Exhausted by the day's torment and barely conscious, Shaelee didn't move or even open her eyes as footsteps approached her.  As she had done a dozen or more times in the last hours she prayed silently that the heavy tread of the orc would pass her by, visit his torments upon another.  It shamed her, these selfish pleas for mercy, but she could not stop them.  Her only saving grace, then and now, was that she did not speak them aloud as others had done at times.  Her guilt ran deep enough that there were times that she believed she deserved her punishment simply for wishing it on another.  When she felt as much as heard those large feet stop next to her she was fighting the need to cry and beg for mercy.<br/><br/>Her bright blue eyes flew open and she whined as thick fingers dug into her bruised face, but it was not another unknown face that she saw.  Instead it was the orc leader, the one responsible for both her torture and for keeping her safe from death if her keeper was to be believed.  It was a sight that was at once both welcome and terrifying.<br/><br/>She knew that her survival depended upon this orc's continued protection, his question to her one that meant life or death to her.  What the elf girl didn't know was how to answer.  Should she say what he demanded, say whatever it took to survive?  Or would he punish her for lying?  Surely he knew that she could not love him.  Her confusion and desperation burned in the eyes that stared back at him.<br/><br/>Reaching out, Shaelee laid her hand on Gorgamesh's arm, clutching at him as if he was her only hope.  "Please don't give me to them again," she whispered.  "I'll do whatever you want..."  She felt that she was failing in spite of her promise to obey and tears sprang to her eyes.  "Please, my Chieftain...  I... I am grateful for your protection... I cannot live without you."  It was the truth, she would not live long if he took his protection from her.  It was an admission of love, but for some reason she didn't want to lie to him.