doctor was done and the wound had closed, leaving a triangular branding from the edge of the sword.
"Easier than I thought, your majesty do you mind. It's still very hot." The doctor spoke turning to the Queen who was to focused on the possibly dead dragon on her floor.
"Oh yes of course" Elsa was quick to cool the sword, allowing her to put it down.
"Now what?" Elsa asked the doctor.
"Now we check for a pulse."
"I don't believe that will be necessary." Grandpapi said as he'd returned to his previous position his hand elevated above Zlya's head.
"I dont understand?"
Suddenly, Zlya shot up. Taking a deep breath before mutilple shallow ones. Everyone had jumped back, even the surgeon had grabbed the sword. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead as she brought her hand to the closed wound, before scanning the room. Smiling weakly she spoke.
"Too sad to see me go are we?"
With that her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell back once more.
The crackle of the fire was a much needed distraction as Elsa attempt to reflect on the past couple of days. All this while a half covered Zlya laid on a guest bed in the highest tower of the castle. Bandages now covering the the patches of red and purple all over her.
Once the procedure was over, the doctor had removed most of Zlya's clothing in order to patch up the rest of the wounds. There were more than expected. Then with the top of torso mostly bandaged up, she was moved to the tower.
Elsa's turned to look at Zlya, recounting the trouble and chaos she'd caused in the last few days. There was so much anger and pain in everything she did, Elsa needed to know why. A shift in her breathing caused Elsa to break her stare and return back to the fire.
"Hmm"
Elsa turned to her slowly. Going over her to see if anything has changed in the s
Zlya lied there the same, her hands beside her with the blanket placed messily on her exposed stomach, something that Elsa was quick to look away from. Gradually Zlya began to open her eyes and Elsa suddenly remembered the threat that was in front of her and simultaneously felt her fists go cold.
"Every time I black out, I believe this form to be a nightmare. So if your plan is to torture me then you're truly doing a wonderful job."
"I'm not sure what your people say when someone saves their live but accusing them of torture isn't on the list." Elsa spoke with authority, power.
She provided a tired smirk. As if the last couple of days had never happened.
"That doctor of yours is creative, would've personally never thought of branding myself."
"It wasn't the doctor, it was Princess Anna."
"Really?"
It was genuine. So human, so vulnerable. So much so that it made Elsa break her authoritative presence.
"She see's something in you. Something human, something worthy of a second chance."
There was a pause as Zlya looked directly into the fire, Elsa noting how her eyes sparkled with the reflections.
"And you think her to be naive?" She spoke turning towards Elsa.
The presence returned.
"You present a very serious and very real threat to this entire kingdom and its people. I still don't understand what you truly want and the reasons behind your actions. And so I inform you that the reason that you're alive right now is not the Princess's belief in a deeper good, but because I believe that there is a wider threat that is not yet known."
Zlya maintained eye contacted throughout, softening her expression at the mention of the queen's sister.
"We've established that it's easier to kill you in this form, so should you try anything ill be more than happy to deal with this wider threat myself."
"What, you expect my help?" It was purposely provocative.
Elsa moved toward her.
"From I understand I bested you, not to mention the retribution you owe my entire kingdom. Your stuck here, in this form until i give the word that you're free to go. You're not exactly in a state to be making negotiations."
Zlya sat up, causing the blanket to fall into her lap. The wrappings covered her chest and left shoulder, while their was a separate bandage for the wound in her lower abdomen. Leaving her arms and abs exposed. She was muscular, lean resembling a warrior from another land.
Elsa couldn't help but look away, pretending to be frustrated.
"You saw how much it look to put me down for a couple hours, you really think you'd be able to do that again if I didn't agree to this."
"I'd make sure you wouldn't get back up, Zlya"
She laughed softly.
"Now who's naive." She said smiling.
Elsa made sure not to reciprocate.
"Name the extent of your terms."
Elsa needed to leave this room as soon as possible.
"Later, right now you need to rest and you can be sure that if there is any excess movement in this room the statement about keeping you down will become a reality."
"I'm fine; let me meet with you and your council."
"Perhaps i didnt make myself clear before we are not equals, you are now of service to me and my Kingdom and right now i order to remain in this room. Is that understood."
Zlya looked away biting her tongue before looking back at the Queen.
"Yes" She said in an almost seething breath.
"Yes?" Elsa responded.
She chuckled.
"Yes, my queen."
Elsa began to turn.
"Someone will come up in a couple hours with clothes and food, then you will present to the council and the conditions of your retributions will be heard."
Zlya only looked into the fireplace.
With that Elsa open the door and left. Descending down a couple flights of stairs, passing a level that contained an extension of the castle's library, before exiting the west wing of the castle.