[The attack comes as a surprise. Oswald doesn't even notice it at first. How could he? It's simply been another day on the road, moving through a mountain pass. The snipe-spell comes from behind him, a thin stream of fire bursting out from behind an overhang on the side of the road. He isn't attacked that often, after all, and certainly not in broad daylight.]
[It's a surprise for Edward as well, but the thing is, he's a lot better at dealing with surprises. He's always expecting them. That's the job.
So when the spell heads their way, he doesn't even hesitate. In an instant, he rushes to Oswald's side, pushing him down. He'd be more gentle, but they don't really have time for that.]
Get down.
[And he quickly turns and retaliates with a spell of his own aimed towards the source of it. Which helps with one attacker, certainly, but Edward realizes now.
There's a lot more around. He can hear them and he wants to kick himself for not noticing it earlier.]
[In half a moment, he's on the ground, the breath knocked out of him briefly as a wall of stone behind him gets a serious pockmark. Oswald blinks, eyes wide, before he's jerking his head to look over at Edward--just in time to notice several other people emerging from the boulders and high stone cliffs around them. His fingers curl in the dirt, eyes narrowing, heart beat speeding up in his chest because already, this doesn't look good. He opens his mouth to say something, to call Edward, to tell him to run--but before he can even draw breath, the attack begins, all of them converging at once. Some with spells, some with arrows, and some bodily with swords]
[Edward keeps one eye on Oswald at all times, making sure nothing hits him. He's low on the ground, which helps. It makes him a trickier target to hit, especially with Edward nearby.
Edward, who is a far simpler target.
He manages to throw an ice spell quickly towards a spellslinger, then the other, freezing them in place. That's a start, at least, but it's about all he can do. There's a whoosh next to his head and he doesn't have to look to know it's an arrow, narrowly missing him. The quiet thunk tells him it hit a tree instead. Not Oswald. Good.
Then there's the glint of steel.
He doesn't get time to process that to wonder what it is - sword, dagger, arrow, throwing knife? - only half a second to even react. Pulling back, quickly, dropping a concealed dagger out of his sleeve and just moving forwards. He's done this so many times by now. He knows exactly how much force to slice with, as he extends his arm, his blade moving right through the assailant's throat.
[three down, five more to go: two archers, two more spell slingers and one more sword wielder. At least, that's what he can see. The archers are getting ready to fire more arrows, and the spell slingers look like they're preparing a larger spell (fireball, maybe?,) and the sword wielder is just come in straight at him.
Oswald, on the other hand, hasn't had a moment to react at all. He's just...staring in shock, watching Edward make incredibly quick work of the first three]
[Five more visible. That's fine, he can handle that.
The spell slingers are the biggest priority right now. Whatever spell they're preparing, it'll have a blast radius. And that? That won't do. There's not enough he can do to protect Oswald from getting caught in it, not this quick. So he moves his arm, quickly, throwing the dagger in his hand. It lands squarely in one caster's forehead. One more down.
Of course, that distraction cost him. All he can do to prevent an arrow from flying straight at Oswald is to get in the way himself. It hits. He can feel it in his shoulder. But any pain that should go with it is numbed, adrenaline doing its work. It allows him to keep moving his arm, so he can fire off a spell at the other caster.
Three left...
He tries to see if he can notice another, but that's when the sword wielder is suddenly right in front of him. It's all Edward can do to step back quickly, only just evading a blow.
[Oswald's eyes widen as that arrow spears Edward right through the shoulder--and suddenly his heart is in his throat, and he's trying to scramble to his feet] Edward--! [But he's slow with that even on a good day. Which might not be a bad thing considering Edward already has his hands full with the remaining two archers and sword wielder]
[Edward manages, quickly, to aim a spell at the swordsman's wrist, causing him to drop his sword.
And... honestly, it's a blessing that Oswald's slow to get up. Though it doesn't stop Edward from worrying as he hears Oswald's voice, hesitating a moment to glance back - he won't get up quickly, good, that's good, he can keep doing this - before turning his attention back to the front.
Which is still too slow, it seems, as the swordsman wasn't distracted for long. There's... an odd sensation, suddenly, of something... stinging? He doesn't have time for it. All he can do is to aim another spell, point-blank, at the man back in front of him. At least he won't be alive for long enough to regret getting up close and personal with a dangerous spellcaster. That's one more down.
Now it's the archers. Edward keeps his attention on them, now, though he does call back briefly.]
[Oswald freezes halfway up as Edward tells him to stay down, hesitating, frozen in indecision because there's open wounds on him now, cuts bleeding freely, and Oswald can see the archers in front of them--before movement catches his eye from the side, one last spellcaster, it seems, something of a large fireball conjured in their hands. Oswald, of course, can do nothing about that; he doesn't dare try and access his magic, because knowing him, it might kill Edward along with it. So the best he can do is warn him:]
[Edward blinks in the middle of firing off a spell, taking out another archer. Left. He doesn't even bother looking, really, he just reaches down to grab Oswald. Throwing him out of the way first - maybe a little roughly, but it's all he can do to get him to safety - before diving down and firing off another spell. It shoots out underneath the fireball, which he doesn't... quite avoid.
There's a heat so intense it wraps back around to cold and Edward sucks in a breath, doing a quick mental calculation. Torso area. Mostly on his back and side. Nothing fatal.
Nothing he can't push through.
He doesn't even wait, just jumping right back to his feet. The spell didn't quite take out the caster, but it gives him enough opportunity to fire off one more, finishing him off.
[Edward throws him bodily out of the way and Oswald falls back, expelling a gasp as he hits the ground before sucking in air again, trying to at least push himself to sitting, wild-eyed as he seeks out Edward again--only to find him bloody, burnt, bruised, and Oswald feels his stomach twist in horror. There's only one more archer, but he's knocking that arrow and firing--]
[Edward doesn't even need to look. He knows exactly where the archer is. And he can hear him, even from hear. Drawing that string back, letting the arrow fly free. He shifts, letting it fly past him - it's nowhere near Oswald, it's alright - and throws another dagger, this one covered in blood, with perfect accuracy.
[Edward ducks the arrow, before throwing another dagger and ending the life of their last assailant. Oswald has a moment to still be stunned, because what was all that exactly. He's never seen Edward do anything like that--and especially not with the state he's in.
And the realization of that, of all the blood on him--is enough to jolt Oswald back into his body, and he's starting to scramble to his feet again to reach him]
Me?! [it's half a squawk, strangled, cane left forgotten on the ground as he stumbles closer, hands reaching out for him, hovering, not sure where to touch, feeling panic twist his stomach as Edward stands there and bleeds, burnt, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder]
You're asking me that?! Just look at you! [Oswald's hands hover, shaking, over Edward's shoulders, feeling like it's almost impossible to get air in his lungs] We--we have to get you to a doctor!
It's alright, really. It looks... looks worse than it is.
[That's what he thinks, anyway. There's the arrow, the burns, and... He blinks, reaching down to touch his abdomen. It feels... warm. Wet. And he pulls his hand away, looking at the blood now staining it.
Oh.
That's right. That's where he'd gotten that last dagger from.
[That's when it suddenly feels like he's burning. And it's not coming from the actual burns, either. It's his insides that feel on fire now and he sucks in a breath, dropping down to his knees.
Edward! [and Oswald's lunging for Edward as he drops to his knees, suddenly not caring where his hands land, only meaning to steady him, to hold him if need be. He can feel panic starting to choke him, his magic reacting to his distress, uncontrollable, vibrating at the edges-- and he forces it down, no, no, not now-- ]
Edward, we need to get you back to the village, now!
[Oswald sounds far away for a moment and it's like the whole world blurs and darkens, before coming back into focus. That can't be good. This isn't... This isn't good... Oswald is distressed and upset and he should fix that, he should...
Without even thinking, Edward reaches out to hold onto Oswald, to ground him. Which he realizes when he looks up slowly, quickly letting go. He'll just... he's getting blood on Oswald, that won't do.]
I-- Sorry, I... Yes. Perhaps we'd better...
[He tries to force himself back to his feet, but it doesn't go well. He's far too wobbly.]
[Edward looks pale, too pale, and Oswald's heart is in his throat as Edward releases him--and Oswald is grabbing for his cane, before grabbing at Edward again, trying to get him upright]
[He wants to protest. It's not exactly proper, leaning on his Prince like this. But suddenly it doesn't feel as if he has the strength for it. And he kind of... needs Oswald to stay upright...]
...Apologies, your highness...
[The least he can do is acknowledge how improperly he's behaving right now, obviously.]
Apo--[it's half sputtered, as Edward's leaning on him, incredulous] What could you even be apologizing for right now, Edward, I have no idea! [it's snapped, his temper starting to get the better of him] Just focus on walking, alright? We just have to get back--
I'm causing you trouble right now. And I got blood on you...
[Edward sounds a little distant as they keep walking. He's not really looking at Oswald, he's looking at the ground. The edges of his vision keep darkening and he tries to fight it off, but it's hard.]
You saved my life, you absolute--! [he cuts himself off with a snarl, noting somewhere that Edward sounds...off. He, too, is incredibly focused on the path ahead, his arm around Edward's waist, practically clinging, holding him up as best he can]
[Edward just falls silent. All his energy is focused now on just moving. One step at a time. Mercifully they weren't too far away from the village yet, but right now the distance feels impossible.
It doesn't take much longer before Edward's vision goes dark for a moment again and he stumbles forwards.]
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Why won't you let me do this for you?
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So when the spell heads their way, he doesn't even hesitate. In an instant, he rushes to Oswald's side, pushing him down. He'd be more gentle, but they don't really have time for that.]
Get down.
[And he quickly turns and retaliates with a spell of his own aimed towards the source of it. Which helps with one attacker, certainly, but Edward realizes now.
There's a lot more around. He can hear them and he wants to kick himself for not noticing it earlier.]
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Edward, who is a far simpler target.
He manages to throw an ice spell quickly towards a spellslinger, then the other, freezing them in place. That's a start, at least, but it's about all he can do. There's a whoosh next to his head and he doesn't have to look to know it's an arrow, narrowly missing him. The quiet thunk tells him it hit a tree instead. Not Oswald. Good.
Then there's the glint of steel.
He doesn't get time to process that to wonder what it is - sword, dagger, arrow, throwing knife? - only half a second to even react. Pulling back, quickly, dropping a concealed dagger out of his sleeve and just moving forwards. He's done this so many times by now. He knows exactly how much force to slice with, as he extends his arm, his blade moving right through the assailant's throat.
That's three down.
More to go.
He takes a second, and no more, just to breathe.]
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Oswald, on the other hand, hasn't had a moment to react at all. He's just...staring in shock, watching Edward make incredibly quick work of the first three]
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The spell slingers are the biggest priority right now. Whatever spell they're preparing, it'll have a blast radius. And that? That won't do. There's not enough he can do to protect Oswald from getting caught in it, not this quick. So he moves his arm, quickly, throwing the dagger in his hand. It lands squarely in one caster's forehead. One more down.
Of course, that distraction cost him. All he can do to prevent an arrow from flying straight at Oswald is to get in the way himself. It hits. He can feel it in his shoulder. But any pain that should go with it is numbed, adrenaline doing its work. It allows him to keep moving his arm, so he can fire off a spell at the other caster.
Three left...
He tries to see if he can notice another, but that's when the sword wielder is suddenly right in front of him. It's all Edward can do to step back quickly, only just evading a blow.
Damn... He's a fast one.]
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And... honestly, it's a blessing that Oswald's slow to get up. Though it doesn't stop Edward from worrying as he hears Oswald's voice, hesitating a moment to glance back - he won't get up quickly, good, that's good, he can keep doing this - before turning his attention back to the front.
Which is still too slow, it seems, as the swordsman wasn't distracted for long. There's... an odd sensation, suddenly, of something... stinging? He doesn't have time for it. All he can do is to aim another spell, point-blank, at the man back in front of him. At least he won't be alive for long enough to regret getting up close and personal with a dangerous spellcaster. That's one more down.
Now it's the archers. Edward keeps his attention on them, now, though he does call back briefly.]
Stay down. It's not safe.
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Edward! On your left!
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There's a heat so intense it wraps back around to cold and Edward sucks in a breath, doing a quick mental calculation. Torso area. Mostly on his back and side. Nothing fatal.
Nothing he can't push through.
He doesn't even wait, just jumping right back to his feet. The spell didn't quite take out the caster, but it gives him enough opportunity to fire off one more, finishing him off.
Almost done... Just keep going, Edward...]
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And then he just lets out a breath.]
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And the realization of that, of all the blood on him--is enough to jolt Oswald back into his body, and he's starting to scramble to his feet again to reach him]
Edward--Edward!
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Oswald is there, then, but Edward just turns towards him. Looking him over.]
Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?
[Honestly, asking a question like that when Oswald's fine and Edward looks like absolute hell...]
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You're asking me that?! Just look at you! [Oswald's hands hover, shaking, over Edward's shoulders, feeling like it's almost impossible to get air in his lungs] We--we have to get you to a doctor!
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[That's what he thinks, anyway. There's the arrow, the burns, and... He blinks, reaching down to touch his abdomen. It feels... warm. Wet. And he pulls his hand away, looking at the blood now staining it.
Oh.
That's right. That's where he'd gotten that last dagger from.
Which would be one thing, but...] I can--
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What...?]
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Edward, we need to get you back to the village, now!
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Without even thinking, Edward reaches out to hold onto Oswald, to ground him. Which he realizes when he looks up slowly, quickly letting go. He'll just... he's getting blood on Oswald, that won't do.]
I-- Sorry, I... Yes. Perhaps we'd better...
[He tries to force himself back to his feet, but it doesn't go well. He's far too wobbly.]
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Here, wait, lean on me--
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...Apologies, your highness...
[The least he can do is acknowledge how improperly he's behaving right now, obviously.]
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[Edward sounds a little distant as they keep walking. He's not really looking at Oswald, he's looking at the ground. The edges of his vision keep darkening and he tries to fight it off, but it's hard.]
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It doesn't take much longer before Edward's vision goes dark for a moment again and he stumbles forwards.]
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