A soft hand pulls back a matted lock of hair from a boy's fevered face, and he slowly opens his eyes to see a beautiful face, so pure, so perfect, as to be mistaken for an angel.
Her gaze is deep and pierces his very soul, but he feels no fear. Her gold crown shimmers in soft sunlight, as she sits beside him on a serene, grassy plain. Not even a breath of wind stirs the silent air of this impossibility.
For, even in his small, deluded form, the boy knows that the scene before him is unreal.
But he continues to smile at the woman, knowing in his heart that she holds him, and his destiny, in her hands.
She opens her mouth, and a sound like distant bells is heard.
"You know who I am."
He nods, and she gently smiles. She continues, with more firmness in her voice.
"You know what must be done."
He nods again, but she does not smile this time.
"You know that it will come only at great cost to you."
His nod is now resolute and stern, as a boy his age should not be.
"Yet you will do as I ask?"
She smiles, knowing his answer. With her firm hand, she presents him with her torch.
Her gaze is deep and pierces his very soul, but he feels no fear. Her gold crown shimmers in soft sunlight, as she sits beside him on a serene, grassy plain. Not even a breath of wind stirs the silent air of this impossibility.
For, even in his small, deluded form, the boy knows that the scene before him is unreal.
But he continues to smile at the woman, knowing in his heart that she holds him, and his destiny, in her hands.
She opens her mouth, and a sound like distant bells is heard.
"You know who I am."
He nods, and she gently smiles. She continues, with more firmness in her voice.
"You know what must be done."
He nods again, but she does not smile this time.
"You know that it will come only at great cost to you."
His nod is now resolute and stern, as a boy his age should not be.
"Yet you will do as I ask?"
She smiles, knowing his answer. With her firm hand, she presents him with her torch.