Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

Chapter 432: CDXXXII. The Sleepless Night

"Are you happen to be jealous? Hahah!" 

"Come on, stop talking nonsense! I really like this sweet side of you, the way you take care of others. It is already clear from how you treat your four-legged friend" the Shieldmaiden continued, looking at Thalos, who at that moment turned to her as if he understood that they were talking about him.

When all three of them entered the building and closed the door lowering the newly installed metal beam, Thalos positioned himself under the table, not far from the fire lit in the fireplace, while Dag and Freydis climbed upstairs.

Both rooms were open and doorless, allowing air to circulate in the stone corridors, so as not to make them as unbreathable as during the previous night.

The two entered the room that was used as a warehouse, noting that Gridd, Reidar, and some soldiers were already immersed in a deep sleep, lying on a thick layer of straw that covered almost the entire wooden floor, leaving small spaces useful to move through.

Together, they lay down next to Gridd, about a meter away, which was finally possible thanks to the new arrangement of furniture and the redistribution of junk in that room and slowly, hugged with each other, closed their eyes and fell asleep, knowing that some warriors were stationed on the control towers to guard the Fort at night.

Dag's sleep was not continuous and he awoke several times because his mind would not stop thinking about the decisive encounter with Kranus and the possible attacks they might suffer at night.

Unable to lie down because of all the agitation his body was pervading, he stood up and looked out of the small window of the room, noting that even in the distance it was not possible to see something other than the faint light of torches arranged on the four observation towers of the Fort.

After becoming convinced that rest was necessary to deal carefully with the next day's speech, he positioned next to Freydis again, who did not wake up for a second and fell asleep.

...

When he opened his eyes again, everyone was still asleep, and not even a sound could be heard coming from the room, nor from those next door, but the daylight entered timidly through the window, illuminating a small portion of the floor and the outline of the door.

"We managed to get through the night without any problems, no one attacked the fort!" he thought, breathing a sigh of relief and realizing that all his companions were unharmed.

The first thing he did when he woke up was turning to Freydis to see if she was next to him. 

She was there, her eyes closed and her legs gathered on her chest, her nose resting lightly on his arm and one hand under her cheek, as she slept blissfully. 

For a moment, Dag forgot every problem, looking at his woman and thinking only of her. 

With one hand he gently moved her hair from her face and gently approached her forehead. 

Soon after, he rose from the ground, stretching the muscles of his back and arms and looking around. 

Silence reigned supreme and daylight was still very weak: the Sun had just risen and several hours were missing from the meeting. 

It was the anxiety to woke him up, in fact, everyone around him was still resting, to gain the strength necessary to face those difficult days. 

Not being able to stay still and with a few hours of sleep, Dag left the room and walked down the corridor, descending the stairs, with the purpose of going to greet Thalos, who would surely be awake waiting for him. 

As expected, step by step, the pointed ears of the gray wolf popped up behind the stone hand rest of the staircase, followed by his amber eyes, open and clearly visible, despite the poor light. 

As soon as Thalos realized that the one who was walking towards him was Dag, he rested his head again on the ground and his tail began to move back and forth, raising the dust of the floor as if it was a broom. 

Dag lowered himself towards him and while with one hand he stroked his neck and the top of his head, with the other scratched his belly, one of his favorite points. 

Once again the wolf stood still to enjoy the cuddles, like a real pet. 

"I couldn't sleep anymore, my friend. I'm worried. I know I'm a quite good warrior, but Kjell and Orvar told me what Kranus is capable of. He's a magician, and his element is ice... this makes him unpredictable! If the deal doesn't work, will I be able to stay alive?" Dag said, telling his friend of his misgivings, just as he did long before on Magni's farm, so as not to be swallowed up by loneliness. 

The wolf stood motionless in the same position, claiming to be caressed again and again. 

"The lives of these men depend once again on me, on my decisions. We have no other choice, we have to cooperate with the Giants Of Ymir because we can't face them... there are too many, they would kill us from the first to the last and I can not allow this to happen, I promised my warriors a new beginning, not the end!" Dag continued, without stopping to cuddle the wolf. 

"And then keep your promise!" a second voice from the stairs said. 

Dag turned around and Thalos with him. 

"Gridd, you've woken up! Good morning!" he said, pausing more than usual to admire his sister's beauty. 

Waking up for a few minutes as she descended the stairs, Gridd rubbed her eyes with both hands, raising her arms and stretching them upwards, letting her shape be glimpsed, under the thin linen robe, almost transparent, covering her upper body. 

"Are you afraid, brother? Remember that it is normal to feel fear" she replied, approaching Dag, who, not knowing what to do, got up from the ground, stopping stroking Thalos.