A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

As red spread out further, (f/n) froze for a split moment. She regained her focus and snapped the lock on the chains with the pliers. Tossing them aside, she hurried over to his side. Heart beating fast, she worried that he had been the injured one. There was enough blood for the attack to be fatal.

About to lift him up, he started to rise on his own. A wave of relief washed over her. She grabbed his right upper arm and helped to bring him back to his feet. As she did so, she noted the widened, ocean-blue eyes of Amtoma. Teeth marks cut deep into the left side of her neck, and the life was gone from her. They had successfully killed one of the authors.

Pride washed through her, but it was short-lived. Tarhuinn locked his gaze with hers, and his eyes continued to display dark-blue voids. He stood to his full height, and she almost took a step back, but she forced herself to keep her ground. She reminded herself that he wouldn't hurt her. Gently, she raised her hands and rested them on his cheeks. "I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you sooner," she spoke softly as her eyes glanced over his various wounds momentarily.

His hands covered hers, and he leaned into her left one. Tarhuinn's gaze began to return to its normal state while his lips took on a caring smile. "You have nothing to be sorry about. You did splendidly, and I have you back with me. That's what matters." He moved his head away but kept his hold on her hands while he looked her over. "Where did you get those clothes, though?"

"I think that's the least of our concerns, but I stole them from Alpontus. I was cold and wet; these were dry. I'll get some better clothes when we have the chance."

"Yes, you will. Those clothes aren't fitting for you, but you're right. We have the other authors to worry about." He dropped her hands and lifted Amtoma up. Tarhuinn tied her wrists to the chains and hoisted her up high into the room. After he secured the chain roller, he headed over to the tools' table. "We'll leave her there until we kill the others. We'll come back and retrieve her afterwards."

Picking up some knives and one of the belts, he started to secure the items to his person. "Tarhuinn, I know that we can't sit around forever, but shouldn't you let your wounds heal for just a little bit longer? Some of those aren't small cuts. Alpontus mentioned that you wouldn't be tortured until they were healed, so we should have some time to wait in here."

"Then, you heard what he plans to do to you if he captures you? You were there for all of it?"

"Y-yes," she stuttered, hearing the slight growl in his voice. She wouldn't change her mind on the suggestion, though. "But, that's why we should stay in here for a little while. You need to heal, and I can't take them all on my own. I somehow made it here on my own, but I was lucky. I don't know how far that luck will extend out. I'd rather not test it anymore than I have to."

He gave the belt a tug, and it was fastened. Facing her, he leaned back against the table. His hands squeezed the tabletop, and she could hear the stone crack some. "As much as I wish to break them all now, you're right. If I receive too many more wounds like this, I'll not survive, and I can't have them taking you." More stone broke, and small pieces fell off into the water. "Just the thought of that author ..." No more words came out, but rage dominated his expression.

She walked over to him and rested her hands on his shoulders. "I'm right here, right now with you. Like you mentioned, that's what matters. You shouldn't think of him taking our future child away from us because it won't happen. I'll never let that monster touch me." Her eyes peered over to the door before she looked back to him. "Let's seal the door and rest. We both need it after everything that we've been through today. I only wish that we had better accommodations."

A light chuckle left his lips. He walked over to the door and placed one of the tables in front of it before he locked it as well. "Yes, I suppose so, but we're probably the safest that we can be. I'm assuming that the other authors expect Amtoma to be in here for awhile. And, I don't think that any of the spies would disturb her session."

"I suppose that's true, and we have an arsenal of weapons should someone try coming in." Looking to her once more, he nodded in agreement, closed the distance between them and took her right hand in his left. She allowed him to guide her away from the body and towards the far, right-side of the room.

There, a small waterfall cascaded from a high, opening in the wall. (F/n) moved herself over to one of the torches in the area to warm herself some. She seated herself on a small space of dry stone and rolled up the pant legs that had fallen. Cold, she rubbed her upper arms. Her gaze moved back to her husband, only for her to look the other way.

Heat touched her cheeks lightly, but her embarrassment was met by something soft hitting her head. Taking it off of her head, she found a clean, wet towel in her hands. Confused, she almost peered over to him again but, quickly, recalled his current state. "There's a stack of them over here. They must use this area to clean the tools if they need to do so."

"That would make sense, though; it makes me wonder how disgusting the water in here could become at times." She heard a hum of agreement before she looked over herself and her stained pant legs. (F/n) unsheathed a dagger, and, instantly, began to cut off the ruined fabric. It would only serve to trip her later on, and she'd rather not walk around with Amtoma's blood on her.

Once finished, she tossed the fabric aside. She cut off some of the fabric from her sleeves too. They were much too long and would only hinder her in combat. Completed with that, she went to work on wiping the blood from her. "You're welcome to join me, (f/n). I'm sure that I can keep us warm."

Speedily, heat rushed to her cheeks again. "I'll be fine over here. And, you should know that this isn't the time or place for that," she remarked, grumbling towards the end. The fact that he was teasing her when there was a hanging body in the room was somewhat disorienting. "How you can go from being utterly frightening to being like this in a matter of minutes will forever puzzle me."

"We're resting now. That's why. Regardless of what's surrounding us, we need to enjoy this small break. We might not get another for awhile, (f/n)." She heard splashes of water before her chin was lifted. Flames danced in her cheeks as she swiftly made eye contact. His eyes displayed a troubled expression. "Did I terrify you that much?"

"Y-y-yes." She couldn't help but stutter; she had to constantly remind herself to not look down. (F/n) forced her chin away and turned her back to him. It wasn't to be rude, but she couldn't answer him seriously given his current state of dress.

Bringing her knees to her chest, she placed the towel to the left side of her. "When I saw you like that, I reminded myself that you were still Tarhuinn; you were still my husband, but ... I thought that for a moment I might lose you. I thought that your anger would forever consume you and that I wouldn't get to interact with you like this again. You truly appeared as though you were only meant for killing."

Hands squeezed her shoulders. "I apologize. I only ..."

"You only did it to save me from Alpontus's plans," she answered, cutting him off. A small smile returned to her lips. "And, I appreciate that." She moved her hands up to his and intertwined her fingers with his. "You may have scared me, but you did the same to them. After witnessing them like that, I understand that we can still overcome them. We've already dealt with one, and we can finish the others."

(F/n) turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his chest. Her fingertips could feel some of the cuts on his back, so she made sure to be careful. "I trust that we'll make it out of here and return home, but even if that doesn't happen, I won't let them separate me from you again; I won't let you separate me from you. We're in this together."

Arms wrapping around her, he held her to him. A kiss was placed on top of her head while a gentle laugh escaped his lips. The sound soothed her and reminded her of a pleasant rain on a warm day. "You're starting to sound a little like me, (f/n). Perhaps, you'll be the next one to frighten them, though; you're up against some tough competition."

Returning a laugh, she moved back and peered up to his dark blue orbs. "Well, they should know not to mess with the wife of an overprotective husband like you. I am starting to learn some of your tricks after all." She winked before she placed a light kiss on his left cheek.

"It would seem so, especially since you're learning to enjoy this break like me." She rolled her eyes and pushed against his chest. Her eyes directed themselves to her right. He closed the distance again, though, and whispered, "And, it would seem that I solved your problem of being cold." A kiss was placed on her left cheek, and he pulled back before she could react.

Despite him being back by the waterfall, she splashed a handful of water in his direction. Her cheeks were on fire, and she threw the towel at him. "I need a new one," she remarked roughly as her arms crossed over her chest. A small smile did rest on her lips, however, and Tarhuinn took notice of it. He was just happy to see her smile even in such a dreadful place.