She was lying, of course, while she was planting something for sure... Even now the muffled moans of pleasure from Darius tingled in her ears. She could only hope that Darius had measures to prevent something from... Growing. Spencer gave her an incredulous look in response. "A... A tree?" he asked slowly. It took Ophelia a moment to snap back to the present, and when she did she replied, "It's a superstition from my village." She continued, still lying to her commanding officer.  Yet again feeling thankful that no one would be able to tell what she had been thinking about from her blank expression.

Ophelia then, startled, watched Spencer's eyes light up. "Really?!" He asked excitedly, "That's so interesting! I've heard that smaller villages have superstitions like that! Why is it you had to plant a tree?" He questioned excitedly, "I didn't know you'd be interested in something like this." Ophelia replied looking away, she thought hard about a possible reason for the fake tradition. "Of course, I used to ask the maids in the Duke's mansion about their hometown traditions all the time. I loved listening to their stories as a child!" Spencer replied.

Ophelia felt her eye twitch, and she took a breath, "Well I'm sure it's not anything as interesting as their stories. It's just a..." Ophelia took a moment, "A belief that you should replace what you take from the woods." Ophelia managed to squeeze out a reason that sounded vaguely plausible. "Replace what you take from the woods! How beautiful." Spencer repeated her words, "Did everyone in Flat Trench practice this?" He questioned, "Only those who worked in the forests like I did." Ophelia lied yet again. 

"Amazing, do you think that was purely a spiritual belief or is there a practical reason behind it?" Spencer quizzed her. Ophelia was just about to open her mouth to give some half-assed excuse about spirits when musical singing cut through the low conversations in the army. The singing was operatic in nature and all eyes landed on the front of the march where Darius sat on top of his horse singing. It sounded like he was speaking in another language as he sang, vaguely sounding like one of the gospel songs sung by the choir of the church in terms of language. 

It wasn't unpleasant to hear and Darius had an amazing singing voice but... "Is the commander singing?!" Spencer gawked looking surprised, Ophelia felt her cheeks burning. She had an idea why Darius would be singing. Similar questions echoed through the small groups within the march. Ophelia groaned softly under her breath feeling her ears even burning now. 

"I guess... He just woke up in a good mood this morning." Ophelia sighed feeling embarrassed.  Spencer eyed her he was about to say something when the singing stopped. Ophelia looked over seeing Darius glancing over his shoulder looking displeased. "Spade!" Darius shouted stopping Spencer from speaking again. "Get up here!" He ordered facing ahead once more.

Ophelia sighed in relief as the officer ran up to the front. She let herself linger a bit more in the back to create some distance, she got the feeling that Spencer was about to figure out what she had really been doing. She could already hear the shrieks of horror coming out of him once he found out that she had done that with Darius.

She didn't see what the big deal was, but she supposed it could lead to some problems for her or Darius. She decided to just keep this to herself anyway, there was no sense in thinking too hard about something like this. After all, she was sure she was just Darius's partner for the night anyway. One in a long line among the army, Ophelia was sure of this. 

Things were sure to fizzle out between them now that the deed had been done. Ophelia smiled a bit, the deed had been done quite a bit last night... Ophelia vaguely wondered if he was sore as she watched him shift in his saddle as he rode his horse. Obviously feeling Ophelia's stare dig into his back, Darius glanced behind him. Ophelia let him catch her and grinned slightly before looking away. 

She looked back and saw a smile on Darius's lips appear before he turned forward. At least he had seemed to enjoy it as much as she did. Ophelia decided feeling rather pleased with her decision to sleep with Darius last night.

From then on days seemed to blend together, and before long it turned into a week. Ophelia wasn't surprised that things didn't continue forward between her and Darius. Aside from both of them being busy, in Ophelia's experience things tended to be one-and-done between her and omegas. They'd be curious and once they had that curiosity satisfied it was as if nothing happened. 

Ophelia had been ready to accept that and move on, striking up that night as a good memory to think back on but...

Rain poured down heavily on Ophelia as she ran through the woods. Darius clung to her bundled up and bleeding. Clover soldiers had ambushed them and now Ophelia was running for their lives. Hearing the sound of hooves in the mud nearby Ophelia dove into a tree hallow of a nearby ancient tree. Breathing heavily she held Darius close, hearing the crack of thunder overhead.

Ophelia closed her eyes praying that the Clover soldiers would pass. The sound of horses and soldiers faded into the distance and the breath she held was released. She panted softly looking down at the pale-looking Darius. He stared up at her looking exhausted, "Hang in there." Ophelia whispered, "I'll get us somewhere dry." She promised. "Just hang in there."

Ophelia trudged through the mud and slush in the middle of the forest. She had run here when they were being chased earlier. While it was uncomfortable, she was grateful that the heavy rain managed to ward off their pursuers. Holding Darius in her arms, Ophelia did her best despite getting soaked to make sure that Darius stayed as dry as possible. Somehow, managing to locate a nearby cave, Ophelia made her way inside setting Darius down against the wall of the cave. 

Getting to work, she managed to muster up a small fire. Thankfully it was burning hot thanks to the pinesap she had used as an ignitor. She stripped off as much of her soaked clothes as she could. The heavy and soaked tunic flopped to the cave floor. There was no use in worrying about modesty right now. If she kept the soaked article on it would only be more uncomfortable and put her at risk for illness. Ophelia then checked her bag, she didn't have much on her.

Inside were only a few basic necessities, it was what she could manage to carry when she was running earlier. Her much larger rucksack had been tossed to the ground when she took off with Darius. Squeezing her hair free of water, Ophelia let out a stressed sigh. Outside of what she had in her bag, she had her sword, axe, and a small pot. 

Glancing back at Darius Ophelia then made her way over to the mouth of the cave Ophelia decided to fill the pot with water before setting it on the fire. It boiled slowly, she turned to Darius who was sitting upright quietly watching her clutching his side. Thankfully it seemed that under her coat he had managed to stay much drier than her.

Things were quiet between them, silent looks that said a million and one things lingered before turning back to the boiling water. Ophelia dipped a cup she had in the pot rinsing her hands off with the hot water before beginning to lather her hands up with the lye. It hurt but she had to be clean if she was going to deal with Darius's wound. Her hands were cleaned after a few painful minutes. She walked back to the mouth of the cave using the cup to be filled with water before refilling the pot.

"This isn't how I hoped the next time we'd be alone to be like." Darius chuckled softly breaking the silence. Ophelia looked at him and sighed, "I hoped it would be under better circumstances as well commander." She replied in a soft tone. She approached him leaning down and stripping her coat on him. Seeing the gash on his side she hissed through her teeth. "I've been trying to put pressure on it but it won't stop Reeds." Darius chuckled softly. There was a quiet acceptance in his eyes at that moment.

She frowned disliking that look, she turned her eyes to the still-bleeding wound, the cloth Darius was using was soaked. She ran through her head things she could do to stop it before settling on a solution. "I'm going to have to cauterize it." She told him, and Darius stared at her, he didn't seem startled, he seemed calm despite bleeding out. 

Ophelia wondered if he was going into shock. "Do whatever." He replied in a casual tone although strained, Ophelia, lifted him up moving him closer to the fire. Grabbing one of Darius's knives Ophelia stuck it in the pot of boiling water to clean it. 

Wiping it clean with a fresh cloth she looked at Darius and took off his tunic slowly. He hissed softly and Ophelia did her best to comfort him. "This is going to hurt commander." She whispered softly, she winced hating the situation. Darius stared at her quietly, a labored breath came from him. "Have you ever done it before?" he asked, "On myself," Ophelia replied setting the blood-soaked tunic aside. 

She took a new cloth dipping it in the water and then patted at Darius's wound to clean it carefully. He hissed softly in pain, Ophelia sat him up not wanting his injury to be above his heart. Darius leaned against her, Ophelia shifted putting the blade of Darius's knife into the fire until it burned a bright red. 

He stared at it with widened eyes, Ophelia turned his head away from the sight and held him firmly. She placed a leg over his legs to keep him still, steeling herself hating this she gritted her teeth and placed the hot blade on Darius's skin.

A scream of pain echoed through the cave silenced by the thunder outside. Ophelia grimaced feeling pained by the sound and the feeling of Darius's teeth digging into her bare shoulder. "Bite as much as you need to." She told him continuing with the operation slowly and painfully. Darius let out muffled screams and she felt the hot sting of his salty tears seep into her shoulder.

Two days ago it had been a week since Darius and she spent the night together. Ophelia had fallen into her old routine of working, while she had thought about that night from time... There were moments she forgot until she saw something that reminded her.

Ophelia sighed eying the split stake that Darius kicked up. "Just how strong is he?" She marveled rubbing her chin. The stake had split in two, finally, just last night. This of course caused her tent to collapse onto her as she slept waking her up. In her half-asleep state, she had called for the commander thinking it might have been him again. 

But when she managed to wiggle her way out of her collapsed tent, well, the night suddenly seemed lonely. But Ophelia wouldn't admit to being disappointed, at least not out loud. A woman had to have some sort of pride after all.

As Ophelia carved out a new stake near the remains of her tent she didn't even need to look up when the sunlight was blocked out. "What do you want old man?" Ophelia asked, a low laugh came from Lionel. He flopped down on the log next to her. "Carving out a new tent stake?" Lionel asked, "Yeah the old one cracked." Ophelia replied shaving off another bit of wood with a knife. 

"So would you say you're not exactly busy...?" Lionel asked carefully, "I'm not really in the mood to spar." Ophelia replied, "Bah we can do that anytime." Lionel waved her off. "However, there is something that you might not get another chance at," Lionel spoke in a teasing tone. Ophelia finally looked at the older man. "I'm listening." She announced. 

"We're needing another cadet to help with a supply pick up from the Heart Dukedom." Lionel said grinning at her, "So you're needing me to lift on things?" Ophelia became less interested. "I mean yeah but it's a two-day trek to the meeting spot and..." Lionel leaned close, "A certain omega will be there," he spoke in a barely hushed tone, Ophelia was sure to Lionel he thought he was being subtle. It seemed after Ophelia admitted to Lionel that she was attracted to Darius... In his own way, the general had been trying to help.

Although a bit awkward his heart was in the right place... Though Ophelia was not looking forward to whatever teasing she was bound to face from Darius when he got her alone. Sweet old Lionel had been doing his best to 'talk her up' to the commander. Or so he said during one of their morning runs. The old man seemed so proud of himself thinking he was really helping.

Ophelia chuckled softly, "I doubt any omega would be interested in some alpha approaching them while working." Ophelia replied easily, "You really think so?" Lionel questioned, "You know the commander better than I do, he'll probably be more concerned about the mission than some alpha trying to crawl their way into his bed." Ophelia spoke honestly. Lionel thought about it for a moment and then sighed.

"Damn." Lionel sighed, "Well can you still come along anyway? The commander, me and Hart are going." he asked Ophelia, "Sure." Ophelia replied with a slight smile. "Thanks for trying old man." Ophelia lightly tapped Lionel's shoulder. The old alpha grinned, "Well when I saw how you looked talking about him..." Lionel trailed off, he rubbed the back of his neck with a slight smile. "Reminded me of how I get when talking about my Quentin," Lionel confessed sheepishly. 

"Did you receive another letter recently?" Ophelia questioned, the name Quentin was familiar to her ears. Lionel had spoken about his husband often after they started training together. "Yeah." Lionel had a goofy grin on his lips, "Told me not to do anything stupid." Lionel chuckled.

"I'll definitely need to go then, don't want to give poor Quentin a heart attack." Ophelia grinned at Lionel, "You think you can really stop me you little brat?" Lionel questioned with a smirk. "Shouldn't be too hard you geriatric." Ophelia retorted, Lionel, grinned at her and then roughed up her hair. "You're a good kid." he said softly, "I'm sure you'll find someone head over heels for you," Lionel spoke with an affectionate tone.

Ophelia normally would've swatted Lionel's hands away instead she allowed the large calloused hand of the alpha to rough up her hair. "Then that little bastard will eat his heart out." Lionel chuckled darkly to himself. "Please he hardly knows who I am." Ophelia waved Lionel off, "If he hasn't noticed you by now then you're too good for him." Lionel spoke with a huff he looked annoyed. Ophelia couldn't help but laugh, it sounded like Lionel had all but adopted Ophelia. Especially talking like a doting father who thought his daughter was too good for her love interest.