Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.

It was near midnight. Or at least that’s what Ivelle thought. It was hard to tell, since the rooms in Hiwaya didn’t have windows. She couldn’t imagine how people here arranged anything. She’s only been here for a few hours, but it felt like it’s always night here.

After hours of tossing and turning she decided to get up and take a walk. She put on her usual leather pants and linen shirt. She looked in her glass mirror, tilted her head a bit and decided that right now, she was way too lazy to do anything with her hair.

She walked on the infinite corridors and stairs of Hiwaya, looking for anything interesting. The city was asleep, only a few soldiers and night owls were up.

As she turned a corner, she stopped in front of a richly decorated ebony door. She looked around but saw no one. For a few seconds she just stood there. Was she allowed to go in? What was behind the door?

Finally her curiosity won, and she opened the door slowly. What she found behind the door was probably the biggest library of all times. Bookshelves were lining up as long as her eyes could see, and maybe further.

She took a few steps further and the door closed behind her. She winced and went deeper in the library, amazed by what she saw. Among the lines she saw a lone light of a candle. She went closer and saw a lone figure sitting at a desk, with his back to Ivelle.

She recognised the figure. Adrastos’s skin, if it was possible, looked paler in the candle’s light and his hair darker. He was reading a very old book.

“Are you just going to stand there, stalking me, or will you come closer and sit down?” asked Adrastos with his bantering tone. Ivelle just smiled to herself and sat across the man. “It’s nearly one in the morning. What are you doing up?”

“I could ask the same.” she said smiling, trying to hide how tired she felt.

“I’m pulling an all-nighter.” answered Adrastos simply, looking up from his book, and fixing his eyes on Ivelle’s face “Your turn.”

“I didn’t realise it was that late.” she said shrugging her shoulders.

“That’s a lie. Why are you lying to me, Ivelle?” he asked still examining Ivelle.

“You lied too.” she said simply.

“Fair enough.” he said closing the book ’You tell me why you’re awake and I’ll tell you too.” he said crossing his arms in front of his chest and leaning back in his chair. It was Ivelle’s turn to examine him. They sat there like that for a while when Ivelle finally spoke up.

“I have nightmares.” she was nearly whispering and looked at the tabletop.

“What kind of nightmares?” asked Adrastos.

“It’s nothing.” she said, still examining the table “Just stupid things.”

Adrastos stood up, got around the table and crouched in front of Ivelle. He lifted Ivelle’s chin and made her look at him.

“Tell me.” he said on a low voice.

“Just...” she took a deep breath “People die in my dreams. People who are close to me.” she blurt out finally.

Adrastos nodded.

“Bad dreams, nightmares come with the war. Our task is hard, enemies are waiting at every corner.” Ivelle tried to turn her face away, but Adrastos made her look back at him “Hey. What I’m trying to say, is that it’s completely normal that you have bad dreams. I have too. But if you don’t sleep, you won’t be able to focus, and you’ll make mistakes. And in these times, mistakes cost a lot.” Without thinking Ivelle threw her arms around Adrastos’s neck and pulled him into a hug. For a moment Adrastos was stunned, but then he returned the hug.

“Thank you.” whispered Ivelle.

“For what?” he said with surprise in his voice.

“For always being there for me.” she said honestly. Adrastos didn’t say a word. “Can we stay awake together?” joked Ivelle.

“Sure thing.” laughed Adrastos “You know there are some pretty interesting things in this library.” Ivelle released him from the hug and looked at him seriously.

“Are we allowed to wander in the library?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” answered Adrastos mischievously. Ivelle raised an eyebrow “What?” asked Adrastos “Dream of tomorrow, live in the now.” he said and with a mischievous grin, stood up and indicated Ivelle to go with him.

“I know what should we begin with.” and with that he disappeared between the bookshelves.

Ivelle just laughed and went after him. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Adrastos was more than 200 years old.