Ranaya woke from another dream.
It had been the same as all the others. Pictures of the coming doom she had brought upon her sleeping comrade. Murtagh was his name. He slept undisturbed from her movements.
Ranaya watched as his chest rose and fell, with the deepest rhythms from his dreams. The fire flickered across his face, illuminating his handsome features, his face etched with years of worry. His dark hair hung over his eyes.
The only time Murtagh ever truly looked at rest was in sleep and even then he was tense, ready for whatever may com in the night.
Ranaya longed to take away his pain, the memories he carried with him. His fierce eyes were always so pained when he looked at her. He was always burdened with the weight of everything in his past.
Ranaya longed to save him from his pain. She wished she could absorb it so she could see him smile, just one more time. She wanted him to be happy, so happy. It killed her to watch him suffer.
It was why she refused to sleep. Memories from the past and the future often flickered through her mind as she watched him sleeping that night. It pained her to see the future more now than ever. His future.
He lies in a cell chained to the wall behind him. He kneels, defeated, in his own blood. His clothes are torn and covered in his own blood and only one other.
He is broken.
He wants to torture to stop.
He wants to die.
The bolted door before him swings open to reveal a stranger illuminated by a white light so bright Murtagh is blinded. The light is dim to those outside. Murtagh watches the man walk towards him with a knife held in his thick hand. Cruel laughter from beyond the door resonates through his cell.
The only feeling of happiness Murtagh feels is that he passes out before he can feel any more pain.
Ranaya wrung her hands in a desperate attempt to clear her mind of the image. She would give her life for him to be released from the pain she had unwillingly brought upon him. She tilted her head up to the stars, pondering her guilt, the emotion that surfaced whenever she saw him.
Across from her Murtagh stirred in his sleep. Even a small a gesture as that broke down Ranaya. She felt the first tear run down and her cheek followed by a steady stream. She whimpered slightly despite herself and watched as Murtagh sat up on the ground and looked at her. Ranaya quickly averted her gaze to the fire, anything, other than him.
"Ran," he said looking at her, "What's wrong? Are you alright?" his voice was low with curiosity and a caring that sent shivers down Ranaya's spine.
Ranaya quickly wiped the tears from her face and gave an unconvincing "Nothing," she knew what would have happened if she had said anything other than that and she knew that she would never be able to handle it. "I'm fine..." Murtagh watched her for a second more studying her face.
"Well then, I'll take the next shift so you can get some sleep...you don't look well." Ranaya turned away and smiled a sad smile to herself.
"Go back to sleep, Murtagh. You need it much more than me." Ranaya longed to say more, but couldn't bring herself to it. Murtagh watched her a moment more to make sure she was really ok. Again worry defined his features.
"Are you sure?" he asked quietly. "I know you haven't slept in a few days." Ranaya suppressed a whimper, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Murtagh knew very well if she refused to sleep he couldn't make her. She could feel his gaze on her.
"I'm sure. Sleep." Ranaya wiped away the tears with her sleeve. Murtagh watched her a second more, then reluctantly closed his eyes and slept.
And Ranaya watched him sleep.