"Never has one loved me enough to seek me out."
~The Sandman "The Doll's House"
---------------------------
Epilogue
It has been said that love is no part of the Dreamworld, for love is of Desire's realm, and Desire is always cruel. This, I have learned, is false. Anything that can be dreamed is a part of the Dreaming. Dreams, after all, when thought of in terms of goals, can also be desires, and in that way Dream's realm includes the realms of all of his siblings. Dreams can signify hidden desires, foretell destinies. They can encourage someone to destroy, and cause others to die. Delirium can be seen as a waking dream, and dreams can certainly cause madness, as well as Despair. So there is no reason that Dream cannot love me of his own accord.
I said this to myself for reassurance as I closed my eyes that night, waiting for sleep, and Dream, to ease my mind. I could not say that I was entirely secure in my decision. I mentally went over Dream's past romantic mishaps. I had already been one of them.
My course was clear, however, and I know I had to follow my heart, without worrying if it was some plot of Desire's. I had a feeling that it would not be as bent on destroying Dream. *Things do change* I thought to myself. I had seen that for myself.
I arrived, not at Dream's doorway, but in his private chambers. I smiled at the thought of the Dream King preparing a romantic evening, but there it was in front of me, complete with candlelight and wine. At least he had the decency not to be sprawled on the bed in a parody of seductive perfume ads. Actually, he was nowhere to be found.
"Dream?" I called, hesitantly. Pale arms encircled me from behind as a tender kiss was planted on the back of my neck. I jumped, startled.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you," he apologized, but he was laughing.
"Of course you did, Mr. Grand Entrance!" I accused him playfully. "What is all this?"
"I wanted to welcome you properly," he replied, taking my hand and leading me to the little table. Taramis was nowhere to be found, and Dream poured the wine himself. "I gave explicit instructions that we are not to be disturbed," he explained.
We enjoyed the wine and little appetizers, talking about inconsequential things. Finally, I couldn't help myself. I asked him what had been on my mind since our last meeting. "Dream, out of all of your former lovers, why do you still love me?"
He fell silent, thinking. Turning his head to the side, he gave a wry smile and a half-shrug, something totally out of character but incredibly charming. "Never has anyone loved me enough to seek me out after my death. I return, and everyone treats me as though I am a stranger. I know I *am*; everything is as much a stranger to me as I am to it, but no one seems to want to trust me, to talk to me, or get to know me. Even Death, my sister, who was always closest to me, seems too busy to visit. I think she feels uncomfortable. The only one who seems to understand is Despair, of course, since she has been through the same thing herself, but even then..." he trailed off. "But you are different. You love the 'jewel'."
"That is exactly it," I replied. "You are still Dream, the Dream I love." I leaned forward, stroked his cheek, and kissed him.
"I love you too, Drusilla," he whispered, returning my kiss with all the passion I remembered. He led me, his lips still pressed to mine, to the bed. We made love quietly, slowly rediscovering each other, the old and the new, familiar and strange, thrilling and comforting. His skin was cool and soft, his touch gentle yet intoxicating. The act was more wonderful, more fulfilling, and more full of love than it ever was with other lovers of mine, before and after my vampiric rebirth. I felt so heart-rendingly in love with him, so much that it hurt, blissed out of my mind in a way I'd never known. Afterward we lay, trembling and exultant, in each other's arms, Dream softly whispering promises into my ear.
"I will give you worlds of your own, strung like precious jewels on a golden chain. I will give mortals dreams of your stories so mankind will never forget. They will tell them to their children, passing them down as legends forever into time..." he continued on. I lay contently, yet remembering that I had heard this all before. My ardor began to cool slightly.
Then, he surprised me completely.
"I will love you and cherish you always. I will make time each day for you. I will include you in my work so you can share in ruling my kingdom as my queen. I will--"
"You will?" I exclaimed, sitting up in surprise.
"Of course," he replied, confused. "You have some of my blood, so I'm sure that with my help you can craft at least a few nightmares and such, or at least help with the creative idea process.."
"No, I meant the other part. Putting aside time for me," I said.
"Drusilla," Dream replied, "I would be a fool to risk losing you again." He kissed my forehead and held me tightly. I could sense his love for me, and it was as deep and true as mine for him. Yet, I knew how Dream was. I knew that he loved passionately and with all his being... yet things could still change in the blink of an eye or faster. I remembered Thessaly's advice, and despite what Dream said, I knew that it held merit.
"Let's see how things go before I agree to live here with you," I suggested. Dream nodded.
"You're right. We should not rush into things. Besides, we have all the time in the world, you and I." Dream laid his head back on the silken pillows. "As long as you stay out of the sun, my love."
"If you stay away from the Kindly Ones," I replied tartly. Dream smirked and pulled me down beside him, gathering me into his arms.
"Deal," he agreed. I laid my head down on Dream's shoulder and closed my eyes, drifting slowly into peaceful sleep, and dreams of what may come.
------------------------------ El fin ---------------------------------
Author's end note: Well boys and girls, that's the end. It may be corny, but I thought it was sweet! I'm glad to have at least made Daniel/Dream about as unstuffy as they come compared to Morpheus (which may delight or anger some, depending). I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought!!!
~Mordred
~The Sandman "The Doll's House"
---------------------------
Epilogue
It has been said that love is no part of the Dreamworld, for love is of Desire's realm, and Desire is always cruel. This, I have learned, is false. Anything that can be dreamed is a part of the Dreaming. Dreams, after all, when thought of in terms of goals, can also be desires, and in that way Dream's realm includes the realms of all of his siblings. Dreams can signify hidden desires, foretell destinies. They can encourage someone to destroy, and cause others to die. Delirium can be seen as a waking dream, and dreams can certainly cause madness, as well as Despair. So there is no reason that Dream cannot love me of his own accord.
I said this to myself for reassurance as I closed my eyes that night, waiting for sleep, and Dream, to ease my mind. I could not say that I was entirely secure in my decision. I mentally went over Dream's past romantic mishaps. I had already been one of them.
My course was clear, however, and I know I had to follow my heart, without worrying if it was some plot of Desire's. I had a feeling that it would not be as bent on destroying Dream. *Things do change* I thought to myself. I had seen that for myself.
I arrived, not at Dream's doorway, but in his private chambers. I smiled at the thought of the Dream King preparing a romantic evening, but there it was in front of me, complete with candlelight and wine. At least he had the decency not to be sprawled on the bed in a parody of seductive perfume ads. Actually, he was nowhere to be found.
"Dream?" I called, hesitantly. Pale arms encircled me from behind as a tender kiss was planted on the back of my neck. I jumped, startled.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you," he apologized, but he was laughing.
"Of course you did, Mr. Grand Entrance!" I accused him playfully. "What is all this?"
"I wanted to welcome you properly," he replied, taking my hand and leading me to the little table. Taramis was nowhere to be found, and Dream poured the wine himself. "I gave explicit instructions that we are not to be disturbed," he explained.
We enjoyed the wine and little appetizers, talking about inconsequential things. Finally, I couldn't help myself. I asked him what had been on my mind since our last meeting. "Dream, out of all of your former lovers, why do you still love me?"
He fell silent, thinking. Turning his head to the side, he gave a wry smile and a half-shrug, something totally out of character but incredibly charming. "Never has anyone loved me enough to seek me out after my death. I return, and everyone treats me as though I am a stranger. I know I *am*; everything is as much a stranger to me as I am to it, but no one seems to want to trust me, to talk to me, or get to know me. Even Death, my sister, who was always closest to me, seems too busy to visit. I think she feels uncomfortable. The only one who seems to understand is Despair, of course, since she has been through the same thing herself, but even then..." he trailed off. "But you are different. You love the 'jewel'."
"That is exactly it," I replied. "You are still Dream, the Dream I love." I leaned forward, stroked his cheek, and kissed him.
"I love you too, Drusilla," he whispered, returning my kiss with all the passion I remembered. He led me, his lips still pressed to mine, to the bed. We made love quietly, slowly rediscovering each other, the old and the new, familiar and strange, thrilling and comforting. His skin was cool and soft, his touch gentle yet intoxicating. The act was more wonderful, more fulfilling, and more full of love than it ever was with other lovers of mine, before and after my vampiric rebirth. I felt so heart-rendingly in love with him, so much that it hurt, blissed out of my mind in a way I'd never known. Afterward we lay, trembling and exultant, in each other's arms, Dream softly whispering promises into my ear.
"I will give you worlds of your own, strung like precious jewels on a golden chain. I will give mortals dreams of your stories so mankind will never forget. They will tell them to their children, passing them down as legends forever into time..." he continued on. I lay contently, yet remembering that I had heard this all before. My ardor began to cool slightly.
Then, he surprised me completely.
"I will love you and cherish you always. I will make time each day for you. I will include you in my work so you can share in ruling my kingdom as my queen. I will--"
"You will?" I exclaimed, sitting up in surprise.
"Of course," he replied, confused. "You have some of my blood, so I'm sure that with my help you can craft at least a few nightmares and such, or at least help with the creative idea process.."
"No, I meant the other part. Putting aside time for me," I said.
"Drusilla," Dream replied, "I would be a fool to risk losing you again." He kissed my forehead and held me tightly. I could sense his love for me, and it was as deep and true as mine for him. Yet, I knew how Dream was. I knew that he loved passionately and with all his being... yet things could still change in the blink of an eye or faster. I remembered Thessaly's advice, and despite what Dream said, I knew that it held merit.
"Let's see how things go before I agree to live here with you," I suggested. Dream nodded.
"You're right. We should not rush into things. Besides, we have all the time in the world, you and I." Dream laid his head back on the silken pillows. "As long as you stay out of the sun, my love."
"If you stay away from the Kindly Ones," I replied tartly. Dream smirked and pulled me down beside him, gathering me into his arms.
"Deal," he agreed. I laid my head down on Dream's shoulder and closed my eyes, drifting slowly into peaceful sleep, and dreams of what may come.
------------------------------ El fin ---------------------------------
Author's end note: Well boys and girls, that's the end. It may be corny, but I thought it was sweet! I'm glad to have at least made Daniel/Dream about as unstuffy as they come compared to Morpheus (which may delight or anger some, depending). I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought!!!
~Mordred