by P R Glazier
~
Deanola lay asleep. She had easily fallen asleep once again after the attempt on her life, perhaps she did not care any longer, perhaps her age had negated the need for sorrow and pain, death certainly held no power over her she did not fear it, perhaps the manner in which she may die held some anxieties, but death itself was no longer a nameless fear, more a welcome friend perhaps, a promised end to all her trials in life, a welcome diversion from this long life of hardship.
A dream came into her subconscious; someone approached her, an elf maiden. Not any she had seen before, but she knew of her none the less for this elf had malice in her heart, a dark purpose. Deanola heard herself sigh, more in disappointment than anything else. She knew who this elf was, she had felt her presence growing in the rift for some months now, it was inevitable that they should meet. So she said, “we meet at last Gatekeeper. But before we tire ourselves, might I have your name?” The reply given with a smile did not surprise Deanola, she had suspected as much weeks before, she smiled as she realised she was just trying to delay the inevitable. She felt the power rise in her as she deflected the first bolt of lethal arcane energy directed at her heart.