I stared grimly at the scene, men’s shoulders shuddering over the dead body.  The blood had soaked the dirt ground and his corpse had already begun to grow rigid.
I looked away as Bartley looked up at me, his jaw clenched, his eyes glistening and his cheeks soaked with tears.  I couldn’t handle this, what was the point of this?
I pulled open the flap of Aithne’s tent, a morose expression on my face. Why, my dear love, must you be so vindictive? Why can’t you just be sweet and forgiving like I know you are deep down? I thought. But then I saw her sitting on her cot, her mouth covered with her hands and her eyes clenched tightly as if afraid to open.  Her legs were pulled up close to her, an arm around them.
Her voice was lost to sobs, a shrill scritch escaping her once before she saw me.
Her words were weighed down by her shuddering body, gasping for breath with each syllable.
I darted over to her, falling to her side and wrapping my arms around her shoulders. She tried to tell me to leave her be, that she was fine. But I knew better, she was far past upset. She needed someone to be there for her. I didn’t know why but I had to be there for her, for her if she needed me.
I stroked her stick straight locks, finding my own comfort in her vulnerability.

She needs me.
“What is it, Aithne? What was on the tape?” I asked her gently as not to seem harsh. I didn’t want to force it out of her or have her feeling like I was angry with her for being upset. I needed her to tell me so I could help…anyway at all.
“He has Ryn. Ciro has Ryn and he was using his whips on him.  Ryn was screaming and it looked like something was wrong with his arms because…because he couldn’t get up.” Her word trembled as she tried to cover up her tears.
“Did Ciro say anything?” I stumbled for words, not knowing if those were the correct ones.  She looked up from my shoulder, retracting her arms that had been so tightly gripped to my shoulders.  I could feel the welts where her nails had been.  I smiled.
“He said that to save him and…and his daughter, I had to come there myself. He said he could use all of us for their own learning. Does that mean if I go…he’ll let us free afterwards?” She looked up at me with abashed eyes, though I knew she had made up her mind.
“Don’t talk like that, Aithne. We’ll figure a way to get them out.” I said to her, turning my head so she could no longer persuade me into her plan.  I couldn’t have Aithne be hurt…especially not for someone who meant nothing to either of us…well…nothing to me.
“Like what, Fratelli? What can we do? Will we storm the gates of Ciro’s abode only to be taken over and have half of my men sacrificed for a foolish plan? I won’t have it, friend, I won’t.” Her face had taken on an inexorable expression and I knew I couldn’t talk her out of going.

“At least let me come with you? In case something happens and we can get you out. Please? I couldn’t have you be hurt when I could have stopped it…” My voice trailed off as I stared into her eyes, not wanting to imagine what they’d do to those golden labyrinths.  Her expression directed from the one of desperation and sadness to one of confusion. Hopefully she wasn’t’ reading into what my words were truly saying.  I Love You.
“Why do you care so much? If something happens to me, you’re the one that will be the new leader of the Rahl, don’t you want that? You’d be better at than I am.” As her words erupted from those lips, I began scowling, my best glare spilled forth as plain as day and she caught it.
“Don’t you dare put yourself down, Aithne!  You are possibly the best leader anyone in this camp has ever come across. I would not do better for I wouldn’t be able to live if something happened to you! I care because…” I stopped, catching myself before I condemned myself to the truth that kept me alive.  She looked over at me, her own glower displayed on her features.
“Because why, Fratelli? Why do you care? No one else has ever cared, why must you be the carrier of such a burden?” Since when had this turned into an argument? Why had I opened my mouth?  I couldn’t tell her like this! Especially not now that she was slowly but surely going to fall in love with that new man.
“I just…do, okay? We grew up together, I spent more than seventy five percent of my time taking care of you as a child…I just do.” I avoided her gaze, looking at my boots which now nudged the rocks that lay on the tent floor.  She continued to stare at me, a bitter expression on her face. She hated being cared for…it made her feel as if she had to live up to something. The bad thing was, she didn’t know it, but all she has to do is live.  
“Please let me go with you.” New tears sprang from her eyes as I gently caressed her soft skin with my own rough fingers.
“Alright.”