Chapter 21Living in LightLyon awoke, covered in cold sweat, and shook his disheveled hair out of his eyes. The blankets were twisted around him like webs… He must have gotten tangled in them when he flailed out during his nightmare. Despite this, Eirika was still nestled against him, fast asleep. He affectionately twisted a strand of her hair. She murmured, making joyful little noises at his touch, and curled up. She was content, and that made him sigh blissfully. He had made her happy… and that was what he had always wanted. Their love was like that-asking for nothing in return, yet receiving everything. The happiness of one making the other happy, as well. The gentle music of nightingales, chickadees, and a very special sparrow floated in through the window, like heralds serenading the dawn of a new day, and early morning light washed over him. A bell tolled from a turret nearby, signaling that it was roughly six in the morning. Lyon disentangled himself gently from her slim body. He slept as little as possible, because of his intense nightmares. He probably would have stayed awake until he collapsed from exhaustion if his friends didn't make him go to bed. They were mostly thoughts the demon had placed there during his torture sessions, but parts of it came from his own vivid imagination, as well. The fact that the monsters had pitied him… he supposed that came from how Eirika said he had done nothing wrong, but like in his dream, he could not accept that he wasn't guilty, that he didn't deserve to suffer. As he started to climb out of bed, Eirika stretched, yawned, and blinked sleepily. "Ah… forgive me. I didn't mean to wake you..." He said, hastening to ease out from under the covers before she could stop him. She reached out and grabbed the corner of his silk sleeping tunic, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "You're not slipping away this time!" she chided. "But, Eirika…" Then he saw the genuine concern in her eyes, and lay down again, turning to face her. She gently clasped his head in her hands and kissed him. He reached out and stroked her face, trying to soothe the anxiety he saw there. She wiggled in pleasure at his caress, and as his hand slid to tickle her neck, she smiled in ecstasy and lightly traced her hand over his stomach and chest. Next she massaged his shoulders, feeling the tension there, as he tenderly rubbed her back, and they pressed their cheeks together, heads touching lightly. Normally, Eirika was as passionate as he was when they courted or made love, but she was not used to waking so early, unlike Lyon, and so she was content to let him be the more active one during this early display of affection. "I really do have to get up now…" he said after a few minutes, and started to rise once more. She gently pressed him back down into the bed, ignoring his protests, and put a finger to his lips to hush him. "Don't make me get Knoll." She teased, but she still looked worried. He comfortingly swept her into his arms as she rolled so that her back was against his chest. "What's wrong?" he whispered into her ear.She trembled when he said this, and that surprised and scared him. He gingerly pulled her closer and ran his hand slowly down her face. "Are you sick? You're not hurt, are you…?" She flipped back over and snuggled against him, secure in his protective arms. "It isn't what's wrong with me… It's what's wrong with you." She said haltingly, looking up at him with melancholy eyes. "These nightmares… are they because you still think you're weak?" "…No…You made me realize I was strong long ago… it's just… Ah… Eirika… Please don't cry…" Tears fell slowly down her cheeks as she lightly touched his hair. "What is it, then? Oh, Lyon… you've never fully forgiven yourself for what happened, have you? You think you deserve these nightmares…" He couldn't look at her. "Mmm… maybe." She kissed him gently. "That's it, isn't it? The suffering you have endured so quietly, the torment that we never knew about... The pain of believing you alone are solely responsible for this… how it must weigh on someone as gentle and loving as you… Please… stop doing this to yourself! It wasn't your fault… the demon would have possessed you regardless of whether or not you broke the Sacred Stone! And all is back to normal now-no, even better then it was before, because of you!" He raised his head to look at her. "Actually, if you hadn't done what you did, someone else might have, someone who would have been unable to stop the demon! You took a great sacrifice upon yourself, and even when things went wrong, you lived through it, and made things right, no matter what it meant would happen to you! You should be proud of yourself! …I know I am. I look up to you, Lyon. If those things had happened to me… I would have died, and nothing would have been saved. So please… promise me… no more nightmares, alright?" Lyon felt… painless. Like a great, crushing weight had just been lifted from his heart, a weight that had been there for a very long time. "Thank you, Eirika…" She pressed her petite, limber body against his, and he hugged her. "I promise not to have any more nightmares… I promise to forgive myself… no, even more, too realize that it never was my fault. But you must promise not to believe that you are weak, either. You would have lived through it, and done just as well as I have. Can you do that?" he asked, smiling warmly at her. She smiled back, her heart filled with love for him, just as his was for her. "I'm glad to know that. And I think… I can manage what you ask." "And I'm happy to hear that. More then you know… And at least one good thing did come of these nightmares… It showed me once again the contrast between a world devoid of your love, and one with it." "That's my romantic lover." "I love you with all my heart, Eirika…""I love you with all of mine, too, Lyon…"Lyon slid carefully on top of her, holding himself up slightly with his arms so as not to hurt her with his weight. His hair hung down around her face like a curtain, and he smiled at her again as Eirika playfully patted him on the head. Then he shifted his head downwards, and she shivered in pleasure as he slowly kissed his way up her neck, until finally, their lips met. Then they rolled so she was on top of him. Eirika stroked his face and softly whispered words of love to him, and he gently did the same. She relaxed against him as he ran his hands through her hair, than fell asleep, safe in his arms, breathing calmly. Lyon closed his eyes, still smiling with the deep joy inside his heart, and fell asleep. He would keep his promise, for now and forever. He hadn't slept deeply since his mother died, and even more so since the events of a year ago. But now, he did, and dreamed of peace, friends… and his greatest love, his blue-haired angel……And that is the end of one of their stories, and the beginning of another...