A/N Enjoy and stuff. I own nothing but some of the characters.

Chapter two: Into the fire

Anna was plagued by nightmares for the next couple of weeks, she had never suffered from them before but now she could barely sleep.

She didn't understand her dreams, she supposed her magic was starting to manifest to seer dreams, perhaps from lack of use but she had never seen things in her dreams before, she didn't know how she knew her dreams were going to happen but she just did. The dreams varied from awful to the average nightmare but the flashes of them meant she wasn't even sure when they would occur. Different people were in them, some she knew and others she didn't. She had seen her mother's death five times but each time with slightly different variables. In one her mother was burned and another one she died of a fever, but in all her dreams her mother died and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. But the screams and the blood had begun to haunt her waking hours, she became a shadow of the woman she once was, floating from room to room with a far off expression as the previous night's dream replayed over and over in her head. Scared of what this meant and unable to confide in anyone, she feared the worst.

She didn't want to die.

Blood, so much blood. Soaking into the sheets and onto the floor. The room was dark, lit by only candlelight. The room was made of stone and bare apart from the bed on which she lay. She tried to use her magic, it was bound. She cried the feeling of helplessness taking over her entire body as a dark haired sorceress stepped towards her.

'Shh it's all over now, do not fear.' She smoothed the sweaty hair on her forehead and gave her a soft kiss on the top of her head, 'You are safe with me, you always were.'

The image disappeared and a new one appeared she instantly knew it was after the last scene. She was running; running like lightening through a forest. She was cradling something to her chest, clutching it as though it was the most precious thing in the world as she ran franticly. She needed to be safe, she couldn't stop. She nearly tripped before she reached the house of a man she once knew. She let out a relieved sigh, all would be well.

Death, surrounded by it. It hurt, hurt so much. Blood staining her hands as a child began to cry, his dark eyes glaring sadly at her. So much hurt, so much pain. So many mistakes. Gareth, Gareth was running, a sword in his hand and the banners of Caerleon floating in the distance. He charged his enemy but then he was down, a knife through his chest. He gasped. Blood. Its sticky redness flowing out of him like a river into a lake. He life force fading, he closed his eyes and drew his last breath.

Anna woke with a start, her heart pounding. Without thinking she stumbled out of her lukewarm bed and into the frigid air. Silently she walked towards Gareth's rooms; she opened the door and could see him sprawled on his four poster bed, revelling in the calm and safe feeling washing over her she walked closer to the bed. He suddenly jolted awake.

'Anna?' He whispered squinting at her, Anna silently nodded. 'What's wrong? Is everything okay?' Anna suddenly felt silly, like a small child. Sensing how unsure she was Gareth lifted the covers and beckoned her to come forward, which she did stumbling towards the bed. She climbed in and laid on his chest feeling his arms wrap around her. It was a nice feeling, warm and safe. 'Go to sleep Anna' he murmured his breath tickling her ear. Nodding into his chest Anna finally drifted into dreamless sleep.

When she awoke the next day, Gareth was staring at her. It was oddly discomforting so she slowly sat up.

'What was wrong last night Anna?' He questioned softly brushing her hair away from her face.

'Nothing.' She replied looking away from him.

'Please Anna, just tell me.' He begged stroking her cheek.

'I just keep having nightmares.'

'What about?'

'I doesn't matter they are only silly dreams.' She said trying to pull away from him, but he held her against him.

'Anna I know.' He said quietly.

'Know what?'

'That you have magic.' Anna froze in fear trying to wiggle away from him but he held her even tighter against him. 'Anna it's okay.'

'How do you know?' She asked fearfully.

'It wasn't hard to guess Anna, you came here just after the purge began.'

'Oh.' Anna bit her lip but Gareth smiled at her and held her hand.

'So these nightmares, are they seer dreams?'

'I don't know Gareth.' She looked up at him brushing her blonde locks out of her face 'you really don't mind?'

"Not at all, Anna." Their faces were so close, almost touching. Anna lent forward and kissed him softly. He began to kiss her back pushing her back onto the bed. His lips trailing down her neck and softly biting. 'Is this what you want Anna?' He softly asked her.

"Yes" she whispered back her eyes ablaze in want, spurred on by this Gareth climbed on top of her.

Hours later both fully satisfied they lay cuddling in bed.

"Anna this can't happen again." Gareth said sadly.

"I know." Anna replied, she knew that she did not love him and he did not love her. She didn't feel too bad about it either. She had wanted him tonight for her own selfish needs and had not even considered that this was an act reserved for married couples. She had just wanted him to make her feel wanted. Just for now at least. It had worked for those few hours and she felt much happier than she had been before.

"I'm sorry, Anna." He said getting out of bed and staring wistfully at her. How long had he wanted this, but now it was a mistake, it was so wrong. It was all his fault, she was too young to properly understand. Too naïve to know… he however should have known better. But he let his emotions rule over his head and now he would have to pay the consequences.

"I wanted it as much of you Gareth, you have not taken advantage do not fear." In fact Anna thought, she had wanted it more than him and in some respects she had took advantage of him. It was her after all who entered his bed, it had all happened because she had wanted it to.

"Thank you Anna" he said giving her a soft kiss on the cheek before leaving the room hurriedly. Anna frowned at the place he had just been, why did he feel the need to rush to get away from her, had she upset him in some way? Anna wrapped herself in the bed sheets suddenly feeling vulnerable and scared. What had she done? What would change because of her selfish action?

A/N What do you think? Anna and Gareth? Match made in heaven? Review please

The adventure continues next week...