Beyond Time (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"As soon as she gets here, I will let her coddle you all you like, love." Dylan said softly as tears filled Ashien's eyes again. "Get some sleep, Ash. When you wake, I'll get you something to eat again."

 

[KieranSoares]

It took a long time for Ashien to be able to drift off, but it was anything but restful sleep. He remained asleep for hours, even after Dylandra herself went to bed. But sometime in the early morning, a loud metallic clatter suddenly woke her. Ashien wasn't in bed anymore. He was backed into a corner, shaking like a leaf, with his sword in his hand. He'd dropped his dagger in some sort of half-dream of still fighting out on the battlefield, and it had jolted him awake. Now he was shivering in terror at the knowledge that those memories were so potent and real.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan startled awake at the sound of metal clanking against the floor. She glanced around until she finally saw Ashien, huddled in the corner and shaking. She was out of bed in an instant, concerned for her husband's mind as she stood a distance away from him.

"Ash?" Dylan murmured softly. "Can I come closer?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien's eyes darted toward Dylandra when she spoke and it was almost as if he didn't quite recognize her at first. But as he came back into the present, his sword dropped from his hand. Others had heard the clattering too, and it wasn't long before a night guard knocked on the door to check and make sure they were alright.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan went to the door at the sound of the knock and answered, telling the guard that they were fine. She didn't want him to see her husband in the state that he was in so she stood in the way of his view into the room. She gave him a smile and sent him on his way before she turned to look at Ashien.

"How about we get you something warm to drink?" She asked softly, looking back towards Ash with concern in her gaze. "And something sweet. I think it would do you some good."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien didn't answer, staring blankly at the floor with his head resting on the wall. He was still as tightly curled into the corner as he could manage, as if expecting the nightmare to return and all the ghostly soldiers with it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ash." Dylan murmured as she made her way towards him and carefully knelt on the floor in front of him. "Love. I don't know what to do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know either," he whispered almost inaudibly. He was scared to move or blink, or even breathe too loudly. It was as if anything could lose the battle for himself and his brothers all over again.

 

[heartofcourage]

"The battle is over with." She said softly as he whispered to her in such a soft voice. "Please, love. I need you to tell me what I can do. How can I help?"

Dylan had no idea how to reach her husband and she was terrified that she might lose him to the world that he was currently in.

 

[KieranSoares]

Before Ashien could answer, the door opened up and Vincenzo stepped in. "Passerotto... what are you doing out of bed?" He came to Ashien and took the weapons away slowly before motioning for Dylandra to help him get Ashien back in bed. Ashien didn't want to move, but Vincenzo managed to coax him until he was back under the covers and settled.

Vincenzo looked to Dylandra. "The guard came and told me he heard something come from this room. I was afraid this would happen."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've never seen him like this before." Dylan said softly as she placed her hand on her husband's chest, stroking his cheek as he continued to struggle with the monsters that he saw. "What can I do to help him?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"No one knows the answer to that question," Vincenzo sighed. "All you can do is love him, and keep him from hurting himself. I'll take away these blades and make something to settle his nerves in the meantime." Vincenzo picked up the dagger and sword, moving them to another room before he began brewing a potent herbal tea.

 

[heartofcourage]

In her time, he would have been in a hospital where they would try and help his mind. Now, she just had to hope that her father in law knew the best thing for his adopted son.

"I'll get him something from the kitchen." She said as she glanced towards Vincenzo. "I'm not really sure what else to do."

With that, she pulled on a robe and made her way to the kitchens again, gathering her husband more olives and some fresh baked bread and honey.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Dylandra returned, Vincenzo was boiling the water in a kettle over the fire, and he was sitting beside Ashien holding his hand, trying to calm him down a little more until the tea was ready. He reached up to brush Ashien's hair back as Dylandra stepped in. "Your mother will be home soon, Ash. I promise."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ash? I brought you some food." Dylandra said softly as she sat on the other side of the bed with her kitchen items. "Love, we're here for you. You aren't alone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien just closed his eyes but they managed to coax him into eating a bit. Vincenzo supported the idea because it'd help the herbal medicines spread faster and relax Ashien if he drank it with food. When Vincenzo finally got Ashien through a whole cup of the tea, Ashien fell still and asleep in only minutes, and it looked like proper, restful sleep.

"Kitty will know how to soothe him," Vincenzo murmured. 'It's the same with all her children... When the world falls apart and horrible things happen, they need her in order to start to heal. It's been that way since they were small and Kitty would hold them in the nights after being held under Tamblin's rage all day."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll be with him every step of the way." Dylan promised as she took his least injured hand and held it tightly. "He's all of the good in my life. I can't just lose him now that we've gone so far for one another."

 

[KieranSoares]

Vincenzo laid his hand over hers and Ashien's with a gentle smile. "I'm glad you're here, darling. He's needed someone like you for a long time." When he stepped away, he murmured, "Now I'm afraid I have some others to attend to, especially Durban and Kayla. But I'll be back around the keep after breakfast. If you need me, just grab a guard from the hall and say so." He let them once more and this time, Ashien slept peacefully and dreamlessly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan found herself unable to sleep after Vincenzo left. Instead, she sat down with her sketchbook and drew. When Ashien stirred later that morning, she held the sketch in front of his gaze. She had drawn two sparrows nuzzling against each other, one smaller and lighter and the other with messy dark feathers.

"I made this for you." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien was still in a bit of a haze, but as he lifted his eyes and they focused on the sketch, a small smile came to his face. "I knew you'd like the sparrow idea..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It does me good to see you smile." She said softly, kissing his cheek as she lay down behind him, her cheek resting against his cheek. "Did I do well with the sparrows?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"They look just like the ones that perch outside our window at home," he murmured, closing his eyes again. "How did you even get here, love...? What happened?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I rode with Ballas. He led the way because he knows you and missed you." She murmured softly as Ashien closed his eyes again. "We missed you more than you know."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I needed you here so badly," Ashien murmured. "But I wasn't going to bring you here when there was a risk of losing the town..." Then he opened his eyes and looked at Dylandra. "Is there any word about Brogan...?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know." She said softly as he asked about his brother. "When we hear some news, I will make sure that you are the first to know."

She let out a sigh as she kissed his cheek again and held him a little bit tighter. "Your Ma is on her way back to Inverness, as quickly as she possibly can. She wants to be with all of her children. Ballas has gone to be with your sister. She was injured by Olaf."