For No One (Ch. 4)
Chapter 4: Beg You Nice
Summary: Following Dream's decision for the Key, the evils leave with parting advice. A gift from Queen Titania unsettles you and Loki makes a startling discovery.
Tags: angst, explicit sexual content (18+, MDNI)
Series Masterlist
A/N: I will say that Dream does not fall for Nuala. This is not “Ethan Frome.”
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"Think of me when you're out When you're out there. I'll beg you nice from my knees And when the world treats you way too fairly, Well, it's a shame I'm a dream." - Paramore's "All I Wanted"
You continued to see the guests off, exchanging pleasantries with a smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes. You kept your hands clasped before you, out of his reach, and your gaze on the guests, away from him. Your smile widened as you turned to greet the next delegation, but faltered when you felt Dream’s hand at the small of your back. He felt your body tense against his touch and he swallowed thickly at your recoiling before speaking to the visitors.
“Would you excuse us for a moment?” He asked, and the delegation’s leader bowed shortly. Morpheus used his hold at your back to lead you to a secluded corner, waiting to speak until you were standing before him properly. “Are you alright?” He asked softly as his hands went to your upper arms.
“I’m fine,” you said, just a little too fast. The way he held you now and asked after you made your previous worries seem unfounded, but you couldn’t stop seeing the concern and desperation that you saw on his face when Nada was in danger. And keeping Nada’s presence in the realm hidden from you certainly hadn’t eased your doubts. He narrowed his eyes slightly at you and you knew he didn’t believe you. “Can we just talk about this later?” You pleaded, pulling his hands off of you.
“Are you upset with me?” He asked after a moment with a furrowed brow. And it was your pause that undid him.
“Can we please just talk this later?” You insisted with a downcast gaze, before leaving him there at a loss for words, and returning to the entrance with your polite, superficial smile to meet the Faerie delegation. You felt Dream just a step behind you as Lady Nuala extended the delegation’s thanks for your hospitality. But her smile faltered when she mentioned returning to Faerie and Lord Cluracan asked to be excused for a moment to converse with his sister. Your shoulders tensed now that were left alone with Dream, and you kept your eyes trained ahead in a silent posture that cautioned him against reaching for or speaking to you.
Nuala returned speechless with a haunted look, while her brother spoke for her.
“My sister, Nuala,” he gestured to the troubled young Fae beside him. “Is a gift to you. From Faerie,” he explained with an averted gaze before turning to her with a fleeting glance of regret.
You inhaled sharply and forced your expression to remain neutral. This ploy had Titania written all over it and you refused to allow Cluracan to return to the Fae Queen with any news that her scheme had succeeded in unnerving you.
Dream’s hand twitched at his side as he longed to reach out and reassure you, but your hands remained clasped before you, beyond his reach. When he spoke, Morpheus’ voice was carefully measured, designed to spare your feelings and avoid Titania’s wrath. “With respect to your queen, I cannot accept.” He felt you relax beside him and his shoulders slacked slightly. But Cluracan explained that rejecting Titania’s gift would incur her displeasure in both the Lord Shaper and Lady Nuala.
“And what would please the Lady Nuala?” You asked, turning to the young Fae with a reassuring smile, interrupting the discussion between Dream and Cluracan. Nuala’s distant gaze shifted to focus on you.
“The Lady Nuala wishes to stay, Lady, Lord,” she looked to each of you before continuing. “I would far rather be received here as a gift than return to a queen and a brother who would think so little of me that he would give me away,” she snapped in the direction of her brother, who looked down with a guilty gaze.
“Then we shall accept Lady Nuala with gracious arms,” you smiled with a quick glance up at Dream, who seemed relieved at your approval. With a comment regarding the merits of her diplomacy and their elimination of Faerie’s tithe to Hell, Dream cemented the decision, which Cluracan timidly accepted. He offered to organize visits back to Faerie or even for him to visit her in the Dreaming, but she vehemently rejected his offer with a poise and tact of a proper young Fae.
“Please send Queen Titania our deepest regards,” you said to Cluracan, before he left with a bow and a final apologetic glance towards his sister. You stepped towards Nuala with a comforting smile and an outstretched arm to guide her to her new chambers, but an overdramatic gasp pulled the smile from your face.
“You’re not gonna let us leave without saying goodbye, are you?” Kakia’s sickly sweet voice came lilting through the foyer as she approached. Your body stilled as the three of them approached you. Dream appeared beside you and despite your earlier recoiling, he let his fingers graze the back of your hand. Your hand shifted slightly as you took his, squeezing it lightly, and you could feel him relax at the contact.
“No, she wouldn’t dream of it,” Oizys smirked by Kakia’s side. “Oh, isn’t that cute?” She laughed mockingly, looking down and pointing. “They’re holding hands!” Kakia joined in with a cackle while Phthonus stifled a laugh with his fist. You pulled your hand from Dream’s immediately, folding both of yours behind your back as his hand twitched, suddenly empty by his side.
“Lucienne, Taramis,” Dream called out, his eyes never leaving the evils. He informed them of Nuala’s continued stay in the realm and they led her away, presumably to see her roomed and fed.
“Is that lovely Fae going to be staying in the realm?” Phthonus asked, with a smirk. “My lord,” he stretched the vowels in time with the smirk that grew on his face. “Your wife must be quite open-minded to allow such beautiful young thing to share her home,” he paused to look at you. “And her husband.”
“If you haven’t noticed, the event is over,” you replied, refusing to engage in his quips. “You’re no longer guests here.” Phthonus reacted to your dismissal with mock indignation as a hand flew to his chest exaggeratedly.
“Oh, don’t take it too harshly, Phthonus,” Oizys comforted him with a hand on his shoulder. “She’s probably just upset about her new Fae replacement. After all, isn’t that how you got this job, Elpis?” She smirked. “An innocent, clueless little gift from one ruler to another?”
“That is true!” Kakia gasped as she turned to the dark-haired woman with wide eyes. “You really should do something about her before she usurps your position, Elpis,” she grinned, her eyes alight with the prospect of murder.
“Enough,” Dream’s voice reverberated through the foyer. “Take your leave and go.”
“He’s right,” Oizys settled, and her agreeable attitude set you on edge. “After all, we wouldn’t Lord Morpheus to banish us, would we?” She condescended as she exited the doors, referring to his punishment of Moros.
“At least we’re not teasing Queen Nada,” Phthonus laughed, just a step behind her.
“Oh, then he’d be really mad,” Kakia laughed, referring to Azazel’s more severe punishment of imprisonment. She grinned wickedly, before blowing a kiss to you and chasing after her friends as they left the realm. You swallowed thickly as they left the realm, your gaze still directed where Kakia was standing. He watched you in your stupor for a moment before turning to you.
“Are you alright?” he asked gently. “What they said,” his voice trailed off, the disbelief stealing his words. “You must know that Nuala will never take your place,” he assured you after a moment.
“It’s not Nuala I’m worried about,” you scoffed, as you turned to ascend the staircase to your chambers. He watched you with a furrowed brow as you moved past him.
“Nada,” he realized softly with a downcast gaze. “I meant only to free her. I have no intentions to ask her to remain in the realm, darling,” he explained as he followed behind you.
You kept your eyes forward to keep him from seeing the tears that began to prick at your eyes. “I saw how concerned you were about her when Azazel threatened her,” you took a shallow breath before continuing in a small voice. “How devastated you were by the sight of her in pain. And it all reeked of a still-burning love.”
A short breath of disbelief left him and you turned at the sound with indignation.
“You think this is funny?” You breathed, incensed.
“No,” he shook his head lightly as he stepped closer to you with a soft smile. ”It simply strikes me as ironic that the personification of hope is so convinced of her own unhappiness,” he explained with a soft smile. “I was concerned about her safety. And I did care about her. Perhaps that never entirely goes away,” he admitted with a downward gaze. “But I don’t love her. I don’t need her the way I need you, my Hope.” He watched you roll your lip between your teeth as you considered his words. “There is no one I love more than you,” he whispered up at you. “And,” he began, moving forward until he was just a step below you. “I thought this morning would have proof enough of that,” he smiled down at you with his hands on your waist.
And suddenly you were blushing with a flustered smile at his words and he couldn’t help but smile himself. “You’re so sweet when it’s just the two of us, Dream,” you explained slowly, your smile turning sad. His own smile dropped at the sight of your melancholy and you pulled his hands from your waist. “When Nada was taken to the medical wing, you ran right after her. You left me standing there in front of all of those people as you literally ran after another woman. All those people were staring at me in pity or laughing at my ignorance of your affections for her,” you recounted, recalling the smirks and hands lifted to cover laughing mouths. “And it was exactly like having to sit through those events when you were with Calliope,” you sighed. “You know how much that hurt me, Dream. And you still did this,” you said in a small voice as you shook your head at him.
“I – I didn’t realize,” he responded slowly, before lifting his silvery blue eyes to look deeply at you. “I left only to ensure she was safe. Not because I care more for her than you. I love you so deeply, Elpis,” he sighed, taking your hand in his. “I hadn’t considered that others may still doubt that. And what my leaving before them would do to you,” he swallowed hard before continuing. “I’m sorry, Elpis.”
You reached out to hold his face with a gentle smile. “I know,” you said as your thumb brushed his cheek. “Just,” you paused, your gaze and hand dropping from him with how vulnerable and weak you knew your request would sound. “Please don’t put me through this again, Dream,” you pleaded. “I can’t take it,” you whispered, looking back at him.
“Never,” he breathed, his shoulders slacking with the relief your forgiveness brought him. Your smile returned at his sincerity, and when you saw his other hand twitch expectantly at his side, you huffed a quiet laugh at his restraint to avoid touching you. With the roll of your eyes, you grabbed his nervous hands and placed them on your waist before pulling him in for a kiss. Your hands moved to pull at his locks, but something lurched in you, forcing you to pull away from him. He looked down at you with a frown as his fingertips pressed into your waist; he never did like having to let go of you.
“I was just thinking,” you covered quickly. “Maybe I should go see how Lady Nuala’s settling in. It can’t be easy for her to just be left here.”
“I suppose it would be the amiable thing to do,” he murmured with his eyes still glued to the lips he wished to taste again. He finally relented when you agreed to continue your “discussion” later tonight. Waiting for him to disappear behind a corner, you finally headed towards the medical wing.
You braced yourself at the entrance; you knew Nada lay somewhere within these rooms and you plotted a course in your mind to approach the first available physician to avoid any possibility of seeing her. You weren’t afraid or even jealous to meet her, you tried to convince yourself. It simply wasn’t the right time. So with a deep breath, you passed through the doors and pulled aside the first doctor you saw.
“Do you have a moment, doctor?” You asked the bespectacled aged man with a smile.
“Oh, of course, my lady!” He breathed. “Is everything alright?” He asked, looking you up and down. You hesitated, glancing around the open entrance before speaking.
“Perhaps we could speak privately?” You asked and he gestured down a hallway. He led you to a room, opening the door and waiting for you to sit before closing the door behind him.
“So,” he began, taking a seat behind the desk. “What brings you here, my lady?”
“Well,” you paused, looking down at your lap. “I’ve been experiencing some nausea, though I don’t feel ill.” The pit in your stomach that prevented you from continuing should have been enough for you to know exactly why you were here.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. “Have you experienced anything else out of the ordinary?” He asked slowly, picking up on your apprehension.
You considered his question, replaying the past few days in your mind. With Dream traveling to Hell, receiving the Key to that realm, and preparing for a banquet – “Yes, actually,” you began with a tilted head, recalling the preparations for the banquet’s menus. “Taramis was preparing a dish and I could have sworn it tasted –” You blinked, your whole body stilling before a shallow breath that left your body slack. “Oh,” you said simply with a vacant stare.
He smiled slowly at your realization before speaking. “It seems the kingdom may have a new prince or princess soon enough,” he added in a gentle tone at the shock you wore. “I’m sure Lord Morpheus will be pleased.”
You blinked back to the moment at the sound of his name. “Y—Yes, of course,” you added after a moment. “I – I’d like to tell him myself, though. So if you could just keep this quiet,” you trailed off.
“Say no more, my lady!” He understood with a raised hand. He mimed zipping his mouth shut and tossing away the key. He mentioned tests to schedule, symptoms to be cognizant of, but it was all just noise to you. With a smile and your thanks, you left the medical wing to wander the hallways aimlessly.
A child. Of course you’d always wanted one. You remembered watching Calliope chase after Orpheus within the palace walls and how the hallways would echo of their giddy laughter. You had always been so envious of the joy a child brought her. And the joy it brought him. You recalled how proud he was of Orpheus in those rare moments you saw them together. You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t always hoped for a child the two of you could love and nurture together.
“My lady?”
You looked up at the sound to find Beryl standing before you holding a basket of flowers. “Beryl,” you sniffled, forcing a smile.
“What’s happened?” She asked, deathly serious as she recognized the forlorn expression you wore.
“Nothing,” you responded, forcing your smile wider. She placed the basket on the ground before placing her hands on her hips. With a quirked brow, she waited for you to confess. “I um,” you sighed, dropping your gaze before continuing. “I’m pregnant,” you admitted with a breath of disbelief.
It hadn’t been real before. Some suspicion on your part, some words from a doctor, but now, when the words were finally tumbling from your mouth, when they finally hit the air of the palace walls and reached another living soul, it was real.
Tight arms gripped you and you were pulled from your thoughts. “Oh, my lady!” Beryl squealed, as she tightened her arms around you. “I’m so happy for you! Oh, a baby!”
“Beryl, you’re crushing me,” you laughed at the unexpected strength this mousy young woman held.
“Oh, sorry, sorry!” She rushed, stepping back from you. “Have you told him yet?” She asked with an expectant smile as she took your hands in hers.
“I haven’t, actually,” you admitted, and when your smile disappeared, replaced by your previous forlorn expression, Beryl spoke up.
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be excited, too,” she tried to reassure you, her hands squeezing yours lightly.
“It’s just, we never really talked about kids,” you explained softly. “And after Orpheus,” you shook your head lightly as your voice trailed off. “What if he doesn’t want this?” You wondered in a small voice as you gaze turned distant.
“Look at me,” Beryl demanded, puling your hands lightly to focus you. “If you don’t want to tell him yet, fine. But you are not going to be upset about this,” she directed with a wagging finger, before continuing in a gentle tone. “You’ve wanted kids for so long, my lady. I remember how hurt you were at the possibility of never having one,” she explained, recalling how she found you in tears after you ran into Orpheus for the first time. “So forget about him. Whether he wants this or not, you should do what you want.”
“You’re right,” you realized, squeezing her hands lightly. And as the concern for Morpheus’ reaction dissipated, you felt a laugh bubble up from you. “Beryl, I’m going to have a baby,” you realized, finally letting yourself feel the unadulterated joy you always thought such news would bring you.
“Yes, you are,” Beryl laughed at your excitement, leading you back to your chambers with discussion of names and nursery colors.
“Finally,” he sighed, turning the corner when the coast was clear of you and Beryl. He stepped carefully to avoid the echoing of the wooden sandals he wore. He turned down another corridor, looking cautiously through the dim lighting, before taking another step. He stumbled forward and with a grumble, he tossed them off. “I hate those shoes,” he muttered under his breath. He peered down a stairwell, but a deep voice behind had him cursing inwardly in frustration.
“Lord Susano,” Dream called out from behind him. “Leaving my palace without saying goodbye?”
***
He watched you deep in thought at your desk, the end of your pen caught between your teeth as you stared down at the papers before you. You could feel him behind you and a slow smile spread across your face as you set the pen down.
“Dream,” you called him, knowingly. He walked over to you, placing a kiss upon your cheek before moving to the other side of your desk.
“It seems we had a straggling guest,” he began as he sat down. “Loki,” he explained at your raised brow. “I found him disguised as Lord Susano.”
“Then who was Thor carrying over his shoulder this morning?” You asked, the papers before you now forgotten.
“Lord Susano, I assume,” he answered. “I plan to return to Loki’s prison beneath the Earth to free him.”
“And replace him with Loki,” you finished.
“No, with a dream image,” he corrected. “I let Loki go,” he admitted after a moment.
“You what?” You asked, yours eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and anger.
“In return for his release, he shall now be in my debt,” he explained. Your outrage hadn’t passed, so he continued. “Certainly that will prove useful in the future,” he added.
“He’s the god of mischief!” You exclaimed. “Do you really think he’ll uphold a debt?”
“If he refuses to fulfill the debt, I’ll simply return him to his prison,” he countered. You rolled your lip between your teeth. Certainly he was more powerful than Loki, but you couldn’t help but worry.
“I suppose that’s true,” you relented, finally, to his satisfaction. He reached across the table for your hand before continuing.
“I must go to the Waking World now,” he informed you, and you nodded your approval. “Not only to free Lord Susano, but to let Lucifer know of my decision regarding the Key.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” you decided, pulling your hand from his as you rose from your desk.
“No, my darling,” he smiled as he stood. “The Morningstar holds no ill will towards me. I assure you, I shall be quite safe,” he comforted you. You eyed him for a moment before conceding, and with a kiss to your lips, he disappeared in a cloud of sand.
***
You paced the throne room, awaiting his return from the Waking World.
“I can do this,” you said quietly to yourself. You took a deep, breath, watching the tiles carefully as you turned. “I can do this,” you tried to convince yourself.
He would return to the realm, enter the palace, and come here, to the throne room to find you. You took another breath, another step, as you continued to plan. He would tell you how things went with Susano and Lucifer. And you would tell him.
You dropped your shoulders and looked up at the starry ceiling with a sigh; how would you possibly tell him? Just blurt it out and get it over with? Or broach it carefully and give yourself every opportunity to back out like you knew you would? A breath of frustration escaped you and as you considered the options, he called out for you and your body stilled.
“Dream,” you forced a smile as you turned. You watched him near you and it was almost as though you forgot how to breath, so preoccupied with how to tell him, that you’d completely forgotten how to act naturally. But his hands went to your waist, and yours went to his chest instinctively as you leaned up to plant your lips on his. As he moved against you slowly, your body relaxed and you couldn’t remember why you were so nervous to tell him. You pulled away and by now, your smile had turned genuine. “How did it go?”
“Replacing Lord Susano with a dream image was simple. Lucifer however,” he began with raised brows and a distant gaze before looking back you. “Apparently my decision was a wise one,” he explained, recounting Lucifer’s approval of returning the Key to Heaven.
You took a breath and parted your lips, but he continued, and your tongue stilled.
“Lucienne has informed me that Nada is awake,” he said, looking down at you carefully.
Your words died on your tongue, along with any confidence you had. “Oh,” you said simply.
“I plan to speak with her,” he began, but at your withdrawn gaze, he continued. “Would you like to join us?” He asked.
You bit back the derisive reply you knew you would uttered without thinking two thousand years. You believed Dream earlier when he explained that he may still care about her, but that he no longer loved her, but Desire’s words still echoed in your mind: “How much must he have loved her for that to turn to enough hate to sentence her to Hell for 10,000 years?” Certainly more than he loves you, Desire had implied, and right now, you couldn’t find fault in his observation.
When you travelled to Hell, Etrigan had told you how she was his first love and you knew, by looking through the dreams of mortals, that first loves always burned brightest. After all, that’s why you were here; still head over heels for Dream despite everything he’d put you through. Maybe Nada would feel the same and want him back. And maybe at the sight of her forgiveness, he’d want her too.
But you pushed it all aside. Your better judgment took over and you decided to take the word of your husband over that of his scheming sibling and a demon.
“That’s alright, Dream,” you answered with a smile, before leaning up to kiss him. Though you couldn’t help but worry about him meeting with her. And the possibility that she may convince him to come back to her. The thought of having to raise a child amidst all of this dropped your heart. No, you realized, you would have to convince him to stay with you by reminding him how much you loved him. If you loved him hard enough, you decided, he would stay. “But do you have to meet with her now, my lord?” You asked, and the Dreaming bent to your will sending the two of atop the winding staircase in front of his throne. He looked down at you with a knowing look as you pushed him back on his throne with your hands on his shoulders. “Or do you think you can stay with me a little longer?” You smirked below dropping to your knees before him.
“I could stay here with you for eternity, my darling,” he replied, taking your face in his hand as you laughed at his response. You leaned up to kiss him while your hands made quick work of his pants. Your hands dipped inside of his boxers to slip him out and he inhaled sharply at the feel of your soft hand wrapped around him. Grasping his shaft, you let your hand run up and down in a languid motion as you watched him lean his head back against his throne. Your lips parted as you watched his throat bob, his eyes shut as he reveled in every move of your hand. And you couldn’t wait any longer.
You leaned over him, your hands planted firmly over his thighs as you took him as far as you could down your throat in one smooth motion. His eyes shot open at the sudden change and you smirked at the way his muscles tensed beneath your palms.
“Hope,” he breathed in surprise as his hands moved to tangle in your hair. You let your tongue run flat along the underside of him, as you pulled slowly off of him, and when he tugged at the base of your hair, you looked up at him with something he could have sworn was desperation. His brow furrowed slightly, but you wrapped your lips even tighter as you sank back onto him and all he could do was tug harder on your locks. You felt him hit the back of your throat and tears pricked at your eyes as you choked slightly on him.
You continued to bob up and down on him, your tongue swirling around the head of him and collecting the growing wetness there. You ignored the way your jaw ached, taking a shallow breath in through your nose. You moaned as the taste of him on your tongue and the scent of him filled you, and for a moment you wondering if this may be the last time you tasted him. But you pushed away the thought of him and Nada, forcing yourself to focus on the here and now. So you leaned into the feeling of him filling your mouth, the way your name fell from his lips like rain, and the taste of him on your tongue that you willed yourself never to forget. You took him deeper, telling yourself that the tears in your eyes were a result of the large intrusion, not the possibility of losing him.
A mix of saliva and precum dripped from your mouth despite the tight seal you held around him and he groaned deeply at the sight of you on your knees with your mouth full of him. His hips stuttered, his restraint truly admirable as he tried to avoid bucking into your mouth, but you simply looked up at him and nodded, as much as you could with the way he filled your mouth. He tested the waters with a short motion and you shifted higher on him, allowing him better access down your throat. With one hand still on the arm of his throne and the other gripping your hair, he guided you down on to him as he bucked into your mouth. You hollowed your throat, forcing in another breath through your nose and you looked up to find him lost in ecstasy. His head thrown back, dark lashes shut his eyes, full, pillowy lips agape as he cursed in some forgotten language about the tight fit your mouth provided. You worked to memorize every inch, every detail of the gorgeous portrait before you.
“Oh, my beautiful Hope,” he groaned and you knew the tears that flowed down your face then weren’t from your mouth’s activities; you swallowed hard at the thought of never hearing him call you so lovingly again. You felt him twitch inside your mouth with a sharp inhale and you moved your mouth faster upon him. You suckled harder, pressing your lips tighter and taking him as far as you could, knowing he was close. You felt him shoot down your throat, closing your eyes against the warm, salty taste of him, and staying on him until he emptied into your mouth. When you felt his thighs relax under your palms and his grip in your hair loosen, you swallowed every bit of him down before licking him clean as he breath steadied. You wiped at your eyes and mouth before rubbing lightly at your jaw.
You watched him melt back into his throne with closed eyes, exhausted, and you smiled at the sight of resting so blissfully. You tucked him back into his pants, zipping and buttoning his pants closed for before rising to your feet. You brushed his hair aside before pressing a kiss upon his brow. Your fingertips grazed the alabaster planes of his face, tracing along the sharp lines and soft expanses. You swallowed hard with a sad smile before turning to leave. But even with his eyes closed, his hand reached out to grab your wrist.
“Come here,” he rasped, lowly. You turned back towards him and h opened his eyes, taking your other hand in his, as well. Your lip parted at the sight of his endlessly blue eyes. You gazed into the enchanting waters and you wondered how you found the sight of them frightening when you first met him, when the thought of never seeing that silvery blue again broke your heart. “Are you really going to leave without letting me please you?” He wondered with a slow smile as his hands moved to your waist to pull you down to straddle him, but you stopped him with your hands on his shoulders.
“You have a meeting to get to,” you explained with a soft smile. Preventing him from meeting with Nada would only prove that you didn’t trust him. Your act was meant to show him how much you adored him, and showing you trusted him was a part of that, even if your own pleasure wasn’t.
“My meeting can wait,” he affirmed with a frown as he watched you. He pulled again at your hips, but you simply smiled ruefully at him as you pulled his hands from you.
“It’s okay,” you smiled. “I have some things to tend to anyway,” you lied, before placing a kiss to his cheek. He accepted reluctantly, his hand falling from yours only when you were too far away.
***
You rapped on her door with the back of your knuckles lightly, before calling out, “Lady Nuala?” The door opened only a moment later, the young Fae standing hesitantly before you. “Do you mind if I come in?” You asked with a gentle smile.
“Oh, yes, of course, Lady Elpis,” she rushed, nervously, opening the door wider with a bowed head as you entered.
“How are you settling in?” You asked as you took a seat in the chamber’s seating area. “Is there anything you need?”
“No, my lady, everything’s been perfect,” she answered quickly, taking a seat and folding her hands in her lap. She took a breath and you waited for her to continue. “Lady Elpis, I assure you, I had no idea about any of this,” she began with wide eyes as she shook her head. “And I promise you, I have no intention of –“
“It’s alright, Lady Nuala,” you smiled at her. “I am fairly well-acquainted with Queen Titania,” you added, explaining shortly that you were familiar with Titania’s pettiness. When the nervous Fae seemed to relax slightly, you continued with a gentle tone. “Do know how I arrived in this realm?”
“I-I’m afraid I don’t, my lady,” she responded in a quiet voice with a darting glance. “And ‘Nuala’ will do just fine.”
“Well, Nuala, I was a gift to the Lord Shaper once, too,” you admitted and Nuala’s gaze rose to yours. “From Zeus to try and sway Dream’s affections from his daughter, Calliope.” Her lips parted and you could sense the question she was about to pose, so you saved her the time. “That’s a story for another day,” you explained, with a short laugh. “But just like you, I was completely unaware of Zeus’ plan. And, I just want you to know that I know you’re not responsible for any of this,” you explained finally.
“I really didn’t know that Queen Titania had any of this in mind,” she admitted quietly. “That she planned to abandon me like,” she looked down at her hands. “Not that I don’t appreciate being here,” she added quickly.
“I’m afraid Titania hasn’t taken the news of my and Dram’s reconciliation well,” you explained, alluding to their affair, which you were certain Nuala was aware of. “And I’m sorry that you had to be part of her scheme. But the Dreaming is a truly wondrous place to discover,” you began with a fond smile. “And you are free to roam it as you wish. And if you ever get bored, which I know I did after some time, we can find something for you to do.”
“Thank you, my lady,” she breathed, a smile starting on her lips. But it faltered and her brow furrowed as she continued. “I’m sorry, my lady,” she asked slowly. “Am I not part of your court now?”
“I don’t have a court, Nuala,” you chuckled. “You’re free to do as you wish,” you shrugged. “Dress as you wish,” you explained glancing down at the way she pulled nervously at her sleeve.
“Really?” She wondered, her smile returning. You nodded with a light chuckle at her excitement. With a shimmer in the air, her blonde hair transformed to simple waves, her elegant gown and cloak to more comfortable overalls, and her makeup cleared, leaving her a simple young woman with bright eyes. “Is this alright?” She asked, her accent turning from posh to common.
“Of course it is,” you assured her. “I don’t mean to disparage your queen, but I always had a feeling she would be a bit strict with her court,” you explained with a sly smile.
“Oh, you have no idea,” she sighed with a relieved smile.
***
She walked out before him, her eyes trained on the clear skies that lay outside the dark, towering doors of the castle. But he spoke, and she stopped in her tracks.
“The mortal world is not as you remember it,” Dream explained. “Humanity itself –” he began, but she interrupted him, her patience running thin at the way he seemed to want to her here.
“Have I not just spent the last 10,000 years with humanity?” she asked, her eyes set dead ahead on the freedom that lay just beyond.
“Let me come with you,” he offered at the sound of her derision. “To help you settle into the Waking World, at least,” he pleaded, hoping to make things right with her during this dinner, but she remained determined not to forgive him.
“Kai’chul,” she called, with a finality meant to end his imploring. But stubborn as always, the Dream Lord continued.
“It is treacherous there,” he warned, eager for a chance to earn her forgiveness.
“More so than Hell?” She scoffed as she turned to him. Her words rendered him speechless, and at his silence, she seized her chance. “Fare you well, Kai’chul,” she concluded, before turning and walking through the doors to her mortal freedom.
***
He returned to your chambers with a desolate look that left you conflicted. You knew she had left the realm since you no longer felt her presence here in the Dreaming. And from his disappointed expression, you knew the meeting had not gone to his satisfaction, which most likely meant she rejected his apologies before leaving the realm. Clearly she had no intention of pursuing him, which relieved you, but his bleak expression made you wonder if his apologies were all she rejected.
“Dream?” you questioned as you exited the bed in a lacy black babydoll negligee. “Are you alright?” You asked softly as you walked up to him.
His eyes didn’t quite meet yours, landing somewhere beyond your shoulder, instead. “She refused my apologies. She gave me no opportunity to make amends for how I’ve wronged her,” he explained.
You felt relief at the knowledge that she refused him, but the deep sorrow in him worried you. “Maybe she just needs time, Dream,” you suggested.
“Perhaps,” you murmured, mindlessly, as he turned towards the balcony. Black clouds filled the skies and thunder tolled as he looked out over the Dreaming. You swallowed hard at the great pain Nada’s refusal caused him. You considered sliding under the covers quietly, simply slinking away while he brooded over the loss of his love. But you closed your eyes and sighed; you couldn’t stand the thought of him in pain, even if the cause for it was another woman.
You moved around the bed to the balcony, where his tense form leaned over the railing. With a simple gesture as you neared him, you extended the eave above him to prevent the rain from soaking him any further. You stood at his side, watching the pain on his face that he tried to hide behind the downpour.
“Standing out in this rain isn’t going to help things, Morpheus,” you sighed as you brushed his wet hair out of his face. “Come inside,” you pleaded, with a hand on his arm.
“What if she never forgives me?” He asked, eyes still glassy as he looked out over the storm. “What if she hates me for all her life?”
“Does it matter?” You wanted to ask. “Does it matter what she thinks of you when I love you still?” But you swallowed it down.
“She just needs time, Dream. What happened is still so fresh for her,” you explained. “Give her some time to heal.” You squeezed his arm lightly and tested a smile, but he didn’t look down at you. The storm seemed to pull him in, his sorrow from Nada’s rejection fueling it and the storm in turn fueling his depression. A vicious self-sustaining cycle that left you forgotten by his side.
***
Light chatter filled the air as Moros glanced through the bar once again. Kakia’s attention continued to wander as she clocked every alcoholic, every drug abuser, every adulterer in the place. Oizys managed to locate the investment managers who had taken some truly unfortunate risks with the money they were entrusted with and licked her lips with anticipation. Phthonus eyed the couples celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and wondered how best ensure it was their last. Moros checked his watch once more before rising from the table.
“He’s not here,” he decided. “We’re leaving.”
“I thought you’d want to hear what he has to say more than any of us,” Oizys shrugged. “You know, since apparently he actually has a plan to get back at Morpheus?” She smirked.
“He doesn’t have a plan, Oizys. All he has is a scrap of information that may not even be true,” he scoffed. “And anyway, we don’t need this trickster to formulate a plan,” Moros stated.
“Great,” she breathed, turning towards him with her hands folded on top of the table. “So where are we at in this plan of yours, Moros?”
“Settle down, you two,” Phthonus chided, at the sight of Moros’ tensed jaw and clenched fists. “Or just fuck and get it over with,” he sighed, as his eyes surveyed the bar. “And take a seat, Moros. Our guest is finally here.”
They watched the man with icy blond hair approach with a devious grin and a slow walk.
“If your tardiness is any indication of how you conduct business, Loki, I think we’ll be better off on our own,” Moros declared from his standing position as he approached the table.
“Apologies,” he breathed before taking a seat at the end of the table. He gestured to a waiter and Moros exhaled in anger.
“Do you have something to tell us, or not?”
“Straight to business, then,” he sighed, before shooing the waiter away. “I can respect that.” He took a moment to consider the four: one angry and impatient, one far too impulsive, the other too provocative, and the last calculating enough to warrant a careful eye. But he couldn’t execute this plan alone, and he always found a common enemy easy to bond over. “I saw the four of you at the banquet in the Dreaming. I suppose I should say three, because there were only three of you there the next morning. One of you,” his eyes drifted over to Moros. “Seems to have gotten on the wrong side of the Dream Lord,” he grinned. Moros tensed and Loki continued. “But that’s alright, because I seem to have found myself on the wrong side of him, as well.”
“So, what? You want to team up and take down Morpheus?” Phthonus surmised. “Great, we’ll start a club,” he scoffed. “Unless you’ve got an idea on how to go about it, I’ll see you at our next club meeting.”
“Oh, I’ve got a plan,” Loki smiled slyly as he eyed the other man. “But it requires careful planning, subtle touches, and patience. Maybe you’re not the right group for it,” he sighed.
“Oh for gods’ sakes,” Kakia sighed. “Just tell us what you know so I can stir up a little trouble already,” she groaned, eying the man with powder under his nose who was now unsuccessfully trying his charms on the fifth woman tonight.
“Certainly you’re all familiar with the law that the Endless are barred from spilling family blood?”
“Obviously,” Moros responded, before scoffing. “You think we didn’t do our research?”
Oh, I’m sure you did,” he agreed with a grin. “But I don’t think you did your snooping. It seems,” he leaned forward as his grin widened. “His wife is pregnant.”
Next Chapter ->
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