It was one dark winter's night while I slept that I awoke in vision to a dark and dreary world. It was a sad and unhappy place void of life. Absent were the green things and animals that tend to liven the heart and lift the spirit when one is outdoors. Everywhere was stone and scorched black earth. Deep chasms and boulders dotted the shrouded view around me and I had no choice but to go forward because the way behind me was blocked. Ahead of me a mist of darkness arose and obscured all knowledge to me of what lay ahead.
I moved forward finding my way through the foreboding and barren landscape. It was a slow and treacherous journey that I made because of my inability to see more than a few feet in front of me. I soon came to realize that a small path proceeded off into the mist in front of me.
I followed the path, not knowing where I should be headed or why I could not stay where I was at. Time moved slowly for me and what was most likely hours began to seem like days. I continued on however, not knowing before hand where this path would take me.
I began to lose all hope and soon surrendered myself to the torment idea of never again seeing my loved ones. It was in this endless moment of despair I looked and beheld the mist clearing. In the distance was a large open area and in the middle of that plain, a white stag.
He was a splendid white creature, brighter than anything around him. His bluish white hue illuminated the path around him and I could clearly see the path between him and myself. He stared at me as if pondering my worthiness before turning and proceeding down the path and into the forest. I felt inclined to follow him and moved quickly so that I would not lose sight of him as he made his way through the forest.
He would meander a short distance and stop to graze upon the grass and plants along the path. He appeared to watch me, allowing me to follow him but never allowing me to close the distance to him or overtake him.
I followed him for several hours through the forest curious of his motive for not letting me approach closer than I was able. He seemed to be guiding me through this difficult part of the journey. Eager to see a resolution, I continued to follow him until we came out of the forest and on to a large plain.
As quickly as he appeared, he disappeared and before me I could see a large tree, alone in the middle of the plain.
It was large, reaching high into the sky. It's branches and the trunk were as white as newly fallen snow on a midwinter's night beneath a full moon. Above it sat a black sky full of stars and the full moon. Around the tree was a green and beautiful garden the glowed with the radiance of the tree now before me. All manner of flowers bloomed in the moonlight to reveal a hue of white never before seen by the eyes of any mortal man but myself. Beside the tree ran a river, the water of which was as pure as the night time sky on a clear night. I reached and drank from the water and was refreshed from my long journey.
I then placed my hand on the tree. The light from the tree flowed to fill my body and I at once was caught up inside of it. From my place inside the tree I could see the myriad of veins that carried the white-glowing, life-giving sap that was a bright as the noonday sun. The veins carried the sap high into the trees where the leaves captured the light of the sun and the moon and stars. It then carried it's elixir down to the roots of the tree where before me was revealed a wonderland of colors. Blues, reds, yellows and all manner of colors were present in the roots. It was if I was surrounded by jewels, all refracting the light from the sap and the tree to create a most splendid vision for my eyes.
It was within these colorful foundations before me I saw a table and a cup. The cup was of gold as the brightest gold ever seen. Upon it was engraved the very tree which I was now in. The sap flowed into the cup and I took it into my hands and drank. The eyes of my understanding were opened and before me flashed images of all manners and types. Visions of heroes and fair maidens, proud warriors and jealous gods appeared before me. Stories unnumberable were unfolded before my eyes and I knew them all as if I had lived each one in a million lifetimes. Each time I drank more was revealed to me and I knew that it was good.
Nine times did I drink before the cup was empty. I placed it again upon the table and then found myself back at the base of the tree and my eyes did wonder. For by the tree was the white stag as brilliant to behold as the tree. He then spoke to me.
"Take these things with you into the world and tell them to all who will listen. For within all are these stories found and to each who hears them is entitled to what you have seen this night. Return often, partake of the cup which you have seen and more shall be yours to see. This is the gift of the storyteller."
I then awoke from this dream and my sleep was sweet unto me...
