CHAPTER TWELVE-THE NIGHTMARE

“I don’t like this at all Imara,” Thorin said as he slid his fingers down his neck. “Was it really necessary to bite you like that?”

Imara stacked the dishes on the shelf  in front of her then wiped her hands on a towel. “It’s just what they do. It’s tradition like their version of this brand on my finger.”

He twisted his lips and shook his head at the still bruised mark on her neck. “It looks just terrible. What a miserable rite of passage.”

“It’s nothing, really. It’s been nearly three weeks now, it’s almost healed.” Imara slid her fingers across the bite and it disappeared. “See, all better.”

As he knitted his brows together, Thorin said, “My dear, you can use all the glamours in your arsenal, but that thing must feel terrible.”

Imara shook her head. “Actually no, not at all. When he touches it, well...let’s just say I like it. I can’t really explain it. And he can kind of feel what I feel and see my thoughts, a little bit anyway.”

He raised his brows and pursed his hips. “Well, that is useful, I suppose. So how is married life treating you, darlin? Other than that nasty love bite, you look positively radiant.”

Imara sat down across from Thorin and grinned. “I’m really happy.”

Thorin put down his cup and nodded. “Well, yes I can see that. Have you been helping Ben and his folks out around here?”

Imara rubbed her fingers across the grain of the table and shook her head. “He won’t let me. He said I could collect the eggs and work in my garden, but he doesn’t want me doing man’s work.”

Thorin smirked. It was probably best that way. Imara is a lovely soul, but she’s not much for real work. Her hearts in the right place, but when Fate blessed her with the touch of healing light, it forgot to give her much common sense for things like physical labor. “Can’t say I blame him. He’s a good man, Imara. I’m really happy that you two found each other.”

Imara looked out the window and saw Ben bent over, pulling a stump from the ground and she twisted her lips to the side.

“What’s that look about?” Thorin asked as he made a circle in front of him with his finger.

Imara sighed and pushed herself back in her chair. “He’s been having just God-awful nightmares. He wakes up screaming and crying nearly every night. About me, I suppose. He becomes nearly hysterical if he wakes up and I’m not laying beside him.”

Thorin bit his lip and drummed his fingers on the table. It’s not uncommon for supernaturals to have visions. Thorin grew concerned that these were more than nightmares. “Hmm. I’m sure it’s nothing to be concerned about. Not worth worrying your pretty little head over.”

Imara smiled and nodded. “You’re probably right. So how was your trip? Did you hear anything?”

Thorin sighed and shook his head no. “Afraid not. Michael seems to think that Haldir’s living in the Realm right now.”

Imara grinned quickly. She knew Thorin was still hoping against all odds to get her to the Realm. She put her hand on Thorin’s and said, “Whatever happens, Thorin, no matter what Fate has planned for us, know that right now, this was the best gift you could have given me. I’ve never been so happy in all my life. Ben, he’s just everything to me. If I die tomorrow, it’s alright. The Realm is just beyond the veil. You don’t have to worry, because I’m not afraid of what might happen.”

Thorin looked up at her as he tried to hold back his tears. “I know, sugar. If anything happens, I’ll find you. No matter where you go, I’ll never stop looking for you.”

Imara looked back out the window and licked her lips. “Promise me, if anything happens to me, you’ll watch over him. You keep him close, Thorin. Don’t you leave him all alone, he’ll be so lost without me.” Then, she swallowed hard and said, “If they come for me, you end this. Don’t let them get away with torturing us like this all these years. Swear it.”

Thorin nodded then brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I will, darlin. I swear. My soul won’t rest until the job is done.”

After Thorin shut the door behind him, he straightened the collar of his coat and started down the road.

Ben walked around the side of the house and yelled, “Imara’s upset. What the hell happened in there? What did you say?”

Thorin turned and faced Ben. “That’s a neat trick. I guess something useful should come out of such an ugly goddamn tradition.”

Ben smirked and wrinkled his nose as he glanced away. “It’s done and it’s none of your goddamn business. There’s no use in drudging it up again .”

Thorin looked over the fields and then glanced back to Ben and clicked his tongue. “So, tell me about these nightmares you’ve been having.”

A frustrated scowl curled up on the side of Ben’s face. He told Imara not to worry about the nightmares, now wasn’t the time for her to be afraid. “Just dreams, that’s all. They don’t mean nothing.”

Thorin pulled his lips to the side and glanced to the ground. “You sure about that?”

Ben cracked his neck then looked back to Thorin. “Imara doesn’t need to be worrying herself over them like this.”

“But she is worrying, Ben. She can sense that something’s going on in your mind. She’s naive, but she’s not a stupid woman. She’s worried to death that something's going to happen to her and that you’ll be left all alone.”

Ben clenched his jaw then scratched his head. “Umm...I dream that a man in black comes and kills her.”

Thorin blinked away then ran his hand down his chin. “What else?”

“Uh...she dies on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood and,” Ben took a deep breath. “She’s always pregnant, Thorin.”

Thorin nodded as he licked his top lip. “Well, I suppose that the two of you might want to hold off on having a baby for a while then, just in case. You have the rest of eternity for it, it doesn’t need to happen right now.”

Ben glanced down from Thorin’s eyes and wiped his hand across his mouth. Thorin shook his head and ran his hands over his hair as the truth hit him hard in the gut. “Oh, Ben. Are you sure?”

Ben nodded as tears filled his eyes. “I can smell it on her, Thorin. She doesn’t realize it yet, it’s too early still.”

Thorin closed his eyes. “Dammit.”

Ben’s leg shook as his shame and regret built inside him. “It happened the first night, I was careful with her after that first nightmare, but it was already too late.”

Thorin looked back to the cottage. “I can’t find Haldir. I’m fairly sure he’s in the Realm and I don’t know anyone else who can travel. We’re just going to have to face this on our own.” As he mulled it over, he rubbed the pad of his thumb over his lips. “She can spend the days at my home. Don’t worry, she will be waited on hand and foot. Shaw can watch over your house at night.”

Ben scoffed and shook his head no. 

“Ben, listen to me. If your dream is always the same, then we change the elements. Her being with me is something different. At least you will be able to go about your day and work without having to worry about whether or not she’s safe.”

Ben rubbed the stubble on his chin. He really wanted to shave it, but Imara liked the way it felt against her skin when he cuddled next to her at night. “Fine.”

As Ben closed the front door behind him, Imara looked up from the table she was setting. “You all done for today?”

Ben took off his shirt and hung it up on a nail by the door. “Yep.”

She smiled at herself as she admired the placemats and candlesticks Thomas and Sofia gave her at her wedding. “Well, dinner’s ready, whenever you are.”

Ben leaned against the table with his arms crossed and looked at her. “Thorin told me you were talking about my nightmares.”

She licked her lips then stopped arranging the table and looked at him. “I’m just worried about you, sweetheart. You’re barely even sleeping now. Why won’t you just tell me about them? Maybe if you talk about it, it will go away.”

Ben looked to the floor and shook his head. “Imara, you don’t need to worry about me.” He took her hand and pulled her close to him then put his hand on her cheek. “That’s not your job, baby. The only thing I want you to do is be happy.”

She smiled and said, “I am happy. For the first time ever, maybe.”

Ben glanced down between them and took a deep breath. “Baby, there’s something we need to talk about. You’re expecting, Imara.”

Imara took a ragged breath and covered her mouth with her hands. “Are you sure? I couldn’t be! You’ve been careful.”

He clenched his jaw as his disgust with himself ate at him. “Not every time, not that first night.”

Imara’s eyes teared over. “Umm...are you happy? You don’t seem very happy about this right now to me, Ben.”

Ben nodded and deep inside, he was thrilled. There wasn’t a prouder man in the whole world than Ben at that moment. He wanted a whole house full of children, but the nightmares were only getting worse. The baby was on its way ,though, whether the timing was right or not, so Ben was going to make things as easy as possible for Imara. “Of course, I am. What man wouldn’t be happy to have you carrying their baby.”

Imara sighed a breath of relief and laced her arms around Ben. “It’s so early though. You should’ve waited to tell me for a while, it’s going to seem like an eternity now.”

Ben closed his eyes to stop the tears from coming. “That’s why I’m telling you, baby. I want you to enjoy every second of it. We’re going to make this last as long as possible.”