I stood on my cliff staring down at Hell! What else could describe the horrible scene below. The place I had come to love, my sanctuary, destroyed. Gone were the meadows, the forest, the buildings burned. Those that were not completely destroyed stood like hateful reminders of the beauty that once surrounded them.

Tear spilled from my eyes, partly from the smoke that was so thick, mostly from the loss I was seeing. Again the heartbreaking growl from above. Had it done this, but if so why did it cry? I felt it swoop low, I fell to my knees and then I could not believe it. Walking down the hill towards the devastation. A MAN!

I wanted to run to him, scream for him to tell me what happened, but he was so far away. I watched him walk to where the castle stood, proud and uninjured. And then he fell to his knees and screamed. He screamed and screamed for what seemed like years. He rocked back and forth on his knees, crying and screaming. I wanted to go to him, hold him, help him. But what could I do, and this is only a nightmare. I had to go to him, my cheast was hurting from trying to breathe the smoke filled air surely I had to rescue him.

I took a step forward and then a whisper on the wind “Not yet”. I glanced around, nothing. I must have imagined it. My mind was trying to give me a way out. It made sense, I was so terrified of going down. Nonsense I thought, It is only a dream, so I took another step. “Not yet”. I kept going. “NO” louder this time. Now this was starting to aggravate me!

“I must, I’m not a coward, so shut up” I yelled at nothing, at myself.

Then I jumped back, for out of nowhere a giant stood in my path, blocking me. I stood there gaping at this giant of a man. Who in turn stood in my path, legs apart braced to block me by force if need. His thick mighty arms crossed in front of him. He made not a move or sound, just stood looking down at me. I was frozen with shock. I stood and took him in.

Long golden hair in a braid down his back, just how long I couldn’t see. He was dressed very odd unless it is halloween. He wore no shirt, his chest was bare and slightly tan. An odd tattoo ran down one side of his neck, splayed over one side of his torso and down to his pants. His pants were extremely tight fitting on heavily muscular legs, made of some type of shaggy brown material. He wore boots covered in black fur with the same brown material wrapped around them. I let my eyes travel up to his arms, bare all but for the fur bracers around his forearms.

I took a few steps back so I could see his face. And a hard face it was! Older than I first thought, perhaps in his mid fifties. He had a strong square jaw. His lips were at this moment drawn into a thin line but you could tell that they were nice and full. He had crows feet at his eyes and slight wrinkles around his mouth like someone who smiled a lot. His eyes were a deep blue and he was squinting a bit like he was angry. He had a strong nose very well proportioned to his face, it was a little wide but I think it went with the mouth. A well trimmed close beard covered the lower half of his face with a mustache to match all in a deep blonde color. The most alarming thing was a scar that ran from his left temple to where his beard started. As I took this all in one word came to mind- Viking!

Well I figured, it is my dream, and I do so love a good viking adventure. I took a step closer. No, not a giant. My guess would be slightly over six foot  but compared to my  five foot he was huge! And it seemed me and this giant were at an impass. Neither of is spoke and neither of us would budge.

“So it’s always been with us, I guess time can not change everything” He mumbled. Oh, I was startled. He could talk, and his voice matched him perfectly, deep and booming with authority, I however had a feeling that I could challenge him and win. I decided not too,because as always I was more curious about him at the moment to bother.

“Are you Balzar” I finally asked. All he did was make a huffing sound. Ok I thought, so who are you and why are you in my dream. “You are not dreaming and shame on you for not knowing me”. Holy crap, “Did you hear me thinking”. His voice traveled through my mind this time, his lips still. “Stupid girl, You can not go to him. You have seen enough”

With that I awoke.