Murtagh quickly withdrew from the elf's mind with a puzzled expression, "What do we call her?"
Jinxx is such an unusual name… Thorn remarked thoughtfully, avoiding Murtagh's question completely. Mutargh cleared his throat and Thorn jumped into action, She said she became Jinxx… Perhaps her old self was lost in that place. I would think she would like to be her old self, Aurelia, now that she is out of that horrid prison.
"Fine." Murtagh groaned then glanced down at her sleeping figure, admiring how her auburn hair shone in the sunset and highlighted her pale skin. "How come there was no mention of a castle on the map?" He wandered aloud and scratched the stubble on his chin.
Leave it Murtagh, just eat something then get some sleep. We have to move on to catch up for lost time. Thorn grumbled and Murtagh did as he was told.
…
"Nasuada?" A ferocious battle waged around him as he searched for the leader of the Varden. She seemed to shine like a beacon of light, guiding him to her blissful presence. He clamped his hands around her shoulders and crushed her to his chest with a bark of laughter, "Oh Nasuada I missed you…"
"And I you, my love." She whispered, her chocolate eyes meeting his tenderly. He smiled and tilted her chin upwards to press his lips against her but instead she melted into a puddle at his feet. His head whipped to either side in confusion then saw the elf dancing between the rubble in only his shirt which, he only just realised, barely fell past her bum.
She stopped with her back to him, "Will you not dance with me?" She glanced back but her hair hid her face, "Your father did..." He scowled then felt his feet push him through the debris towards her. Soft classical music filled his ears and the ruined city transformed into an elegant ballroom. An urge to do as requested filled his head, he felt as though he had to dance or risk… He didn't know what; he just felt the importance.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other pressed against the back of her outstretched arm, his stomach and chest flattened against her slender vertebrae. Leisurely at first they stepped from side to side until he spun, lifting her fragile frame into the air. The moves became more complex as she twirled in his arms, their bodies entwining together in a snakelike fashion. Finally the music stopped, his lips barely millimetres from hers and the dire need that had compelled him to dance slithered away, leaving him feeling a fool.
A smile quirked at her lips and she wriggled from his constricting grasp, her auburn hair slipping over her eyes. He scowled, curious to know why she hadn't opened her eyes once; she couldn't be asleep in his dream… Could she? He opened his mouth to call out to her but he was gaining consciousness.
…
Murtagh woke sweating and exhausted as though he had just fought an entire army by himself, his dark hair clung to his forehead. He sat up and pressed his palms against his eyes with a groan. When he finally brought himself to survey his surroundings his jaw dropped. Thorn was fast asleep… On his back, one enormous hind leg batting the air repeated while his tongue lolled out. He looked like a puppy that was having his belly scratched.
Murtagh blinked. Then blinked again. Thorn was most definitely an oversized, crimson, scaly puppy. Thorn sneezed then leapt into the air in the hopes Murtagh wouldn't notice him. However his scales had gouged out large trenches in the earth when he had wriggled in pleasure so that plan had failed.
Murtagh burst out laughing, Oh shut it! Thorn snapped, irritably, You were dancing around like a flipping loon earlier. Murtagh's laughter stopped immediately and the couple glared darkly at each other.
"This never happened, right?" Thorn nodded and dropped to the ground.
Yes, never.