Chapter Fifty-four

She looked more surprised than before, and then a look of sadness washed over her face. "It was just a dream, Eskil. I do not understand why you're even concerned about me."

I do not understand either. "Suppose it is just my curiosity."

"I'd rather not talk about it. I'd rather roll back over and go to sleep."

He snickered at her, she was far from being able to go back to sleep. "Tell me and I'll let you."

She sighed as she tried to sit up, but his hands did not budge from her wrists. She was pinned beneath him, yet strangely found comfort in his closeness and warmth.

"It was just a nightmare."

He leaned down with his side positioned across her waist. He released her wrists and rested his head in one palm while his other hand moved to her side. She rubbed her wrists then crossed her fingers over her chest. She was chewing on her lip again and staring at the ceiling. The candlelight suddenly flickered and crackled, then returned to burning normally.

"What was it about?"

Her fingers twitched. "I'm not sure really."

"Tell me about it. Do you remember what happened?"

She exhaled slowly. "All I remember is that it was dark and I couldn't see anything. Everything hurt and there were voices calling out to me. Then it was bright and hot, like I was surrounded in fire and burning alive. That's when I woke up."

He snorted. "That doesn't sound like something that should scare you. It's so...simple."

A little bit of darkness, some voices and fire? She experienced these situations on a daily basis. He was right; it shouldn't scare her. Yet the intense fear she had felt when she was unable to call for help, when the voices grew closer and louder, and when the beasts' mouths had opened to reveal rows of pearly fangs was most definitely real. Then they erupted in enormous blasts of fire that burned every nerve ending in her body.

"Do you dream often?" he asked.

She nodded. "Almost every night."

"Are they always bad dreams?"

Another nod. A feeling of possessiveness overcame him as all he wanted to do was comfort her. He wanted to take away her nightmares so she could sleep peacefully. Gods, I have many questions for you that you must answer.

"Why do you even want to know? It's not like you care about me."

Even more to his surprise, her words painfully struck him. "No, it's not that I care. I...I just want to know."

She eyed him wearily. "Why?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "What do you normally dream of?"

She held her breath, and he could see she was thinking of her answer. "Pain. Death and despair. Fire...lots of fire."

He smiled wide. "Sounds pleasant."

"I don't know if anything about that sounds pleasant." He continued to smile at her. "Do you dream at all?"

His smile faded when she turned the question on him. Yes, he dreamed, but it was not like he was about to share. "I don't remember my dreams."

"That sounds like something one would say when they don't want to tell others about them."

He heard the light-hearted tone in her voice and chuckled. "You've caught me."

Both remained silent, simply staring at each other's faces as the light from the candle reflected off of their skin. The rain outside sounded like it was beginning to slow as the crashing sound of thunder resonated further in the distance. If the rain passed and the clouds receded, they may be able to see the stars. Libelle tilted her head at him. "Eskil? What really happened to start the war between the dragons and mortals?"

This time his eyes widened in surprise. "Why are you asking me that now?"

"Well, we've never really been able to talk like this."

She's right, he thought. "What do you know of the war?"

"Not much really, as much of it has been lost throughout the years. The books that told of the war have been lost. All I know is that the war started after your...partner was killed by a mortal."

His brows narrowed and his expression turned dark. "There is so much wrong in that description, it's pitiful. Did my brother Vegeir not speak to you about the subject at all?"

"No, he seemed to avoid the subject whenever I brought it up. Why?"

"Because he betrayed me."