I once met a mortal woman when I swam through dreams. We talked for an eternity. Her beauty and laugh were intoxicating and nerve-racking in equal measure. After I awoke, I understood she wasn’t real. It being a dream… Really, I was just talking to myself. Perhaps my eons alone had driven me to create her. Perhaps the Lake, my only companion, had created her. But I’ll tell you, if through some twist of magic we could meet outside of my realm, I would gladly give my immortality away for one more evening with her... swimming through dreams.
A scene unfolds like a stage play before you, the shimmering black curtains of your mind’s eye parting to reveal the dark silhouettes of trees. Their limbs creak as the wind weaves through them. Though you surely must be dreaming, you can feel the cool kiss of night air on your face. You smell the dankness of the earth and sweetness of sap and flowers. You step forward, your body light as the wind itself, into an open glade. The full moon hangs overhead, alighting the glade in its blue blush. You suddenly become aware of another presence, one quiet and powerful.
The blue and violet waterfalls pour softly into timid lakes bejeweled with white and pink water lilies, the trees rise tall and slender up from the grassy flower spangled turf, proudly stretching their leafy limbs towards the clear blur sky. There are beaches of white lilies and gardens of primroses and daffodils, and lavender meadows as far as the eye can see.
A tall archfey with a horned crown, drapes themself in mossy green robes edged with silver, and a human woman stand in the verdant green of spring next to a majestic still lake, the Unknown (Lake of Dreams).
Him, a regal baritone murmurs:
“You don’t seem like the others who have trampled through these sacred woods. Perhaps you can stay, partake in our fruits, and indulge in our shade, but know that these things are gifts to be enjoyed and not plunder to be taken...”
Her, a sweet voice responds captivatingly:
“...Such a wonderous place. I feel I could spend my whole life in this forest and never see the same sight twice.”
The dream fades, and a new one takes its place - leaves fall in the multitude of colors of autumn.
He gently blooms a lily in his hand and tucks it into her braid behind her ear:
“Sometimes I feel as though I’ve drained every source of happiness dry, guzzling it down until it loses all flavor. Yet, it seems with you that well springs eternal. What do you picture for yourself after all this? I can imagine a good life—all the parts of one, anyway—but then I realize that one of those parts is me and it just doesn’t feel possible. Stay here, let me protect you...”
She caresses his cheek:
"I must go, but I will be back at the next full moon."
The dream fades, and a new one takes its place - near a Unknown (Shimmering Pond).
Her voice faint, ethereal, her last thoughts - sensed by him as her blood spills into the water:
“...This was forbidden, but I would rather die having loved a creature as resplendent and powerful as you than be loved by every other plain and pitiable creature on Toril. Do not weep for me. As the sun slips into the haze of night, so must we all. We can only hope that our life’s light has shone upon those who needed it most.”
He rushes through the currents underneath the woods and erupts out of a river in his colossal true form, but all you can see is a wave spraying water for miles with a flash of green:
“Murderers! You mortals have earned my ire. It is a most terrible prize to win. I don’t know where the gods send those like you, but wherever it is, I hope you suffer for taking her from me… and I hope you suffer alone. Actually - I have the perfect place to send you.”
... and the Lake of Dreams heard his sorrow afterward... bringing her back to him, to swim through dreams forever with shimmering waves of fire-gold hair, skin as white as snow, and blushing cheeks red as foxgloves. Her eyes are a vibrant, unnatural blue, and her shape as wavy as sea foam.
But what is fate, if not cruel, to star crossed lovers...
But what is fate, if not cruel, to star crossed lovers...