| |
|
"C'mere" He said, getting up and scooping her up bridal-style. He held her protectively, carrying her back up the steep climb and setting her on the blanket. "Now you're warm and near the horses" He said softly and quietly, his hand lingering on hers for a moment before he got out another blanket and laid it over the top her of her. "Sleep, darling" He said softly, taking a few steps and curling up in another blanket while facing away from her |
|  |
|
| |
|
"Thank you," Adele murmured, nearly asleep already. It had been a very strange day. Tiring, fun, and strange. She fell asleep within seconds of lying down, though she was awake enough to feel the blanket being laid over her. Adele dreamed that night. She dreamt that she was running along the beach, and then she spread her wings and was flying over the ocean like a seagull. She spotted an island in the middle of the sea and landed on it, turning back into a human. Caelan was standing there, and when he saw her, he ran over and scooped her up, spinning her around and around. And around... and around. Adele got so dizzy that she fell into a whirlpool and was sucked down into darkness. For the rest of the night, Adele slept soundly, with no dreams disturbing her slumber. |
|  |
|
| |
|
Caelan rarely dreamed, but tonight he did. He waited on his throne as Adele walked through the door, Caelan's face lighting up. He got up and walked over to her, kissing her soft lips and holding her close. A kid ran in and Adele scooped him up, the kid giggling and burbling words like 'Mom', 'Dad', and 'Prince'. Caelan woke in the middle of the night, now turned facing Adele. He smiled softly, watching her before catching himself and sitting up. He scooted a bit closer to her, but not enough to touch her in case temptation got the best of him. He sighed, giving in after about an hour, brushing a lock of stray hair from her face and tucking it behind her earbefore just watching her as the sun rose |
| |
|
| |
|
Still asleep, Adele felt something brush her cheek, but dismissed it as the wind. A few minutes later, her eyes fluttered open and she sat up slowly. Adele saw Caelan sitting next to her and smiled slightly, remembering the strange dream, and all the events of yesterday. She looked out at the rising sun, which cast rays of pink, orange, and yellow light dancing across the sky. Adele scooted closer to Caelan and laid her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around her legs, close to her chest. She sighed happily and leaned into the prince, knowing he would protect her. |
| |
|
| |
|
"Well, good morning" He murmured softly, wrapping his arms around her gently. "How'd you sleep?" He asked softly after a moment of watching the sun rise. He remembered his dream and smiled softly, looking at her momentarily |
| |
|
| |
|
Adele was happy to sit there calmly, though her thoughts, questions, and confusions were slowly regaining place in her mind. Soon she would be confused again, overwhelmed again. But there was nothing else to do. It wasn't like she could control her emotions. She could try, but that never ended well. Instead she answered Caelan's question and continued watching the sun slowly rise above the shining water. "I slept okay, but I had the strangest dream..." She said, still trying to figure it all out. |
| |
|
| |
|
"Well, what was it about?" He asked, still looking at her--though, gazing is a better term for the look of endearment and adoration he had for her |
| |
|
| |
|
Adele squinted, trying to remember all the details. "Let's see... First I was on the beach, and then I was flying over the ocean, and then I landed on an island. And there was someone on the island... I can't remember who... And then I was spinning, and then it ended." Adele laughed a little. "It sounds even more stupid when I say it out loud. the brain does weird things, doesn't it?" |
| |
|
| |
|
"Hm...yeah, that's an interesting one. I had one too, but it was just my future. It looked...pretty bright" He said, chuckling a bit. "We should probably head back soon before my mother freaks out" |
| |
|
| |
|
"I'm glad your dream was good," Adele said, sighing. "I just can't figure it out. I mean, I know you're not really supposed to know what dreams mean, but it's hard to resist trying." Adele gazed out at the sun, which was nearly all the way up now. "Oh... All right. But I have a question." She hesitated, almost scared to ask. Now that she thought it, though, she had to ask it. Adele sat up so as to get a better look at the prince as she spoke. "Why would your mother freak out that you're gone when it doesn't seem like she wants you? I mean, she wasn't acting like a mother at all at dinner last night... Or is that how all parents in the Night Kingdom act? Or just royalty? And if she doesn't like you, why keep you here? They could just send you off to boarding school, like my parents...." Adele stopped there, then changed the subject slightly. "I'm sorry, I've been talking about you like you were a pet or a slave. You're definitely not," Adele touched Caelan's shoulder, "and I say that after knowing you for, what, a day and a half? If your mother payed attention to you she'd know you were more than..." Adele stopped again, frustrated at herself. "Ugh, I'm sorry. I keep making assumptions, that she doesn't want you, and that she doesn't pay attention to you. She actually probably would freak out that you were gone because she loves you. Unless... unless I was right that she doesn't care about you..." Adele turned away, gritting her teeth. This was not the way she wanted that simple question to go. "Let's go back. Forget I ever said any of that. The question was, why would your mother freak out that you're gone when it doesn't seem like she loves you?" Adele sighed, still annoyed at herself that she had gone on a long and probably disrespectful tirade. |
| |
|
Overcast and Calm
