Anna

The door creaked open slightly. A feminine voice rang out from behind the door. "Edwin? Are you there? It's Anna." Edwin froze. He couldn't tell if the prospect of seeing her made him feel better or worse. Her kind words and gentle touch would be a welcome respite from the day's harsh woes, but he was still feeling humiliated for being the subject of mass ridicule in front of her. He didn't know if he could handle looking in her blue eyes. But he couldn't just ignore her, so he spoke up.

"I'm here." He said simply.

"Oh, thank goodness." She breathed a sigh of relief and entered the stables, closing the hefty doors behind her. She was still in the revealing serving outfit she had been wearing earlier, showing off ample cleavage and bare shoulders that could ignite men's imagination. Edwin was finally able to get a good look at the outfit and the way it fit her and hugged her beautiful curves was captivating. Edwin had to **** himself not to stare at her body. "I was worried I had heard wrong that you were **** out here for the night."

"Word spreads fast around here." Edwin murmured.

"This is a good turn of events. No one is around to see me smuggle in my care package for you." She held up a woven basket that Edwin is now noticing for the first time. She removed the cloth covering and Edwin's mouth began to water. "I brought some bread and cheese from the kitchen. We had leftovers and the head maid helped give me some to bring to you. She was sorry to hear about...everything." She lowered her gaze to her feet as she walked over to him. Edwin sat down on a nearby bench and Anna placed the basket in his lap. He was only now realizing he hadn't had a thing to eat since breakfast. He wished he could have had more impulse control and restraint, but the food smelled so delicious, he couldn't help but grab a chunk of bread and dig into it. He went through a small loaf and wedge of cheese before realizing Anna was looking at him again, this time with a small smile.

"S-sorry." Edwin said, swallowing the food in his mouth. "I am embarrassed by my lack of manners, Anna. Please forgive my rudeness."

"No, no." Anna shook her head. "I am glad to see you are well enough to eat. I was so worried about you, Edwin." Edwin blushed a bit despite himself and Anna's cheeks flushed red in kind. "Besides, it makes me very happy to see my gift is well received."

"Yes, thank you." Edwin said, bowing his head respectfully. "There are no words adequate to describe how much I appreciate your kind gesture." Anna looked away, obviously flattered by his words.

"T-there is one other thing, Edwin." She said. She slung a pouch off her shoulder (another thing Edwin was just now able to take the time to notice) and held it up for him to see. "This is some special salve from the infirmary. The head maid keeps some of it on hand for burns and other scullery-related injuries. It won't heal your wounds any faster, but it should help numb the pain significantly." She looked down at her feet again and her hands wrung the pouch straps nervously. "Um...M-may I please apply it to your back?"

"I feel I am the one who should be saying please, Anna." Edwin said. "But yes, I would be more than okay with that."

"Wonderful. Let me fetch the cot. Is it still in the usual place?" She inquired. Edwin nodded as he ate another piece of bread. She went over to a dark corner and fetched the basic leather cot that was barely big enough for him. She unfolded it and set it up. "Please lie down on your chest, Edwin." She asked him. Edwin nodded and took one last bite of cheese for the road. He stood up and slowly removed his shirt, tossing it to the side. Anna's eyes roamed over his chest and abs for a moment, taking in a deep breath as he did. Edwin laid down in the cot as instructed, leaving his sore back facing up. He heard an audible gasp from the girl behind him.

"That bad, is it?" He asked, trying to be slightly jovial about it.

"Oh Gods, Edwin." Anna replied softly, her voice deep with sympathetic remorse. "Your poor back." She ran her fingers along a patch of skin that was not cut or bruised from the punishment. The cool and gentle touch of her lithe fingers sent shivers down his spine. "There isn't a single place on your back that is not marred with scars. How often have they done this to you?"

"I have lost count." Edwin replied honestly. There was no point in hiding it from her any more.

"All this time they were treating you so horribly." She actually sounded like she was starting to cry over him. He could even feel a few cool teardrops hit his upper back. "Oh, Edwin. I am so sorry. I never knew..."

"There was nothing you could do, Anna." Edwin spoke up quickly. "There is nothing for you to apologize for."

"There is something I can do now and I can make up for all the time I should have been here, doing this for you in the past." There was the sound of rummaging, then the cold feeling of the salve was gingerly applied to his wounds. They were sensitive to the touch, but Anna applied the cream expertly and the pain was vanishing as fast as she applied it.

"Amazing." Edwin breathed out. "That feels so much better, Anna."

"It's the least I can do for you, Edwin." She said softly. "I felt awful serving those horrid men drinks while you were flogged for their amusement. I wanted so badly to do something to ease your pain."

"You did." Edwin assured her. "Keeping you in my thoughts helped take my mind away from the ****." Anna's light touch intensified a bit before regaining her composure.

"You were thinking of me?" She asked, unsteadily. "Did I really help that much?"

"Yes, I kept thinking of happy thoughts and you were in many of them." Edwin admitted. He could feel Anna's fingers shaking as she continued to work his back. "Although, to be honest, I wish you hadn't seen me like that. Humiliated and on display like something less than a man."

"Please, don't speak like that." Anna said, her voice still a bit shaky. "You stood tall and brave despite their attempts to break you. You were twice the man of any of those sewer rats out there." Her words felt like they lifted a weight off of Edwin's heart.

"Truly?" He asked. "You were not disgusted or ashamed to be associated with me?"

"Never, Edwin. All I felt was sorrow. Every time that lash came down and every time I saw the look of pain on your face, it felt like my heart was going to wither up and die." Anna said. "I know it is nothing compared to the physical pain you are feeling, but I had not known what true emotional devastation was until this night. After watching you get beaten so svagely, I just wanted to die."

"Don't say such things, Anna." Edwin replied. "There are far too few beautiful things in this world already; you mustn't rob us of another." He could hear Anna's heavy breathing and her hands were shaking so badly that she had to stop applying the salve for a bit. Thankfully, the wounds had been treated and the pain had been dulled to a throb; still there, but much more manageable. "Thank you for your attention, Anna. The salve worked wonders."

"I'm g-glad." Anna replied, her words nervous and voice barely audible. "Y-you know, it can also be used to help with aching muscles. I'm sure you are sore from all your work today and I have some leftover salve. Is there anywhere else I c-can...assist you?"