Nightmares

The voices had always been there. From the first day she emerged from her ruined glade they had been there...trying to guide her. They remained a constant reminder of the task she had at hand. They came to her throughout the day and they came to her in dreams. So caught up in the new joy of living she tried to pay them no heed. And now the voices were becoming more insistent, trying to push her forward....and the dreams had become nightmares.

As she drifted the image of her drow protector melted away... and it began.

She stood in her glade, looking around her unbelieving. The trees were all leafless but more alive than ever. They were crying out to her to save them...to use her power to give them life again. She felt the stirring of movement behind her and turned...there was nothing there. The trees cried on but now they were shouting to her a warning. Beware The Shadowed. Don't leave the circle... The Shadowed is here for you. Again movement behind her. This time when she turned she saw a lean figure moving between the trees just beyond her grove. She could not tell if it was a man or a woman. The figure was dressed all in black and she could clearly make out the glint of steel it's hand. She tried to move back to her own ruined Yew tree, but found she couldn't take a step. Movement behind her again but closer...this time she couldn't turn to look. The trees cries rose into a chorus of screams as a strong hand grabbed her and another closed over her mouth...

Delphi awoke suddenly... shivering. Her sheets soaked with her own perspiration. She took a moment to recover her wits and then rose from the bed. She made her way to a chair next to the open window and breathed deeply the cool air from the outside. She sighed to herself. She was very tired...but she would sleep no more tonight.