I lay down for the night, lean back and sink down into the pillow. I close my eyes, and slowly drift off to sleep, all the while wondering where my dreams will take me.
*****
In my mind, I open my eyes. I am standing on a road in a field overlooking a town I have never seen before. I look around, and the entire land is strange, yet familiar somehow. I glance down, and I see myself dressed in strange clothes that seem to have stepped out of a story book. I am dressed in green and brown, as if I spent a lot of time in the woods. My feet are shod in brown leather boots. At my side is a sword and a dagger. Both seem to be weighed and balanced just for me. On the ground near my feet is a pack of somesort. I seem to recognize it as mine, even though I have never seen it before.
Deciding to let this play out, I shoulder the pack, and head down the road towards the town. Though it is unfamiliar to me, I have a strange sense of longing as I approach, as if I were coming home after a long time away. As I get closer, I notice a few farmsteads here and there, and people working in the fields. Occasionally, someone would see me and pause from their work to greet me. What seemed to puzzle me was that whoever the greeter was, would almost always address me as "Milady", yet at the same time, I seemed to expect this. I make a note of this to myself and continue on my way.
When I arrive at the town gate, the guards quickly snap to attention. One of them offers me a smile and a "Welcome home, Milady". I know him some how. His name is Marcus. He takes my pack, and guides me through the streets to the large keep situated at the center of the town. In the back of my mind, I know that it is home. Marcus leads me through the portcullis, and into the keep. He hands my pack of to a serving girl, and we continue on.
I am lead to a chamber that appears to be a library. The room is vaguely familiar. As is the man who is standing next to the fireplace with his back to me. I instantly know that this man is my father. Marcus smiles at me again, then leaves without a word, leaving the two of us alone. My father turns away from the fire, and embraces me in a huge bear hug, all the while saying how good it was that I was home at last.
He takes me aroud the grounds of the keep, showing me what changes have been made, and telling me about all that has gone on while I was away. I tell him about my adventure in the wild, and how I missed everyone and that I was glad to be home. He finally shows me to my chambers, and informs me that there is to be a special feast in my honor this evening. He tells me to rest, and that he will send one of the servant girls to help me get ready.
Once ensconced safely in my rooms, I am too keyed up to sleep. I want to see what will happen next. I find a book in the sitting room, and settle in to read, but I can not concentrate on the words on the page. I finally give up when there is knock on the door. I tell whomever it is to enter, and a young girl comes in. She quickly sets out a change of clothes, a lovely sea green gown, and draws a hot bath.
It is not long before I am ready to head downstairs for dinner. I hear another knock, and it is Marcus, here to escort me to the dining room. I am given the impression that there is something more between us, but I can't quite put my finger on it yet.
The feast was quite eventful. My father made a lovely speech about how happy he was that I was home once more. Several others around the room made similar statements, but I could tell that most of them were insincere at best. The meal was delicious, the cooks having prepared all of my favorite meals. The bards and jesters were in their top form, and all had a wonderful time.
While desert was being served, my father rose once more and called for attention. He announced that Marcus had requested my hand in marriage, and that he had agreed. I turn towards Marcus, and he smiles happily and proudly, and I can't help but smile back, my heart swelling with emotion.
After the feast, Marcus walks me back to my chamber. He gives me a chaste kiss on the cheek, and bids me good night. I close the door behind me and lean against it for a moment.
Suddenly very tired from all of the good food and good drink, I quickly change into my sleep clothes, and retire to bed. It is not long before I am fast asleep.
*****
The buzzing of the alarm next to my bed awakens me. I rub my eyes, the dream world gone, only to be replaced with the hectic pace of mundane life.