Isabelle woke screaming, drenched in a cold sweat. Her green eyes searched the dark room frantically, peering into the shadows. Her breath came in harsh bursts, shattering the silence of the room. She shivered, wrapping the blanket around herself as she waited for her parents to come check on her. But they didn't. Sighing, remembering as the terror of the dream faded, she stood. Putting her feet into soft slippers, she padded noiselessly into the kitchen.

Isabelle - or Isa, as she was called - poured herself a glass of milk and peered out the window that overlooked the plains. Since her parents had both died of the fever, the house had been unusually quiet. In the past few months, she had grown to miss the family dinners, evenings spent singing...As she had so many times before, she found her hand resting on her guitar. Resigned, smiling faintly, she pulled it into her lap and began to sing.

Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine...

Her training as a bard brought her the closest she would ever be to her family again. As she sang the words, silent images of her parents shimmered into being. Her father grabbed her mother and twirled her around in a dance. Isa could see their laughter, but not hear it. As her eyes brimmed with tears, her voice faltered and the illusion failed. Taking a moment to cry, she laid her head on a pillow, arm slung over the guitar. Before she realized she was tired, she was asleep...

...having quite forgotten about the dream that had so frightened her.