In the daytime, when the sun was warm, was the best.
In the sun, Fakir sat by the shore with pen and paper while she amused herself in the pond. Ahiru didn't really need protection now, but she was still very glad for Fakir's friendship.
They ate lunch together, even when it was rainy and he made faces at the small, raw fish she ate; the duck stuck out her tongue and continued eating.
Sometimes he cooked for the both of them. She didn't complain.
That was in the daytime, and the daytime was wonderful.
It was at night that the terrors came. Ahiru couldn't be further from regretting all she'd done as a girl and a princess, but towards the end of the tale, when she'd been so weak and tired and they wouldn't stop hurting her… It was worse in her dreams, because Fakir's voice didn't come back and they just wouldn't stop…
Ahiru knew Fakir was with her always now; sometimes her brain just didn't believe her.
When the nightmares happened, though, she always woke to her dear friend holding her close, rather than upon the nearby pillow she usually slept on.
"I wish there was something I could do to help," he told her one morning, then realized, "Maybe there is."
He wouldn't say anything further, no matter how big a fit the duck threw. She finally huffed a deep breath and went for a swim.
The next time she had a nightmare, it changed. They not only stopped beating on her, but somehow she was a girl again. Fakir, looking away, held out clothes to her, but not her uniform or day clothes; a really cute sundress she was happy to wear in the warm sunlight.
"But… what is this?" she asked. "This isn't what happened either."
"Nightmares don't tell the right story either; they pervert it," he told her. "Dreams have different rules; I thought I'd take advantage of that."
"Are… you writing right now?"
"Technically. I'm also here with you."
"But- but you need sleep too!"
"So I'll sleep in a little late. It's fine," the other softly smiled. "Now, what have you missed doing?"
Her eyes were downcast. "Mostly, I've missed seeing everyone, but Mythos and Rue, um, Seigfried and Rue, they went back into the story and-"
"And this is the dreaming world," Fakir reminded her. "If they're sleeping, we can easily visit them."
Rue was asleep, her husband awake; it was actually daytime in their kingdom, but the princess was indulging in an afternoon nap. She greeted the two with open arms, so happy to see them, and offered to show them the kingdom through her eyes, if that were possible.
It was. The visitors could see the places Rue had seen so far in her memories, and Ahiru couldn't imagine a more serene or magic place.
She was so sad when it was time to say good-bye, a well-meaning husband waking her from her nap, but Fakir promised they visit again.
When Ahiru woke, tears in her eyes, ran to and hugged her dear yawning friend best as she was able. He held her small body close. "Quack!" she demanded, pointing to the bed. "Quack! Quack!"
"Yes, yes, I'm going," he agreed. "Are you still tired?"
She nodded. Odd as it was, she really felt as if she'd been traveling.
"Come on, then," he chuckled, and carried her back over. He gladly pulled the covers over himself, and she curled up against his stomach. A gentle head butt thanked him again, and the two contently took their morning nap.