A Dream of Winter

The snow crunched beneath Raphael’s feet, a slow methodical rythmn as his steps continued forward. How long had he been travelling? When had he started? And where was he? Questions that should have been more concerning to him, but instead he continued forward with unknown purpose, resolved that this was the right path.
After an unknown period of time, he stood before great walls of Ice and black stone raised high in ca clear pattern, the tops of these walls were patrolled by creatures he could not recognise at this distance.
The cold chill in the air turned a notice shade cooler, and then she stood before him. Pale blue lips on alabaster skin, dark hair that cascaded down and eyes that seemed deep enough to drown unknowing mortals. “My knight, you are troubled” it was not a question but the implication was there. Indeed he was troubled, he had spoken prayers in her name, and the recent revelations of two of his comrades had made his thoughts even darker of late. First however, was the question of this moment and this place.
“Is this place real and am I here?” asked the knight
“This is a dream, but that does not lessen its reality, but first tell me of what ails you?”
“You gave me some warning of the Lord of the Wild Hunt, we did what we could not to bargain, but my companion made a deal, and as I heard it, she is now his”
“You did well in the Feywild, he knew you to be my servant but he did not get your name, for even you could not give it, should you wish to. As for your friend, whilst the Urlking is singular in his purpose, the protection of his realm and the needs of the wild hunt. I would not worry yourself with what he would ask of her, I don’t expect him to move against the subjects’ winter or its allies, but you should warn her if he should ask such a thing.” The knight was somewhat comforted by these words, and knew the Queen of the Unseelie, could not tell a lie, and so he continued with the other thoughts that robbed him of restful sleep.
 
“The Lord of the Hunt was unaware of what had caused the rift to the Feywild, but I have been informed that it is the result of magic linked to this” He gestured his hand and floating in it was a ‘so called’ resonance stone, shown to him the day before my Tal’Dorei’s master of information. The Queen of Air and Darkness, reached out her delicate hands plucking the illusion from the air and cast her eyes over it, rotating it slowly in front of her curious eyes.
 
“Ahh, well done my champion, this… this is not fey magic, but something much more dangerous… it is mortal magic” and after some pause and consideration she continued, “you must continue to investigate the cause of this”. The knight bowed his head and considered his next question for his patron.
 
“During one of our previous meetings, I asked you of the Shade Temple. It seems that they have hunted more than they should and their purpose has shifted, my companion is now doubting his allegiance and I believe this to be right, what do you know of their intentions?”
 
“What do you know of my mother?”
 
I know she bore this sword before you.” Frostweaver hung heavy at the knight’s belt, and in this moment an unspoken exchange was acknowledged, that the knight had learned more of the blades origins beyond what she had chosen to tell him. This new knowledge brought fresh perspective to their first meeting where assumptions were made and promises kept based on something that whilst not a lie, was not the whole truth. That moment had led to their respective roles as servant and queen, but now in this moment a gentle shift began.
 
“Feng Li is a saint to the Shade Temple, and was once a creature that worked in opposition to my mother, she was merciful and gave him a chance at redemption, and in doing so he became her champion. He led the Temple in a great purpose to fight a plague of undeath that washed the land. That however was some time ago, and the Shade Temple may not be all that it once was.” This set a firm resolve in the knight, who knew what needed to be done, and know having addressed the needs of his companions turned inward, to his deep gnawing fear.
 
“It would be appropriate to ask a third question” for he knew there was power in the number “and so I will say, do you know of the Hollow Man?” at this her eyes sparkled and she simply replied,
 
“Yes, but that is something you need to figure out yourself” and so he bowed and she was gone.
 
The Knight awoke to screams.