(sleep) - for your muse to fall asleep on mine
This was no placefor children. For no one who was in their right mind.
But Loqi tried tomake the best of the situation, not only for his own sake, but forJulia. It was still weird how her presence made him try harder andstronger. A bit like how he had felt as a military leader – butthis was still different entirely.
Julia was just achild. Not even his own, but Loqi had gotten to know her from a veryyoung age. Just a baby when he had arrived at Meldacio. And now shewas barely out of the toddler age. She should be with her mother andfather, not with him. But here they were.
Loqi had wound theblanket tightly around her and told her to sleep in this littlemakeshift tent he had made for her, but she actually had come back towhere he was sleeping. Just beside that “tent” actually, leanedagainst some bags. Mumbled something about not being able to sleepand begging for a story, Julia had simply laid down on him with thenaturalness only children could have.
Surprised at firstand not knowing what to do, Loqi had not been given much of a choicein this. The little girl already nestled against his jacket, hecautiously yet also a bit clueless just let his arms rest around her,so his own blanket would cover them both, too.
And he told her astory. Tried to string one together.
About a girl and aboy from two different kingdoms, hers was one of flowers and spring,his was of eternal winter. They had always fought and the boy hadeven captured the girl, being mean to her and wanting the otherkingdom to lose the battles like this. But as they had talked, theyhad realized that they were similar and they had noticed that theyboth liked to dance. And dancing together had been so much more funthan any fighting – so they stopped.
Granted… Loqididn’t believe himself any good of a storyteller, but Julia’scalmer breath gave him the hint that she had fallen asleep at thisanyway.
Glancing down ontoher brown curls, Loqi was wondering for a few moments. How little shewas and how much she still needed protection – and how there wasn’teven a question or doubt or hesitation in him to try and protect her.
And there also was alittle part of him that wondered, if he ever could protect a littledaughter of his own just like Julia. But for that to even everhappen, they would have to get out of here… and Archelaus wouldnever let them go.
And maybe no onewould ever come.
