I groaned and stirred, opening my eyes and blinking rapidly, my vision met with darkness. I suddenly remembered where I was, and tried to sit up, but my shoulder felt incredibly pained. I'd been shot. So what was I laying on? I didn't remember. All I knew was that it was soft, warm, smelled good, like... I suddenly pushed myself up again, ignoring this time the searing pain.

I felt arms encircle me to stop me even as my forhead slammed hard into a very low ceiling. I cursed loudly, the other occupant of the room forgotten momentarily, until I heard his low chuckle and the rustle of cloth as the grip tightened on me and pushed me back to the floor.

"Rest boy. You will reopen your wound like that."

I gritted my teeth from the pain, complying with whomever held my shoulders. The touch was soft, gentle, caring, and I felt a deep sense of security with them. My forehead throbbed and I raised my left arm to rub it, and then a thought occured to me. I slowly, hesitantly moved my hand a little to the right and met a body. The hardened body of a well toned man. I heard my breathing increase rapidly.

"Who are you?"

My demand was made softly, but with urgency, and he chuckled again, a soft, sensual sound. I was both infuriated and aroused by it, and I cursed whoever it was silently.

"I'm sure you know. You are the one who came back for me after you heard the first shot, are you not?"

I remembered now. She had begged me to stop them, to save him after the report of the frst shot had echoed over the lake. I had complied, for what reasons I knew not.

"I- you. How did we get here? I came back to help you but-"

"But you were shot. A flesh wound, very minor, but it will hurt for a while, if the bruise on your head doesn't distract you from feeling it. I brought you here because I didn't think it prudent to let them find you down there."

I blushed at his mention of the knot forming on my forehead, embarassed that I had done such a silly thing, but it wasn't really my fault. I dropped my hand to my right shoulder, feeling the bandage wrapped tightly around it, realzing he must have torn his shirt to make it.

"Why did you save me?"

"Why did you come back?" I blushed, having no real answer, I didn't really come for her; I came for... I didn't know. "She asked me to..."

"Then I too saved your life for her."