The Holy Isle
Holy Isle, Blessed Isle

The twilight of the air filmed faintly in silver glints as Dori walked through a forest mist, her long dark curls occasionally catching on the leaves and branches. Somewhat tall, her slender form moved like a shimmering shadow upon the forest floor towards a clearing on a western hill. Finally parting the leaves on the moonlit patch of grasses, a peculiar sight met her that took her a space to even grasp. What appeared to be women in curious outfits within the clearing seemed to Dori to be playing some kind of elaborate game. They carried colored ribbons in their hands that they trailed behind them as they strolled from place to place, a voice from the background giving instructions to their movements, “Unicorn to thirty-three red... Elven Princess to thirteen blue opposing Griffin fourteen yellow.” For a while Dori watched in complete fascination concerned that she might disrupt this intricate weave, for as she watched, she comprehended that this was a weave of great power and significance. Counting the women involved, Dori found their number to be twenty-four in all. Still, as she pondered that number, she was ambivalent just what that ought mean. And though she had kept as quiet as possible, trying her utmost not to move, at last she was noticed and for a moment the movement in the clearing stopped as all the women turned to look directly at Dori. A bit frightened, for the eyes that looked upon her did not look exactly human, Dori began to turn to run.

Before she could do so, however, a gentle hand upon her arm stayed her and she looked back into the face of what was obviously an Elven woman, strange and beautiful, with red hair and bright green eyes. The woman smiled, “Welcome, Healer.” As the rest of the women resumed their strange and magickal game.

“Where am I?” Asked Dori, a little concerned that for some reason she might be caught in the Eldritch.

“Do not worry, Bright Star... We only wished to speak with you... or at least, I did...”

With that, Dori looked back at the weavers in blatant curiosity, “What are they doing?”

The woman beamed with a knowing twinkle in her eyes, “It is the Great Gameboard... We are playing 'Chess'...”

After a short span when Dori realized no other answer would be forthcoming, she looked back at the woman, her hazel/green eyes large and intent. “What... did you wish to speak to me of?”

"I am Gwyniffar... I have lost my special love to you, my Lady... And I ask that you treat him well... He was with us long and long... And would have been for even longer... But a shadow fell and he had to leave... I am sorry of it, yet, how can I regret? He has your love, now..."

“Tamlynn...” Dori said timidly, “You speak of Tamlynn.”

A nudge at the Elven woman's shoulder made her turn to regard a Unicorn that sparkled of silver and gold and the woman laughed a little, “You have a visitor... He comes speedily now. A boat at your shores in the dawning light.” The Unicorn reared and pranced as if in a delighted dance and the Elven woman laughed merrily at its joyful romping. However, when she looked back at Dori, there was an air of sadness in her eyes, “Your visitor comes for healing, dear Lady... but I suspect, healing brings healing in return. And, I suspect, you shall be most pleased to greet him.”

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