Darius was nothing if not efficient as he set up a small area behind her. Each of the needles were set on the edge of the candles, with the very tips of them resting above the flame. Before he moved away, the shining metal was already turning a deep shade of red as they heated. What he didn't tell her, is that the needles would heat clear through. By the time he was finished, he wouldn't be able to grip a cup to drink from. While it wouldn't be near as hot as the points that he would work with on her skin, the contact would be sustained throughout the entire process. His pain would bind her to him as hers did.<br/><br/>"I'll need use of your talents after we've finished. So I hope you've had your fill. I'll have more food brought up for you if need be." Without the use of his hands, he would be unable to grip weapons properly. The challenges would likely flow were they to find out he'd just completed a brand. Usually the northern women were able to pick up the defensive slack for the men, however, he highly doubted Gwenevere had any skill with heavy edged weapons.<br/><br/>Gently, he gathered up the silken garments that she'd laid on the floor, and set them on the bed. The cloak was bundled and set on the large table. Everything else he wore was summarily stripped off, and tossed onto the bed next to her things. Completely nude at that point, he made his way back to Gwen and knelt behind her. Settling in behind her, his knees rested against her hips. Carefully, he moved the candle and small holder that kept the needles in place closer. With a deep breath, he leaned forward and kissed his Mistress' bared shoulder. "I'll endeavor to be as quick as possible. Please do your best not to move. Any flaws are reflected upon badly. Scream if you must. It is expected."<br/><br/>He'd practiced on leather until he could have burned the design in his sleep. It was a right of passage for a man, and the brand was etched into the shoulderpiece of his armor. Rubbing his fingers together in anticipation as he held them over the first needle. A quiet grunt was the only indication that he'd picked the thing up. The pain was blinding at first, but after a moment it seemed to fade just enough for him to begin. Darius' hands flew over Gwen's alabaster skin. The intricacy of the interwoven lines and swirling patterns quickly took shape. By the time the fourth needle had gone cold, the first brand was complete. Neither large nor gaudy, it covered the ball of her shoulder, with gossamer lines trailing up towards her neck. Any flinching he had moved with, and there were no visible quivers in any of the reddened lines. The entirety of the process had taken less than five minutes, but his left hand was already charred in places where the skin was thick enough to withstand the heat.<br/><br/>Beads of sweat rolled down Darius' face, and he could only imagine what she was feeling.<br/><br/>"Finished. One smaller mark needs to be placed. I did my best to make the burns as thin as possible to cause the least amount of pain."<br/><br/>Shakily, and cradling his burned hand, he moved to the small chest that had contained the needles and began to mix a numbing cream with his good hand. It would soothe her, and allow him the use of his hand for the last needle.