Preparations and Defences

It had finally come to the stage where the army had to be moved into their respective places, each taking their places in the forts that had been built over the past year around the different towns, cities and villages. In some places, there were areas within the towns in which the soldiers were able to retreat to.

The citizens themselves had begun their migration into the better protected areas, bringing only what they needed and small pieces of memorabilia. Temporary beds littered the floors of many buildings on higher ground, and the castle had been overrun by refugees.

The meals each day had been reduced to mashed potatoes (courtesy of Harold's mother), a selection of fruits and, if you were lucky, some mincemeat and gravy. Everyone was confined to the grounds as well, not allowed past the defences, just in case the Crawler attacked. The only way you would be allowed to go past them would be with an escort.

It was no way to live on a daily basis.

Milena had taken to visiting her parents' grave recently, asking them to grant her the courage to see her through this. Unfortunately for her though, they never graced her with their presence.

It was during one of these times of prayer that Walter came to give her the news.

Kneeling next to her mother's tomb, the Queen let her fingers caress the stone carving that decorated the top, listening to the constant dripping from the tunnel below. The Catacombs had been sealed off before anyone had arrived so that the hollow men inside were unable to reach anyone, protecting them from both sides, though there were guards posted in the garden as an extra precaution.

The scuffing of boots pulled Milena from her silence, and she blinked away her silent tears, wiping her cheeks with her fingers.

"Milena?"

Standing, she turned to face her old teacher, giving him a small smile, "Yes Walter?"

He returned it as he came forwards, "You know you shouldn't be down here."

"I know, it's just-"

"I miss them too," he said, stopping in front of her, "but we can't linger on the past. They're watching over you, Milena, and I know that they'd be proud."

She could feel her tears begin to fill her eye again, "Thank you Walter."

"Oh, come here." Pulling her into his arms, the knight let her cry into his shoulder.

They remained like that until she could regain control of herself and she pulled away, smiling up at him. "I don't know what I'd do without you Walter. You're more family than anything else."

"Oh balls to that," he grinned, "You'd do just fine. And besides, there's a blonde Major waiting for you at the end of the garden. Says he's got something to tell you."

Her eyes widened. "Ben's here? But it's still morning!"

He nodded, grinning, "You know, if I didn't know you I'd think you were falling in love with him."

Laughing, she hit him on the arm before running out the building, leaving him to chuckle to himself. Unfortunately for her though, the damage was done, and her cheeks had turned a bright cherry red.

Damn him! Why did he have to go and say that?

Once she'd reached the top of the stairs, she asked one of the guards where the Major was, who pointed towards the stone gazebo. Thanking him, she made her way over.

When she arrived, she froze.

Ben was leaning down on his knees, head held in his hands and his clothes ruffled and creased.

"Ben?"

When he looked up, his face only gave her more reason to fear for him. It was obvious that he hadn't slept for some time, his eyes bloodshot and red, and his usually trimmed stubble was wildly out of hand.

"Oh Ben," she said, kneeling down in front of him, taking his head in her hands, "Is it the nightmares?"

His eyes closed and he nodded. "It's the third night in the row now," he explained, "I… I don't think I'll be able to last much longer if I don't get any help soon."

Milena frowned. If he was admitting this much, then something was definitely wrong.

"You know the priestesses from Aurora can't come here now. The docks have been closed, and they have-"

"I don't need the priestesses, I need you!"

Ben watched as the shock was replaced by confusion in her face.

"What?"

Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his eyes open. "Do you remember when you found me in Aurora in the temple?"

Milena nodded, "Priestess Mara was helping you fight the darkness."

Giving her a wry grin, he shook his head, "I don't think she would have been able to do anything to help me, Milena." The Queen looked as though she was about to say something, but he stopped her. "I know what you think happened. I know you think that it was their prayers and chanting that brought me back. But it wasn't.

"I know you never brought this subject up because you thought it would hurt me, and believe me, I'm grateful for that, but… you have to know."

Milena's perfect brow wrinkled as her frown deepened.

"When I was... While I was in the darkness – when it had me – I could feel them trying to reach me, but it was like they were trying to take me away from something I felt like I belonged to. I didn't trust them. I couldn't trust them. It was like…" he tried to think of a way to explain it, "It was like someone was trying to steal me from my mother's arms.

"Whenever they touched me, it was like ice or fire. It burned me to be touched by them. And their voices sounded cruel and false. But when I heard your voice, and when you touched me, it was like you were calling me home."

Her eyes widened, "I was…"

He smiled at her. "If it wasn't for you, Princess, I doubt I would have been able to fight it off much longer. I don't know what would have happened to me if-"

Suddenly, Milena's lips were on his, and he let himself sink into her embrace, letting every muscle relax. He trusted her with every ounce of his body, with his whole heart and soul. She was his only hope, and there was nothing he wouldn't do for her.

As they parted, he could feel his lips slowly mould into a smile.

It was perfect.

She was perfect, at least. He was a wreck. Damn those bloody nightmares!

He heard her giggle.

"That was a little more prickly than I'm used to," she mused, running her fingers over his cheek, the skin catching on the hairs as she passed over them, "When was the last time you shaved?"

Pleased to have a change of subject, he smiled, "What? You don't like my new look?"

Milena laughed, "The way you say that sounds like you did it on purpose!"

Ben widened his eyes, "How did you know I didn't?"

As she giggled, she stood up, pulling him up with her onto unsteady feet. "Now, let's tidy you up a bit," she said, tucking his shirt into his trousers and buttoning his jacket, "It wouldn't do to have a major of the Imperial army walking around like he'd just walked out of a tavern, would it."

"You wound me, my lady," he replied, holding a hand over his heart.

Once he'd been made to look a bit more presentable, Milena took his hand and pulled him towards the castle, ignoring the curious glances they were drawing towards them.

"Come on, I'm sure we'll be able to find you a razor and mirror somewhere."

"Your majesty! What a pleasant surprise!"

"Not now Jasper," Milena said, walking over to the map in the middle of the room, "I need to go to Aurora."

"Aurora?" the butler asked, "but whatever for? Surely they-"

"I don't have time to explain," she stated, reaching out to the city in the desert, "I'll tell you about it after. I promise."

Then, with a flash of bright blue light, the Sanctuary dissolved into the stone walls that was the Auroran temple. Luckily, there wasn't anyone there when she appeared, so she didn't have to explain how she travelled there. At least, not yet anyway.

The city was very quiet, almost silent if it hadn't been for the children playing or the steady hammering of hot metal. However, the temple was anything but calm.

Priests and Priestesses ran every which way carrying different ointments and the like, mumbling under their breath as they went. They were so preoccupied that they didn't even notice it when Milena came up to the main alter.

Several unconscious civilians were lying on cots on either side of the path, and there were a few priestesses that went in-between them, occasionally stopping to spoon something into their mouths or light a new stick of incense. What was wrong with them?

Eventually, she found Priestess Mara in the dye room. She was grinding some of the flowers that Milena had found in the desert in a mortar. As she stepped closer, Milena noticed that several of the dyes that had been made since their making had been used.

"As honoured as I am that our Queen has graced us with her presence," Mara said, making her jump, "I doubt it is to ask of our wellbeing."

When she put it like that, it sounded so bad!

"It's Ben," she replied simply, "He's not sleeping again because of the nightmares."

The priestess nodded, "Those of the touched have been affected by the Crawlers growth, as you saw as you came in. It is not surprising that he is as well. Especially considering the extent to which he was affected by the darkness."

"What should I do?"

Putting down the mortar, the older woman stood and led her out to the alter, "You must make sure he drinks the sap of the sycone tree," she handed her a small vial of yellow goo," mixed in a cup of water and herbs," a small handful of dried leaves were put into a small bag, "Then, you must make sure he sleeps on his back for at least three hours while the incense of the Path of Healing is in the air," a few sticks of incense were added to her hands, "After this, though he will still have nightmares, they should not be strong enough to wake him or for him to remember when he awakens."

Putting the items in her side bag, Milena smiled, "Thank you, Priestess Mara. Thank you so much."

"Don't thank me until after he is well," she replied, "I have given you enough for one attempt, but nothing more. If he wakes before the three hours are over, then it would have failed. I cannot give you any more, as there are more here who require my attention."

"Of course," Milena replied, "I won't detain you any further."

Giving her a small smile, the priestess made her way back to the dye room, leaving the Queen to her thoughts.

Sighing, she made her way back outside, fingering the seal in her bag.

Please, dear Avo, let this work!

Opening the door, the door he never thought he'd open, Ben stepped into Milena's bedroom. The young woman in question was busy laying out something on the floor next to her bed.

He coughed politely, letting her know her was there, "You wanted to see me?"

Smiling, the Queen rose, "Ben! I'm glad you're here. Um, could you close the doors please?"

Frowning, the Major complied, pushing the doors together, before returning his attention back to his Princess. "Is there a reason why I'm here?"

Milena closed the distance between them and held his hands in hers, "I need you to trust me."

"What do you mean?" This was getting more confusing by the second.

"Do you trust me, Ben?" she asked firmly, her grip tightening.

He nodded. "Of course I trust you Princess."

She squinted her eyes at him slightly, "Do you trust me enough to let me see you when you're having a nightmare?"

His eyes widened, "What are you planning to do, Milena?"

"Do you?"

They stared at each other for a few moments, neither wanting to answer until the other had. Finally though, Ben relented.

"Yes. Yes, I trust you to see… that."

Smiling, Milena pulled him over to sit on the bed. As she knelt down in front of him, she picked up a small wooden cup. "I want to help you to get rid of these nightmares," she explained, "but the only way I'm going to be able to do that is if you trust me enough to see you when you are in your most venerable state."

Ben sniffed the content of the cup and cringed. It was the same stuff he had to drink after he'd woken up in the temple on Aurora, though there was something slightly different about it… "What is this?"

"Priestess Mara told me that this was the best way to help you," she replied vaguely, "I wouldn't ask what was in it though… It doesn't smell too good."

Nodding, he swallowed it without allowing it to touch his tongue.

"What now?" he asked, giving the cup back.

"Now," Milena replied, putting the cup down and lighting some incense sticks, "you need to go to sleep."

"Sleep? But I'm not even tiered!"

She gave him a 'really?' look before pushing him down onto the bed, pulling his boots off. "You haven't slept in three days. I think you can manage."

"But-"

Milena silenced him with a look.

Sighing, he lay back into the soft, feather pillow, and resigned himself to sleep.

It took him about half an hour before he was finally asleep. Once his breathing steadied and calmed, Milena began her vigil.

During the first hour, he tried to roll over onto his side three times, and each time, she had to hold him on his back. It was only in the middle of the next hour that he started to become visibly uncomfortable.

He started to mumble to himself, though it was too quiet for her to make out the words, and then move his arms and legs suddenly. At one point, he let out an indistinguishable yell, and Milena had jumped to his side, soothing him with kind words and gentle caresses. After that, he had calmed down considerably, though he continued to mumble.

Over the next few hours, Milena continued to sit with him, holding his hand, talking to him when he became a little too out of control for simple contact. There were times where she had to leave him briefly to light some more incense sticks, and she dreaded each of those times, unsure whether he would be able to last those few seconds without her, but nothing became of it.

By the time the three hours were over, Milena was exhausted.

It was only ten o'clock at night, but it felt as though she had missed the whole night. She could barely keep her eyes open, and promptly collapsed on the bed, unconsciously snuggling closer to the warm body next to her.

Prying his eyes slowly open, Ben squinted at the light that was pouring in through the windows, disturbing his slumber. Groaning, he pulled his arms closer to his chest.

Something in his arms moaned.

Looking down through squinted eyes, he recognised the brunet locks of his Princess. But surely he was still dreaming. She would never be here with him… would she?

"Pr-Princess?"

Milena squirmed slightly in his arms, but refused to awaken.

"Princess."

Slowly, the vision blinked her eyes open and looked up at his face, frowning, as though she wasn't sure if this were real, just as he had not moments before.

"Ben?" she asked sleepily, pulling back slightly, "What are you doing in my bed?"

He returned her frown, "I don't… You told me to go to sleep."

Recognition passed over her face, "Oh yeah… I must have… You're very comfy. Did you know that?" she asked as she nestled closer to him, her eyes closing again.

It was perfect. She felt perfect. She was perfect.

He was in heaven, and she was his angel.

Suddenly, she sat up, eyes wide and fully alert and awake. "Oh… Oh bloody hell. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to… I mean-"

"It's alright, love," Ben interrupted, "You're very comfy too."

Milena looked down at the bed, her cheeks flushing a bright pink. "Yes, well um… Did you sleep well?"

He frowned and looked at the window. When he'd last checked, it had only just been getting dark, "I'm assuming I did, since it's morning. I didn't… you know… scream, or anything… did I?"

"What? No! No, of course not!" she replied, "You did toss and turn a bit, and mumble a few times, but that was it really."

He nodded. "So… I'm okay now?"

Milena came closer to examine his face, "Well, you don't have red eyes any more… though I think you might need another shave."

He sighed, "A man's curse!"

She laughed and then pulled him to her lips.

He could feel the adrenalin running through his vein, and the explosions in his mouth and he wanted more, but he held back. She wasn't ready yet.

When she pulled away, she looked like she was about to say something, but she was disturbed by a sound that they had all been dreading; the town bell.

Sitting up, they both looked out the window. It was getting darker.

"No," she murmured, "It's too early."

AN - Dun dun DUN! Mwahaha! Now you have to wait until next time! And since my Grandma's come over, and it's my cousin's First Holy Communion tomorrow, it could take a while. Haha!

Well, since that was the case, I thought I'd give you this long chapter instead! I hope you liked it. It was fun to write.

I've decided to start a kind of play list on here. Basically, whatever piece of music I listened too most while writing a chapter, I will write down in the authors notes what it was. Maybe you'll listen to it... you never know. I must warn you though, the songs don't always add up to the chapter I wrote. I'm weird like that sometimes!

This update's song is 'La Seine' from A Monster in Paris, the French version (it's better than the English one).

Anyway, I think you all know what's going to happen in the next chapter! But you're just going to have to wait!

Until next time!