Your scream pierced the still silence of the night and woke King Draigh from his already restless sleep with a start. He'd already begun to grab his robe to pull over his shoulders before he even registered getting out of bed, his body used to the routine of your nightmares.

There were times when King Draigh regretted taking you in, you'd presented more challenges in his life that he hadn't planned for nor did he desire. Being the only child of his enemy nation, Eldoria, was the most prominent and he should have turned you away when you showed up haggard and near death on his doorstep.

He would have, it wasn't in his nature to be kind especially to children but as you'd collapsed, the king caught sight of the bruises that marred your arms and disappeared beneath your clothing, large and hand shaped, undeserved violence imprinted upon your flesh.

It had reminded him of his own at your age.

Providing you with shelter had exposed the rather cold King to a number of new and tiny joys, those that came with raising a child he figured and it hadn't taken nearly as long as he thought for you to find your way to his absent heart, no matter how indifferent towards you he appeared to be.

Kneeling beside your bed once he reached your chambers, King Draigh pushed your sweat soaked hair from your forehead, patting your cheek afterwards in an effort to pull you from whatever horror plagued your dreams. You'd never told him what your nightmares were made of. "Come now, wake child. Neither of us will be pleased if dawn breaks and you have yet come to your senses."