Once Upon His December

Chapter 4 - Home

Nikolai

Andrei pushed the group hard to make it home quickly.  Theodore cradled Kira across his lap.  She remained unconscious during their journey.  We finally stopped to make camp after riding from before dawn until dusk.  When our tents were set up, I collapsed on my cot.  Fresh blood staining my tunic causing the fabric to stick and tear at the wounds.  Theodore carefully set Kira down on another cot set up by mine.

The wounds on my back burned and throbbed with pain.  Each step and lurch of my horse stretched and moved the torn skin but I didn't dare complain.  The embarrassment of being seen as weak loomed over me along with any further humiliation my father would bring.

When the medic visited shortly after our arrival, he cleaned and dressed my wounds then did the same to Kira's.  All three of us froze and gazed wide eyed when she stirred, groaned and finally opened her eyes.

****
Kira

"Wh-where am I?" I directly asked.  My heavy lids opened first seeing a man with a Red Cross on his armor. A medic.

"Shh, child, you are safe," the medic cooed.  He was an older man with kind looking eyes.  His friendly smile relaxed me greatly. "What is your name, dear?"

Blinking, my chin began to quiver.  "I...don't know..."

Another came up behind the medic and frowned down at me.  "What do you remember?"

I wrinkled my brows, greatly confused.  "I...ow, my head hurts," I winced, immediately reaching for my throbbing temple.  A bandage was wrapped around my head.

Trying again, the second man asked, "Do you remember anything?"  My mind came up blank.

"My body hurts. Did I fall?" I asked, taking a guess.

First glancing behind him at a third man who was passed out the second turned back to me.  He cleared his throat then carefully answered.

"Your home was attacked," he began kneeling beside the cot.  "My friend here, Nikolai and I rescued you.  You did fall off a horse and hurt your head badly.  We are on our way to Odessa."

My eyes filled with tears threatening to fall. "My parents?"  I had some, didn't I?

"I'm sorry, dear," the medic cut in.  "They are dead.  I heard the Czar mention it last night."

Those tears I was bravely keeping back finally fell.  Large, burning tears of pain and fear.  The man before me didn't know what to do.  He exchanged glances with the medic then shrugged.

"I'll give you something to help you rest, dear," the medic commented then pulled out a small vial from his bag. "Here.  Drink this."

I did as I was told, trusting these two strangers wouldn't harm me.  Perhaps that was foolish but they did rescue me.  The other one was sleeping not far away and looked to be quite injured.  The draught the medic gave me was strong and started working quickly. 

I laid back onto the cot, smiling at the man who pulled a blanket over me.  "Thank you," I murmured then frowne.  "What is your name?"

"Theodore," he smiled.  It was a beautiful smile.  "Call me Theo.  Sleep now."

****
Nikolai

A couple of hours later, I stirred forcing myself to sit up.  The pain was terrible but whatever medicine the medic put on me greatly helped with the pain when I didn't h to be riding a horse.  Not wanting to disturb the still sleeping princess, I stepped outside the tent. Theodore was pacing.  His eyes shot up when he saw me.