Sacrifices For Love

Over the past couple of weeks, pain continued to shoot through my body and I had the urge to rip out my hair. Some days were good but most days were tiresome. I rarely slept at all. My hair is stringy against my temples, my eyes swollen with bruises. I couldn't take the pain anymore and found myself outside.

"Shayla come inside!" Folken yelled.

"Stay away!" I shouted raising the axe over my head once again ready to strike the next thing that came in my way. With amazing speed, Folken grabbed the axe away from me. I struggled to reach it but pain began to shoot up along the side of my body. My body went limp but luckily Folken caught me. I wrapped my arms around Folken's metallic arm, knowing that squeezing my hardest wouldn't hurt him.

"It hurts, Folken… so much…" I broke down and tears began streaming down my face. I buried my face into the crook of his shoulder. Folken rubbed my back and began to hum a tune. It wasn't a happy song but it wasn't sad either. The sound began to elude me and I found myself relaxing, the melody drawing the pain from my body.

Please come now I think I'm falling I'm holding on to all I think is safe

It seems I found the road to nowhere

And I'm trying to escape

I yelled back when I heard thunder

But I'm down to one last breath

And with it let me say

Hold me now Creed, One Last Breath

I finished the last note and looked down to see Shayla snuggled against my chest, her arms resting lightly against her own body. She looked peaceful for that brief moment but I knew that it wouldn't last for long. It twisted my heart seeing her in such pain. I let out a sigh and stood up carrying her in my arms back inside the house. I wrapped her in a couple of blankets fearing that she might catch a cold and then tucked her into bed. Again I waited.

Immense light surrounds me. I don't know whether my eyes are opened or closed. Somewhere I can hear a faint sound of something beating. It becomes louder and louder until it echoes.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Thump… thump…thump… thump….

What are these two separate beats, where am I?

I wiped her forehead with a damp cloth. As I had guessed, Shayla caught fever and had been bedridden for a week now. She didn't seem to be having physical pains but was tossing and turning a lot. I would do anything to ease her pain but what could I do? I was a sorcerer once but nothing could be compared to Shayla's methods. "Come back to me Shayla," I whispered brushing some damp strands of her hair from her forehead.

The world where sweet dreams occur: the meadow. All around me are flowers.

"Come back to me Shayla."

Folken? Where was his voice coming from?

"Why am I still asleep, why don't I wake up?"

Something is holding you back.

My world suddenly changes no longer am I in a world of light but darkness envelopes me. From a distance an outline can be seen.

"Who are you?"

From the shadows appears the dragon that given me the warning. All of a sudden, it became clear to me.

"You are the chosen one."

No, look closer child.

I stared at the dragon and the sound of a beating heart started again.

"You are one of his blood."

His descendant, this hatchling will bear his power. Do you understand why things were the way they were?

"Yes."

Do not worry child the pain will ease, I have gone through my cycle and will give birth soon, until then beware!

I did not want to let go but I knew I couldn't stay in this sanctuary forever. I was wrapped in Folken's arms, my head resting lightly against his shoulder.

"I need some air let's go out into the dining area," I suggested turning my head to look at Folken.

With Folken supporting me, I managed to walk into the other room before being out of breath. Folken coaxed me to sit down luckily before my knees collapsed. Covered with a blanket, I pulled Folken down on the lounge chair.

"The pain will lessen now," I said.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I was in the dream world and I heard your voice telling me to come back but for some reason I couldn't wake up. Then the dragon from my other dreams came in and told me the reason,"

"This is the same dragon who told you that you would have pain and suffering?"

"It's complicated, you remember Alden?"

"Yes, it's not the same dragon as before?"

"No, this one is a descendant of Alden, she is carrying the chosen one."

"You have some connection with it?" he guessed.

"Yes, Alden gave me some of his blood which makes me connected to her. I was feeling pain because her child was growing inside of her."

"She said the pain would lessen?"

"Yes, she will give birth soon."

"Good," he murmured leaning in towards me for a kiss. I returned his kiss wrapping my arms around his neck while he encircled my waist with his arms. When we broke off, he rested his forehead against mine so our noses were touching.

"I hated seeing you in such pain." He finished.

"I am alright now," I smiled up at him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"You should go back to bed and rest some more," he replied lacing his fingers through my hair.

"As long as you stay with me," I said slyly lifting my head up again.

"Anything you say," he answered. He kissed me again before carrying me back into the bedroom. I slept soundly that night.

I started feeling better after I spoke to the dragon again but my mind was still spinning with questions. I didn't even know what her name was and her exact relationship with Alden. Nevertheless, I didn't dwell too much on that. Folken took such good care of me making sure I was eating properly and exercising. The weather had cooled down so sometimes we went for walks. I utterly enjoyed having Folken fussing over me. My heart would burst every time that he held me or kissed me. Was this love that I felt him, true love? I sighed, wrapping my robe tighter around my body.

"A lot on your mind?"

I turned around and there was Keith standing at the doorway.

"You could say that, what brings you by?" I asked beckoning him in.

"I heard from Folken about what happened, if I had known earlier I would have helped sooner," he said as we both took seats.

"It's all right, I am better now," I said touching his arm as a sign of thanks.

"Oh, Flora sent you some more herbs," I watched him fished out a package from his overcoat.

"Thank her for me. Did you take my advice?" I asked gazing at the package before placing it on the table.

"Well sort of, we have a mutual understanding of our feelings,"

"You have told her how you feel?"

"Not in so many words but I think she understands the jest of it,"

"What about her?"

"She is sending weird signals,"

"Give her some time she just needs think things through," I comforted.

"Yeah well… what about you and Folken?"

"Fine." I stated not wanting to go into any depth.

"Just fine?" he teased. I groaned silently, he was back to his usual teasing self.

"Folken is totally and utterly crazy about you Shayndel." He stressed.

"That is like the first time you called me by my real name Keith," I said softly knowing that he was being honest.

"Don't take his love for granted Shayla,"

"I know, Keith it's just, I can't risk anything until this chosen one is born and most importantly what will happen after?"

"Don't worry, that dragon will probably tell you or something like that. Just concentrate on things now," he said.

"Concentrate on what?" Folken interrupted. I looked up to see him standing in the doorway.

"On eating, want to stay?" I answered switching my glance to Keith.

"No thanks, I probably should go back and fix my problem," he coughed intently.

"Alright take care and give my thanks to Flora,"

"Goodbye Shayla, Folken" Keith strolled out the door as Folken saw him to the door.

"Interesting conversation?" Folken raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, I have a feeling things are going to better for Flora and Keith," I said holding out my hands. Folken was there immediately hands over mine.