Bjorn Ironside | Vikings (bjornironside) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2018-03-14 18:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2018 march, ~25 points, ~~bjorn ironside (bjornironside), ~~torvi (torvi) |
Who: Bjorn Ironside and Torvi
What: Torvi arrives in Madison Valley.
When: Wednesday.
Where: Somewhere in town, then Bjorn's apartment.
Warnings: None, just some kissing.
Status: Closed | Completed GDoc.
Torvi felt the arrow strike. Pierced through her shoulder. Then watched the second come for her. Before it hit, she found herself not among the dead or in Valhalla. She found herself in the middle of what looked like a road, one thick arrow sticking out of her shoulder.
This was not home. What had the gods done!? It was with great agony she lifted her shield with her injured arm, an axe in the other hand as she was assaulted by sounds and smells that weren't right. People steered clear of the blood drenched Viking. She yelled in old Norse, trying to get answers, threatening anyone who came close.
***
Bjorn was making his way through the strange town of Madison Valley when he heard a familiar voice, shouting in a familiar language. The language he preferred. He truly disliked the fact that most of the residents (refugee or otherwise) didn’t speak this particular language, and it was nice to be able to hear it again.
He started to head in the direction of the yelling, and his eyes widened as he spotted the source. A very bloody blonde woman with an axe and a shield. He knew this woman.
“Torvi!”
***
Torvi looked around, wild eyed. Then she heard her language, in a voice she knew rather well. It brought both relief and heart ache.
“Bjorn?? Is this Valhalla? Am I dead?” It didn't feel like Valhalla. It looked wrong. And if she was dead why was she still bleeding? She took a few steps towards him, the arrow shaft bobbing with each step.
“Are you real?” She wobbled on her feet then she heard the footsteps of others and spun again to face this new
***threat.
***
“Torvi, you're hurt…” Bjorn was at her side in an instant, and his hand gripped her arm to try to steady her. “Relax, Torvi. You're only going to make it worse.” Of course, he knew how difficult it would be for her to relax. He had only just arrived not too long ago himself. This place was still so very strange to him.
He looked around, trying to find a place to take her so she could sit, at least. He saw a bench not to far off, and motioned to it with his free hand.
“Can you make it there?” He would carry her if he had too, he was strong enough and she was fairly light.
“This is not Valhalla. You're alive. For now.” She was bleeding, some of the blood she was covered in was her own. He wanted to make sure that she didn't lose much more blood, as he couldn't tell how much of her own blood she was covered in. “Come with me.”
Yes, seeing Torvi brought a lot of feelings to the Viking man, but concern was overriding everything else. He didn't know of the clinic or anything about modern medicine, or that's where he would have thought to take her.
But he could take care of this.
***
It really was him. She could relax. Sort of, anyway. The place was so strange and not home that she had no ability to actually relax. She looked around as he grabbed her arm. She transferred her shield to her good arm, tucking the axe into place on the shield. She leaned against him allowing him to steady her. She let a breath out slowly.
A look given his way told him if he tried to carry her she’d put him down just as bad as she was. Torvi had become quite the warrior in the last few years that she had a newfound pride in being worthy of being Lagertha’s second. She nodded. “I will make it there.” she said gritting her teeth.
“For now.” she said as she made it to the bench and sat down, carefully setting her shield next to her. It was a lifeline, as much as he was, and she had no desire to misplace it in this place. “Snap the arrow shaft, Bjorn. It needs to come out.” she said after a minute, it was going to hurt like hell.
But she didn’t care. They’d have to push the rest out, but what else was there to do? Even if she knew of the modern care here, she would not trust it. “Most of this is not my blood.” she said after a moment before steeling herself for what she knew was going to hurt.
***
Bjorn had had a feeling that Torvi would have been against him picking her up and carrying her to the bench. She was a strong-willed, independent woman. Part of the reason he had found himself attracted to her. He allowed her to head toward the bench, but his hand still rested on her arm as she walked. He wanted to make sure she didn’t stumble and fall. He didn’t want her to hurt herself any more than she already was.
He agreed with Torvi, though, about modern medicine. Even if he had known about it, he trusted himself to deal with her wounds more than he would have anyone else. He knew what to do, he’d done this before. He also knew that it would hurt quite a bit, but that Torvi would be able to handle it.
“Good,” he said, when she said that most of the blood was not hers. That helped relieve some of his worry. He quickly started to tend to her and the arrow, knowing that quicker was better. If he prolonged it, she would be in more pain. He snapped the arrow near the entrance, and discarded it onto the ground for now.
“This place is called Madison Valley,” he said as he worked on getting the arrow out of her. Trying to distract her from the pain as well as giving her the information she would need to adjust to life here. “They told me it is the year 2018, and we are in a country called America. It is to the west, past England. Much past England.”
As he spoke, he began to push the rest of the arrow shaft through her wound in one quick motion. He tossed the arrow that had been inside Torvi to the ground, to join the rest of the arrow. He tore a piece of his shirt, and tore that in half. He pressed each bit of fabric on either side of her shoulder, to slow the bleeding.
“I am glad you are here, Torvi.”
***
She sat still, trying her hardest to not tense. She knew that would only make this worse, much worse. She bit back a snarl of pain as he snapped the shaft. Every flinch hurt more. She refused to cry out, though, even if she wanted to do nothing more.
“2018…” she repeated slowly as he worked, focusing on the sound of his voice and his words rather than the pain. “Madison Valley. America.” Each sounded wrong coming from her lips. Then she wondered, silently, would Ragnar have made it this far if he’d survived? Go west had been his mantra.
“Did the gods do this?” She asked then winced, shuddering and crying out as he pushed the arrow out. Her breathing was heavy as she tried to focus again, she'd survived childbirth this was nothing.
Her good hand came up to press over his, making him put harder pressure on the wound. It would leave a scar but she didn't care about that. She trusted him to make sure she didn't die on him here in this place.
“If I am to be in a strange time and place, I can think of no other I would prefer to be with than you, Bjorn.” She replied, looking up at him. She moved her hand only to grasp at the leather strung through the ends of her long braids, offering it up to tie the cloth over the wound.
****
"If I am to be honest, I do not know. I do not think anyone knows why we are here, or how we got here. But look around, Torvi. This is not our world. There are things here, things I could not even begin to imagine." He pressed his hand firmly against the wound, not wanting her to bleed out. When she offered him one of the leather bits from her hair, he immediately knew what she wanted him to do with it.
He tied the cloth with the bit of leather, making sure that the bits of cloth were secured firmly against the bleeding arrow wound. She looked weak, weaker than he'd seen her before. He knew it was due to the blood loss, and he knew that she would likely need a place to sleep, a place to regain her strength.
"They gave me a place to live, a place they call an apartment." As he was not sure of the Norse word for apartment, he offered her the English word for it. The word that they had given him for the dwelling. "It isn't far, I will take you there. You need to rest." And possibly eat something, but Bjorn wanted her to rest first. He could find food for her while she slept.
He would not mind allowing her to use his bed for such a thing. They had shared a bed before, allowing her to sleep in his bed was nothing. It was almost second nature to Bjorn.
“There are so many things I must tell you, but it can wait until you are rested. It is a lot to take in at once.”
***
Torvi waited patiently while he bound her wound. “I doubt ever Floki could dream of such things, Bjorn.” She said quietly as she looked around, taking things in without the panic she'd first had. It was overwhelming. So many years!
“Perhaps the Seer but I think maybe not even him.” She tested the word out on her tongue, but it felt wrong like so many of the English words had. “Apartment.” She scoffed a little. “I need rest. And to bathe. I would not bleed all over your bed.” She was a mess and she knew it.
“Is there fire near? We should seal this.” She gestured to her shoulder. Burning a wound shut was the fastest way to ensure that it would stop bleeding. Even though she did not relish the idea.
Torvi reached down to pick up her things, then pushed to stand. The world spun forcing her to grab his shoulder. Lagertha would scold her for getting shot in the first place, how had she missed the archers aiming at her.
“I would argue but I am too tired to do such a thing. I hurt and know that it will only hurt more tomorrow. I am sure we both have much to tell each other.”
***
Bjorn understood being overwhelmed by everything. He had been here longer than Torvi, though not by much, and he was still very much overwhelmed. "Floki would not be able to dream of such a place, you are right. I do not believe anyone could have."
He nodded when she used the English word. "It is in a building containing many apartments. Apparently it is usual for this time and place." He had finished binding her wound as they spoke. "There is a place to bathe in the apartment. I have a few things you can wear after."
He considered her question about the fire. He hadn't seen any fires since his arrival in Madison Valley, which he found to be quite strange. But the apartment was warm enough without a fire, which he found to be strange as well. Not that it was particularly cold here in this strange town.
"I have not seen a fire since my arrival here. We can find some way to seal your wound without one."
Bjorn smiled a bit at Torvi's words, "I am glad you are not arguing for once. You may hurt more tomorrow, but at least you will be rested." When she grabbed his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around her waist, to steady her.
"Come on, it's not far."
***
Torvi was adaptable, she had to be as someone around Lagertha all day every day, she’d adapt to this place too. But it would take a bit of time - it was such a huge jump in time that she wasn’t sure how quickly she was going to adapt. She’d get there. She had Bjorn here. She could do anything. No matter how hard it would be. “It is… beyond our wildest imaginations.”
“Many dwellings in one building. How strange.” she shook her head a bit and ran her fingers through her hair, and tugged on the braids a bit. “I look forward to a bath, I am coated in blood and dirt, and while I am sure I look wonderful, I feel gross.” she said honestly. “Good, I’ll need to clean them up.”
This place could never be as cold as home was. never. Kattegat was frigid in winter, and she’d come from further north to begin with. Cold was simply a state of being for them, they were quite capable of managing whatever this place threw at them. “No fires? What do they do for warmth?” she asked, her eyes wide, she couldn’t imagine a place without fire. “We will figure it out, then. I trust you.” she said honestly.
Torvi gave him a wry smile, she fought for herself, for her queen, for him, for her friends. Which means she argued a lot when it came to things. She’d rather be up, moving and fighting than lying bedridden or injured. She leaned on him and sighed. “Let us be off then and see this strange place you are living in.” she smirked. “Could I ask a single favor?”
****
Bjorn knew Torvi to be adaptable. She had to be, with the role she played in their world. He knew that she would be okay here in Madison Valley, just like he had no doubt that he would be as well. It would just take them some time to adjust. There was a lot that was different here. "It truly is. I would never have imagined a place such as this in the entirety of my life."
He understood that apartments were a foreign concept to her, just as they were to him. It took him a while to wrap his head around the idea. He'd had to see the apartment buildings in order to fully comprehend.
"I can understand," he said. He always felt better after cleaning off the blood from battle as well. He never minded coming out of battle with the blood of his enemies on his body, but he always found that he felt better clean.
It may be cold in Madison Valley to some people, but to Bjorn, it was almost warm and balmy. Kattegat was frigid and it was almost impossible to get the chill out. He could feel it in his bones some nights. "No fires that I have seen. I am not sure how they get warm during the cold months. If it even gets cold here." He offered Torvi a small smile, "I am certain we will figure things out. Especially with you here."
He nodded at her words, and looked around for a moment, getting his bearings. He started in the direction of the apartment complexes, making sure to stick close to Torvi without making it too obvious that he was concerned about her. "What is your favor?" He likely would do whatever she asked of him.
***
Torvi smiled at him, it was wane, but it was a smile. “I figured you would understand.” coming home from war or raids with blood from your enemies was all well and good, but she was not at war at the moment and she was getting plenty of looks being drenched in the stuff. She didn’t particularly want the notice. It felt awkward and uncomfortable to be stared at.
The temperatures in Madison Valley were going to feel like spring and summer to her. She could already tell this fact - the wind was not biting as it was at home and the cold didn’t sink into her bones. She felt these people had it lucky. She shook her head at him, “They must do something. Although if it does not get cold, then perhaps it is not necessary?” the first time someone complained she was sure she was going to die of laughter. She considered his words for a moment.
“We will face whatever it is that this place is together. I am glad you are here. It is reassuring to have a face I know.” even if it tugged on her heart. He’d been gone so long. She knew that was how it went, of course. Men always wandered away to fight. Even when the women joined, they still were like children. It was a woman’s cross to bear.
“Carry my shield?” she asked carefully - knowing that it was a sign of how weak she was feeling to be even suggesting it. But she hurt and was leaning on him to stay upright and walking. She knew that her shield was not nearly as heavy as she thought it was right now, that was blood loss talking.
She gave him another smile, a little sharper this time. “I would not want to drop it. I find myself using you to stay upright and my other arm is useless.” so admitting to him wasn’t as hard as she thought, but she knew he knew what the aftermath of battle felt like. The thrill of the raid then the ache of weary muscles. Her arm was going to be aching for a long time, too, arrow wounds were nasty things and while it had hit nothing vital, it was in a bad place.
***
Of course Bjorn would understand. He understood a lot of what happened in their world, and therefore understood a lot of what Torvi was feeling here in Madison Valley. He understood Torvi a lot better than he understood anything in this city. Torvi made him feel better, a bit grounded in this strange environment.
"Apparently they think it gets cold here," he stated. "But this is the spring, according to those who greeted me when I arrived. The cold months are over." Though he was certain that the cold months were not nearly as cold as what he and Torvi were used to. He knew the spring in Kattegat was still rather frigid.
He smiled at Torvi slightly, and nodded. "I am glad you are here as well, Torvi. It is good to see a familiar face." Familiarity was important to Bjorn. It made him feel better to see her, to know that he wasn't alone. He had been alone here for a short time, and he'd hated it. He'd met a few people who made him feel more comfortable than others, but that was likely because they were able to converse with him in old Norse.
At her request, he took the shield from her. He knew that it had likely been hard for her to ask him for help, so he did it wordlessly. He didn't want to make her more uncomfortable about it than she likely did. He would have taken her axe as well, but had a feeling it might make her more comfortable to carry that herself. He knew the aftermath of battle all too well, and he understood the pure exhaustion that came with it.
Bjorn led the way to his apartment, the one he would be more than willing to share with Torvi if she so chose. It would be nice, being around her often. He may be clinging to the idea of her merely because she was familiar and reminded him of home, but that was okay. For now. Once they arrived at the apartment, he opened the door and led them inside. He hadn't locked his apartment, he had never had the need for locks in Kattegat and he didn't have the need now.
"This is the apartment they gave me," he offered.
***
“Their spring is warm. How incredible.” Kattegat was cold, through early spring. This was much nicer, like their late springs. She smiled a little. “Perhaps this place will be good for us then. Maybe we can do what we should be doing instead of fighting every battle known to cross our paths.” That said, she loved a good fight, but she knew it wasn't sustainable. They needed to recover from some of these massive battles.
She clung to the axe like it was a lifeline. She didn't want to part with it just yet. She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes as she looked at the apartment he'd brought her too. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before.
“By the gods.” She left his side to poke at things. It was nothing like anything she'd ever seen before. She looked around warily, mindful to not bleed on anything. She looked back at him, her eyes wide.
She'd stay with him, he knew her. He could ensure her shoulder heales. She was, as far as she knew, still with him even though they hadn't seen each other in a very long time. Though, thankfully, she was also open minded, and would deal with that later no matter what. Nothing would change things for her, he would always be important to her.
“This is…. Strange”
***
He nodded, "There are a lot of incredible things about this city. It is amazing here, beyond all of our wildest dreams. My father would have loved it here, knowing that there was more land to the west." He knew that Ragnar would have truly enjoyed it here in Madison Valley, despite how strange and unusual it happened to be.
Bjorn watched Torvi carefully as she wandered through the apartment, looking and poking at various things within it. He had done the same thing upon his arrival in the apartment.
"This is very strange," he agreed.
He would have liked the knowledge that Torvi believed that they were still together, despite how long it had been since they had seen each other. He had loved Torvi, and he found that he still loved her after seeing her again. His love for her had not faded, and it had hit him like a ton of bricks when he had seen her again.
"Come, let me show you where you can bathe. The tub is amazing, the water comes from something they call a faucet and you can make it as hot or cold as you want with the turn of a dial." Dial might not be the proper word, but it was the word he used.
Bjorn went to the bathroom, leading her through the bedroom to get there. It was so different than the things they had back home, but he found they really weren't so bad. Quite useful, actually.
***
“He would have, I think you are right.” She said quietly, thinking a bit. He had been something else entirely. She shook her head a bit then turned to smile at him. It was warm.
“I have missed you.” Carefully, because she didn't know how he'd respond. She knew they'd talk about it sooner rather than later, but she needed him to know that fact.
She followed him into the bathroom. “Oh. This is luxurious, isn't it? I have heard of the Roman baths from Lagertha. This seems just as wonderful.” She didn't hesitate to undo the bandage so she could begun stripping out of her armor. Wincing as she did so because her arm was useless.
“How wonderful to think we will not need to heat up water when we wish to bathe. I am in awe.”
***
Bjorn was glad for the warmth of the smile from Torvi. It put him a bit more at ease. Then she spoke. He remained quiet for a moment or two after she spoke, and then nodded. “I have missed you as well, Torvi.” While he had not been back home very often, it was not due to Torvi. “I have been avoiding returning home, but it was not because of you.” If Torvi was the only thing at home, he would have returned in a heartbeat. He wanted her to know that, but wasn’t sure how to express himself.
He stepped toward the bathtub, and plugged the drain before turning on the water for her. He ran his fingers under the faucet, testing the temperature of it. He did not wish for the water to be an uncomfortable temperature for her.
As Torvi began to strip out of her armor, he settled down on the edge of the tub. It didn’t occur to him that people may appreciate privacy while undressing, especially one he was so close to. She hadn’t seemed to wish for any, as she had started undressing while he was still in the room.
After a moment, he found himself reaching for the hand of her good arm and pulling her toward him, interrupting her undressing. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and his head rested lightly on her stomach. “I truly have missed you, Torvi,” he murmured.
***
Torvi gave him an understanding smile. “You are much like your father, Bjorn, exploring is in your blood. I knew that.” She had known that going in. She knew most wives got left behind, she knew it was a lonely thing but she was okay. She had purpose at home, too, fighting for Kattegat.
She didn't mind him being there. It wasn't like it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before, a little more ink a couple extra scars, but generally? She didn't mind him seeing them. Of course you know, there was a gaping hole. She was practical, having him stay was good for her safety too.
Torvi was surprised when he reached out and pulled her to him, resting his head against her stomach. After a moment she wrapped her arms around him, ignoring the stars she saw as she moved her arm. Her good hand came up to run over his head.
“I know, Bjorn. I know.” She closed her eyes, and sighed softly. “I trust the gods keep you safe. I have so much to tell you.” They'd been apart a long time, she looked forward to telling him of what was going on at home.
Even if it wasn't all good news.
***
He kept his arms wrapped around her waist, wanting to be close to her for a bit longer. He placed a kiss against her stomach, just near her belly button. He did love her, he loved her more than he'd loved anyone. He sighed softly, and nodded. "Yes, I suspect you do."
He rose from his spot on the edge of the bathtub, and reached for her once more. He started to help undress her, understanding that it may be causing her great pain to get some of the clothing off. Yes, that was why.
Bjorn allowed his lips to brush lightly along one of her shoulders as he assisted her, the shoulder that didn't have the gaping wound. He didn't want to hurt her. After she was undressed, he checked the water level in the tub, and leaned toward the faucet to turn it off.
"There's soap. And soap for your hair, in those bottles."
He took a step back, giving her room so she could step into the tub if she so desired. He didn't want to crowd her any. He wanted to make her feel as comfortable as possible.
"Are you hungry? I can get you some food when you are done."
***
Torvi didn't make any move to divest herself from the moment. It had been a long time since he'd had his arms around her. She was reluctant to end it quickly. She smiled at the kiss against her stomach. “Don't sigh so heavily. It is not awful news.”
She gave him a wry smile as he helped her out of her armor and clothing. He was right, of course, it hurt to move. She could have managed,of course, but she couldn't resist letting him dote on her.
Her eyes closed as he brushed a kiss against her shoulder, a softer smile in place. She took a deep breath then as he stood, took his face in both hands, her one arm trembling, pulling him to her, being the daring woman she was, and kissed him.
“Food will be good, Bjorn, I will need it. Will you help me with my hair?” She wasn't sure she could unbind and wash all that hair with one hand. And she was reluctant to let him leave her.
***
Bjorn wrapped his arms around her waist once more, as she kissed him. As he willingly returned her kiss. He’d missed her. He’d missed everything about her. The kisses, the touches, the looks. He sighed softly when she pulled away from the kiss, but he knew she likely wanted that bath. He understood that, he’d want a bath as well.
He nodded when she asked him to help with her hair, “Of course I will, Torvi.’
He unwrapped his arms from her waist, and allowed her to get into the tub. He settled onto the side of the tub once she was in the bath, and reached toward her. He started to unbind her hair, allowing the long strands to fall as they became loose from the bindings.
“I love you, Torvi,” he said softly, as he worked on her hair. He wanted her to know this. Wanted her to know that even though he rarely saw her, he still loved her. He likely would always love her.
***
Torvi would have given anything to not stop, to just get reacquainted with him, but even as she stood there her muscles grew stiff, and tired. The lure of a hot bath overtook any other need. Barely. She'd missed him fiercely, and knowing he was alive, doing what he loved, had kept her from giving in to the loneliness the distance brought.
The sigh that escaped her lips upon sitting in the tub with the hot water for the first time was heavenly, eyes closed in pure bliss. She'd bathed, often, in the cold harbor or in a tub with water heated by the fire, but they paled in comparison to this.
“Oh. This. I like this.” She laughed softly as she turned her head towards him to allow him access to her hair. The water felt divine and even as he worked on her hair, she started to scrub the grime from her skin.
She paused when he spoke, turning her head to look at him. “And I love you, Bjorn. It wouldn't matter how far you traveled, or how long you were away from me.” She'd killed to protect him, to have a chance at a different life with him. There was nothing she wouldn't do. She trusted the gods guided him. Though she never went to the Seer to find out. She might trust them, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.
***
Bjorn did not wish to stop. He desperately wanted to get reacquainted with her as well, but he knew that there was a time and place for such things. And just after Torvi's arrival in Madison Valley, after she had fought hard in battle, was neither the time nor the place. So he had stepped away from her, to allow her to get into the bathtub.
Her reaction to the tub was similar to what his had been. He often bathed as well, in a similar manner as Torvi, but the bathtub here in Madison, in his apartment, was wonderful. He smiled slightly as she reacted to the bathtub, to the warmth of the water.
After he'd finished unbinding her hair, he reached for the bottle that stated it was shampoo, and squeezed some of it into his hand. He started to massage it into her hair, causing the liquid shampoo to lather up into the strands.
He paused in his shampooing her hair for a moment, when she turned her head toward him. There was a small smile from Bjorn at her words, and he leaned toward her to kiss her once more. He would be lying if he said he'd had no doubts of her continued love for him, and it was a relief to hear that she loved him.
"Stay here with me," he suggested after pulling away from the kiss. "They will have likely arranged living quarters for you as well, but I would prefer it if you stayed in mine."
He didn't want to be parted from Torvi again, he wanted to remain close to her. He didn't want them to live separately. She was familiar to him, she reminded him of home. He didn't want to be parted from that, he didn't want to be parted from her ever again.
***
The bath was a thing of beauty, she didn't need slaves or servants to keep the water hot, a turn of a knob would refill it. She was a little more excited now to be here with such things were to greet them.
The shampoo was different, the scent unlike anything they were used to. Their soaps were harsher, more about getting the job done than doing so and smelling good. Having his hands on her hair felt wonderful, the act alone was intimate and relaxing. She wouldn't let just anyone work with her hair.
She smiled and returned his kiss softly, happy to have him here. Knowing it would make life easier. And while she was Viking, a woman who had grown to love a challenge, this one she didn't mind his help on.
Torvi blinked then laughed warmly, “Of course I'll stay with you, Bjorn.” She leaned up to gift him another kiss, smiling a bit. He was still him, he didn't demand but who could turn him down? She wanted nothing more than to be done with this bath and go drag him to bed. But she knew she didn't have the strength or energy for that.
Her shoulder had quit bleeding, but it wouldn't take much to start it up again. They had time, she had to remind herself.
***
Bjorn wouldn't demand anything of Torvi. He knew how she would react if he even thought about demanding things from her, and that wasn't his style, anyway. He wasn't one to make demands of the woman he loved. He knew that she was a strong-willed woman, and would likely do the opposite of what he demanded, anyway.
He desperately wanted her. Wanted to be intimate with her once more. But he knew she was weak from fighting and loss of blood. He knew that while her wound had stopped bleeding, it was likely that the smallest thing could set it off again.
After he'd made sure her hair was clean, he began to rinse the shampoo out of her long strands of hair. He was accustomed to washing long hair, as the hair he had was rather long as well. But she just had more of it.
He placed a kiss on the top of her head once he was finished, and offered her a small smile.
"Come, let's get you to bed." He reached for the clean towel that was hanging on the towel rack, for her to dry off with.
***
Torvi was good at doing the opposite of what was demanded of her. After all she'd been told to kill Bjorn. Instead she'd killed Erlendur when he'd demanded she kill Bjorn. She'd outgrown that meek shell she had had as Jarl Borg’s wife, she'd become stronger.
She wanted to make it a good reunion, that meant waiting. It was a hard choice, but it was the right one. While he finished her hair she finished the rest of her, taking care to clean her shoulder well.
She did her best to loosely braid her hair as she got to her feet. The water was red tinged, so while she wanted to just soak, it was better to get up and out of it.
Torvi took the offered towel, and dried herself off, offering it to him so he could dry her shoulder for her. “But I don't want bed.” Came the tiny protest, but she grinned at him. “But, bed it is. Will you stay with me?”
***
Bjorn took the towel from Torvi, and dried the bits of her that she hadn't been able to reach or do herself, because of the wound to her shoulder. He then replaced the towel where he'd found it, before turning toward the woman once more.
"You may not want bed, but bed will do you good." He offered her a smile, and started toward the bedroom. Even the beds here in Madison Valley were different than the ones they were used to, but he found them comfortable enough. And warm enough.
He nodded, "Of course I will stay with you." He stripped out of some of his clothing before climbing into the bed. It would be nice to sleep next to Torvi again. "I have missed you," he murmured. He knew he had said this before, but found that it was worth repeating.
"Come, let us sleep."
***
She smiled at him, “Thank you.” She took a moment to look in the mirror. She rarely looked in anything that gave her a look at herself. She relied the others to tell her her braids were all set.
“Bed will do good. I know it will.” She smiled at him as she tucked the braid over her shoulder, then checked her shoulder. It was not bleeding anymore, it would be good. “Do you want me to lay a towel down to sleep on?”
She ran her fingers over the bed slowly, smiling a bit. It was different, but it wasn't bad. It was good, actually. She crawled into bed next to him and settled against him, content to be here. “I missed you, too, you have no idea.” She closed her eyes and relaxed, knowing that he was there for her was the world.
***
Bjorn shook his head at her question. He didn't mind if she bled a little on the bed, a little blood wouldn't do any harm to anything. He want one too shy away from blood. He'd be a bad Viking of he did.
He gently wrapped an arm around her when she settled into the bed beside her, and kissed her cheek. Yes, he wanted her, he wanted to be intimate with her once more. But he knew it would cause more harm than good right now.
”Let's get some sleep. I'll get us some food once we are rested.” Mainly when she was rested up, but he didn't say that. He was planning on getting some sleep as well.
***
Torvi trusted him to keep an eye on her. Blood was blood. It wasn't anything to be ashamed or shy about. As long as he didn't care she was good. She practically sunk into the mattress.
“This is almost Valhalla in and of itself.” She sighed softly then nuzzled in to get comfortable to sleep. She slept hard, like a rock, oozing a little in her slumber. She slept better with him there.
There was almost a sense of peace that wrapped her in its arms, she couldn't have been in a better place.
***