Owl in the Daylight

Chapter 5

Sneaking out seemed easier than before.

Or maybe she's just lucky.

Spotting no guards within her immediate vicinity, she made haste while trying to appear as casual as she could to any snooping eye. On the lookout for anyone approaching, she saw a couple of crows nearby that seemed to be watching her.

She wasn't sure if they're Audwin's or just normal crows, but the mere reminder of him made her smile. She noted to ask him later.

Threading the path she took before when she tried to kill him, she noticed several lights ahead.

Who would've thought that from trying to stab the evil sorcerer, I'd come back here because I miss him?

Shaking her head on the irony, she looked up and saw a path of dove trinkets carrying small lanterns. Eyes widening, she started to beam.

He wanted me to find him.

Then she remembered when Audwin was loitering in his room surrounded by feathers.

Signy couldn't help but giggle with the adorable image.

Is this what he did today? Does he know I'm coming?

She shook her head at the thought. It wasn't possible since she only decided to come here a few hours ago.

Finally arriving at the tower, she was somewhat surprised to find how quick it was to go there. She even opened an unlocked main door.

"Why is he so defenseless?" she frowned, worried for his safety as she climbed up the stairs. "What if someone else followed that path instead of me?" she muttered. She knew Audwin pissed off a lot of people so she didn't like what she's seeing.

Except for the dove lights on the footpath, the entire tower was dark. Good thing her lamp was long-lived.

"Is he not here?" she wondered out loud, disappointed by the thought.

Reaching the top, she pushed the door to his room and was blasted by cold air.

"What the-- So he's not here," Signy concluded. Audwin couldn't possibly be home if his sleeping quarters was in this condition.

She was about to go back when she heard a muffled rustling of sheets.

"Audwin?" incredulous, she rushed to his bed.

Signy frantically touched his face to see if something's wrong with him. He's as cold as a corpse.

"Hmm? You're here," Audwin drowsily rubbed his eyes, as if all was right in the world.

"What do you mean You're here? Why're YOU sleeping like this?" she scolded him.

Audwin was instantly awake after hearing her angry voice. What did I do now? I don't think I killed anyone recently. His brows furrowed, thinking hard if he really did kill anyone recently. No, I really dodn't think so. He looked at her in question.

"What do you mean by sleeping like this?" He wondered if he was not supposed to sleep right now. His eyes widen. Grinning, his mind off the gutter towards wicked night exercises that didn't involve sleeping.

I didn't know she's this forward.

"It's too cold in here! How can you sleep like this?" Signy held his icy hand, trying to warm them.

Disappointed that her anger was not about night exercises that didn't involve sleeping, he snapped his finger and lit up the fireplace. "There. You'd just have to wait for the room to warm though. Or do you want me to warm you up myself?" He wiggled his brows suggestively, his naughty mind still off the gutter.

Too worked up to get his innuendos, Signy was still displeased with his situation, "I didn't mean for me. I meant you! How can you let yourself sleep in a literally freezing room when you can warm it up?" She rubbed his hands between hers, the image of him slumbering alone in a dark, cold room stuck on her mind.

"Oh, that. This is how I usually sleep so I barely notice," he shrugged, still not getting the point of the conversation.

Why're we arguing about bedroom preferences? He wondered. Well, I guess it matters since we'll share one soon. Pleased by the thought, he almost looked smug.

Signy stared at him incredulously, her mouth gaping.

Shaking his head away from bedroom preferences, Audwin tried to explain, "I've been sleeping like this since I was little. I don't know why you're acting like this--" Seeing her head down and intent on warming his hand, he snapped his finger again and instantly heat up the whole floor. "--but I promise to always keep the room comfortable when you're with me. So, are we okay now?"

Signy bit her lip to keep herself from crying. He would never get what she's saying because this was not unusual to him. He didn't know that little boys don't sleep alone in a pitch-black, freezing cold room. But it was normal to him since he grew up like that. And explaining all that to him wouldn't change a thing.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she pulled Audwin to her as she lay down. She cradled his head on her chest and stoked his hair, as if comforting the lonely little boy in him. "Yes, we're okay."

I will give you all the warmth that you'll ever need. She swore to herself.

Overlooking her odd behavior and glad she was pacified, he hugged her waist tightly and grinned. "Good."

Content in her embrace, Audwin was cuddled by Signy for quite some time and was about to fall back to sleep when she asked softly, "How was it-- when you were young?"

Surprised by the sudden question, he thought for a moment before answering. "Hmm, quiet. I guess."

"Quiet?"

Taking a deep breath, he began to recount the story as if it wasn't his.

◇◇◇

Chapter art by @drlee2535 / banana (discord) ☆