Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter ten of "Running Around." I thought it would be realistic if I could show an individual from one side of a civil war being cruel to another one from the other side. I felt it made things more realistic. Things can get quite graphic during times of war. The memories of seeing severe injuries can stay with doctors and nurses for years to come. This is especially true if they resulted in mutilation. Stay tuned for chapter eleven.
XXXXX
Chapter 10: Never Apart
Chase was drinking water from a cup while sitting at a table. He set down with a soft sigh. He moaned softly when he moved his left shoulder. He moved the collar of his white long-sleeved shirt aside to look at the bandage. He could see blood seeping through it. He slipped the collar back on. He heard moaning and turned to see Gabrielle bandaging a gash on a middle-aged Kiforthian woman's forehead as she sat beside her on the floor.
Chase observed the bard whispering inaudible words to the woman. He was amazed at how gentle she was being. He had heard stories of her kicking serious butt and asking questions later much like Xena did. He was aware there was a time she was barely able to skip a rock. He snapped out of his thoughts when a clearing throat came out of nowhere. He turned to see Snow White standing next to him with her bowl.
"Snow White, what are you doing here?" Chase wondered curiously.
"Xena wants me to change your bandages," Snow White responded in a soft way. "Is that all right?"
"Of course," Chase said while nodding slowly. "The bandage has blood seeping through it."
"Then let's get this over with," Snow White said, grabbing a chair and pulling it up next to him. "You think not?"
Chase chuckled as Snow White seated herself and set the bowl on the table. He moaned when she moved his collar aside to reveal his bandage. She untied it and started unwrapping it slowly.
"I heard your husband was married once before," Chase said.
"Yes, he was," Snow White admitted. "His first wife's name was Sara."
"That's a pretty name," Chase said, a small smile crossing his lips. "What was she like?"
"I never met her, but Eric described her as the most beautiful non-royal woman in all of Tabor. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. Her skin was slightly pale. She had some scars from fights. He saw her as his first true love," Snow White explained.
He raised his eyebrows. "First true love?"
"Yeah," Snow White answered. "He considers me his second true love."
"Finding true love once is difficult. Finding it twice is almost impossible," Chase commented, wincing painfully.
"I am sorry," Snow White apologized guiltily.
"It's okay," Chase assured. "You can't always prevent causing pain, no matter how hard you try."
"You are lucky your wound never became infected before Xena and Eric found you," Snow White pointed out.
"Some wounds become infected very quickly. Others don't," Chase murmured.
She exhaled. "Right."
Snow White laid the bandage aside and grabbed the rag. She wiped the blood away in a careful manner. She dabbed the wound very lightly. She laid it down before grabbing the thread and needle.
"I am sure you have done a great deal of healing on the battlefield yourself," Snow White said and pressed her lips together.
"I have," Chase admitted. "There is always the risk of getting attacked while giving medical care to warriors in the heat of battle."
"Sometimes, you have to take that risk," Snow White responded and poked the needle through the bottom of the wound. She pulled it all the way through. She started stitching the wound up. "The battle to free Tabor from Ravenna was the only major battle I had ever been involved in. I assisted in giving medical treatment to patients after we won it. I learned a lot from the healers. Eric pitched in as well. His expertise was second to none."
"It is good you have a husband who knows how to administer healing," Chase commented with a small smile.
"He took care of me when I was sick several times," Snow White whispered sweetly.
"Really?" Chase asked in surprise.
"Mm-hmm. He wouldn't let the healers near me. He felt it was best that he was the one by my side. His presence helped me to get better faster," Snow White explained.
"What I don't understand is why Eric didn't become king of Tabor. It doesn't matter if he wasn't a prince. A queen needs a king at her side in my view," Chase pointed out.
"He didn't want to be king as he thought it was too stressful for him to handle. He was content with being my bodyguard and my second-in-command," Snow White answered.
"Not every kingdom needs a king and a queen," a female voice said.
Chase turned to see Gabrielle standing a short distance away from him and Snow White. She went to his side, her hands clasping together. He gazed up at her.
"You and Xena have met many sole rulers of kingdoms, haven't you, Gabrielle?" Chase asked, his eyes showing much curiosity.
"Yes, we have," Gabrielle admitted and chuckled to herself. "Some rulers were widowed. Many never married. Others were divorced. The majority of them ruled their kingdoms with grace and dignity."
"Being a sole ruler can be quite the challenge," Chase pointed out matter-of-factly.
Snow White breathed deeply. "It can be, but I live for challenges."
"Life is what you make of it. We are all responsible for our own choices. We carve out our own destinies," Gabrielle added.
"I saw what you were doing with that woman just before Snow White started changing my bandages. You were being quite gentle with her," Chase whispered, his eyebrows raising. "For a warrior like you, that is really amazing."
"There are times for being gentle. There are times for being tough," Gabrielle replied, smiling.
"That is true," Chase agreed.
"Sometimes, we have to make quick decisions in the heat of the moment," Snow White added while finishing stitching the wound. She grabbed her dagger from her boot and cut the thread. She laid it and the needle aside. She grabbed the bandage to place it on the wound. She proceeded to wrap it. "It can mean the difference between life and death."
Chase snorted. "I know a lot about that."
Gabrielle rubbed her nose. "Just remember that you never know what you run into anywhere."
"Gabrielle is right," Snow White agreed. "Anyone can be friend or foe. You should never trust someone right away. You should get to know them first."
Snow White finished wrapping the bandage. She tied a knot in time, a soft sigh leaving her mouth. Chase moved his arm forward rather slowly. He pulled it back at the same pace.
"That's good work, Snow White," Chase said with a smile.
"Thank you," Snow White said and moved his collar back over the wound. "Just don't irritate your wound."
"You don't want it to reopen, do you not?" Gabrielle asked.
"No," Chase said, standing up. "I am going to see if I can assist with patients."
"I am glad. We can use all the help we can get," Gabrielle said, her voice showing relief. She and Snow White watched him walk away. They started talking about his wound.
00000
William dipped a rag in a water-filled bowl as he sat next to Belach in the early afternoon. Solan stood next to him with the bowl in his hands. William ringed the water out of the rag and dabbed it very lightly on the wound. Belach winced painfully while squeezing his eyes shut. William formed a guilty expression on his face.
"I am sorry about that," William apologized.
"It's quite all right," Belach assured and sighed as he opened his eyes. "We can't always avoid causing pain."
"Wounds can always be worse," Solan said honestly.
"I have had worse wounds," Belach admitted and cleared his throat. He moved the collar of his brown long-sleeved shirt aside. This revealed a horizontal scar on his left shoulder. "I got that from being stabbed with a sword."
"That must have been a little deep," Solan whispered in much awe.
Belach covered his shoulder. "It wasn't bad. I knew several men who were covered in many scars. Some scars were faint to the point that I couldn't see them. Others were very visible. Each scar told its own story."
"It's kind of like Mom and Aunt Gabrielle. They have several scars that tell various stories," Solan commented.
"Exactly," Belach said with a nod. "Those scars can teach very valuable lessons."
William emitted a sharp exhale. "That's right."
William laid the rag in the bowl. He observed Solan placing it on the table. He grabbed a needle and thread. He poked it into the top of Belach's wound. He pulled it all the way through. He proceeded to stitch up the wound.
"Tell me, Belach. How scared were you when Chase and his men attacked you?" William wondered in much curiosity.
"To be honest, I was quite scared. All I thought about was getting away from those soldiers. I realized he must have thought I was fighting for the Passilians and declared me the enemy. I didn't blame him, but that did not give him the right to hurt innocent people," Belach explained, an angry huff coming from him.
"You were lucky your wound didn't become infected," Solan said, his voiced filled with relief.
"I feel that way, my little brother," Belach agreed. "Have you ever gotten injured while catching your own food?"
"A few times," Solan admitted. "My worst injury was a bite wound on my arm from a lynx. Mom treated it with some of Grandma's poison that she got from her medicine cabinet because such wounds have a tendency to get infected quickly. It is only poisonous if you drink it. Some people will do that on a dare."
"Some people will drink poison to kill themselves. They feel they have no way out of deep holes they have gotten themselves into," Belach commented, shuddering badly.
"Who knows what caused them to fall into such deep holes?" Solan wondered, cringing badly.
"None of us want to know," William responded softly. "That's for sure."
William sped up the stitching a tiny bit. Jason came up beside him while clasping his hands together. William looked at him, an irritated scoff leaving his mouth.
"What in the hell you are doing, Jason?" William wondered.
"I would like to observe your work," Jason said, smiling lightly.
"I am trying to treat Belach here. He doesn't need another pair of eyes gawking at him," William snapped.
"You don't have to be rude," Jason retorted with a scoff.
"Staring at people is rude," Solan pointed out matter-of-factly. He rubbed the back of his neck with both hands. "This is especially true for those who are injured. You can help out with them."
"Why aren't you helping?" Jason asked incredulously.
"I was helping William by holding the water bowl for him. I helped stich up a couple of wounds too," Solan explained in a low but firm voice. "Maybe you should do some healing yourself."
"I have done some healing," Jason insisted.
"It sounds like you haven't done anything since we strolled into town," Solan said with a snort.
"I would say Solan is right," William responded, eyeing the boy. "You could spend time—"
A loud groan came out of nowhere. William looked toward a young Passilian woman, who was laying on the floor not far from him, his friends, and the young man. Her left leg appeared to be quite bruised. William pressed his lips together.
"You could help her," William said and looked down at his sword in its scabbard. It leaned against the chair's side. He grabbed it and unsheathed it. "You can use this." He turned to Jason, who took it. "Her leg is broken. Use the sword to brace it. Take some bandages with you."
"Okay," Jason replied and grabbed a long bandage. He took three deep breaths. "Here I go."
Jason went to the woman's side and knelt beside her. He gestured toward her leg. She nodded in a slow manner. He laid the sword on it carefully. He placed the bandage on it. He proceeded to wrap it carefully. She moaned in a bit of pain. She lifted her leg very slightly. This made it easier for him. William resumed stitching Belach's wound.
"That should keep him busy for a while," William said in a soft way.
"No one wants someone gawking at them for any reason," Belach commented.
"Like when they are bathing," Solan whispered, chuckling nervously as he remembered when he caught his mother and aunt doing that activity.
"Exactly," Belach agreed. "I have always been careful not to let anyone catch me bathing."
"Most of us have. Unfortunately, we don't always succeed in stopping those spies," William grumbled and rolled her eyes.
Solan huffed. "Indeed."
Belach cleared his throat. "It sucks, but it is what it is."
William finished stitching the wound. He grabbed his dagger and cut the thread. He laid it and the needle aside. He picked up a bandage. He placed it against the wound and proceeded to wrap wound. He grabbed his dagger and cut the thread. He laid it and the needle aside. He picked up a bandage. He placed it against the wound and proceeded to wrap it.
00000
Xena was pouring water from a pitcher into a bowl while standing at the bar in the late afternoon. She finished pouring and set it aside. She groaned in some pain and rubbed her back. She emitted a heavy sigh. Just then, Gabrielle came to her side with bandages in her arms. Xena looked at her as her best friend shifted her arms a little bit.
"Here are the bandages you asked for, Xena," Gabrielle said.
"Thank you, Gabrielle," Xena responded and winced painfully. "Damn back pain."
"Is the baby moving all over the place again?" Gabrielle asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Very much so," Xena said, rolling her eyes. "I am glad it is active, but I wish it wouldn't be like that while we are trying to treat patients here."
"You can't exactly cast a spell and make the baby stop moving," Gabrielle pointed out honestly.
Xena clicked her tongue. "That's true."
"It is also a myth that a baby that isn't moving inside its mother means it has died. It could be at rest. Babies do spend a lot of time resting in and out of the womb," Gabrielle commented.
"In Julius Caesar's time, he made it law that a baby should be removed from its mother's womb if it has a chance to survive," Xena murmured.
"Some people think taking a baby out of its mother's womb is cruel. If the healer doesn't take a chance, then both mother and baby will die," Gabrielle whispered, sadness lining her voice.
"I can't blame people for feeling that way, but you are right. If the mother can't live, the baby deserves a chance. It can be given to a couple who can't have children if the father isn't around," Xena said.
"If it manages to survive one of those orphanages," Gabrielle said, cringing quite a bit. "I have heard many are hellholes."
"There is good and bad in everything, Gabrielle. We have to take them with each other," Xena said.
Gabrielle snorted. "Right."
Xena turned to see a young Passilian woman moving her right arm forward. She spotted a bandage on the upper part of it. Gabrielle saw a middle-aged Kiforthian man walk with a slight limp due to a sprained left ankle. He used a staff similar to the one she used to have to keep the weight off. The women returned their attention to each other.
"It's been a long time since we've been in the middle of a warzone," Gabrielle mumbled grimly.
"I know," Xena agreed. "Once you've experienced a warzone, it never leaves you. It will always stay with you, especially the sounds of the wounded and the dying."
"I hope you don't go into labor here. That is the last thing any of us want," Gabrielle said in uncertainty.
"I hope that doesn't happen either, but I can't control when that happens," Xena pointed out matter-of-factly. "If the baby decides it is time to be born, then it will happen."
"When it happens, Solan and I will be right there to help you," Gabrielle said, her hand going to her best friend's shoulder.
"If labor does happen here, Eric, William, and Snow White could also help, especially if you two are occupied," Xena said with a soft chuckle.
"That is true," Gabrielle agreed. "I hope it doesn't spit up and make a stink too much."
"I don't either. Of course, every baby is different. You never know what you might get," Xena said honestly.
"Some babies are easygoing. Many are a little hard to handle. Others are downright difficult to deal with," Gabrielle commented, giving a shrug.
"I think this one will be easygoing. Solan said Ben told him he was when he was a baby," Xena said, smiling lightly.
"That would be great," Gabrielle said, her voice showing some excitement.
"Maybe you two should talk less about babies and help out more," a male voice snapped.
Xena and Gabrielle spotted Luis standing a short distance away. He walked up to them, his nostrils flaring.
"Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop on conversations, Luis?" Xena asked sternly.
"Don't you know it is ruder to stand around when you could be helping some patients right now?" Luis hissed in a fierce voice.
Gabrielle scoffed. "Xena and I have a right to take a little break, especially since she is pregnant."
"I can see that. You don't have to tell me," Luis leered. "I also find it outrageous that you took over distributing medical care when we have fine healers."
"I had to do something because the Kiforthians were getting little attention," Xena said, moving closer to him. "You were outright ignoring them."
"You can't do stuff like that," Gabrielle said as she came to the warrior princess's side. "It's wrong, and you know it."
Chase scoffed irritatingly. "The Kiforthians deserve all the pain they've been given. They've brought nothing but horror to my people."
"You want horror? You need look no further than Ravenna. She ruled Tabor with terror for ten years," Gabrielle said bitterly. "No one was safe, not even little babies."
"Only Snow White could kill her due to a spell her mother cast on her. It went like this 'By fairest blood it was done. Only by fairest blood can it be undone.' She succeeded, though the memories of Ravenna's terrifying rule remain," Xena explained.
"That will never go away, no matter how much time passes," Gabrielle added.
Xena snorted. "Be lucky that your land has never been in the grips of a tyrannical ruler. It would look just like Tabor."
Luis emitted a soft huff. Xena heard groaning and looked over to see an elderly Kiforthian woman touching a gash on the lower part of her left arm as she sat on the floor. Chase glanced at her, as did Gabrielle.
"You can help us tend to that woman," Xena said.
"That is a Kiforthian. I won't—" Luis started.
She glared at him. "Don't argue. Come on. Grab a rag and a thread and needle as well."
Xena grabbed the bowl and headed over to the woman. Gabrielle and Chase were right behind her. He stopped at a table, where rags, threads, and needles were. He got a rag and two threads and needles. Xena and Gabrielle seated themselves beside the woman. He mimicked their moves once he reached them. Xena placed the bowl beside her. Chase dipped the rag in the water. He rung it out and proceeded to wipe the blood from the woman's arm.