They decided to not sleep on the beach that night, but instead, spend one final night on the deck of The Bowen. They would move on the next day, the final stretch to Dueglestein.
It was mind boggling when Peter really thought about it. So much had happened in just a little more than a month. They had faced monsters, the Dueglestein police, and Peter even went to Thuron for the first time. It was so much to think about and their journey would soon end.
As Peter lay on the floorboards of The Bowen, staring up at the stars he thought about everything that had happened to them over the first part of this long quest. Everything and everyone had changed in some way.
Luke seemed braver and more aware of his surroundings. He also seemed to break out of his shell more, becoming more animated in their conversations, and feeling free to give his own opinion.
Richard had become kinder, almost soft in his time around Helen, and while they were in Thuron Peter thought he saw Richard giving to the poor as well–even though there aren’t many poor people in Thuron.
Helen had become a better fighter and better at defending herself in battle, instead of being usually helpless. She had also matured, and Peter thought that underneath the original dirt and grime that they first met her sporting, there was a beautiful young woman.
Peter himself thought he had matured somewhat and was glad he no longer had the stupid quarrels with Richard, although he didn’t think too highly of himself.
Alice had matured as well and seemed a little more eager to defend herself, even though she still said she would never kill any living thing. She had also become more animated like Luke, instead of being the usual reserved and quiet girl Peter first met, she was eagerly entering their conversations, and sharing her opinion whenever she needed to.
Adalene, well, Adalene had become a great leader for the group, something that filled the gap where Skylar should be. Although Peter missed Skylar, he still felt they needed that second leader in the conversations, taking the charge whenever they needed. She had helped the children a lot, buying all their supplies and even the ship Peter was on right then.
She had been a mentor to the group, wise in her statements and teaching them the things they needed to know. And Peter thought she was also a good friend, even though sometimes she was a bit brash, cold, and seemed to have a superiority complex. She needed some work, but Peter also felt bad for how neglected she felt during her times being queen, never getting to say what she felt, and always having all the decisions made by the council.
But Peter saw the true queen in her as she talked to her own people, the way she cared for them and inspired them with hope. She had turned her soldiers from turning her into seeing about taking down the council, the ones in control even when she was no longer queen and no longer had power or control over them.
They respected her, whether she was their queen or not.
Peter looked at the constellations above, trying to remember some of the ones his mother had taught him. His memory was a little fuzzy, but he did his best to remember them.
He looked over next to him as Alice walked over and lay down next to him. Peter looked to his left and saw the others asleep, all except for Luke who still insisted on being on the watch even when there was no immediate watch.
Alice folded her hands across her chest, and Peter laid his own arms behind his neck, making a makeshift pillow.
They stared at the stars for a moment in silence, just the two of them, laying there together. There was still space between them, about two feet of distance, but Peter felt closer to Alice than ever. He felt the heat rise to his cheeks and prayed that Alice didn’t see them.
“So…” Peter started, drawing out the word.
“So…” Alice said back with a smile.
“Know any constellations?” Peter asked since it was the first thing that popped into his head.
“Hmm…” Alice thought for a moment, studying the stars, “I’ve never been this far south before, so the constellations are in different positions. But I’ll try…”
Peter waited for a moment, studying the night sky as well.
“Ooh!” Alice said in excitement, “See that one?” she pointed to the right, and Peter scooted closer to her to get a better look.
“Which one?” he asked, still not knowing where it was.
“That one close to the moon, right to the left of it.” Alice pointed again, and Peter finally understood what it looked like.
“The flower?” Peter asked, looking at the way the stars made a flower shape.
“Yes,” Alice answered with a smile, “That’s Rana Minor or the Little Lily.”
Peter nodded and tried to look in the night sky for a constellation he remembered.
Then Peter saw one he remembered his mother taught him about, a hunter with a bow. “Uh…you see the man with the bow?” he asked, pointing to the constellation. Alice looked in the direction and said yes.
“That’s…Nasalis, the Hunter.”
“Oh, I remember now…” Alice said, looking at the constellation as well, “Isn’t the brightest star Ceratophrys?”
“I think so…” Peter lied. He really didn’t know what all the stars’ names were, just the names of the constellations.
“Know any more?” Peter asked, not knowing if there were any more constellations he knew in the sky.
“I don’t know, Peter,” Alice answered, looking at the sky in concentration, “I don’t remember any more.”
“Hmm…” Peter thought, “That one looks like a dog,” he said, pointing to a constellation above them.
Alice laughed at that. “Yeah, this one looks like a llama.”
“A what?” Peter asked. He didn’t know what a llama was.
“A llama,” Alice said again, “You don’t know what a llama is?”
Peter shook his head. “No,”
“Well, when this whole thing is over I’ll take you to Thuron and show you a llama.”
“Okay,” Peter said, wondering what a llama was and what it looked like. Looking at where Alice had pointed, he couldn’t make out a shape.
Seeing the opportunity in the silence that had formed between them, Alice started to ask Peter something.
“Peter…about that kiss…the kiss you gave me after…”
Peter felt the heat rise on his cheeks again, and he felt suddenly embarrassed and ashamed. “I’m sorry, Alice. If you didn’t want me to…I shouldn’t have. I know that some things are against what you believe in. I shouldn’t have-”
“No, you’re fine,” Alice insisted, “I just didn’t…expect it.”
Again, Peter felt ashamed. “I’m sorry, Alice. I should’ve given you some warning-”
“Peter, what I’m trying to say is…” Alice trailed off, then sat up to face him. “I didn’t know you felt that way about me. I was surprised, but glad. Because I feel that way about you. And I didn’t know you felt the same.”
Peter was surprised. He thought that Alice was mad at him for kissing her, but she was just surprised.
“Well then, if we’re admitting things, we have something to talk about,” Peter said, lowering his tone. He knew that what he’d say next would make Alice a little uncomfortable, and frightened as well.
“What?” Alice asked, looking into his eyes.
“Alice,” Peter started, “When we were in Thuron, did you…have a nightmare?”
Alice’s eyes widened, and she sat still. She didn’t move, instead staring at him.
“How…how would you-”
“I was restless one night, Alice, and I heard somebody cry out. I didn’t know who, but I found out it was you. I went into your room and saw you having a nightmare. You were upset, Alice, you were shaking in bed, and you kept whispering to somebody that you didn’t know something.” Peter took a deep breath, and said, “Alice, did something…happen when Boromir was interrogating you? Other than him…marking you?”
Alice was continuing to stare at him, slowly breathing.
“Alice, you don’t have to tell me everything, I just want to know…”
Alice looked at him, her face falling. “I’m not sure I want to tell you just yet. I don’t like…remembering.” Alice turned away from him, closing her eyes. He thought he saw her shudder, but he was just ashamed that he’d brought up the subject.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine, Alice. I was just worried. I couldn’t save you from him in the camp, I don’t want something like that to happen again. If he’s continuing to hurt you even after his death, I want to know. I’m here for you, Alice. Don’t ever forget it.” Peter got up to leave her alone, saying “Goodnight, Alice.” before he could leave.
“Goodnight, Peter.”
Peter walked over to where Luke was sitting, fighting to keep his eyes open, drifting off into sleep every so often.
“Let me take the shift, Luke,” Peter insisted, “You’re already falling asleep.”
“No,” Luke answered, “I’m fine, I just…can’t sleep.”
Peter sighed. “If you don’t sleep soon I’m going to knock you out to make sure you sleep.”
“Is that a threat?” Luke asked with his crooked smile.
“If you keep staying awake it will be,” Peter said seriously.
“Fine,” Luke said, laying on the floorboards and turning his back to Peter, “If I scream in my sleep, that'll be your fault,” he grumbled.
Peter raised an eyebrow at that, not sure what Luke meant. But before he could ask Luke, he could hear him already softly snoring.
Peter rolled his eyes, still not sure why Luke insisted on not sleeping for the past few days. He was beginning to look like a corpse because of the bags under his eyes.
Peter didn’t understand why, but it was beginning to get to the point of danger. Peter remembered Adalene grumbling something about sleep deprivation when Luke had fought Adalene to keep watch, even lying to her by telling her he’d wake someone up to take the next shift. He hadn’t, and instead stayed up the entire night.
Adalene had been furious, yelling at Luke that he needed to rest and instead let other people take turns staying up and keeping watch, but Luke insisted he’d let the others sleep. Adalene had stormed off after that argument, muttering that Luke might die of sleep deprivation if somebody didn’t straighten him out.
…
It was almost early morning when Peter found out why. Luke started to toss and turn in his sleep, a cold sweat breaking out on his face. Peter’s eyes widened as he watched Luke’s body begin to shake uncontrollably, mumbling incoherent words Peter couldn’t understand.
“Luke?” Peter asked tentatively, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Luke, you have to wake up.”
Luke’s body shook more, until his eyes were wide open but he wasn’t looking around. It was like Luke was asleep and awake at the same time.
“Luke!” Peter said urgently, trying to shake Luke awake, “Luke, wake up!”
Luke let out a yell, and he shot straight up and gasped, breathing heavily from the nightmare.
“You scared me there, bud.” Peter said, sitting back on the ground, “What was the matter? You got really freaky.”
Luke shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he tried to wake himself up.
“Do you remember what the dream was about?” Peter asked, concerned.
Luke sighed, frustrated. “No. No, it’s never a dream I can remember but every time I sleep I have the same dream. Every. Single. Time. And I can never remember it. I hate it.”
“That sucks,” Peter said, and he looked around at the other kids. They were all still asleep, seemingly unaffected by Luke’s nightmare.
“Well,” Luke sighed, “I guess if I’m up I might as well get ready for today. Because today, we’re going to Dueglestein.”
Peter groaned. “God, it’s been a long few weeks.”
“It sure has been,” Luke agreed, rubbing his tired eyes, “But it’s almost over.”
“Yeah,” Peter said sarcastically, “And then we have to make it through the hardest part of this journey.”
“Don’t be so down in the dumps, Peter,” Luke said with a smile, pulling Peter into a half hug with his arm on his shoulder, “There’s a bright world out there, just waiting for us to explore,” he pointed off in the distance with his left hand, squeezing Peter in his half-hug with his right.
“Yeah, you’re kind of squishing me, though,” Peter said, wriggling out of Luke’s half hug.
“Oh, sorry, Pete.” Luke said, slapping Peter on the back, then he said, “Hey, I heard you and Alice talking last night.”
Peter felt his face flush once again, and he asked, “Oh, yeah? What’d you hear?”
“I wanted to congratulate you guys on sharing your feelings.” Luke said genuinely, smiling at Peter, “You guys should be proud that you can communicate your feelings that well.”
“You didn’t hear…anything else?” Peter asked.
“Nope.” Luke walked around the ship, surveying its condition.
Peter let out the breath he was holding, glad Luke wouldn’t question what else they had been talking about. Luke started to whistle happily, waking up the rest of the crew...
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