Belford's Heart

Chapter 25: Father's Resting

Belford ran. The world around him was painted violet, and the ground beneath his feat vanished with every step. He could not turn to see what followed, and everything standing before him was veiled in shadow. His footsteps sounded into the air, dissolving into nothing along with the stone that threw him forward. His heart was a storm within his chest, and still he had to run.

"Belford!" Evelyn's voice. Anguish had overtaken it. The soft, wonderful voice had been stolen from her. Someone had stolen her away and he had to keep running. "Belford!"

He slammed his feet into the ground. The landscape before him shifted to red, and the Westworm emerged to his right. Silence was no longer an option, stillness was no longer an option, and he threw himself forward along with it. Evelyn poured agony into the air, and still he could not see her. Each step felt as though it would become his last, each heartbeat its final sign on living his and Evelyn's body would be given by the world. He ran, and he ran, and the Westworm drew closer. Sound was stolen from him, and then the ground. His hands and his arms turned to mist, and a crystalline void welcomed him home.

* * *

Belford's eyes opened wide. The air was total-blue as he opened them, and something soft traced the lines of his chest. He felt the ground beneath him - the cold stone of the cave they had risen camp within. His heart slowed quickly, and the hand upon his chest continued its comforting embrace. He turned to his left, finding Evelyn's eyes full of worry and locked onto him. Her smile rid the world of its strangeness, and cleared Belford's mind of the fear that clouded his sleep. He reached out to her, holding her cheek softly to make certain he had actually been awake, and she nestled herself in his palm.

"You were talking in your sleep, Belford," Evelyn said softly. Grifford's snoring sounded into the air nearby. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Belford said, desperate to lie well enough to rid her of worry. "Just a...bad dream."

"Do I always bring you bad dreams?" She asked. "You said only my name, over and over. I am sorry if it was my fault."

"All mine, I'm afraid," Belford said. "Simply something that cannot, and will not, happen. I was taken into the Westworm and carried away from you." He sat up, scanning his eyes around the camp that was still in the middle of sleeping. "How long was I sleeping?"

"Four cycles," Evelyn said. "I haven't been able to sleep, so I counted for you."

"Hey," Belford said. "Of all people in this camp, your rest is most important. You need to sleep."

"If my rest is so important, then the rest of my protector must be at least equal." Evelyn's eyes were still beautiful in their fatigue, but Belford could tell she desperately needed to sleep. "So I demand that you return to it."

"What will allow you to sleep?" Belford questioned. "Perhaps I can move away so you are not disturbed by my speaking."

Evelyn shook her head, moving closer to him. She pressed against his side, forcing her head into his shoulder. Belford wrapped her in his arm, and she quickly grew comfortable. He could feel their heartbeat slow dramatically, and he himself was able to take a calming breath. She smiled, taking hold of the hand that enveloped her and kissing it softly. "This is much better, big guy."

"Good," Belford said, the warm embrace of her lips enough to wash away the horrible things he had just seen in his sleep. "Now you will sleep, and once I can see you are sleeping, I shall join you."

"You are not allowed to be stubborn anymore, Belford," Evelyn said. "Maligwa told me, you know. She visited just after you fell asleep."

"Oh, did she?" Belford said. "And not even a greeting for me?"