The Land of Shadows

Chapter Eight

I read until the natural light from the windows had long ago turned to blackness and my eyelids started to droop. Eventually, the book tumbled from my lap and my tired eyes fell shut. In the back of my mind there was a tickle warning me that Matt wouldn't appreciate me falling asleep in the library, but I couldn't bring myself to care in my leathargic state. Within a few seconds, all thought disappeared and I dropped into dreamland. 

I was in the courtyard to my own castle in a dress I'd gotten from Matt's castle. It was much fancier than the ones in my own closet. All of my dresses were practical for a lady of war, not for a lady of the courts. I had long since decided that every single one of my advisors were incapable of leading our army alone and were unable to work together for reasons I still wasn't sure about. Shaking my head, I stepped into the sunlight. Everything around me ground to a halt as, one by one, people started noticing me. 

In a few seconds, Zachariah's attention was called and he raced out of the castle, desperate. As my second in command, he had been forced to take over when I disappeared, and it had done him well. He was stronger than ever, physically, but by the stricken look on his face I knew had missed me. After a few seconds of just staring at me, he ran forward and scooped me into his arms, bundling me against his chest in a crushing hug. "Oh, Allie," he murmurs in my ear, "I missed you so much. I was nearly ready to surrender to get you back." I smile up at him, my eyes brimming with tears. Before, I wouldn't have gotten so emotional. "I did surrender to him to get back to you. No, not in the war. I surrendered information. We'll have to change our tactics," I say, a bitter smile curling my mouth up at the edges. 

A shadow must have lingered on my face because he gently put me on the ground and ushered everyone away, leading me into the castle. They were so shocked by my sudden appearance that they didn't follow us. "What's wrong?" Zach asks. By now, I can't bite back my tears any longer and they're streaming down my face. "I'm pregnant," I whisper brokenly, "Matt got me pregnant and he tricked me." 

I awoke with a start, nearly lashing out. I'd been jolted awake by a pair of rather strong arms lifting me into the air. Matt. He'd come to fetch me from the library because I'd never returned. "Were you having a nightmare?" Matt asks. I shrug, trying to pass it off as not remembering even though the dream was ingrained in my mind. "I don't remember it now. I suppose I must have," I mumble. He smiles and pulls me against his side. Feeling repulsed, I start to pull away, but remember my plan and pass it off as shifting more comfortably against him. Forcing a smile that looks real, I let him lead me to bed. 

As I clamber into the bed with him, I can't help but wonder about my dream. Weren't the herbs Matt gave me meant to prevent pregnancy? Or did he lie to trick me and cause further ruin? I put it in the back of my mind, excusing it as a subconcsious fear.