How long has it been since she’s been here? Weeks? Months? Not since Tyrone moved in next door. This is a dream she’s spent many happy nights in even though, technically speaking, it isn’t a dream. Once again she’s returned to that place beyond dreams that people never reach or, if they do, rarely remember. Soraya always remembers her time here. Untapped psychic potential, almost dormant in the waking world, allows her spirit to roam free at night in this Dream World while her physical body sleeps. She’s grown here, as a dreamer and a person, making friends and facing tragedy. It’s a special place dear to her heart for many reasons, perhaps one more then the others. This is the world where she met Gale.
He’s a handsome knight, reserved and stoic, from a time long past, trapped forever in Dream World. Despite initial reservations he soon became Soraya’s companion as a strong bond grew between them. They often travel Dream World together, but sometimes when she needs a break Soraya enters at a fairytale castle in a gown fit for a princess just in time for a ball. Just as she did tonight, Soraya spends hours laughing and dancing, then she tells the party dwellers goodbye and sets off from the castle to meet Gale.
She walks down a dirt path to a clearing close enough to occasionally hear the music from the castle but far enough away for privacy. Gale always meets her here. It never takes more than a few minutes of waiting before he appears out of the darkness.
“This dream, with its castle balls and fancy gowns makes me feel like a fairytale princess,” Soraya says softly to herself, “and Gale is my knight in shining armor.” A laugh. “Sort of.”
Leaning against a solitary lavender gray tree that has grown in the clearing since her last visit, Soraya pictures Gale, comparing him to the knights found in stories. He normally appears on silent steps instead of the beat of hooves. A sharp scythe rests against his back, a bone wing, instead of a sword or lance. No helmet, just a cloud of soft lavender hair trailing behind him. His clothing is simple fabric stronger than any armor and it doesn’t really shine. Eyes drifting to the path, she watches, breath baited, in anticipation. A heartbeat. Two. And then…
Nothing happens.
With a little laugh, Soraya shakes her head. Part of her expected him to materialize from the gloom, summoned by her thoughts. Though he’s usually here by now, she thinks, frowning. Minutes pass as she waits, but he doesn’t appear. Growing wary with trepidation she steps onto the path calling out for him, “Gale!”
Her voice carries throughout the land, a princess calling her knight.
He doesn’t answer.
She settles against the lavender gray tree, determined to stay all night, because he would wait for her. The thought strikes her sudden and brutal. Had Gale waited for her? She’d been gone for such a long time without any word or warning. And he wouldn’t have known she was safe. Did he spend night after night traveling Dream World looking for any traces of her only to end up back in this clearing hoping that she’d appear? Had he stayed here only to end up alone? Heart aching, Soraya closes her eyes against the burn of tears. If that’s the case and he’s mad at her, as he has every right to be she thinks sorrowfully, surely he’d still reply to her call. If nothing else, he would come to get answers for her absence. Dread settling in the pit of her stomach Soraya fears something has happened to her Gale.
“Oh Gale, please be safe.”
The tree shifts, bark scraping gently against her back as the branches bow, curling around her. Reaching out she trails a tentative hand along the closest limb, gasping when the tree gives a shuddering silvery sigh. Branches wrap around her taking on the shape of arms, twigs transform into fingers as they twist about her hand.
“Soraya,” her name is a whispering rustle of leaves, “I’ve missed you.” She feels him then, warm against her back, pressing soft kisses to her hair.
“Gale?”
Turning she finds the tree partially transformed into him. Long lavender hair reaches towards the sky as the top of the trunk groans and shifts, molding itself into his face and torso.
“Hello Soraya,” he says, bringing a willowy hand up to caress her cheek, an odd contrast of gentle touch and rough bark. “I hope you’re well.”
“I’m fine,” she assures, brow furrowed over large doe eyes. “Are you alright?”
“Of course, aren’t I always?”
A slight smile tugs at the corner of his mouth and, despite being part tree, he seems so normal that Soraya can’t help the tears welling in her eyes or the heavy press of guilt.
“I’m so sorry Gale.”
“Why?” He asks, “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“But,” she says, indicating him with a helpless flap of her hand.
“Oh,” he says after a moment, brow creased as he looks down at himself. “Oh, I see. No, this isn’t your fault Soraya.”
“But, you’re a tree.”
A chuckle as he gives her a small indulgent smile, “I’m not really a tree.”
“You aren’t?” A cool rush of relief sweeps through her body.
“No. I waited a week and when you didn’t appear I planted a piece of my spirit here to keep watch. That’s how I knew you returned.”
“Then why aren’t you here in person?” Soraya asks after a moment.
“It would take all night for me to get there and I wanted to see you. The tree is an avatar of sorts through the connection of my spirit.”
“Thank goodness,” a heartbeat. “Gale, I’m sorry for not coming and not letting you know. It should’ve occurred to me.”
"I don't blame you Soraya, it's alright. I understand that you have new friends in the Waking World to go on adventures with and Tyrone to talk to, so you don't need Dream World like you used to."
You don’t need me goes unspoken.
Wincing, Soraya tightens her grip on Gale’s hand, shaking her head.
“That’s not true! Just because I was away for a while doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here. I love Dream World,” she says, giving him a shake, “And I’ll always need you. The time I spend with Tyrone and the others is important to me, but—”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” Gale interrupts.
“But,” she continues, ignoring him, “that doesn’t mean my time here isn’t just as important too. Actually, I was hoping they could meet you some day.”
Bemused, Gale arches an eyebrow watching pink tinge Soraya’s cheeks as she averts her gaze.
“You even wish to introduce me to your Tyrone?” He asks carefully, scrutinizing her.
“Of course!” Soraya says brightly. “I want to introduce you to everybody. And hey! Tyrone isn’t mine, he’s my friend,” a pause as her face shifts in confusion before she looks at him warily, asking, “How do you know about Tyrone?”
Gale looks away, jaw clenching slightly as seconds slip by. If Soraya didn’t know him so well, she never would have noticed the frustrated tension running under his stoic features. Eventually, voice emotionless and steady, he says, “When you failed to appear after a lengthy time, I started looking for any trace of you in Dream World. That search led me to Tyrone.”
Watching her from the corner of his eye Soraya sees a flash of emotion in cerulean orbs before it disappears in oceanic depths. “He often dreams of you.”
If it was anyone else she would have sworn Gale was jealous. Feeling an odd sense of danger like a trap waiting to be sprung, Soraya sidesteps the issue with a helpless shrug saying, “Dreams are weird like that. I’m almost certain my friend Toguro dreams of oranges.”
She gives a sweet smile as Gale’s face scrunches in confusion. A blink and his expression smoothes, watching her from half-lidded eyes with a look that clearly says ‘I know what you’re doing and I’m allowing it. This time.’
Running a hand through her hair Gale gives a thoughtful hum, curling the coppery orange strands around his fingers.
“We’re friends aren’t we?”
“What?” Soraya says with a startled laugh. “Of course we are.”
“Then, would you be willing to grant me a request?”
“Sure.”
Mouth curling into a small humorless smile he stares at her with sad, serious eyes and she sobers. Trepidation growing Soraya reaches out, gently placing a hand on his bicep.
“Gale?”
“I had a fair amount of time to think while we were apart, and it’s clear to me that things are changing. You’ve begun to transition from a charming girl with big dreams into an enchanting woman fully capable of making her desires reality. As time passes opportunity will open before you in the Waking World. I cannot be there with you. My limitations keep me from leaving Dream World; at least as things are now.” A pause. “However, you said I may make a request.”
Pulling Soraya close to his chest Gale rests his chin atop her head, speaking soft deliberate words after a moment as he stares unseeing at the rising light on the horizon.
“As you mature some of your dreams will be put away into a box, never to be achieved but taken out occasionally to be looked at. This is an inevitable part of aging. But please,” his voice drops to a painful rasp, “don’t put me away in that box Soraya. Don’t make me disappear like a child’s dream in summer.”
Eyes widening in shock Soraya wraps her arms around him, clutching tightly, struck by the sudden suffocating break in her heart. Did he honestly think she could forget him? Gale shudders, pressing his lips gently against her ear as he continues, calmer.
“However, if you should one day decide you no longer desire my company, and cannot fulfill that request, then grant me a different kindness,” arms tightening around her, his mouth skims across her cheek imprinting each word along her skin, “On the day that you decide to part from me forever, press your lips to mine that I may always remember. Burn your mark upon my battered soul, so it will never forget, though you may,” a sigh as he eyes the rosy colors of dawn curling against the sky. “The night has passed, Soraya, it’s time for you to return to the Waking World.”
“No,” she whispers with a slight shake of her head, fingers curling into him, “not yet, Gale. After what you just said, I can’t leave right now.”
Gale shifts, their foreheads touching as affectionate cerulean eyes sear into soft conflicted brown. As the sun rises Soraya feels a familiar tug drawing her back to her physical body, her astral form beginning to fade away. Unwilling to leave, afraid to lose this moment, she protests, quieting at the shake of his head.
“Hush now; this is not our final parting. The future is not yet decided, Soraya. You have not forsaken me and I am not resigned to that fate. Though we are forced to part, it is only temporary,” he promises leaning closer, mouth brushing against hers in a teasing almost kiss, “When you think of falling in love, think of me and my heart will be with you; just as your heart resides in me.”
She disappears, the final image of flushed cheeks and startled doe eyes perfectly captured in Gale’s mind as he withdraws, leaving behind an empty clearing with a solitary lavender gray tree reaching towards the coppery orange skies of a brightly dawning day.
