The darkness outside the window deepened, and a scrap of fabric flapped restlessly against the old, rusted nail. It was as if the curtain was holding on by a thread, barely maintaining the illusion of safety and isolation. Kaelan had assured Aviana that the cottage was safe, but the thought brought her little comfort as she lay on top of the bedding, feeling trapped within the stone walls. She clutched her short dagger tightly, her only defence against the unknown dangers lurking outside.
The little cottage had lost its charm the moment Kaelan had set his lute aside and declared it was time for rest. Aviana found some comfort in the fact that he had set wards around the cottage before they had retired for the night, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled deep in her bones. Her mind was filled with nameless fears and doubts, drowning out the sound of her own breathing. Suddenly, a heavy snore erupted from beyond her closed door, jarring Aviana out of her anxious thoughts. It was Kaelan, her rugged ranger companion, snoring so loudly that she wondered if the entire cottage would shake apart. With a wry smile, she wondered how long the cottage would survive with Kaelan's snoring bouncing off the walls. He always insisted that he didn't snore that loudly, but Aviana knew better. They had survived countless nights on the road, but she couldn't help but tease him about his snoring. At least it kept the monsters of the woods at bay.
Aviana sat up, her legs crossed under her as she wrapped her cloak around herself, unable to find solace in sleep. Her eyes were fixated on the scrap of fabric that continued to cling to the rusted nail as if it were the only thing keeping her anchored to the safety of the cottage. In the darkness, she felt the weight of something watching her from the woods, as if the forest held secrets too terrifying to imagine. "Watching the window won't change a thing," Aviana whispered, her voice low and practised, mimicking Kaelan's tone. The thought of her ranger companion gave her a measure of comfort, a reminder that she wasn't truly alone. Yet still, the feeling of being stalked persisted. In her overactive imagination, it was as if some creature in the woods had taken notice of the smoke curling from the chimney and now sought to investigate.
Restless and agitated, Aviana kicked at the bedding, her mind filled with thoughts of danger and uncertainty. With a shaky breath, she reached for her satchel, retrieving a candle stub and striking a match to light it. The flame flickered and danced, casting long shadows on the cottage's walls. Aviana blew out the match, dropping it to the ground and making peace with the idea that she was only a curiosity to the creature in the woods, not a potential meal.
The glow of the candle offered her no additional warmth, but Aviana found comfort in its soft light, a flicker of hope in the darkness. She sat in silence, listening to Kaelan's snores and the sounds of the forest beyond, feeling both safe and vulnerable in equal measure. No matter the circumstances, the soft amber light emanating from the candle had always been a soothing balm to Aviana's nerves. It was as if the gentle flicker of the flame cleared her mind and enshrouded her world in a warm embrace. She watched as the light danced and flickered, its radiance casting a peaceful glow across the room. Gradually, her breathing slowed, her shoulders losing their tension as her body began to relax.
Sleep had always been an elusive companion for Aviana, and she knew that for others, it came quickly. They would close their eyes when they grew tired, and their bodies would go limp, breathing deep and even. Some, like Kaelan, would snore loudly, filling the air with the sound of their restful slumber. Others would mutter softly in their sleep. Aviana had once witnessed a man who seemed asleep but was walking around as if awake. She had been unsure of what to do and had simply watched, fascinated by the strange behaviour. And then there were the dreams themselves, elusive phantoms that flitted just beyond her grasp. She couldn't recall who had told her about them, but she knew they were a part of life that she was missing out on. For without sleep, there could be no dreams.
As Aviana gazed into the warm glow of the amber light, she felt as though the flickering flame had the power to cleanse her mind of all its troubles, offering her a brief moment of tranquillity – a respite from the tumultuous world around her. For Aviana, slumber was a distant and enigmatic concept, and she had become accustomed to keeping her strange habits a secret lest she be accused of possessing wicked powers. However, Kaelan understood her peculiar ways and accepted her without question, providing a much-needed sense of security. Although Aviana was just an ordinary girl, abandoned as a child during these turbulent times, an intangible aura that stuck to her left people feeling uneasy in her presence. Her slender, supple frame exuded a supernatural elegance that captivated her audience, eliciting thunderous applause when she performed with Kaelan's music. Yet, her remarkable talent also sparked rumours and fear wherever they went. The fear had caused them to flee on more than one occasion.
Aviana closed her eyes, breathing in deeply and slowly releasing the breath to chase away the bad memories. Instead, she refocused her attention on the little flame. As she settled into a comfortable position, she remained transfixed on the mesmerizing flame, a sight that offered her a glimpse into a world of wonder and imagination. But tonight was different. Tonight, the flame was not just a reflection of her thoughts and musings but revealed a world beyond her own. A shape began to form in the midst of the flickering embers, and before she knew it, she was looking at a magnificent room filled with treasures she could not name. The bedroom was a testament to their wealth and status. The walls were adorned with trophies - weapons and shields of defeated foes hung from hooks and racks, and colourful tapestries depicted scenes of his most significant victories. "Some kind of gladiator?" she mused aloud, not even realizing she was talking as she strained her eyes to take in further details.
The room's centrepiece was a massive bed adorned with soft furs and silken sheets. The bed was raised on a platform and surrounded by a canopy of dark red velvet, giving the impression of a throne fit for a king. Next to the bed, Aliana spied a large chest filled with the gladiator's prized possessions - trinkets, jewellery, and artifacts he had collected. Indeed, they all held stories of his travels across the realm. Her eyes widened as the scope of the room enlarged so she could spy a suit of armour, polished to a gleaming shine, standing at attention in one corner of the room, a constant reminder of a warrior's strength and skill.
The longer Aviana looked into the scene unfolding, the more details seemed to leap out at her. Thousands of candles were littered all over the room, held at all levels by twisted metal stands so the room had no shadows. The multitude of flickering lights cast a warm glow across the room. Aviana's eyes closed momentarily, and she breathed in deeply. She would have sworn that the air was rich with the scent of exotic oils and incense, a soothing aroma that must have helped the gladiator to relax after a long day of training and combat. She opened her eyes, shocked but pleased that the bedroom still seemed open to her spying eye. Despite the grandeur of his surroundings, Aviana was confident that the gladiator's bedroom was a place of peace and solitude. It was here that he retreated from the chaos of the arena, where he could rest and recover before once again stepping out to face his opponents and claim victory in the name of his house.
She would have guessed the room was empty, but Aviana gasped as a lone silhouette started to move into the frame - a man, moving with a specific stiffness that suggested he carried a deep pain. Her vision cleared, and just like the rest of the room had come into focus, so did details of the gladiator whose room she could see. The man slowly pulled his hair free from the restraints which had held his hair back. The man's long auburn curls cascaded down his back in a wave of fiery colour, framing his chiselled features with a wild, untamed beauty. Each strand of hair coiled and spiralled into a perfect ringlet, twisting and turning in a chaotic dance that reflected the man's free-spirited nature. The vibrant hue of his locks was a breathtaking sight, a deep shade of red that shimmered and glinted like the flicker of a flame in the darkness. Never before had she seen a colour in her life, and she longed to touch it and know if the colour was natural or somehow his hair had been tainted by the candlelight in which she viewed him. Lost in his hair and the way it moved with a wild majesty, Aviana had not realized he was undressing until the man removed his shirt sweepingly, revealing a beautiful and scarred body. Aviana felt heat rising in her cheeks as he undressed, but she couldn't look away. She watched with fascination as he slipped off his shoes and kicked them out of his way with the casual ease of someone in their own living space. But as he walked out of view, Aviana's curiosity was overwhelmed by her apprehension, and she remained frozen, too afraid to follow. Looking into the once again empty room, the sound of his belt sliding against the fabric and the definitive heavy sound of pants hitting the floor sent shivers down her spine. She didn't dare move or look away, entranced by this surreal and otherworldly experience.
This was a dreamlike vision for Aviana that she had never experienced before. The man's every movement felt like a tantalizing secret revealed only to her. As he walked out of her view, she was left with a burning desire to follow him, but she knew that this was a vision that belonged only to her, and she savoured every moment of it, hoping that it would last forever. As she struggled with the overwhelming senses that continued to assault her, the sound of water sloshing in a tub greeted her. The room radiated a golden hue that seemed to amplify the sense of luxury surrounding her. She tried her best not to think of his naked body or how his auburn curls would look wet and sticking to his skin as he lounged in what she assumed was a large bath. The desire to turn her head and witness it seemed almost maddening, though she resisted the temptation. For now, it seemed like her view into the bedroom was a static image, and she was bound by the peephole she had created. The memory of his muscular physique invaded her mind, and Aviana bit her bottom lip to suppress the urge to think of him that way. She wondered if it would even work.
She winced at the sudden and sharp pain, noticing the sound of Kaelan's snores in the background for the first time since this vision had started. The fabric that covered the window slapped at the wooden frame, and as Aviana became more aware of her reality and where she was, the quicker flame returned to its normal state. The opulent bedroom seemed to flicker back and forth in the wind before it was gone. Aviana opened one eye and then the other, relieved to see the candle flame had returned to its normal state. She was unsure if she wanted to return to that dream. Instead of making a choice, she ducked her head under her cloak. When she dared emerge from her protective case, she saw the snub of a candle held just a normal flame.
Relief flooded through her. "What was that?" she whispered to herself, afraid to speak aloud, as if the mere mention of the dream or vision would bring it back to life. As Aviana's mind wandered, the image of the man she had seen in the flame consumed her thoughts. The mere thought of him disrobing sent her breathing into disarray. He was a peculiar kind of beautiful, with a combination of softness and hardness that left her wondering what events had caused the wounds that lingered on his body. Crossing her arms under her chest, she bitterly thought that the thing she believed was lurking just beyond every tree line, the one that haunted her nightmares, could never reach him. But despite his privilege, he carried a heavy burden that was apparent in how he moved. The weight of his past was etched deep into the grooves of his muscles. While the room had been lit by candlelight alone, which had concealed any flaws in his skin, the dancing shadows were sure to highlight his form's contours now. The room's decor was a blur in her memory, the trinkets and treasures all bleeding together and fading quickly from her consciousness. The image of the man remained vivid in the forefront of her memory. Aviana smiled as she remembered the easy way he had moved through his room, not indulging in the prizes in the large chest since they were just decorating for him. Even as she had been watching him with such firm attention, he had exuded a calmness that suggested he had no idea he was being watched. Aviana knew little about him, and though she desperately wanted to believe it was all just a dream, the memory of his presence lingered, making it impossible to dismiss it as mere imagination. It was a peculiar and amusing vision that her mind had conjured, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it.
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After all, without sleep, how can there be a dream?
Aviana's brows furrowed in deep concentration as she lost the fight against the intrusive thoughts of the man in the bath. Huddled under her cloak, she couldn't shake off the image of him soaking in a tub, his chiselled muscles relaxing in the warm water as he ran a cloth over his skin. The sound of water sloshing against the tub's sides reverberated in her mind, making her imagine the man sinking into the large tub, immersed in hot water, the heat seeping into every inch of his exhausted body.
Against her will, Aviana was slipping into a fantasy, picturing herself running a comb through the man's long, tousled hair. In her mind, the mysterious man, who had no name, leaned back in the suds, his eyes closed, lost in the sensation of her combing his hair. She was drawn to the line of flesh that ran from his ear to his shoulder. Her eyes lingered on the curve of his neck, imagining what it would be like to place a kiss there. She couldn't help but feel foolish for entertaining such fantasies, but the allure of the man was too strong to resist. As if reading her thoughts, the man in the bath slowly turned to face her, the washcloth and comb dropping as his fingers slid against her jaw. Aviana watched his eyes close as if in slow motion before she did the same. The first kiss was soft and experimental, but she did not hold back and instead gave herself to the fantasy.
Aviana's mind raced with the intensity of the kiss. The man's touch on her jaw sent a shiver down her spine, causing her to close her eyes in ecstasy. Their lips met again, this time more firmly, and she surrendered herself to the passion. Strong arms pulled at her, grabbing her clothes and drawing her into the bath with him. The warm water lapped around them as the kiss deepened, and she felt his hand grip her clothes to keep her close. The sensation of his wet skin against hers was electric, and she could feel his muscles tense with desire. But just as the fantasy seemed to be reaching its peak, it shattered like a fragile crystal, leaving her alone in the quiet room. The sound of her own ragged breathing echoed in the emptiness. While she realized it was just a fantasy created by an overactive imagination, it had felt so real Aviana had expected to find her clothes wet. The steam from the bath slowly dissipated, leaving only a faint trace of the man's scent behind.
Aviana laughed to herself, shaking her head to clear her mind, and the last images of the man in the bath went with the gesture. She knew it was just a figment of her imagination, a fleeting thought that had taken hold of her mind. He existed only in her mind, yet he had felt so real and tangible. Aviana couldn't explain it, but the pull was too strong to ignore. Aviana's cheeks burned as she sat up, hastily pulling the cloak hood up to cover her face. She couldn't bear the thought of anyone seeing her in such a vulnerable state.
She cast a furtive glance at the bed, half-expecting to find the man from her fantasy lying there beside her. But of course, it was only her imagination playing tricks on her. Aviana's mind wandered back to the image that had caused such a heat to rise within her. She could still feel the bath bubbles against her skin, the soft touch of his fingers against her jaw, and how his lips tasted when they met hers. It was as if he were there with her, in her mind's dark, secret corners. Frustrated with a growing heat in her cheeks, Aviana tossed the shawl off her face and turned to stare up at the ceiling. She could not stop the hammering of her heart and the frustration that pulled at her insides. Aviana let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and flopped back onto her pillow, staring at the ceiling again. She couldn't help but wonder if the man from her fantasy was real, somewhere out there in the world beyond her own. She couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were destined to cross. Aviana had a good imagination - you needed one to survive in this place – but nothing compared to the vision from the flames. She could smell the bubbles still as if the perfume had lingered. Her head turned to look at the candle flame, memorizing the shift of colours from reds and yellows as they moved as if by their own accords. A vision of a room that might not even exist and housed a man so startingly beautiful Aviana's mouth had gone dry did not come this time, but the flame soothed her as it always did.
As if they were on their own mission, her hands trailed down from where they sat on her chest, fingertips barely tracing over the thin fabric of her garments where her nipples tightened and stood for the attention they would not be getting. A pulse deep within her demanded her attention, and Aviana gave in without bothering with the tease of foreplay. Her lids were half-closed, and her hand slid between her thighs. The acrid smell of smoke filled her nostrils as the candle went out, casting her room into darkness. Smoke and musk invaded her thoughts as she thought of the man and his auburn hair. As she brought herself to the edge, a shift in the weight on the bed made her open her eyes suddenly with fears that Kaelan had come to check on her as he sometimes did.
The moonlight illuminated the stranger's face as he gazed down at Aviana, his presence unexpected yet alluring. He was the gladiator from her fantasies, just as she had imagined him: tall and muscular with a towel draped low on his hips. Aviana's eyes followed the towel as it fell away, revealing his naked form, unblemished and magnificent. Without a word, he climbed onto the bed and covered her body with his own, eliciting a shiver of pleasure from her.
Aviana's voice was a mere whisper as she asked, "Who are you?"
The man didn't answer her at first, seemingly uncertain and unlike the man from the golden room, even if his hair was the blazing auburn hues from the fantasy. She reached both hands into his thick curls, which seemed to have brought him back to the moment. "Ravus." He muttered a tilting accent in his voice that was unexpected.
"Aviana." She introduced herself, seeming to find it odd to share their names when far more intimate areas were already pressed together. She smiled, a coy lifting of one corner of her mouth. Whatever she planned to say was stolen by his kiss. It was better than a kiss of her fantasy, the urgent clashing of lips, and when his teeth found her bottom lip, she hissed encouragement at the brief pain that resided as his lips moved to press kisses and nips along her jaw and neck. She had never felt so possessed before, and she didn't question it now. This man was from her imagination, and yet he was here with her. Why should she not give herself to satisfy his desires? There was a feeling of belonging that seemed almost possessive and animalistic in their meeting, and she was greedy to keep up with him. She helped his grasping hands slide out of her undergarments and toss the thin fabric aside as he pulled the dress she wore off her body and dropped it soundlessly to the ground. Only the sound of their hushed breathing filled the air as they both seemed to be taking a moment to view the other in the near darkness of this small cottage.
Rising off the bed just enough so she could pull Ravus to her, they met in a kiss. It was soft at first, Aviana wincing slightly at her bruised lips from before, but she didn't pull away. Nails set into his spine as the heat between them grew, turning the kiss from experimental to a lashing of tongues and teeth that only ended when Aviana ripped her mouth from his. Her nails scratched symmetrical lines from his spine and along his ribs. He arched under the pressure, and she knew in the morning hours, his body would hold a reminder of this meeting. She wanted him to leave marks on her body too.
Her hand gripped his erection, stroking long, hard strokes until she had Ravus growling above her. Grinning at herself, seeing just a glimpse of what he would look like out of control and in bed, Aviana took it upon herself to guide his hardness into her wet entrance. The moment seemed to surprise them both, Ravus moving slowly in and out of her body, reclaiming her with a fast thrust each time that pushed the air from her lungs with every stroke. Desperate to get all she could from this joining, she reached for his shoulder and met his mouth in another air-stealing kiss as he moved within her. His curls cascaded over them like a curtain, and she lost herself in the sensations of his touch. And as he continued his movements, his arm snaked under her body, pulling Aviana closer and allowing him to reach deeper until he filled every inch of her. Whether this was a mere figment of her imagination or something more, Aviana surrendered herself to the pleasure of the moment. He took her to the heights of ecstasy, bringing her to a climax she had been yearning for before he spilled inside her just moments later.
Aviana lay beside him, panting and drained of energy. She could feel the sweat cooling on her skin as her breathing began to steady. She reached out to grasp his with a trembling hand, unwilling to let go of this moment. She needed the anchor, the connection to reality. As her heart rate slowed, she turned her gaze to him, trying to make out Ravus' features in the dim light. His face was lost in the harsh shadows, but she could see the outline of his strong jaw and the glint of his eyes. This was the man she had seen in her vision, the one she had created in her mind. But how could he be real?
Her voice was barely a whisper as she asked the question that was on her mind. Ravus responded with a deep, masculine laugh that sent shivers down her spine. His warm breath tickled her skin as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"I am," he said, his voice low and seductive. "And so are you."
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Can you stay?"
He hesitated, and that was enough for her to know the answer before he voiced it. The smile on his kiss-swollen lips was fading. The shake of his head was minor, and he gently untangled himself from her grip. She didn't attempt to cling to him. He grabbed the towel, not bothering to cover his nudity, as he bent over Aviana. Ravus leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, the touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body. "We will meet again, Princess," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. And with that, he disappeared, walking through the solid wall as if it were nothing.
Aviana lay there, breathless and tangled in the aftermath of passion, the room now filled with the heavy scent of musk and desire. The moon cast a soft glow through the window, illuminating the tousled sheets and Aviana's dishevelled appearance. The realisation that she had just shared an intimate moment with a man who seemed to materialize from the depths of her own imagination left her both exhilarated and bewildered.
As she tried to catch her breath, Aviana couldn't shake the feeling that lingered in the air—the palpable connection between them, a mysterious thread tying her to this enigmatic figure named Ravus. Her fingers traced over the marks he had left on her skin, a testament to the intensity of their encounter. Once a haven from the terrors of the woods, the room now held the echoes of their shared passion.
The reality of Ravus lingered in her mind, a mix of fantasy and tangible memory. The sensation of his lips on hers, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, all seemed too vivid to dismiss as mere imagination. Aviana's emotions were a whirlwind, a fusion of desire and confusion.
Aviana couldn't help but replay the moments in her mind as she reached for the cloak to cover herself. The way he had moved, the warmth of his skin, the soft words he whispered. Was he truly a product of her fantasies, or was there a deeper connection that defied the boundaries of reality?
The room, now devoid of his presence, felt colder. The rustling of the fabric against the window brought her back to the reality of the small cottage, a stark contrast to the dreamlike encounter. Aviana wrestled with the conflicting emotions, the desire to believe in the magic of the moment warring with the scepticism that whispered in the back of her mind.
With a hesitant glance toward the window, Aviana couldn't shake the hope that he might return as promised. The air in the room crackled with the residue of their shared passion, leaving her both sated and yearning for more. But the reality of the situation tugged at her, reminding her that the woods outside held their own set of real and imagined dangers.
Aviana couldn't help but smile at the memory of Ravus, his name etched in her mind like a secret she was reluctant to share. The scent that lingered on her skin and the marks he had left on her pale form, all bore witness to a night that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality.
With a final glance at the window, Aviana settled back onto the bed, the soft moonlight casting a gentle glow on her features. Once a refuge, the cottage now held the echoes of a passion that transcended the ordinary. She closed her eyes, allowing the sensations and memories to wash over her, savouring the magic of the night.
Whether Ravus was a creation of her own mind or a mysterious entity drawn to her, Aviana couldn't deny his impact on her. The tangled emotions and the lingering desire all painted a canvas of uncertainty and intrigue. As she drifted into a restless sleep, the image of Ravus lingered in her dreams, a promise of encounters yet to come in the tangled dance between reality and fantasy.