Work Text:
Elenya was in Abandoned Ruin #2. She'd run out of iron ore again. Even after a year and a half in Portia, it was still a mystery to her how she always managed to burn through it so quickly.
Still, there was nothing she could do about it. Besides, she didn't really mind today. Summer was in full swing, and this year it seemed determined to make Portia as unbearably hot as possible. Outside, the heat was almost as intense as what she'd grown up with in Barnarock, making the cool air inside the ruins a welcome relief.
Drill in hand, she worked her way through sand and stone until she finally uncovered a large vein of iron ore. Slipping into her usual rhythm, she began mining her way around it in a wide circle while mentally going over the commissions still waiting for her.
If she spent half the day gathering iron ore, she should have enough to last the next couple of weeks. That would still leave plenty of time to finish Arlo's commission.
She could have accepted one that paid far better this morning, but she'd been unable to resist taking his instead. Not because she still had anything to prove — they'd been together for more than six months by now.
She simply loved seeing the smile on his face whenever she delivered something he'd asked for. And Arlo deserved the very best. The only way she could be sure of that was to make it herself.
This time he needed two waist packs — his own had probably fallen apart again—and she was wondering whether she should embroider a little surprise onto one of them when a loud crack echoed behind her.
Startled, Elenya spun around, only to freeze as part of the ceiling gave way, crashing into the chamber she'd carved out around herself. Pebbles and dust rained down, leaving small scratches across her arms, but she couldn't make herself move.
Suddenly, she was no longer in Portia, but far, far away. In another time. In an even hotter place.
Panic squeezed the air from her lungs. The world around her blurred. Her heart hammered against her ribs, while a rhythmic "clang" rang in her ears.
Clang
Clang
Clang
Then, without warning, the sound changed. It became a crash.
The noise snapped her out of it.
Her drill lay on the ground at her feet.
Confused, she stared at her trembling hands. Black spots danced across her vision, and only then did she realize she'd stopped breathing. She dragged in a shaky breath, desperately trying to fill her lungs, but the rush of oxygen only made the dizziness worse.
She stumbled backwards until her back hit the wall, then slowly slid down to the ground.
She had to do something.
She had to find another way out of the ruins.
But her body refused to obey.
She couldn't move.
Only when a voice suddenly reached her did the invisible grip around her begin to loosen.
"Is anyone there?"
Remington. That was Remi’s voice.
"Remi! I’m here!" Elenya startled at the hoarse sound of her own voice, but Remi seemed to have heard her.
"Elenya! Is everything all right?" Even through the layer of rock separating them, she could hear the concern in his voice.
"Y-Yeah! I'm okay!"
"Thank goodness! Hang on, I'll be there in just a second."
Once again, a rhythmic "clang" rang out, but this time it wasn’t just in her head. Nevertheless, she felt herself on the verge of sinking back into panic and clung desperately to the thought that the sound came from Remi.
Remi, who was on his way to get her out of here.
Moments later, a small hole broke through the rock beside her. Two swings later, Remi climbed into the partially collapsed chamber. His worried gaze flicked from her to the pile of rubble before settling back on her.
"Are you really all right? I was just checking the ruins for hazards when I heard the crash. What happened?"
"I... I don't really know." She swallowed hard. "I..."
The words refused to come.
Panic still gripped her chest, threatening to drag her back into the past.
"Elenya?" A warm hand rested on her upper arm and, startled, she looked up into Remi’s dark, concerned eyes.
"Sorry..." She grimaced at the tremor in her voice. "I'm okay."
Remi frowned, clearly unconvinced, but thankfully he didn't press the issue.
"Come on. Let's get you out of here first."
Elenya nodded, pushed herself to her feet, picked up her fallen drill and slipped it back into her bag. She walked ahead of him through the passage he'd carved into the rock, grateful for the reassuring hand resting on her shoulder. It gave her something solid to focus on.
The blazing midday sun greeted them the moment they stepped outside.
Heat shimmered above the ground, making the world sway for just a second. A wave of dizziness hit her, and she stumbled sideways before Remi caught her by the arm.
"Whoa, easy there." His grip tightened instinctively. "Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you hit your head?"
His eyes swept over her once more. In the bright sunlight, the countless tiny scratches covering her arms stood out far more clearly.
Elenya forced a small smile.
"I'll be fine. They're only scratches." She took a slow breath. "I think... I'm just still a little shaken."
She couldn't hold his gaze for long. Her eyes drifted to her hands, which were still trembling ever so slightly.
Remi saw it too. The worry on his face softened into understanding.
"I can’t blame you. I’m glad I was nearby and that you’re all right." He took his helmet off and ran a hand through his green hair. "Would you like me to send Arlo over to you when I see him?"
Her heart gave a little leap at the sound of his name.
More than anything, she wanted to bury herself in his strong arms. Somehow, she was sure he'd be able to chase the dreadful memory away.
But she knew he was at Ingall’s Mine and wouldn’t be back until this evening.
"No, it's okay. I'll be fine."
"If you're sure." He offered her a small smile. "Just make sure you clean those cuts when you get home. They may be small, but they can still get infected."
"I will."
She handed him her helmet and jetpack, grateful she didn't have to return to the ruins, then made her way back to her workshop.
~~~~~~
Unfortunately, the rest of the day didn't go well for Elenya either. She had taken a shower and disinfected her arms, but she simply couldn’t shake off her anxiety.
She tried to distract herself with work, but she could hardly concentrate.
The heat was suffocating, threatening to pull her mind back to her homeland.
She tried to make the two waist packs for Arlo, but she couldn’t even manage to thread the needle. The trembling in her hands simply wouldn’t go away.
At least she now knew why the collapse had affected her so deeply. A glance at the calendar on her workbench revealed tomorrow’s date.
Tomorrow marks the 16th anniversary of that terrible, fateful day.
Elenya shook her head vigorously, trying to stop herself from getting lost in her memories again. Frustrated, she dropped the needle and thread onto her workbench, accidentally knocking her hammer in the process. It promptly fell over the edge, straight onto her foot.
Cursing, she hopped about on one leg as a dull ache throbbed through her foot.
Could her day get any worse?
Apparently so.
Accepting that she wouldn't be able to make any progress with Arlo’s commission, she turned her attention to her other major project: a boat for Starlight Island. And she was actually making progress, until she started painting the outside.
Fully focused on her brushstrokes, she took a step to the side and promptly bumped into the small table holding the paint bucket. As if in slow motion, the bucket tipped over and, before she could react, a flood of red paint poured across the floor of her workstation and all over her.
A loud curse escaped her lips.
Frustrated, she chased the rolling paint bucket to stop it from rolling onto the grass, but she lost her footing. The paint had turned the floor beneath her into a slippery mess.
She had no time to react as her legs gave way beneath her.
But instead of hitting the floor, two strong arms suddenly caught her, holding her securely.
Startled by her sudden fall and the appearance of another person, she looked up, her eyes wide, and met a pair of equally startled blue ones.
"Whoa, hey! Careful. I’ve got you." Arlo helped her back onto her feet with a steady grip and led her over to a spot where there was no paint on the floor.
He didn’t let go of her until he was sure she had regained her footing. His gaze swept over the red paint splashes on her clothes and the small scrapes on her arms. The concern in his eyes made her heart ache.
"Remi told me about the collapse," he said quietly. "I came straight here. And from the looks of it, with perfect timing." A small smile played on his lips, and Elenya felt colour rise to her cheeks.
"You always manage to get yourself into all sorts of situations." The tender tone of his voice couldn't prevent the rising sense of shame. She looked away. But a large, warm hand cupped her cheek and gently lifted her chin back up.
She realised that she hadn’t said a word to him yet, but a wave of emotion was choking her. Uncertain, she looked up at him. His gaze, full of love and concern, held hers captive, and, to her horror, tears welled up in her eyes.
Without hesitating, Arlo pulled her tightly against his strong chest. She instantly wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shoulder. His soothing scent mingled with the musty odour of Ingall’s Mine, and yet Elenya felt something inside her relax.
For a moment, she simply allowed herself to stand there. Arlo’s heart beat calming against her cheek and his thumb stroked her back in slow, soothing movements. The trembling in her hands finally subsided a little.
"Hey," he murmured gently after a while, and Elenya shifted slightly away from him to look up at him.
"Hey," she whispered back. His lips pressed warmly against hers, and a soft sigh escaped her.
"I can see you’ve had a really rough day."
"Mmh..." Elenya couldn’t help herself; she snuggled back against his chest.
A whirlwind of emotions was still churning within her. Anger, frustration, fear, and the sense of dread that she had found so hard to ignore ever since the collapse. Arlo’s reassuring embrace helped her push some of it aside for a moment.
But no sooner had her breathing steadied than something in her chest tightened again. The heat of the day suddenly seemed to settle on her skin once more and, somewhere in her mind, the sound of that terrible crash still echoed.
She realised that she didn’t want to be alone today.
Once more, she pulled away from Arlo just enough to look at him. "Can you stay with me tonight? Or do you still have to work?"
Arlo’s eyebrows knitted together in concern as he heard her slightly quivering question. But, to her relief, he didn’t press her for details. "I'm done for the day, but I need to pop into headquarters for a moment. I'll grab a few things for the night and I could really use a shower. Don't want to stink up your bed."
With a soft laugh, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and she leaned into his palm. Arlo’s gaze softened. "How about I pick up some dinner from Django’s on the way back? Then we can make ourselves comfortable on your sofa."
"That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Arlo."
"Don’t mention it. I can’t imagine anything better than spending the evening with you."
Arlo wanted to help her tidy up and clean, but she managed to convince him that it would be more efficient if he went ahead and got started. Then they could eat as soon as she’d finished.
She didn’t want to be alone, but she also needed some time to herself to unwind. She didn’t want to burden Arlo with her problems.
~~~~~~
It was about an hour later when Elenya and Arlo were sitting together on her couch, enjoying their dinner. The mess at her workstation had been cleaned up, her ruined pants were soaking, and Arlo smelled wonderful after his apple shampoo.
Without asking, he’d brought her favourite dish — Pumpkin Steamed Rice — and even a slice of Black Forest cake. He just knew how to make her happy.
After dinner, Elenya snuggled up next to Arlo, his strong arm draped around her shoulders. Her stomach was full, and she felt wonderfully warm. Thanks to the air conditioning she’d had installed in her house — after building the harbour — it wasn’t too hot inside, and she could fully enjoy Arlo’s body heat.
For a moment, they savoured the pleasant silence, until Arlo finally asked the question she’d been expecting all along. "How are you?" A gentle kiss on the top of her head accompanied his soft words, and Elenya snuggled even closer to him.
"Better, now that you’re here." And that was the truth. Right now, she simply felt safe and secure. Arlo always had that effect on her.
"I’m glad to hear that. If only all problems were that easy to solve." The second part was just a soft mumble, but Elenya heard it anyway.
She craned her neck questioningly to look at him. "Is everything okay?"
"Don’t worry. It’s just Higgins again, wanting an impossible amount of materials from Ingall’s Mine. I couldn’t even get half of it together today." An exasperated sigh escaped him, and Elenya pressed a warm kiss to his cheek.
"I’m sorry you have to work so hard for him. I’m sure you have plenty of other things to do, too."
"Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad he gives us the job instead of putting himself in danger, but this time he’s really asking for a lot."
Elenya’s heart swelled with love for the man by her side. She admired his tireless dedication to the people of Portia and their safety. His protective nature knew no bounds — not even when it came to Higgins.
Driven by the need to express her feelings, she pulled away from his arms to draw him into a proper kiss. Somewhat surprised, Arlo took a moment before returning it, but then they lost themselves in the tender movements of their lips.
When they pulled apart, Arlo gently pressed his forehead against hers.
"What did I do to deserve that?"
"I love you."
Arlo’s eyes began to shine, and he pressed another quick kiss to her lips. "I love you, too."
Happy, Elenya snuggled back into his arms. Arlo began telling her about his commission and how his day at the mine had gone. His warm voice rumbled soothingly deep in his chest, and she felt herself unconsciously drifting into a light sleep.
A soft, warm laugh gently pulled her back from the brink of sleep. "I think it’s time we get you into bed."
An unintelligible murmur escaped her lips. She didn’t even know what she was trying to say.
The arms around her shifted. One slid under her knees and the other wrapped securely around her shoulders. Then she was lifted into the air, and with a soft sigh, she buried her face in the crook of Arlo’s neck.
With steady steps, he carried her across to the bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. A large hand ran through her hair, and with a soft "I’ll be right back," Arlo stepped away from her side.
She was already drifting off again when the bed next to her dipped. Moments later, strong arms pulled her against a warm chest, and her head settled on Arlo’s shoulder.
"Sleep well, sweetheart."
She tried to respond to his words, but sleep claimed her before she could.
~~~~~~
It was hot.
Unbearably hot.
The sun beat down on the residents of Barnarock.
A rhythmic "clang" echoed through the air.
Clang
Clang
Clang
Pickaxes struck stone.
Blurred faces danced around Elenya. Only one face stood out from the crowd.
A beautiful face. Friendly, framed by black hair and green eyes that were full of life.
A face that looked so much like hers.
The "clang" still echoed all around her. Elenya sat on an old wooden crate, swinging her little legs back and forth as she played with a gear she’d found on the ground.
Her mother had taken her to work since no one could watch her, but that didn’t bother Elenya. She loved watching her mother work.
How rhythmically she struck the stones, the quarry around them bustling with activity.
Then the "clang" suddenly vanished.
Instead, a deafening crack echoed through the valley.
Startled, Elenya looked up from her gear wheel, and suddenly she was no longer sitting on her crate, nor was she five years old anymore. She was standing just a few steps away from her mother, everything around her shrouded in menacing shadows.
Only the scene before her was crystal clear. The huge boulder falling from above. The faceless worker standing directly beneath it.
And her mother.
Her mother, who, without a moment’s hesitation, lunged forward and shoved the worker out of the way.
A blood-curdling scream tore from Elenya’s throat. She tried to run, to move, to do something—but she was rooted to the spot.
Not a single muscle would budge.
In utter despair, she had to watch as her mother was struck by the boulder. As she lay motionless on the ground. As blood spread around her.
The shadows around her grew larger, more threatening, while desperate cries escaped her lips.
Then, suddenly, her mother’s body began to change. Her black hair grew shorter. Turned red. Her body grew larger. And suddenly it was Arlo lying on the ground.
Another scream escaped her lips. She still couldn’t move, forced to watch as blood flowed from his body.
The images blurred together. Her mother, lying lifeless in that white quarry. Arlo, buried beneath the red stones of the Eufaula Tunnel.
Then she was finally able to move. Hasty, stumbling, her vision blurred by tears, she fell to the ground beside the two bodies.
Cloudy, lifeless eyes stared back at her, and her world shattered in two.
With another scream, she slumped to the ground, her shoulders shaking with violent sobs.
"No, no, no... Arlo... Mom... I’m so sorry. I was too slow... I’m so sorry."
~*~*~*~*~*~
A faint sound reached Arlo’s ears. He would recognise that sound even in his sleep.
Someone was in distress.
Before he was fully awake, he was already sitting upright in bed. Confused, he looked around the dark room.
What had woken him?
Then he heard it again. A faint whimper.
His gaze darted to the left, toward Elenya, who was lying next to him. But instead of finding her sleeping peacefully, she was tossing her head back and forth in despair, and anguished sounds escaped her lips.
A desperate "No" escaped her, and Arlo finally snapped out of his stupor. He quickly turned on the bedside lamp next to him and leaned over Elenya.
"Elenya, sweetheart, wake up." But she didn’t respond.
He was afraid to touch her — he didn’t want to startle her.
But her breathing was growing more and more frantic, and tears were streaming from her closed eyes. He absolutely had to wake her up.
He tried by gently shaking her shoulder, but again she showed no reaction.
"Elenya, come on, you have to wake up. It’s just a dream." A desperate whimper broke Arlo’s heart in two.
He had never seen her so frightened.
"Come on, sweetheart." He pressed his forehead against hers and cupped her cheek. Gently, he wiped away the tears that flowed ceaselessly from her eyes and spoke soothingly to her.
"Come on, you can do this. Wake up. It’s just a dream."
"Arlo... Mom... I’m so sorry." A heart-wrenching sob followed her whispered words, and Arlo felt tears welling up in his own eyes.
He felt completely helpless. He couldn’t protect her in her dreams.
Then her eyes suddenly flew open. Breathing heavily, she stared at him without really seeing him. He quickly leaned back so as not to overwhelm her.
Her eyes darted across the dimly lit ceiling in a panic, and then she finally spotted him beside her. A new wave of tears found their way down her cheeks.
"Arlo..." Another heart-wrenching sob escaped her and Arlo hurried to pull her into his arms.
"Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. It was just a dream. Just a dream." He gently rocked her back and forth, trying to prop his pillow and blanket against the headboard with one hand. Once he had managed, he slid back far enough to lean against them.
He pulled Elenya sideways onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist while gently pressing her head against his chest.
Every broken sound that escaped her lips pierced his heart.
"It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m here." The words flowed from his lips like a mantra as he gently rocked her back and forth. Her tears soaked through his shirt, but he didn’t mind.
He would do anything for Elenya.
It took a very long time for her to calm down even a little. Her sobs grew quieter, and her hand, which had been clenched tightly around his shirt, relaxed. Exhausted, she slumped against him, and he tightened his grip around her waist just a little more.
"I’ve got you. It was just a dream. You’re safe." He pressed his lips firmly against her hair, unconsciously breathing in her wonderful scent and allowing himself to relax a little as well.
But what followed made him freeze.
"No... it wasn’t." Elenya’s voice reached his ears, hoarse and barely audible. Both the sound and the words themselves sent a new pang through his heart.
Not a dream? A memory then?
"Oh, sweetheart..." He pulled his hand away from her hair and cupped her cheek. Gently, he lifted her face away from his chest so he could look at her.
Red, swollen eyes met his gaze, and he gently wiped away the last tear that slipped from the corner of her eye. Exhausted, her eyes closed, and she leaned into the palm of his hand.
A mixture of love and concern washed over him.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Elenya hesitated. She looked at him uncertainly, the deep green of her eyes clouded by fear and sorrow.
What on earth had she been through?
A shiver ran through her body and Arlo could see the goosebumps spreading across her arms. Seeking warmth, she snuggled closer to him. He made up his mind.
While she was deciding whether to tell him, he would do everything he could to make her feel more comfortable.
"How about I make us some tea and we snuggle up on the couch?" He looked down at her questioningly and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
Elenya nodded but made no move to pull away from his embrace. So he adjusted his hold around her and slid with her to the edge of the bed. With one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, he stood up and carried her over to the living room.
She rested her head on his shoulder with an exhausted sigh, gently brushing a kiss against his neck. A soft smile crept onto his lips and he returned the gesture with a kiss on her forehead.
After fumbling to turn on the light, he gently lowered her onto the sofa and wrapped her in the warm blanket draped over the back. With another kiss on her forehead and a soft "I'll be right back", he headed into the kitchen.
While the tea was steeping, he thought about the bag he’d brought with him and its contents. He hadn’t known why earlier, but something inside him had told him to bring his grey sweater.
Elenya loved it, and Arlo loved seeing her wear it. It was far too warm for a sweater, but he’d packed it anyway. And right now, he was very glad he had.
He quickly darted into the bedroom and took the sweater out of his bag. He then returned to Elenya, who looked at him with tired, confused eyes. But when she saw the sweater, her expression brightened slightly.
Without a word, she raised her arms, and with a soft laugh, he pulled the sweater over her head. With a happy sigh, she snuggled into the soft fabric, and, satisfied, he went back to the kitchen.
As soon as the tea was ready, Arlo took it into the living room. He didn’t find Elenya how he had left her. She was sitting there completely stiff; her gaze fixed on her knees. Her face was etched with anguish, and she looked as though she was about to start crying again.
He quickly crossed the last few steps and held out a cup to her.
With a small, grateful smile, she took it from him, and he sat down with his own cup right next to her. She instantly rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her back.
For a while, they just sat in silence, drinking their tea. Arlo gave her all the time she needed. And if she didn’t want to tell him about her dream, that was okay, too.
"It... it was about my mom..." Startled that Elenya had suddenly broken the silence, Arlo looked down at her.
He decided not to say anything. Instead, he put their two empty cups on the coffee table and pulled her back onto his lap. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close as she began to speak hesitantly.
"You... you know that I lived with my aunt before I came here."
Arlo nodded.
"Mom... she had... There aren’t many opportunities in Barnarock. She used to work in a quarry. I think she actually enjoyed it, but it was dangerous..." A shiver ran through her body, and he pulled her a little closer to him.
A faint sense of foreboding crept over him.
"I used to go with her sometimes. That day was no exception..." Elenya seemed lost in her memories; she fell silent for a moment. Arlo pressed a long kiss to the top of her head to show her that he was there.
With a deep sigh, she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her words were muffled against his skin, but he understood every word nonetheless. "It was just a day like any other. Everyone was chipping away at the stones when suddenly a loud crack echoed through the valley..."
"A huge chunk had broken loose from the wall. One of the workers was standing right underneath it, and my mother..." Arlo felt individual tears wet his skin. "She had pushed him out of the way..."
Everything inside him tightened. A mixture of grief and pain overwhelmed him, and he had to force himself to keep his voice steady. "How old were you then?"
"I was five. That was exactly sixteen years ago."
Arlo didn’t know what to think. It was difficult for him to process the idea that a sweet, little Elenya had to witness her own mother get crushed by a rock.
He'd been through a lot himself as a child—after all, their world has always been dangerous—but until now, he'd always hoped that Elenya had been spared something like this. She had such a big, pure heart and a gentle soul, and she always had a smile for everyone.
She didn’t deserve something like that.
"Oh, sweetheart..." He was at a loss for words. Instinctively, he wrapped his body even more tightly around her, trying to shield her from all the evil in this world.
But he quickly realized that he needed her closeness just as much. The image of a woman who looked like Elenya, buried beneath a rock, took root in his mind. Along with it came the image of a little girl with long black hair and green eyes desperately calling out for her mother.
The image threatened to overwhelm him.
Then something else suddenly occurred to him. Elenya had also called out his name in her sleep, and he remembered the night last year when she had come to him at headquarters, completely distraught. Back then, she’d had a panic attack because her mind had convinced her that he was buried under the rocks in the Eufaula Tunnel.
Suddenly, everything made so much more sense. Even her fear of thunderstorms. Was she aware of this herself?
The small collapse in the ruins took on a different meaning, too. It hadn't just triggered a bad day; it had touched something Elenya had carried with her all these years.
Elena's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Pa... he went off after that. Off on his adventures." A small, bitter laugh escaped her. "I don't think he knew how to deal with everything."
A new emotion mingled with the rest of his emotional turmoil: anger. He was angry at a man he knew only from the stories of the other residents, from back when he still lived in Portia.
How could anyone abandon a five-year-old child who had just tragically lost their mother?
"I was angry at him for a long time. But now... I don’t know." Elenya gently pulled away from his embrace, and he reluctantly loosened his grip around her. "In a way, I’m almost grateful to him. Thanks to him, I ended up here. In Portia. And with you." Her eyes, still swollen, met his gaze warmly, and some of his anger melted away.
"If I ever run into him, he's going to get an earful from me. But I’m also very glad you’re here. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me." Gently, he cupped her cheek and pressed his lips to hers. With a soft sigh, she leaned into the kiss, and they lost themselves in the tender touch.
Only when a shiver ran through Elenya’s body did Arlo pull away. A small, reluctant whine escaped her lips, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
"You’re exhausted, sweetheart. We can always continue tomorrow."
A soft pout greeted him when he looked down at her, prompting him to give her one more quick kiss.
But then he grew serious. "Do you think you can get some more sleep? Or should I stay awake with you?"
Elenya thought for a moment, her fingers playing with a loose thread on the blanket.
"I... I don't know if I can fall asleep again. But I’d like to try." She paused briefly, and an endearing blush appeared on her cheeks. She looked up at him shyly. "Could you maybe read something to me? Or tell me a story? Your voice always calms me down so much."
A warm feeling washed over Arlo. Knowing she felt so safe with him filled him with pride.
"Of course. Come on. Let's go back to bed, and I'll tell you about the paperwork I have to fill out tomorrow. That’ll put you to sleep in no time." Just as he’d hoped, she giggled softly in response, and he couldn’t help but kiss her again.
Without breaking the kiss, he adjusted his arm around her and lifted her up into his arms. He carried her back to bed, quickly turned off the living room light, and lay down beside her.
She immediately snuggled back into his arms, and Arlo was more than happy to pull her close. Her head rested right over his heart, and her left leg intertwined with his. He gently traced small circles on her back and began to talk.
He kept his voice soft and soothing, and Elenya let out a quiet, relaxed sigh. It didn't take long before she drifted back to sleep. Arlo watched her for a while longer, until he was sure that no more nightmares were lurking.
After giving her one last warm kiss on the top of her head, he joined her in the land of dreams.