Bad Dreams

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The night was cold. Rade and her party were trying to locate who was murdering people in the Umar Hills. They had set up camp outside, next to the river. Jahira was on watch duty and was gently nodding off. She then realized it was time to change shifts. It was Minscs' turn. She shook the rangers shoulder and he awoke, grumbling. This was all oblivious to Rade as she was having a nightmare.

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Imoen stood there, all most wraith like. What is this place? Rade thought, it looks like Candlekeep but, different, like there are huge holes leading to empty space. Imoen spoke.

"A dream, a dream of many things. Of friends and family. These things all mean something.... Don't they?" she led Rade to what could be described as the main gates. There where three figures: Gorian, Elminster and Kahlid.

"Do you remember Gorian, or any other? They were the guidance, and there was still much to learn, but you are to far away now, to far to help, why? Memories should stay, but he digs deep, pushing everything else aside." She looked forlorn "I don't remember any of you" And then the three figures died, much to Rades horror. She wished she could help, but Imoen was walking away. Rade followed and they came to the castle doors.

"Do you remember these doors, I remember...I think....Yes this was my home for so long, but they would not have you now, they would not have me." Further they walked and soon they met a figure in black plate mail. Rade shivered at the sight of him.

"Do you remember Sarevok, and the others? They sought your death, and mine, they were so impotent at the time. Something else is closer, he want's something...I don't know why, those in the cowls don't even know, why don't I know?" Sarevok died in the same way as Gorian. Imoen looked afraid.

"Do you rember...Me? I can almost see, but....Wait..." a man, about six foot tall entered the scene. His face looked like it had been riveted on. Irenicus. He spoke, his voice hard and cold.

"She resists. She clings to her old life as it actually matters" he laughed harshly "She will learn."

"What is this Irenicus? Where am I!!??" Rade shouted, but it came out as a wisper.

"It is a portrait of things to come, you should know as it is you who have brought us to the dream. Nothing is real... Yet!" He cast his terrible magic and Rades sister, friend died in a clash of thunder, over and over and over....

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"WHA!" Rade awoke. She looked around the dark camp. The fire had been reduced to embers. Minsc was asleep under a tree. Rade tried to get back to sleep but every time she closed her eyes the image of his horrible stapled face filled her head. That's it, she thought, I'm taking a walk. She crept out of the camp and walked over the make-shift bridge that crossed the river. She came to a hill overlooking the forest. From it she could see everything, the village, the camp, the last wisps of smoke rising from the campfire. It was so beautiful. Rade sat down and looked over the hill tops at the first sign of the rising sun. Had she been concentrating she would have herd the light footsteps aproching, but she was lost in thought.

"Are you all right, my Raven?" a concerned voice asked from the darkness. Rade jumped, startled. She turned around to see the tiefling bard, looking a little confused.

"Mmmmm, I'm ok." she lied "What are you doing up at this hour, anyway?"

"I herd you leaving, you are not the quietest of people, my Raven" He laughed "And why, pray tell, are you awake?"

Rade opened her mouth as if to say something, but she could not find a simple explanation,so Haer'Dalis found one for her:

"Bad dreams, my Raven?"

"Yep, but I would use the term 'Nightmare'" she turned her face away from him. Haer'Dalis sat down beside her.

"What plagues my Ravens dreams?" and so Rade explained. Explained about Irenicus and Imoen, about Gorian and all the other people that had helped her. She didn't, though, tell him of her heritage, and avoided that subject entirely. Haer'Dalis listened intently, not saying a word until she had finished. He wiped a tear from her eye and let it sink into his fingers. He tucked a strand of Rades hair behind her pointed ear.

"I'm...I'm sorry" Rade looked at Haer'Dalis through tear full eyes. Her tears had settled on her eyelashes, framing Hae'Dalis in a diamond like sparkle. "You must think me a pathetic little baby, crying over bad dreams"

"Not at all," He smiled "For you see, dreams are a portal into another world, one not only my kind can cross. And, as on this plane, there are good and bad parts to it"

"Yeah, but for me it all seems to be bad!" Rade flung herself on the ground, "It's grate for you, you can go about without a care in the world!"

"You do not know the cares I carry!" He shouted, and Rade was startled by the change in his voice. "Do you think it's easy being shunted from plane to plane? Or having all most every demon hunt me down? Or my mother..." His voice trailed away.

Rade sat up. She looked into Haer'Dalis' violet eyes, a mixture of pain and fury. What a selfish brat she had been. Haer'Dalis was her friend, and she had become so wraped up in her own problems, not caring for anything else.

"Sorry" She mumbled. Haer'Dalis looked at her suspiciously, then his face softened.

"I can understand, my raven, for you do not know me at all" he looked at her weakly.

"Well... Since I've spilled my guts to you, you might as well do the same"

"Oh, all right. But, I can not be held responsible if you drop off during the tale" he smiled again. Rade noticed he didn't smile very often, but it was wonder when he did.

"Go on! You know you want to tell me!" she giggled.

"*Sigh* Fine, fine. Well, where to begin?" And so Haer'Dalis told Rade something he had never told anyone else before in his life. And it went like this:

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The blond girl crouched behind the bookcase. Hide and seek was one of her favorite games, esepesialy when Haer'Dalis was playing. She loved her brother and farther, for she never knew her mother, more than anyone in the world. She herd the door creek open. I must stay quiet, She thought, Haer'Dalis will never find me in here! She listened for Haer'Dalis' voice, but it did not come, instead it was that of a grown man, gruff and cold. Who could that be? She woundered and creeped out from behind the book case. Suddenly, a hand snatched her by the throught and lifted her from the ground. Looking wildly around she saw her brother, struggling madly in the grasp of two.

"Nir'Amy!! Get out of..." He started but was hit hard in the back of the head and fell unconscious to the floor. The figures where warring hoods, so she could not see there identity.

"HAER'DALIS!!" she cried.

"Now now," said the first figure "Don't cry. Your gonna join your dead brother real soon" and he drew a knife from his belt...

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"I awoke and my sisters blood stained the floor...and my face. I looked at her lifeless body....Dead...Because of me" Haer'Dalis looked at the soft earth beneath them. A small tear rolled down fronton of his violet eyes, and then sunk into the ground.

"Be..Because of you?" Rade said suprised.

"They thought I was dead. I could have struck at them, cast a spell...Somthing. But I didn't. I lay there, cowering, like a hound in the dark. I still have nightmares..." His voice trailed away.

"You where just a kid... What could you have done"

"Well...I...I don't know"

"You shouldn't blame yourself. And anyway, who where those men?"

"Bounty hunters" Haer'Dalis explained "I have been hunted since a early age, My Raven" Rade looked at him, the bard, and sighed. Haer'Dalis looked at the rising sun. "And now it is time for us to rest, My Raven.... I, ah mean..." He shrugged, and walked into the early morning light.