Dream's Light (COMPLETE)

Chapter Eighteen: Her Return

Time dragged on and on, as if to torment.

The days passed by so slowly that it seemed each would never end.

The Dreaming, usually beautifully sun filled, was overcast with dark clouds, casting gloom upon ever corner of the realm. There was no sunlight anywhere, only gray. Instead of warmth, there was the sharp cool of autumn.

The dreams of the dreamers were filled with melancholy, worry, and dread, while their nightmares were of the imagined pain and deaths of one's imaginary beloved. All were a reflection of the Dream King's current state of mood.

Morpheus sat upon his throne in disconsolation, in the days after Eternity left his side yet again, with Matthew as his only companion. He wouldn't let anyone else be near him, not even Lucienne.

His raven remained a quiet, but comforting friend in those days of misery.

Morpheus could feel Eternity through their bond. He could feel her bravery, her determination, her distress, her sorrow, her pain — all of it. It came upon him in waves and the stronger the wave, the more pronounced he could feel what she did.

He wanted to go to her, to help her or to save her.

Perhaps both.

Yet, he remained in the Dreaming, knowing that going into battle was her one of her duties as the Universal Queen and that he should not meddle in her affairs. They were hers and hers alone. He simply had to wait and trust that she would come back to him, as she said she would.

Even so, as each day came and went, each of them filled with both her gallantry and her suffering that he felt more and more strongly, eventually, Morpheus nearly found sitting on the sidelines unbearable.

It was utter madness to not know what was happening to Eternity, if she was alright or not.

And then, just as he was about to break and leave the Dreaming to go to her, she returned!

Eternity appeared suddenly in Morpheus's throne room one late afternoon, where he still sat in his misery. He had migrated to sitting upon the stairs leading up to his throne, at some point. He honestly couldn't recall when that had happened. Only that it had.

When she showed up, Morpheus felt her presence first before he ever saw her. Her aura came upon him like a warm light, washing over him in one great tidal wave of tender sensation.

Upon looking up and seeing her standing mere feet away from him, he was up from his perch on the stairs and moving toward her with hopeful disbelief that she was really there.

He was overcome with joy and relief at the sight of her having returned to him. He was utterly elated that she was alright and safely back by his side.

However, those feelings had been quickly taken over by an urgent concern for her.

From further away, Eternity appeared to be no worse for wear, but the closer Morpheus moved toward her, he could see just how battle worn she was.

She was still the beautiful shimmering lady he knew, dressed immaculately in her typical sundress; this one a deep midnight color with a shimmery overlay. Even her gorgeous, silky, long white hair rippled and waved around her with every movement, pronounced or subtle, just as it always had.

But, once he reached her, coming near enough to see her clearly, Morpheus could see the toll the battle had taken upon her. It was in her blue sapphire, galaxy filled eyes. They were dull and distant, unlike the wondrous marvels that he had only ever seen them as.

But not just in them were the signs of fatigue.

Her whole small body was trembling and swaying ever so slightly, as if she was struggling to remain upright.