Scarlet's hands fell limp, purple bruising around her neck shone vibrantly against her now pale skin. Her lips having gone blue for lack of air. She didn't move, didn't breath.

It was warm all of a sudden, the smell of salty sea air wafted around her. She was seated on a beach, out looking the ocean. She was supposed to go in the water, there was a boat waiting for her. She didn't want to go, but she knew if she went, things would be better.

She stood, bare feet shifting softly in the sand.

"Not yet, my child."

It was the woman's voice again. Scarlet froze and turned to see a beauitful woman, her eyes covered, her hair tied in seven point.

"I have to go." She told the woman but the woman shook her head and floated in front of Scarlet with an otherworldly grace. "You have so much to do." She told her, "Listen." She said

"Scarlet! Scarlet I'm here!"

It was Da'Karro's voice. He came. Scarlet looked at the woman, she couldn't see her eyes but she knew the woman was looking at her. "He yelled at me, He is only my jailer, nothing else..." She said shamefully. The woman only smiled. "Listen" She said again. "I am sorry I yelled, I didnt mean it! Just please, Please come back! I am here! I promise I wont leave you again! Im here, Ill always be here." He said in a panic and Scarlet looked at her feet.

"But I have to go." She said and the woman brushed her hand over her face. "Sweet girl, You and I have work to do, no, you can not go yet." She said and smiled. "Listen." She said once again.

"Scarlet..." Scarlet rose her head, listening. "I love you."

Scarlet's eyes went wide.

"You see, you can not go, you have work to do, awaken sweet girl, awaken and he will protect you. You are not safe in your dreams." With that, the woman leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Scarlet's lips.

Scarlet's body jolted up right, and she sucked a loud intake of air. Coughing as her lungs filled with air, her throat ached, her head swam.

She managed to look around enough to see herself in Da'Karro's arms. She wanted to speak, but words would not come. She opened her mouth, but not a single utterance could be managed. Her memory of her last dream was far away, and vague but the first one, the one where Da'Karro was trying to kill her was in the forefront of her mind.

She pulled away from him, and clung to Isabella. She looked up at the woman. Opened her mouth to speak but again, no sound. She touched at her very sore throat and then pointed at him and then her head, as if to say, 'in my dream, it was him' before ducking her head down holding to her.

Scarlet awoke with a jolt, but rather than relaxing in his arms, recoiled once she realized whom had saved her. The girl let out a hoarse approximation of a cry and pushed him away, flinging herself into the nearby Isabella, who, shocked, could only dumbly sit there as the girl sobbed into her robes, frantically pointing at Da’Karro, as if to blame him for the sudden, near death night terror. By this time Decimus and Ramashad caught up to Da’Karro, and entered the room at speed.
“What is going on?” Decimus demanded, Ramas’ hand instinctively going to the axe at his belt, “What is the meaning of this?”
“I don’t know my lord,” Da’Karro said, stunned by Scarlets sudden accusation of blame. How could he have been the one responsible, he had been in another room, he had saved her for Ishka’s sake, “I believe our lady Scarlet may have been experiencing some type of psychotic fever dream. She was choking herself sir.”
“Well it wouldn’t be the first time that the young lady has tried to take her own life.” Decimus said, scratching his beard, “Once again, commander, you and your peoples almost precognitive skill has saved the princesses life. This is becoming a strange coincidence. I don’t like coincidence.”
“I assure you my lord we played no part in this.” Ramas said, in answer to the kings unspoken question.
“Whether that is true or not, there are too many accidents occurring around you and the Lady Scarlet,” Decimus said, looking over the assembled mercenaries, “You move out for your mission to the forests in the morning. I suggest you all get some rest.”
His eyes connected with Da’Karro, “I will locate some guards from my own soldiers to protect her.”

Scarlet clung to Isabella, watching as the King and Ramas appeared.
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came to her.
, “I believe our lady Scarlet may have been experiencing some type of psychotic fever dream. She was choking herself sir.” Da'Karro said, and something tugged at the back of her mind, but she ignored it.
“Well it wouldn’t be the first time that the young lady has tried to take her own life.” The King said and she shook her head furiously. She wasn't trying to kill herself. She wanted to scream it to the heavens but nothing, not a peep came out of her mou, “Once again, commander, you and your peoples almost precognitive skill has saved the princesses life. This is becoming a strange coincidence. I don’t like coincidence.” He said and Ramas spoke up.
“I assure you my lord we played no part in this.”

“Whether that is true or not, there are too many accidents occurring around you and the Lady Scarlet,” Decimus said, Scarlet wanted to cry. Why couldn't she speak. “You move out for your mission to the forests in the morning. I suggest you all get some rest.” He said and Scarlet's eyes went wide. They were leaving? No, they couldn't leave.
“I will locate some guards from my own soldiers to protect her.”
That was the last thing she wanted, not only would they leave, but she would be left with some other soldiers.

Scarlet let go of Isabella and approached the King, she took his arms, pleading with her eyes. She pointed to her throat and mouth and shook her head. I can't talk
She shrugged
I don't know why

She pointed to Ramas , Isabella and -with a bit of hesitation- Da'Karro and shook her head again. They didn't do this.
then she got an odd thought, that seemed completely out of character for her, especially since she scarcely trusted the man.
She pointed to her head. It's in my head.
She closed her hands and rested on her hands. Only a dream She paused for a moment, looking around. THis wasn't working. She had paper, and a quill pen so she went to her desk and began to write.

I have been having terrible dreams, I may have screamed as I can not speak. I wasn't trying to kill myself, and They had nothing to do with this, but please, I beg you, I do not trust anyone after my attack in the garden, if you must, allow me to stay with you...You've told me you'd rather me alive so I know I can at least trust in that... She blew on the ink and then handed it to him with a bow.