Noblesse oblige

Part 22

Chapter 22

Astrid grimaced as she felt something poking her cheek and ear. She slowly cracked open an eyelid but quickly shut it as the light in the room was too bright. Her left side hurt and she couldn't stifle the whimper it produced. No sooner had she uttered the painful noise when a shout of "GET YER CHICKEN OFF MY PATIENT!" Was uttered. Astrid winced at the loud noise and fully opened her eyes but she would wish she didn't. The lights in the stark white room were still too bright. It hurt her eyes and the next thing she noticed was the head of a chicken leaning over her. The chicken was promptly removed and Astrid tried to sit up only to have a hand on her right shoulder push her back down.

"No, you've lost a lot of blood." She recognized the voice as Ruffnut's and slowly calmed down. "There is no way you are moving anytime soon." Ruffnut continued to say, apparently in full doctor mode.

Astrid turned her head slightly and she could just make out a man that looked near-identical to Ruffnut sitting on a stool cradling a chicken. She turned her head the other way and noticed the good doctor glaring at the man previously mentioned. "How many times have I told you to keep that damn chicken out of my space!" Ruffnut could be heard saying. "The next time I am making chicken stew and there is nothing you can do to stop me!"

The man opposite Astrid let out a gasp and she could hear the clucking of the chicken as he held the animal close and shouted "How dare you threaten Chicken you fish head!"

"Fish head! Fish head! You're one to talk you lard for brains!"

"Dragondung shoveler!"

"Mushroom head!"

"Worm!"

"Crow!"

"Dandelion!"

"Bride of Grendel!" The man shouted back while Ruffnut pulled up her sleeves in what could only become a full out brawl.

"Say that to me again you butt elf!" Ruffnut growled but luckily the upcoming brawl was stopped by none other than Camicazi who marched into the room. Astrid noted Snotlout trailing behind her while looking rather uncomfortable.

"Really now!" Camicazi said as she placed her hands on her hips. "Is this any way to act?!" The twins quieted down and as Tuffnut was about to say something he got shot down by her glare. Only the 'bhak bhak' of the chicken could be heard as the woman then rounded on Astrid.

"And you!" Camicazi said while pointing an accusing finger at her. "You leave for a couple of hours and I have to find out from your ladies-in-waiting that not only did you participate in a duel, you also ended up bleeding all over the place!"

"That's...... an exaggeration," Astrid muttered as she didn't really have the strength to stand up yet and the look Cami gave her was so obvious.

"Yeah, she only bled out in the fountain," Ruffnut stated. "And I patched her all up."

"You. Got. Stabbed!" Cami punctuated each word as she stared Astrid down. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?! It may not look it but Ruffnut hasn't slept for two days now!"

"Hey! Don't go telling her that!" Ruffnut grumbled.

"Two days?!" Astrid said in shock. "I've been unconscious for two days?!"

"Well......" Ruffnut said as a blush graced her cheeks. "You did wake up briefly while I was patching you up."

"Why are you blushing?" Astrid asked with a frown. "Ruffnut, why are you blushing?! Oh my Thor! Just tell me already!" She added when Ruffnut looked away briefly as her cheeks turned from pink to full-on red.