"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."- Lord of the Rings, Gandalf

Lyall's Pov

Floating… that what it feels like. Floating. Even though I know I'm falling. It's just like in the book "Alice in Wonderland" where Alice falls into the rabbit hole. She knows she is falling but instead of that sinking feeling that your falling to your death, she felt like she was floating like a feather dancing in the wind. That's what it feels like for me.

It felt so peaceful, I wanted to fall forever. Hoping to stay blind to this reality. But sadly all good things have to come to an end. Amongst this dark quiet void, I didn't hear anything. Just basking in this silence but then I heard whispering. It was hard to make out at first but the further down I went the more clear it became.

"Wither and decay~"

I stretched my ears and try to recognize this voice that is singing but I couldn't make it out.

"End this destiny~"

It sounded like it was a female voice. Powerful and elegant.

"Break these earthly chains

And set the spirit free~"

Suddenly I felt something crawling on my arms and legs. I looked at my arms and saw…

"The spirit free~"

Centipedes. Centipedes were wrapping and crawling along my arms. I tried to scream but nothing came out. It felt like my voice was just stuck in my throat. I tried to get them off while tears went down my terrified face. Suddenly eyes started appearing out of nowhere. Looking at me sinisterly at my petty form.

"Break these earthly chains

And set the spirit free~"

Than centipedes started crawling up my legs. Now I was truly terrified. I flailed around, desperate to get them off me. But it was no good, thousands of centipedes crawled all over my body, violating me. I sobbed, tears clouding my vision.

"The spirit free~"

"AHHHHHHH!" I wailed after the last verse. Finally able to scream. But once I screamed the centipedes disappeared along with the eyes but I felt gravity take its toll and fell down… down to the ground whilst evil blue eyes stared down on me.

The plunging feeling sunk deep in my stomach. "Oh god… I'm going to die." I whispered. I started to feel the wind whip on my skin at a fast pace and the sound of birds chirping happily. I hugged myself, preparing to feel the crushing feeling of the earth hitting my fragile body.

But when I thought I was about to hit the ground… it never became. Instead I felt strong warm hands holding me close. I kept my eyes firmly shut, not believing that I have been saved until…

"Inger…"

Vlad's Pov

(Walachian 1448)

6 years… 6 years in that Ottoman hell and without my Inger… For years I have waited for her. Endured the pain and suffering, hoping I would see her in the dungeon. Have her in my arms, listening to her angelic voice, gaze into her beautiful eyes, feel the warmth of her skin. But she always disappear before me. No matter how much I want her to stay, she would vanish without a trace. After I left that hell I searched high and low for her. Searching each village, looking through all of the women to see if she was among them. When I couldn't find her, in my rage I would take one of the women to bed with me just to release my frustration. When that didn't work I would be disgisted and ashamed of myself I would torture and murder the women.

For the last 6 years I have been campaigning to take back my throne. So far not successful, especially since I'm up against my younger brother and the bastard Sultan himself. I growled "Just the mere thought of him makes my blood boil." I thought with disgust. I was so caught up with my thoughts that I almost missed the distance sounds up ahead. I was riding by myself, getting fresh air and away from all those smelly, perfumed nobles. Wearing a crisp white shirt and boiled black leather pants with boiled black boots.My stallion and I were out on the green fields until a heard a distant noise. I looked around trying to find the source. But no one was there. Until I heard it again and it sounded like someone was crying. I looked up in the sky and saw…

"Lyall…!?" I whispered in shock. My angle was falling from the heavens to me crying. My heart broke at the sight. I got my horse into a full gallop, trying to see where exactly she was going to land. We ended up near the river of the open field. I stopped my horse and jumped off him and went into a full run.

"Inger…. Inger!" I thought with panic. I wanted to catch her. Make sure that she will be safe and out of harm's way. I ended up in the shallow end of the river and stood at the right spot of where she was going to land. She landed gently in my arms. I sighed in huge relief. But she was trembling. She was terrified. My heart broke even more. I held her closer to my chest, not believing that she was here in my arms.

"Inger…" I whispered. Once she heard my voice she stopped trembling and sucked in some air and looked up at me with her beautiful tear filled eyes. "Vlad…?" She whispered. She started touching my chest and working her way up to my face stopping just at the base of my neck. " Yes my Inger… it's me." I said huskily, suddenly reacting to her touch. "I can't believe it… let me see you." She asked me. "Wha-" i was cut off when I felt her soft hands touch my face.

Shocks spread all throughout my body. I shivered in pleasure, trying to remember not to drop her. She started feeling my eyebrows, then my eyes, then the curve of my nose and… my lips. I sucked in my breath, not believing this is happening. She giggled. I look at her confused. "You have a beard? When did you grow one? Usually your face, whenever it leaned on my head was smooth." She laughed. I smiled at her innocence. She lowered her hands and sighed. "I still can't believe you here." She said. I leaned down and touch her forehead with mine. "Believe it… I'm here." I said, kissing her forehead.

"And I'm never letting you go."