Chapter 8: Storm's Embrace
The wind howled outside the large estate, and the rain lashed against the tall windows of Eirik's chambers with relentless fury. It was the kind of night where shadows seemed to stretch and shift, the kind where even the bravest men felt a hint of unease. The hearth had gone out hours ago, and the cold crept into the room, thick and biting.
Aeryn was whimpering softly in his sleep, curled against Eirik's broad chest. His dreams were troubled, haunted by the ominous rumbling of thunder in the distance. It grew louder, angrier, as though the sky itself was at war. A sudden crack of thunder ripped through the night, and Aeryn awoke with a start, his heart hammering in his chest.
The thunder reminded him too much of guns—loud, unforgiving, deadly. He clenched his eyes shut, willing the fear to subside, but it was useless. His mind couldn't stop reliving the worst memory of his childhood: the day his mother had died. He had been just a child, hiding in the corner as his mother tried to shield him. There had been gunshots—one after another—and then the horrible, deafening silence. The image of her lifeless body haunted him, and now, with each thunderclap, it all came rushing back.
He blinked away the tears that threatened to spill over and turned his gaze to Eirik. The older man was still sound asleep, his large, rough hands resting protectively around Aeryn's hips. Eirik's soft snores filled the room, a steady rhythm that contrasted sharply with the violent storm outside. Aeryn didn't want to wake him—not after the long day his husband had endured. He knew Eirik had spent the entire day on the field, dealing with the border conflicts. He deserved his rest.
But the room was cold. Too cold. Aeryn shivered beneath the covers, despite the warmth of Eirik's body beside him. Another thunderclap boomed, louder this time, shaking the windows. Aeryn flinched, biting his lip to suppress a whimper. He buried himself deeper into Eirik's chest, trying to find solace in the steady rise and fall of his husband's breathing, in the comforting sound of his heartbeat. He breathed in Eirik's familiar scent, a mixture of earth, leather, and something distinctly masculine, and tried to let it calm him.
Lightning flashed across the room, casting eerie shadows, and Aeryn trembled again. The anticipation of the next roar of thunder made his skin crawl. He could feel himself shaking uncontrollably now, despite his best efforts to stay quiet.
Then, suddenly, a large hand landed gently on his head, stilling his trembling.
"It's alright. I'm here," Eirik's deep, gravelly voice broke through the darkness, quiet yet reassuring. His touch was both rough and gentle, protective in a way that made Aeryn's heart ache. "Does the lightning frighten you, little prince?"
Aeryn felt a flush of embarrassment rush through him. He hadn't wanted to wake Eirik, especially not because of something as childish as his fear of thunder. "I… I'm sorry, Eirik," he stammered softly, his voice barely a whisper. "I didn't mean to wake you, my lord… I—"
Another deafening crash of thunder echoed through the night, and Aeryn clutched at Eirik's shirt instinctively, his small hands balling up the fabric as he tried to steady himself.
Eirik's strong hand rubbed soothing circles on Aeryn's back, his touch steady and calming. "It's okay to be frightened," Eirik said gently, his voice low and soothing. "I'm right here. It will pass, and I'll hold you through it."
Aeryn pressed his face against Eirik's chest, feeling the warmth of his husband's body against his cheek. His hand rested on Eirik's strong bicep, his fingers trembling as they traced the muscle beneath his skin. He felt so small and fragile compared to the warrior lord who held him.
"I don't mean to be such a child," Aeryn whispered, his voice laced with shame. His cheeks burned with embarrassment, but he couldn't stop the way his body trembled.
Eirik chuckled softly, the sound deep and rumbling. "Everybody's scared of something, little one. It's not just children."
Aeryn felt a flicker of curiosity, his embarrassment momentarily forgotten. "What could you possibly be scared of?" he asked, his voice full of disbelief. Eirik was feared across the land, a powerful warrior and leader. The idea of him being afraid of anything seemed almost impossible.
Eirik paused for a moment, and then, with a slight grin in his voice, he said, "Pigeons."
Aeryn blinked in surprise, his eyes going wide. "Pigeons?" he repeated, incredulous. "The warrior lord feared by so many… is afraid of a harmless bird?"
Eirik chuckled again, nodding. "Really," he confirmed. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but… something doesn't have to harm you to be frightening."
Aeryn looked up at him, his fear momentarily forgotten as he tried to wrap his mind around the idea of Eirik—his strong, fearsome husband—being afraid of pigeons of all things. "But… but they're so small and harmless!" he said, still incredulous.
"I know," Eirik replied, his hand stroking through Aeryn's hair with a tenderness that made the younger man's heart flutter. "But fear isn't always logical, is it? It's just something that sticks with you."
Aeryn thought about that for a moment, feeling a little less ashamed of his own fear. "I suppose," he whispered. "But I still don't understand how a warrior like you could be afraid of pigeons."
Eirik smiled, brushing his thumb over Aeryn's cheek. "And I don't understand how a little prince as brave as you could be afraid of thunder. But that's the way it is, isn't it?"
Aeryn smiled softly, his body finally starting to relax in Eirik's arms. The storm still raged outside, but the warmth of his husband and the gentle teasing made it seem a little less frightening. He nuzzled closer to Eirik, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe him.
"I suppose we're both a bit ridiculous then," Aeryn murmured, his voice growing softer as sleep began to pull at him once more.
"Perhaps," Eirik whispered, pressing a kiss to Aeryn's forehead. "But that's alright. I'll protect you from the thunder, and you can protect me from the pigeons."
Aeryn let out a soft, sleepy laugh, his fear fading away completely as he drifted off to sleep once more, safe and sound in Eirik's arms.
