Allure of darkness || Morpheus

3

"Dancing in the dark, with you between my arms. Bare foot on the grass, listening to our favorite song."

"Good morning, my lady. Rise and Shine" Lucienne spoke, pushing open the bedroom doors as a depressed and sour Atlas layed barreled up in a blanket like a worm.

"Go away Luci, I'm not in the mood today" Atlas spoke

"My lady, we must have hope that he will return. With your emotions in a storm, the forests and nature of the dreaming are beginning to decay along with the architecture and palace.

"What. How could I, oh no. Those poor plants. And to think, while I've been here, the poor darlings have been suffering. Come, give me five minutes to dress and we shall see to it that at least the nature of the dreaming is ok" Atlas speaks and Lucienne nods, happy that at least her queen was busying herself with something rather than being cooped up in her bedroom. 

Once changed, the two made there way to the castle garden. As Atlas entered, she gasped at what she saw, replaced from there usual vibrant colors were dark grey and black flowers and weeds.

As she entered, Lucienne following behind, she couldn't help but shed a few tears. Quickly wiping them away, she slowly closed her eyes as she hummed, the tune flowing out into the air.

And with her humming, slowly the grass's color started to appear lighter before turning back into its original shade of green.

The dark twigged trees began to birth leaves, as flowers began to sprout from the earth. But that was all she could do for now, since most of the life of the dreaming depended on Morpheus's presence.

She and Lucienne were the only ones who had stayed and waited for his return while the others had abandoned the kingdom, and though Atlas knew it was wrong, she sympathized with them since she knew they had felt abandoned themselves.

Suddenly, the two had felt a chill and had recognized it as someone entering the dreaming.

"You stay here, my lady. I shall attend to this" Lucienne spoke and Atlas nodded turning her attention back to the baby flowers that had come.

"Hello little ones, I hope you don't mind my assistance. Think of it as just a gentle nudge."

A soft breeze blew in her direction as she turned her eyes to the kingdom, sighing at the gloomy and dead atmosphere that usually was only present in the dark lands.

A while later....

Atlas was in her bedroom, after spending an hour with the newborns, she had decided to read one of the only surviving books. This one happened to be "The great Gatsby" and though she had read it before, she couldn't find any other option.

Sipping her mug of hot tea, as she read, her reading chair located beside the window she often left open for fresh air, her hair swirled in the breeze, eyes focused on every word.

The door to room suddenly opened and without looking, Atlas spoke.

"Don't worry Luci, I'm just reading. And yes, I spent time outside" 

"Are you to engrossed in your reading to greet even me?" a voice spoke. 

And Atlas felt herself drop the book, it landing with a hard thud on the ground as she slowly turned to the door. And there stood the man she had been waiting a century for, the man she prayed everyday to get back.

She stood up and ran to him, practically tripping and falling on him but as always he caught her and brought her body to him in a warm embrace. Her hands went to feel his soft raven hair, trying to grasp if he were real or not and sighed in happiness when he in fact was real.

"Your back." she softly whispered.

"I am" he said, his deep voice sending her heart soaring.

She looked up to meet his eyes, before grabbing the collar of his coat and pulling him down to meet her lips. He quickly moved his hands to her waist and pulled her closer, making sure to relish in her taste. Something he had forgotten over the time he had spent in his prison.

"You must tell me who your captors are, I will personally teach them a big lesson on not to mess with my husband" Atlas spoke and Morpheus smiled lovingly at his wife, his heart knowing she was serious. She may not hurt a fly, but is deadly when she wants to be.

"I've already punished them for there crime, but now we must work on finding my tools. They have been taken from me and put into the wrong hands" he spoke, his eyes clouded with anger.

"This time, I shall help you" she spoke and though he knew it would be dangerous, he had earlier been informed of the troubles and nightmares his poor Atlas had been put through and how she had spent most of the period of time he was gone, sleepless and exhausted.

"Ok" he replied.