There were tress behind her and within the dark shadow was the vague structure of a man.
Before she could even make out anything he was, immediately the dream started crashing before her eyes. She felt a terrible headache jam into her head and she fell to the floor, but instead of falling on the soft cold sand of the beach, it was like as if she fell right through it, into a dark abyss.
She screamed in her dream through the weightless fall.
Long penetrating screams from the depth of her throat.
Then she jerked up, awake.
Her eyes shot open, blinking to adjust to the darkness while her chest rose and fell, as her gown clung to her body, wet with sweat.
She could almost feel the lingering pain in her head.
Almost.
"Just a dream." She mumbled breathlessly to herself. "It's not real. Just a dream."
She said over and over again before she laid back in bed but she couldn't fall back asleep immediately.
She kept on thinking about what had happened in the dream.
The man had said he was whoseover she desired.
Who was it that she missed so much that she could have been dreaming about?
She had once learned that if someone wanted something so much, they often ended up dreaming about it.
Could he be Lytio?
Her heart ached at just the remembrance of him. It didn't feel as hurtful as it did two months ago but it still slightly ached.
Could he be Aniya?
As much as she had kept herself distracted, it had taken her everything to banish Aniya from her mind to this extent. A part of her heart still ached with pain, a part of her heart that she had struggled to push behind her, a part of her heart that had loved and usually missed her sister.
But Aniya was not a man.
She tried to think of any other person but the voice of the man in her dream didn't fit any one that she knew of.
Or could it be... the King?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she banished it.
She had no such desires for the King!
To her, he only felt like a stranger that was slowly becoming a friend.
"Nonsense! It is nothing but a dream. A useless dream! I don't desire to see anyone so badly!"
She pulled the blanket aggreessively over her, as if she was mad that she even had the dream to begin with.
When she closed her eyes this time, having confirmed to herself that it was nothing but a silly dream, she fell asleep.
***
When she woke up, she immediately went to freshen up. She didn't wait for the usual invite from the King, she knew that he would be waiting for her.
Someone was at the door as usual but instead of two people stepping in, there was only one.
"Good morning, my Lady."
"Where is Raquel?"
"Still on her medication." He said, his face just as calm and his demeanour just as collected.
Just as she couldn't imagine him in anything else asides his deep blue uniform, it was hard for Belladonna to imagine Colin having any other expression asides this.
"Is she getting better?" She asked, a little worried.
He folded his arms behind him.
"Yes, my Lady."
She nodded, giving him a light smile.
Just as she turned towards the mirror to get ready on her own, Lady Kestra busted in.
"Pamela is the worst! Are you feeling alright this morning?" She asked, her voice heightened with worry. It made Belladonna observe a slight accent in her voice that she hadn't heard before.
She couldn't figure out what tribe in Ignas had that accent though.
She was wearing one of her sleeveless, stunning red dress, as usual, and the clicking of her heels were muffled by the blood red rug.
Belladonna forced a smile, in all honesty, she was already tired of this burdensome routine.
She didn't hate Lady Kestra, neither did she like her.
How she wished something could just take her time, so that she would, at least, have a break from this forceful stylist for once.
Lady Kestra snapped her fingers, dismissing Colin.
That was unusual but Belladonna said nothing about it.
"I heard she was nasty to you. You poor little thing." Her long slender fingers cupped Belladonna's face as she titled her head from one side to another.
"Just a... little aggressive that is all." She answered, uncomfortable with the contact.
"Oh sweet, sweet Belladonna," she smiled, tapping a finger on her pointed nose like a child. "...ready to save everyone's honour, even if it is just that of a dragon. A fire breathing beast that sees you only as a potential meal. You sweet little thing."
Belladonna looked away, blinking uncomfortably.
Why was she always talking to her like that? It felt very strange and unsettling.
"Just know that the King wouldn't let any harm come upon you. I heard about how he saved you and..." her voice heightened in excitement once again. "You have been spending a lot of time together. Do you like him yet?"
Belladonna shifted uncomfortably on her seat once again.
"You are not my mother," the words rushed out of her mouth with anger. Anger at her real mother and how, although with different actions, Lady Kestra somehow reminded her of. "Why do you always make me to report everything to you."
She looked up just in time to catch the flicker of hurt in Lady Kestra's silver eyes, before it disappeared.
"Do you think I'm intruding? I'm so sorry. It's just that it's such a big castle, it feels a little empty and I thought we would be great friends. I wasn't trying to act like your mother, I would never do that to you."
Belladonna was taken aback by her apology. Especially by the last part, because it sounded personal. Like as if Lady Kestra knew exactly how her mother was.
She wanted to say something back to her, but she was too surprised to.
"Will you look at that! My eyes are behaving strangely." She said blinking fast, taking hurried steps towards the door. "I'll have to attend to them. I don't think I can be of help today. Please forgive me, Bell. I'll make it up to you tomorrow."
Before Belladonna could say anything to that, Lady Kestra was already out the door.
She turned to the mirror, taking in a deep breath.
She hadn't thought her words would hurt her. She hadn't thought they would hurt her at all!
Could it be that Lady Kestra wasn't the type of person she thought her to be?
***
The breakfast, lunch and dinner invites were getting lesser and lesser with time, as the King got more and more busy.
Also, Raquel was back. She was a little different this time around though, quiet and stable. All that shakiness was gone. Her medications must be really helping.
As for that strange dream, she hadn't had anymore of it for days now. She had even forgotten about it as she got more occupied with reading her books.
Finally she was done reading 'Heart of Fire'.
She put off the lantern, she laid on the bed and her eyes fluttered close in sleep.
Suddenly, she was at a beach, feeling that cold sand slipping through her toes, the salty smell of the waters sweeping pass her nostrils, the star-filled sky above her, while the cold breeze made her silky mid-lenght nightgown cling to her body.
Was she back in that strange dream again?
At that moment she heard leaves rustling just behind her but before she could turn back, she heard that familiar voice again and she froze.
"I told you not to look? Why did you?"