Inkheart gift exchange!!!
Here is my contribution for the secret Santa this year, sorry it's short, but I enjoyed working in it when I could :D it's based on the idea of Dustfinger coming back to the Inkworld and finally being able to be open with Roxane like he used too. Hope you enjoy, happy holidays!
That's the only thought that consumed Dustfinger's mind as he dashed further into the forest.
As he ducked under a low-hanging branch, Dustfinger tripped over a rotten tree stump. This wasn't the forest he had grown up in-- no it was an unknown tangle of foreign land. He was no longer in the Inkworld he called home.
Falling to his side, Dustfinger knew this was the end. Without fire, there is no way that he would be able to defend himself. Loud footsteps and crunching sounded through the underbrush.
Looking up Dustfinger's eyes met with the shine of a silver dagger, fear spreading itself all over.
Dustfinger awoke with a start, panting as a cold swear dripped down his forehead. Gripping the sheets Dustfinger tried to calm down.
"It was only a dream" he reminded himself quietly. He looked over to his left, "Thank God"
Next to him, Roxane was gently asleep, he dark hair framing her gentle face. She looked peaceful, yet the lines on her face told of an unknown pain. She was just as beautiful as ever.
Dustfinger, still trying to calm down, sat up in bed; he held his head in his hands, trying to control himself. Roxane stirred awake.
"Dustfinger?" She softly inquired, sleepiness and love evident in her voice, "What are you doing up, it's quite late?"
"Uh, I" Dustfinger started and looked up. He didnt want to lie to Roxane, but what should he tell her?
"Are you crying?" Roxane asked, sitting up and gently wiping the tears from Dustfinger's face. She pulled him into a tight embrace, softly rubbing his back. "Another nightmare?"
Dustfinger just nodded as he wrapped his arms around Roxane. The warmth and comfort she brought was one of the many things he had missed so painfully while he was away from the Inkworld. He finally felt safe again in her embrace. He let himself feel the comfort that Roxane brought to him, staying in her arms as long as he could.
Finally, Dustfinger looked up. "Yeah..." he shakily replied. He had stopped crying, but was still incredibly shaken up from the whole thing. "It was just a repeat of this," he traced where the three long scars on his face used to show, "except, I was back in that other world. I was so scared. Scared and alone" he whispered the last part, just loud enough for Roxane to barely hear it.
Roxane looked him in the eye, a soft kind of look that makes you feel safe and warm. "I promise you, I will always be here for you," she started very gently, "you're back home now, you're safe now, no one can hurt you any more." She breathed in softly before continuing on. "We have each other"
She pulled Dustfinger back down into a tight hug. Even after all these years of being back, Dustfinger still had a tough time accepting that it was all finally over. The warm and comforting embrace that Roxane brought kept him grounded. He started crying again-- but not from sadness. No, it was an incredible relieve and happiness that overtook him. He was home, finally home. He had Roxanne, the farm, his old life back. He could finally be himself again.
As he melted into Roxane; she started to sing. Softly at first, then a little louder and more confident. An old melody she used to sing for Dustfinger when they first met. She continued on, singing through the night, until both her and Dustfinger fell back into a warm and peaceful sleep, tangled up in echothers arms just like they used to.