The story of Elvina

                                The Human world Every time I come here, I can never stop myself from gasping. The trees on either side bowing down making an archway, rays of sunlight skittering from the canopy lighting my path. I walked towards the bright light at the end of it and caught my breath. The soft moss covering the ground tickled my feet. The air was pure, It was as if a curtain was raised from my eyes, everything here looked more defined, the colours were bright, the water was pure. Even the leaves were shining here. There are no words to describe the beauty. ASGARD The name resonated in my mind. It felt like home. I looked around, the beautiful scenery, not believing my eyes. My heart ached for me to go there, stay there. Each breath felt purified. My skin tingled. It was a sort of feeling as if your whole body tingled.  Trees were so tall reaching the sky, there were so many birds and animals down there. They all look up at me and then ignore me and continue what they were doing. As I walked I could not stop myself from petting the soft skin of a deer, which leaned into my caress. I smiled. Looking up, I saw 2 bright big moons in the sky, washing the whole scene in soft moonlight. The leaves and flowers were shimmering in the moonlight. I walked towards the lake at the corner. The swans here are so majestic they look at me and bow their heads and swim away. I smile and wave at them. And then look down at the water and gasp.  I peer closer. Is that me? My long reddish brown hair was loose floating around me reaching to my thighs and there were beautiful flowers woven in them. My skin looked so pale and bright shimmering in the moonlight, my ordinary brown eyes now looked big brown, shining. My skin was glowing, it was beautiful pure white. There was a ring of daisy flowers on my head. The dress I wore was a simple white gown, but so soft and silky, covering me from top to bottom in a single flow. It flowed around my body like a waterfall caressing every single curve. I was in love with myself, I was so beautiful. I cannot be this tall. There was a splash disturbing the image. A swan swaddled near me and bowed his head majestically and directed me with one wing towards the side as if telling me to look up. I looked up and up at the beautiful waterfall. The moonlight was glinting on it. Above the waterfall was a castle. And I looked around, this whole place was a castle. With so many waterfalls and wonderful trees. I felt elated. I belong here. My heart felt the joy of being here. I laughed out loud at the sheer pleasure of it. I knew this place. It is in the Elvian palace grounds. I have been once. I looked at one of the little places where the king usually liked to come to watch. It was empty, so he was not there today.  I heard someone calling me in a weird language. I turned around. There was a flock of butterflies swarming me and they covered me from head to toe, their soft wings tinkled me. I giggled. One landed softly on my hand, I took one closer to my eyes, but they were fairies, no not fairy a pixie. I see a tiny body. She was shouting indicating something on one side. I looked up where she was pointing. I heard another cry. This time I saw small dragons flying towards me. They were calling my name. Oh, my heart was soaring. They belong to me. I leave the fairies behind and I move towards the dragon. They surround me. I hold a green dragon up to my eye level. And I smile. It is one of my favourite dragons. Suddenly there was a piercing sound of horns blowing, startling everyone, the birds flew away, the animals skittered crying and before I blinked, the dragon rushed towards the fairies and both started fighting. “No please don’t” I screamed and started running. Something was happening to me. I start to shrink in size while dragons and fairies get bigger and bigger. They are now the same size as me. Everyone was taken into the air. They were fighting. I look up to see a number of wings fluttering to the ground, some butterfly wings, some dragon wings and bodies falling to the ground all around thudding as they hit the ground. NO, this is wrong. “Please stop.” I cried, but no one heard me.  Suddenly, everything was looking red, the river was red, the moon had now turned red and the whole place was bathed in red. I screamed again when the green dragon, my green dragon, fell, I ran towards him. He was wounded very badly. I pick him up, I held his head on my lap. “No, No please stop” as I saw more and more of the fairies and dragons fall on the ground. Their wings, the leathery ones and the transparent ones, falling like snow all around us. I screamed and screamed, someone was shaking me hard. “Kate, are you alright” asked a voice. I was disoriented. Nothing looked familiar. I was not at home. Oh no, my heart was still pounding and then slowly it started coming back. It was a dream. I was in a hotel room in America here for a conference. “Kate, you okay buddy, did you have a nightmare? Now I recognised Anitha’s voice. I could not answer at first, it was as if my mind was still screaming, caught in the nightmare. “Kate” she shouted again. Slowly, I focussed on her. I swallowed. “Yeah, just a bad dream, I am fine now” my voice was husky. “Okay, go to sleep. We need to wakeup early tomorrow”. She then went to her bed and turned around. Thankfully, she went back to sleep and did not ask anymore questions. Oh my god, what will she think? That's why I hardly left home. My heart was still going at a hundred miles per hour. I always had these dreams. It was always pleasant. I enjoyed it. But it had changed. Why the dragon now? I have not seen him for several years.  I just lay there thinking about the dream and what happened. I twisted and turned. My sleep was completely gone. I turned and looked at the other end of the room. Anitha was fast asleep. I woke up slowly without making any noise, went to the bathroom, I opened my emergency kit, shook out the portion I made for the nightmares and swallowed it with water. I then looked at myself in the mirror. I just looked ordinary. Nothing like the girl in the dream. My hair was long now in a plait, my skin was pale, making my light brown eyes stand up. I turned back and went to bed. Fortunately, the portion helped me to forget about the dream which was good, or else I would go mad. It only felt like seconds before I was shaken awake. “Kate, wakeup, we will be late, I am ready, it is half past and you have only 15 minutes”. She was shouting at the top of her voice. Stamping around. I finally opened my eyes and wanted to stick back and go to sleep. “Come on, come on, there is no time.” She kept yelping. Somehow, I dragged myself out and got ready. We stood waiting for the Cabbie. Humans are funny , they are always running around, as if there his not enough time in the world to do things. Finally, we hailed a cab. “I cannot wait to meet Mr Dewart. Imagine if he falls in love with me”, Anitha said. I shook my head. I rolled my eyes, too many romantic novels have spoilt her.