Asha could not help a smile from tugging at the corners of her lips. For the first since she woke she felt relief wash over her. The ranger will help me, she thought.

"Tell about the ocean you see in your dreams." She asked softly.

.Murtagh blinked expressionlessly and after a few moments in silence he began to speak in a quiet voice.

"There's a storm with waves taller than Thorn. All I can hear is water crashing on water. I am alone in this ocean."

Asha closed her eyes and another tear rolled down her cheek. He sees the oceans in his dreams like I dream of it in waking life.

"I miss it so much." She finally said as she slowly opened her eyes.

"What do you see, when you dream?" he asked in a hesitant voice. He wasn't sure he wanted the answer to his question but part of him had to know.

The girl sighed deeply and lost her gaze on the tips of the fir trees. She felt like a noose had been placed around her guts and was being tightened with every memory that came to her mind. She wished she didn't have to think about the nightmares that plagued her but knew honesty was the best path if she wanted the ranger's help. She felt her voice die out in her throat before she had even started to speak, almost as if her body wanted to prevent her from talking.

"It always begins the same way; I hear screams. Then, slowly, the faces appear. They're screaming at me but I can't understand them. Sometimes I see battlefields filled with smoke and other times I am soaring high above them. I see your sword. It's hard to forget. At first I wasn't sure if it was red with blood or if it had a red blade. Now I understand it was both." She started, never daring making eye contact with the ranger. She could taste metal in her mouth, like she often did during her nightmarish visions, but her voice had not faltered once.

"And then the pain comes. I feel like my back is on fire. It hurts so much I can't stay asleep. But every time I wake up, there are no marks on my back and all I have are weak legs and shaking hands. If I am able to fall asleep again, I see nothing more but a black abyss staring back at me and in the morning I feel like I haven't had a wink of sleep." She added as she started fumbling around with her fingers.

This sounds awfully familiar Thorn told Murtagh, a sad undertone in his though. They both knew what the girl saw; his own nightmares. Murtagh had shared on very few occasion his dreams with Thorn but through their bonds the dragon would sometimes catch echoes of his riders nightmares. Murtagh had never realized how bad they were until someone put them into words that weren't his own. He felt a cold finger trace the scar on his back. A bitter taste overcame his mouth and he looked around to distract himself. Dreaming of raging seas doesn't sound so bad now does it? Thorn joked but Murtagh cut him off quickly: I'd rather have nightmares that are mine than dreams that are someone else's.

"I didn't know this thing went both ways." Murtagh said at length as he let his eyes wander around the camp.

He felt a wave of relief overcome him when they fell on the deer carcass. He had to put his hands on something to distract himself; he never could focus too long on such things. He had learned to survive by pushing things aside, whatever those were, and unpleasant thoughts received the same fate.

"Neither did I." Asha said as she watched Murtagh take out a hunting knife and start carving out the animal.

She watched in silence as Murtagh pulled the entrails out of the animal and threw them to Thorn. The red dragon made one bite of the offal and licked his teeth clean.

"My name is Asha." She said, finally breaking the silence.

Murtagh wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and left a small trace of blood on his face. Asha felt a shiver run down her spine as a foreboding feeling took hold of her. It won't be the last time I see him with blood upon him, she thought somberly. She couldn't explain why but she couldn't shake the ominous feeling away.

"My name is Murtagh."

And I am Thorn. Asha nodded and forced a smile. There was something about the pair that saddened her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but when Thorn had initiated contact with her, she had almost felt the urge to cry. How silly I am she had thought as she forced the tears away. She didn't know what to say and who to say it to so she remained in silence. Gharza had talked to her briefly about the pair while on their way to Ceunon but Asha felt like the she-dwarf hadn't told her everything she knew about the red rider. Everyone loses in war she had said to Gharza when she told her of Hrothgar's death at the hands of the red rider. The death of her king was one of the only things the she-dwarf would say to Asha about Murtagh and Thorn. It was only when Murtagh handed her a piece of roasted venison that she decided to broach the subject. Night had fallen quickly and the stars were starting to shine brightly against the dark blue velvet sky. She looked at the heavens and inhaled sharply but quietly before addressing the pair.

"Gharza talked about you sometimes."

She saw Murtagh tense up and lower his gaze on his food. After swallowing his bite, he looked up at her and thought she did not gaze at him she felt his eyes firmly planted on her face.

"I understand her pain; losing a king, especially one you love, cannot be easy. But I have felt part of your pain. It was only in dreams but I felt it nonetheless. I don't blame you for your actions. Sometimes the agony is so great, any action seems reasonable if it can make the pain go away, even for a fraction of a second." She continued, trying her best not to divert her eyes in Murtagh's general direction. She had seen it happen in one of her nightmares. The dream had been hazy at best but one thing was clear, when he had struck down the king, for a moment he felt so strong and mighty that everything else had vanished. She didn't pretend to assume she knew a lot about the red rider but she felt for certain that if Murtagh was familiar with one thing it was pain and suffering.

When she had managed enough courage to steal a quick glimpse at Murtagh, he seemed lost in thought for a moment and his eyes were staring blankly at the fire pit. Asha feared she had made a mistake when she opened her mouth and stumbled to find her voice.

"I am sorry. I should not have spoken." She said in a soft voice.

Murtagh started eating again without addressing her. Behind him, Thorn could be seen chewing at the carcass. Every now and then, she would hear a sickening crunch as he bit down on the bones with renewed ardor. Asha felt a tight know around her stomach and made note not to mention Gharza her nightmares any time soon. I have to watch what I say. They must not take kindly to strangers meddling in their affairs, she told herself as she forced a few bites from the food Murtagh had given her down her throat.

It was only when Murtagh had finished his meal that he spoke to Asha.

"I see you're wearing my cloak." He said plainly as he nodded towards the piece of fabric tied around her shoulders.

Asha felt her heart plunge in her stomach for a short moment.

"Yes. It was all I had of you. It helped me find you. Now that I have I can give it back to you." She said at length.

Murtagh shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"Keep it." He said as he started making his bed.

I thought it was your favorite cloak? Thorn questioned as he let his gaze wander from the cloak to his rider. She needs it more than I do. She'll freeze without it he answered as he sniffed the air. Without the sun shining on them, the temperature was sure to drop several degrees below freezing point. Do you think she'll be alright with just the cloak? Thorn asked as he stole a quick glimpse towards the girl. Murtagh nodded absentmindedly. I put a spell on it long ago, it will keep her from freezing. Thorn nodded and walked behind his rider. Asha was looking up at the stars and though of the ocean she loved dearly. If she closed her eyes and concentrated long enough, she was able to conjure up the ocean in her head with incredible detail. As Murtagh arranged his covers, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret when he looked at her. I'm sure she wishes she could see the ocean tonight, he thought. Thorn hummed deeply and laid his head next to his rider. We will find a way to make things right. Murtagh nodded and turned his back to the fire and to Asha. I'm the only one who deserves to be haunted by those nightmares. Thorn looked at his rider lovingly with an underlying sadness in his big ruby eyes. You don't deserve it either he said but Murtagh acted as though he hadn't heard him. Good night Thorn.

The room was dimly lighted by a lone candle on a table next to the small window. The bed was gruff and pieces of straws could be seen in the holes on the dingy sheets. The girl was standing a few feet away from the mattress, arms crossed loosely over her bare bosom. Her dark hair had just been released from their braids and was flowing around her shoulders freely like rivers of ebony. Her dark skin seemed so soft and inviting in the candlelight. Her hips were wide and her legs long. Her lips were full and her eyes shined with sharp wits. She advanced towards the bed and looked deep in his eyes.

"You're different from all the others." She had said.

"You're not the first one to tell me that." He had answered before she softly planted her lips on his. Her name was Milena and her lips were the softest thing he had felt in a long time.

That night, he had lost himself in his desires but Milena wasn't the name that echoed with delight in his mind. It was Nasuada's.

Asha awoke with a foreign feeling in her gut. She looked around but the glowing embers made it hard for her to decipher anything but the massive shape of Thorn. She rubbed her eyes and got to her knees. The night was cold, much colder than when she had first fallen asleep earlier, but somehow she wasn't chilled to the bones. She could feel her drowsiness leaving her body and wondered how long she had to wait until the sun rose. She grabbed a few pieces of wood and stoked the fire with them. She wasn't freezing but the warmth would be welcomed. She rubbed her hands together and rested her head on her knees. She couldn't shake the feeling of intrusion that stirred inside her. She didn't want to pry in Murtagh's private memories and felt like she had seen too much. I can't control it she repeated to herself over and over again. She looked up at the sky and wondered how many other souls were watching the same stars as her at that exact moment. She heard some rustling and when she turned to look, she saw Murtagh getting up.

"I saw the ocean again." He said dazedly.

"Do you like it?" she asked with an innocent smile on her lips.

Murtagh looked at her for a while and only started talking once he had seated himself closer to the fire.

"It beats some of the usual things I see. I hope what you saw wasn't too bad."

Asha felt her cheeks heat up and was glad the lighting the fire provided was dim.

"To use your own words: it beats some of the usual things I see." She said, her eyes fixed on a bright star.

Murtagh looked up at her for a brief moment. Asha hesitated before continuing talking.

"She was a milkmaid, wasn't she? She was beautiful." She said, voice barely above a whisper.

Murtagh went stiff for a moment. He chuckled softly and shook his head as he diverted his gaze on the ground under him.

"She never saw my real face but hers still haunt me to this day." He said.

Asha felt uneasy, like she was in no position to hear him talk about this subject. She swallowed but the lump in her throat didn't dissipate. Asha did not mention who he thought about during his time with the milkmaid. I have to watch what I say she reminded herself. She already knew and talked too much.

"I'm sorry." She said weakly as she starred at her empty hands.

She felt Murtagh gaze upon her briefly.

"For what?" He asked, a smile devoid of happiness upon his lips.

She sighed and threw her arms at her side.

"I just am." She shrugged.

Murtagh wondered if she told him everything she saw in her dreams. He wanted to ask her questions until he knew exactly how much she knew and erase her memory; he wanted his secrets to stay between him and Thorn. He exhaled slowly and turned his gaze to his dragon. His eyes lost themselves on his red companion and Murtagh was overcome with old memories; blood, gallons of it, running down the scales. In second thought, he didn't want to know the extent to which Asha knew his secret; he didn't want to relive his memories through someone else's words. No, he would be quiet for now.

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