Galena looked around herself, and saw nothing but blinding, white light. It surrounded her, enveloped her, and seemed to radiate within her. The warmth of it spread through her until a peace like she had only experienced once before, filled her. Returning her attention to directly in front, she found Mira watching her with a gentle mother like smile on her face.
“Welcome back, my child,” she said, reminding Galena once again of the woods that surrounded her, the springtime creeks, and the sound of falling leaves.
She sighed as she heard her speak, content to just listen to her the rest of her life. “Where have Rau and his creatures gone?” Really, listening isn’t my strong point, she thought.
“He has begun to gather his forces for the coming war. He is temporarily preoccupied with this task, but do not take comfort in this, for soon he will come after you once more. You are the main focus of his hunt. You must never forget that.” Mira’s smile faded as she regarded Galena sadly. “Haulua is extremely angry for we have bound him.”
“Who is ‘we’ and why did you imprison your own brother?” Galena asked, not sure what was going on.
“My brothers, Kya, Luma, and I did. Haulua is Rau’s creator as you should know.”
Galena nodded as Mira continued.
“He was helping Rau in his plotting and planning for we have tied Haulua’s life with his creation. Anyone who creates something as evil as Rau, deserves to be punished.” At this, Mira looked extremely angry and Galena found herself cowering in spite of herself. “We cannot keep him bound forever my child, and when he does get free, his wrath will be great.”
“What can I do?” Galena almost wailed.
“Hurry, my child.” Mira smiled once more at Galena, calming her mind and easing the panic that had blossomed in her chest.
“Will I make it past the cave?” Galena couldn’t help asking.
“I do not know the future, but I can give you some advice. No matter how real it seems, it is only real within the walls of the cave that you’re in.”
“What does that mean?” Galena asked, feeling extremely stupid.
“The cave is designed to take your worst fears and make them real, but only in the cave.”
“But they’re just figments of my imagination right?” Galena asked as she struggled to put the pieces together.
“No, in that cave, it becomes real. Once outside those walls, reality becomes uncontrolled by you once more. Fate takes over again.”
“I might die from the creations of my own mind?”
Mira nodded, her eyes steady upon Galena’s face. Sadness filled Mira’s expression as she reached out and caressed Galena’s cheek as a mother would a child. “You have to face your own fears before you can face the fears of the all the elves. I’m sorry, but there is no other way. Now hurry. Do not stay where you are for longer than you must, for even now, Haulua fights us.”
Galena watched her fade from view, the blinding light surrounding her faded as well until darkness consumed Galena and she slept the rest of the night through.