I do enjoy a challenge, shall we begin?

I'm not sure how she would handle it, either. I think it would depend on the history that's between them, and how much of an impression Cara has already made on Denna. If Cara was just another trainee to her, I don't think she would have hesitated to make the experience horrible and excruciating (like it was for Denna herself), and delight in getting to be the one who did it first. But I sort of imagined in this that Denna has taken notice of Cara in the temple, since Cara's one of the best, either as someone who might one day be worthy of her attention, or as a potential rival. And so she has somewhat of a vested interest in Cara's training (...don't mind me, I tend to imagine an elaborate backstory as I read stuff :P). So then I guess Denna would behave in whatever way she felt would keep Cara right where she wanted her -- looking up to her, calling her Mistress, etc. And I could imagine that she might purposely create a more "tender" connection between the two of them, so that she could exploit it later. Of course, in my mind all of this calculated behavior also has Denna's suppressed smishy feelings behind it ;) Whiiiich I feel is not that much of a stretch, considering how she got all all emotional over Richard (especially in the book! *cracks whip*).

Okay, will stop rambling now :x

I for one am not complaining that your stories have been longer and longer! :D But of course I don't mean to pressure. This works perfectly on its own, I'm just greedy ;)