Return of the Lambs

The Woman Clothed with the Sun

Hannibal Lecter does dream.

He dreams of Clarice Starling.

Her dream is symbolic of the painting Francis Dollarhyde - the Tooth Fairy - was so obsessed with that he tattooed the dragon on his back and ate the painting from a book.

The Great Red Dragon and The Woman Clothed with the Sun.

He sent a copy of the painting to Will Graham for Christmas along with his usual pleasantries.

It is so kind of them to pass them on.

Intriguing to him is that he, Hannibal Lecter, played the role of the protecting angel and Chilton played the role of a demon.

He looks across at her and smiles as she sleeps.

Dr Lecter allows himself to imagine the scenario in his own mind and the train drifts away.

-

He, Hannibal, is stood in his cell back in Baltimore, his face obscured by the mask.

Behind him, a warm light casts shadows across the room as Chilton walks towards him, great wings spreading from his back.

There's a lamb on the ground, barely alive, screaming.

Starling is frightened and he will protect her.

Wings spread from his own back, and these are not the wings of a heavenly being, but the wings of a demon. His wings are black as night and blood red veins run through them as he fights with the Chilton creature.

He turns back to Starling and falls to his knees.

She is glowing with light, almost unbearable to behold.

The mask falls away and a light touch from her burns those wings away, leaving him hollow, a mortal man once more.

She tilts his head up with her fingers and smiles.

Her eyes are maroon, the colour of his eyes, the colour of Mischa's eyes.

"Dr Lecter," she says, "Hannibal, come on."

"Beautiful." He whispers reverently, reaching up to touch her face.

"Hannibal," she says again and the light around her grows too bright.

-