The Dreams Keeper

by Paola Elena Ferri

  Just one more thing. I watched the stars for a long time, because they were pulsing in a rhythmical manner that made me curious. After a while, I realized that the rhythm was always the same, and that, every pulsation formed the following words: AGAINST THE TIDE.

  I did not consider it to be particularly relevant, until we came here. And this makes me think that we have to go in the opposite direction to that of the water. So, we must head off towards the spout of the spring.

  From here, it seems to me that the trail is not very steep, but I wouldn’t count on that if I were you. We have already seen how, here, everything is so unpredictable.

  Yes, I confirm what many of you might be thinking, at the risk of questioning my role: I do not know the road and do not know where we are going. This part of the journey has never been revealed to me, and until now, I followed a Messenger who brought us this far. That this is the right way is proved by the visit of the Custodian of the Sword. But where it leads to, I do not know. However, regardless of this, I ask you again not to give up and not to lose faith. As you can see, something always happens to comfort our spirit and body. It's true, now we are wearing clothes made ​​of jute, and sandals of cloth, on our feet, that will not protect us from the sharp rocks ... but, until last night, we had nothing. There were only endless woods, barren lands, and then, the rain, incessant ... that finally stopped as we had the fortune to see.

  I am one of you, but, at the same time, I am The Dream keeper, and my task is to lead you towards the Eternal Present, in every possible way. I'm on the alert to perceive even the smallest signal, every little scent, every faintest sound ... I've been hardened to get this far. And I too, am not exempt from tests.

  I cannot force you to follow me, if you do not want to, but I cannot guarantee that you will find a way out, if you decide to leave me and those who will come with me. This is the Land of Dreams, it is not the world we come from, but trust is something that you live in any dimension, at any level of time, past, present or future. Therefore, I kindly ask you to decide now, because, afterwards, we cannot turn back. How many of you want to come with me and who wants to stay or continue on his own?

  Who wants to follow me, take a step forward, without any constraint.

  Thank you, Spark of the Way. Thank you, Listening of Heaven. Thank you, Warrior. Thank you, Custodian of the Sword. Thanks to you Wanderers who have decided to defy your hesitation and put your trust in me. As for you other Wanderers, who will not come with us… I cannot blame you, nor tell you what will happen, because I do not know. Nothing will happen to you, or maybe yes... but that is not what matters. Ten of you will continue this journey on your own, without any guide. I am disappointed about this, but I do understand: who would ever follow someone who doesn’t know the way?

  Go, then, but do not be surprised by the night before having a shelter and a fire. You have already experienced what this means. Have a nice trip and may you find your way to the Eternal Present, even without me.

  Those of you, who are left, instead, follow me. We shall climb up towards the opposite direction of the current. Let us hold hands, so as not to get lost. Each of you grab the hand that is stretched out to you and stretch yours out to who follows you. Do not stop to pick up branches that can help you to climb: you do not need to. We just need to remain united and steadfast.

  Can you smell the scent of musk? It’s pleasant and relaxing. The sound of water is our friend, and the creek has no steeps. The water is shallow, but we’d better not cross it. In front of me I see the woods thin out and the light of the sun increase. Probably we have found the border of this wood and we are just about to come out of it. If you see any particular flower, remember not to pick it: I told you at the beginning of the journey, that these flowers give themselves spontaneously to us, without us asking. If you find something that looks like a small fruit, do not pick it: I do not know this part of the journey, as I said, and I do not know what kind of reactions could trigger a wild berry unknown to me. Remember that what we see in the Land of Dreams is not always the same thing that we see in our world. So, if any of you have knowledge of anything related to nature, set it aside. Let’s proceed without stopping.

  Hence, now the forest is thinning out more and more and we are about to reach a plain. I cannot see any trees in the distance. We are likely to have arrived where the river is born. It was not too long a journey, but I wonder what's up in front of me.

  Are you all here? We are in the plain now; we can loosen the grip of our hands and continue walking. I will lead you, as always.

  But now… stop. Look together with me, a little further on. At the end of the stream there is a cliff overlooking nothing, and from the edge of the ground stands a wall made of rainbow. All around, there are only clouds.

  I think that, to get to the other side, we might have to cross it. But, first of all, we need to understand how to do it, because we have no equipment to allow us to climb it, as if it were the wall of a mountain.

  Let me think... if this is a bridge, we can pretend it is a drawbridge. If it really is what I think, then, there should be a way to lower it. I think, therefore, that the time has come for me to open the gift that I was given. I'll do it in front of you. Wanderers, open your hands, so that I can extract the contents of the sachet of jute.

  Thank you.

  This is a coin. But it is not an ordinary coin. This is a coin that only the Gnomes know how to fabricate, and there is not one like the other, and each one of them is coined for a very specific purpose.

  Have you ever heard the tales about Gnomes? They hide their treasure at the foot of the rainbow. This, then, is a coin that belongs to the treasure of the Gnomes and that may be the key to our research. I will go, then, to the edge of the precipice, and, toss the coin, from there. If the rainbow will lower itself, as if it were a drawbridge, then we can cross it. We can just walk on it. I do not know if it will feel like walking on air: this is a new experience for me too. But if it will work, our journey may continue.

  I know what you're asking: if it will not work, what will become of us?

  But here we are in the Land of Dreams, and we cannot have doubts right now, after the signs that we have received. Be confident. Now I will toss the coin...

  The rainbow is lowering! It is a bridge now and we can move on. Let’s stay close to each other and not look down. The feeling is not quite like walking on something flat: it is as if we were sinking into the snow, but there is no water and you do not get muddy. Perhaps, the right comparison might be that it feels like walking on a big pile of colored absorbent cotton.

  Follow me. I can see an entrance, a little farther on.

  It looks like the entrance to a castle…

  THE KNIGHTS

  May you be welcome, Dream keeper.

  You are welcome as well, Wanderers.

  You have arrived at the Nameless Castle that very few know how to reach.

  We are the three Knights, and we have not been given any specific task. We have waited a long time for someone to show us our mission. We were prepared for battle, but we are not human beings. We are creatures that you have given the permission to exist, thanks to your dreams, your ideals.

  But we have not been completed, in our tasks.

  We do not know if we have to defend this inhabited castle.

  We do not know if there are enemies with whom to fight.

  We do not know to whom we are to refer.

  We do not even know why this castle was built.

  We are like children who have not been given any instructions, but we do not have the same ability to play. We do not know how to. The desires of the human being were exhausted before we were completed, and now we wait, at every journey, for someone to come to explain to us what we must do. Someone brought his experiences, and he has allowed, piece by piece, that this remote island in the Land of Dreams be built, little by little. But, as you can see, had you not received the gift of the Coin of the Gnomes, you would never have co
me so far.

  You are a very powerful guide, Dream keeper, and your heart is strong. If you were not who you are, no-one would have rescued you from the Lost Woods. They represent one of the most important tests, to allow you to reach the Eternal Present.

  Our problem is just that. The few Wanderers that manage to come here to finish their research, then, never come back. And we eagerly await them, but our hopes are often disillusioned. In spite of everything, since we exist, thanks to you, we continue to be confident that someone, sooner or later, might remember this Castle and its Knights.

  We see that, among you, there are Wanderers who have already received an assignment ... and this makes us happy. This means that, probably, we can add another piece of life to our microcosm. Of course, with your consent, Dream keeper. We do not want to force any Wayfarer to do what he does not feel able to do and we do not claim anything, except to be remembered, once you return to your real world.

  Forgive us if we dare so much ... but we wish to inform you that the first thing that we need is a name to give to this Castle. Without a name, there can be no history and we would have no reason to stay. We always hope that someone, sooner or later, will assign it, so that we too might have an identity, in this Land of Dreams.

  We can offer you shelter and refreshment for all the time you need. The rooms are furnished, and the food, for your luck, is never scarce. The desires of human beings are often bizarre, and addressed to things of prime necessity, such as food. There seems to be a real obsession, either in one way or another. Someone would like to eat until he feels ill, someone else would want to deprive himself of food, until he disappears ... in any case, this imbalance of desires is offset by the presence of the Castle, where all the partly completed impulses end up. So, in part we have everything that the Wanderers need, but we are lacking what we need.

  Come in if you like. There are no latches and no dangers. There are no masters and there are no servants, because this story has yet to be written. Be welcome and stay for as long as you want. There is a beautiful garden with fountains from which crystal clear water spouts ... there are colorful flowers, fruit plants, benches to sit on to admire the pond at the center of the garden. Nobody takes care of this place, and yet, it continues to exist and to be kept in order, as if a Higher Law commands it. We are not speaking of your faith, but of something that is part of this Land and that, at the same time, comes from your desires. Perhaps, someday, we will discover the reason why we exist and why we were called for here. And, perhaps, that will be the day when we shall have to leave this place, to accomplish our mission...

  “Could this be of use to you?”

  Brave Wanderer…Custodian of the Sword….you honor us, with your question. We cannot decide for you. We can ask The Dream keeper if you are allowed to.

  “The Custodian of the Sword has free choice. I cannot intervene. It is his heart, to speak, and his instinct led him to tell you what he feels. Only he can decide and you, then, may accept or refuse what he proposes.”

  Our Guardian… Brave Wanderer… we are all deeply grateful. This Sword is the most important thing that exists in the Land of Dreams and it would give us an identity that we have been longing ... But we cannot expect anything. We are servants and we are ready to listen.

  "So be it. This Sword belongs to the Castle and to you, the Knights. And this Castle shall be called, henceforth, the Castle of the Sword, because it will serve the creatures of this Land and the human beings who reach here."

  Generous Wanderer, Custodian of the Sword ... you've just received this wonderful gift, and now, you deprive yourself of it ... but ... no, you'll always be the one and only Custodian, and we can only accept it as the beginning of our mission. We appreciate your pure heart and accept this privilege, with endless gratitude. But allow us, therefore, to do much more. If you want, this will be your home, whenever you want to visit us here in the Land of Dreams, because, now, you know the way. And let us be of service to who you want to make us worthy of this honor.

  "I do not feel like a master ... I do not crave power and wealth. I just think the Sword is more useful to you than to me. She who gave it to me told me that she had finished her task, having found me. Now I have found you."

  We are not allowed to be the Custodians of the Sword: only a human being can. But we can use it how you want us to.

  “Use it only to bring the lost Wanderers, back on the right track. Do not use it to kill. Anyone has the discretion to make mistakes, but at the same time, to return on his own steps and find himself. Defend them from the dangers of Greed and Oblivion. In the name of this Sword, may you be its worthy Knights."

  Your heart is pure, Wanderer, and your words are wise. However, we must ask the Dream keeper if all this is allowed to us...

  "The Custodian of the Sword has the full right to decide. Be that as he said. "

  In this case ... you have honored us of what we were looking for. You have given us a mission, and you have given a name to this Castle. From now on, it will become a refuge for the Wanderers who get lost, distracted by unrealizable desires or scared of the difficulties of the way. We will defend them and bring them here, where they can meet and find the way. So new hopes will be brought to life, and the Castle will liven up. There will be servants, there will be those who will take care of the garden, there will be those who will cheer with songs and dances, but at the same time, there will be those who will remind Wanderers that it’s time to get back on the road to the Eternal Present.

  Be welcome.

  THE BETRAYAL

  Wake up from your sleep, Wanderers. I am bringing you news of doom.

  The one who had been assigned the role of Custodian of the Sword has fled with it, riding a horse stolen to one of the three Knights. Now, two of them are looking for the traitor, because the Sword cannot be taken beyond the borders of the Land of Dreams. The third Knight has stayed here, to await the return of his companions.

  As a human being, I can only feel sorry for what happened. I myself was dazzled by the words of the traitor who seemed sincere. But as the Dream keeper, I cannot forget what a strong temptation it is to have a Sword of such beauty and rarity. The traitor had been warned of the danger, but he underestimated it. Even the purest hearts, might sometimes succumb to the most subtle temptation.

  Now the Castle itself is in danger, because it is named after the Sword. The Knights will have no peace, until they find the fugitive. This unexpected high treason subverts every Law that regulates the Balance of this Land. This Castle is likely to disappear with its Sword, forever, if it is not found.

  It is still not clear how the traitor managed to steal the horse and flee. Perhaps, the force of the Sword is still unknown to us in its entirety and, perhaps, he was able to understand part of its meaning. Perhaps, as well, he might have seen other possibilities that we are not allowed to know ... the choice of a Custodian of the Sword is always carried out according to certain criteria. Those that are the major advantages of an elected can become defects that can lead to unpardonable mistakes. The more a person has, the more he might lose.

  We cannot go in search of the Sword: it is not our duty. The Knights, will take care of that, and we must hope that they succeed in their mission as quickly as possible. It's strange: as long as they did not have one, they lived in peace. Now that they have found it, they must wage war against the traitor. What will happen to him? He will not be killed, once found, and cannot run too far away. The risk, however, is that he gets lost in places still unknown to this Land, places where not even his own creatures can access, since the human being has not yet struggled to realize his dreams, or has lost hope. For every human being who does not believe in anything, a creature of the Land of Dreams ceases to exist, or a place is emptied of its inhabitants.

  Following this criteria, it’s possible that even this Castle, once, was inhabited, and that the Knights themselves had a task to accomplish. Perhaps other Custodians of the Sword fled with it, as soon as they arri
ved here. Perhaps who gave the Sword to the traitor was a fleeing soul, and being blind, he was unable to read in the right heart.

  But these are only suppositions, and, unfortunately, are not within our competence. Even if we were able to do something, I am sure that we would no longer proceed towards the Eternal Present, but remain here, to help the Knights in their research.

  But we cannot stay. We would risk disappearing with the Castle and this whole place of the Land of Dreams

  We have to say goodbye.

  Thus, get up, and come with me. The Knight has indicated a road to me that we will take to go away from here. We have not been held responsible for this shameful action. The Laws that regulate the Balance of the Land of Dreams operate in complete autonomy in distinguishing good fruit from rotten ones, and tend to preserve the first.

  However, as The Dream keeper, I could not let this wickedness be forgiven us completely. We started as a group and everything that an individual does falls on the same. Thus, even this action.

  Therefore, I have decided to leave in this Castle all the gifts we have received so far. May this be a lesson to anyone who decides to commit such an act. We shall leave with no resources except those that allow us to survive, like food and water. But, all the rest will remain here, and, should this place disappear, even all the gifts will disappear with it.