For #LineByLineTime : Injury

“Edward! What happened? Who attacked you?” Betsy’s screech made Edward and the Royal Guards flinch.

“Everything’s fine, Betsy…” Edward’s calm response was lost under her frantic cries as she rushed to him, shoving the Guardsmen out of the way.

“What did they do to you? Was it the assassins? Were they killed? How did they get in? I didn’t hear an alarm raised!” She waved her hands, looking for a place to touch him, trying to avoid the blood, not knowing where his cuts were.

He and the other men looked at each other, wondering how to calm her. Edward finally shrugged and caught her face between his hands and kissed her hard. When she stopped struggling and stood still, he raised his head. “Betsy! Listen to me! Nobody attacked me! Hush!” he commanded when she opened her mouth again. “Let me explain! Now, are you listening?” He stared at her, eyebrows raised, until she took a deep breath and relaxed.

The guardsman next to him made a valiant effort to control his snicker and went back to washing the blood off Edward’s arms and chest. “He’s naught but scratched, lass. He’ll not even need stitches. A little washing, some ointment, and a bit of bandaging is all that’s needed. No doubt he’ll be sore in the morning, but I wager he’s had worse. Eh, lad?”

“Much worse,” Edward agreed with a wry smile. “And the healers on the front line are not nearly so gentle as you men.”

“But…”

Edward laid a finger on her lips. “There was no attack. We were practicing, that’s all. They were showing me how the assassins used their swords, and it took me a bit to get used to the new style. I hope to have fewer scratches next time.”

Betsy drew herself up and huffed her outrage. “You were practicing a new sword style with REAL swords?” She glared at the guardsmen around her. Edward was fascinated to see them cringe before the young woman almost half their size.

“I just got scratched, Betsy. It was my idea, so don’t blame them. I’m fine. Like he said, I’ll be sore tomorrow, that’s all. All I have to do is watch for infection, but the healing ointment we soldiers use works very well to prevent it. Now let them finish so I can dress and we can get to bed.” He narrowed his eyes and gave the guardsmen who snickered a hard stare. They quickly straightened their faces and looked away.

Betsy didn’t notice the byplay. Her eyes were anxiously fixed on the guardsman working on Edward’s bare chest. She blinked and took a quick breath. His. Bare. Chest… Her hands started to reach out, then suddenly wrapped themselves together and slammed back against her stomach.