{-Sharena-}
They were soon back in the throne room, this time instructed to line up before the dream-king. Sharena didn't know how to feel about how quiet Peony was—she hardly acknowledged when they came in, standing beside Freyr's throne and staring at the ground absently. Mirabilis even tried talking to her a little, but it didn't look like she was able to get much of a response.
"I know you were brought here with the idea that you're only coming to fix your memories," Freyr began, already helping the foreboding mood settle. "But in truth, there was another reason. It's why you're all here; otherwise, this could've been done without you even knowing it. I've mentioned my sister before—Lady Freyja, ruler of the dökkálfar. And I've said how she houses some creatures that are capable of doing great harm to mortals. I'm saddened to admit that this relates directly to that.
"She's been tampering with the balance of good dreams and nightmares for a while now. At first, I was able to ignore it; that is, until she cut off our means of communication and gave me no way to monitor her actions. I fear for what she hopes to accomplish that she doesn't want me to know about, and as time goes on the more I suspect her goal is to disrupt the peace between the waking and dreaming realms. She's always seen the waking realm as a place of suffering for her precious álfar… it would be no surprise to learn that she wishes it gone, however disappointed I'd be to know my kin would do such a thing… As much as it pains me to bring our family troubles into the hands of innocent mortals, I'm tasking you with traveling to Dökkálfheimer and stopping whatever she has planned."
Peony nodded solemnly. "I'll be joining you as your guide and protector. Since I've been there before, I more or less know my way around; and because I'm a ljósálfar, I can banish any bad dreams that get too close to you guys. Technically, Lekra could probably help with that part too, but it doesn't matter." She sounded as distant as she looked, which most definitely didn't feel normal for her.
"Wait. I know why you're being moody!" Mirabilis proved to show them that she had, in fact, not fallen asleep as soon as she went to her spot on the other side of Freyr. This didn't mean that she noticed Peony's glare at her quietness being described as "moody," though. "If Freyja cut off communication, that means you don't know what's happening with Triandra! It's been a while since you two talked, hasn't it..? You've always been quite the mother hen for a little sister…"
"Freyr, Mirabilis is making fun of me!" If not for a minute, it was relieving to see Peony acting like normal. "She doesn't get to have a say in it when she didn't have any siblings!"
"Do you expect me to scold her just for making a slightly exaggerated statement of the truth..?" Freyr sighed. "Though back to the matter at hand, Freyja has grown fond of you like she has every single one of her dökkálfar; I can't see a time where she'll allow you harm under good conscious. She's never wanted needless suffering, and I pray that you won't come across Triandra and forced to choice sides…"
"You won't have to worry about us," Peony promised with a small smile. "We'll be fine!" She started heading towards the door and gesturing for the others to follow her.
It took them a while to actually say anything once they left. For a couple of minutes, all they did was quietly follow Peony's lead and assuming that she actually knew where she was going.
Sharena decided to be the one to start a conversation, once she knew that they were far enough from the throne room and from anyone else not to be overheard. "Those creatures Freyr talked about… could they be nightmares?" She noticed how Lekra seemed to hesitate at the suggestion; none of them took it well at all. But she knew it was something they had to consider, and no one would've said it if she hadn't. "And that other group that noticed my connection to dreams…"
"Mother said that you were once cut by a nightmare," Alfonse remarked with a sort of hesitance. "Before then, they suspected you as the little dreamer because of our interaction with Loki in that cave. It doesn't seem like too much of a stretch."
"Please tell me this is all just some big misunderstanding…" Fauna moaned. "I didn't even bring emotional support chocolate, let alone medical supplies…"
Peony began fluttering backwards in order to see them. "You're talking about those things like Lekra, right? They never bothered me when I was there, I doubt they'd pay any mind to you. Even if there's not a dökkálfar with us like I had, we have one of their kin, and the bonds of family's bound to be just as strong!"
"Oh yes, because everyone loves the older brother who actually thinks about more than themself," Lekra muttered sarcastically. Sharena muffled a bit of laughter at the comment, if not just because of how oblivious Peony was to their tone.
"If we survived a world of nightmares, we'd probably be able to make it through walking past a couple of them," Anna decided. "Sharena's the only one who might end up getting bothered by it anyway. As long as it's not too overwhelming for her, then we should be fine."
"Like that, they're just a bunch of shadowy people, aren't they?" Sharena didn't think she'd ever talk so casually about something like that—but she was, as if part of that trip didn't still bother her. "It's not like we're going to be sleeping there, and it's more of a quick in-and-out kind of thing. I doubt there'd be problems."
Lekra frowned. "You could do to be a little less enthusiastic. I have a feeling, one way or another, that this is going to hurt you…"
"Oh! We're here!" Peony declared triumphantly. She must not had payed attention to what they said, because she completely skipped over that part. There was also the chance that she pretended not to have heard it, whether it was for her own sake or for theirs.
They weren't really that far outside of the palace; still, she was gesturing to a pathway that seemed to grow darker as it went on. It wasn't really a clear marker, since everything around it still possessed the bright appearance of Ljósálfheimer, but it was still able to point out where it led. Sharena wasn't surprised to find it familiar, nor to feel a sense of unease looking at it, and knew that she could only hope to understand why.
"Freyr kinda mentioned it, but we've got to go over some rules first." Peony sounded like she was more talking to herself than them, even if they still listened all the same. "First and foremost, all mortals need dream protection at all times. That means either me or Lekra. I'm really not good at all that since before now I've always had someone else with me, but I'm sure I can figure that part out. Probably not too different from banishing kids' nightmares. Second, I heavily advice not touching, talking to, or even staring too long at anything there. It's a pretty place but it's really dangerous if you're not being careful. Lastly, if you see Triandra, please don't scare her. She's kind of like a deer with strangers and will run off if she doesn't know you; that's just her thing, she's always been an introvert, don't take it personally. I want to talk to her so just try to get her to stay in one place. Also, when we see Freyja, let me go first so she doesn't try to sic a nightmare on any of you. I think that's everything… Are we all clear on that?"
They nodded together, and continued to follow Peony's lead as she wandered down the path.
Oddly, Sharena didn't find herself bothered by their slow embrace into the darkness. It felt like a comfort in a way, and deep down she could remember girls giggling down this same path… And for once, surrounded by the chillingly beautiful scenery of Dökkálfheimer, she could honestly say that nightmares didn't scare her. That kind of bliss kept her from staying alert, barely realizing at all when that very same nightmare had split them all apart.
((A/N: Peony, you just forgot a major part in the list of things they shouldn't do…
As a heads up since it's a new concept for these stories, the next two chapters will all take place at the same time!))