A Confession at Giant's Hill

She knelt beside the cot and adopted a look of mournful reflection. Then, she brought her face close to Odo's, and spoke quietly to him alone. "Sir Odo," she said.

He stirred, his eyes slowly opening, and jerked; when he saw that it was her, he calmed himself. "Rachel," he grunted. "What's going on?"

"I'm afraid," she said.

He pushed himself up, patting around for his sword. She'd pulled it away from his side before waking him. If he sniffed her out, he would be easier to crush without his weapon. "Where are they?" he growled.

"No, sir," she said, putting a hand lightly on his hairy arm. "There's no danger! Rest. I shouldn't have come, I'm sorry. Good night." She stood and tried to go, but found him touching her hand. His fingers were shaking. Facing away from him, she allowed herself a smile.

"Wait," he mumbled.

She paused, letting the silence stretch between them, and allowed her shoulders to droop. She stifled a laugh that must have sounded, to him, like a sob. "Sir Odo," she whispered. "I'm afraid of how my father will receive me when we return."

Odo's brow furrowed. He shifted to sit up on his cot, never releasing her hand. "He'll be overjoyed, my lady," he assured her gruffly.

She shook her head. "It's not that simple," she said quietly. "What if... what if he knew that I was... despoiled?" Her voice quivered, and she glanced up at him through lowered lashes.

The knight gasped. He tightened his hold on her hand. "He harmed you?"

She pulled her hand away and folded her arms around herself. "I can't bear to tell him," she murmured. "He'd be humiliated. After all the things they made me do, the things they..." She broke off.

The blood rushed through Odo's body, preparing him for battle, or what else more. It took all her wit to keep from laughing at him. "Those devils," he spat. "You needn't tell him, my lady. I'll be there at your side."

She let out a soft sigh, her breath ghosting over his face as she leaned closer to him. "Thank you, sir," she said. "For everything."

Odo's face softened, and he reached up to touch her, then stopped himself. She closed the distance and rested her cheek against his palm. She placed her hand over his. "It's been so long since I've felt truly safe," she said. "The depravity of that place. They have such... horrible powers. He was powerful enough to make me... want it." A momentary look between them was enough to capture him. She could do it without calling upon unholy powers; her eyes and her body were enough. "I have to go. I'm sorry, sir. I beg you, don't say a word about it to my father."

She spirited herself out from the tent. "I won't," she heard him say when he thought he was alone.