Marisa limped through camp, with fresh wounds from the battlefield. Arrow holes covered her shoulders, gashes and cuts adorned her sides and legs, each of them a price she paid to protect her love. She eased herself down onto her cot and began to examine her wounds, none were fatal but they would be tedious to dress. She was about to set to the task when she heard a gasp at the door.
"Marisa, what happened to you?" cried the frightened Princess Tana.
Marisa winced a little as the flurry of cobalt and silk descended on her in a binding hug.
"Nothing, my princess, just minor battle wounds" She replied. Cold as she was she had been caught off guard by Tana's affection. She fought not to sound flustered but to little avail.
"This isn't minor Marisa, you're bleeding all over!" Tana gave a distressed cry that broke Marisa's heart.
"I'll be fine" she said weakly.
But Tana didn't hear her. Tana was already halfway back across the tent with bandages and a bowl of water.
"Here," she said kneeling down beside Marisa and beginning to gently wipe the blood from her pale face.
Marisa raised a hand to stop her, "Your Highness please, don't sully your hands with my blood" Marisa began to shift away and take the bandages herself.
"Be still, I order you" Tana said sternly.
The tone shocked and delighted Marisa, "Yes my Princess" she replied, and she allowed Tana to continue.
Tana finished cleaning Marisa's face, though her lip was still bleeding. She was about to continue when her eyes caught those of the fierce swordswoman. Immediately Tana was entranced. Marisa's eyes were like fire. Marisa herself was cold and distant but her eyes, they were blazing with passion, her intensity and drive shone through them like a colossal bonfire on a mountain. They enraptured Tana, melted the princess with their smoldering intensity.
Tana gently put her washcloth aside and began to kiss Marisa all over her face, taking Marisa's hands into her own and holding them tight when the mercenary began to squirm and twist away.
A crimson flash had come to Marisa's cheeks at the princess' attentions, and she felt a tremendous guilt when she felt Tana's tears trickle onto her cheeks.
"Your Highness please.." Marisa began to say, though her protests were immediately silenced.
Though the kiss tasted of salt and blood, it was the sweetest moment of the mercenary's life.