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[Govan]

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The morning nip in the air was no longer felt when Govan stepped out onto the balcony of her villa. She crossed her arms on the railing and leaned on it. She has spent many an hour over the past months studying her people's ancient scroll. Aisling was teaching her how to read the script, which Govan believed held the answers to her remaining questions. Her chats with Aisling helped answer some of the questions that her parents' letter had not, but not all. Until Govan had all the answers, she would continue to keep her true origins between herself and her family and closest, most trusted friends. Even afterwards, she did not know if she would reveal any of it to anyone else. She sighed. Right now, she was taking a short break from her studies. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and played with the idea of heading down to the stables and visiting her animal friends. After a little more thought, she nodded and recalled away.

At the stables, Govan visited her animal friends, one by one, making sure they were all happy and still in good shape. It took a while, but she felt better with every passing moment. She was glad to have a bit of time out after having practically locking herself in her house, so intent on getting her questions answered. Finally, she reached the last, and largest of her friends. She quietly opened the door of the stall that was labled with a "Quiet: Dragon in Hibernation" sign, and slipped inside, closing the doors behind her. Inside Flamestrike slept on. Govan had befriended her when Flame' was but a young drake, and watched her grow, spending as much time with her as possible. Quite a long time ago, however, Flame' had reached the pinnacle of her adolesence and had curled up in her stall and fell into a deep hibernation. It was a time mostly of inner-metamorphosis for the drake. Govan had stopped by as often as she could and watched as Flame' grew and changed bit by bit on the outside, her old skins falling off to make way for even more dazzling red scales and more, larger horns and barbs. Today, Flame's hide was cloudy again, and she still slept. Seeing the now-quite-large dragon sleeping, and hearing her soft snoring, this time, unlike all the previous times Govan had looked in on her, had a rather soothing, lullaby effect on Govan. Before she realized what was gong on, she was curled up next to Flame' and her mind was wandering off into a dream.

Govan's mind found herself in the middle of a forest that was supposedly familiar. It was silent except the wind in the treetops and the occassional bird calling across the forest. Govan looked around, somehow knowing that she was not alone. She called out some words which seemed familiar, yet she could not make out what they were. The call was answered by quiet whisperings and movements around her. Some of the trees transformed into people, who still looked as if their skin was smooth bark, and their hair and clothes were branches and leaves. Some more people stepped out from the bushes. These, Govan recognized as Elves. Even more people came from deeper in the forest, from every direction. Some seemed to be human, others seemed to be a little different. All came to her, gathering in a circle around her, all looking at her in a familiar, knowing, even loving, manner, as if they knew her as a friend or family member. They all seemed familiar to Govan as well. After a moment, after all had finished gathering around, some of them parted to make a path. Everyone bowed bowed deeply as a lovely lady and gentleman came down the path, both wearing fine, royal attire, and crowns which Govan recognized as the same ones that her parents sent her. Govan knelt and bowed down herself, lowering her face in respect, for she knew these two to be the Lord and Lady of the forest. Her heart swelled with joy at being able to see these two. The Lady gently lifted Govan's chin to raise Govan's face. She looked deeply into Govan's eyes, so lovingly, so knowingly, that Govan could not help but gently smile. The Lady gently lifted Govan's chin a little more, having Govan rise.

"Our dear daughter," the Lady said gently, embracing Govan in a hug.

Tears of joy flooded Govan's eyes as she returned the hug. She looked over her mother's shoulder, at her father. He carried the same loving, knowing look as his wife. He came over and joined the hug. Govan could feel their love for her. It seemed to fill an empty space in her heart that she did not even realize was there until that moment. She felt her father kiss her on the top of her head. All she could do was smile all the more and let the joyful tears flow down her cheeks.

It was several moments later when they finally released her, with the same joyful tears in their eyes as well. Govan almost wished it would never end, but she felt their need to tell her something. They held her at arm's length, with concern and love in their eyes. Her mother began to speak to her in a language that sounded so very familiar to Govan, yet the meaning escaped her. At the end, the Lady changed to Common Tougne.

"The answers will come. Be alert and diligent."

"We are already very proud of you," the Lord said. "Live on and live well. You have it in you to do that to which you have been called."

The scene faded as Govan awoke, feeling quite overwhelmed and drained. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, realizing that she had fallen asleep. She felt a rumbling beneath her, one that was more than just a dragon's snoring. She sat up and looked behind her, not giving heed to her tiredness, knowing something more important was happening. Flamestrike's dead skin was cracking at the nose and shoulder, and it appeared a bit softer than her previous sheddings. Underneath, Govan could see small movements. Govan stood up, moved back a ways, and watched. Flame' slowly began to move, peeling a bit of the old skin off in the process. She began to rub her nose hard against the floor, pushing the old skin back, bit by bit. Govan continued to watch as Flame' worked the skin off slowly. She stretched one way, then another, then turned to rubbing against the floor or the wall, then to nipping a little away. Each bit revealing glittering, ruby-like scales. After the old skin was shed, Flame' kicked it away, stood up, stretched her wings to full span, and arched her neck. She stretched her legs and swung her tail around, stretching all her muscles. It was after she was done that her eyes snapped open, unveiling bright blue, star sapphire-like eyes, and Govan could see that she was none too happy. Govan got some meat out of her pack and put them on the floor in front of Flame'. Flame' gobbled down the meat and looked more satisfied and friendly. She coughed. Out of her open mouth came a little cloud of smoke. Flame' continued to cough up little clouds of smoke until a bit of flame came up instead. She then seemed like the old Flamestrike that Govan knew. Flamestrike looked at Govan, then lowered her head and pressed her nose into Govan's chest, cuddling her. Govan laid her head on the large face and smiled. She stroked Flame's cheeks... where there were not any horns or barbs. Flame' smiled, growling in her contentment, almost purring. It was a good day.

After several more minutes spent rebonding with Flamestrike, Govan left the stall and checked on her other animal friends again. Her newest friends, two nightmares and a white wyrm, still seemed a bit nervous, but Govan soothed them with some kind words and a little more food. Flame' also growled a few comforting words to the newcomers, through the walls, which also seemed to help them relax and accept the new confinements of their stalls. Govan promised each of them a good bit of time out of their stalls when the time came. With her new friends comforted, Govan wished every single one of her animal friends a good night and recalled home.

Govan felt even more exhausted when she arrived home. When she went inside, Aisling appeared very distraught, almost in a panic, until she saw Govan.

"Where have you been? I was worried when you were nowhere to be found," the pheonix whistled in her own language.

"I just went down to the stables to visit my other animal friends. I just suddenly needed a bit more of a break," Govan replied in Common Tougne.

Aisling understood Govan's need to get out of the house.

"Do you wish to continue with your studies, my Lady?" Aisling asked, much more relaxed.

"No...," Govan replied, looking rather tired and preoccupied. "I will take the rest of the day off and begin anew in the morning."

"As you wish." Aisling could tell that Govan had much more on her mind than she was letting on. "Is there something amiss?"

Govan's attention had wandered for a moment, but it snapped back.

"Oh... yes... err.. no... mmm.." Govan sighed and paused a moment. "Flamestrike woke up from her hibernation earlier," she said, trying to sound fine, but hardly succeeding. "I am glad of that, for I was begining to really worry about her..."

Govan wandered upstairs, still seeming rather preoccupied. Aisling flew up after her. Govan went into the bedroom and layed down on her bed.. She folded her hands under her head and gazed up at the ceiling with a look of pondering. Aisling alighted on the perch that was attached to the headboard of the large bed and moved over until she was even with Govan. She then leaned over until she was looking Govan directly face to face, even though each saw the other upside-down.

"There is something else, is there not?" Aisling asked.

Govan sighed and looked at the pheonix. She looked away a moment, then back at Aisling.

"I fell asleep earlier, against Flamestrike."

"And?"

"And I dreamed a dream of Mother and Father."

Aisling tilted her head. "Tell me of this dream."

So, Govan told Aisling every detail and everything that happened and everything she could remember that was said in the dream.

"I could not understand Mother's words at first, not until she spoke Common Tougne. Her words, I cannot recall, yet my mind seems to be holding onto them, as if I would remember and understand them later."

Aisling nodded in understanding. She knew Govan had experienced the Dream of Connection, where her parents' spirits were visiting her one last time before their trip off into the land beyond, to tell and show her things which they wished her to know. Aisling also knew that it was important for one of their people to rest after receiving one of these Visiting Dreams, so Aisling half-hopped, half-flew down beside Govan, laid down, and rested her head on Govan's shoulder. Aisling softly whistled in a soothing, comforting, lullaby manner.

"Rest, my Lady. Rest and find peace this eve."

Govan responded to the whistling, relaxing completely and closing her eyes. Her mind soon wandered into a deep, restful sleep. Her mother's strange words echoed in her mind... Someday she would learn what the words ment. Tonight, she would just take comfort in having seen her parents one... last... time.
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