The Dragon Slayer

The Dream

After an exceptionally filling dinner of three day old soup and stale bread, we started getting ready for bed. I found the softest patch of hay I could find and lay Sam's blanket down there. I then tucked him under another sheet and began stroking his head.

"Avalon?" he whispered in the near - darkness.

"Yea?" I whispered back.

"Can you sing me a song?" he asked

"Which one?" I aside, even though I knew which one he meant.

"Mom's lullaby."

"Okay."

Sleep oh dragon sleep

Rest from dusk til dawn

When you shall awaken

Peace shall be drawn

Sleep oh dragon sleep

Rest from dusk til dawn

let my warmth surround you

take a breath and yawn

I kept singing even after he fell asleep. It seemed I did it more to comfort myself than him. Not long after I too had fallen asleep.

"Avalon!" said a deep, rushed voice.

"Dad?" I asked sleepily.

"Avalon me and your mother are leaving now." Dad said urgently.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, suddenly scared. He would never leave us alone at night unless he had to.

"Me and mommy have to go do something." he replied softly. "But you have to promise me something. Never give in to Damian."

I nodded, even though I didn't know what he meant.

"I have to go now." he said.

"Wait!" I cried. "Where is mom?"

"She couldn't make it here. But she wanted to tell you that she loves you and your brother very much." he replied gravely.

"Okay. I'm going now. Take care of your brother. I'll be back in no time. I love you so much." he said as he walked away.

"Dad! Dad! Don't go!" I yelled after him.

"Don't go!" I yelled aloud now. I was covered with cold sweat and shaking all over.

"I didn't go anywhere." said Sam looking at me with concern.

'It was all a dream.' I thought to myself.

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Sam.

"Nothing." I muttered inaudibly.

"Well while you were sleeping I found us some breakfast. Dig in." he said, handing me a slice of bread.

Sam had managed to find some wild blackberries for us to enjoy with our bread, so it almost tasted like jam. Almost.

After breakfast, I started getting ready for work. When I was all dressed, I grabbed my hand bag, slung it over my shoulder, and started making my way to the door.

"Goodbye," I said to Sam, "see you in a couple hours."

"Okay bye, and Avalon?" he asked nervously.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Just, be careful." he said.

Suddenly angry at him, I turned around, and, for dramatic effect flipped my hair and walked out the door without another word.