𝓢𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓶𝓪𝓷'𝓼 𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶

𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈

Seven

When I opened my eyes, I came to find out that I was back in The Dreaming's library. I was also apart from Lord Morpheus, it seemed.

Lucienne was who welcomed me as I returned to my home.

"You're back!" She exclaimed, helping me stand properly and dust off the sand that was left adorned on my shoulders.

"I wasn't meant to return alone." I said.

"Who are you supposed to be here with?"

"It was meant to be a surprise, through his appearance, but since he must have wound up somewhere else around here, then I'm going to have to tell you now," I said, smiling a little. "I've done it, Lucienne. I freed him, our Lord Morpheus."

Then, I briefed her with what happened before I returned.

Her eyes widened in shock as she listened to me. "Shall we go and look for him now?"

I agreed and so we didn't waste another moment of stalling and hurried out of the palace to look for our King.

There, on the shore of black sands quite far from the gates, we found him.

He was laying on the ground, looking rather weak and as if he was just waking up from sleep. Lucienne and I ran over to him, taking each of his hands to help him stand.

"You're home, my Lord." Lucienne said, sounding happy.

"I am." Morpheus replied, standing on his own now that we have let go of his hands.

Seeing him that close to me, without that bleeding glass between us and now that we are not within the walls of the mansion we both hate the most, made a feeling inside of me rise up to the surface.

With that, I crossed our distance by wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his chest.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, closing my eyes, receiving that physical confirmation I was yearning for. "I had to be certain you are truly here since we were parted when we return."

"You've brought me home, Katrien," He said, gently yet quite reluctantly returning my gesture. It was as if he was afraid to touch me as either of us might break once we've made such contact. "Thank you."

"You're not entirely there yet." I said, breaking away from him. Then, I pointed to the scenery behind me with my hand.

He nodded, understanding my point. So, the three of us started heading toward the towering gates with him on the lead.

Morpheus raised his right hand to touch the door when we stopped in front of it.

Lucienne spoke as the door opened. "Forgive me, sir, but... the realm, the palace... they are not as you left them."

The doors rumbled as it moved to open, revealing what's inside: absolute ruin.

Morpheus looked sullen as he came to see what had happened to his kingdom. The once flourishing lands were now barren and abandoned and from afar, the palace was seen crumbling in ruins - no longer looking beautiful like before.

He kept his eyes ahead. "What happened here? Who did this?"

Lucienne and I exchanged glances, both looking hesitant to reply.

Eventually, I decided to answer first. "Morpheus, you are The Dreaming, The Dreaming is you."

Lucienne followed. "With you gone as long as you were, the realm began to... decay and crumble."