The God of Sleep Has Made His House

"You and yours destroyed what we believed in, what we fought and bled for, and you labeled us the war criminals and heathens?"

The ticking of the large clock across the room ticked in a hypnotic pattern, the pendulum swaying from left to right.

It was annoyingly loud, as well.

I lay on my bed, my eyes closed, but my mind and body fully awake, unable to fall back asleep.

I couldn't really sleep much that night. I did drift off for a few hours, but by that time, the pain meds were beginning to wear off, and my stomach, shoulders and legs began to throb and ache. The only real comfort was that Ellie was still by my bedside, her wing still covering half of my body, while her head still lay upon my chest.

I could feel her soft snores vibrating through my body, with a small smile gracing her lips.

Every so often, she'd unconsciously nuzzle me, sighing softly, as she made herself comfortable.

She must have been dreaming good dreams, because that smile of hers never left her face all that night.

I, on the other hand, couldn't really say the same.

Last night, I had some....unsettling nightmares of my own.

From the little sleep I got, I was plagued with ghastly scene after ghastly scene.

Images of towers blazing with the orange glow of fires.

The smell of smoke was so strong, I could taste it. I could hear yells and screams, pleads of mercy.I wanted to comply, but I couldn't. Traitors didn't deserve sympathy during the Great Civil War. Nor do they now.

Swords were clashing against unarmed foes, faces twisted into horrific expressions, as their lives were cut, slashed, bashed, and ripped from their bodies.The cadavers littered the floor, blood leaking like a creek of crimson.

Venom Falls.......God, what a mistake.

It wasn't even my father's idea to do something sick like that. It was High General Rex's idea to slaughter all those fucking people. He didn't want to do it either. But, no matter what he or anyone else thought or said, we all knew what had to be done in the long run. He resigned once the war was over, and committed suicide a few months later.

Of course, no one wanted to carry out the order either.

Except us. The Sparrows.

And we did it efficiently. Quickly. Brutally.

But not without remorse. We all had our fair share of regrets after that day.

For the love of God, if there was another way, if we could take back what we did that day............

I could still smell that irony stench from life essence of the corpses on the ground.

I could see the pillars of smoke from some far off battlefield.

Venom Falls.......

A lot of us still haven't fully recovered from that particular time in our lives.

I let out a groan of frustration, whacking my forehead slightly.

"Get the hell out of there. Please," I begged my mind, grimacing.

"What's bothering you, Louie," I heard a gentle, feminine voice shatter my torrent of thoughts.

I opened my eyes to see one of Ellie's glancing at me, a soft expression within the sapphire pool.

"Nothing, Ellie. I'm fine," I mumbled sleepily, trying my best to shrug her off.

I truly didn't want to start worrying her.

Ellie has always been protective of me, going back as far as when she first came to the palace with me all those years ago.

All the time, she was concerned about something involving me. Any little problem that I might be facing, she'd always try to help me out as best as she could. It was really sweet of her, now that mention it. Gilda found her to be quite annoying when we were younger (perhaps she was just jealous back in those days, from all the attention Ellie gave me), especially when she tried to help me with an issue. I think she still doesn't fully approve of the bond that we share, and I wouldn't blame her, either. But, all the stuff that me and Ellie went through forged a relationship that just couldn't be let go of on a whim.

We're bond mates, after all.

"No, something's bothering you, mister. Now spill."

I chuckled a bit, before scratching behind one of the spines along her scalp.

Ellie closed her eyes, cooing from the scratchy sensation. She always goes nuts from that spot.

"Just a bad dream, that's all," I said, still scratching away.

"About what?," she asked, opening her eyes,"Was it about......Abinchova?"

She turned her head to me, so that both her eyes could gaze into mine.

I shook my head in response.

"Surprisingly no," I replied to her, looking out towards the window,"I was thinking about.....something else entirely actually."

I could feel her claw grasp my hand.

"What is it?" she asked in a sympathetic tone.

I know she wanted to me to look at her, to see her expression, so that I could know that she was here, fully intent on helping me with what I needed. But I couldn't. I felt ashamed to look at her. To be near her.

It's not what Abinchova did that upset me, it's what he said.

"Ellie, am I good a person?"I asked with a distant voice.

"Of course you are! Why would you think otherwise?"

I still gazed out the window.

"Venom Falls......"

I heard her gasp.

She probably wasn't expecting to hear about that. I never really brought it much following the end of the war, but I thought about it. I thought about it a lot.

I felt one of her claws grasp my hand, giving it a light squeeze of comfort.

"What brought that up, Louie? I thought you came to terms with that."

I sighed before shaking my head.

"I sort of did, but I still can't stop thinking about it. You know what we did, Ellie. What I did. How can you still love me knowing half of the things that I've done to creatures?"

I hung my head in shame.

"Maybe Abinchova should've just killed me....."

"ENOUGH!" I heard her shout, startling me. I felt her claw shoot up, grabbing a hold of my face, forcing me to look into her eyes.

"I won't be the first to deny that you did some heinous things, Lucifer. But you did them for your country and it's people! For your father and family! For me! You may have done wrong, but you've also done right, gods dammit! The relief work you and the others did, helping rebuild those towns in the south! When you reunited that family separate during war, going so far as to track down their missing child. Saving me......saving those two Equines you sent here two days ago, nearly at the cost of your own life!"

She released my head from her grasp, but I couldn't look away from her. I didn't want to.

"You've done wrong, but you've also done so much good. You can't just brood on the past. It'll drive you mad! Never forget the past, Louie, but don't let it change you for the worse."

I could see a blush forming across her blue snout, as she averted her gaze.

"And, no matter, I'll always love you, Lucifer  with all my heart and all my soul."

She brought her gaze back towards me, staring intently, as if waiting for something.

I was at a loss words, really. Ellie always knew what to say in situations like this, but she never said it so....aggressively and passionately before. The only thing I could do was put a hand to her cheek, caressing it lovingly, while I smiled a soft smile.

With that, her snout rushed forward, as she placed her lips against mine.

My eyes shot wide open, as the world around me began to fade until a realm of pure bliss.

Heh, I couldn't really believe what was happening right now. It was mine and Ellie's first REAL kiss.

For some reason, I always pictured it would happen like this (her trying to comfort me and all).

My eyes shut themselves, as I returned the action, eliciting a squeal of delight  from the blue dragoness.

Within what felt like an eternity of paradise, our lips parted, as Ellie looked away with a bashful smile and a blush as red as a tomato, panting softly.

We both began to giggle like children,  before we broke into full on laughter, barely breathing.

Only Gilda and Ellie could make me feel so much better when I was feeling particularly shitty.

But Gilda........

Thinking about her began to depress me a bit.

I mean, it just a kiss and all

Before shit goes down, I recall reading that having more than one mate is acceptable up here in the North, though many choose to be monogamous. Hell, Uncle Alphaeus has two wives, and Auntie Therine and Belle are the sweetest aunts a guy could ask for. Still, it was better to tell Gilda about this sooner than later. I don't need another ass beating from her, again (I may be stronger, but everyone knows you can't fight back when you lady dishes out the pain).

Maybe, just maybe, she'll up for it.

According to dragon custom, Ellie and I are technically mates already (life companions). Dragons don't marry, so there was no official ceremony of a kind. Just a pact between two friends in medical tent on some old battlefield years ago.

Man, I didn't want to worry about it right now.

All that seemed to matter right now was the dragoness before me.

"I love you, too, Ellie,"I said, a small smile gracing my lips,"I always have, and I always will"

She smiled at me, before nuzzling her head back down on my chest.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that,"She sighed a dreamy sigh.

I resumed scratching that spot she oh so loved for me to scratch.

"Strangely, I felt just the same way," I replied to her, before feeling a peck on my cheek.

"But,"I said,"I think we should hold off on the whole, you know, mating thing, Ellie."

She arched an eyebrow at me, before nodding her head.

'Do you think Gilda will accept this proposal?" She asked, a glimmer of hope etched in her voice.

"I can't really say," I said, causing her ears to sadly droop," But," they perked right up,"their always a chance. Besides, Gilda knows about our bond already."

"I just don't want to come between you and your marriage, Lou. You've known Gilda longer than you've known me. You two grew up together, and shared just as many experiences as you did with me."

I nodded my head.

"You can't sell yourself short. though. You and Gilda may not get along as much as I like, but she's an understanding griffin. Plus, she already sort of knows what being 'Bond Mates' truly means."

She blushed again, averting her eyes, frowning a bit.

If Ellie was anything, it was shy.

"A-and? W-what did she have to say about it?"

"She understands, Ellie," I said reassuringly,"But, we'll just have to wait and see. I gave her my heart, and she gave me hers. But I gave mine to you, too. In cave, long ago."

She smiled again, the morning sunrise flashing it's light through the window, causing Ellie's beautiful blue scales to shine and sparkle in an other worldly spectacle of wonder.

Then again, she's always been beautiful.

I heard the clock in my room ding as it struck seven o'clock.

My parent would be getting up soon, and their first item of business would be to check up on me.

I looked towards Ellie, who nodded her head before rising up from the bed and standing upon the floor.

Like most teenage dragons, Ellie was bipedal, though she said that her species of dragon usually remains bipedal for the rest of their lives, and don't grow much bigger than when they hit about 150 years old.

As of now, she stood about 8 ft, neck and all.

God, I'm a short bastard.

"I talked with the one of the doctors before coming in last night,"She said whiling stretching,"They mentioned that they were to going to continue to apply healing magic today, after you've eaten and, um, bathed, of course." She blushed a bit, at what I could only assume was the thought of me quite naked, water flowing down my bare skin.

Dirty girl.

"If all goes well, you could be out of your bed by late afternoon. Perhaps we could go to the gardens with the others?"

I nodded my head.

"Yeah, I'm sick of laying here, and I could use the air," I replied, "I hope they get here soon, though. The pain is starting to act up a bit, especially around my stomach."

I grimaced, clutching my belly.

Fuck you, Abinchova.

Another peck upon my cheek left me with a soothing sensation, though.

I love Ellie kisses almost as much as Gilda kisses.

"Just be strong, Lou," Ellie said, nuzzling the side of my face.

"I know, I know," chuckling a bit. What can I say, nuzzling tickles some time.

The blue dragoness arched her neck back, before turning towards the door.

"I'm going for a quick fly around the city, but I'll be back before they begin any healing."

"Promise?" I asked in a childlike voice.

She giggled that beautiful giggle of hers.

"I promise, you big goof."

A grin spread across my face, as she giggled a bit.

All would have been well, if not for a small, but firm smack across my face.

I grimaced, before clutching my stinging cheek.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?!"

I felt a peck against my cheek again.

"For lying to me, Lou. I'm still pretty pissed about it," Ellie replied with a smirk,"I'll see you in a little bit."

And with that, she turned and left through the doorway, her tail shutting it on the way out.

My cheek still stung, but I still grinned a massive grin.

I still couldn't believe it.

I kissed a dragoness. A friend.

A bond mate.

I can only smile as I lied my head against the pillow and waited for the servants to bring me breakfast.

Still so many things to get done, to talk to.

Today's gonna be busy.

But, I never felt more thankful to be alive.