Palace of Hell

He closed the door silently behind him, he placed the bowl beside the bedside table, "Gadrial?" he said her name softly, was she really sleeping or was she faking it?

He leaned over with his hand outstretched and he touched her shoulder, "Gabby?"

He cursed at himself, she had said many times that she wanted him to call her by her name until they reconnected.

She stirred under his hand but she didn't open her eyes, she turned on her back and her hair fell over her face.

'She is beautiful,' he thought, 'Why haven't I ever look at her like this?' 

His hand automatically reached for the strand and tugged it back that it fell softly over the pillow. 

He had never seen her as a full-fledged female, the last time he saw her was when he had returned frantically from the battle of the coup.

He had flown Uriel from the battle after the betrayal of Hassaf, he had a feeling that something was wrong that day and he had been right.