Because that episode was inspiring especially the part about the mark so let's pretend it shapes a bit differently.
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Amberle wakes up with a jolt followed by the mocking of their wretched prisoner. She is too tired to respond, tired of the recurring dreams-turned-nightmares. She should have known that the beautifully carefree moment with Wil was but an illusion. The kisses that felt like they were bringing her to life are wishful thinking.
Now that the real Wil is by her side, she cannot confide in him. He would want to help, to comfort her, make her feel better and she cannot let him do that. It would make them too reliant on each other. Maybe he reads it in her eyes, like she can read his, because he doesn't pressure her. It makes her feel both thankful and frustrated. As she always goes for for being rational, she pushes the frustration down, hoping it would soon fade.
She focuses on the road and when Cephelo suggests a shortcut she chooses to accept. Whether it is because she thinks it's for the best or she just wants to show that she's in charge, it doesn't matter. The decision has been made. The decision that takes them on an icy path and straight into an eerie castle. She is disregarding the strange ambient for the time, thinking that their equally strange host would honor their status. And if need be, she will reveal her true identity. But for now, she finally has the time to relax and bathe properly. Almost, her peace is disturbed soon.
The Rover walks silently on the edge of the tub. It comes to Amberle's mind how Eretria always seems to be walking on edge, always unsure which side to go. And Amberle is not sure what her angle will be today. She opts for banter, starting with another sting at her status.
"The princess joke?" Amberle can work with that, it's nothing unexpected. Eretria is already smiling, "What's my line? I didn't know Rovers bathe at all? Something like that?"
Instead of continuing down that road, she takes a swing at her relationship with Wil. But Amberle doesn't find the topic surprising. What surprises her is the Rover's lack of originality. She supposes she misjudged her. "So, it's Rover custom to jump into bed with any guy you meet?"
"Honestly?" before Amberle says 'honesty would be refreshing', Eretria starts moving towards her, slowly, seductively, "It's not just guys."
This is different and it leaves Amberle dumbstruck. Eretria holds Amberle's gaze. Amberle holds her breath.
"What? Afraid you might like it?"
She recovers quickly and scoffs. This is Eretria, always with an agenda, "You and Chephelo deserve each other."
The words make her step back and Amberle would be proud of herself if not for that brief instant of something like hurt flashing in the Rover's eyes. She turns her back on her and the mark is right there again. The Rover's body has many tattoos but she cannot resist asking. Eretria tells her more or less the same story she's told Wil. The words somehow seem to stumble over the lump in her throat. The unsaid makes Amberle want to comfort her and maybe she would have caved if not for the interruption.
The dinner is served. It bothers her that Wil's taking the first watch, she would be less tense if he were near. She is trying to keep up the polite conversation, but Cephelo keeps sabotaging with his insane theories. It just makes her paranoid as well. Eretria is quiet as always in the presence of her father. Only occasionally does she look up at her and the last thing Amberle sees is Eretria's eyes going wide.
She wakes up dangling from the ceiling believing if she moves her arms will rip. The burning in her shoulders is unbearable so she does the stupid, stupid thing and reveals her identity.
Her host and now jailor is describing the ways of torture, proudly showing her the world she never imagined could exist. At one point she prays the fear would dull her senses just a bit. The door opens with a bang to chase her last hope of rescue away. That little girl, a mere child, is standing calmly as Wil's blood is dripping onto the floor of the dungeon. Her heart sinks, she wishes her mind was already gone. The world without him is almost unimaginable. There is no way others could get to her. They are strung somewhere, awaiting the same destiny. And the world will be clad into darkness. It serves them all right. Sending a sheltered princess on such mission, maybe she was meant to fail. If it is true what her jailor said, which most likely is, they do deserve to perish…
Amberle is not sure what is happening but Wil is there. He is alive and he's come to help. She wraps her shaky hands around him, she never wants to let go. She's watched him die or almost die too many times. After so long, she lets herself be herself and kisses him. Now, she is sure he is real… the kiss that brings to life.
The feeling is short lived once she sees the look of Eretria's face. And she feels solely responsible for it. She does something and others suffer the consequences. She kissed Wil and hurt Eretria. She agreed to a shortcut and now an innocent child is dead.
She runs a sword easily through the body of the deranged Elf and feels absolutely nothing.