The Dawn of the Lost

8

I could hear voices as I woke up. "When did her sickness begin?" A voice asked.

"Only last night," Uhtred answered.

"May I examine her?" The man asked.

"Of course but she may not receive you well," Uhtred warned him. I heard two sets of footsteps approach me. "Astrid," Uhtred whispered in my ear.

"What?" I moaned, now opening my eyes.

"A healer is here to help you," he said sitting on the bed again, taking my hand in his. The healer looked me over, rested a hand on my forehead and then examined my broken legs.

"You may need to hold her for this," the healer advised as he took the furs off my legs and pulled up the robe Uhtred had helped me to change into. Uhtred held me by waist and placed my head into the crook of his neck. The healer moved my leg gently but enough for me to cry out.

"I know," Uhtred said clutching me tighter to him. The healer moved the other one and I cried in agony.

"The cause of her fever is an open wound on her right leg, the bone has penetrated the skin," he said. "I will treat it and wrap it, if it does not improve you will have to send for me. Have you got her?" Uhtred nodded. The healer straightened my leg and placed the bone back into place, put a cream on it and wrapped it up but by this point I where I was ready to pass out, it was only Uhtred supporting me that kept me awake. "She should heal now," he left us in peace.

"You did well," Uhtred said feeding me a spoonful of soup.

"If you think almost passing out was doing well, okay then," I replied.

"Even after going through hell you never seem to lose your sassy side," he chuckled.

"Yes, but you love it," I said.

"I do," he said offering me another spoonful.

"How are you going to punish them?" I asked.

"I haven't decided yet, but they just suffer as you did. I just wish I knew sooner," he said.

"You couldn't have known," I said, lifting a shaky hand to rest it on his cheek.

"Save your strength," he said and gently placed my hand back down. "Tomorrow I take you to the lake to bathe."

"I don't smell that bad," I growled.

"Well you do, and you're still covered in mud and blood," he chuckled.

"Just because you enjoy bathing doesn't mean I need to," I mocked him.

"Yes it does, if I'm going to be clean so is my shield maiden," he said quickly pecked my lips.

"Fine!" I whined, giving in to his demands. He placed the bowl down as soon as it was emptied and threw some more furs over my tiny frame.

"There, healing, fed, watered and in the arms of the man who loves her," Uhtred said smiling as he stared into the fire.

"Couldn't dream of being anywhere else," I replied.

"Not even Ragnar's bed?" He teased.

"That was one time, let it go!" I said and punched him.

"Yes one time, too many meads!" He chuckled.

"Shut it!" I said and punched him harder.

"My, the fever has made you weak I think a fly just landed on my arm," he chuckled.

"I swear Uhtred of Bebbanburg, when I'm better I am going to get you!" I wheezed