Lady of the Winter Sea - Part 02

Ursa Blacksong - Mid-Autumn of 113 YSTR

The Northern Sea

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No sooner had she laid her head on the pillows of her bunk did she find herself once more drawn in the Dreaming realm seated once more on the broken throne in the fortress's main hall looking out over the scores of spectral courtiers and ghostlike retainers that had gathered there to once more await her coming.

As was the common practice the collective audience bowed politely to her and then after a moment's pause they began to disperse to attend to whatever tasks the dreaming demanded of them.

Ursa sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing the mind-numbing pain away with her thumb and forefinger.

In truth, she hated these ghosts far more than she had ever feared the undead hordes that had once populated the Dreaming. There was nothing about them or their appearance that struck her as remarkable or distinct. Rather they seemed to her to just be ghostly players fulfilling the same pointless roles that others might have filled in the waking world. Mundane beings without substance who were as mundane and wholly unremarkable as their earthly counterparts would be in the waking world.

A bell sounded and like clockwork, a trio of spectral maids appeared. The first quickly placed the setting on the table before Ursa consisting of several fine dishes and utensils. This was followed soon after by the second maid who carefully fill her glass with wine that Ursa could never drink and then by the third maid arrived to present a lavish dish that Ursa could never eat.

Ursa could only look on in annoyance for several moments until the ghostly maids returned in short order to collect everything and depart again the trio whispering amongst themselves in silent soundless voices and offering Ursa what she could only assume were looks of pity and disappointment.

It was those whispering voices that Ursa hated the most.

They came in waves, countless whispering voices always seemingly just within earshot, sometimes just Individual spirits seemingly to offer some sly remark or veiled insult of threat behind her back and yet immune to any retaliation on her part given that they all lacked any real substance to them. Physical displays of anger or rage were simply wasted given the victim of her wrath would disappear for the day or a week and then simply reappear again to start the cycle all over again.

Ursa could only offer a soft sigh as she stared at the now-empty hall preparing herself to wait out another night alone hopefully in blessed silence. That was until movement on the balcony above drew her attention and an all too familiar face appeared at the top of the balcony stairway.

“Ah my love you have returned to haunt my dreams again.” Ursa mused aloud with a sad smile as she laughed softly to herself. “ It has been a while hasn’t it, I was afraid that after last time that you had left me for good”

Ursa rose from the throne and walked to the bottom of the stairs not daring to move closer as her gaze fixed on the balcony above.” Please forgive me, I know I failed you again but I promise though I will keep looking and one day .. one day I will find you and we can be together again.”

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