Vivainne Desegur the Knight Exemplar travelled through a forest in search of adventures, and there she was ware off a well in a clearing. It being coming darkness, she drew her horse near a tree and tied it there and then she did unarm herself and settled to sleep by the well, there being no welcome castle for her to come into that night. As she slept, she had a dream nigh unto a vision that was clear to her.
In her dream, a tree stood alone, high on a hill that was covered in grasses, and then a great wind came in the form of a questing beast and crushed the tree so that is was riven to the ground. Then stood there two trees together and when the wind in the form of a questing beast came fast to them, they did first bend and then break and splinter under the attack. Then there were three trees together that stood against the ravaging wind beast, the trees did bend and for some moments they stood against the onslaught that was the raging wind beast that was set to destroy them, before bend and breaking after a sore struggle. Then there were four trees that stood together on the hill so that when the beast came, they stood against it for some time making a strong stand against the attack of the beast before succumbing to the terrible force of the wind. Then there came five trees which stood proud by their neighbours in common strength, when the wind came, they did brace together and bend against the mighty attack and then they did force back the beast until its strength was spent against them. When the beast retired to regain its strength and wind, the trees grew strong and an new tree did grow with them to bring their number to six trees. When next the beast came to their destruction, the trees stood full proud in their strength and could not be bent or broken and so the beast was sent away bowed and vanquished.
When Vivainne awoke she did marvel at this dream and knew to understand its wisdom surely. She then did arm herself and take up her shield and a great spear, ready to confront any knight who would come against her. She travelled far that day without food for she was in a great wooded place until she came to a recluse’s cottage which was found in a clearing by a stream. When she did inquire at the window of the place and ask for some welfare and hospitality it came that a woman was there who lived in the forest.
She did say unto Vivainne, ‘I will make you good welcome for this night, so that you may eat and sleep, but that as I am a recluse, I must be alone the next night to do good duty to myself’.
Vivainne said unto the woman, ‘ Thank you woman, and I shall respect all that you are so that if ever I can be of service to you then, by my oath , I shall deserve you.’
That night did the Woman sit with Vivainne whilst they were eating and Vivainne did relate her dream that had her amazed. Vivainne offered the woman the understanding that all good people should stand together when in peril for to break any attacks asunder. But the woman could not be convinced as she knew the world only from her seclusion, which brought her solace and the purity of her life that she searched so hard to discover.
That night Vivainne again had a dream or vision which was clear to her as she slept.
In her dream a tree stood alone on a hill which was all covered in grasses. There came a great storm which swirled around the tree and made the branches to thrash about and lose their leaves, which were some taken by the wind. When the windstorm had gone, and the tree was then left still and solitary in its place. Now the tree did be aware of its worries and storms that came to trouble it and so the tree grew fast and strong. It drew strength in the ground that was not claimed by any other tree and it took strength from the air which came to it pure and clean, unclaimed by any other tree. Now came another storm that was even stronger in attacking the tree which made a storm round and round the tree, but the tree had grown strong by its isolation and could stand strong against the battering of the wind and when the storm did take some leaves it was not worried sore but knew that it could renew itself because of the strength that was given by its isolation.
Now when Vivainne awoke she spoke this dream to the woman and the recluse gave her the understanding that some people were made stronger by the simple seclusion in which they could grow in their strength of mind.
When Vivainne then came to leave the recluse and thank her for her hospitality she was troubled by her two dreams which were in opposition to each other and provided opposition to Vivainne’s mind. Should people stand together for strength or should they stand alone to gain strength through understanding?
Then Vivainne travelled on towards a castle which was broken. The people from the castle stood outside the castle where the stones were falling and were attacked there by some wolves which had come to steal their meats. Vivainne came to stand with the people against the wolves and gave great blows to the wolves which were sore wounded and retreated in the forest. The people were troubled and ran around doing they knew not what. They told Vivainne that their King had been away at the wars so they had no one to lead and guide them now that the castle was broken, and they were thrown out to where the wolves could attack them. Vivainne told them that they must stand together and not run to this place and that in confusion. So, the people drew all their goods together and Vivainne shewed them to build a thorn fence that was soon around them. When the wolves came again, they built a great fire and stood shoulder to shoulder together with their spears and sticks to worry the wolves. The wolves were come away as there was no reward and were not seen there more.
Then Vivainne came to understand her dreams such that many strengths could there be that men and women could achieve. There was the strength that came by standing together in times that were troubled and dangerous and there was strength to be gained by each one in solace and understanding of themselves which could, in times of strife hold the mind clear and organised beyond the fear of the hour.
The Guardians of the Cave 