![canstockphoto22441438.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRYC8rUE9hZLKYivzqixueT6PFN38GiYBTe9LRp54yd1C/canstockphoto22441438.jpg)

> His name was Marvin. He traveled with a band of friends on various adventures. But his life had not been quite this pleasant before he met them. Abused, mistreated, made to feel stupid, even when he was with the gang, people he thought were his friends, it had been misery. Now, with the wizard, the kobold, and the others, he actually had a chance. But, on quiet nights like this, as they had set up camp and he was not on watch, he thought back to those days, and when asked, again, why he had trouble sleeping, after all this time, he decided it was alright to talk about it.  -- Anon Guest

Lady Anthe usually  took the middle  watch.  Her being naturally adapted to the  dark also made her naturally  inclined to be nocturnal. It also aided in making sure Marvin was okay. Their first few nights  as a party cemented  the fact that he was a light sleeper,  but after a few weeks, the fact that  he actually  had chronic insomnia  became  known.

It was at its worst when  they were  on the road. Some  nights, he just didn't sleep  between dusk and dawn.  He would lie very still in his sleeping bag,, eyes closed, but  he was  not  sleeping.  He would always have one hand curled around the hilt of  his weapon. Some nights, that grip would be white-knuckle tight.

Most nights, Anthe couldn't get him to respond in more than grunts to  offers of conversation, but she kept hope in her heart for a breakthrough. When he felt  safe, he would permit himself to be vulnerable. Tonight, her calm  announcement that  the stars were beautiful tonight actually got a verbal response. "I can't really sleep on quiet nights," said Marvin. "When I was with the gang? It was the quiet before  the storm. I knew  I was gonna get  hurt, and the worst part was  the waiting, so... when it  went on too long? I'd get something wrong  on purpose  so  the hurting would be over with. Quiet... always makes me tense right up. Can't sleep. Waiting for the hammer to drop."

Anthe could sketch out  the  rest of the picture.  The gang would leave him alone at  the  base and probably leave him with a  nigh-impossible solo task  to  accomplish while  they were  gone.  When they came back  after the  period of  quiet, they would use Marvin as their punching bag or practice dummy or both. "They made sure  every silence was followed by something bad for you, and laughed  when you flinched,"  she guessed.

"You know  the shape of it. Yeah," Marvin sighed. "It's easier for me to sleep when there are cities. It's the noise. I know safe noises and not-safe noises and... with you? There's lots more safe  noises.  Out here? I don't know what's safe and what isn't. I'm jumping at the quiet. I'm jumping at every strange noise.  I don't like the nights out here, so... I stay awake. I keep watch. Because  I can control that."

Anthe  took  a  deep breath. "It was  always boots, for  me. Loud, heavy, clumpy boots. A baby Kobold would fit in the palm of your hand, and a youngling would not  be much bigger. Even in a  small town, a Kobold  knows to  fear big, loud, clumpy boots and stomping footfalls. When I  was bigger, though... the city guard thought it was funny to step on me. Or...  step...  close... to me." The memory still made her flinch.

"Oh. I... I thought you were pretending to be scared of me when I was walking around. I'm sorry.  I'm  glad I got better boots."

"It wasn't your  fault  and you weren't in  the  right  place  for  gentle  correction," said Anthe. "Better boots helped  a great deal.  So  did your absorbing my stealth lessons."

"I am sorry I scared you,  all the same."

"Just as I am sorry the open road scares you. Would it help... if I kept a hand on you while you sleep?" She moved her scaly draconic hand to pat his. "You know the feel of me, and you would know that  if  I left suddenly... things would not be well."

"We can try it," said  Marvin. "If it works... I would be grateful for a good night's rest."

"It's a long road,"  said Anthe. "For us to travel physically, and  longer for us to  travel in mending our souls. There will always be  little cracks and unexpected troubles.  The  sooner  spoken, the sooner we can work on helping each other."

"Thank you,"  Marvin settled himself into his sleeping bag, one hand out and on the hilt of his sword. Anthe settled by his side and rested her hand  on his. In a few minutes, he started snoring. Fast,  and peacefully asleep.

Anthe watched over him for the remainder of the night.

[Image <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">(c) Can Stock Photo / Elisanth</a>]

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