Chapter Text
It seemed that in that kingdom sleep would evade the elf on more than one occasion or at least her awakenings there would be more and more abrupt.
First it was the sound of a gunshot, then it was a body falling on top of her.
She tried to remove the person who fell on her, but it was not necessary since this body was being removed by someone else.
“I hope you slept well, Kate Bishop.” She mentioned a familiar voice growling after making a monumental effort to shift the dead weight off of her guest.
Katherine cursed in her native language and grabbed the bread knife she hid under her pillow. Yelena laughed wryly as she reloaded another pellet into one of her guns. “Unfortunately, it's time to wake up.”
Before the elf could ask what was happening, she heard more gunshots burst into the night, these had gone through her window and made the two of them drop to the ground and take cover.
Once she was able to breathe and become aware of her surroundings, she could see that the person shot in the back of her was wearing a peculiar red suit and was brandishing a small sword that ended up near her. She could ask questions after, since now she could have a real weapon.
While they heard the ceasefire, they were thinking about what to do. Now Yelena didn't have the element of surprise nor was Kate equipped to deal with the threat. Before they could say it, the voice of one of the attackers interrupted her thoughts.
“We know you’re there! Give us the princess and no one will get hurt! We will even forgive you for eliminating our own!”
The last word echoed in Katherine's now clear head. What did she mean by 'our'? If only one entered her room. At this she gave a doubtful look to her companion, who sensed what she was going to ask, so she answered in a low voice:
“They weren't stupid enough to just attack you. The good thing is that they are not silent.”
He said the last thing with a smile and drawing her other pistol. They would have to stay up there and face whoever dared to come up the stairs or at least that was until they heard a worn door open below where they were.
"Easy." It was Melina, who had come out unarmed and with her hands in a sign of surrender; even so, they pointed muskets at her as soon as she appeared. “We heard your demands.”
“If so, madam. Please hand over the princess or my men will open fire.” The mask did not seem to be an impediment for the leader's strong voice to travel through the house again.
"Very well." Was all she said before calmly walking back into the house.
That seemed to give the men a sense of relief as they lowered their weapons and waited patiently. Kate believed that the woman would go to where she was, but she never appeared, instead the echoes of her footsteps went to the back of the house.
Then a click was heard followed by a long hiss.
Seconds later it stopped, and a cannonball was fired through the main entrance, taking the door, the arm of one soldier, the foot of another, and passing through the torso of the apparent leader of the unit. The impact of the cannonball unnerved and slightly stunned the remaining men.
“That's the sign.” Yelena said as she stood up from her hiding spot.
“What sign?!” Kate responded while she was still trying to make sense of everything that was happening.
The blonde saw the battlefield unfolding through the window and made a mental note of what she saw: eight men standing, three wounded, the rest dead.
She fired both barrels of her weapons and the bullets soon found their mark on the clueless men who were still recovering, the momentary advantage soon faded as it was deduced where the shots came from and they were returned by some of those who had reloaded their weapons. At least four shots entered through the window, but failed to hit anything that was not made of wood.
Another cannon shot came from the front of the house, this time it didn't hit anyone, but the explosion of the bullet caused two more shots to be redirected to the first floor. Again, without hitting any enemies.
Yelena was reloading her weapons and when she finished she was about to look out again, but out of the corner of her eye she saw something that stopped her.
"What's happening? Did they all go?” the elf asked.
"No. Some are still standing, but it's not my problem now.”
This surprised Kate who looked out the window slightly. Among the clouds of dust from the indistinct bullets and the morning mist she saw something peculiar: a huge figure that looked strangely familiar and that was carrying something heavy with it that caused it to make a noise with every step she took. Once he passed through a clearing and a ray of sunlight dared to shine through, she could see that it was Alexei and what he was carrying with him was a cartwheel - no, it was something that size, it was more like a large round shield of wood and metal.
Once he was noticed at the site, the standing men focused on him. The remaining two shots ricocheted off the surface of the shield, barely denting it. After feeling the shots on the surface, the huge man began to run in a fast and unnatural way for someone his size, attacking a couple that were placed in front of him and making them fly into the air. A third tried to use his bayonet, but he was struck in the skull by the edge of shield before making contact, causing him to fall immediately.
Now there were three standing.
While everyone was reloading their muskets, the shield was thrown like a giant disc and it found its mark on the one in the middle, hitting it with a speed similar to that of the cannonball and sending it flying, but without having made a hole in it. the chest. The man, now turned into a rag doll, ended up several meters away.
The remaining two dropped their weapons, now seeing Alexei approaching at a rapid pace to where they were so they drew their swords. They charged towards him hoping that one of the two would manage to land a critical attack, but both were surprised when the huge man grabbed the heads of his attackers and squeezed them until they dropped their weapons. The fight ended when he slammed both heads into each other, causing them to burst like watermelons being crushed.
Once the brutal act was over, the only man standing in the yard cheerfully said that the danger was over and that everyone could leave.
Melina soon came out and began to carefully check on Alexei, who swore he was fine, but would later admit that he was taken by surprise by his attacker in the shed, leaving a deep cut on his back, but that he didn't seem to care much.
They were followed by Kate and Yelena, and a little later by Sonya, who seemed to be more lucid and in control, and who was now carrying her sister's musket or at least one of the many that were probably around the house.
“Good job, everyone.” Melina commented while she held out the bruises and wounds of her husband. “I don't think this place is safe for anyone.”
"I'm sorry." Kate responded, avoiding her gaze.
"Don't worry. “Sooner or later, they would discover us, and it is not the first time we have moved from place to place.” The woman assured him.
"You need help?" Yelena said.
“Yes, we need you to get her where she needs as soon as possible. You know how to find us.” Lee winked at the elf as she stated this. “Your transports are in the stables. Take what you need for the trip.”
“What about the-?” Katherine's question was left in the air, and she was answered by Sonya, who shot one of the men who were complaining on the ground. The elf's gaze rested on the blonde who only shrugged her shoulders and took a similar shot at another of those lying near her.
There was only one left, but before she received the coup de grace, Melina approached him and said that that one would remain alive as they still needed answers. She promised Yelena that she would let her know what they found, but that they had to leave there soon.
“The pigs will be a problem.” Alexei commented as he stretched to see if the injury would hinder the work he had to do and urged the girls to follow him.
He directed them to the horses who were awakened by the noises they heard but were unharmed. Without saying more, the huge man took charge of saddling the animals and preparing them for the trip, while he told her daughter to take what she needed and 'give something to her friend'.
At the other end of the stables, they came across a small arsenal. Yelena took what was useful to her and put it in a backpack, including bullets, gunpowder, knives, and so on. Kate was curiously reviewing the different types of swords and axes, the only thing she really knew there or at least until Yelenna approached her to give her something:
"Congratulations. You will not leave empty-handed.” Added the blonde, holding out a gun to her.
"What's that?" the elf asked incredulously.
"What do you think? It’s a crossbow.”
“…I don't know how to use it.”
"Is not difficult. It uses arrows, doesn’t it?”
“…Don't you have any bows?”
"This is better!"
"How is it better?"
"I don't know! It has a trigger and is easier to use.”
“I prefer bows…”
“Amazing, Kate Bishop. You have a whole armory at your disposal, and you choose something from a century ago.” The blonde went frustrated to a forgotten side of the place and returned with what the elf asked for.
“Here. It's the only bow here. Have fun." She handed her the bow and the quiver full of arrows, almost throwing them into her hands. It was a black recurve bow lacking the details that elven bows usually had – efficiency over aesthetics, Kate supposed – but the elf soon tried it anyway. It was a little more tense than she was used to, but it would have to be enough. She exchanged the sword she took from the enemy for one that was on the wall, it was short, almost similar to a rapier, but it reminded her of the ones at home and it was light.
Once she stocked up and changed her clothes, the sun seemed close to rising, so it was a good time to start the trip.
Yelena had taken her time to say goodbye to those who presented and felt like her parents, in addition to entrusting Sonya to them, and promising them that she would find them and continue with the work.
Although they didn't know her, Kate also received a warm farewell in the form of hugs from the adults there.
Once they had said goodbye, they were both ready to leave. So, they mounted their horses, took one last look at the house, at the battlefield that now had bodies scattered on it, and at the pigs that accompanied them to the fence and then headed towards Queen Hela's castle.