Hydrangea waited by the fire, wrapping the warm cloak around herself. Sir Nikanor glanced up at her, "Would you care for some stew, your majesty?"
She smiled; Sir Nikanor was the quietest out of the four soldiers, and he spoke rarely.
"No, thank you." She replied.
The man nodded and began to dish out the stew into four carven bowls.
Bastian walked over to her with a smirk that had her turn her head in a suspicious manner. When he got close enough he raised her to stand.
"Go fetch what you need for bathing." He said and her brows raised, but she went to Peony's saddle bag and retrieved what was necessary. The Tsarina has insisted upon the luxuries.
Walking back to him he led her off into the woods, grabbing a torch on the way.
"Bastian, where are we going?" She asked as she followed after his long strides. He slowed down and matched her pace.
"We, are going to a hot spring just up here." He pointed to a point beyond the trees.
"And you're coming with me?" Hydrangea asked, her eyes widening and her throat going dry.
"Well yes. I couldn't let my wife bathe all by herself," He said lightly, then added in a tone much darker, "It would be dangerous."
She nodded and felt him squeeze her hand. "Now come on, we're almost there." He said with a grin that made her smile back.
Their boot covered feet wandered up the dirt path, some rocks jutted out of the packed earth which made it difficult to walk, especially with the twilight descending upon them.
The dark trees surrounding them cast eerie shadows that made Hydrangea cling to Bastian.
Coming to the top of the slope they crossed a short stretch of lush forest grass and arrived in front of a moss covered knoll. A few saplings sprouted from the surface of the mound.
Bastian let go of her hand and disappeared behind it. Hydrangea's heart pounded as she waited for him, in the dark.
Just when she thought that she should see if he was still there, he snuck his head around the corner, the torch lighting his features.
"Come on, it's right over here." He said in a whisper.
She skipped over the grass and a few fallen twigs to where he stood.
He smiled and clasped her hand in his, raising it to his lips he kissed her knuckles. "My dear, Hydrangea. Right this way, is the most pleasurable bath you've ever had." He said as his lips left her hand.
She gave him a small smile and then looked to her left. She raised her free hand and felt the heat stemming from the dark cave.
Bastian ducked and led her through the short, dark passage. Coming to a cleared area she could make out a round room sculpted from clay and stone. At her feet was a pool, bubbling ever so often and emitting a substantial amount of warmth.
He propped the torch against the wall and she set the cloth and soap on the ground near the pool.
They both stood in silence, watching each other.
"Are you not going to leave?" Hydrangea asked, her fists clenching at the thought of him staying. Her voice echoed against the dripping walls and the bubbling surface of the water.
"No. I will not leave you alone in a cave."
Her shoulder sunk in a pout, "Very well." She didn't exactly want him to leave, but she wasn't too keen on the fact that he was present. "Turn around."
Bastian scoffed, "Hydrangea…"
"Turn around." She ordered.
He rolled his eyes and turned around, his back facing her.
She steeled her nerves and began to unlace and peel off her heavy clothes. Once she'd removed her boots, cloak, dress and stockings she stood there, in only her shift and undergarments.
Swallowing she began to take off the thin underdress, her eyes never leaving Bastian.
"You could've at least had the decency to wait outside." She muttered as she folded her shift and placed it on her other articles of clothing.
He chuckled and shuffled his feet, "You're right, I could've."
She waited for him to continue and glared at his back when he didn't.
She hastily tore off the piece of fabric containing her breasts, then the cloth securing her woman's place. Flinging those on top of her folded clothes she hopped into the warm water.
She shrieked and covered herself when Bastian turned to face her, even thought she was concealed by the misty water and the dim light.
He simply smiled.
"How's the water?" He asked as he took one of his boots off.
She frowned, "Fine. What are you doing?"
"Joining you." He answered casually.
Her frown deepened and she backed further away from him, her arm still covering her chest. "You are not." Hydrangea stated firmly.
"Oh, I do believe I am." He said and she could hear the playful lilt in his voice. He was now dressed in nothing but his under tunic, breeches and stockings.
"Bastian." She whined. This bath was supposed to be relaxing.
"Yes?" He asked as he removed his stockings, next his hands swiftly lifted his tunic from his body, revealing his chest and abdomen. She swallowed. Along his right chest were the wounds that she'd tended to so carefully, they'd healed fully now and were faint, jagged, pink lines on his dark, gold skin.
"This bath was supposed to be relaxing." She stated—her eyes darting from his half-naked form—hoping the pouting in her voice would stop him.
He merely chuckled, "And it still will be. We'll both be covered by the water and it's dark. Besides, I feel filthy." And with that he shucked his breeches.
She gasped and turned 'round, mortified at what he'd done. Her cheeks burnt almost painfully at what she'd glimpsed.
Hydrangea heard the ripple of water and assumed he'd entered the pool. Shrinking her body lower so that its level rose only to her neck she turned back around.
He was standing by the edge, the water only coming to his mid-torso, his scars still shown. Raising her eyes to meet his, she saw they were shining with mirth.
"Why do you look so frightened? I'm not going to do anything, I simply wanted a bath."
She opened her mouth to voice another objection, but found that she couldn't contrive one. She pouted and stayed still, unsure of how to move with him in the water.