dawn of ancient fire

chapter 3

Marlowe's plans to sleep were quickly interrupted. A loud banging on her door roused her from the deep sleep she had fallen into. The grandfather clock on the opposite wall read it had only been 5 hours since she fell into bed. She grabbed the robe hanging by her bed and wrapped herself up, head and all, and walked to the door. she opened it onto an empty hallway. peering around the door to double-check. a moment of relief flooded through her, maybe she had dreamt it? The knock came again from the opposite door, the door leading to cadoc's half of the rooms. she groaned and slumped to it, peering through the crack.

" I told you not to bother me, we have attendants."

He shoved through the door forcing her aside. She sighed. It was going to be a very long day. She was still wrapped in the robe from head to toe but he made no remark.

" the rooms too big," he said

" what?"

" The room I can't sleep it's too big." his tone was serious, to the point.obviously they had shared the idea of sleeping the day away.

" and that's my problem how?" she rubbed her tired eyes and yawned.

" I'll take the couch,it's practically a bed anyway." there was no swagger in his voice, no flirtatious banter. She knew he wouldn't leave and she didn't feel like arguing with him either.

" Don't make this a habit."

she turned away heading to grab a blanket she saved in the top of her wardrobe for cold nights. Pausing, she mentioned "there's numerous knives hidden in this room."

He ignored her threat, choosing to ask" how do you do it?' Instead.

"do what?"

" sleep here." He was already seated on the couch. Arms braced on his knees picking at his palm. He wouldn't look at her.

Blanket in hand and robe forgotten, she said " you get used to it, you buy a plant, fill space with things you like, you start to adapt and you make somewhere that's not ideal, liveable."

She grabbed a pillow from her bed and walked to him holding out the bedding for him to take.

" I couldn't live here." he mumbled, taking the bedding.

"It's a good thing you don't then, goodnight." she turned on her heel and swiftly walked to her bed. The vulnerability he showed her made her uncomfortable. The room was freezing. even in the middle of the day temperatures could get unbearable. "Drafty ass castles." she thought as she burrowed under her covers and closed her eyes. Her hand went to the knife under her pillow. Before drifting off she heard him mumble "let's hope you're right."

Marlowe didn't usually dream. The mages in the castle made her a tonic for the nights she desperately needed rest but could find none naturally. Tonight, one crept through the halls of her mind. She looked down at her hands, impossibly small and fragile. was seated in a dark space, unable to tell where the walls of the room were, only that she could feel things moving along them in the dark out of sight. a glowing blue orb lit the space in front of her. an older woman with her face stared back at her. She was lovely, draped in a dress of blue velvet.

" You have to stay here, love. we'll be back as soon as we can, open the door for no one do you understand?"

" yes mama," she said to the women

" We must go. Now dear." A man placed his hand on her mother's shoulder. His tone was urgent. Time was running out.

The room began to grow cold, snow-covered the floor and soon she was kneeling in it. Tears streamed down her cheeks.