~*~*~*~*~*~ He'd kept his word, and even did one step better. Fox Aisli was going to stay with her the entire night, just to make sure that she slept. Of course Caelan had tried to object, but he brooked no argument, and in the end, she really didn't want to argue. It was comforting having him there. She could feel safe for one night. And it felt all the more special and important with having seen what had happened in the Secretary's room. She wondered if he knew how much that meant to her. Caelan Rainier laid awake in bed, curled onto her side with her blankets up over her shoulder and tucked under her chin. Her dark hair was loose and spread over the white linen covering her pillow, and her blue eyes gleamed in the bit of silver moonlight that came from her open window. The night was cool, and the slight breeze billowed through the filmy white curtains like dancing spirits fighting to be let inside. She'd never slept so well, or felt so relaxed. But her months of little sleep had her waking up every so often just to see that he was still there. She was drifting off once more, but as she did, she watched him. He was sprawled in a padded armchair near her, with his leg tossed over one arm, and his head laid back against one of her pillows. She knew he had tried to stay awake, and smiled now to see how he had fallen asleep. That couldn't be very comfortable. To her, their relationship was bittersweet. Sweet because of their wonderful friendship, and bitter because her feelings for him weren't returned. Unrequited love, she hoped it would pass one day. Caelan shifted, rolling over as quietly as she could onto her back, and bent an arm beneath her head. Staring at the ceiling, her eyes began to fell heavy, and her breath began to slow, so close to the edge of sleep once more, it felt like a dream when her vision began to blur. ~*~*~ She was in the tall arched corridor just outside her room when she saw the door to Janessa's chambers creak open. Disoriented and confused, she frowned at the time of night and wondered what the Queen would be up to in only her nightclothes. She seemed like a theif in the night as she carefully closed her door and began to dart away. 'Jan! ...Jan, wait!' her voice only echoed in her mind, but it seemed that her old friend must have heard, for she turned around. Caelan smiled and waved, and started forwards after her, but the smile was short lived. Janessa didn't even seem to see her. Her eyes seemed to glance right over her before she continued on her way. Why didn't she see her? 'Jan! ...Jan, stop!' Cael darted forwards with hand outstretched as Jan seemed to stumble. She must have reached the stairs. 'Jan! Careful!' she tried to scream as she saw her old friend tumble. 'Jan!!' ~*~*~ Caelan bolted upright panting in a cold sweat, her hand clutching her racing heart. Just a nightmare? It didn't feel like it. She felt a chill crawl up her spine. What was happening to her? She stared wide eyed into her dark room, trying to breathe through her nose to quiet her panting. She glanced towards Fox, and saw that he still slept. He must have stayed awake a long time before giving in to sleep. It was all so real... she had to go and check. Oh, gods... if Janessa had... Caelan cut the thought short as she tossed back her covers and slipped out of bed. Her bare feet were silent on the rug covered floor as she hurried towards the door. With all the care in the world, she pulled it open, praying that it wouldn't creak. All she needed was Fox in a complete panic over her insanities. Looking much like the Queen had in her dream, Caelan trotted down the corridor in only her white nightgown to peer down the castle stairs. Nothing. The flickering firelight of a torch gleamed upon the polished stone floor. Just her imagination. Caelan turned to walk back to her room and with the same care as before, she quietly tip-toed back to her bed. She bit down upon her lip as she watched Fox to see if he would wake, wondering if she should wake him, wondering if she should give him one more thing to worry about. That would be foolish, right? She settled back into her pillows, and stared at the ceiling. It was just a dream. Just a dream... She went on telling herself even long after the memory of a dream should have begun to fade. No more sleep would be had this night, the memory of Janessa falling, the sight of all the dripping blood in Loreli's room, and the memory of Dora and Ginny talking about her trying to hang herself were all too sharp, vivid and clear. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Sarah _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://islesofmyst.com/lists.php3
