414 Rest Well

Clovis closed his eyes and focused on just getting his bearings. He never dreamed that the air would feel so thick with emotion when he first returned to the land of the living. He hadn't realized how simple the shadow realm had been till he could feel everything again. The air, the heat of the fire and the way that everything pulsed with life. It took several moments for those deprived senses to sort out the onslaught of stimulation.

As his eyes finally opened, he could see the dim lit room was the Matriarch's chambers he had spent hours in just a day or so before. He honestly wasn't sure how much time had passed since he had crossed over to the Shadow Realm. Judging by the window, it was dark outside. Perhaps it was the same day? He wasn't really sure.

He then tried to take in the room around him and found himself rather shocked. Sansor and Bryson both had hands on his shoulders, steadying him as though they half expected him to fall to the ground. After a second, he realized that was very likely due to the way the world was swaying around him. Perhaps, that wasn't the earth moving at all. Then he noticed his father in law, standing several feet away looking him over with those dark eyes. The grimness to his expression was quite apparent. Behind him on the bed he saw Crystalsa and a woman he had never seen before. Between the ladies lay someone on the bed.

At first his mind refused to recognize the figure lying motionless on her back. She was breathing heavily, but silently. As he stepped forward, his feet drawn to move toward the bed though his mind was still trying to process the blood under his feet and this beauty on the bed. There was no mistaking the silver strands that lay sprawled over the pillow. His heart skipped a beat as he quickened his pace to stand beside the bed, looking down on her.

Kyera could have been sleeping if it wasn't for the sweat on her face, and the cloth carefully laying over her forehead. There was a pained quality to her expression that hinted that perhaps there was more to this slumber than just exhaustion. He reached out a hand, gently caressing her cheek before he slid down, sitting on the side of the bed. Crystalsa moved aside, giving him space to see his wife.

The tears in her eyes threatened to spill again, as Bryson took his mother's arm and pulled her into his chest. Clovis leaned down and gently rest his forehead to hers for several long moments. So many emotions passed through his mind as he focused on her. He didn't care what happened, or even how. He just wanted her to open those golden pools and look up at him. He was safe. He had made it through the trials, he had done all this for her. She couldn't leave him now… She couldn't.