VALLEY OF DREAMS

VALLEY OF DREAMS



Three weary figures slogged through the incessant downpour. The freezing rain had begun two days before and had never ceased. It was interspaced with terrifying streaks of lightening, ear splitting thunder, and an occasional torrent of blistering hail. They fled the valley below seeking solace in the rugged hills and shelter among the towering trees. Near the peak of exhaustion, they found the opening to a small cave and quickly crawled into its dank smelling but partially dry interior. Within a few feet they could stand, the man’s head nearly touching the rocky ceiling.

Sir Kevin, a landed Knight of the Realm, and his young wife, Lady Aubrey, along with their five year old daughter, Etiane, were returning to their small castle in the province of Bloise, when the fearsome storm caught them unawares. His mount had stepped in what appeared to be a small puddle of water, which turned out to be an unseen hole and broke its fore leg. He was a fine horse and Kevin wept openly when he had no choice but to send him to his final rest.

The entire kingdom was rapidly falling apart. Over a short span of time, perhaps three months or less, disasters and cataclysmic events had tortured and plagued the once beautiful realm of peace and bounty. Their world was being torn asunder by dark mists that killed both humans and animals, blood showers fell from the skies, forests were shriveling up and burning, the oceans and lakes were drying up, there were innumerable earthquakes and even strange creatures were seen roaming about the land. People often disappeared never to be seen again, and the children were dying from some mysterious plague. The doctors and clerics were at odds to explain the strange events; even the powerful necromancers were puzzled.

“We’ll be safe here for a while,” Sir Kevin whispered removing his cloak and wrapping it over his young daughter's shaking body. She was five and they knew she had contracted the mysterious plague that was killing so many of the children. “This rain cannot last forever.”

Lady Aubrey stared at him with her beautiful blue eyes, eyes that had witnessed too many incredible events recently. Fear and despair clouded her lovely face, her golden curls soaked and plastered to her head. “Will it truly end, Kevin?” she asked. “Many say the gods have abandoned us and our world is doomed.”

“What’s this,” Sir Kevin answered, intentionally avoiding her question. He pointed to an inscription etched in the stone on the rock wall before them. It was difficult to see in the very dim lighting, but he had no materials with which to make a welcoming fire. The occasional flare of lightening highlighted the etching and he bent forward to read it when one blazed again.

Lady Aubrey watched him with curiosity, glancing up to see what he was looking at. “What does say?” she asked.

“Alareli,” he answered. “It says Alareli but I do not know what that means.”

Suddenly, the rock wall started to shimmer and dissolve. In its place a hazy glimmering circle appeared which gradually became clear and focused. Beyond the circle they could see a beautiful green valley. They glanced at each other in surprise, even Etiane’s sad pixie-like eyes lit up and a smile formed on her young face. They carefully stepped through the wide circle.

As they strolled through the breathtaking valley they reveled in the awesome beauty and peaceful tranquility. A warm breeze scented with honeysuckle and rose gently swayed the blossoms of a multitude of different flowers, pure fluffy white clouds sailed the crystal blue sky and butterflies glided around them on their colorful gossamer wings.

“So beautiful,” Lady Aubrey whispered pulling the heavy damp cloak from Etiane’s shoulders and handing it to Sir Kevin.

As they slowly walked through the quiet pristine valley, soaking up the sweet fresh air and warm sunshine, they spotted a large river in the distance with a grove of trees or an orchard. The river had a small trickle of water in its center as if it was drying up. As they drew nearer they noticed what appeared to be thousands of crystal boxes shaped like small caskets placed near each tree.

They looked at each other trying to decide if the other would go forward or retreat. Etiane smiled and walked briskly forward. When they reached the crystal casket resting on a bier of dark tree roots, they were startled at what they saw.

Inside the casket was a child of around five or six years sleeping on pure white bedding. His upper torso was uncovered and his skin was smooth and unblemished. He had dark curly hair and his eyelids were fluttering. On the surface of the crystal sarcophagus, a painting could be seen, but it was no ordinary painting. As they watched it with fascinated expressions, the scene constantly changed showing a mystical realm of splendor. It was as if they were gods looking down on a kingdom and its people as they went about their daily lives. Below the portrait was lettering which read, Ilande.

“What is this?” Sir Kevin exclaimed, “Some kind of dark sorcery?”

Etiane suddenly ran over to another tree near which rested another crystal casket. They quickly joined her to find a young girl sleeping on white bedding with a satin sheet pulled up to her throat. The painting on her casket displayed another scene. The land it portrayed was dark and dreary with green mist swirling about and the people cowering among ruins. The writing below the box read, Cyruria. The features on the young girl’s face were twisted and slight moans were coming from her throat.

They quickly ran from tree to tree gazing into each coffin and at each portrait. Exhausted, they sat down near one of the trees and glanced up. They noticed that the tree was slowly dying; the green leaves were turning brown with dark sickly spots speckling the limbs. As they glanced at the other trees they could see that all of them were drooping and withering.

“The trees are dying,” Lady Aubrey stated. “The water from the river is drying up and the trees are suffering because of it.”

“I see a man!” Sir Kevin suddenly shouted, pointing to an orchard of trees across the river. “Stay here, I will cross the river and talk with him.”

The only part of the river that offered any resistance was the very center which was mostly mud that was beginning to dry. As Sir Kevin neared the other bank, a slim man wearing a dirty white tunic that drooped down to his bare feet, slowly stood. He was leaning on a staff of gnarled wood for support and he appeared puzzled or disoriented. His long hair was pure white and his weathered features gave him the appearance of extreme old age.

“From whence do you come?” the ancient man whispered. His eyes were crystal blue and held a sign of youth the rest of him did not.

“From Alareli, or to Alareli I think,” Sir Kevin replied. “We were in a cave and found this marker, when we spoke the name we were allowed entry to this kingdom.”

“You found the doorway,” the old man whispered. “Welcome, Sir Knight, to the land Beyond, Beyond. I am Theron, keeper of this section of Beyond.”

“Are you a sorcerer?” Sir Kevin squinted. “Are we in the land beyond death?”

Theron smiled and chuckled. “No young Knight, you are in the Valley of Dreams, from this place all fantasy kingdoms and realms are created and maintained.”

Sir Kevin was at a loss of understanding.

“Come,” Theron smiled. “Let us join you family on the other bank and I will explain all.”

When they were reunited beneath the tree with Lady Aubrey and Etiane, Theron enlightened them on the strange world they had stumbled into.

“This World is the World of Fantasy,” he stated resting his arched back against the gnarled tree and motioning for them to sit. “The river you see winds around the world for hundreds of thousands of miles and along its banks on each side sleep the Dreamers. They rest in crystal beds and each bed is tied to one sacred tree. The spirit of the tree keeps them alive and nourishes their young bodies and they never age.”

“Where do they all come from?” Etaine interrupted in a childish whisper. “They’re all my age.”

“When children of the Fantasy Worlds die, through war, disease, starvation, accident, or other causes, they are offered the chance to become a Dreamer,” Theron smiled. “Almost all of them elect to do so, for you see, the dream they are dreaming is their very own world, their home, their people. Only through them can the world they came from continue to exist. Without them, their home, their families and all they love will perish. The very few who decide not to become dreamers, move on to their after lives. Some Dreamers elect to give up their dreams when their family in their world dies, so they may join them in everlasting peace and happiness. Other volunteers take their place and continue to dream the dream.”

“What is happening to the trees?” Etiane asked. “Are they dying? Will the children die? Will their worlds die?” Can you save them?

“The great river is blocked,” Theron looked doleful. “A great mountain of rocks and soil has blocked it. We are at the headwaters of the river at my section of Beyond and I cannot move the massive clog. Yes child, they are all dying and their fantasy worlds will die with them unless something is done to allow the river flow again.”

“Our world is dying,” Lady Aubrey whispered. “This must be the cause.”

“Here your world is named, Alareli,” Theron replied although you call it by another name. Come, I will show you your world”

They slowly walked through the expansive field of crystal coffins and trees and finally stopped at one away from the river on the edge of the dying orchard. Inside, resting on white linen like the other children was the body of a young girl with golden curls. The portrait on the box showed a land they knew well. Sir Kevin and Aubrey saw their small castle nestled on a hill with a village in the small valley below. Mud slides and torrents of rain blasted the land; dark clouds swirled in the skies the people cowered inside their meager shelters hoping for a miracle.

“The beautiful child resting here is gone,” Theron whispered in a low sorrowful tone. “She chose to go on to her next life to find her parents when the trees started to die. You never knew her but she was from that small village below your castle on the hill. She has dreamed your kingdom for six hundred years and would have continued to do so if our valley was not dying, for she loved the dream she was dreaming. Your world and your kingdom have a very short time before it ceases to exist. Without a dreamer, and without a sacred tree and water, there is no hope.”

“Is there naught we can do?” Sir Kevin asked. “Worlds are dying, people are dying, Dreamers are dying.”

“My power is gone,” Theron shook his head. “When all was well I tended the trees and guided the Dreamers, but now that life sustaining water is no longer available, my powers have dried up like the trees. I will soon join them in their death.”

“There must be a way to free the life-giving water?” Lady Aubrey stated.

Theron smiled and nodded. “There is no way, my Lady.”

“What would it take to unclog the river?” Sir Kevin asked. “Your power is gone, your magic has dried up, but there must be other ways to remove the barrier?”

Theron looked thoughtful for a long while before replying. “Manpower,” he finally stated. “If we had sufficient manpower we could possibly remove enough of the rock and soil clogging the river to let the life-giving water flow again. However, there is none such available in this realm of Dreamers.”

“Bring it here,” Lady Aubrey suddenly jumped to her feet. “We’re here, we crossed into this realm through a magic portal, why cannot others?”

Theron glanced up at her with a startled look on his ancient face. “You’re right, my Lady. “We can do that, I don’t know why I never thought of it. Perhaps my mind is slowly dying with my body.”

“How many workmen can you bring through one of the magic portals?” Sir Kevin asked.

“Not men,” Theron slyly grinned. “Ogres and Trolls and Giants. There are many Fantasy kingdoms where they rule and mankind does not exist. They are five times the size of men and it would take far less of them to accomplish the clearing.”

Lady Aubrey looked frightened. “Can you control the beasts?”

“I control their Dreamers,” Theron smiled, “and thus I control them. My humble abode lies across the river; there is food and drink there. Will you wait there while I find the proper Dreamers and call the necessary workers?”

They sat in the shade of a tree near Theron’s small hut and ate small portions of delicious fruit and nuts they found in a polished wooden bowl, washing it down with sweet fruit juice. The gentle breeze quickly lulled them into sleep and they snuggled in each other's arms.

Suddenly, they were awakened by a loud noise and a vibration in the valley towards the towering mountains. As they stood and glanced in that direction they saw a long line of giants carrying pickaxes and shovels. Incredibly, the lumbering line of titans was chanting a deep melodious tune. It was a beautiful tune and, although they did not know the words, they could feel the beauty of it. They quickly made their way back to the other bank.

Several hours later, water began trickling into the river. At first it was slow, and then became faster and deeper until the river was over half full and steadily continuing to rise.

Soon after, Theron joined them wearing a beaming smile on his ancient face his bent back now straight his stride full of pep and energy. “You saved the world, Lady Aubrey!” he shouted. “No, that’s not correct, you saved millions of worlds.”

Sir Kevin grabbed Lady Aubrey and hugged her then picked up little Etiane and kissed her on the forehead. “We can go home now,” he smiled glancing at Theron. “We can, can’t we?”

Theron’s face suddenly drooped. “Yes, Sir Knight, you can go home, but, your world is dying for I have not had the power or time to find a new Dreamer.”

Etiane squiggled from his arms and ran over to Theron. “I will be your new Dreamer,” she stated. “I will make our world well again.”

“No!” Lady Aubrey screamed. “No Etiane, you must return with us, we love you.”

Etiane slowly walked back to her mother and held her hand in hers. “I am dying mother,” she sobbed. “I can feel it and I cannot stop it. I will dream our kingdom back into its beauty and peace and meet you in the afterlife. I am only five but I know this is what I must do.”

Lady Aubrey looked at Theron and saw the agony of truth on his face. “Her days are few and numbered,” he stated. “There is nothing I can do for her mortal body but I can help her immortal one. She can begin her dream now, or wait the few weeks it will take for her to succumb to her malady. However, I must advise you that your world may die before her illness takes her. It is a difficult choice to make.”

“We cannot let all those we love die, mother?” Etiane cried. “I cannot let you and father die. Please, I must do this. I will forever love you and will be with you when the time comes for us to be together again.” She held out her hand to Theron. ”Please take me to my dream bed, Theron. I cannot bear to see the tears on my parent’s faces.”

When Sir Kevin and Lady Aubrey exited the cave, they saw bright blue skies and puffy white clouds. The air was fresh and smelled of sharp pine and sweet honeysuckle. Their kingdom had been healed, restored to its full beauty and splendor.

“Our baby is dreaming well,” Lady Aubrey smiled, warm tears flowing down her face.

“She is safe and happy in a place both far and near,” Sir Kevin replied, choking back the bittersweet tears he wanted to share with his Lady.



Word count: 2781