Dream desires (Closed for Asa.)

[Talon]

Alexios shot up from his blankets, covered in a light sweat despite the cool night breeze rolling in through the windows of his family’s home. He ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair, blinking away the remnants of sleep in his eyes and the fresh memory of the dream that had roused him. His sleep had been troubled for the past few nights; strange, powerful dreams of unknown meaning had left him somewhat worried as to his state of health. He was a young man, just recently through his requisite two year training in the military, and had returned to his family’s farm to help until he could find a wife and start his own. He glanced at his weapons and armor, neatly stacked in the corner of his small room. He was a Hoplite, and as a member of the Athenian army he could be called into service at any time now that his two year service was up. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and stood, moving to the wash basin and splashing cold water against his face.

He was a pious man, and recognized and worshipped the Gods as he should, but he was not well versed in the spiritual meaning of dreams and visions. He felt that his dreams were now leading him somewhere, sending him a message he clearly did not yet understand. The fact that the dreams were becoming both longer and more powerful only increased his worry. At first he saw only a dove, casually perched amongst the branches of a tree and looking at him expectantly. The next night brought that same image, only the dove was now secured to the tree by twisted, thorny branches and looking at him as if expecting him to help free it. The last dream, the one he had just awoken from, was of the same bird, only bush and bird soon faded into a momentary glace of a beautiful female figure. Perhaps he should make a trip to town tomorrow and consult a priest regarding these dreams. His parents most certainly would not understand them, and might even think he was going mad. Better not to involve them at all.

Alexios sighed as he looked out the window to see the moon still well into the sky, far too early for him to wake and he would need his rest for tomorrow, his father would expect his help in tending the sheep. Alexios settled back into his blankets, and despite the fact that his thoughts were racing he found sleep soon after.

 

[Asa]

A mind... finally a mind that could hear her. Could her body move or her mind find its way back she would weep with joy. She looked in this dream state as she did in the waking world. One she had been taken from for what felt like centuries... Time here in this dream world meant little. It reached all timelines all dimensions all peoples.

She had been searching for so long when finally a mind seemed to answer her cries... she saw a young man in some strange metal armor or robes it seemed to change. She saw him watching her... as if puzzled by her or whatever he saw of her. She tried to speak to him but so far she did not think he could understand her or maybe could not hear her.

He was ripped from her attentions this last time and she sought for him again. The slender woman with long dark hair and earthen hued skin. Silvery white wings flowing along her back like a cloud and a sheer azure gown whisped over her form. Her world lost long ago when myth and man walked side by side as living beings... Little did she know the young man who could hear her mind was from an age centuries after her own. She stood there searching traversing great distances without movement from where she last saw the young man.

 

[Talon]

Alexios found himself once again in the dream, only this time it felt different. More real. It was as if he were awake, only everything around him was underwater, murky somehow. He appeared to be on the bank of a gently flowing stream, and as he looked down he couldn't help but notice he was clad in the bronze breastplate and studded leather skirt of a Hoplite. He appeared as he did in the mortal realm, bronzed skin over a lightly muscled soldiers physique, light brown hair cut short in the fashion of a warrior. His head was bare of helm and his hands were free of shield and spear, a short sword sheathed at his left hip.

Alexios scanned his surroundings, almost alarmed by the peaceful serenity. He closed his eyes several times and tried to will himself awake, but each time they opened he was greeted by the same burbling brook. No sign of the dove or woman, Alexios followed the stream until he reached a small body of water surrounded by rocks. He was overtaken by the desire to jump in, so he quickly shed his armor and weapon, swimming out into the water until it reached his neck. Perhaps these dreams weren't all that bad, he thought as he felt the warmth of the water seep into his bones and ease his previous fears.

 

[Asa]

She saw him... she was trying to show him the last place she remembered. A long forgotten location lost to the progress of time and humanity. She tilted her head as now a single white feather from her wings now floated on the water near him. She was terrified of scaring him as she tried to communicate. She had been in this dream world so long she had forgotten how to actually speak in this place. Having no voice she had to rely on manipulating dream images to try to seek help.

 

[Talon]

Alexios closed his eyes, allowing himself to float on his back in the water. He couldn't remember ever having a dream this real, this vivid. The oasis worked exactly as it was designed, Alexios was relaxed to the point where he didn't even hear her approach, the top of his naked form fully on display as he lay there on his back. Something brushed lightly against his cheek and he sat up, disturbing the peacefulness of the water with a few frantic splashes as he righted himself. Scanning the surface of the water he saw a feather floating a few feet away, pure white as the dove's had been but too large to have belonged to it.

His mind brought the image of the winged woman he had seen before, her face obscured enough in shadow that he could not make out her features, but the feathers on her wings matched the size and color of the one floating beside him. He had never heard of a winged messenger visiting someone in their dreams, but surely she was of the Gods, for good or evil. He grabbed the feather before swimming back to the shore, pulling on his leather skirt to cover his nudity while leaving his chest bare.

Alexios searched the riverbanks and rocks for the source of the discarded feather. Surely if this winged creature meant him harm it would already have inflicted it. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but Alexios was no coward, and he called out in search of her. "Mi'lady?"

 

[Asa]

He spoke... She stepped from the darkness around the oasis.. She bit at he lip standing there. Opening her mouth to speak but no words nor even sound left her lips. She tilted her head watching him for a moment and tried again to motion that she was unable to speak. Her wings twitched nervously as she slowly took another step forward wondering how she would communicate with him.

She looked to the water he had just been relaxing in and then to waterfall and valley surrounding it gesturing to all of it then pointing to herself... she smiled this place was the last she remembered before the deep sleep she had been trapped in for so long.

 

[Talon]

Alexios studied her as she moved forward into the clearing. She was more beautiful than any earthbound creature he had ever seen, so much so that he had to remind himself to breathe. His cheeks colored slightly when he realized he had been naked only moments before. A silly reaction for a Greek man who had been raised to see the naked form as beautiful, but none of the women or even the art he had seen compared to her. The look in her eyes when she failed to speak was almost enough to cause his heart to break, he wanted nothing more than to communicate with her and relieve that pain. He watched her movements, the gesturing to the water and it's surroundings. "This place is yours?"

 

[Asa]

She nodded but then shook her head no... hoping he could understand she was not in that place any more. She bit her lip and gestured trying to communicate she did not know where she was any more. Biting he rlip she had to make him understand.

She thought for a moment and then knowing that since her actual wings could not move neither could her wings here beyond simple twitching. She turned around as she tried to open her wings but they would not open she hoped he could see their straining to open. Turning back to face him she was not sure what else she could do to communicate but maybe she had shown him enough to create questions in his mind to ask her.

 

[Talon]

Alexios frowned in thought. "So this is your place...but not your place. Are you trying to say that you are projecting this from your memory? Perhaps it is a place you once knew?" He watched as she turned. "And your wings do not work." He ran a hand through his short, wet hair. Unfortunatly for her he was not a scholar, and had only the working knowledge of a farmer and soldier. He now wished he had paid more attention as a boy when the priests had lectured at temple. He was more the sort to play at being a soldier with his friends than study books. He would try his best to help her, and hope he could somehow figure out what her troubles were.

"Okay...so lets take this slowly..." He resolved himself to asking questions that could be answered with a nod or shake of her head yes or no.

"Are you a being of the physical world? Were you once flesh and now trapped here?...wherever here is."

"Are we in any danger here?"

"If I should wake, can you find me again?"

 

[Asa]

When he spoke of her showing him this from her memory she nodded yes. She bit her lip shaking her head no about her wings wishing she could speak. The shimmer of tears graced her eyes threatening to fall.

She smiled nodding when he asked if she was a real being of the world. Again nodding yes to her being trapped. She shook her head no about their being in danger and gestured as if sleeping when he asked if she could find him again. Only in sleep can she find him and it was almost more him finding her.

 

[Talon]

Alexios nodded slowly as she answered with motions of her head. " Good...So you can only find me in my dreams, and we are apparently in no danger." He rubbed his chin as he studied her, thinking of their next course of action. Besides the fact that she was the definition of beauty itself, she appeared to be in some sort of trouble and in need of his help. He didn't really need any other reasons, even though he still had a nagging itch at the back of his brain telling him there was more to her story and to proceed with caution.

Alexios laid a hand against his chest. " My name is Alexios, what should I call you?" He understood that she couldn't speak her true name, but perhaps there was a word she could explain with a gesture that he could use to refer to her.

 

[Asa]

She bit her lip trying to think of how to communicate her name Isleen... She looked to the lake and pointed as a small island rose up for a moment. She looked back at him to see if he understood...

Nodding with a smile that she understood his name. Stepping a little closer she looked to the armor puzzled though curiosity getting the better of her.

 

[Talon]

Alexios watched as the small bit of dirt rose from the water, forming a small island. "Surely it cannot be Island...Is....?" He drew the word out, looking for her to provide futher guidance. He noticed her eyeing the bronze breastplate lying on the ground and moved to pick it up. He walked towards her, holding out towards her so she could inspect it further if she wished. It was well made but not ornate, two sheets of bronze roughly hammered out in the shape of a mans torso and secured at the side by leather straps with metal buckles. "I am a soldier, this is my armor. Do they not have such things where you are from?"

 

[Asa]

When he dragged out the word she tried to nod to get him to understand Isleen. She reached an almost fearful hand towards the armor biting her lip. There were soldiers from her time but they hunted her people. She looked from it to him trying to motion with the armor like throwing something. She then handed the armor back to him and took a step back.

 

[Talon]

Alexios tossed the armor aside since she was clearly not comfortable with its presence. He didn't feel attatched to it in the same manner as he did with his real armor, and apparently in no danger he didn't feel as if he needed it. He held up his hands to show her his empty palms. Apparently his mind had reflexively clad him in the attire of a soldier, but he was more than happy to leave it behind in order to set her at ease. So now there was just the matter of deciphering her name.

He lowered his head in thought, suddenly lifting it again. Another word for a small island entered his mind. "Isle?...Islea...Isley...Islee...Islee...Isleen?" He searched her facial expressions for signs of approval.

 

[Asa]

When he finally guessed right she nods smiling. Her eyes lit up to actually hear someone repeating her name after so long and so much silence. She bit her lip thinking she did not know where she was but she had some idea of who had done so to her. How to explain this to Axelios.

She moved to the waters edge and taking mud she moved to seem to draw on her face with it then pointing to the armor again. She tried to explain further pointing to the darkness and a stone. A warlord Darkstone had been hunting her people for a long time but how to explain that to him. Much less the wizard he had working for him.

 

[Talon]

Alexios frowned in thought again, crouching down next to a rock and resting his back against it. "Is the mud warpaint?...and the armor of a soldier...some sort of army that hunted your people?" He watched as she motioned. "Darkness...stone...Darkstone?...Is this a name?...Is this Darkstone good? No...the leader of this this army then? Does he have something to do with why you are trapped here then?"

He had fought in several battles for Athens, mostly small skirmishes involving land and borders, but couldn't think of any leaders named Darkstone. Just how long had she been imprisoned in this dream state?

"Do you recognize the names Greece...Athens...Sparta...Thrace?" He wanted to determine if she would recognize the areas of his homeland.

 

[Asa]

She nodded to him as he figured out each thing recoiling shaking her head no urgently when he asked if Darkstone was good. She bit her lip nodding she was thinking that he could be to blame for it but she did not know... the last she remembered she was here in this little paradise and then lost here in the dream world.

She listened to the places he mentioned her head tilted what was he saying now... she did not understand any of the places he mentioned.

 

[Talon]

Alexios nodded, acknowledging that she hadn't recognized any of the names. " Well, I would say that we've made pretty good progress all things considered. Your name is Isleen, you've been trapped here for quite some time, and somehow this Darkstone is involved in your captivity.". He stood from his crouched position. " I don't know how much it means to you for me to say this, but I pledge to do everything in my power to find out what happened to you and reverse it."

He reached over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I am bound to your service...You no longer have to be alone in this realm of dreams. I'm not sure what has happened to your people, but you will have a place among mine if you wish it.". Alexios blushed slightly as if he realized he was getting ahead of himself, removing his hand from her shoulder he moved away a few steps.

"So what now my dream maiden? How should we proceed?"

 

[Asa]

She smiled tilting her head to the side listening to him as she smiled. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she watched his eyes and face. Her hand reaching to his till he backed away. She bit her lip a little hoping her actions had not caused him to back away.

She nodded about him saying she would have a place with his people. She wrinkled her brow pointing to her wings and to the fact he did not have any wondering if any of his people had wings. She smiled at him calling her his dream maiden. She thought for a moment and then tried again to speak not understanding why she could not do so. She shrugged not sure what they should do.

Pointing to the area around them and pointing to him trying to ask if he knows of any places that looked like this.

 

[Talon]

Alexios smiled as he noticed her biting her lip as if she were worried she had scared him off. He reached down to slip his hand into hers and squeeze it gently. " Worry not Isleen, you do not offend me with your actions, it is I that wishes to not worry you or seem too forward. I am not familiar with your customs, and I didn't want to make you uncomfortable." He nodded as she motioned to her wings. "My people do not have such things, but I believe most would see such a beautiful feature as a gift from the gods. And if not, we will just have to find a place where they do. I won't allow such prejudices to affect my actions. If they don't share my opinion of your beauty, then to the hells with them."

He continued holding her hand, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against his and the closeness of the gesture. "I have not seen a place like this before, but perhaps I might be able to describe it well enough that someone who has could lead me to it. I don't think anyone would forget a place such as this."

 

[Asa]

She smiled looking at his hand holding hers. It was a comfort... She was a little surprised that he could touch her... it was a comfort though as she moved to stand closer to him as they communicated. She motioned and began to walk wanting to show him around.

Pausing by a cluster of naturally short trees she gestured trying to explain to him that children played there. A tear curled along her lashes as she thought back over what she knew and the fact that it could be no more.

 

[Talon]

Alexios held her hand and allowed her to lead him as she wished. He looked as she pointed to things, although most of his attention was on her as they moved. He couldn't take his eyes off her her, he was captivated by the curves of her exotic body and the beauty of her wings. His people weren't shy when it came to admiring each others bodies, so Alexios didnt even attempt to mask his approving glances. He didn't stare and gawk lewdly, just admire.

"I hope I do not offend by saying that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen Isleen, dream or not.". He nodded as she demonstrated the area in which children had played. "Do you have children in the physical world? A mate amongst your people?"

 

[Asa]

She blushed a little catching his eyes watching her. She bit her lip a little but smiled sensing he meant no harm. Hearing his words she blushed a little more unaccustomed to such compliments.

She shook her head no when he asked about children or a mate. Moving further around the lake to a cropping of rocks she motioned as if people arguing or just very heavy discussions.

 

[Talon]

Alexios nodded. "So your people gathered here for council or something like that?" He found himself wondering how long it would be until he was awakened by his father for the day's work. He need more from her so he could begin his search. "Isleen...did this place have a name...something your people called it? Perhaps the country or territory this Darkstone was from had a name? Anything to help in my search.". He knew that time passed differently when you were dreaming, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. He could only hope for the latter so that he might learn as many details from her as possible before he was awakened back in the material world.