Marina's.P.O.V.

I was drifting in an endless sea. Yet I was floating effortlessly. I could feel the water as if it were a part of me. My heart beating in time with the water and the rolling of the waves. I felt so peaceful and wonderful.

Then I heard screaming, terrible screams of fear. I realized that they were from somewhere else. I instantly awoke. I instantly shot of bed and ran to where Hercules was. He was twisted in his blanket, he tossed back and forth.

I shook him. I called out to him. Thankfully none of the others had woken. "Hercules, wake up! It's only a dream!" I cried, repeating the words that I had used earlier this morning. He woke up. Like before, he was terrified. "You all were there! You were hurt, Marina! I couldn't save you! I couldn't…." Hercules sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks. I sat on the edge of his bed. I took Hercules' blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders.

"Come with me." I whispered; beckoning him to me with my hand. He followed me. I softly and silently exited the Academy. Hercules followed. WE were in the stable yard but I kept walking. We exited at the front gate. A grassy meadow lay ahead beside the dusty road.

I ran to the meadow and sat the on the grass. It felt cool and clean. Hercules plopped down beside me. He looked older, as if he had seen things that he shouldn't have, "Sleep, I'll keep singing to keep your demons at bay." I whispered.

Hercules exhaustedly laid his head on my lap. I felt the tension that riveted through Hercules' body. "Relax." I murmured, stroking his golden hair. I softly began to sing. Slowly the tension faded and his breathing slowed.

My lullaby swept him away to slumber. Soon he slept peacefully but I still sang. I gazed at the endless stars above. Ever constant, never changing. I sang to Hercules and the stars. The song filling the midnight skies.

I sang for hours but refused to stop. Hercules never stirred, he kept calmly. The night's black soon relented to dawn's light blues and purples. Oranges and pinks. Soon the sun peeked above the horizon. Tickling earth with its warm rays.

I felt Hercules begin to stir. "Time to rise." I whispered softly. Slowly, like the dawn, Hercules awoke. His hair was tousled and his eyes clouded from sleep, but his nolonger had shadows.

"Good gods." Hercules exclaimed, staring at the dawn. "I've been asleep all night." "Yes you have." I murmured sleepily. Hercules sat up. "You sang the entire night?"
Hercules asked, incredulous. "Yes, all night." I whispered, standing up. I felt utterly exhausted. Hercules quickly put the blanket around my shoulders. "Sleep, I'll carry you back." He whispered.

I fell exhaustedly fell into Hercules' arms. I rested my head on his shoulder. He was so warm, so very warm…

Hercules'.P.O.V.

I stared at the sleeping girl in my arms. She was beautiful beyond belief. Her beauty to me, surpassed Aphrodite's by far. Not that I would ever tell the god of love that, not if I valued my life. She tanned skin, like the ones that the sailor's near the sea had. Sea blue eyes and long brown hair. I gently placed a kiss on her cheek, as we walked back. Someday in the future I hoped that she would return my affections….