The Serpent and The Bird

"If I could have done it all again..."

His groans woke her up in the middle of the night. It was still dark out, and she could only make up his body thanks to the dying flames in the fireplace.
Everleigh sat up in bed and turned to Sebastian's squirming body. He was covered in sweat, and his head was moving from side to side.
"Nononono" is all that was coming from his mouth, in mumbles, and he was wincing, like he was in extreme pain.

Everleigh touched his shoulder softly.

- Sebastian... wake up. Please, wake up.

She stroked his face with the other hand, trying to slowly bring him back to consciousness. Everleigh had never seen him having a nightmare, least one that strong, and fear held onto her stomach.

She didn't have time to react when his hand shot up to her throat and wrapped around it, squeezing harshly as her back was pushed against the mattress. And then Sebastian was on top of her, with a dark expression on his face.
She gasped for air.

- It's me... It's me. - She said softly, when the hand held tighter around her throat. - It's not real. It's not real, it's just a nightmare.

She extended her fingers until she was stroking his face again, and his expression seemed to soften as his hand moved away from her throat.

- Everleigh...?

He whispered, and she finally took a deep breath, nodding.

- It was just a nightmare.

Sebastian's tired body dropped next to her on the mattress, trying to put space in between them again, as he moved towards his side of the bed.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

The desperation in his whispers broke her heart enough to forget about the supposed distance they were keeping and she tugged on his arm, pulling him closer to her body again.
His muscles were tense under her touch, but he allowed her to bring his head to her chest, as their legs tangled together.
And slowly, his arms wrapped gently around her waist and he finally relaxed.
Everleigh stroke his hair in silence, digging her fingers on his scalp and massaging it until she felt his breathing softening.
And even then, she kept touching him, and caressing his skin and the brown locks of hair as softly as she could, because she desperately needed to take away his pain.
She needed to take from him whatever burden he was carrying.

- I love you... So much.

She said in a murmur, knowing that he didn't hear her anymore. But it didn't matter, because she just needed to say it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When she woke up the next morning, she was alone in bed.
Everleigh looked around with sleepy eyes, searching for Sebastian, but he was nowhere to be found.

She let out a long breath before getting out of bed, heading into the bathroom to splash some cold water into her face.
Everleigh took a long look into the mirror, almost gut wrenched to see herself looking so pale and exhausted. So she avoided her reflection until she was out of the bathroom.
Moving towards the window, she slid the curtains to the side to admire the beautiful Greenock coast. There was so much sunshine, and the ocean had never looked so blue. It almost felt healing to be standing in the presence of such beautiful view. She wouldn't have minded staying there forever.

After thirty minutes waiting for Sebastian to come back, her stomach started to growl significantly loud and she made the decision to head downstairs and grab something to eat.
She was hopeful they had coffee.

Everleigh had the good thought to put the hood of her robe on, to avoid anybody recognizing her, as she dashed down the stairs to the main floor of the tavern. The smell of bacon and eggs almost sent her into a cathartic experience. She approached the counter where the innkeeper received her with a bright smile.