Arranged Alliance

Nightmares

Nicholas Bretons

I woke up feeling cold. I stretched my hand for the blanket but it was nowhere. I sat up and saw a blanket on the floor. I scratched the back of my head, thinking how the comforter fell on the floor? But I got the answer by glancing at Nora.

She was moving in her sleep; she had gripped the bed sheet like her life depended on her. Her eyes were closed but she kept talking, "I am sorry, sorry, sorry. I won't do it. Please, I beg you." Beg. Sorry. What has she done to be like that? And did she ever talk in her sleep? She barely talks when she is wide awake. I don't want to look at it, but she always covers her thighs, arms and back. She was wearing a night gown that was knee length and under a sleeveless silk slip. My mouth is agape seeing her in this state. There were scars on her neck, arms, and thighs and I am pretty sure there were more scars on her beautiful body.

I got up immediately and grasped Nora's shoulder to calm her down. That was not happening. I shook her but that was also not working. I call her softly, "Nora". She doesn't respond. I look here and there to look for something I don't know what but for something, maybe comfort. What should I do? I don't want to hurt her. I harshly shook her and yelled her name, "NORA". She opened her eyes and started to scoot away from me.

"Don't hu...rt me, ple....ase. I am sorry, so....rry. I.. I will..l never do it a..a.. again. I p... p..rom.se but.....ple..se don't ..h..rt me . please" She was repeating the same words again and again, pleading to me. She was shaking and crying really hard.

I shook my head, not believing what my eyes were witnessing. The Nora that I saw was strong, cold and heartless. But she is scared, loves less, and afraid. Afraid. Afraid of me or someone who she is imagining, And I don't want to be that someone.

I got closer to it and said reassuring words, "Nora, relax, it's me. Nicholas, your husband. I am not going to hurt you." I kept repeating to her, but it felt like she couldn't hear me. Her knees were close to her chest and her hands were on her ears. She kept repeating those pleading words, tears were streaming down her eyes continuously and those cruel tears kept sticking to her beautiful cheeks. I sat on the bed closer to her, she scooted away. I was hurt, but it was not time for that. I touched her hands and pulled them down from her ears and said to her, "I am not going to hurt you, Nora. Trust me. I am not someone who you are imagining. I am Nicholas. Your friend. You can trust me." Hearing my words, her eyes faded away a little fear, but still she doesn't believe me. I sighed and tried once again, "Nora", I said to her softly. "I am not going to hurt you, trust me. I am your husband." I said to her in a very soft voice.

I did a very bad thing by yelling at her while she was having a nightmare. Oh Nora, I am so sorry.

"Trust?" she said in a whisper, but it made way to my ear.

I smiled at her, "Come here, you will be safe. I promise." I said reassuring her.

"Safe?" she whispers again, and I can't help but smile at her cuteness. I nodded my head and she slowly got on her knees and came closer, but not too much. "You are not ... going to h..hurt me?" She said, still sobbing. I felt a little hurt but immediately removed it, thinking that she was saying that to someone who was in her nightmare. I nodded my head. She started crying and I wasted no time pulling her in my arms. She started crying harshly and sobbing. I rubbed her back; her hands grabbed my shirt. I put my cheek on my head.

"It's okay, no one is here. You're safe. Nothing is going to happen to you until I am here. I promise you, princess. Trust me." I pulled her closer. Her small hands were fisted on my shirt. What kind of pain did this girl go through? Who was the person she was begging for in her life? We stayed like that until she stopped crying. We both pulled away. I looked at her face and wiped her stained cheek.

"Are you alright, now?" She nodded her head as she looked down, "Come on, let's sleep!" I picked up the blanket and tucked her in the blanket. She was looking at the ceiling, silent tears were still falling from her face. I glanced at her, she was fidgeting with her hands, this girl was being tough in front of me and also. She broke out in front of me. "Princess", I called her softly. She looks towards me, wiping her face. I smiled and gestured to her to come here.

She scoots into my arms without hesitantly. Her head on my chest, my hand on her hair. I ran my hands through her soft silky hair. I also want this type of hair.

"You think that I am pathetic, now?" Her muffled voice came. I looked down at her, she was still crying. "I never want anyone to see this side of me." She looked away from my eyes.

"Why?" I asked, still running my hand through her hair, my other hand on her waist. For some moments she was silent, but then she spoke.

"Because I thought no one in this world would care about me. I really am pathetic." She laughed at the last part. But I didn't because it wasn't fun. I pulled her close -her face hid in my chest- and patted her hair.

"You are safe with me, princess. Don't ever say things like that, I don't know why, but it hurts." I said, hiding my own face in her hair and closing my eyes. We stayed like this the whole thing. I slept first.

__________________________________

I felt the sunrise on my face. I raised my hand to stop their way towards me. A head was in front of me now. Those rays didn't wake me up, but that face did. Nora smiled at me.

"Wake up, I am bored." She said, making a pouting face. Wow, that is the new Nora I am seeing. A Nora with a pouting face is never in my dream, it is a long way away, not even in my imagination. She noticed my surprise and what she was doing. I think that's why her face was crimson red. I sat running her hands through my hair. Nora also sat up.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked her with a smile on my face, but from inside I was thinking, it can't be like that she wasn't sleeping at night. But that gave me relief when she nodded her head, and I couldn't miss a small smile.

"Very well." She whispered, but I heard it. I didn't want to go apart from her, but I did and kissed her forehead.

"That's a relief" I said and got up from bed, "let's get ready to make a tour of Bangkok." I said and headed to the bathroom, hearing her beautiful melody of laughter. As soon as I got in, I closed the door and released a breadth that I was holding. What had that person done to her that she was so scared at night? I looked in the mirror of my reflection, just how many nights she has spent like this or how severe would that be. I sighed, "Nora, just what kind of pain do you went through?" I said loudly while splashing some water on my face.

I close the tap and glance at my reflection, my eyes hold something light in them, my face is wet because of splashes of water. I bit my lip so I couldn't stop thinking about her but she was right outside. My subconscious shouted at me. I lean my head on the door and bang my head on it, lightly obviously. I closed my eyes and I saw Nora pouting at me. I snapped my eyes open and again splashed some water on me. I closed the tap and put my hand there, looking at the reflection in the mirror.

"I think I have to accept it," I said with reflection. I again leaned my head on the door, "Am I really starting to fall for her?" I said to myself, smiling like an i***t as I went into a shower smiling. Brush my teeth, smiling. Wear my clothes, smiling. Getting out of the bathroom, still smiling.

The moment I went out, Nora passed me and slammed the bathroom door shut. I jumped a little but made it undertaken that I spent too much time in that room. I turned around and scratched the back of my head, still smiling.

"Does she feel the same as me?" I sighed and headed to the door to order breakfast. I really am in love with her.