Chapter 3

He awoke to the dream with a start. He was standing among the stars in the night sky with only a woman to look at, only she was no ordinary woman. She wore an air of gentle authority almost as plainly as she wore her gown of dripping moonlight. Her raven hair seemed to undulate and flow with silver streams and he could swear her eyes held their own galaxies. Something in him recognized her for what she was almost immediately.

Niall dropped to his knees and bowed his head. His thoughts swimming with the possible reasons for such a visit. Was he to be punished for hiding his magic instead of accepting his death? Would she execute him in his sleep like a coward? The gods didn't visit just anybody and it was never a social call. The goddess stepped to him and rested a cool, gentle hand on his head. "My son, there is no need for supplication. I have come to you with a gift." He slowly raised his gaze to meet hers and the motherly love shining there put him at ease. He rose to his full height, at least a foot above hers, and awaited her mysterious gift.

A wall of dense, sparkling fog rolled around their feet and rose up until it formed an arched doorway through which little but shadowy shapes and more fog could be seen. Ilunara smiled up at him and gestured regally toward the door her will had created. "Through that doorway lies a glimpse of your future. A future filled with more pain, death and trials than you could ever imagine, however it is a future that also holds more good than you have been allowed to dream."

For Niall there wasn't even a moment spent questioning her implied question. If his goddess wanted him to step through the door and accept the promised future, it would be done.  With a steeling breath he set his shoulders and strode through the portal to glimpse his future.

Although the goddess didn't follow him he could feel her pulling and pushing him forward. One shape began to stand out among the others. It became clearer as he moved forward and soon became distinguishable as a girl standing tall and proud in a clearing, the goddess beside her. Her auburn hair cascaded in curls around her face and shoulders and her pale skin nearly glowed in the soft light of the moon. Niall came to a stop in front of her and looking in to her amethyst eyes he lost his grip on his ability to think.

He woke with the dawn as usual with a vivid memory of the most beautiful creature he had ever seen and a visit from the goddess. There were also vague memories of gifts, dire warnings and promised hope.