I came too a few moments later, the darkness clearing from my eyes. I was cradled to Bash's chest, his arms wrapped gently around me. We were still on the floor of Finn’s cabin. The battle was still underway. But all I could think about was Bash, and that he was here with me, now.
“Bash,” I whimpered. My back and head were in so much pain. Bash had wrapped his red jacket around me. To hide my wounds and my almost naked body. The red jacket hiding all the blood.
“Hush my darling, the battle is almost over,” Bash whispered gently. I hid my face in his shirt. Tears of pain stinging my eyes. Just then I heard someone come in. Bash held me a little tighter.
“The battle is over, captain,” Aadan said. Bash gently stood up with me in his arms. I looked at met Aadan’s eyes. He had blood all over him. He was covered in it. No doubt the battle was completely bloody.
“Good, I need to get Freya onto our ship and away from all this carnage,” Bash replied. Aadan nodded and Bash followed him out the cabin and up the steps. The deck was covered in bodies. The deck was slick with blood. But Bash did not slip at all. The pirates had the survivors tied down at the mast. Bash walked across the gang plank back to his ship. He brought us to his cabin and laid me down on my stomach. I turned my head and saw that Aadan was at the doorway. His arms were crossed, but he had a look of sympathy in his eyes.
“Aadan, get the ship’s physician, then return to the other ship and kill them all. There must be no survivors, then we must burn the ship. Let it and that bastard sink to the depths,” Bash commanded. Aadan nodded and disappeared. Bash came and sat down beside me. Brushing the hair from my face. He leaned down and kissed my head gently.
“Did I not tell you to be rash mi amor,” he said. I could tell he was upset with me. I looked up to meet his gaze. I did not want to. I could see both anger and concern in his eyes. I did not want him upset with me.
“You did, but they were going to shoot Athena, I could not let her die for me. I could not let her be killed by that monster,” I whispered. He sighed, before he could say anymore the physician entered. He removed the red jacket, and I heard Bash’s gasp as he took in the wounds on my back.
“We must clean her wounds. Before there is a chance of infection. I need hot water, and whiskey,” the physician said. Bash took my hand. Planting a small kiss on it. He then rubbed his thumb across it.
“Do what you must to keep her alive doctor, I cannot live if something happened to her,” Bash said sternly. He kissed my hand one more time. I heard something being poured into a cup.
“Have her drink this, it will put her to sleep. Cleaning out the wounds will be painful. It is best that she is alseep for this part,” the physician said, handing Bash a cup. Bash looked at the contents of it.
“Drink this mi amor, and the pain will go away,” he said. He held the drink to my lips. It tasted vile, and I coughed as I drank the contents of the cup. As soon as it settled in my stomach, my eyelids grew heavy. And soon I fell asleep.
When I woke up, I was lying on my back, the covers pulled up to my waist. I was bathed and put into a clean shift. No doubt Bash did it. I looked over and saw Bash sitting in a chair by my bed. He met my gaze. And relief washed through his eyes. He stood up from the chair and sat beside me. He took my hand and planted a kiss on it.
“Bash, you came for me,” I whispered. Realizing that I had never told him that before. He laughed and helped me sit up. So he could pull me into his arms. I felt my back sting as he did so. But it was not as painful as it was before. No doubt the physician had taken his time to clean my wounds and bandaged them up. I could feel the linen on my back.
“Of course I did, you are my wife, Freya. I will always come for you. Ali set the fire at the docks telling us something had happened. He then was able to track this ship down,” he replied. I looked up at him.
“What about Athena, is she alright. They beat her when they came for me. Thomas was going to kill her, he was going to shoot her,” I asked. He chuckled and kissed my head.
“She is alright, Mae is taking care of her now. We made sure of that before we came for you,” he said. “But Freya, what you did was so reckless, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get to you in time. When I saw you on that floor unconscious, blood on your body. The bruises on your face. I thought I was going to lose you,” he said. I felt guilt rush into my cheeks.
“Like I said, they were willing to shoot Athena. I could not allow them to kill her. I just could not. I fought Thomas, I fought him to get back to you,” I whispered. I stared at our intertwined hands. Planting a kiss on them.
“I know mi amor, I know. When Ali warned us. Aadan sent word to my mother. She will meet us at St. Bona’s. She will protect you while I hunt for the pirate who sold us out to your father,” he said. I looked at him shocked at his words. I did not want him to leave.
“Please do not leave Bash, we already parted once. I cannot bear it if we parted again,” I whimpered. He held me a little tighter. I did not wish to leave his arms. I wished I could stay in his arms forever.
“I have to, I must protect you and those who reside on St. Bona’s. I will not be away long, we have an idea on who did this. I will then return to you, I promise,” he said. He leaned down and kissed me gently. My eyelids grew heavy and I fell asleep in his arms.
We arrived in St. Bona’s a few hours later. Bash carried me off the ship toward the tavern. Both Athena and Mae were waiting for us. Mae had her arm wrapped around Athena's shoulder. Both taking in the sight of me cradled in Bash's arms.
“What did they do to you Freya,” Mae cried. She stared at the bruises on my face. She could not see the wounds on my back, they were hidden by my shift and Bash's red coat. I buried my face in Bash’s chest. Not wanting to meet their eyes.
“Come, she will need her rest, let's bring her upstairs to rest,” Bash said. Athena and Mae followed us up the stairs and into Bash’s rooms. He laid me on the bed and pulled the blanket over me. Athena and Mae both took a seat beside me. Both reaching out to take my hands.
“Mae, bring some tea up, along with some herbs. Freya is going to need her rest to heal,” Athena said. Mae nodded, she gave my hand a gentle squeeze and got up from her place by my side.
“Bash, please come help me in the kitchen. It will only take a moment,” Mae said. Bash hesitantly stood there before being dragged away by Mae. It was a rather funny sight. When Athena and I were alone.
“Thank you for saving my life Freya, no one has ever done that for me before. I will not forget the kindness you have given to me,” Athena said. I turned to look at her. Giving her a tight pained smile.
“I will always protect those I love. That includes you Athena,” I replied. She gave me a brilliant smile in return. Mae and Bash returned a few minutes later. Athena got up and mixed some herbs in my cup of tea.
“Drink this Freya, it will help you rest,” Athena said. I nodded and took the cup. I drank it all, I could taste mint with something a little bitter. I handed the cup back to Athena and felt myself drift off. After a while I began to hear voices. Voices coming from the darkness.
“Madre, seeing Freya there on that floor. Her body battered, she is my everything. I was so fearful that I would lose her forever,” Bash said. I knew that I was drifting in and out of darkness and was hearing Bash speaking with his mother. But to hear the pain in his voice, I did not know until now. Just upset he was at what I did.
