This dream began as every dream did before. She was on a low, green, tree covered hill overlooking a small, crystal blue river that stretched far into the horizon. Across the river was a treeline for a dense forest. She walked down the hill to the bank on her side of the river to a face that was familiar and yet, a stranger to her. He was tall and striking, his eyes were a piercing blue and his shoulder length, chocolate colored hair moved in the breeze. He had a sharp jaw and a mouth that smiled when he looked down at her. He wore a white tunic and pants tucked into tall, brown hide boots. He rested his left hand on the hilt of a sword in his belt.

She felt herself return his warm smile and gave him a nod in greeting as she walked up to his side. She felt the warmth of the grass on her bare feet and the cool breeze on her face. She turned to the horizon and knew that the time was coming for the sun to set. She watched the sky turn into beautiful hues of purple and pink against the waning blue and orange. The final dance was soon to begin. 

In the last vestiges of the dying light she began to sing. A melody in a language as old as the land; as old as nature itself. A song that she knew as well as the wind knew the sky, as well as the trees knew the soil and as well as the water knew the earth. It was a song that she sang with her soul and as it flowed out of her and into the land, the land joined her. The trees and flowers swayed to the words and the river became more alive. The air swirled up and around her and the creatures of the forest and meadow came out of their hiding spots to watch her and listen. Fauns and rabbits came from the forest. Birds, butterflies and dragonflies flew around her, adding their song to hers. Creatures of all sizes big and small couldn’t resist the allure of her sound. Just as she reached the peak of her harmony, it truly began. The lights appeared as if on que and they began to dance all around her, over the water, and in the flowers that covered the bank of the river. They appeared like a swarm of multicolored fireflies all about the river and forest clearing. Hundreds of pixies, devas, and will o’ the wisp danced to her song making a light show of every color imaginable spread all around her. Dryads came from their trees and swayed and stepped to the music and nymphs leaped in the water and spun in the current. The sight was both invigorating and intoxicating at once. It was a beautiful and chaotic dance for a ballad that was primal and untamed. 

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She looked beside her and the stranger was looking up in the sky watching some of the smaller fae dance. She loved seeing their light dance across his eyes. She loved him, but she knew it wasn’t a love of romance or even familial. It was a love born of trust and respect. She loved him for his loyalty and devotion and she cared for him in the way that only the oldest and truest friend could. It was a feeling she knew she never had with another. He looked at her and went to say something when something caught his eye on the far side of the river. His smiling face turned into a grimace. She looked and saw a figure step from the forest. She quieted her song and the fairies halted in their dance. Most of them dispersed, going from where they came as the figure stepped onto the water and made their way towards her.

This newcomer walked on top of the water and crossed the river. As he came closer she made out his red eyes and antlers glistening in the darkness. She knew who this was but his name was not something that she remembered in the dream. He was tall and slender with long, matted dark hair and large, eight pointed antlers adorned his head. He wore a fur pelt around his waist and a cape of moss around his bare shoulders and chest. He walked with a deadly grace as he came within just a few feet of her. She made out his elf-like features and sly smile. She greeted him and he responded, though the words were lost to the dream. Her old friend, still grimacing, began to step closer. She gestured for him to give them space and he acquiesced, retreating back a respectable distance.

She turned to her guest and felt a pain in her chest. As she looked down she saw that in his slender pale fingers was a blade. It was a silver dagger with a script in onyx etchings that was unfamiliar to her. She felt confused and pained as she noticed blood was running down the blade. Blood from the wound in her chest. She looked up and saw a rictus grin on the man's face as he laughed. She heard a scream come from her friend behind her and her attacker disappeared into a cloud of leaves in the wind. She fell to the ground and clutched her chest. She looked up to see the panicked face of her dearest friend and all went black. Nicole could still hear the laughter of the antlered man as she woke from this dream.