Alone In the Dark

The castle has been quiet these past three days, the kind of silence that feels like a breath held too long. Most of the people that live here have left if they are unable to fight. I was honestly grateful for that. The sun has risen and set once more, casting its golden glow through the windows, yet Damon has not stirred from his deep slumber. Deaken assures me he’s out of danger, that he should wake any day now, but my heart is heavy with doubt. I am not so sure he will wake; I have begged him to show me any sign of life.

I had never stepped foot in Damon’s private chambers before this turmoil. Now, the room has become my world, the walls witnesses to my vigil. May, the maid who had served Damon’s family for generations, moved quietly about the room, her presence a silent comfort. She changed the linens and brought fresh water, her hands working with the efficiency of one who has seen much and spoken little.

May tries to comfort me with her gentle words and efficient care, but her presence is a mere whisper against the storm of my worries. “My lady, you must take care of yourself. Lord Syndril needs you strong.” She pleaded with me, but I can’t bring myself to go.

“I cannot May. Not until he awakens. Not until I know he is truly safe.” I look at her ghost form, a light gray mist that hides most of her features. “I will rest when he awakes, I promise. But not a moment sooner.” I tell her as she bows her head.

Her eyes, always so full of empathy, seem to understand my resolve, yet she worries still. “He will wake, my lady. He’s a fighter, and your love… it’s a powerful thing.”

I manage a small smile for her, though it doesn’t reach my eyes. I hope she is right; I don’t know what I would do without him. He said once when I first woke up that we had been tied together. If he died, I would die too. I wonder now if that was a bluff so I would behave. I hope it was, I don’t want to leave Deaken here alone either. My gaze returns to Damon, lying so still and pale on the bed that has become his battlefield. I watch for any sign of life, any hint of the man who commands the night with such fierce passion.

It’s hard for me to be so close to him but to miss him endlessly like this. He is right there but I have never felt further from him. The door opens, and Deaken’s imposing figure appears, his face etched with concern and weariness from commanding our forces.

His voice is gentle as he speaks to me. “Caroline, let me watch over him. You need a respite, even if just for a moment.”

I know he means well but if I was laying in this bed, I know he would not be moved either. “I appreciate your kindness, Deaken, but I cannot leave his side. What if he wakes and I’m not here?” I want to be the first person he sees so he knows he is not alone in this fight. I am here with him for every breath he takes.

Deaken nods, understanding the depth of my fear, and leaves me to my solitary watch.

Time loses meaning as I sit by Damon’s side, speaking softly to him of our past victories and the future we’re meant to share. I hold his hand, cool to the touch, and pray for a sign. I don’t know if someone is out there to hear my pray but I hope someone is listening. I need someone to be listening. I can’t do this by myself, I am not meant to do this without him.

The shadows lengthened across the chamber as the third day’s light began to fade, and with it, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Damon’s eyes, a verdant hue that had haunted my dreams, flickered open, piercing the encroaching darkness with their clarity.

“Damon?” I whispered, my voice a mix of hope and fear.

His lips parted, a breath of sound reaching out to me. “Caroline?”

I was at his side in an instant, my fingers intertwining with his. “Yes, my love. It’s me. You’re safe now. You’re home,” I said, pouring every ounce of reassurance I could muster into the words.

His gaze, though wavering, locked with mine, and in that fragile thread of connection, I felt the stirrings of hope. The room, once a tomb of silence, was now filled with the soft cadence of our intertwined breaths.

“Damon, do you remember what happened?” I asked gently, not wanting to overwhelm him.

He nodded slightly, the effort etched in the furrow of his brow. “The battle… the king’s forces,” he murmured, the memories surfacing like dark waves.

“You fought bravely, my king. We managed to escape, but you… you were gravely injured,” I explained, my voice catching on the last words.

A pained expression crossed his features, a testament to the struggle that still raged within him. “The others… are they—”

“Safe,” I interjected quickly. “Deaken led the retreat. He’s been by your side, as have I. We’ve all been waiting for you to return to us.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips, and for a moment, the room seemed a little brighter. “Always so strong, my Caroline. My queen.”

I couldn’t help the tears that welled in my eyes, a mixture of relief and love spilling over. “Rest now, Damon. Gather your strength. We have much to do, and I need you by my side.”

As night fully claimed the sky, the room settled into a peaceful quiet. Damon’s breathing became more even, the tension in his body easing as he drifted back into a healing sleep. I remained by his side, watching over him, the guardian of his rest.

The door opened softly, and Deaken stepped in, his eyes immediately finding mine. “How is he?” he asked in a hushed tone.

“Awakening,” I replied, my voice a whisper of gratitude. “He spoke to me.”

Deaken’s face broke into a relieved grin. “That’s our lord. Stubborn even in the face of death.”

We shared a quiet laugh, the sound a balm to the soul. “Stay with him for a while?” I asked, the exhaustion of the past days catching up to me.

“Of course,” Deaken agreed, moving to take my place by Damon’s side. “Go, take a moment for yourself. You’ve earned it.”

With one last look at Damon, I allowed myself to step away, knowing he was in capable hands. The castle, once a place of confinement, now offered a sense of solace. I wandered through the halls, the stone beneath my feet grounding me in the present.

When I returned, the moon was high, casting silver beams through the window. Deaken nodded to me as he left, and I took my place once more by Damon’s side. The night passed in silence, a vigil of stars watching over us.

And then, as the first light of dawn began to paint the horizon with hues of pink and gold, Damon’s eyes opened once more. This time, there was a clarity, a strength that had been absent before.

“Caroline,” he said, his voice no longer a fragile thread but a steady, warm tone. “I am here.” Tears of joy blurred my vision as I clasped his hand.