Pain in All It's Forms (runawayninja x Jocelyn)

[runawayninja]

A heavy and gothic fog clung to the morning air, a low-hanging mist blanketing the landscape in grey, that the morning light had yet to break. The main road was a bit muddy, but that didn't, or hardly did, soften the hard foot-falls of a large mare, a milky white destrier, a horse made for war with a large, hefty frame and a solid musculature, meant for riding hard into the midst of the enemy and running the unlucky over. The mare's steps were determined and powerful as she continued along the main road as she had been trained to do when her rider had become unresponsive.

In the saddle was seated an armored figure, slumped forward in the seat against the horse's neck, it's arm hanging limp and loose as blood dripped from the gauntlet. The mare's side was a smeared pink mess, blood from the wounded rider having rubbing against her white fur. The rider's helm had a large dent in it, where someone had likely given the knight a hard blow, but the most concerning thing, aside from the blood less, was a large arrow stuck in his back, too large and heavy for hunting game, it was meant to hunt human prey. It was smeared with a toxic sap that was discouraging the healing and clotting process so that even if a target was only wounded, it would continue to bleed out. This stark figure would die soon without aid.

 

[Jocelyn]

It had been a very dark day indeed, but there was nothing outside that could have drawn her attention until she heard what sounded like heavy steps just outside of her home. The sound of a horse, Nika approached the door before she carefully pulled it open. She knew there had been a war going on and she wasn't about to open her door just to have herself shot down. Though just as she peered out she caught sight of the beautiful Mare. Her heart pounded as she saw the smeared blood, was the horse hurt? She stepped out though froze just as she saw the dangling Knight on the back of the Mare. Her heart pounded in her chest and she swallowed. Nika stood frozen for a moment, should she help the knight or let the horse carry on. Peering around there had not been anyone around. Sighing Nika slowly approached the horse and grabbed the reigns. Calming her she rubbed the side of her neck and pulled her off the main road. Luckily she had a stable in the back of her home.

Leading the horse in she got her settled before she was able to unhook the knight from the saddle. Gasping as she couldn't hold his weight and he fell to the ground. Nika brushed her dark brown hair from her hazel eyes. She wore a soft black gown that hung down to her feet with a white apron that was tied around her waist. Though just as he fell her eyes grew wide at the sight of the arrow in his back. She knew he wouldn't last long, grunting and pulling. It took her a good ten minutes to get him out of the stables and into her house. Laying the man down onto her bed she had managed to pull his armor off after snapping part of the arrow in half. Setting his armor down in the corner she bit her bottom lip. Laying him on his stomach she carefully went to work on the arrow. After what seemed like forever she managed to get the arrow out of his back before she was able to clean out the wound and stitch it up.

Nika stood and gazed down at the man before her, pressing down on his wound she was able to hold pressure against it to stop the bleeding until it was able to clot on it's own. She made sure to keep him on his side, so his wound was able to breath and heal. Sitting down in the chair next to her bed she rubbed the back of her neck and she sighed softly, closing her eyes to catch some rest before the knight would awaken.

 

[runawayninja]

When she removed his helm, a stylized helm made to look like a raven's head with the visor coming to a beak, she finally beheld his countenance. Pale flesh, enough to make him look foreign. Short, neatly and carefully kept silvery hair like strands of moonlight. He was handsome and young for one trained in the arts of combat. But the years of training had shaped him, giving him a slender and lithe figure, that of an athlete, with light, supple muscles. That night there was a hard rain, a storm that was complete with the cracking of thunder and lightning that lit up the night like day. Thunder rolled close and a bolt of lightning struck near, shaking the ground, jolting him from unconsciousness. He was wracked with pain soon after, but at least he was awake and alive. His emerald eyes, green and bright, opened and revealed the pain he was in. He groaned softly and looked about at his surroundings as he started to take stock of where he might be and the fact that he was nowhere familiar, when his eyes befall the young woman in the chair.

 

[Jocelyn]

Though the same crack of thunder awoke Nika with a slight gasp, though she groaned and rubbed the back of her neck. She rarely slept in this chair, and it put a crick in her neck. She heard a groan and her eyes fluttered open. Turning her head Nika could see the young knight looking around the room and she sat up. "Oh thank god.." She spoke softly and she stood up from the chair. She walked over to the bed and she leaned down, having light a nearby candle and she set it just on the sill by the window. "How are you feeling?" She asked softly and she sat down on the edge of the bed and she gazed down to him. He was pale.. she knew she'd have to get some food and water in him soon but at least he was alive and breathing. She smiled and looked down at the young man.

 

[runawayninja]

"Like someone bashed my head real good...and tore my back open and pulled my stuffings out. I'm...a bit weary...but I suppose I should be happy to be alive. I don't quite remember clearly what happened..." He looked around for a moment. "I had a nightmare...some...fiend was chasing me in the night. But..." He sighed heavily. "Just a dream." His eyes refocused on his hostess after they scanned the surroundings to see what kind of domicile he was sequestered in. "My name is Rafe...and I think I owe you my life. For the time being, unless you're intent on ransoming me, or selling me to my foes..." A half-smile played at his lips, but a cautious one, as if he were probing the waters to see if he was right or not. After all, he was a valuable prisoner.

 

[Jocelyn]

Nika shook her head slowly and she sighed lightly, "I don't think it was a dream.." She said and gazed up to him and she frowned a bit. "I found you near dead hanging off your horse. There was an arrow sticking out of you." She spoke though she glanced up to hear him speak his name and she smiled softly before she gave a light laugh at his words. "Just for the time being." She teased back lightly though she smiled and she sat back. "Let me get you something to drink and eat. I'm sure you're parched." She stood up from her chair. "Just rest." She gazed up to him and she smiled lightly before she turned to exit the bedroom before making her way into the kitchen to get him some stew she had made up.

 

[runawayninja]

"The fiend was a nightmare, but what happened to me wasn't. I was scouting and...I didn't know how far the enemy had advanced and I rode straight into the enemy's skirmishing line without them seeing me. It was a heavy forest, so you couldn't see that far ahead without there being a tree in the way, and when I did spot somebody, they called out and then there were...a lot of them. It's all I could do to ride out without someone trying to cut my throat or drag me from my horse. And then someone shot me in the back and...well I can only assume I made it out without too much happening. It was during the night as well, so I suppose they lost me in the darkness..." He looked back. "How much time has passed?"

When she brought something to drink, be it wine, beer, or water, he set upon it and gulped almost all of it down immediately, gasping for air afterwards. When he stopped, he started to eat whatever she had to provide. "I can't thank you enough for the assistance..."

 

[Jocelyn]

Nika came back with a large glass of water for him and a bowl of soup she had made the other day full of meats and vegetables. Enough to get him protein for the amount that she was sure he had been missing. Though upon hearing his question she looked up to him, "Well you were out for a whole night and day." She said as she looked up to see that the sun was now already getting ready to set once again. She had been by his side the whole day, taking it upon herself to try and not leave incase he woke up. Though she glanced up to see that it was still raining and still thundering outside. "I'm just glad that you made it. You looked horrible, I didn't think you were going to make it." She shook her head and sighed a bit. "I had to clean up your mare as well, she was covered in blood." She spoke and frowned towards him.

 

[runawayninja]

"Valkyrie..." He said between gulps of the soup that he was eating as though the spirit of famine itself had passed over him. "Her name is Valkyrie. I figured she was alright, she's a strong beast and she'd manage if something happened to me. One has to trust someone they ride into battle with, and I trust her." When he was done with the food and the drink, he set the bowl and the glass down next to the bed and he looked at her. "So...I seem to be a talkative guest...but I know little about my hostess. And since I am in your debt, ask of me anything you wish."