The Princess Bride (Self-published)

23: Wakeful: Sleep

Mikael watched his wife sleep fitfully.

He would tighten his arms around her every time she'd sob or whimper while praying that she'd soon wake up.

But Gabrielle continued her nightmare-plagued sleep crying out in fear ever so often and only calming down when Mikael would nuzzle her neck to comfort her.

"Nandito ako, Gabrielle babantayan kita," the young prince would murmur and his wife would cling to him; her temporarily demons driven away by the sound of his voice.

But unlike his wife, Mikael couldn't sleep.

Malalaman kaya ni Ama na may mga hindi kami sasabihin sa kanya? Malalaman n'ya kayang may itinatago si Gabrielle? Ano ba ang mga dapat sabihin at ano ang hindi?

Grim thoughts plagued his head and he would turn to his wife to rub his nose against the base of her neck where he had bitten her to calm himself.

Nine hours had passed since they got home yet Gabrielle slept on and Mikael was getting worried.

"Gab..." He tenderly touched her cheek. "Gab, gumising ka na, miss na kita...Gab..."

Her eyes fluttered open and he bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "Good afternoon..."

"Good afternoon? Bakit, anong oras na ba?"

"It's three in the afternoon, Gab."

"Ha? Alas tres na?"

"Oo."

"Ang haba naman ng itinulog ko."

"Oo nga, eh." He got off their bed. "Get up. Maligo na muna tayo nang makapag-agahan. Kakausapin tayo ni Ama pero bago 'yun ay gusto kong malaman kung ano ang sasabihin nating dalawa."

"'Yung totoo..."

"Lahat?"

Her brows furrowed remembering the book. "Tama ka, kailangan nga nating pag-usapan."

They took a shower and Mikael had food brought to their bedroom.

"Kumain kang mabuti," he told his wife.

"H'wag mo na akong subuan. Kumain ka na rin."

"Okay lang ako. Nag-aalala ako kasi hindi tayo nakapaghapunan, agahan, at tanghalian. Hindi naman nangangasim ang sikmura mo sa gutom?"

"Hindi naman. Pero, hindi ko maintindihan ang pagod ko kagabi. Pasensya ka na, sigurado akong kinarga mo ako mula kotse hanggang dito."

"Do you feel better now?"

She nodded. "Yes. Iba ang pakiramdam kapag nasa loob ako ng palasyo. I feel protected. Dahil siguro lugar n'yo 'to at nand'yan ka sa tabi ko. 'Tsaka mas panatag ang loob ko rito dahil alam kong nand'yan sina Ama at Kuya para ipagtanggol ka kung sakali—"

"Nandito sina Ama para ipagtanggol ka rin. All of Adrasteia will protect you, Gab. Pero, bago natin harapin sina Ama, may gusto muna akong malaman."

"Ano?"

"Marunong ka bang lumaban? Were you taught self-defense?"

"Hindi. Galing ako sa pamilya ng mga saserdote, Mikael. Puro dasal at orasyon ang itinuro sa akin."

"I see..."

"Bakit mo naitanong?"

"Wala naman. Just in case you need to defend yourself, I want to know kung ano ang kaya mong gawin."

"I'll probably just kneel down and pray," she replied.

He smiled. "There's nothing wrong with kneeling down and praying. Pero, lahat ng babaeng nakatira sa loob ng Adrasteia ay marunong ipagtanggol ang mga sarili nila because there was a time when the men had to go to war so they were left to defend the kingdom."