Bloodless Dreams

Chapter Seven: Healing

Harland

“It has been two weeks why isn’t she waking up yet?”

“I do not know, drarhour. Have faith, she will return to us.” 

“She must.” 

I looked at her one more time and walked out of the room. I need to pray, even if Selene does not listen, I will try to reach her, and that matters most right now. My heart aches, I want to see her eyes again. I want to hear her laugh. To see her walking down these halls or picking a book from my bookshelf it will be the greatest gift. 

*        *       *       *

Evangeline

Everything is still and quiet. I no longer hear the calls from Harland or the arguing amongst his brothers. I slowly opened my eyes, happy to see the soft light of candles burning rather than the drapes open or the overhead light on. Sitting up slowly, my body protested slightly. I placed my hand to my throat feeling a soft white bandage. I have not fully healed yet. I moved the blankets off of me and got out of bed, knocking something to the floor. Looking down, I found the book I am reading laying open. I picked it up carefully and went to the door. I opened it to find Vorigon standing on the other side with his hand extended towards the doorknob. Relief washed over his face and he smiled down at me. He grabbed me pulling me into a hug and placing a kiss to the top of my head. He released me and looked down at the book I held clutched to my chest.

“He read that to you every day.” 

I looked down at the book and smiled. I know exactly who he is speaking about. The only one who truly knows my love for reading. 

“He is in his room.” 

“Thank you.” I spoke.

Softer than I expected. 

“Take it slow with speaking, they really hurt you.” He looked at me. “Eva? Please do not let him go. You are his lighthouse.”

I nodded my head, placing my hand to his chest and smiling up at him. He placed his hand over mine, squeezing slightly, and then he let me go, standing aside so I can pass him going to the room right next to mine. I pushed the door open softly and closed it behind me. Harland is kneeling in front of alter. He is wearing a pair of white silk pants and his back is bear with lash marks all over, little droplets of blood trickling down from each one. I placed the book down on his entry table and went to stand behind him. 

“What happened?” I whispered. 

His head shot up and he turned around on his knees, looking at me. I smiled at him and placed my hand to his cheek. He grabbed me wrapping his arms around me resting his head to my chest. Slowly, I lowered myself into his lap. He held me close, whispering something into my ear.

I do not understand.

He is speaking in another language.  His grip tightened around me; I can feel tears soaking into my hair. I pulled back to see his face, his eyes swollen and red, his cheeks wet, and he looks tired like he hasn’t slept in weeks. 

“I thought I lost you.” 

“Not yet.” I smiled at him. “Are you alright?” 

“I am now Nethae.” 

I smiled at him and got up off his lap. I left him sitting on the floor and went into the washroom, starting a shower for him. I turned around to see him watching me from the doorway. 

“I thought you’d like a shower before supper.” My lack of voice made him angry. “I will work hard on getting my voice back fully.” 

“Shh… It is okay, Nethae you just need time to heal.” 

“I do not want you upset with me.” 

“You can never upset me.” 

He smiled at me and went to the shower. I watched him undress and step in. Feeling like I should give him some privacy, I left his room, going back into mine to change into something clean.

I got my clothes and went into the washroom to shower as best as I can without getting my bandages wet. After I finished, I dried off and dropped my towel to the floor standing in front of the mirror. All the marks, cuts, and burns are still there, bright, and angry. Reminding me of the pain, the smell, his voice. Giving myself a moment of self-pity, I cried. I cried for the time I lost with Harland. I cried for the pain I endured. I cried for all the selfish reasons one would. Then I heard someone suck in a harsh breath. I turned towards the door to see Harland staring at my body. Anger covered his face and steam radiated off of him. I sucked up my tears and went to him, cupping his face with both hands. 

“Harland come back to me.” He looked at me with glowing eyes. The dragon is fighting for control. “Please, I need you.” 

“They hurt you little one. I will kill them all for it.”

“Shh, I am here now. I am safe with you. Please Harland come back to me.” I let the tears fall freely down my face.

He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. When he opened his eyes to look at me again, they are his own. I smiled at him and ran my thumb across his face softly. 

“I failed you…” His voice cracked. 

“No, you didn’t I run from you. Even after you asked me not too.”

“No matter your justification Nethae I did in fact fail you. Look at your body… I can see the pain; I can see your broken mind. Your soul is in pain. You are not the woman who came here six months ago. He has taken something from you, and it is because I failed to do my job as your Loweyn. I need to make amends for that.”

He released me and took a step away from me. He gave me one last look over and left the room. I closed my eyes and prayed to a goddess. I prayed to Selene.

“Please goddess… I cannot lose him… Please help him… Please guide him home…”

“Do not fear my child. Let me handle him.”

I opened my eyes to see her smiling face. I couldn’t help but return her smile.

“Come let us go find your Loweyn.” She said holding her hand out for me to take.

I quickly threw a pair of sweatpants and a sweater on then I took her hand. A bright white flash leaving us standing in the dining room looking at a table full of warriors. The men who saved me more than one time. The men who I choose to call my family. They all looked at me and then to the goddess shock and surprise covering their faces.

“Where is he?” Her voice boomed echoing through the room.

All of the brothers looked at each other and back to her shaking their heads. Her grip on my hand tightened slightly making me wince. She looked at me with pained eyes and loosened her grip. I gave her a soft smile hoping she will understand I am okay and that she did not hurt me.

Just as her attention returned to the brothers the dining room door crashed open and an incredibly angry Harland stood on the other side. His skin shaking and steaming his eyes that of his dragons.

“Take your hand from her.”

The goddess laughed and shook her head no. He is challenging her, and she has no fear. I feared my Harland would be harmed or worse.

“Do not fear sweet child I will not kill him.” She said in a soft whisper. I looked up at her and smiled. She gave me a wink before moving me in front of her placing one of her hands to my shoulder and the other around my throat. She did not apply and pressure knowing I am still healing. She does not want to hurt me she just wants to provoke Harland.

“I say one more time Selene. Take your hands off her.”

“No.” She said with a smile.

She is enjoying this which leads me to believe she is very bored in her realm.

I looked at the brothers who are now standing behind Harland. No matter who the threat is they are willing to fight with their brother. Their bond knows no bounds and it seemed to make the Goddess proud.

“I will not allow you to hurt my Nethae Selene.” Harland growled.

“Your Nethae? Ha! You refuse her every chance you get and yet you still feel like you can claim her? No, my son you cannot claim her in name only. If you do not want her, I will take her into the fade with me.”

“You will not!” Harland yelled. Then a bright flash of white consumed the room. When it fades, I see the Dragon standing in Harland’s place. Filling the room. If he decides to do anything in here, he will destroy the house.

“You will not take her from us.” The dragon growled catching us all by surprise the goddess included.

“You have learned to speak my pet.”

“I have always been able to speak. I am not a pet to you.” He took a step closer to us. “Let her go.”

“Will you and your master claim her properly?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure Harland is on board with your chose?”

“Does not matter. She is mine just as she is his and I will not lose her a second time Selene. Not to you not to that rat face King. To no one.”

“Very well.” She released me. “Go to your Loweyn daughter. I will come see you once I finish speaking to King Kachelsis.”

“Yes mother.” I nodded my head and went to Harland.

She released me and I went over placing my hand on to the Dragons face and watching the light consume the room once again. Harland wrapped his arms around me and materialized us to his room. He released me and took a step back dropping to his knees. He held his palm up towards me with his head dropped. I looked at him confused.

“Evangeline Fitzwilliam’s will you take me as your Loweyn? Will you allow me to protect you, to care for you… To love you?” He never looked up at me.

I dropped to my knees in front of him. I took his hands bringing them down to my lap. I took a deep breath when I felt a hand rest on the top of my head and then I heard her voice floating through my mind.

-       This my child is a gift for you. Understand his words, speak his language.

I smiled at her words keeping my eyes shut I let my mind take over.

“Sowa staegg rey axotiir eol saftill ona fe Loweyn.” (I will be happy to call you my mate)

I opened my eyes to see him staring at me with amazement and surprise. I placed my hands on either side of his face and leaned in placing a soft kiss to his lips. He grabbed me crushing me into him.

Pain radiated throughout my body making me cry out. He looked at me with pained eyes and loosened his grip.

“I am sorry nethae.”

“It is okay.”

He pulled me back into him resting his cheek to the top of my head. I smiled and held him close.

“I will prove myself to be a good strong Loweyn for you my Nethae.”

“You already did when you saved me from him.”

His body stilled and he pulled away looking at me. His expression unreadable. He got up taking me with him. He opened his door with his mind and walked upstairs towards the Kings office. He knocked on the door keeping me close to his chest.

“Enter.”

We went into the Kings office where the King, Selene, and the bald man I saw in the fade stood. They looked at us and smiled. He sat me down on my feet and left the room closing the door behind him. I looked around confused.

“Sorry my child I called to him.”

I nodded my head somewhat understanding the goddess.

“He will be right back he is just going to get Vorigan.” King Kachelsis said.