The dream began to fade then. Dimly now, I heard Kuri say one last time, "Come to me."
I awoke with a start and sat bolt upright breathing hard.
"Benaiah?" Susori asked in concern, her hand touching at my arm.
I lay back down and she pulled in closer to me, slipping her leg over mine as she laid her head on my shoulder.
"I had a dream," I said dazedly, still trying to become aware of what was reality and what was dream.
"Can you tell me?" she asked softly.
I told her all of it. Through it all she remained very quiet and after a pause of time I said, "Tomorrow I'm going to have to leave you."
Deep wracking sobs shook through Susori and she clasped onto me so tight I could hardly breathe. I held her to me as she continued to sob with her face buried against my neck. She wasn't the only one crying.
I tucked my face against her hair. I loved the smell of her hair. All I had ever wanted to be happy in life was to be with this woman.
"I love you honey!" I said with all the emotion I felt for the woman in my arms.
Her face lifted to gaze down into mine. Tears dribbled onto my chest as she blubbered out, "All I've ever wanted is to be with you! I………" her voice trailed off in a slight wail.
I grasped her face lovingly and in the gloom of the tent I stared imploringly into her glorious eyes and said, "We will be together again, I promise! I don't know how it will be, but we will be together again. I promise!"
She nodded and whispered brokenly, "Hold me."
My arms wrapped around her and I held her for what seemed only a few minutes, but was probably more likely hours, before the sun began to make its unwanted appearance over the horizon.
*****
I stood tall in the stirrups watching as the mass of wagons and those walking began to grow dim. I sat down in the saddle and took a moment to bring myself under emotional control, but it wasn't happening I silently acknowledged, as a tear made its way down my face.
I heard the shifting motion of a horse coming up beside mine and I hurriedly wiped at my tears. A hand touched at my arm and I looked over to see Falarin shaking his head.
"Sire, do not hide what you feel, for surely those who follow you do so out of the knowledge that as a leader you are great, not because of your great feats of courage alone, but also because yours is a heart made to love and have compassion," Falarin said with tears in his own eyes.