Summary: Early period; Finland takes care of Estonia after a raid leaves him injured. Rated E for Everyone.

Notes: Written in response to an on-the-spot rarepair drabble challenge. Written June 29 2009; revised July 04 2010. The healing song is inspired by some lines in canto 9 of the Kalevala.

Hold Fast

Noise and shouting and people running. The air was thick with fear, smelled of it, but there was an undercurrent of anger, too, and it was quickly rising.

They came on the boats, those ones. He had clashed against them before, and surely he would see them again - but that did not matter, as this moment was his only concern. Get everyone to safety. In the din and the smoke he could see him, that one with the wolf's grin on his face, huge as a mountain and wielding an axe big as a tree pulled up by the roots. There he was.

By all the gods, that one had caught sight of him, and was coming closer.

He didn't remember anything after that.

In the darkness he could hear singing. As he slowly regained consciousness he listened, steadily becoming more aware of the voice and the words.

A healing song.

Blood, hold your spilling

But if it is in your mind

To flow swiftly

Then move in the flesh

And in the bones glide.

As the quiet words took shape, he cracked open his eyes, then shut them tightly. Though the light was dim, it stung. At that point he became acutely aware of the pain shooting through him and he let out a low groan.

"Ah, you're awake."

"Nngh." He opened his eyes once again and blinked slowly, forcing himself to adjust in spite of the pain, because in the dim light he saw a familiar face smiling at him with endlessly welcome warmth. "S-sss." His throat was dry. He wetted his lips and tried again. "Soome."

"Shhh." Two fingers pressed to his mouth. "Don't speak. Just rest."

Drink was offered, and he accepted. As he drank eagerly, the words continued, quiet as a breeze's whisper. "And so move in the flesh, and so flow in your path... You took quite a beating, my friend." A pause. "You'll be all right. You just need rest." Those words were accompanied by a quiet sigh and a gentle hand stroking his cheek. "Broken ribs. But he wasn't here long." Having said his piece, Soome resumed his singing.

They both knew that the time for healing would have to be quick, as that one would come again.