Gwynne awoke to the cool afternoon breeze ruffling her hair. She pulled her head up from Sirius's chest to look at him sleeping face. She stood and made towards the door to change into a dry dress.
As Sirius dreamed his brow furrowed, "No"
Alder had Gwynne in his grasp, fire consumed the atmosphere. Her screams were agonizing. Sirius had to get to her, he had to save her. But each time he ran to her they seemed farther away. "Gwynne!" he screamed. Suddenly invisible barriers surrounded him. No matter how hard he called, she and that vile man slipped farther away into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Gwynne studied the clothes in the large armoire. Now it was filled with many dresses and garbs as well as shoes and cloaks.
She had never seen so many breathtakingly beautiful clothes in her life. She pulled out a gauzy dress of an amazing candlelight ivory. She pulled off her soggy clothes and slipped into it gracefully.
Invisible hands laced up the back as she stared around to find who was responsible. She looked to the large marble framed mirror.
The dress was gorgeous with its crisscrossed ribbons and was trimmed with lace at the top and hem of the corset like bodice. The draped skirt fell in delicate shirred folds and clung to her curves gracefully.
She spun around watching the dress flow, her black curls bouncing with her. She felt like a little girl. She felt bare though and walked back to the armoire to find something to wear over the sleeveless dress.
She then heard her name being called, it sounded like Sirius, in trouble. She gathered her skirts and darted into the hall and ran into his room.
Sirius lay in the same spot, his head thrashing about, murmuring things that sounded like pleading.
She ran to kneel by his side. "Sirius" she called shaking his shoulder, "Sirius, Sirius you're having a nightmare." He eyes opened, looking at her as is she had come back from the dead.
He grabbed her shoulders, startling her. He then looked away and stood up, wincing and grabbing his side, he let himself fall onto the chair.
Gwynne pulled him up, "Come on, lets put you in the bed." She whispered. He complied as she helped him reach the bed. He lay down with a groan and Gwynne sat down beside him.
"You where having quite a nightmare…what was it about?" She asked. He stared at her warily "I'd rather not talk about it" he said looking away.
"Alright" she murmured then reaching her hand to turn him to face her again. She stared at him tenderly. He reached up his hand to hold it upon his cheek.
"I, I…" she stuttered trying to think of what she was about to say. Her gaze fell from his to his open chest and the wet soggy binding around his waist.
She pulled her hand from his and began to remove the damp bandages, "I, I should change these…"
He nodded and handed her his wand "Evocare bande" she said pointing the wand at her hand. With a 'pop' a small wrapping of bandages appeared in her hand.
"I'll be right back," she called as she ran to the dresser and returned with a flannel. She began to clean the deep gash at his side, "How bad is it?" He asked through clenched teeth.
Gwynne nodded, too entranced in the smoothness of his skin and the deepness of his injury.
He chuckled at this and she began to wrap the new bandages. "You really should put some dry clothes on." She said and he pulled off his shirt.
"There are more over there I think." He said pointing to the mahogany dresser.
She retrieved one and helped him into it. She fixed the collar and then ran her hand over his neck in awe. She swallowed loudly and abruptly stood and dashed towards the nearest door.
This is too much…
Gwynne ran until she reached her room and flung herself upon her bed. Her heart was pounding in her head and slowly but surely she drifted of into slumber.
Gwynne soon awoke and all her recent emotions came flooding back to her. She pulled herself out of the bed and made her way through the sheer white drapes hanging before the doorway and onto the balcony just outside her room.
She leaned against the granite railing and stared out at the grounds, What is happening to me?
Sirius shuffled towards the balcony, "Can you feel it too?" he asked closing the double doors behind him.
"What do you mean?" she asked not turning around. He stood close beside her and trailed his finger up and down her bare arm, reveling in its softness.
"That tingling feeling whenever we touch…"he whispered.
Gwynne turned to face him and he smiled faintly, as he caressed her cheek.
"You feel this too?" she asked timidly, stroking his hand gently.
"Every time…" he murmured, his hand fell to her neck and curved around intertwine itself in her hair.
His arm wrapped around her waist slowly, both their breathing became faster, as he moved at an exceedingly unhurried pace…
Gwynne felt frozen as Sirius's face came closer to hers, his hand pulled her face to his as well. She ran her hands up his chest and their noses touched.
Sirius gripped her waist harder, and rested his forehead against hers. She tilted her head apprehensively, and his forehead lifted from her own; his lips brushed across her cheek.
Tremors filled her entire body as his lips glided smoothly down her cheek to her mouth. Sirius felt slightly dizzy, as his lips lay just touching hers.
Just then he locked his lips over hers.
Sirius's hands clutched her waist tighter and then slid slowly to the small of her back to pull her as close as possible. On impulse she slid her hands from his chest to wrap around his neck tightly.
His lips felt as marvelously soft and warm as they looked as he kissed her leisurely.
As his lips released her, he let out a breath and she felt all the tension in his body leave. He embraced her tighter, kissing her cheek hastily. She held him close, wrapping her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest.
Gwynne noticed his heart was beating as fast as hers. Sirius encircled her in his arms, laying his cheek against her forehead.
"Wow" he said breathlessly. He blushed slightly and she let out a small giggle, "I feel like a bloody school girl…" he murmured and she laughed again.
"Me too…"she breathed, lifting her chin to look at him. Delight swelled through her entire being and he captured her lips again.
He ran his tongue along her bottom lip she locked hers over his more fiercely. He deepened the kiss and pulled her to him unyieldingly.
She pulled back and seemed to have noticed his surprise and rationalized, "This place is just so bizarre, and things could change or go wrong at any moment…"
"Then all the more reason to care for you, to protect you, to help you…" he said
"Sirius…" her voice cracked.
"Gwynne" his voice called.
Everything became hazy and she could no longer see Sirius in front of her
"Sirius, Sirius, where did you go…"
"Gwynne, Gwynne, I'm here, I'm right here."
Gwynne felt two strong hands gripping her arms as she opened her eyes. There sat Sirius looming above her, a worried expression on his face.
He smiled warmly when he realized she was alright, "It would seem as if we've been in this position before", he said suavely.
"You don't have to tell me about it though," he said releasing her from his grip and standing from the bed.
Gwynne sat up and glanced confusingly from the balcony doorway and then to Sirius.
"I must admit when you ran from the room, I was quite worried, but now you seem well enough."
Gwynne nodded and pushed herself off of the bed, her knees were still weak and her step faltered slightly, and she caught herself upon the bed pose.
Sirius's heart jumped and he stepped forward to help her just as she caught herself.
"Well it seems to me that you could use some food"
To him, Gwynne seemed to scan Sirius as if he had sprouted another head.
"Brilliant," she then said unsurely, her eyes looking from Sirius to the door, then standing up and straightening out her dress.
"I'm famished." She said forcing a smile, trying to push the dream she just had to the farthest corner of her mind for the time being.
"Well then, let us make our way to the great hall." Sirius said holding out a soft claret overdress to her.
She hastily put it on over her pale ivory dress and followed him out the door.