I don't normally update so quickly but I have to keep battle scenes interesting and there is a lot going on here. I mean, A LOT! Good luck to you all.
Chapter 21 –Hun Invasion Part II of III
Two days later after the fire had dissipated entirely, Ernak and Pirro rode to the Roman camp near the mountains. Three legions were slaughtered by flames, arrows and swords alike by the Huns. Anastasius stood outside his tent, wearing his golden helm with a large red plume feather. He folded his arms as he saw a group of Huns riding towards the camp.
The Roman soldiers that were left immediately put up their swords, guarding the camp. Anastasius frowned and raised his hand. "Lower your weapons," he ordered and the men eyed him cautiously. "Do it!" he snarled.
Ernak halted his horse and stared at the Roman governor with an eager grin on his face. "You are defeated here, Roman. Leave Pannonia."
Anastasius walked forward and stared up at the Hun. "You are one of Attila's sons," he stated and Ernak lifted his chin. "I want to have words with you in my tent."
Ernak frowned and glanced over at Pirro who gave him a shrug. Turning back to the Roman governor he asked, "why?"
"Trust me. You will want to speak with me. Come unarmed and we can talk in private," he suggested and walked towards his tent. Ernak hopped off his horse and withdrew his blade and handed it off to Pirro.
Ernak entered the tent and Anastasius exhaled heavily. "Have you come to surrender?"
The governor turned around slowly. "No. I have orders to go to the Caspian Sea. Navaz and his army were spotted there. Zeno gave me orders to go at once. He is no longer concerned with Pannonia."
"And why are you telling me this?" Ernak asked, folding his arms.
"I made a deal with Queen Anastasia and her husband to order a coup and overthrow Emperor Zeno to put me in his place. I have a feeling that Xena is heading towards Troy now and that is why she and the White Hun army were spotted traveling towards the Caspian Sea." He said and Ernak's eyes widened. "I have to go there because it will look suspicious if I don't. Zeno will be expecting me to slaughter the Hun army."
Ernak nodded. "I see. And what exactly do you want me to do?" he asked.
Anastasius quirked his mouth and looked into the Hun's dark eyes. "Odoacer is going to Balaam. He will be there in less than a week. If Balaam is unguarded then I fear that he is going to kill everyone there. He was ordered by Zeno to take Anastasia and crucify her."
Ernak felt his heart sink at that. "I have to go back to Balaam then. I can make it in time if we leave by nightfall."
"And I need to go to the Caspian Sea tribe but I do not wish to attack Navaz's army."
"Here," Ernak took the pendant off from his neck and tossed it over to the governor. "Show the Akitiziri tribe this. They will let you in. Say you are allies with Xena and no harm will come to you."
Anastasius gazed at the pendant that was in the shape of an eagle and carried a large sword in its mouth. "Thank you.." he said softly.
Ernak smiled. "I have to ride to Balaam. Thank you for telling me. You are not like the other Romans..." he ran out of the tent back to his horse. Anastasius nodded slowly and tucked the pendant in his cloak pocket.
Xena and Navaz crept through the city of Constantinople and together they climbed to the top of a building that was the near the cisterns. Gabrielle waited down below with a group of ten men, carrying bags of the powdered opium.
They crouched down on the rooftop, wearing dark hooded cloaks. Navaz peered down and saw five guards by the entrance of the cisterns. Xena knelt down and lifted the hood, observing the dark city. Hardly anyone was outside except the Roman guards wandering around other than the ones by the cisterns.
"Now's the time to use your archery skills, Navaz," she whispered.
He pulled out his bow and grabbed a couple of arrows. "Where do I shoot?" he turned to her.
"Anywhere out in the open." She said and he nodded.
He shot an arrow out into the middle of the square and the Roman guards below whipped their heads around and saw two arrows sticking out in the soil. One of the Romans walked forward cautiously, holding his sword up. Xena grinned and hopped off the roof onto a Roman.
She sat on top of him and grabbed hold of his neck. The loud thud caused a few other Romans to look her way. She snapped the Roman's neck and then unsheathed her swords, standing up slowly. Navaz stayed on the rooftop and shot a few arrows at the guards running towards Xena.
The commander turned around to Gabrielle and the others hiding. "Now!" she yelled.
Gabrielle ran into the cisterns with the Hun soldiers following behind her with the bags of opium. "Go, go!" she hissed and watched as Xena drove her sword into a Roman's chest. Once everyone was inside she quickly ran after them.
Navaz hopped off the roof and Xena wiped her bloody blade on her pants. He turned and saw a Roman still alive with two arrows stuck inside his backside. "Looks like we have an escapee," he said and Xena grinned.
She sauntered over to the Roman that was dragging his body across the soil. She stomped her boot on top of his spine and he moaned loudly. "Where are the others?" she asked. The soldier refused to answer. "Tell me!"
"You were always so forceful. I love watching you work," Zeno smiled and a slew of Roman soldiers were behind him. Xena backed away and held her blade up at the emperor. "Now, what are you doing in my neck of the woods, Xena?" he cocked his head.
Xena snarled and the Romans slowly began walking towards her. Navaz pulled out his sword and was beside his commander. "Navaz, get out of here," she whispered.
"I'm not going to leave you." His eyes darted to the Romans coming out of the darkness and begin to enclose them in a circle. Zeno waltzed forward with a malicious smile on his lips.
"I just gave you an order!" she hissed. "Go back to Mysia!"
Navaz grunted and she whipped her head around, glaring at him. He sheathed his sword and ran off. Zeno smiled at his foe. "I'm so glad we get to meet again, Xena. You know, you are very sneaky. I never knew you to have assassin skills but here we are. My guards spotted you and the White Huns coming through the Caspian Sea. Of course, I knew you were coming here. Why else would you go back to your homeland?"
"You think you have me figured out, don't you?" she half smiled.
The emperor sighed. "Alas, no but I know you care about your precious family. Drop your weapon and come with me willingly." He said and she gripped her sword tighter, pointing it in his direction. "Xena, don't be difficult. You are surrounded. You can't win here. Drop your sword."
"Go to hell."
He nodded, chuckling lightly. "Drop it Xena or I will crucify your daughter in front of all Constantinople. I will humiliate her and then I will crucify you again beside her. So...drop the weapon!" he hissed.
Xena's eyes widened and she dropped her sword. Zeno smiled deviously. "Detain her!" he yelled and the Romans grabbed Xena by her arms and threw her on the ground, shackling her wrists together.
He walked over and stomped his sandal on her head, crushing her cheek into the dirt, she winced. "See, if you just cooperate then everything goes much smoother, wouldn't you say so, commander?"
Gabrielle poured a bag of opium into the running water. "Hurry!" she whispered to all of the soldiers. They poured the bags into the water while a few kept the water at a boiling temperature. "Is that all of it?" she asked.
"Yes, kadin. Do we go through the east exit like you asked?" one of the men asked.
She nodded and grabbed her empty bags then ran through the cistern hallway towards the east exit. As everyone ran through the dark tunnels there were footsteps following them. Gabrielle paused and looked back to see torches coming their way.
"Oh shit," she muttered. "Run, run!" she hissed and ran through the water towards the gates at the end of the east side of the cisterns.
Moments later everyone exited the cisterns and hopped on the horses riding to Mysia, the place that was supposedly safe. Gabrielle saw Navaz talking with a few men and she frowned. "Where is Xena?" she asked and the king turned to her.
"We got ambushed by Zeno and his men. I'm sure she is captured by them now. There's no way she could fend off those men by herself."
Gabrielle's heart raced and she hopped off the horse. "You left her by herself?!" she yelled.
"No! She told me to go back!" he firmly said as he glared down into her angry eyes.
Damn you, Xena, she thought. "We can't let Zeno win. We need to go back and get her."
Navaz shook his head. "I think we should gather up the army and head to Troy. Xena can take care of herself otherwise why would she send me away?" he asked.
Gabrielle gasped and withdrew her sword at her hip. Navaz withdrew his as well and the two glared at each other. "She is your commander. This coup isn't going to work without her, Navaz! Don't be foolish."
"I don't need a foreigner telling me what to do," he spat.
She swung her sword and he blocked her blow, a bit surprised that she attacked him. "If you aren't going to go after her then I will. Do what you want and ride to Troy. I need to rescue her from Zeno." She sheathed her blade and walked back to her horse.
The king scoffed. "You're going by yourself?!" he called out.
She yanked the reins of the horse. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm taking these ten men with me. If I don't go after her then Zeno will kill her. I can't lose her again." She narrowed her eyes and rode off with the men trailing behind her. Navaz sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair.
Zolten approached the king with wary eyes. "What do you want us to do, sir?"
Navaz turned to his commanding officer. "Ride back to the Akitiziri and bring the army here. We will ride to Troy by nightfall."
"Yes, your majesty," Zolten bowed then mounted his steed.
Dengi rolled on top of Leila, pressing his lips against hers. He pinned her arms to sheep skin blankets, her dark long hair sprawled across the blanket beneath her. He cupped her small breast with his palm and nibbled on her neck.
She ran her fingers through his long chestnut colored hair and arched her back. "Dengizich, I...have a question..." she said in between labored breaths.
His hands roamed down her taut stomach and kissed her sternum. "Hm?" he muttered.
"Do you like me?"
Dengi smiled and lifted his eyes as he breathed heavily against her bare skin. "Of course I like you." He chuckled and traveled up to her neck again, kissing her soft jaw line.
Leila sighed and cupped his cheeks, staring into his light brown eyes. "Do you...love me?" she whispered, fear in her light eyes. His smile widened and kissed her forehead.
"Yes, I do."
Finally a smile appeared on her face and she kissed him generously. "Love me enough to marry me?" she asked and his eyes widened.
"Dengizich!" Kreka's voice was heard from outside the yurt. Dengi gasped and grabbed his pants beside the bed and hopped off of Leila.
The dark haired Caucasian woman covered her bare torso with the sheep skin, staring through the curtains. Her heart beat quickly as she feared Dengi's mother would come in the room. He knelt down beside her, pinching her chin. "Don't come out and don't say a word," he whispered then quickly left the bedroom.
Dengi came to the entrance of the yurt and Kreka eyed her son, wearing only pants and long socks. "Tatli cocuk, where is your shirt?" she eyed his slender muscular frame and his cheeks reddened.
"I...was about to go to bed," he ruffled his shoulder length hair. "What do you need?" he asked and she frowned. "Mother." He smiled.
Kreka folded her arms, eyeing her son's wide fearful eyes. "Anyway...there were Romans spotted coming towards us. I want you to watch over Anastasia and don't let anyone come into her room. Understand?"
Dengi became serious in an instant. He nodded and grabbed his cloak. "Alright, mother." He reached for his sword and she cleared her throat.
"Put on some clothes, tatli cocuk," she said and his face paled. Shaking her head she left the yurt.
He ran into his bedroom and found Leila sitting up in the bed, clutching to the blanket. He grabbed his tunic and boots. "I have to go look after my sister in-law. You may stay here if you like," he smiled and her cheeks flushed. "I don't know how long I will be though so don't wait up for me."
Leila nodded and kept smiling at the prince. "What is the queen like?" she asked and Dengi laced up his boots in silence. "I've only seen her a few times. She is very beautiful."
He lifted his head with a big grin. "So are you. Maybe I could take you to meet her one day."
"Really?"
He nodded and wrapped the fur cloak around himself then leaned down, kissing her cheek. "Yes. When I marry you," he winked and ran off out of the yurt. Leila's mouth parted and she clutched the sheets close to her body, not able to wipe the smile off her face.
Csaba moved his chest piece across the board and smiled sneakily. Anastasia frowned and rubbed her chin, thinking of her next move to combat her son. "Can't win this time, mom. You are starting to really suck at this game just like grandma," he teased.
She chuckled lowly and moved a pawn across the board, knocking out his defense. "Not quite, Csaba. Your turn."
He groaned and observed the chess board carefully before making his next move. "We're going to celebrate my birthday when everyone comes back right?" he asked.
She nodded, "of course. I'm sorry that we had to postpone your birthday."
He shrugged. "I don't mind. I just want to know what Navaz got me," he smiled and moved the knight across the board. "Your turn." He folded his arms and leaned back in the chair. He saw his mother completely focused and then heard the doors open. "Dengi!" he grinned.
"Hey kiddo," Dengi smiled and walked in. Anastasia was too focused on the game to even acknowledge his presence. "I need to speak with your mother for a bit."
"But we're in the middle of a game!" Csaba frowned. He saw his uncle's eyes darken and he sighed heavily. "Alright, fine," he grumbled then stood walking to his mother. He kissed her cheek then left the room.
Anastasia turned in her chair and Dengi nervously closed the doors. "What is it, Dengi?"
He walked over and took Csaba's seat across from her and she eyed him curiously. "So, how are you feeling?" he asked. He didn't want to tell her about the Romans approaching and hoped his mother would get rid of them for a little bit because he definitely didn't want to upset Anastasia and face the wrath of Xena later.
"I'm...fine," she said, tapping her fingers on the tabletop.
"And you're definitely not in labor right?" he asked and she crinkled her nose, her face contorting in confusion.
"Do I look like I am?" her voice dripping with sarcasm.
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry," he exhaled heavily. "So, have you thought of any names?" he asked with a sheepish grin.
"A few yes," she said. "Gabriel for a boy," she smiled, "and Arielle for a girl."
Dengi nodded. "You would name your baby after Gabrielle?" he asked curiously and she nodded. "She will be thrilled to hear that." He said and leaned forward, placing his hand on her belly. Anastasia's eyes widened in surprise and he grinned, feeling small kicks against his palm.
She stared at the goofy look in his eyes and wanted to laugh but kept it to herself. He ran his hand across her belly. "Wow. Amazing." He said and she arched an eyebrow with a bemused expression. "I can't wait to have a child of my own."
She smiled warmly. "Maybe you will with that young woman you've been seeing," she hinted and all the color drained from his face. "I've seen you with her, Dengi."
"Her name is Leila," he smiled thinking about her again and felt the child squirming beneath his palm. "She asked me if I would marry her and I said yes."
"Dengizich!" she gasped and cupped his cheeks. "Does your mother know?" she asked and his silence said it all. "Oh great. You better hope she approves, Dengi."
He chuckled. "She will. Leila is nice."
Ana nodded. "Dengi, I don't mean to be rude but why are you in my room?"
Slowly, he retracted his hand and stood, walking around the table. Her eyes followed him. "I just wanted to check on you..." he lied.
"No, you don't. Why are you here? What's going on?"
He sighed. "There are Romans coming here. My mother told me to watch over you to keep you safe."
Anastasia snarled and stood up abruptly. "What?!" she yelled and he cringed, expecting a reaction like this. She walked towards him and he slowly backed away, now afraid of the look in her eyes.
"Ana..." he warned, "your baby. You should really think of your baby. I'll take care of you. Anastasia..." he nervously hit a table and she grabbed his collar.
"I have a right to know what is going on!" she spat in his face.
He nodded. "Of course you do but my mother told me to keep you here where you are safe. I won't let anything happen to you."
"I'm not going to stay in my room locked up like some child." She marched over to the doors and he gasped, running ahead of her and blocked the exit. "Get out of my way."
"No!" he sprawled his arms across the doors and she grimaced. She grabbed his arms trying to pry him away from the doors. He grunted and gently pushed her away. "Ana! You çılgın kadın!"
She gasped. "I am not crazy!" she grabbed his arm and he grunted, wrapping his arms around her as tightly and as carefully as he could. "Let go of me, you bastard!"
His eyes widened. "What a foul mouth you have, my sweet Ana," he grinned. "Please, stop struggling and relax!" he sat her down in a chair gently and firmly placed his hands on her shoulders. She breathed heavily through her nostrils, glaring up at him. "We're staying in here until my mother says otherwise!"
Her mouth gaped and she grabbed onto his arm, her eyes widening as pain coursed through her entire body. Dengi's face drained of color and he held onto her arms.
"Anastasia?" he stared into her blue eyes and she shut her eyes, gritting her teeth. "Oh come on, seriously? Right now?" he groaned.
Opening her eyes, she steadied her short breathing. "I'm...fine." she said, raising her hand.
He scoffed. "No, you are not!" he slowly lifted her out of the chair and she gasped, bending over and almost bringing him down with her. "Alright," he picked her up into his arms and walked over to the bed. "I'm not qualified for any of this," he grumbled.
"Say it!" one of Zeno's men slashed Xena's backside with a whip and she cringed, though remained silent. He sighed heavily and looked over to the emperor. "She's not talking, sir."
Xena hung by her ankles from the ceiling, stripped of her clothing and boots. Only wearing a pair of tattered shorts and bandeau, covering her breasts. Her cheeks flushed red and her back stinging from the fresh lashings she received for almost half an hour.
Zeno walked over to the Hun woman and smiled, tipping his head over to stare at her eyes glaring up at him from her upside down position. "Do you enjoy pain, Xena?"
She smirked. "Oh yes. I relish in it." she mocked him.
"Funny. Very funny." He grabbed her legs and swayed her body from side to side. "I didn't kill you the first time but I will make sure to kill you this time, Xena. You will never roam this earth again and I will make sure your daughter receives the same treatment as you." He snickered.
Xena growled and wriggled her tied arms and legs, snarling at the emperor. Zeno stood back and watched her struggle, enjoying seeing her like this. So helpless. Defenseless and alone.
"You are a grandmother. I can see that family is very important to you. And when I find my former Consul, I will make sure to put her on the crucifix first and you will get the first showing."
"You touch Gabrielle or any of my family, you will die a horrible death, Zeno," she warned.
"Threats are no use to you anymore." He frowned and walked off. "Post a guard outside these doors. I will be in my quarters. Alert me if there are any more Huns." He said.
"Yes, emperor," the guard said.
Zeno turned back around and took one last look at the dangling woman. "Cut her down. I don't want her dead yet."
Gabrielle and the ten Hun soldiers crept behind the secret entrance of the emperor's palace. She leaned against the wall and heard guards coming down a long hallway outside. She huddled with the men and spoke quietly. "Zeno has a prison below this palace. I'm sure he took Xena there. He will want to torture her. He won't kill her instantly. He is waiting for us to come for her."
"What do you want us to do, Gabrielle?" a young soldier asked eagerly.
She quirked her mouth and turned back to the open arched entryway. "Five of you go through this entrance. I will take the other five with me to the prison entrance. If Xena is there, I can get her out quickly. Be discreet and make sure not to get caught in a mob of Romans or you will die and we'll all be captured." She said and the men nodded. "Everyone know what to do?"
"Yes," they answered in unison.
"Okay," she stood and unsheathed her sword. "Let's go." She ran off with her five men following behind her while the other half went into the side entrance.
This wasn't going as planned at all. Gabrielle knew that things like this happened but she never thought that Xena would surrender herself so easily unless Zeno threatened her with something important –something that she couldn't live without. Anastasia. Her daughter. That had to be it. There was no other explanation. She feared that Xena would be inside the prison and the thought of her being tortured made her want to rip out Zeno's heart.
She also wondered if Navaz was carrying out his plan to ride to Troy, which seemed pointless now. That man, she thought. He was very bold and indeed spoiled like Xena said days ago. He didn't know how to be a king and he certainly didn't like taking orders from anyone, especially Xena. She was starting to realize that this relationship was going to go down the drain if he continued on like this.
They came to the prison entryway that was on the west side of the palace and unguarded from the outside. She lifted her head and saw Romans walking on the rooftop. "Go in quietly," she whispered to the men.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and whipped around, pointing the blade at the stranger. Her eyes widened when she saw Navaz standing in front of her. Lowering her sword she panted heavily. "Navaz...what...what –"
"I want to help." He said and motioned to the twenty men behind him waiting with their swords in hand.
She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him warmly. "I'm glad you came to your senses." She said.
He pulled away and grinned. "How can I help so we can the hell out of this place?"
She turned towards the prison entrance. "Xena is probably down below the palace. We need to free her. I sent the other men into the back entrance. They will hold off any guards that come towards this direction."
He nodded then waved his hand at his men then ran down the stairs into the prison below. Gabrielle waited for everyone to trail in and she slowly followed them, holding her sword close to her. Navaz lead the group down a long dark hallway and he spotted a few Romans guarding a large door. Xena, he presumed.
The Romans immediately spotted them in the dimly lit hallway. "HUNS!" one of the soldiers shouted and charged right at them. Navaz grinned and drew out his blade, waiting for them to come to him.
Swords clashed together and Navaz grit his teeth, glaring into the Roman's eyes. "Gabrielle, go!" he yelled and she nodded then ran passed him to the door.
She tried opening the cell door but it was locked. She turned around to see more Romans coming towards the Huns. She took a step back and swung her sword down onto the door and broke the lock off. Grinning with satisfaction, she kicked the door open and ran inside.
Her eyes scanned the room and her heart sank when she saw Xena sitting on the floor, shackled to the wall, wearing next to nothing and her arms bruised, her hair soaked and her legs mangled. "Xena..." she said and the warrior lifted her head.
"Gabrielle," she smiled. "You came for me."
The blonde ran over and looked into her glossy eyes. "Of course I did." She thrust her sword down onto the shackles around Xena's wrists and grabbed her hand, lifting her off the floor. Hugging her warmly she heard Xena hiss loudly as her arms grazed the lashes upon Xena's backside.
"What's wrong?" she pulled away and Xena half smiled.
"Nothing." Xena heard a lot of yelling and swords clashing outside these walls. She snatched the sword from Gabrielle's hand and marched out of the cell.
"Xena!" Gabrielle ran after her. "Hey! Where are you going?!" she yelled.
Xena's eyes narrowed as she stormed down the hallway. "To kill Zeno." She smiled wickedly. "I always keep my promises," she muttered.
Navaz caught sight of Xena leaving the prison and frowned. "Gabrielle!" he yelled and she ran over to him. "Where's Xena going?"
"To fulfill a promise," Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows, looking at the long stairwell that lead to the upper floors of the palace.
Kreka sat on a horse at the border of Balaam waiting for the Romans to approach her. Tuya sat on her horse beside her, looking very distraught and nervous as the horde of Romans came closer and closer to the border.
"You will tell them that Anastasia left to Sevan three days ago. You will tell them nothing about the army going to Troy. You understand?" Kreka turned to the nervous queen mother.
Tuya nodded. "Yes, I understand." She felt a knot in her stomach. "Why is your son not out here with us?"
"He is with Anastasia right now. I can trust him to get her out of Balaam if it comes to that."
"But it won't, right?" Tuya asked and Kreka pursed her lips, glaring at the approaching Romans. "Right?" she pressed.
The legion of Romans halted in the snow banks and Odoacer rode up to the border, smiling at the Hun queens before him. "Ah, the wife of Attila," he batted his eyelashes at Kreka. "What a beauty you are."
Kreka smirked. "You must be Odoacer. The betrayer." She said and saw his smile disappear. "You are from Pannonia so I've been told. What brings you to the Caucasus? I don't recall Romans being very fond of snow."
The emperor cleared his throat. "I've come for the queen, the wife of Navaz and daughter of Xena."
"Anastasia."
He nodded. "Yes. If she comes with me willingly then there will come no harm to your people. So you see, if you just hand her over then all be well."
Tuya frowned and Kreka chuckled. "You're not taking her anywhere," she remarked. "You just missed her."
"Is that so?" he turned to the mother of Navaz. "And where has the little flower gone? I long to see her face once more."
Tuya turned to look at Kreka and then back to Odoacer. "She left for Divin three days ago."
Kreka spun her head around and glared at the queen mother. Tuya winked at her. This was not part of the plan. Not at all. What the hell are you doing, Tuya?
He chuckled lightly. "You are lying. She has not gone anywhere. I know she is here."
Kreka frowned. "If you don't believe us then why don't you take a look inside the Adame for yourself?" she offered and Tuya's jaw dropped.
Odoacer waved his hand to his men and they marched towards the large Adame. "Alright, kadin, let us see if you are lying." He smirked then trotted off to follow his men.
Tuya grabbed Kreka's arm. "What do you think you're doing?!" she hissed.
"Relax. I told Dengi to take her somewhere safe. She is still in Balaam." She said and saw the woman relax herself. "Why did you tell him that Anastasia left for Divin? I said to say Sevan."
"Divin is Gokturk territory. They will leave for that territory when they realize she is not here. The Gokturks do not like Romans and they don't like Huns either." She smiled.
"Well played."
Dengi tried to lift Anastasia off the bed and she pushed him aside. "Anastasia, come on! Work with me here! I have orders to take you to the mountains."
She clenched her jaw and then grabbed his hand. "I can't."
"Why not?" he growled, growing impatient and he was running out of time as well.
"Because, I can't move!" she snarled and gasped loudly. The grip on Dengi's hand tightened and he winced.
"Fuck!" he snatched his hand away and wiggled his fingers and heard his bones crackling. "This is not a good time to go into labor, just saying." He grumbled and wrapped one arm around her ribcage and the other underneath her and lifted her off the bed.
"And what would be a good time for you?!" she hissed.
Grunting, he turned and walked towards the exit of the quarters and kicked a door open that lead to the outside of the Adame. He struggled as he tried to carry her out of the building. His grip tightened around her ribs. Treading through the three feet of snow, she held onto his coat.
He set her on a horse and breathed out heavily. "You think you can make it? We're just going up that northern pass through the mountains. I'll have you back here in no time." He said and she nodded. "Are you sure?" he asked again.
"Yes, I'm sure!" she yelled and he smiled, climbing onto the horse and sat behind her.
"Good because I am not very qualified to deliver babies, you know," he teased and grabbed the reins, trotting off through the thick snow.