Crystal was shivering badly as he cut the ropes that held her wrists and ankles together. She felt him lift her to her feet, but she fell against him when she tried to hold herself up. She knew he was worried as she pulled the heavy cloak around her body. Crystal lay her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.<br/><br/>It was a long journey to the cabin he had found and her body slowly began to warm up as he carried her. Her breathing was shallow and ragged, her paleness more evident in the light than it had been in the dungeon cell. She groaned slightly as he moved, her body hurting from the beating she had received from the bandit.<br/><br/>Once inside the cabin, she felt him lay her on a bed and could soon feel the heat of a burning flame. Her eyes remained closed even when she felt him open the cloak, explaining that he needed to clean her up some. She nodded, still not having said anything since she had begged him to release the ropes from her body.<br/><br/>The Princess lay there, unmoving, as he cleaned her, flinching only when he touched her private areas. Once she was clean, he could see that she was covered from head to toe in bruises. Finger print bruises were upon her throat from when she had been choked to unconscious, followed by a deep redness on her crotch.<br/><br/>The young Princess lay there, shivering as the fire warmed her naked body. Her eyes were closed and she looked so beautiful, so helpless, so weak. He could have taken her, right there, had he wanted to. There was no way she could have fought back.<br/><br/>Crystal's eyes slowly fluttered open as she felt him covering her with something soft and warm. Her hazel eyes looked at the thief, fear and pain filled them. She opened her mouth to thank him for saving her, but no words came.  Her hand went to her throat, patting it, her eyes now begging for something to drink.