Quiet before dawn

[Izznet H'unar]

The dark calm just before dawn had at one time been the hours to prepare for rest and finding a respite against the heat of daylight. As of late it had been the wee whispers of a fresh day beginning. The gentle nudge of promises made and life needing to be tended.

Most mornings Izznet had woken before Aedon. She enjoyed lying in bed next to him feeling his warmth next to her and hearing the sound of his breathing as he slept. The gentle strength of his hand gave her comfort she had forgotten was possible.

This morning was different. The sound of distant sobbing and anguish broke her quiet rest. When she discovered it was she who sobbed the dream became the reality.

She woke alone and terrified wrapped in the covers shivering. It was not cold that caused her to shiver, but the fear of what she had been witness. Sitting bolt upright she blinked through the tears and tried to focus on the room.

Slowly things began to take shape and become solid once more. It was a dream, it was all just a horrible dream. She was no stranger to nightmares, but before she Was the nightmare.

“Aedon, where are you?” Her whisper on the wind was small and desperate.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

*Radiant beams from the morning sun toss swirling eddy through the mist on the moor. Bright colors full of delight shimmer from the flowers kissed with dew. Quiet footfalls whisper secrets as they brush through the tall grasses. Chirping songbirds and crickets sing to the new day welcoming with joy the stranger in their midst.

Stepping into the familiar space surrounded by the mighty pillars and veiled by trees the dancer began her song. The dance was the same; a joyous celebration to her deity, the audience was different. Day creatures assisted in the song instead of the night watchers.

As she moved around the circle the creatures began to change their tune. Unnoticed by the dancer, the swirling mists began to take form and substance. A thin cord of silk weaved along the grass softly wrapping around her feet and ankles. The more she danced the higher it wound.

Finally she paused and noticed the song had taken a melancholy tone. The happy sun had dimmed to a sullen gray. Silver threads around her legs turned to silken ribbon binding her feet so she could not move. A gust of wind slapped her face and covered her mouth stealing her breath.

“Izzzzzzne …th…” a sinister voice hissed over the wind.

“IZzzZzzneth… Did you thiiiin’ ye could esssscape me sooooo eeEeeezee?”

The rolling cackle turned to a roar.*

“Wake Up! Wake Up, Izznet!” her inner voice was desperate to shake her.

Jarred awake and sitting bolt upright she found covers wrapped tightly around her feet making movement difficult. The fear that gripped her core was something she had long forgotten. The voice belonged to one she knew was long departed, yet the terror was very present.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

Soft rich soil smiled as it accepted the tiny seed. Wrapping around the new life in a blanket of darkness her hands patted the cool earth tucking the wee kernel neatly to bed. Turning from the raised garden to retrieve water a vine began to poke through the dirt.

When she turned back to the garden and began to pour from the pitcher, the liquid came out as blood. The dark ground, once rich and smelling fresh and clean, emanated a putrid stench and was crawling with worms that were devouring the life beneath. The sticky vine that emerged coiled around itself and everything near it.

The blooms on the vine were a bright white and danced a haughty dance around the garden choking out all the life it touched. The worms spilled out over the edge of the garden bed and as they moved and squirmed they turned into beetles. The beetles rattled and clacked their way around the rooftop.

Izznet was frozen in place unable to move or speak. She was forced to stand and watch as the destruction overcame her beautiful sanctuary. From behind her the voice came again.

“Izzzzneth… you try to hide frommm meeee. Yoooo are a fooooolish mortal now… Yoooo will beeee miiiiiine again!”

The rolling cackle sent chills up her spine. Closing her eyes she tried to focus her thoughts. The one name she could summon, Aedon.

Waking from the dream again shaken and breathless, Izznet sat in the chair at the fire. They had fallen asleep in their chairs the night before, and her mortal body was less than pleased at her disregard of comfortable sleeping arrangements. The tight knot between her shoulder blades reminded her she was awake.

The dreams were coming every night. She couldn’t stop them and had no way to escape them. Eventually she would need to figure out what they meant or how to alter their outcome.

Readjusting in the chair she tried to calm her mind. Returning to slumber was not the intent. The dream leapt at her capturing her dreaming spirit to a paralyzing halt.


“Run little girl, you can never hide. The darknessss lives inside you. The darknessss is you. You will never live in the light, the light will alwaysss hate you. He will alwaysss hate you.”

“He does not hate me!” She answered.

“Ohhh but he doesss. Watch him fleeee from you.”

“He does not hate me! He loves me.”

“He wantsss to leave you, you bore himmm. Curl up in your little ball and fade into the nothing.”

“He loves me!”

“You do not dessserve his Fire. You are unworthy, oh thee who dwellsss in the Darknessss! You will alwaysss be a child of Night. Return to me!”

A thin silver ribbon began to wind around her legs.

“Yesss, that’s it! Use your gift! Travel in your spirit to where you Think he isss!” The rolling cackle rumbled the floor.

“It weakensss you. See how he doesss not answer you. You know I am right.”

“You are wrong…”

The silver thread between heart and heart drew taut, but did not snap. The darkness hid the thread from sight, she was lost.

“Aedon, where are you?” she whispered in a desperate fight to find her way back to the waking world.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

Sleep was becoming more and more difficult for Izznet. Her eyes would close and the darkness would plunge her into the depths of a nightmare. The rudeness of the fact the dreams were not bothering to ease her into the terror but thrust her into the middle made the experience far more difficult to endure.

She knew who kept the siege of her mind and spirit, but the face had so long been removed she was unable to fully grasp the meaning. It was familiar yet utterly strange at the same time. There was a fog in her mind’s eye that kept hidden the fullness of the entity that plagued her.

Deep in her heart she knew taking a spirit walk to find Aedon was a mistake. She had taken trips many times in the past but had always gone with a confidence and knowledge of where she traveled. This trip her heart ha been full of anxiety and she was on unfamiliar grounds. The connection between body and spirit was obscured and her physical form would likely suffer for it.

When she did wake, she walked the world in a stupor. She could feel her mind trip from one thing to another with no way to catch it or focus. Vaguely she remembered meeting James for drinks at the Knight’s Rest, but the conversations were disjointed and incoherent.

Walking felt like floating as she made her way from one end of the room to the other. Gazing at herself in the mirror looked as if she were holding another mirror face to face, many reflections all showing her image yet none the true one. She tried to see deep into the glass, hoping to catch the tiny detail that would prove the real “her”.

So focused on what was right in front of her she missed the shadow that crept behind her. The rattling clicks that came from the heaving abdomen of the great beast were upon her before she could react. The split second of realization struck as the claw pierced through her chest.

Jarring awake she found herself sitting in her cave home before a grand celebration. Her attire was that belonging to nobility and class, she was the Matriarch’s chosen one, after all. With an air of arrogance she strode the long corridor from her chamber to the main hall. The path was familiar and those who knelt before her showered her with adoration.

Entering the chamber the “prisoner” hung from chains in the center of the room. The circular chamber offered the perfect view from any angle. As the Chosen One began her tour of the hovering form, those gathered cheered. Striding around the circle as a champion, she claimed victory her arms held high to receive the praise she was due.

Rounding to the front of the figure Izznet came face to face with herself. The cheers turned into mocking laughter then suddenly silent as the room disappeared in a flash of blinding light. Standing in front of herself Izznet blinked in disbelief.

When her eyes opened the searing pain of the spider claw protruding from her chest made each breath catch in her throat. The figure on the ground had turned into the Spider Queen and looked at Izznet with a depth of hatred that sent a cold fire burning through her core.

“I told yooou, You cannot Hide from meee, little girl. Make thissss your stand. You rejected Meee and Now you will paaaay.”

The ticking clicks of claws to stone floor thundered in Izznet’s mind. She could feel each step as the Queen made the effort to invade her mind and soul. Closing her eyes, Izznet tried to focus on her physical body hoping to return to the waking.

“Yoou are too weak for That. Your body will lie as you left it until I releasssse yoooou! Yooou mussst make a choice, little girl. Whooo will yooou follow, and whoooo will you love?”

The questions were spat like acid and burned her skin. The chains that bound her arms and legs rubbed and cut into her flesh like sandpaper making her raw. Glancing up to her wrist she noticed something strangely out of place, yet profoundly familiar. Her wrist was partially protected from the grating shackle by a silk cord of green and gold.

Allowing her head to drop she surrendered to unconsciousness. The smile across her face made the Queen screech in anger.

The body of Izznet remained lying on the bed, fully clothed and damp from a night spent in heated turmoil of mind and spirit. Whoever found her, she hoped, would keep her protected until she could find a way to return. A simple desire to find her heartbeat had turned into a battle for her newly redeemed soul.

 

[Aedon Durreah]

Waking, Aedon looked over to see Izzy still sleeping soundly. Heading downstairs, he poured a cup of coffee and settled into the chair before the hearth to enjoy a few cookies. The nightmares of the past few nights had left him oddly exhilarated during the day. This confused him greatly, as in the past, such dreams would have left him worn out and drained for much of the day. Perhaps this was owing to the fact that though he could not recall the content of his night walking, whatever it was that he did while there served to stir his blood. Draining his cup, he munched on the bite of a cookie and went to the pot to pour a fresh cup.

Taking a second cup from the cabinet, he decided to take Izzy some coffee as well. Climbing the steps to the Bedroom, he opened the door and called softly to her. It seemed odd to him that she still lay there fully dressed from the day before. Walking to her side of the bed, he sat the cups on the side table and sat down next to her. Laying his hand softly on her shoulder, he shook her softly and called.

“Izzy, time to wake up.”

He was a bit taken aback at the state of her being. Her clothing was soaked, her skin felt cold and a bit clammy. Her breathing was low and irregular. Calling her name again, he lifted her to a sitting position, brushing her hair back from her face. She made no other sounds than a soft moan in response to him, and though she had the look of one caught in a deep fever, there was no outward sign of any illness.

Lowering her back onto the bed, he dressed quickly and headed back downstairs and out in front of Connemara. He could see John working on the deck of the Tide and calling to him, headed quickly in that direction. John turned towards the sound of his voice and seeing the look of worry on Aedon’s face, left the ship and came quickly to him.

“John, I need you to run and find Avalon.” He said grabbing the smiths arm.

“Right away Aedon, are you feeling ill?”

“No, it is Izzy, something is wrong.”

John waited for no more words, but quickly mounted his horse and headed off in the direction of the clinic. Returning to the bedroom, Aedon sat on the bed next to Izznet and awaited the arrival of the guardian.

 

[Aedon Durreah]

After sending word to Avalon to come see Izzy, Aedon took the path to the Rest to pick up something to eat, and see to it that all was in place. As he started to head home Avalon appeared. After asking if John had spoken to her, he discovered that the healer was only just returning to Aegis, and had not spoken to anyone else. Aedon quickly told her all that he could think of about the state he found Izzy in, and Avalon said she would come immediately to see her. He knew well the many years that Avalon had watched over Izznet, and the concern on her face was easy to see. As they walked into Connemara The healer stopped and turned to Aedon saying that she would see Izzy, but it should be in the clinic. She planned to go ahead and set up the isolation room, and asked that Aedon bring Izzy to her there.

After Avalon left, Aedon took some cool water and headed back upstairs. He then took out a clean gown from the chest, and carefully removed her clothing, taking care not to harm her. Taking a clean cloth, he dampened it in the bowl, and gently wiped down her arms, and face before dressing her in the clean clothing. Then standing, he lifted her, and carried her downstairs and out into the fresh air. She seemed to stir softly, and reached her hand over to again hold on to the braided ribbon around her wrist.

When he reached the clinic, the room was all set up. As he laid her on the bed he thought he heard her softly call his name. Going to stand with Avalon in the waiting area, he handed her a small pack he had brought along, in which he had placed the clothing Izzy had been wearing. He had a thousand questions he wanted to ask, but Avalon cut him short saying that she would examine Izzy, and send word when she knew more. He thanked the healer, and then headed out the door.

Returning home after dropping Izzy off at the clinic, Aedon went to the bedroom and stripped the bed down. The items he removed he handed to John and asked that they be doused with oil and burned. After all, they did not know what had caused Izznet’s current condition, and he thought it prudent not to take any chances. Once the bed was made fresh, he went upstairs, and took a bath bidding John to also dispose of what he had been wearing. After he was cleaned and dressed, he headed downstairs and poured a fresh cup of coffee.

The house seemed oddly quiet to him. He had for a good part of his life lived alone, but for some reason the sudden solitude bothered him. Walking upstairs, he sat before the hearth sipping his brew. From time to time he reached down to stroke the back of his cat which had come over, and leaned casually against his leg. He wished that some news had come from Avalon, but he knew well that the watcher would be through in her examination and skilled in her treatment. He would just have to wait, and trust in her. Setting his cup aside, he went over and stretched out on the bed. The fresh scent of the new linens was more than a bit pleasant, but try as he might, he could not get comfortable.

Standing, he headed back downstairs and taking a carafe from the cabinet, filled it with coffee. He then packed an assortment of cookies in a bag, along with one of his favorite books. Heading out the front door of Connemara, Aedon made his way towards the clinic. He knew that the doors would be locked at this hour, so he brought along his key to the front door. Letting himself in, he sat his items on the table in the waiting area. Then quietly opened the door to the isolation room just enough to be able to see her.

She seemed to be resting somewhat at ease. No doubt Avalon had given her some potion to help alleviate some of the symptoms. Closing the door, he went over and sat in one of the chairs in the corner, and propped his legs up on the table.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

A splash of acidic venom and a sharp twist of the ragged claw forced Izznet back to consciousness. The pain served as an aid for the Spider Queen to gain the attention of her newest prize. Pacing back and forth, great claws clacking on the stone floor, the Queen leered at Izznet.

“It isss only time, little girl. Yooou will bow to meee. They will not commmme for yoooou. Yooou are lossst.”

The soft look of determination on Izznet’s face served only to annoy further the Queen. Another twist of the claw forced a cry from Izznet and a hacking cackle from the spider. The fact Izznet was still grounded was making the spider’s resolve more difficult to maintain.

The pacing and haranguing continued incessantly. Mid tirade the Queen was silenced by an event that shook the chamber. Izznet’s howling scream brought a wicked smile that quickly faded to pure terror. The physical body had been discovered!

“They will Fail yoooou. Otherssss sstrongerr than yoooou have come and gonnnne! Jussst as yooou will fade to the Nothinnnng!” The earsplitting cackle covered the soft sobs from the agony of Izznet.

Time passed in flashes and the blink of an eye moving from one scene to another but always ending in the same place. The things done were faded glimpses of memory to be returned to the hovering shackled ridicule of the Queen’s chamber. Sometimes the chamber would be full of the Spider Drow, other times it would be empty and hollow with each step and sound echoing around dark stone walls.

Lifting the head of the prisoner, the Spider Queen ventured to touch the vision. It was the first time she had attempted such an act, and would prove to be her folly.

Opening her eyes, Izznet saw the hole in the ceiling of the chamber. It opened to the night sky that was full of stars and a full moon. The whole time she had been caught in the Veil Izznet never bothered to look up. What a foolish little girl she was!

A smile stretched across her parched lips as she began to feel renewed strength. There was something happening in the waking world. Izznet could feel it, as could the Queen. The desperate act of the touch proved that the battle would soon be over.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

An earsplitting scream shook the stone cavern. The Spider Queen saw the opening and was livid at the discovery. The collapse of the mountain was a small price to keep the prize. The waking dream would never end and her torment would be fuel to sinister plans for as long as the Queen desired.

In truth the collapse would help alleviate some of the boredom. Izznet’s resolve was holding and had lost its novelty, she was becoming bothersome. Perhaps what was necessary was to merely lose her in a pile of eternal rubble, piles and piles of darkness. Only when the insolent child called her name would she be allowed the glimpse of open air.

Leaning her head back Izznet began to move her lips. The silent supplications to the deity she had served for centuries were released into the echoing cavern. With each collapse of stone wall the opening to the sky grew larger. More of the moon’s silver brightness filled the void.

Tiny slivers cut through the stone darkness like a mighty river threatening to flood a dam. The beams danced and moved in the image of graceful maidens. Their long white hair flowed in a breeze only they could summon. Dark bodies twisted and turned drawing the beams like sheets of silk to their devoted child.

When the circle closed in around Izznet the dancers covered her in their light. The words Izznet spoke took on strength and voice. Spoken petition became a song whispered.

Light burned the Spider Queen turning her into glowing ash. Over and over she would try to regain strength and return only to be forced into the oblivion of forgotten thought. A final attempt to attack Izznet directly forced an alternative plan.

Returning to her full power the Queen came face to face with Izznet. Opening her jaws wide she spat an acid veil over Izznet’s face blocking from view the light and silencing her words. Secure in the knowledge she had won the Queen turned her back on Izznet.

The foolishness of the desperate act allowed Izznet to summon the light from deep within. The Dark Maiden looked upon her devote with favor. A silver light grew from the point of the claw and radiated out. As it grew it burned away the shackles that held Izznet fast allowing her to float unhindered in an ethereal bubble of light and energy.

Radiating pulses from the full moon burned away the cavern, the Queen and the dark horrors that lingered. Lost once more in the quiet of silence Izznet was weightless in a profound blanket of peace. The battle had been fought for her, the weapon, her heart devoted to kindness and love rather than hate.

Rest was a welcome escape. The desire to move out of that peace fled with the moonlight. She would remain in the silence of the dreaming for as long as possible.

 

[Aedon Durreah]

I am glad that Avalon does not seem to mind my taking up residence in the clinic. She did not appear angry or even surprised when she found me sleeping in the waiting area. Sometimes it seems as though she knows what I may do in any given situation. Perhaps it is time that I change up some of my methods. I do like keeping the watcher guessing.

She has moved Izzy to the roof of the building, and made a place for me to rest close by. I will at some time later explain to her how very much I appreciate this small kindness. I spend much of my time sitting next to Izznet. I read to her from time to time from my book, tell a tale about what is going on in Yew or perhaps sing a song. I am not sure if It is all in my mind, but it does seem at times as though she is reacting to the sound of my voice. For this reason alone, I will continue doing as I have been.

It is nice sleeping under the stars in the woods of Yew. I find that I rest easier here than I believe I would at home. It is not being alone that bothers me. The rooms of Connemara are all too familiar to me as they have been my home for the greatest part of my life. But I am finding that I enjoy having another around me as the shadows of night gather close.

I have let Avalon know that I must take my leave for a short while. I need to check on the Rest and the ships docked at Emerald Point. I also want to ask a favor of John, and perhaps gather some fresh coffee and provisions to take back to the Clinic. I will bring Izzy’s favorite cup along with me tonight. I am sure that if…when she awakes she will be wanting to enjoy some fresh brew. John has been the one constant in my life for countless years, and always I am thankful to have his aid. And though the task I will ask of him may seem minor, to me it holds great importance.

The pathways of Aegis greet me as they always do, letting me know that I am at home in the place. But if as has always been said home is where the heart is, then right now my home would seem to be a small pink futon on the roof of the Yew clinic.

 

[Izznet H'unar]

Soft whispering whooshing echoed in her ears as the light of recognition began to illuminate the darkness. A dull ache in her chest reminded her that there had been a confrontation. She had won, but it was a hard fought battle that left her with a course of life she had been only half way embracing.

Feeling the soft silk around her wrist she was reminded of the reason she wandered around the Veil. The trips had been frequent in her former life, she never feared what evil would do. She was evil how much could be done to her that hadn’t already been done? Now there was more at risk, she had forgotten the hazards.

She was already on the dreaming road, but for the life of her, she could not find the path she required. A strange pull begged her to wake, but the struggle to find Aedon weighed on her mind. She hoped that this walk, like the others in the past, had only lasted the night so she could return to the waking and discuss the need with Avalon.

Her body and mind was so heavy she could barely move. Maybe lying down would help her find what she required. When she next opened her eyes she was on the wide road. The path was clear, she could see it. To lie for a few more moments would hardly matter, right?

*Aedon sat near Izznet speaking in low tones about random things. Rolling over to him and wrapping her arms around his hips made him jump with surprise. Her body was still trapped in the dream state, but her mind was beginning to sense the waking world around her.*

Lying on the road she curled into a ball and could feel a sweet warmth embrace her. The whispers of wind through leaves and the babbling chuckle of a stream trip over rocks brought a smile to her lips. Holding tight to the feelings and sounds she strove to capture the image of his face.

Distant sounds far off made her strain to listen. No matter how hard she tried to bring them to focus they insisted on remaining just out of reach. Leaning back in the calm she tried to relax and hope they would draw near to her.

*Avalon picked up her charge and cradled her as a parent would to a small child holding her close. The massive talons held Izznet’s head and body as mighty wings lifted the two in the air. It was a short distance from the clinic to Connemera, and Avalon took it slow to cause as little discomfort as possible.*

The feeling of floating on a cloud made Izznet want to lean back and soar with the birds. A cool breeze lifted her from the path and carried her far above the ground. She was at a dizzying height but relished the feeling of flight. That moment she almost envied the Watcher’s ability to fly.

The cloud on which she road came to a quiet rest at the top of a mountain. Settling around her enveloping her in warmth she found herself drifting into a still gray green mist.

The blink of an eye, a tick of a clock, one moment to another slumber moved further from Izznet’s foggy mind. Easing her into consciousness she felt fresh linens with her feet, heard the crackle of a fire in the hearth and could smell the delicious aroma of fresh coffee. There was a song on her lips as she woke humming.

 

[Aedon Durreah]

Avalon had returned Izzy to Connemara. She seemed to believe that being in more familiar surroundings might be of great help right now. In Truth Aedon was happy to be back in his own home. He did not mind sleeping on the roof of the clinic, but it rained rather heavily last night and he had developed a case of the sniffles. The good thing about being in one’s own home when you have the sniffles is that you have a constant source of hot coffee.

Izznet was well settled in, and after he had sat near the hearth in the room for a bit, he decided it would be alright to go down to the kitchen and refill his cup. Quietly slipping out of the room, and pulling the door closed behind him, Aedon headed to the ground floor of Connemara. As always, there was a cheery fire burning in the hearth. John made sure to always keep it going, and there was plenty of logs next to the hearth should Aedon wish to build the flame a bit higher.

Pouring some hot coffee into his cup, he went to the chair that faced the hearth and sat down. He was surprised when his body immediately seemed to surrender, and he sank back into the seat resting his head against the back. He sat there for some time, sipping from his brew from time to time.

Outside the waters gently beat against the rocks of Emerald Point, and though he was indeed happy to be in his home, he could not help thinking of being on a long sea voyage. But he was long past the age of adventure, and obligations kept him not only shore bound, but hemmed into a routine that left little time for dreams of ships sailing under a blanket of stars on a sea of midnight blue. As he sat wrapped in thoughts of what might have been, he thought he heard some sound coming from the upstairs.

Setting his cup aside on the table, he stood, and climbed the stairs to the bedroom door. Tilting his head, he listened carefully. He almost burst out laughing when he realized that the sound he heard was Izzy singing. She often work up with a song on her lips, even before their voyage. But in the days that preceded her illness, she had not only greeted the dawn in song, but also welcomed the coming shadows of each approaching night. He enjoyed the sound of her voice, and having not heard her speak for so long now, he was sorely tempted to linger on that side of the arch and just listen. But he had many questions he wanted to as of her, and one of them was most pressing. Slowly opening the door, he stood watching her and smiling a bit before saying aloud.

“Fancy a cup of coffee Izzy?”

 

[Izznet H'unar]

Merciful darkness greeted Izznet as she slowly stirred from the deep slumber. Her body betrayed the fact she had been gone from the physical realm far too long. There was stiffness in her joints that she had not experienced in countless ages. When her eyes fluttered open and surroundings began to take shape and form she realized she was Home!

Deep steady breathing next to her brought a smile to her lips. Snuggling closer to him fitting into his body like spoons in a drawer she clung to the moment as his body warmed her. She paused a moment to feel his breath on her neck knowing fully she was truly awake.

He shifted in his sleep allowing her to move without waking him. Quietly making her way to the bathing chamber she soaked the stiffness of the deep sleep from her body. As she laid in the warm waters the visions of what she had experienced marched across her memories. The time away had brought her to a crossroad.

The choices she made within the Veil were monumental and would have profound impact on her in the waking world. She would never be welcome to the Spider Queen, in truth she was thrilled by that fact. The rule of hate had broken many bonds that would have served better had they been left intact.

The Dark Maiden lived in harmony with the world and all those that walk within it. That was the life Izznet wished. Peace was a gentle reminder of how precious life is and the gifts those who join the journey truly are.

The lies that rang in discord in her mind echoed against the darkness. She shed tears allowing them to wash away in the warm waters. In her heart she knew Aedon was not bored with her, or disappointed in her decision to take his voyage to mortality, but the jeering of the Spider Queen cut her to the core.

“Trust me.”

His words were wrapped around her heart like the silk cords he tied around her wrist. With her whole being she trusted him. The hope was that he trusted her as well.

Exhausted she released a final supplication and breath of gratitude before standing to change into fresh bedclothes. Her heart was full of hope for the morrow. Come what may, she knew she was in the proper time and place.

There would be other walks within the Veil, but the battles addressed there would not be so devastating. She had stood her ground, proved her way and returned, with aid from those she loved, to the waking world. There was a great deal to sing for, and one to which her heart sang as if out of necessity.

Returning to bed she curled again into his arms. Allowing the sound of his heartbeat and feeling his breath against her skin she closed her eyes and drifted into the bliss of dreamless slumber. Waking to greet him would be a joyous celebration to life.

When light pierced through the thick curtains her eyes opened to find the room quiet. The wafting aroma of fresh coffee made her smile. Raising from the bed the song in her heart burst through her lips like a flood. Moving about the room preparing for the day she was caught mid song by his smiling face and greeting.

“Fancy a cup of coffee?”

Striding to him she wrapped herself into his arms and smiled up into the face that had been her anchor. Kissing his lips savoring the feel and taste of him welcomed her to the day. Coffee was the bonus, he was the prize.