IX

"Diomed!" Frieda called out, her voice laced with concern, "Diomed, it's me!" She continued cry out in anguish as he started to walk towards her. Frieda's breath caught in her throat as she looked around her and noticed she was surrounded. There was no escape and her fingers opening and closing around the hilt of her sword showed how anxious she was feeling. 

She could almost hear herself laughing in the back of her mind at the irony. She had kept Diomed out for so long for fear of being betrayed, like she had so often in her past, that when she finally began to accept him her fear became real. For that is exactly what was happening. But whilst the figure moving towards her looked like Diomed, it wasn't him. It wasn't the Diomed that she knew. 

She brought her sword back around from where it was hidden behind her and gripped it tightly, but she did not strike. A part of her was hoping that at the very last minute Diomed would stop, give her a wink and one of those annoying smirks he loved to send her way and let her know that it was all a ruse. That he had not changed. 

But he was getting closer and his eyes remained dark and shut off. 

"...Diomed?" Frieda's voice broke a little as she started to take a few steps back, increasing the gap between them; giving him one last chance to prove her wrong. But he kept coming. His brow was shining with sweat and the muscles in his arms were bulging as his lips started to draw back in a grimace and he raised his sword towards her. 

For the first time in a while Frieda felt something in her chest close to heartbreak as she raised her sword and it connected with his, the strike reverberating up her arm and - it felt like - into her chest. 

Their movements were harsh and strong. This wasn't the same as previous fights for Frieda. She wasn't prolonging the others torment by lightly dancing out the way, keeping them from ever touching her with their blade. She wasn't searching for the quickest kill. She was trying to keep herself alive whilst reaching for Diomed. She quickly began to realise that all her jesting of Diomed in the past had been wrong and he had been withholding the true measure of his strength from her. 

She wasn't sure how long they spent fighting but this wasn't a sparring match for fun. Freida was dripping with sweat and her muscles were calling out for a reprieve. The palms of her hand were calloused from how tight she was gripping her sword as Diomed brought his blade down towards the top of her head. Frieda managed to block it but Diomed kept pushing against her sword with his own until her thighs quivered, and she collapsed to her knees in front of him. Her sword was a mere few inches from cutting into her head. 

"Dio-" Frieda grunted, not able to finish the word as he exerted more pressure and she had to grit her teeth against keeping it from plowing into her skull. 

"Diomed!" Frieda cried out loud as droplets of sweat trailed a path down her face before hitting the ground, "It's me, Diomed," She looked between where their swords met and into his eyes as her arms began to shake from exertion, "It's me," Her voice broke, silently praying to the Gods for him to come to his senses. Her eyes searched his face but aside from the small arch in his brow nothing on his face changed. 

Frieda looked down briefly and took some deep breaths, steeling her body for what was about to come next. Maybe this was not the worst time to die, she thought as she looked out of the corner of her eye and saw her sister and her children. She was free. She knew her sister was alive. She had done what she set out to do. What else was there waiting for her in life? Maybe this was the right time to die. 

Frieda clenched her eyes shut as the sword inched forward slightly as Diomed found some hidden strength and used it. Her arms were screaming in agony for rest. 

"If I am to die," Frieda said looking up at Diomed, "I am glad it is you who will swing that blade." Frieda wanted his face to be the last thing she saw and she dropped her arm. She cried in relief as her arm dropped like a heavy stone to her side and the blade squelched in the mud, the handle resting loosely at her fingertips. 

Frieda gasped, her throat working, as she waited to feel of blade against flesh; a feeling she had given to so many others. When nothing came she opened her eyes and looked up at Diomed. He hadn't moved an inch. He did not seem to realise that her sword was no longer there because he was still hunched over, the muscles in his neck straining, as he held his sword in both his hands. 

Frowning, Frieda searched deep in his eyes. 

"Finish it, already!" Someone shouted. 

"Kill her!" Someone else cajoled. 

Frieda didn't hear them as stared into Diomed's eyes and it could have been the delirium but she could have sworn she saw something come to life inside of him. His eyes softened with recognition and her heart skipped a beat before she saw them once again shut off. But this time it was because of something directed inwards at himself and her heart broke. 

"Diomed?" She whispered, scared that anything could revert him back. 

He did not respond in words but the muscles in his neck eased so the tendons were no longer threatening to burst out of his skin and he gave her a small nod that it was barely noticeable before he looked to his left, her right. She gave a nod back and her fingers slowly re-gripped the handle of her blade where it lay beside her.  Their eyes lingered on each other's for a moment, both of them wishing they had longer to say what they needed but for now that would have to be enough. 

It felt as if they had been frozen or moving at a slow pace through a blizzard but now everything was happening blindingly fast. Frieda and Diomed moved in unison. He pretended to raise his sword to swing it down on Frieda's neck but instead he swung to his left whilst Frieda pushed herself up, against the protests of her muscles, and lunged to her left. 

She could see the Romans smile in anticipation of her decapitation quickly drop as they realised what was happening but it was too late. Diomed and Frieda were back to back and striking out at the soldiers that surrounded them. Twirling her sword in her hand Frieda raised her leg and kicked the sword from a soldier's grasp before swiping the tip of her sword across another Roman's chest and pushing him back so that he took the men behind him also. 

"Frieda-" Diomed cursed. 

"-I know!" She shouted as her eyes scanned the area for an escape like a trapped animal whilst pushing back against the blades. Her chest was heaving from exertion as reached above her head and blocked a sword but it left her side open and she cried out as she felt the skin on the back of her thigh sliced open. Her leg buckled beneath her and she stumbled forward, catching her balance with her sword tip resting against the ground acting as a staff. Frieda was starting to feel her luck run out as she tried to put weight on her sliced leg and she cried out. Looking down at the floor she saw a number of sandals advance towards her and she could see their swords above her head in her minds eye. 

Straightening herself up so that she rested all her weight on her right leg she swallowed and lifted her sword. "Let's do this then," Frieda tried to steady her breathing but knew this was most likely going to be where she met her end. After everything, she would die in a Roman garrison and she realised, despite everything they'd done, she hadn't gotten very far at all. She tried to hear Diomed behind her one last time but she couldn't and she dare not look away.

Out of nowhere a loud horn sequence blared out across the courtyard stopping everyone. "VOOOLLLEY!" A voice cried out, "TAKE COVER!" 

Everyone started running as Frieda looked up and saw small long blips travelling over the wall before descending into the courtyard. Some of the blips were on fire. She hadn't taken a step yet when a flaming arrow landed a foot away from her. Someone barged into her shoulder, knocking her to the ground, as they ran for cover. Gritting her teeth she looked up and saw the soldiers filing through open doorways to get inside. Hobbling to her feet Frieda limped as fast as she could to the far wall which was overlooked by a balcony. She hoped that it provided her cover from the arrows. Eoghan must have come back, Frieda thought as she eyes searched the area. A few soldiers lay dead on the ground; one had an arrow in his back and another had one in his eye but otherwise the courtyard was empty. But none of them were Diomed. 

Scanning the area left to right Frieda tried to find where he had taken cover when she heard someone call her name from the other side of the yard. 

Snapping her head back to where she heard the noise come from her lips parted in a gasp. Her vision was taken up completely by Diomed. He was on his knees with his head pinned against a wooden bench so that he was looking across at her. His skin looked red and his lips were pursed as he tried to breath. His hands were holding onto either side of the bench as he tried to push against the hand keeping him there. Following the hand that was pressing Diomed's cheek into the wood she found that it belonged to the Commander who was stood face her, and she quickly took note of the axe that was in his other hand. Diomed continued to resist to Alena's husband ordered two soldiers over who took one of Diomed's arms each and pulled them out flat. Frieda gritted her teeth in anger. Gripping her sword she started to take a step out when another whoosh of arrows came slicing through the sky and hit the ground between her and Diomed, pushing her back under the balcony. 

The commander grinned as he saw that she was trapped. 

"Say goodbye!" The Commander shouted across to her as he raised the axe above his head. 

Frantically, Frieda felt around her waist but remember she had no daggers. Cursing, she tried to balance on her right leg as she raised her sword and aimed. Leaning back she cried out in pain and anger as she launched the sword across the open space. But it was too heavy and Frieda was weak from her injuries and the sword clattered pathetically to the ground barely halfway across the opening. She looked at Diomed and her chest started to constrict as she saw the commander order the soldiers to hold him steady. 

Looking around her for anything she could use- She would take a slingshot and a rock at this point! -  when she saw a bow resting up against the wall innocently. Scurrying along the wall Frieda grabbed the bow and looked around her for a quiver but there wasn't any - She needed arrows! Turning back around to face Diomed she was trying to make herself think of something but she was struggling when Diomed's face blurred into the background and her eyes focused on the tail of arrow sticking out of the ground. 

Cursing her slow thinking, Frieda checked the balcony above her before she stepped out and reached down to yank an arrow out of the ground before retreating back under the balcony as another flaming volley filled the void between them. A flaming arrow hit the post to her left catching her attention and doubt started to grow inside her mind. Frieda was never an accomplished archer. That was Diomed's expertise. He had tried to teach her but she had been too stubborn and thought he would be there so why would she ever need to learn? She was regretting that now as she awkwardly nocked the arrow into the bow. 

Raising her arm straight in front of her Frieda tried not to look at Diomed because he would distract her and she needed to think as clearly as she could. 

"Let him go!" Frieda called out, praying that Alena wasn't watching because if she let the arrow fly and it miraculously found its target then Frieda knew she would burn any bridge she had left with her sister.

The Commander just laughed as he saw her arm shaking and settled himself in, raising the axe above his head. Looking down the length of the arrow Frieda knew she had to get closer. The arrows she had shot which had met their targets she was half the distance she was at now. She looked at the balcony above her that provided her protection before looking back at Diomed and she knew it wasn't even a decision. 

Limping out from under the balcony, checking it before she did so, she moved into the center of the yard and fully exposed to any future volley. The Commander's head tilted at her risque move. 

So it came to this, Frieda thought as she looked down the arrow and set up her shot, choosing between a roman and her sister? No- Not a Roman. Her friend. Letting out a slow breath Frieda released the arrow and watched it spin through the air and into the calf of the commander. He cried out in pain and stumbled back, dropping the axe, but Frieda cursed - She had been aiming for his chest! 

Quickly she grabbed another arrow from the ground and sent it flying into the chest of the soldier holding Diomed's left hand. The soldier collapsed and Diomed instantly started to yank at the soldier on his other arm. 

Frieda yanked another arrow out of the ground and set up her shot as she heard another volley of arrows whiz through the air above her  before they started to impact the ground around her feet. Holding her breath she released her arrow and watched it hit the second soldier in his arm. She had been aiming for his chest but she couldn't complain. Diomed no longer had anyone holding him down but he was still defenceless so as he reached for the soldier's sword Frieda pulled another arrow out of the ground to cover him. 

As she knocked the arrow and looked back across the courtyard she saw the Commander was standing one more and the axe was in motion, swinging towards Diomed. 

"DIOMED!" Frieda cried, her eyes wide as Diomed pulled his head out of the way but not all of him was quick enough. Her stomach rolled inside her as she saw Diomed fall to the ground but his hand remained on the bench. A tortured howl rented the air. 

Knocking the arrow and aiming for the commander Frieda saw flaming arrows cut across her path as more volleys were sent into the courtyard until it felt like it was raining fire but she could not worry about that now. Breathing steadily Frieda let her final arrow fly and watched it intently as it sailed into the commander's throat and into the post behind him, pinning him up with blood gushing out. 

Limping forward Frieda dropped the bow and hurried across to Diomed when she heard the whoosh of more arrows and the inevitable impact of one burying itself in the soft flesh of her side. 

Gasping, Frieda pitched forward and landed on her front snapping the end of arrows that came before. Looking down she saw the arrow sticking out of her left side and blood warming her side. Looking back at Diomed she dragged herself across the ground, hissing at every jolt of the arrow in her side, until she was beside him and she could finally breathe again. She reached out a hand and gripped the fabric on his shoulder tightly, as if he might disappear at any minute. 

Diomed was sat with his back against the wall, the stairs and structures providing cover from the arrows, shaking as he cradled his arm against his chest. Where there had once been a hand there was now just a stump that was pumping blood and Frieda could see the white of bone. 

Pulling herself up, Frieda knelt and rested her forehead against Diomed's and for a brief moment she thought she felt him relax beneath her fingers and his breathing became less strained. Gritting her teeth, Frieda reached across to the dead soldier and ripped some of the fabric from his tunic, "This is going to hurt," she told Diomed right before she started to wrap it around his stump as tight as she could manage. Diomed screamed before gritting his teeth and grunting. 

"We need to get out of here," Frieda gasped, struggling to breath and feeling blood trail down her side. Looking down she tried to ignore how she could feel the tip inside her every time she moved and how every breath felt like fire. 

"Frieda?" Diomed looked up at her and saw the way her breathing came in short gasps, "What is it?"

Frieda started to shake her head but knew it was useless, "I don't fancy my corpse being left to the Romans so shall we try and get out of here." She gasped and pressed against her side to stop the flow of blood. 

"Oh no," Diomed saw the arrow and grappled to his feet, pulling her up along with him and holding her around the waist, careful not to knock the arrow, "After the next volley we need to run to the gate, we need to get out of their range." 

Frieda nodded, she knew that but she didn't know if she could run. 

"We have to try," Diomed leaned down and whispered into her ear, as if hearing her thoughts. Frieda could just give a meek nod.

"Now." She heard him say and then she was suddenly moving. The only good thing about the arrow is that it masked the pain from her leg meaning she was able to make good progress and soon the smell of Romans was replaced with forest and she could see a sea of green around her. She started to think she was safe just as her breathing started to sound raspy and rattly. 

By the time they reached the forest they were clinging to each other for life and it was only the other's presence there that pushed them on. Soon their injuries overcame them both and they collapsed to the ground, laying down on the wet grass a welcome feeling, but remained holding onto each other. 

Freida rested her cheek against his chest and listened to his heart beating.

"I'm sorry" Frieda told him as the rhythm lulled her to sleep. 

"Frieda," 

She heard him calling her name but the darkness pulled her deeper until she couldn't open her eyes or tell him what she wanted. It was too late. She just hoped she saw him in the afterlife.