I know these chapters are short and I really apologize to all those who are disappointed, but I'm struggling to fit writing in between work and just day-to-day life. Anyway, the way the story is going might be a little frustrating (especially the pace) but I have a plan so stay with me. Thank you so much for reading so far and I hope you continue to do so and don't forget to review! ShyPixie

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Chapter 8- "A dream within a dream"

"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."

-Edger Allen Poe

"It's time, darling," Aunt Vesta smiled gently and reached a hand out to stroke Lizzy's hair in an old and familiar gesture. "You've had you're fun now it's time to come home."

"I can't," Lizzy stepped back, shaking her head, "I'm happy here and I don't want to leave. Please don't ask it of me," a single tear trickled down her pale face. "Don't ask me to abandon the one chance of happiness I've ever had," her voice shook ever so slightly when she realized if her Aunt, who had always been more of a mother to her, requested it she'd comply to her wishes though she'd leave her soul behind.

"You know it isn't real, Lizzy. You have responsibilities and you're desperately needed here." Her aunt's face and voice grew sad, "But I can't stop you if you choose to bury yourself in the lands between day and night."

Vesta retreated back toward the shadows surrounding them and Lizzy desperately called to her when she realized her aunt was going to leave her alone in this place of darkness.

"Please! Don't leave me here alone!" Vesta disappeared from view, swallowed up by the crouching shadows.

"Oh, God, no! I'm so scared of the dark! Don't leave me!" Her wail echoed back to her tauntingly reminding her of her absolute aloneness. She sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands.

"I'm so scared . . . don't leave me!" She sobbed over and over again, gently rocking herself back and forth for comfort.

Raising her face from her hands, she gazed blankly around at the dark nothingness surrounding her. The shadows which had once been so far away seemed to be closing in on her. They felt alive now and almost . . . hungry. Rising slowly to her feet a scream of terror trapped in her throat almost choking her she lifted her eyes up not wanting to see the end.

And then they pounced.

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Gasping, Lizzy reared up from her makeshift bed on the ground her eyes wide with fear and her heart pounding. A voice, her voice, screamed inside her head as she desperately struggled to catch her breath.

'It was just a dream,' she thought desperately, 'just a silly, nightmarish dream. Nothing more.' Lizzy closed her eyes for a moment to steady herself and when she opened them again she jumped slightly in surprise. Everyone had obviously just woken up and was staring at her with alarm and concern. All except for Gimli that is, who was still cheerfully snoring away. Most of them had a weapon in one hand and flicked their gazes often from Lizzy to the surrounding landscape seeking the danger that had struck such terror in her eyes.

Eomer's face suddenly appeared close to hers as he crouched down in front of her and took her chin gently between his forefinger and thumb turning her face upwards.

"What's wrong, Lizzy? What did you see?" All his irritation at her from the day before seemed to be washed away with his overriding concern for her well-being.

"It was nothing," she replied as fresh tears tumbled down her cheeks, "just a nightmare," and with that Lizzy flung her arms around his shoulders burying her face in his neck as she sobbed her heart out. His arms came about her and he gently stroked her back murmuring words of comfort. The others shifted their feet uncomfortably feeling as if they were intruding on a very private moment.

After awhile, Lizzy untangled herself from Eomer and grinned ever so slightly at him her heart and mind oddly calm.

"I always seem to be blubbering all over you," Lizzy said in an apologetic voice.

"Feel free to use me as your tissue anytime," Eomer replied and they sat grinning at each other like children.

Gandalf cleared his throat behind them and, startled, as they had both completely forgotten their audience, they turned to face him.

"Lizzy, dreams are not to be taken lightly. Tell us what you saw."

"Gandalf, it was just a silly dream! Don't worry it's nothing serious," she'd die before revealing something as personal as that nightmare to them. It had uncovered a lot of her deepest fears and she didn't think warriors such as these would understand.

Gandalf stared at her for a second longer then with a nod let the subject drop. Hiding a relieved sigh, she turned to address everyone.

"I'm so sorry I woke you all up!"

"Haven't gotten a decent night's sleep for months thanks to him," Aragorn jerked his head toward the still snoring dwarf. "So no harm done."

"Elves need very little sleep, milady," Legolas hurried to assure her.

"I received all the rest I needed when I was dead," Gandalf smiled, making her laugh.

"I wasn't asleep," Eomer said quietly and Lizzy turned her head toward him with a questioning frown between her brows. She opened her mouth to ask him why not when Gimli's earth-shaking snores ceased abruptly and he sat up clutching his axe to him. By the looks of him, he was still half-asleep with his eyes drooping and a little drool sliding slowly down his beard.

'He's adorable,' she thought fondly as he turned toward Aragorn, and grumbled loudly; sleep clogging his voice, "Was wrong? Was there an attack?"

Before Aragorn could respond, Legolas stepped in, "Yes, there were dozens of them and we defeated them all while you slept away. Some warrior you are, dwarf!" Legolas smirked when Gimli's face flamed red under his beard.

"Oh, stop it, Legolas!" Lizzy exclaimed and hurried to tell Gimli the truth. If anything, his face turned a brighter shade of red as he turned toward the elf all traces of sleep having vanished from his eyes. He took a threatening step towards Legolas and the elf raised his hands with a laugh.

"Now, Gimli, I was only having a bit of fun!" His grin widened as Gimli tightened his grip on his axe. "Don't make me hurt you."

"Hurt me?" Gimli roared. "You couldn't hurt me, you prancing fairy, if there were a million of you!" And so it started, both hurling nasty insults at each other and the whole 'I could do anything better than you' argument. She'd grown used to their bickering in the short time and only rolled her eyes at them. Aragorn, who had suffered the most having had to endure the two alone for a time, strode over and placed a hand on both of their shoulders. Only the great respect each had for their leader had them going still.

"Ahh . . . silence is golden, isn't it?" Obviously resisting the urge to bang their heads together or, worse, start lecturing them like children Aragorn let them go with reluctance and started to walk away, calling over his shoulder as he went, "It's near dawn. Might as well get going."

Lizzy turned to start rolling up the bedding when she felt a touch on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Eomer.

"Are you sure you're alright, Lizzy?" His eyes searched her face seeing the red-rimmed eyes and the signs of fatigue. She smiled softly and patted his cheek.

"Yes, I'm fine, Eomer. Like I said, just a silly dream," but even as she said it shadows darkened her eyes. She had to keep saying that to reassure herself.

"You'll ride with me?" Eomer asked tentatively.

Lizzy glanced at him in surprise. She was amazed he had actually asked her rather than demanding or just assuming. She still felt a little guilty about her actions yesterday, but it seemed he'd learned something from it so it hadn't been a complete waste.

"Yes, of course, Eomer," she said simply and once again, they smiled at each other in perfect accord. It was odd really being on such good terms with him and even stranger that she felt so desire whatsoever to shatter the mood. When they had set up camp last night he had barely spoken to Lizzy and she'd been completely miserable. So they'd avoided each other's eyes and sat on opposite sides of the camp. Aragorn had walked around with a stupid grin on his face glancing in between Eomer and Lizzy and occasionally breaking into laughter. That is until Lizzy had 'accidentally' spilled hot soup on his lap while passing. He kept a safe distance from her after that and she didn't see so much as a hint of a smile on his face.

The party headed out with the sky lightening to a soft grey and Lizzy snuggled down in front of Eomer her head resting comfortably on his chest. Being friends with him definitely had its good points so she made up her mind to try her hardest not to mess up what they currently had. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she prayed for a dreamless sleep and drifted off.