Expecting further abuse, perhaps even to be killed outright for her failure to follow the orc's demand to profess her love, Shaelee was surprised when instead she is given an appraising look before being dropped again.  She didn't understand what he wanted from her.  Certainly he had base desire, he had proven that already, but did he truly prefer her to be broken to the point of mindlessness as Makretia was?  The thought drew her eyes to the once proud warrior elf that now crouched at his feet, happy to be his dog.<br/><br/>There was pity in Shaelee's heart for her former friend, though in truth friend was too strong a word for the connection they'd shared.  Makretia had been family, by marriage rather than blood, but family nonetheless and it pained the young priestess to see the beautiful woman bruised and scraped from abuse.  Another part of her was shocked to see her brought so low, but could she truly say that she would not end up the same?  Wasn't her fear of that why she had offered no fight when taken?<br/><br/>Such had been exactly her thoughts and she continued to believe that only through compliance could she survive with her mind intact.  She held that hope close in her heart as she followed the orc and his pet to the spring and watched the two of them enter the water, disturbing the layer of warm vapor that had floated across the surface.<br/><br/>Her heart beating fast, fear that she was wrong, that nothing she did would save her, Shaelee entered the pool slowly.  The water was hot, almost too hot, and was heavy with the minerals that lent their scent to the steam-laden air.  Even so, the warmth quickly sank in, loosening sore muscles that had become tight with the bruises she carried.  Her long hair floated on the surface of the water as she moved deeper, forming a golden trail behind her before finally sinking, its pale color turning diaphanous in the dim light from the torch.<br/><br/>"I do not know what use I would be to you since I am unsure what it is that you desire," she answered softly, honestly, as she neared Gorgamesh.  She stopped, just short of his reach, her fear of him stronger than she had realized.  "All I can offer is my obedience, such that it is since you could easily compel the same. But what other orc war lord can boast a willing elf at his side?"  She glanced to the elf now called Doshvin, her blue eyes softening with pity for a moment before she looked at the orc again.  "At least one that is not utterly broken?"