2. Immersion

You spend the rest of the morning trying to stay out of the mens way as they begin tearing down the camp. After a some time, you decide to explore the surrounding area while you wait. Trying not to stray too far, you make your way down a natural forming path that leads north. After a while, you're pleasantly surprised to find a large pond in a clearing up ahead. Taking a moment to quickly strip, you exhale deeply when you enter the cool water. You spend some time cleaning your wounds before slowly leaning back to wet your hair. Closing your eyes, you relax for the first time since running into Edric. The sound of footsteps approaching quickly brings you back to reality. Glancing around, you blush deeply when you see Lord Darius standing at the edge of the pond. You slowly sink further into the water as his blue eyes pierce into you. "I understand you're an unbaptized heathen." Furrowing your brow, you hesitate before replying, "You're misinformed, I am baptized." You don't mention the fact that it was when you were a small child and hardly your decision. Daruis steps forward and leans down slightly before whispering, "Then you won't mind doing it again." You begin to protest but he quickly reaches out and places his large hand on your head.

Water rushes into your open mouth when he shoves your head under the cold water. You struggle under his grip as he holds you under for an unnecessarily long time before letting you back up. Latin words reach your ears as you take a quick gasp of air in before you're dunked under again. Reaching up, you grab on to his wrist and try to pry his hands off. His fingers wrap around your hair before he roughly pulls you back up. **** slightly, your wet hair obscures your vision and gets caught in your mouth when you inhale. You can tell he raised you up slightly higher this time as you feel a breeze against your bare breasts. There's a momentary pause in his words before you're **** down a final time. After an excruciating minute, he finally releases his grip and you quickly emerge. Coughing, you quickly push your hair out of your face while trying to keep your naked form under the water. Darius's stares down at you somewhat disapprovingly before curtly stating, "Hopefully, that's a good start to your path of redemption." Frowning slightly, you hesitantly ask, "Edric told you about me?" Darius scoffs at your question before saying, "He didn't need to, the stench of sin covers you."

You can't hide the flash of discontent that comes across your face at his words. His intense gaze moves down your body as he off-handedly comments, "While I can see why you appeal to him, it's yet to be seen if you're truly worth saving." Before you can reply, he turns on his heel and begins walking away. Sighing, you wait for a few minutes before finally getting out and quickly dressing. When you return to camp, you avoid Darius's stare as you head back to Edric tent. He's unfortunately nowhere to be found and the tent is in the process of being removed. After a while it appears the men are done packing and ready to leave. When they begin moving, you're **** to walk over to where Darius is standing back, presumably making sure everything is removed from the camp. "Where is Edric?" You ask him while keeping your gaze cast down. Darius's voice sounds annoyed when quickly retorts, "Your guess is as good as mine." Shaking his head, his tone softens slightly when he continues to say, "That boy is always disappearing somewhere." You pause for a moment before hesitantly looking up and commenting, "You don't seem to get along."

Though it's a statement, Darius frowns slightly before replying, "I have a sworn oath to protect him, one which he finds ways of making increasingly more and more difficult." Furrowing your brow, you tilt your head in confusion and ask, "You have an oath to him? I was under the impression you are a Lord and he simply a Knight." Darius raises an eyebrow skeptically at you before scoffing again. "Is that what he told you he is?" As if sensing your impending question he cuts you off to say, "If that is what he told you, I will not interfere." Sighing, you decide not to pry further, for now. "Very well, are we to wait for him, then?" The Lord pauses for a moment and his sharp eyes rake over your face. "It's up to you if you'd like to wait with me, or join the rest of the group." Glancing over, you see the last of the men beginning to make their way deeper into the forest. Hesitating, you take a moment to weigh your options. While you get a slightly uneasy feeling from Darius, it's still likely better to be alone with one man as opposed to a group. Swallowing nervous, you finally reply, "I will wait, if that's alright." Darius nods slightly and moves over to sit on a fallen log. You remain standing as you begin wondering if you made the right decision.