How long had he been asleep?

Strahd flung the lid off his coffin, and was standing in the middle of the room before he could even register that he had leapt up.

His heart was not thundering, as it had not moved in a long time, and would likely never do so again. His lungs did heave in heavy breaths. He didn't need to breathe, but his body still went through that motion anyway. His muscles were tense and his body was shaking.

How long had he been asleep?!

He forced his lungs to calm down, and took a few deep deliberate breaths, properly sensing his surroundings.

There! Rahadin's scent!

He slowly let the breath back out, and walked down the castle halls, quicker than normal, to where he suspected Rahadin to be, trying to compose himself on the way.

He found Rahadin bent over his desk.

"Rahadin," he greeted.

"Strahd," the elf nodded back.

"How long was I asleep?" Strahd tried for a calm tone. Tried.

Rahadin carefully lifted the edge of the curtain and peeked outside, mindful not to let too much sunlight fall in. "About half a day."

Of course it had only been half a day, what else-

"Strahd?"

Strahd's head jerked up, and he opened his eyes again. He didn't remember closing them.

Rahadin had gotten up, and was now standing an arm's length in front of him. "Are you alright?"

"I- uh…" Strahd trailed off. He couldn't possibly voice such a silly concern. Such a deep seated fear. Bare so much of his soul.

Rahadin reached out and pulled him into a hug, Strahd's face resting against Rahadin's collar bone.

"I keep… having this thought… What if I go to sleep and… it's possible that I wake up a millennium later. What if I lose track of time, and when I wake up, you're… gone."

"I'll wake you up before that."

Strahd let out a huff and bowed his head. Something, not fear… trepidation maybe? Something gripped his heart and pulled him down until his forehead touched Rahadin's shoulder.

"You'd better."

Rahadin put one hand on Strahd's jaw, and the other on the back of his head, and he pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I will."