Hello everyone! I bring you a new chapter.

Just a shoutout to Dalonega Noquis: I took your review to heart, and decided to write this. It fits quite well into the rest of the story as it happens, so thank you for the inspiration! :D

I loved the trees the most. The way they stood tall and swayed in the wind. Harsh as the cold air was, there was a beauty to it all. A beauty to the way the rocks ended at the rushing water which rose against them as if to embrace it. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was exotic, but it was different to what I had been used to in Rome. Even my uncle's villa could not possibly compare to the bare beauty that this place possessed.

If it weren't for the fact that myself and Marcus were all but being held captive, I would have found it beautiful. I might have thought it a place where I could see myself living if I ever had the chance. Instead, I found myself growing to hate it. Everywhere I turned, people stared at me, eyes curious. Some stared with a suspicious eye, others, lust. I felt like an outsider, and I was. I may have spoken their language, but I didn't belong.

Esca had tried to give me things to do, even after I told him I hadn't wanted him anywhere near me. For the most part, he kept his distance, but he never stopped trying to get me to talk to him. Sometimes, he would walk with me as I traveled around the edge of the water. He kept to walking a few feet behind me, which I didn't mind, but I would have preferred that he left me alone.

I wasn't anywhere near ready to speak to him, unless he had an explanation.

He never did. All he wanted was to talk about other things; the scenery, the people, anything but what I wanted.

I had a long way to go before I could forgive him, especially after calling me a whore. In doing so, he had brought unwanted attention to me, particularly in the form of the Seal Prince. Often, I found him watching me as I observed the small wooded area nearby. Even with my back to him, I could feel his eyes on me. I was almost tempted to give myself to him, just to anger Esca.

Of course, I did no such thing, as I was too preoccupied with trying to find a way to get Marcus and I out of the camp. I wasn't very creative, there was very little I could do to help him as far as I was concerned. There were always people watching me, I could feel it wherever I went. Esca warned me not to reveal that I too, was a Roman.

"It's too dangerous," he told me one day. "If they find out, they will enslave you too."

"You say that like you care what happens to me," I snapped.

I walked on ahead of him, trailing a path just above the water line. Esca, came running up beside me then, and grabbed my arm. Pulling me to a stop, he forced me to face him as I drew my arm out of his grip.

"I do care," he said, looking directly into my eyes.

"Really? I thought I was just your whore. Something to play with when you were bored."

"Don't."

"Don't what? State the truth? For all I know, Esca, that's all I am to you. A play thing, something to keep around when there's nothing to do," I said, glaring.

"I have never forced myself onto you, Elena, and I never will."

I scoffed.

"That doesn't mean you won't," I stated angrily.

"Do you really think I would?" he declared.

At this, I shrugged and gestured outwards vaguely.

"Honestly? I don't know anymore. What am I supposed to believe when you've lied to me since the day we met? You brought me and Marcus this far out. Now, he's paying the price, and I'm stuck dealing with unwanted attention because you didn't have the decency to let me speak for myself!"

Esca's lips tugged at one corner, his expression darkening.

"I was trying to protect you," he said.

"From what?"

"From all of this! From these people! These people who would just as easily do what you claim I am doing, without a second thought."

"And calling me a whore was supposed to prevent them from making me a slave, like Marcus? Or worse, raping me?" I was shouting now; my anger having bubbled up and spilled out.

"No, that's not what I— "

"Fuck you," I spat.

Clenching my fists, I pushed past him, roughly shoving him with my shoulder. I walked for a short time, aware that Esca was still following me. I walked through the camp now, passing some of the Seal People who did what they always did; stared. As I stormed around, I kept my head down, grumbling under my breath.

I didn't bother looking up, until I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. I opened my mouth to shout something at Esca, only to find that it wasn't he who grabbed me.

Tilting my head upwards, I found the Seal Prince staring down at me with a brow raised.

"If you're not careful, you will run into someone far less forgiving than me. Or worse, you'll fall and hurt yourself," he said.

"My apologies," I offered, avoiding his gaze.

"None required," he told me, tilting his head to the side. "You can always do something for me?"

I frowned, not following his thought.

Smirking, the Prince glanced up, over my head.

"Esca, Son of Cunoval," he called to him. "Come."

Peering over my shoulder, I saw Esca run up behind me. He stopped when he reached me, and stood just on my right side, arms folded over his chest. He and the Prince looked at one another, and I wondered what it was that I was unable to catch onto.

"What do you want for her?" the Prince inquired.

Now I knew. Heart hammering in my chest, I turned to look at Esca, the Prince still holding onto me. Esca didn't look at me, he only stared at the Prince, a brow raised. He looked pensive, as if pondering the question. He wouldn't, would he?

"I don't follow," said Esca.

"I think you do. You said she was your whore, perhaps you would be willing to share."

The Prince laughed lowly, a sound that made me shiver. My stomach twisted into knots, and I felt sick. The last thing I wanted, was for a strange man to have his way with me.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself. My body tensed, and I felt afraid of what might happen if Esca said yes. I tried to tell myself that he wouldn't give me up, but I wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't. I had snapped at him mere minutes ago, and for all I knew, his anger would get the better of him. Any love he had for me could disappear all because I was upset with him.

"I'm not. She's mine," said Esca finally.

I opened my eyes to find him having stepped closer to the Prince, his hand on the dagger he kept at his side. I breathed a sigh of relief, and even managed a small smile. Esca glanced side long at me. I couldn't read his face, but I liked to imagine that he was thinking, 'I have your back'.

"Is she? The last I saw you two, you couldn't even look one another in the eye. I do not imagine there is much love between you, despite what you say."

To this, Esca stepped forward, eyes daring.

"What happens between us, is far from your business," he stated. All the while, the Prince looked amused. "And if you touch her, I will cut off your hands."

I couldn't help but feel exceptionally proud in that moment. The Prince simply smirked, but bowed his head in respect, and backed off. He removed his hands from me, and went on his way. Esca released his grip on the dagger at his hip, and stepped in front of me.

"Now, do you believe me?" he asked before he walked around me. Turning in my spot, I watched as he made his way to our tent.

As I watched him disappear inside, I felt guilty for a brief second. Guilty for having mistrusted him, for thinking that he thought nothing of me. It was clear to me then, that he did care, that he did still love me, but it was difficult to look past what he had done to my brother.

I could forgive him for calling me a whore, but I could never forgive what he had done to my brother.

I hope you all enjoyed this, don't forget to please let me know your thoughts in a review :)