XXXVI. Promises in Blood

Elva paced in front of her tent. The wind whipped her hair in front of her face and she nervously pulled it back. The sun was beginning to rise, which meant that that they had been gone for far too many hours.

“Elva, you need to rest,” Alden stood from where he had been sitting to add more wood to the fire.

“They should have been back by now,” Elva whispered, looking into the direction the army, Sten and Sigrid had gone off to in the night.

They refused to let her come, regardless of how much she begged. All they cared about was her safety and making sure she was here for when Eksel would need her.

“Battles like this take time, they take strategy,” Alden reassured her, pressing his hand to her arm.

Elva looked at him, placing her hand over his, “Thank you for doing this.”

She couldn’t exactly explain it, but the way he looked at her made her feel wanted. Arrion never managed to make her feel as such and now it all seemed to make sense to her. Time has been stolen from them, but she was more than grateful to have him now.

Alden smiled softly, before whispering defeatedly, “You love him.”

She swallowed, “I do.”

He lifted her chin with his hand, “And I love you.”

Elva inhaled brokenly, the words were mending wounds in her heart she had no idea existed. Living like a stranger to Arrion has been her norm, she never realized she wanted to be seen as a person, as crazy as that sounded.

“I’m so sorry,” She whispered.

He frowned, immediately shifting, “Why?”

“My fa-for mother. I can’t believe he took both of us away from you.”

Alden’s chin trembled and he pulled her in for a hug, “I’m glad to have you now. And I am so sorry for not telling you earlier. I could’ve taken you far away before any of this ever happened.”

She shook her head, pulling herself away, “Then I would have never met Eksel.”

Alden studied her for a moment,” You wouldn’t change anything?”

She shook her head, holding his hand between hers. “Do you want mother’s journal back?”

“No, it’s yours. She would have wanted you to have it.”

She nodded her thanks, unable to speak from her lips trembling. She sighed just as she felt fatigue take over, making her eyes heavy. She decided to sit with Alden for a moment and rest her legs.

But as soon as she leaned against his shoulder, her eyes fell closed and sleep took over.

She was awakened by a sharp tug on her shoulder.

“Elva,” Alden whispered.

She frowned, refusing to open her eyes.

“They’re back.”

Elva stood, rubbing her eyes, her chest expanding with anticipation. She looked to the tree line, watching as Alden’s men trudged toward the camp.

She watched with her heart hammering in her chest when none of their faces proved familiar. The men looked tired and bloodied, worn out and struggling for breath.

“There,” Alden pointed.

Elva stood on her toes, finally catching sight of Sten and Sigrid as they walked beside a flat carriage.

“Oh my!” Elva struggled for breath covering her mouth with her hands when she saw Eskel’s bloodied body.

He lay on the carriage, his head moving along with the jostle of the wheels and his eyes shut closed. The sheet that covered him was soaked in blood and it dripped down to the dirt floor.

She ran to him, ignoring Alden’s yells as he called for her.

But before she could reach him, Sigrid caught her around the waist, “Elva.”

She pushed against his arm, tears streaming down her face, “Please. Please don’t tell me he’s dead.”

Sten continued walking with the carriage beside him until they passed her.

“Elva, he would not want you to see him like this,” Sigrid argued.

She fell to her knees, taking Sigrid with her, “Please tell me he’s alive. Please. Please, I can’t breathe. I-”

“Elva,” Sigrid gripped her cheeks, forcing her gaze away from Eksel and toward himself, “He’s alive, Elva.”

Her sobs grew louder as her shoulders fell in relief. She dropped her head to Sigrid’s shoulder and he held her as she cried. Her body was in so much pain, physically but mostly emotional. She felt drained but she could not rest until she saw Eksel. Until she spoke to him and he saw that she was beside him. Until he knew that she would never leave him again.

“Please let me go to him,” She sniffled when she finally regained her control.

“He doesn’t look so good,” Sigrid shook his head.

“I don’t care.”

“He’s weak.”

Elva looked at him, “Eksel is many things, but weak isn’t one of them. I want to see him. I need to be with him.”

“I don’t want to scare you, but he’s in really bad shape,” Sigrid whispered.

Her heart constricted, “Then that means that I truly have to see him.”

He dropped his head, deciding that he would not win this argument. He stood, offering his hand which she took and pulled herself to her feet.

Side by side and in silence, they walked to the doctor’s tent. When they stepped inside, Elva held her breath, not wanting to let out a cry.

As she watched them fix the wound on his face and set him on his stomach so they could mend the tears on his back, she knew she had to remain strong. He groaned deep in his throat and Elva moved quickly, not noticing Sigrid’s reach for her.

She kneeled beside him and gripped his hand, turning her fingers white and letting her tears fall again. Her breath shook with every inhale, her eyes stinging from looking at the terrible lashes across his back. Chunks of flesh were missing, leaving deep gashes that bled dark crimson.

“What did they do to you?” She whispered, sniffling as she cried.

His brow furrowed and he muttered something, grimacing when they pulled at the skin of his face.

The doctor worked on stitching his face up while two men worked on cleaning the wounds on his back.

She snapped her gaze to Sigrid, “Who did this?”

“He’s dead,” Sigrid shook his head, his own stomach flipping as he looked at Eksel.

“That’s not what I asked.”

Sigrid exhaled, “Halfdan.”

It sent a shudder down her back, “Halfdan?”

“His eldest son.”

She frowned, holding on tighter to his hand, “But Agnar did this.”

“He did.”

Rage ignited deep inside her, awakening urges she had never experienced before, “He has to die.”

“Elva-”

“He has to pay!”

The doctor paused, clearing his throat.

Elva shot him a glare, “Don’t stop.”

He nodded, continuing his work.

She returned her attention to Sigrid, “He has to pay. For this. For what he did to me. He won’t stop, you must know that.”

Sigrid watched her quietly and nodded, “You’re right. But right now all we have to focus on is making sure he is okay. He has to get better.”

She nodded and they both let silence fill the tent.

Minutes later the doctor excused himself, and the three of them were left alone.

Sigrid swallowed and looked at Eksel, “You know he taught me how to fight?”

Elva raised her eyebrows but said nothing to encourage him to continue.

“I was a scrawny little boy, could barely hold up a sword I was so skinny. No one wanted to spar with me, but he took me under his wing, taught me everything he knew. of course, he’s not that much older than me, but experience can make you seem older than you are,” He chuckled, but frowned.

Elva rolled her lips between her teeth, shifting to sit flat on the ground.

“He did not deserve the life he was given.”

Elva sobbed, “No, he didn’t.”

The creases on his face were harsh and he was littered with scars that told a story of pain. His shoulders were strong, built of muscle and endless tension.

Though his eyes were closed now, she knew they were filled with thoughts she would never be able to comprehend. They were dark with wisdom, deep with emotion. She felt lucky that he could love someone like her.

Sigrid exhaled, “I will go and meet with Sten. Tell him how Eksel is doing. Give you some time alone.”

Elva nodded, running her fingers across his palm and not lifting her gaze from him. She only heard the shuffle of the tent as he exited.

As soon as he was gone, she lifted his head gently and placed it on her lap. His wound was facing her and she pressed her lips together, not capable of imagining the kind of pain he was in.

She wanted to take it all away.

She ran her fingers across his brow and whispered, “I’m here. We’re together now. We’ll always be together, I won’t leave you.”

His brow twitched.

“I thought I would never see you again. I was- I wanted to die.”

His nostrils flared.

“I love you. I need you.” She ran her fingers through his hair.

His fingers shifted in her hand.

“Eksel?”

He groaned and shifted his head.

Elva froze,”Eksel?”

He parted his lips, frowning.

She caressed the side of his face.

His eyes slowly opened. Confusion painted them thin and red, but he looked around the tent before focusing on her.

She smiled brokenly at him, her lips trembling and tears spilling down her nose.

He swallowed the dryness in his mouth, “Am I dreaming?”