Title: Nightmares
Disclaimer: I do not own this, Garth Nix does. We should worship him.
Arthur woke with a scream drenched in cold sweat. In an unfamiliar room. Blinking a few times and rubbing his eyes to adjust to the darkness, he realized he was in the Lower House, in a bedroom adjoining Monday's Dayroom. After all, Mortals did need their sleep.
Brisk footsteps sounded outside his door, before the door was flung open and a slight-switch flicked on. The light banished the shadows and Arthur winced at the brightness.
"Milord, I hear screaming. Is everything all right?" Monday's Noon stood in the door frame, his head almost brushing against the top.
"Just a nightmare" muttered Arthur, embarrassedly. The Lord of the Houses was supposed to be brave, not a sissy little boy still scared of his own shadow. Arthur scolded himself.
"Knightmare?" Noon asked, brow furrowed.
"It's when you go to sleep, and it's sorta like a dream, except it's bad"
"So what do you usually do when have this… nightmare, milord?"
"Well," Arthur pondered, "I usually have a glass of warm milk or snuggle up to one of my older siblings" he said, remembering the taste of warm milk. Come to think of it, he never remembered seeing a cow here, in the House. Guess they didn't really need calcium. Or food. Or sleep.
"Milk?" Noon asked, confused.
"It's a drink made from cows. Well, by cows, I guess"
Noon knew better than to ask what the hell a cow was. Is.
Before Arthur could blink, Noon was beside his bed and removing his shoes, coat and other various items of clothing that one does not wear to bed.
"What are you doing?" Squeaked Arthur.
"I'm letting you snuggle me" replied Noon, innocently. Yep. No naughty thoughts "Doesn't that make your nightmares go away, milord?"
"Well…" Arthur replied uncertainly
Noon lighted the covers before Arthur could object much further and climbed in. He somehow managed to get them so that Arthur's nose was buried in Noon's chest, and his head fit perfectly under Noon's chin. His legs were barely down to Noon's knees.
"Is this how mortals snuggle, Milord?" Snaking his arm around his Lord's waist.
But Arthur was already asleep.
Second chapter link is on my profile page.