Thrown Through Time

Chapter 9

She wasn't sure where he found the extra cloak, but he draped one over her and told her to get some sleep. The men had long since dozed off and she slept for a while too, but eventually she woke up and saw that he was still sitting up, keeping the fire going.

Pulling the cloak tight around her shoulders, she moved over to sit by him. "I'm sorry." she said.

He glanced at her before staring back at the fire.

"I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention. And I'm sorry I didn't hear them and that they were able to take me so easily. And I'm sorry I yelled at you. And that you feel you always have to watch out for me."

He chuckled. "I don't mind keeping an eye on you, Sophie," he said softly. "And I'm sorry you thought I was angry with you, because I wasn't. I .....was scared."

"You?The mighty Eirik of Svangard. Scared?" she smiled.

"Yes. Because I know all of the things they might have done to you." He said. "And I would have blamed myself."

She laughed softly.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"The prophesy." she shrugged. "It says this woman you've all been looking for is supposed to come and save the prince of Svangard and you all still seem to think it's me, but you've spent more time saving me than I ever have saving your brother."

"My father still thinks there's a chance you'll marry him."

"Who? Ulriech?" she wrinkled her nose. "No way!"

"Are you saying he hasn't grown on you?"

She shrugged. "Maybe a little. Like, I probably wouldn't kill him myself now, but I'm not going to let anyone else kill him either." She loved the way he pretended he wasn't smiling.

"Get some sleep," he said gently.

"What about you?" she asked.

"I'll wake Sven in a while and have him take over watch." he replied. "Don't worry about me."

She laid down on the ground beside him and pulled the cloak around her. Soon she was fast asleep.

It was early the next morning when they were awakened by Sven who yelled suddenly when he spotted the men who'd taken her the night before. They looked angry and were charging their campsite with swords drawn.

Everyone scrambled to their feet, but it took a few minutes for them to be fully awake and draw their swords. Three men were killed before they were able to defend themselves.

Eirik quickly shook Sophie awake and handed her the weapons she had abandoned the night before. He stood guard with his weapons in his hands as she disentangled herself from the cloak and got her wits about her.

When it was all over, Sophie sank to her knees. She had never had to fight so hard in her life.

Eirik stumbled over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she panted, looking up at him. That was when she saw the blood running down his arm. "Are you hurt?"

He shook his head. "This was from yesterday. It just reopened is all,"

"Did you clean it? Or wrap it? You can't just leave it!"

He chuckled softly. "It's not that serious," he assured her.

Sophie sighed and leaned back in her chair. The women had been fussing over her since they had returned and she had been stripped, scrubbed, and redressed. Her hair had been brushed and braided and her nails had somehow been cleaned like she hadn't seen in months. It was almost like spending a day at the spa back home.