Images, dozens of images playing too quick to really see.
He smiles at me and my heart skips a beat.
Emotions I don't remember ever feeling, or have never felt to that degree of intensity.
Echoing laughter, chinking flatware, flutes and drums and ribbons and dancing.
Her face is warm and smiling, his is worried and loving.
He brings me aside and pulls something out of his pocket, eyes dancing with fire and mischief...
It feels as if my heart is falling in on itself, my stomach clenches, my face burns.
I feel my lips move, he answers with a laugh that could melt rock.
I am inhaling fire.
Brilliant blue eyes.
I awoke with a start, opening my eyes and seeing clear sky, a sky that is black and filled with diamonds. I was lying on the ground, with a blanket tucked around me and a folded cloth for a pillow. Next to me glowed a large fire, not a foot away, and above that fire was his face.
With a quick intake of breath I scooted back from the fire, but kept looking at him. It was the same kind face as before, and those eyes... the ones from my dream?
He smiled at me after a while. I realized he was leaning against a tree, his arms resting on knees that were bent in front of him. "A night for bad dreams, apparently,"
I flashed him a quick smile and sat up, beginning to examine my surroundings, my borrowed cloak - for it had been my blanket - clutched to my chin.
We were in a small clearing of trees, and beyond the fire it was just beginning to lighten. Crickets chirped slowly, a relaxing background concert. The night was cool, and above me the moon shone full. Around the fire lay Simple, Scruffy, Will, and the woman, all curled up and sleeping soundly. We were the only two awake.
Quickly I took inventory: Pants zipped, shirt, shoes and socks on, vision clear, breathing shallow, heartbeat going a mile a minute. Everything seemed normal and in place.
"I really should be getting back," I murmured just loud enough for him to hear. Wiping my forehead with a hand proved that my face was sweaty, though this was most likely from my dreams. I'd consider them, however, after I was safely on my way to a hotel room.
"You want to leave now? It's nearly dawn, and you fell down pretty hard. Djaq thinks you might have a concussion. Or was it just the pain of having to see my face?" he said smoothly, the firelight making his eyes twinkle.
"That must have been it, yeah," I replied, straight faced.
He smiled and turned his head to look into the forest beyond the warm firelit circle. "So where are you off to?"
I pulled the cloak around me so that I could put up its wide hood, sending my face into shadows. "Into the woods to grandma's house?" I replied, hoping this was a serial killer that knew his culture.
Apparently not, for he replied as if I was serious. "Your grandmother lives alone?" he asked, turning his head back to look at me.
I sighed. "Nevermind," I said, and started to stand, "I really should be going. Thank you for not leaving me unconscious in the middle of the road."
"Any time." He regarded me strangely, almost pained, and then said, "If you don't mind my asking, what is your name?"
I eyed him carefully before replying "Merryweather Louis." It was first name that popped into my head; please don't ask me why.
His face seemed to fall at this, and he looked away. "I had a... friend once, and she looked... a little bit like you. She left a long time ago." He looked at me again. I was reminded of a child following a conversation between two people, his head bouncing back and forth. "How old are you?"
What, was he seeing if I fitted into his category of usual victims? "Twenty-five," I replied, adding five years. I was told I looked old for my years. Maybe he didn't like 'em young.
He nodded and looked into the fire. I remained motionless. He looked familiar, although that may have been because he was dressed like the five million Robin Hoods I've seen over the years, though the costume was very tattered. He appeared gentle, but his eyes were sad.
"Alright, well," I said haltingly. "Can you tell me the way back to the parking lot?"
"The what?" He glanced up at me.
"The parking lot. You know, asphalt jungle. Cars. Gum."
"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. The nearest village is about a quarter-league down the road, though, if you want an inn for the rest of the night. But you really should not be traveling alone. The road is dangerous."
Obviously I'd been lucky enough to come across a delusional serial killer. Time to run.
"No, it's all right. Have a nice evening." I turned to go.
"Wait, miss, you forgot this." I looked back, and he picked my bow off of the ground beside him and stood up. Walking over, he said, "This is quite nice. Can you shoot it?"
"Decently enough," I replied, taking the weapon from him.
He smiled at me, and my heart fluttered a little. "Well, we should have a contest, then, before you go. It's almost morning anyway." He was right. His face was no longer bathed in firelight, but early-morning sun. and he seemed more cheerful.
"I don't have any arrows," I said, trying to sound regretful. This man seemed nice enough, and was quite adorable, but...
"Tha's all right, we've got plenty here." Seeing I was still reluctant, he said, "Tell you what, you beat me, you can walk out of here - alone - with a sack coin to show for it. Do we have a deal?" The way he was looking at me, with puppy-dog beggars eyes, made me want to swoon.
"Deal."
I am pathetic.