Lion Sin of Pride (Ban x OC)

Vulnerable

Leo stood in her room, finally alone.

She took in a deep breath and slipped Megil over her head, setting the rapier and blade down on the table beside the large bed. She walked over to the window that looked out over the castle's courtyard and across toward the villages that surrounded the palace and opened it, taking a moment just to breathe in the cool night air. She closed her eyes, the slight breeze washing over her face. She could smell pines, and earth, and living things from the nearby forest. No matter her circumstances, nature always had a way of calming her immediately if she would just remember to listen to its soft, whispering words.

She stepped back, leaving the window open, and shucked off her dirty boots on the floor beside the bed. She picked up the towel that the maid had left hung neatly over a chair in the corner and walked toward her door. Now she just had to find the bathroom that the girl had told her about.

She stepped into the hallway, her bare feet padding silently on the tile floors, the only light coming from flickering torches hung at even intervals along the walls. She had purposely waited until later to head to the bathroom to get cleaned up so she wouldn't run into anyone. Arthur had explained to them, regretfully, that due to some renovations they were performing on the other wings of the castle they would have to share a common floor bathroom during their stay. The women could use the bathroom on the second floor, where their rooms were located, and the men could use the other bathroom on the next floor up.

As Leo walked down the dark hall, she couldn't help but think that even this "common" bathroom was probably exquisite and as large as her room, if everything she had seen of this castle today was any indication.

She reached the end of the hall and stopped at the door on her left. This had to be it. Hadn't that girl told her last door on the left? She let out a breath. She'd never show it, but honestly, there was nothing more she was looking forward to at this point than a hot bath. Her tired muscles needed a good soaking, especially her still healing shoulder.

She pushed inward on the heavy door and it swung open with no resistance. She felt moist, warm air hit her face and grew excited. Finally, a proper bath. As she entered the room, she pulled out her hair, letting it fall freely down her back in a dark wave. She shook her head to finish loosening the ponytail and then ran a hand through the strands, getting out the tangles that had happened over the time on the road.

She set her towel down beside the door and as she turned, noted that the the torches in the room were already lit. Elizabeth or Merlin must have forgot to put them out when they left earlier. She walked away from the door and to the edge of the dark pool that was set into the floor, steam rising from the warm water. She couldn't help but smile. She hadn't taken a bath like this since she had left the Elven Kingdom.

She had been right. The bathroom was almost as large as her bedroom. The pool filled the large, tiled room, but she could see a doorway off to her right that most likely led to the toilet and dressing area.

She pulled her shirt over her head in a fluid motion and dropped it to the ground at her feet, standing in the warm air in nothing but her leggings and chemise for just a moment. She dipped a toe into the water at her feet, sending ripples into the middle of the pool, and was delighted to feel that it was hot.

She started to pull her chemise off, when a noise from the doorway to her right startled her. She jumped back, wishing at that moment that she had brought Megil with her, and saw Ban enter the room, toweling off his still wet hair. She shrieked and darted for the towel she had left beside the door, trying to cover herself up with the small square of fabric, her face going crimson.