Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter nine of "Running Around." This chapter shows a little bit of Eric/Snow White. There is also more of treating war victims. There will be a bit of that shown. Stay tuned for chapter ten.
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Chapter 9: Mending Injuries
Snow White was carefully bandaging a young Passilian man's broken left arm while sitting next to him on the floor near the middle of the room around late morning. She whispered inaudible words. A large bowl with rags, bandages, threads, and needles lay next to her. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She did not see Eric coming up behind her. He clasped his hands together as he halted himself. He breathed deeply before running his tongue all over the inside of his mouth.
Eric looked around carefully. He was grateful to Xena for ordering this area to be cleared, so the wounded who couldn't be moved quickly or at all could have their place. He knew from experience that people with certain wounds should not be moved. This included potential ones involving the spine. One wrong move could result in paralysis for life. He snapped out of his thoughts when the winced painfully. She looked at him, guilt showing in her eyes. She cringed a little bit.
"I am sorry about that," Snow White said with a nervous chuckle.
"It's okay. I am used to broken bones," the man admitted softly and rubbed his nose quickly.
"It's never pleasant to have one. I am grateful I never have had such an injury," Snow White said.
The man smiled. "Pray that you never do."
"My husband did have a broken arm once," Snow White pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Oh, really?" the man asked surprisingly
Snow White nodded. "Yes. It happened when he was a boy. He was trying to take an egg from a bird's nest on a dare. He fell out of the tree and landed on his left arm hard. He broke it. His father scolded him for doing such a thing. He felt ashamed."
Eric couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He couldn't forget that moment in his life. He wished he had not taken the dare from the boy named Kassen. He saw it as foolish now. He observed his wife finishing wrapping and tying the bandage. The man touched his arm while chuckling softly.
"You do well in wrapping injuries, especially broken bones," the man complimented.
"Thank you," Snow White responded with a smile. "Eric taught me how to do this. It happened right after the fall of Ravenna."
"Wow," the man whispered in amazement. "I never thought a queen like you would learn to do that."
"It is important warriors learn to mend injuries. Every bit of help counts," Snow White commented honestly.
"That is true," the man said, a small chuckle coming from him.
"I hope it heals well," Snow White responded while touching his shoulder in a very gentle way.
He sighed. "Me too."
She motioned with her head. "Go on."
The man grabbed a chair and pulled himself up carefully. He walked away while sighing in content. Snow White rose to her feet as Eric came to her side. She looked at him.
"How long have you been standing there?" Snow White wondered.
"Long enough to tell that patient the story of my broken arm," Eric said and clicked his tongue. "Talk about being young and stupid, huh?"
"Definitely. Stupidity tends to come with youth. Some people continue to do stupid things well into adulthood," Snow White explained.
"Aye," Eric agreed. "You won't see me climbing trees to steal bird eggs. If I hadn't broken my arm, I probably would have been attacked by the mother bird."
"Hawks can deal serious injuries to people who go too close to their nests. They are very protective of them," Snow White said and cleared her throat.
"I came close to a hawk's nest once. She saw me, but she never went after me. She did watch me closely, though. It was as if she were staring into my soul," Eric said, putting his hand over his heart.
"I don't blame you for feeling that way," Snow White said, feeling him put his arm around her.
"If any hawk tries to attack you, I will protect you," Eric said, giving her a small hug.
"Thank you," Snow White responded and sighed contently. "I look forward to having moments alone in the near future. We don't even know how long we may be here."
"Let's just focus on getting as many lives saved as possible," Eric said, seriousness lining voice. "They need us."
Snow White nodded in agreement as Eric let go of her. She bent down to grab the bowl. They walked around slowly. They spotted a middle-aged Kiforthian woman sitting in a chair next to a table. They spotted a large unbandaged gash on the upper part of her right arm. They stopped before her. Snow White put the bowl down. The woman glanced up at them as Snow White grabbed another chair and pulled it up to her.
"Oh, thank you, ma'am!" the woman said in relief. "Those Passilians just stuck me here without tending to my injury. They said I deserved it."
"No one deserves to be denied medical treatment," Eric said firmly.
Snow White took hold of the woman's arm carefully. "This gash looks pretty nasty, but it should heal."
"You are lucky it did not become infected," Eric said honestly.
"I know, right? I have had worse injuries than this," the woman admitted.
Eric furrowed his brow. "Haven't we all?"
Snow White grabbed the rag and wiped the blood away. She laid it aside before grabbing a thread and needle. Eric spotted a waterskin sitting near the bowl. He picked it up and presented it to the woman.
"Is this yours?" Eric wondered.
"Yes," the woman admitted and took the waterskin from him. She laid it in her lap and opened it. She picked it up to take a long sip of water. "Thanks for getting it."
"You're welcome," Eric responded with a nod.
Snow White poked the needle through the bottom of the wound. She pulled it through completely. She proceeded to stich up the wound. The woman gave the waterskin to Eric after closing it. He laid it aside before pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"It is quite strange how some wounds became infected quickly, but others don't," Snow White said in amazement.
"Aye. Minor scratches can flare into major infections," Eric said, shuddering a bit. "William and I saw that happen to a woman we chopped wood for. Her name was Mary. She had a scratch on her leg after rubbing it against a bush branch. She thought nothing of it and wouldn't let us treat it. After we finished the wood chopping a few hours later, we went inside her hut for some water. We found her sick and feverish in her bed. We found the scratch was infected. We were not far from Tabor at all. William volunteered to ride back to get medicine for her. I sat next to Mary on the bed. I told her to hang on as help was coming."
"I was shocked when he rode Moses into the castle quickly. He explained to the healers about Mary's infection. They rushed to get the medicine and rode with him out to her farm. I went with them, so I could meet her in person. We arrived quicker than we expected. Eric led us into the hut. The healers gave Mary the medicine. She went to sleep," Snow White added.
"While she was asleep, her fever broke. She woke up feeling much better," Eric said, a small smile crossing his lips. "She was happy to meet Snow White in person. She called her a great queen."
"That's amazing," the woman commented with a smile.
Snow White finished stitching the wound. She grabbed her dagger from its holster on her side. She cut the thread and laid it and the needle aside. She got a bandage to lay it on the wound. She started wrapping it. She accidentally brushed her pinkie against the stitches. The woman winced painfully and gritted her teeth.
"I am sorry," Snow White apologized with a bit of guilt.
"It's all right," the woman assured gently. "You try hard to avoid pain, but it isn't always enough."
"One wrong move can make an injury even worse," Eric said, seriousness lining his voice. "I have never made injuries worse, but I knew some people who did so. They felt so bad over what they did."
Snow White emitted a soft snort. "Xena told us she has reset more broken bones than she can count."
Eric chuckled. "I have reset broken bones four times. Two of those times were with Sara. She broke her arm the first time. She broke her leg the second time."
Snow White finished wrapping the bandage. She tied a knot in it, a soft sigh leaving her mouth. The woman moved her arm from side to side carefully.
"You did a great job," the woman complimented.
"Thank you," Snow White said sweetly. "I am sorry you had to deal with your injury being left untreated."
"It is something that should never happen," a female voice said.
Eric, Snow White, and the woman looked over their shoulders to see Xena standing a short distance away. The warrior princess approached them, her lips pressing together.
"How long have you been standing there, Xena?" Eric wondered in much curiosity.
"Long enough to witness Snow White tending to this woman's injury," Xena said and tilted her head. She nodded in approval. "That is really good work."
"Thank you," Snow White responded gratefully.
The woman stood up and grabbed her waterskin. She walked away, a contented sigh coming from her. Eric, Snow White, and Xena watched her until she was gone. The couple rose to their feet.
"It sucks to see a number of Kilforthians have gotten little medical care," Snow White said, shaking her head in disbelief. "It shouldn't matter where you are from. We are all human and deserve respect."
"Indeed, we do," Xena agreed with a nod. "Snow White, I need you to change Chase's bandages."
"All right," Snow White said and looked at her husband. "I will be back later."
"Okay," Eric agreed and kissed her on the cheek. He and Xena observed her grabbing the bowl and walking away. "She is so amazing."
"Mm-hmm. You are so lucky to have found love again," Xena commented and cleared her throat. She started talking about her relationship with Kyle.