Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Arryn stayed there, with her face pressed against his neck and tears streaming down her cheeks, for a while. Soon her shaking subsided, as did her panting, and her heart slowed finally. She slowly moved one hand up to tangle in his hair, closing her eyes as she refocused herself before pulling back just enough to see him. She reached out and gently wiped his tears away before quietly murmuring, "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm so sorry...." It wasn't just waking him that she was sorry for. By being with her, he was at risk. While she didn't put much merit into the nightmare, she still knew; they'd seen it already.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn shook his head gently. "No harm done, love." He reached out and took hold of her, one arm around her hip, the other supporting her head as he pulled her to him. Despite being tired and groggy, again, Dayn couldn't calm himself down until Arryn felt better. "What was it Arryn? You know you can tell me anything."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn pressed her forehead against his collarbone, feeling very small and helpless, and thankful that Dayn was there to protect her. But did she want to tell him? He might be hurt if she didn't, but then, he might be hurt if she did. After a few silent seconds she said, "It was the church... but it was empty. I walked up to the pulpit, and moved it easily. I went down to the summoning circle...." Arryn looked up into his eyes as tears began to fall again and her voice started shaking. She didn't want him to get spooked, but she wanted him to tell her that it was all okay, that she was just having a silly nightmare, that she didn't have to worry about such a ridiculous nightmare. So she took a moment to work up the courage to continue. "This man in a hood was chanting and there were banshees around the circle, and... and you... you were in the middle, all cut up like me. I tried to get to you, I really did, but the banshees dragged me away as you started to scream...." Arryn pressed her head against his collarbone again, trying to keep her breathing even, trying to focus on the sound of his heartbeat and his breathing, but having difficulty on all fronts.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn slowly started to rub his thumbs over her back and her neck, pressing his lips to the top of her head as he comforted her. Despite his hatred of seeing her like this, Dayn had learned how to comfort her and help her through these night terrors. "Arryn, my sweet, my love, I am here. Right now your arms are wrapped around me, your head pressed against my collarbone. We might be two individuals, but we have the same heart beat." Dayn moved the hand that had been cupping Arryn's head as he pushed her back just enough for him to press his forehead against her's. He wanted this to be close, intimate, and personal. He moved his hand to take one of her own and coaxed it to lay over his heart as he did the same a moment later. "Easy now. You trusted your heart to me, to hold and keep dear, just as I trusted your with mine. Let me hold your heart now. Let my strength and peace calm the tide that rages against you. Let me be the armor the protects you, the sword that keeps you safe. Because I am here right now with you, and no matter what, I always will be."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled a bit and focused on him, his words, his heartbeat, his breathing. He was being poetic, even if he didn't know it. She slowly calmed down and moved her hand from over his heart to behind his neck before pulling him close again. She nuzzled against his neck lightly. "Thank you, mo chroi." She didn't feel the pain or anxiety anymore, just some weariness, but she had to wonder if it was Dayn or if whatever had caused it all was done.

 

[BookWyrm]

"Let me get you some tea. It'll help." Dayn slid off the bed, pulled on some pants, and walked towards the kitchen to brew some tea. He did his best to rub the morning weariness and stress from his eyes while he waited. What could have caused Arryn to go through such a spell? These weren't normal pains or dreams. Something was spurring them on, and Dayn was determined to find out. Once he had poured a glass of tea he poured himself some water and grabbed one of the last pears and rejoined Arryn in their bedroom. Once he had sat down and Arryn was cuddled against him he gave her the tea and the pear before wrapping his arm under her own and taking a sip from his mug. "I know you are weary, but I think we should try and wake up some. Once you are done with the tea and pear I'll warm up a bath."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded a bit as she cuddled up against Dayn, sipping from the tear slowly. She wasn't really in the mood to eat or drink, but if it would make him happy.... She took a few bites of the pear just to make him happy. This morning had been odd, for certain, but she wasn't letting herself ponder it.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn watched Arryn barely pick at her pear. He wanted to sigh, but chose not too for fear of upsetting her. She was really just humoring him to make him happy. In a way he loved her for her desire to see him smile, but in the same breath he couldn't stand her denying herself because of him. At the moment he couldn't bring himself to chastise her about, but some time later he would try to think of a way to talk about it without upsetting her. He loved Arryn dearly. They were both the other's anchor and closest friend. They were there for one another, and Dayn felt that in some ways he had let Arryn down. He should have been trying more to help her overcome these nightmares and the lasting affects of her mental breakdown, but he hadn't.


Dayn pulled Arryn close and buried his face against her neck. "I'm so sorry Arryn, please forgive me."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn in surprise. What was he talking about. This was very sudden.... Arryn gently pushed him back until she could look into his eyes. Why was he so upset all of the sudden? "Dayn, what are you talking about, mo chroi?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn shook his head, his eyes turning down towards the bed as he spoke. "I'm sorry Arryn. I should have tried to help more. T-to help you overcome your nightmares...to help find a way to make them stop. All I've been able to do is help you after you've had a nightmare...its not good enough. I can do better and I haven't been."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn was absolutely shocked by Dayn's words. How could he think that? She set her tea and pear on the table next to the bed, before turning to him and pulling him into a hug. "No, mo chroi, you've helped me so much, haven't you seen? They're much more uncommon now, and, and what else would you do? I've overcome it as best I can, now that I've had your help. You helping me after a nightmare... is so... it's so helpful. I don't feel scared when you do that, I feel safe and protected, and guilty that you have to deal with that. Mo, chroi, please, there is nothing to be sorry for."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's guilt bled together with his embarrassment for upsetting Arryn, as well as shame for feeling like he was only making the situation worse. She was right. What else was there for them to do? No, he could have done more. "I...I-I could have f-f-found a mage....someone who knows dreams and mental m-mag-g-gic." The tears and stammering didn't help his plight any better. "Its tearing me ap-part watching you go through this Arryn. This one was worse than the others. I hate seeing you when you wake up from these nightmares. You are so..so afraid. I can f-f-feel it when I hold you. You shake like a leaf. And your eyes....t-t-that's the worst p-part...."





Dayn's voice cracked as he lost himself amidst the tears. "I-I-I'm s-s-s-sorry....I don't m-mean to break d-d-down on you. I feel like s-s-such a weakling for this...breaking d-down when you need me to b-b-be strong."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn held Dayn close and slowly ran her fingers through his hair. Little did he know, when he broke down he gave her something to do, and in such a way, continued to help her. She didn't like seeing him like this, though. He was so upset... he shouldn't be embarrassed for breaking down in front of his wife. "Sh, mo chroi, it's alright. You're not weak, you''ve got the strongest heart of any person I know. Just relax now, please. Everything's okay." Arryn continued to hold Dayn and started quietly humming, hoping to calm him down enough so they could speak coherently.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's body felt tense, his muscles tight enough to cramp as he struggled to gain control again. Fighting the emotional tidal wave honestly felt like a battle, and one he was losing terribly. Arryn's humming, and her playing with his hair, definitely helped. His head pounded with each heart beat, his body aching from the tension induced cramps as he pressed his forehead gently against the hollow of Arryn's neck. His arms wrapped weakly around her as he began to breath evenly again. Dayn didn't move for several quiet minutes, and when he tried to open his mouth to speak he found himself shook by another wave of tears and ragged sobs. After it ran it's course Dayn, still pressed lightly under Arryn's chin, began to do the only thing he could think to. He hummed their song slowly and quietly, having neither the drive nor energy at the moment to do much else.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled slightly, letting them finish their song, before gingerly pulling Dayn's face away from her neck so she could see him she kissed his forehead lightly. "Mo chroi, I love you more than I thought possible for anyone to love anything. You've done me no wrongs in any way. I am sorry that these nightmares of mine hurt you - they hurt you more than they hurt me, and it's not fair to you. But I'm getting better. I am already better than I was. I love you, and that's never going to change." Arryn smiled and kissed him gently.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn kissed Arryn tenderly, and when they pulled away he quietly smiled despite himself. His eyes were red and his face stained from the tears, but he had been worse for sure. "I love you.", he finally said in a raspy voice. He swallowed, grimacing slightly before sighing. "Do you want that bath now?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and nuzzled against his cheek. "Sure. Only if you'll join me, though." She wanted to make sure he was okay before anything else.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled as Arryn nuzzled against his cheek. His arms finally found their way around her properly so that he could hold her. "I don't want to leave you right now." As Dayn stood up he held onto Arryn's hand before bringing it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand before turning it to kiss her palm, then her wrist. "I'll get the water warmed for you." His voice was still slightly raspy, but not nearly as bad as it had been before. Once the bath was prepared he walked back into the bedroom and held out his arms to her with a smile. "It's a little nippy in the hall since the fires are out. If I carry you it'll be warm though."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and go out of the bed. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and in a second she was in his arms. Arryn giggled a bit and nuzzled against his collarbone. "Thank you mo chroi."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Anything to hear you giggle and to feel your arms around my neck." Dayn closed the door to the bathroom behind them after he had sat Arryn down. He eased out of his pants and slid into the warm water with a happy sigh before slowly working on washing his face. He wanted to clean it up after the mess from earlier.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn slid into the water gratefully. She held still for a few minutes, letting the warmth seep into her tired bones. It had already been a long morning. Once she was finished washing up and had dried off, she pulled on some loose clothing and braided her hair, tying it off with the grey ribbon.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn dried himself off before walking over and selecting a pair of black pants and a grey shirt that matched Arryn's hair ribbon. After getting dressed Dayn walked into the great room and tended to the fire quietly. He still had a lot on his mind, and to a degree he felt bad about breaking down on Arryn. He knew she understood, and in truth it seemed like it actually helped her, but he felt guilty for having lost it during such a stressful morning. Once the fire was roaring again Dayn at cross legged in the floor as he closed his eyes. He was trying to center himself and just block out the memories. He felt his mana spiking, but he still kept his eyes closed. He thought back to a time when he had camped out in a beautiful glade. There had been birds and butterflies and other animals about the glade. It was a peaceful place. Little did he know that his mana had slowly burned, and now the blue mana danced about the room in life like shapes of animals from the glade.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn was about to walk over to Dayn to sit next to him, when the strangest thing began to happen. She looked around the room in awe, gazing at the manifestations Dayn had accidentally made. A smile spread across her face, until she realized that it could have been hurting Dayn. She moved over to him and sat next to him before gently taking his hand. "Dayn, you need to open your eyes...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's eyes snapped open as he looked over at Arryn, a questioning look on his face before he realized what was happening around him. The simple joy of seeing bits of the memory manifested made him smile. He held out his other hand and drew the mana back into an orb in his palm as he squeezed Arryn's hand gently. "I was thinking about a glade I had camped in at one time. I guess the mana manifested some of the memories." Dayn focused his mind of the image of a fox kit he had seen and the mana rustled before taking the shape of the small fox. When he put thought into it and focused he even managed to glamour it to look like the fox kit had. It crawled over and curled up in Arryn's lap before rolling over and pawing at her as it mewled happily.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and gently pet the kit. Its fur even felt soft and warm. She looked up at Dayn and quietly said, "This is just a glamour, right? No making life?"