5 The Scared Girls

The moon was high in the sky and torches walked around the perimeter of the walled property, scanning the surroundings. Fiora yawned as she sat in front of Samuel as he re-read the letter she had drafted, "You should go to bed, Fiora."

"No, no," She yawned, "I have to finish this with you."

"You don't have to, but sure, so, I think this is good, can you have it sent?" He saw her shake her head to stay awake, "Actually, go to bed, I'll do that myself."

"Okay, is there anything else you need me to do?"

"No, so I'll go send this and you need to get to bed, Fiora, you are tired."

"How are you never tired?"

"Forgotten about my magic, have you?"

"Kinda, for a brief instant."

"Get to bed, young lady," He smiled as she got up and yawned, "Sleep well," She nodded and yawned once more before leaving his room with her things. He stood up and cracked his back before walking over to his window, "I wonder who I will hand this over to after I am gone, well, I am not that old, only 40, I have some time left," He smiled before leaving his office that doubled as his room. He began walking in the empty, hallways with a candle in his hand, walking past the couple rooms and then into the carrier tower, "So, the carrier from Lord Gushknot, there, perfect, let me attach this," He held the bird before tossing it outside of the tower and seeing it flap away, "Well, let's hope he likes my offer," He turned around and took his candle back before leaving the feathery tower. He closed the door behind him and walked back down the same stone floored hallway, the building he had built was a very advanced building for his time, with three floors and near 200 rooms, his property had walls that protected the property from any bandits and those who could wander onto it. He went to push open his door and saw a lady standing in the hallway, trembling, "Hello there, what is wrong?"

"S-Sam?" She had fear in her voice, "I-Is th-that y-you?"

"Yes, it is me, I am Sam, what is wrong, Diana?"

"I am scared, I don't know why," He walked towards her and she nearly rushed into his arms, crying, "I am scared, Sam," She sobbed. He hugged her and held her in his arms, "I am scared."

"Now, now, shh, don't worry, I am here to help you, Diana, did you not go get Yiana?"

"N-No, I went to see you."

"Okay, okay, do you want to go to your room right away? I can stay there with you, or maybe you are thirsty or hungry, after your nocturnal terrors?"

"N-No, I have water," She held him as they walked down the stairs and back towards your room, "My room is 134."

"I remember, don't worry," He opened her door and walked in with her, placing his candle on her table, "What are you scared of?"

"I had a dream, about him."

"Him? Oh, yes, him, but don't worry, the only man here is me."

"I-I know, Sam, but, but it scared me a lot, I d-don't know why."

"Humiliation is traumatizing, and well, I think that it is good that you were persuaded to stay here, if you want, I can ask Julie to talk to you tomorrow, to deal with those terrors."

"I don't know how to deal with them, I have talked about them and it didn't help," She lay down in her bed and he pulled her blanket over her, "I don't know why," She sniffled, "T-Thank you, Sam."

"I see, I remember having to deal with that some time ago, you know Flora, right?" She nodded, "Well, she had the same thing as you, night terrors that made her terrified of the night, now she actually is a hallway helper, it took her time, and gave me many sleepless nights, and well, now she does what I did for her," He passed his hand through her hair, "You know, if you are scared, find one of your caretakers, are you scared of me?"

"No."

"So when you see him, think of me instead, replace the man with another that you aren't scared of, and maybe that will help, but I will make sure that Yiana knows about this, so that she can care for you, okay?"

"Y-Yes."

"You should drink," He handed her her wooden glass. She took it and drank, "Now close your eyes and try to sleep, I can stay, unless you want me to let you sleep alone," She nodded and he took his candle, "Goodnight, Diana."

"G-Goodnight, Sam, see you tomorrow."

"Exactly, see you tomorrow, and if you need help, you can go see Yiana, or come see me again."

"Thank you, Sam."

"Anytime," He closed the door behind him and sighed before walking to the stairs and slowly walked up them as his shoes gently tapped their stone tops, "My, I am happy to help them," He smiled and then walked to his door before looking around and smiling, seeing no one around. He opened his door and then pulled off his shirt and placed it onto a chair before laying in his bed and closing his eyes, quickly falling asleep.

"Yiana," He called out to Yiana, "Did Diana talk to you?" She nodded, "Perfect, how did you sleep?"

"Good, good, like usual," She smiled as some ladies passed them on their way to breakfast, "I had an idea, since she needs comfort, maybe a toy would help her."

"Some sort of nighttime toy? Like a doll?"

"Mhm, she likes rabbits, she is 18, so she is nearly a child here, maybe she needs something like children need."

"I'll go ask Niala for that, thank you, Yiana, for your insight."

"Of course, and thank you for taking such good care of her, I should've woken."

"She came to see me right away."

"Ah, I thought I had just slept too much."

"Not your fault, she never came to see you."

"Good to know, thank you, Sam."