21. Breathe

His face contorted into an expression of pain, mouth opening in a wordless cry.

Her own breath was swept away with his, her hand instinctively reaching for her chest. Beneath her cold fingers, her heart still beat. Then how did she feel fiery pain tearing a hole through flesh and bone?

"Will…" wind and rain tore the word away, lost to the turmoil around them.

Her knees gave out at his side. She understood the pain then. Eyes, wide in horror, took in the sight of bright crimson blood flowing from a wound directly over his heart.

His back arched and his hand reached to touch hers. "Eliz…"

No…no…this was not happening, she told herself, head spinning with too many thoughts. It couldn't be…he was the strong one. Her chest ached, lungs heaving to suck in air that was too thin. Her lips moved to say his name…but no sound came.

He tried again, his icy hand finally catching hers. "Eliza…"

She wanted to whisper reassurances, tell him that everything would be well. All she could manage was a shake of her head, a painful lump lodged in her throat and vision blurred by tears.

Moving swiftly, her icy fingers brought his lips close to hers. "No…" one gasped word escaped as she fought the tides of fate and her own emotions.

He took a breath, gaze holding hers, and then, in a horrible moment, his hand went slack. He was gone, and she was alone.

"No!" Any air she left in her lungs was leaving her. "No! Will!"

Hands caught her waist, tearing her away from his side.

She fought with all the strength she had. "No! I won't leave you!"

"Elizabeth," a low voice spoke in her ear, soothing and smooth.

In a whirl, the rain dissipated and the wind died. Smooth sheets tangled around her ankles and the coverlet was caught beneath her but all she could think about was the warmth of the arms about her.

"Will…" she took a gasping breath, the paralysis gone. "You're here…" her fingers, as frigid as before, ran along his shoulders as if he might vanish like mist. "You're not hurt…"

The scent of his t-shirt had never been so comforting, nor the feel of his chest pressed against hers. The reassuring beat of his heart and the feel of his breath against her neck assured her that he was indeed real.

"Elizabeth," he ran a hand over her long hair, "breathe."

"It was so real. I saw you…"

"I'm fine." His voice was soft. "It was a dream, just a dream."

She hesitated. "Hold me?"

"Always."