*Briella*
My eyelids were heavy, and weariness had settled into my bones, but I couldn’t sleep another wink. A storm of fear raged beneath the surface, keeping from the respite I so desperately needed. My limbs ached for rest and my mind for peace, but the terror of what might co when the world faded to black held captive in relentless wakefulness.
"Please, Briella," Kryzen’s voice was a gentle plea in the dimly lit room, his gray eyes pools of concern. "You need to sleep. It’s been days."
I shifted on the edge of the bed, my fingers knotting the sheets into tight spirals. "I can’t," I murmured, the words barely a whisper. "What if it happens again?"
"We’ll make sure it won’t," he assured , coming to sit beside . The weight of his presence was both comforting and oppressive. "I’ll stay awake. All night if I must."
His dedication was touching, but the thought of him sacrificing his own rest for my sake only twisted the knot of guilt tighter within my chest. I could feel his worry, a tangible thing in the air between us. It made my resolve waver. Maybe if I just closed my eyes for a mont...
"Kryzen, I..." But the protest died on my lips as I saw the lines of exhaustion etching themselves deeper into his face. Even warriors forged in steel had their limits.
"Shh," he soothed, placing a firm, warm hand over mine. "Let do this for you, for us." His voice was low, laced with a protective fervor that sohow eased the trembling in my bones.
When I thinned my lips, ready to keep fighting, he continued. “Let do it for our child. The baby’s mother needs rest.”
And how was I to argue with such selfless vigilance?
"Okay," I relented, feeling the fight seep out of . "But only for a little while."
"Good." Kryzen’s expression softened into a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "And tomorrow, the maid will take over while I get so rest. She’ll watch you and make sure everything is alright."
"Thank you," I said, aning it more than the simple words could convey. I knew all too well the depth of his love, fierce and unyielding. It was a balm to the raw edges of my frayed nerves.
"Anything for you," he replied, brushing a stray lock of my dark hair behind my ear. His touch lingered, a promise in his fingertips.
With a sigh, I finally allowed my eyes to close, the darkness behind them less nacing now, knowing Kryzen was nearby watching. I drifted, not quite asleep, but no longer fully awake. The soft sound of my husband’s breathing seed to tether to reality at the very least.
I must have drifted for at least a little while.
I blinked open my eyes to the muted light seeping through the curtains, my heart pounding as if I’d been running. My breath ca in short gasps. For a mont, I didn’t know where I was. The softness beneath felt unfamiliar until I heard the gentle voice of the maid.
"Your Majesty, you’re safe," she whispered soothingly, her hand resting lightly on my arm.
I looked around, disoriented, realizing I was halfway across the room from the bed. "Did I..."
"Yes, but it’s alright. You were sleepwalking again," she said with a kindness that made my chest tighten. "Let’s get you back to bed."
"Sorry," I muttered, feeling a flush of embarrassnt color my cheeks. "I don’t an to be such a hassle."
"Please, don’t apologize." Her smile was warm as she guided back under the covers. "It’s no trouble at all."
She tucked the blankets around , her movents gentle and maternal, and turned to leave the room. But the sudden fear of being alone clutched at , whispering dark thoughts into my ear.
"Wait!" I called out, my voice cracking slightly. "Could you... could you stay? Just until I fall asleep again?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," she replied without hesitation, pulling a chair close to the bedside.
"Thank you," I breathed, feeling foolish for my neediness but unable to quell the anxiety gnawing at my insides.
The maid reached out, brushing a stray wave of my hair away from my face. "Would you like a hot drink? It might help you relax."
"Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?" I asked, even though the idea sounded heavenly. “You’re already sitting here just to watch sleep. What more could I possibly ask of you?”
"It would be my pleasure," she assured , already moving toward the door. "I’ll be right back with sothing nice and warm for you."
True to her word, she returned quickly with a steaming cup in her hands. The aroma of herbs and honey filled the room, promising comfort and rest.
"Here you are," she said, handing the cup. "Drink up. It’ll help soothe your spirit."
I took a tentative sip, the liquid warmth spreading through , loosening the tight knots of fear. "It’s delicious," I told her. This ti, my thanks were tinged with a genuine smile.
The soothing warmth of the drink seeped into my bones. As I watched the maid move around the room, tending to small tasks with quiet efficiency, a familiar comfort wrapped around my heart. I blinked slowly, the edges of my consciousness blurring. In her gentle deanor, I saw echoes of Lillian from Celestial Valley—the way she would speak, soft and thoughtful, always with a kind word poised on her lips. It was almost as if Lillian herself had stepped through ti to sit with now.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire in the hearth. "You remind of an old friend."
The maid turned, her smile soft as the light in her eyes. "Soone special?" she inquired.
"Very," I replied, feeling the pull of sleep tugs stronger at my senses. "She had your kindness."
"Then I’m honored," she said, returning to her seat. "Rest now, Your Majesty."
“I think I will.”
"Good," she bead, settling down in the chair again. "Now try to get so more sleep. I’ll be here if you need anything."
"Okay," I murmured, feeling my eyelids grow heavy as the drink did its work. I clung to the sense of safety her presence provided, letting the soft sound of her breathing blend with the fading tension in my body.
"Sleep well, my Luna," she said softly, almost a whisper.
With those comforting words, I drifted back into slumber, the nightmares held at bay for now.
When I awoke next, it was to the sound of the door creaking open and the sight of Kryzen standing there, his gray eyes searching the room before settling on . He approached the bed. Concern was etched in the lines of his face.
"How did you fare today?" he asked, taking a seat beside .
"Better," I lied, forcing a tired smile. "I’ve been sleeping more."
"Any dreams?" His voice was gentle, probing.
"Nothing too vivid," I said, avoiding his gaze. The truth was, the fragnts of nightmares still danced at the edges of my mory, but I didn’t want to worry him more than I already had.
Kryzen studied for a mont longer as if trying to peer into my very soul. I held his gaze, willing him to believe the half-truths I offered.
"Good," he finally said, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. "Rest is what you need most."
"I know," I agreed, hoping my words sounded more confident than I felt. "And I’ll keep resting, for both our sakes."
His hand found mine, squeezing gently. "Just promise you’ll speak up if anything changes."
"Of course," I promised, knowing full well that my definition of "change" might differ from his.
Kryzen nodded, standing to leave. "Try to get so more sleep. I’ll check on you again later."
"Thank you, Kryzen," I said as he left, the weight of his worry lingering in the air long after the door had closed behind him.
The fire in the hearth crackled, casting a warm glow across the room. I was curled up in an armchair with a heavy blanket draped over my legs when Kryzen entered with a determined stride.
His gray eyes scanned with such intensity that I felt as if he could see the fatigue etched deep within my bones. I knew what he saw: the bags beneath my eyes, the exhaustion clinging to my skin, and the fear.
"Briella, we need to talk," he said, his voice low but insistent as he crouched down before and took my hand in his.
I straightened, trying to muster so semblance of strength. "I’m fine, really. Just tired."
He shook his head, his black hair falling into his eyes. "You’re not just tired. This is more than exhaustion. You need to see a healer."
"No." The word ca out sharper than I intended. Healers had ways of uncovering truths I wasn’t ready to face. "I don’t need soone poking and prodding at , Kryzen. I’ll get better on my own."
Kryzen ran a hand through his hair, frustration and concern warring on his face. "Briella, please. It’s been days, and you’re not improving. What if it’s sothing serious?"
"Then we’ll deal with it," I countered weakly, though my resolve was crumbling.
"Dealing with it ans acknowledging it might be there in the first place." He leaned forward, his hands clasping mine. "I can’t lose you. I won’t sit by and watch you suffer. What if sothing happens to the baby?"
His plea struck a chord, and the walls I had built around my fears began to crumble. "I’m scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I know," he said softly. "But I’ll be with you every step of the way."
It was the sincerity in his gaze, the unwavering support in his presence, that finally broke . "Okay," I relented, feeling the tension ease from his grip. "I’ll see the healer."
"Thank you," Kryzen breathed out, relief washing over his features. He stood and bent down to press a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I love you, Briella. More than you can possibly imagine. I just want you to be healthy and happy."
The warmth of his lips lingered on my skin, mingling with the fear that twisted in my gut. I was touched by his words, his devotion so clear and unwavering, but the thought of what the healers might discover sent a shiver through .
Would they find a simple ailnt easily cured, or would they unearth sothing darker, sothing that couldn’t be healed?
"Love you too," I murmured, nestling further into the blanket, seeking comfort in its familiar softness. Kryzen squeezed my hand one last ti before moving to the bed, laying beside , and pulling close.
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