Xinye's view

"I am sorry, my lady," the maid Sari said, as she bathed my bruises from Dudo's affections, "I would like to help you escape, but my family would..."

"It's ok, Sari, I understand," I comforted her as she looked distressed at seeing my bruises, "God is with me in this. He will not allow any more than I can take."

"How can you be so certain?" she asked, stopping as she got to a particularly nasty bruise, "This may hurt."

I braced myself for the pain she warned me of, but I did not feel her touch, and for that, I was thankful, "Thank you." I said simply

"For what?" she asked, "I am doing nothing, my Lady."

"Looking after me like this, it is enough," I explained, "I am sure my husband will rescue me."

"Isn't prince Dudo your husband?" she seemed surprised as I pulled my hair off my neck so she could wash it.

"No, he abducted me from my husband while he was out of town," I felt bone tired, and I could feel my tears welling up again. Not willing to be seen crying again, I wiped my face, "I am clean enough now," and stood to get out. I had already scrubbed clean my privates, seemingly the first thing I did each bath. Doing so did not make me feel any cleaner, but at least I was no longer sticky.

"Yes, my lady," she said and hurried to get the towel to dry off in. When she returned, I used her to hop out of the bath, as every movement hurt.

I groaned.

"Careful, my lady!" Sari warned catching me from falling.

"Thanks again, Sari," I said, now exhausted, "Dress me quickly and take me back to my room. I need to rest."

"Yes, my lady," Sari said hurrying to get my clothes as I dried myself.

"I miss wearing underpants," I commented to her.

"The master won't let you unless he leaves," Sari responded, "You know he will hit you again if you wear them."

"I know," I sighed, 'Lord, please bring my husband to me quickly.'

"Why do you pray like that?" Sari asked, "Should you not pray kneeling down?"

"My God is everywhere and sees everything, so why not address him at any time?" I asked.

"Why does he not stop this then?" she asked.

"He has stopped it on occasion," I said, smiling at her, "Each time has been a blessing."

"How?" she asked me.

"The first times was because of the cat."

"The cat?" she asked, "What did he do?"

"He got in between us whenever Dudo tried to be intimate with me in the first week, I was required to sleep with him. The second time he scratched his face when he tried forcing me in my room. I guess that is why he set up that place. He does not allow the cat in there," I could not help the shudder overcoming me.

"Stop thinking about it, my Lady," Sari advised, "It will only bring you more grief. I will trust in your God to rescue you. Now that you are dressed, let's get you to your bed."

"Thanks," I said and leaned on Sari, falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, my body needing to lie down for a change.

The following day, I was out by my oasis, and I found myself singing two songs,

"Fear not, for God is with me, Fear not cause God is with me says the Lord. I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, Child, you are mine. When you walk through the waters, I will be there, and through the flame. And you will not no way be drowned, and you will not no way be burned, for I am with you."

and

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control in the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me
In the eye of the storm

Mmm, when my hopes and dreams are far from me
And I'm runnin' out of faith
I see the future I pictured slowly fade away
And when the tears of pain and heartache
Are pouring down my face
I find my peace in Jesus' name

In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)
You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
In the middle of the war
You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor
When my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me)
In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm)

"Beautiful singing," Dudo said, sneaking up behind me, disturbing my peace.

"Please not now, Dudo," I begged him, "I am tired."

"Then I will escort you to your room," he responded, offering his arm.

I sighed, having no option, "Thank you, Dudo."

Perhaps Dudo truly meant only to escort me back to my room, but it did not stay that way. It was like he could not get enough of me or my touch. Every time I touched him, be it for escort around the gardens or to wipe food off his face, as seeing food on anyone's face annoyed me, he seemed to need me.

We had just returned to my room, and he threw me on the bed. I did not know what made me do it, but something within me snapped, and I yelled, "Stop, Please, no! Stop!" in fear. Like that would ever stop him, it didn't.

"Haven't I told you," He growled, "You are mine now; I can do whatever I want with you." He pinned me down again, taking me yet again.

The next thing I knew, the door to my room was thrown open.

"Get out!" Dudo ordered, "Can't you see I am busy."

"I see," Xin growled, pulling him off and throwing him across the room, "I see you raping my wife. Who gave you permission to have her? She is married! She is mine!"

I had never seen Xin's eyes look like that in my entire life. It was like a feral madness had overtaken him, and I was afraid of my loving husband for the first time ever. I froze in my state of undress, coming to perhaps a minute later by the sound of my tormentor's voice.

"You forget yourself, General." Dudo stood up from where he was thrown and straightened his clothes.

"I do? Do I? I think you are mistaken here. I have full permission to assassinate you given to me by the emperor," Xin said vehemently and quietly as I tried covering myself back up in a hurry. I could not help but feel fear at how Xin was speaking and looking. "Xinye?" he gentled his voice, probably in response to my anxiety.

I gasped as I saw Dudo take his sword out and try to attack Xin. I need not have worried as Xin had already acted, his gaze never leaving mine the entire time. I could not help but witness Dudo's throat slashed open, and my reaction was one of horror.

"Xin nooo," I cried. I did not want to be responsible for someone's death, no matter how despicable a person they were.

Xin's face changed instantly, from that of a feral monster to one of instant sorrow, "Sorry, Xinye," he apologised, dropping his sword amongst the blood that had splurted everywhere.

"Stop, Xin," I said, "Please stop." Tears formed in my eyes. I did not want to see him that way. It was distressing and scary.

"I have stopped," he said, falling at my knees and wrapping his arms around me, burying his head in my stomach as if he was seeking an apology for doing this in front of me.

I broke down then, imagining Xin hating me for Dudo's actions, "Xin," I cried, "I am sorry, Xin, I was not strong enough."

"It's ok, love," he cried too, and he continued to hold me, "I am sorry you had to see that."

"I do not want to see it again," I admitted ruffling his hair, something I had dreamed of since I had been abducted. I truly loved everything about this husband of mine. Silence ensued as we just held each other. Sometime later, the others came in.

"Xin," Fergus said, "Everyone is rounded up and tied up. What are we to do with them?"

"Take them back to the capital," Xin said, getting up and sitting beside me so he could talk without looking weird, "Leave one guard here who can both guard and clean the place. Did they say who the Head Butler is?  He should be able to do it. It can't be helped as we can't stay. Taiji will have to send people later to deal with him. If he is wise, he will get out of this without a scratch."

"Ok, Mama, are you right to come home?" Fergus asked, looking at me.

"No, but I will come regardless. This place makes me feel dirty and unsafe," I said, wrapping my arm through Xin's, "But could you please free Sari? She looked after me and wanted to free me, but she couldn't."

"I understand," Xin said, "Free Sari too, then. Is there anyone else you think we should free?"

"Perhaps the cooks?" I suggested, "I never saw them."

"Fine, free the cooks too," Xin agreed, "Let's go, Xinye."

"Xin," I tugged his arm as he stood up.

"Yes?" I could see the anger at the situation had not entirely left him, and so I drew back.

"Don't do that, Xinye," he begged, taking my hand that had gone to tug his sleeve, "Anything but that."

"What?"

"Don't pull away from me and look afraid of me," he begged.

"Oh, that, sorry, it's just..." I stopped as it was not important. Dudo was dead now, and I could not be tormented that way again. "I was going to ask if you could wash the blood off you before we left. There's a basin over there that you can."

The basin had been put there by Sari for times when Dudo interfered with me, and I knew it was clean. I was thankful that Dudo had been pulled off before he had finished, so I was clean in that regard.

"Good idea," Xin agreed and went over and started washing himself.

While the men were sorting out the staff, I went and found my underwear, and for the first time in a week, I wore them. "Thank you, God," I said, relieved I had been both rescued and had my underwear on.

Xin noticed me pull the underwear out of the drawer and put them on, "Weren't you allowed to wear them?" he asked me.

"No," I said, starting to tear up again, "I am sorry, Xin. I could not stop him. He took me whenever and however he wanted."

Xin put down the cleaning cloth and, with a couple of strides, embraced me, "Shhh, Shh, my love, it is ok. You are free now. I am here, and I am not leaving your side again; someone else can go."

"Xin, you should make up with your mother," I said; after seeing Bryce for a second, I had felt my heart twinge with sorrow. I had not seen him since he left, and I had only heard what Xin had told me through Min.

"Whatever you want, my love," he kissed my forehead, "Let's get out of here. This place makes me angry." So, we left, leaving the men to sort out the mess behind us.

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. Please let me know if you see any errors, as this is unedited.