Kithan reached a hand out, and ran it along the rough bark, as he leaned his head back and looked up into the expanse of the tree’s branches.  The soft light of the Dream filtered through the leaves, caressing Kithan’s face.

 

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a soft voice spoke up from behind him.

 

“Indeed, it is.” Kithan replied, without turning around.  “Words cannot describe the wonder I feel whenever I pass by here.  We do not have such trees on my shard, only small fruit trees.  I have never even imagined one this large.”

 

Large scarcely qualified when describing this tree.  Its trunk was wide, and it would take five dreamers of Kithan’s size to join hands around it.  The roots snaking out of the ground all around its base were twice as thick as Kithan’s arms.  All around it, small trees sprouted from the ground, but none compared to the massive giant.

 

 “It’s likely the largest one in the whole city,” the voice behind him replied, “but its beauty extends beyond its size.”

 

Kithan reluctantly pulled his hand from the tree, and turned around.  Behind him stood a mysterious woman, clad in robes of dark forest green.  Along the edges of her robe were stitched arcane runes, their deep brown color almost fading into the green of the cloth.  Atop her silvery hair was a small circlet of intertwined twigs, an acorn adoring the front.

 

“Pleasant dreams to you, sir,” the lady said, bowing low at her waist.  “I am Anneki, Priestess of the Grove.”

 

“Priestess of the Grove?” Kithan asked, a brow raising curiously.  “I must admit I am unfamiliar with the title.  Greetings to you, Lady Anneki.  I am Kithan, Dreamsmith extraordinaire.”  Kithan bowed, sweeping his hand behind him with a flourish.

 

“Greetings, and well met, Kithan.” Anneki said, with a smile.

 

“Tell me, Lady Anneki,” Kithan said, turning back toward the tree.  “What does your title mean, Priestess of the Grove?”

 

“Perhaps I should answer by asking you a question, Sir Kithan.” Anneki replied.  “Why is this grove here?”

 

Kithan turned around, and looked at Anneki curiously.  “What kind of question is that?”

 

“Please, sir.” Anneki replied, “I do not seek to insult whatever faith or belief you may hold, I simply wish to know your beliefs, so that I may better explain mine.”

 

Kithan looked on skeptically, but responded, “I am a Freesoul.  I believe that these trees are here because someone made them.  I believe they remain here because their image is imprinted in the subconscious of everyone on Cloudsbreak, and made permanent by our shared perceptions of the Dream.”

 

Anneki nodded thoughtfully.

 

“I see, that is an understandable stance.” Anneki replied, pausing before she continued, “I have spoken to those of every faith.  I have known dreamers who insist it is the spiritual representation of a great tree on Cloudsbreak.  I have known dreamers who insist that it is a gift placed here by some deity to remind us of their glory.  I’ve known dreamers who insist that this tree isn’t even here, and that we are all imagining it.  All dreamers have their own opinions and beliefs, and they are all welcome to them.

 

“My belief, however,” Anneki continued, “is that none of that matters.  Both faiths, Freesoul and Illuminate, believe that the dream is formed at least in some part by the unawakened.  The Freesouls believe this is a mental plane, and that all the chaos is made of the thoughts of the unawakened.  The Illuminates believe it’s a spiritual place, and that the souls of the unawakened are all around here."

 

“Whichever might be true,” Anneki said. She turned her gaze skyward, slowly lowering her hand onto the tree, “this is here.  And this is a thing of beauty.  The truth of its existence is that it is here, and it represents beauty, peace, and love." 

 

“This tree cares not for war.  It cares not for mudslinging.  It cares not for insults.  It cares not for hatred.  It bears not a speck of negativity.  It is a construct of everything positive."

 

“As such, it is the subject of my worship.” Anneki concluded.  She turned back toward Kithan, and arched a brow curiously.

 

Kithan had his arms held out in front of him, a small glowing globe of light pulsating between his hands.  Sparks of energy drifted around him as they were slowly drawn toward the gleaming orb.

 

Anneki squinted her eyes as the light culminated in a bright flash.  When she opened them, Kithan held in his hands a small, delicate rose.  The petals shone a gleaming red in the soft light.  He knelt, and reverently placed the rose at the foot of the tree, piling a small pile of dirt around the stem, holding it up.  He stepped back, and smiled, admiring his work.

 

Anneki smiled politely.

 

“Looks wonderful!” Kithan exclaimed happily, “Some of my best work.”  He turned, and smiled toward Anneki.  “I believe there is merit in what you say, Lady Anneki.  Truly, the creations of peace bring much more happiness than creations of war.” Kithan stated, his hand dropping to pat a decorative chakram on his belt.

 

“Though I must say,” he continued, casting a probing glance at Anneki, “Your belief holds strong Illuminate tendencies.  I’ll not hold that against you, though.”  Kithan winked.

 

“I care not for what distinctions or labels you put on my faith.” Anneki scoffed.  “I am above your petty and destructive conflicts.  All your Illuminate and Freesoul ‘faiths’ have done is cause war and strife throughout the city.  My beliefs have nothing to do with yours.  My tree stands for peace and freedom from sectarian violence.  I believe in love, not hatred.  I believe in friendship, not enemies.  I believe in love, and not war”

 

“You do have a point there.” Kithan said, rubbing his chin.  “But I must admit, war makes for wonderful business.  Does wonders for the heart to enter Threshold and hear everyone clamoring for you.” He concluded with a quiet chuckle.

 

Anneki simply nodded, and continued smiling.

 

“Well, I must be off.” Kithan said, dusting his hands.  “The leadership of House Calenture is seeking my assistance in constructing supplies for their house.  I hear a war is on the horizon for them.  I shall share your message with them, though, Lady Anneki.” Kithan paused, and continued with a wink, “For every chakram I forge, I shall craft two roses.”

 

He smiled, and walked off, whistling quietly.

 

Anneki waited until he had walked out of sight, then quickly bent down, and snapped up the rose.  With a look of disgust on her face, she flung the rose far away from the grove.

 

“Disgusting creation, crafted from hands that seek warfare and deceit for their living.” She spat, wrinkling her nose.  “Something crafted from such impure hands will fade with the passing of minutes; a passing thing, lacking in stability.  Such a construction has no place here in the sanctity of the grove.”

 

She sighed, and draped her hands around the tree lovingly.

 

“I fear for you, as well, my beauty.  The inhabitants of the city are so enthralled with war and fighting, I fear that it might disturb the very fabric of the Dream.  Every night, I come to hear of a new war erupting, new tools of warfare created, houses taken over, boundaries shifting.  How long until all this warfare destroys all that is pure in life?”

 

She relaxed her grip, and slowly slid down to sit at the root of the tree.

 

“I fear that one night I shall fall asleep to find you gone or, worse, corrupted and twisted by their vile actions.”  Anneki sighed quietly.  “On that night, I shall wake, and dream no more for all hope will be lost,” she concluded sadly.