Danu shook her head as she clung onto the pillow. The thunderstorm they were flying into wasn't the biggest one she'd been in, but she still didn't like it. And she liked the fact that it was happening at night even less.
Septimus was sound asleep next to her. He'd managed to fall asleep before the storm hit, and hadn't been awakened by it like she had.
Another crack and flash, almost simultaneous, echoed through the small cabin. She buried her head into the pillow, debating whether or not to wake her husband. After all, he was supposed to protect her. But she wasn't in any real danger.
Finally, her need to have company won out and she shook Septimus gently.
He sat up faster than she had seen anyone move, looking around as if there was great danger.
"Septimus?" she asked.
"Danu? I thought… What time is it?"
"I'm not entirely sure," she confessed. "I think it's about one or two in the morning."
He looked over at her rumpled hair and the dark circles starting to form under her eyes. It was clear that she'd been up for a while. "Why are you awake?" he asked.
A flash, so close that it had to have hit the wire strung to the ship for that exact purpose echoed through her skin. She almost jumped, but grabbed Septimus' hand.
"The storm. I've been afraid of them for a while."
He pulled her into his arms. "You should have woken me up when it started."
She snuggled into his embrace, feeling her muscles relax. As long as she listened to his heartbeat she could ignore the thunder crashing just outside her room.
"I didn't want to disturb you," she mumbled. "You looked so peaceful sleeping there, and you need your rest. We'll be at the palace soon, and then life will get interesting."
He looked into her blue eyes, feeling himself falling for her. He had known it would happen, but he hadn't expected how quickly it was happening. Part of him wanted to fight it, to remain as detached from his emotions as he had been while his brothers were alive. But a larger portion of him wanted to let himself be vulnerable now that his survival didn't depend on him remaining aloof.
"I'm not going to sleep when you can't," he said. "I…" he trailed off.
"Thank you." Danu whispered the words, softly exhaling as she curled up in the space that she seemed to fit as if it had been made for her.
When her nose tickled his neck, it was all he could do to keep from kissing her breathless. He wasn't sure if she needed that. While it would be a distraction from the storm, and he certainly wouldn't be complaining, she had looked exhausted.
Still, her lips ghosted over his skin, occasionally placing a kiss on particularly vulnerable parts of his neck. It looked like sleep wasn't exactly on her mind.
He kissed her heartily, his hands roaming over her. He enjoyed the little gasps and sounds that came from her as he distracted her from the storm raging outside.
A/N: So yes, this chapter's short. I really didn't have much of an idea going on when I started. I'll get them to the palace soon. I hope. Anyway. I'm doing much better at updating now. But seriously, reviews or anything would be greatly appreciated.