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“Why is this dream so c-cold?” Matthew asked, hopping from foot to foot in the snow.
“It is meant for those who live in the coldest climes,” Lord Morpheus replied, looking around.
Matthew had to admit there was a lot to look at: a soaring snow-capped mountain range in the distance, a glittering frozen waterfall, the edge of a forest of beautiful pine trees. But he was starting to shiver. “D-don’t you th-think they m-might want to d-dream of somewhere warm?”
“That is not the purpose of this dream.” Lord Morpheus looked down at him. “Are you cold, Matthew?”
“J-just a b-bit.”
Lord Morpheus reached down his hand, palm up, in the gesture that invited Matthew to perch. With one flap of his wings Matthew gratefully flew onto Lord Morpheus’s hand and out of the snow. The Dream King lifted him up and placed him on his shoulder.
“Thanks, Boss.” The guy didn’t radiate warmth or anything, but it was much better than standing in the snow.
“You are welcome, Matthew.”
“So, uh, what are we doing here?”
“Wait,” Lord Morpheus said quietly, “and watch.”
Just then a dreamer stepped out of the woods and their jaw dropped at the vista in front of them. Matthew prided himself on the fact that he could tell dreamers from dreams in an instant now. When he first started this gig and was in a dream, it wasn’t always clear to him which of the cast of characters was the one having the dream. But now he’d been at it long enough that he could immediately sense who would be returning to the waking world.
The sun began to move. The sky remained bright blue all over, but the sun began drawing closer to the dreamer, staying the same size it had been, like you could cover it up with your thumb.
“There are places on this world, and others, where the sun is not seen for months at a time. I made this dream for the people living there,” Lord Morpheus said quietly.
The dreamer frowned at the approaching ball of light.
“Is this a dream or a nightmare?” Matthew asked in an undertone.
“A dream. Watch.”
Now hovering a foot away from the dreamer’s face, the sun seemed to give a soft, reassuring tone.
The dreamer frowned more deeply. The sun made another gentle sound, this one in the intonation of a question.
“What?” the dreamer said, “No, that’s weird! Go in the sky if you want to warm me.”
Lord Morpheus sighed and his shoulders drooped a little under Matthew’s feet. He gestured with two fingers and the dreamer became insubstantial and then disappeared.
“I - uh - take it that’s n-not what’s s-supposed to happen?” Matthew asked, ruffling his feathers against the cold.
“No. The sun is meant to enter the dreamer’s heart, to warm them and brighten their spirits through the days of darkness.”
“I c-could use an int-ternal sun right ab-about now,” Matthew said, shivering again.
Lord Morpheus turned to him. “You are still cold, Matthew.”
“S-sorry, B-boss. I d-don’t think-k ravens are m-made for this weather.”
“Hm.” Lord Morpheus held up his hand for Matthew to perch on and Matthew stepped on carefully.
With his other hand, Lord Morpheus made a pulling gesture and out of thin air produced a thick, red, woolen scarf. He quickly wound it around Matthew’s body. Matthew thought about mentioning that he wouldn’t be able to fly like this, but as soon as the scarf was in place, Lord Morpheus tucked him into the crook of his arm. Oh that was good. He already felt warmer.
“Better?” Lord Morpheus asked.
“Yeah, much.” Matthew quickly rubbed his beak against Lord Morpheus’s hand. “Thanks, Boss.”
“Good. Now, this failed dream.”
“Failed?” Matthew asked, looking around from his cozy perch. “It’s beautiful, Boss.”
“Yes, but its purpose is not beauty. At least not scenic beauty.” Lord Morpheus sighed. “None of the dreamers who have come here have accepted the gift of the sun. Be honest, Matthew, as a somewhat recent human, is it an unappealing or… weird idea? Should I destroy this dream?”
“No!” Matthew squawked quickly. “Don’t destroy it! It’s a lovely idea.” He clicked his beak in thought. “I think people may be more skeptical… less trusting than they were 130 years ago.” Matthew stopped himself. Mentioning Lord Morpheus’s captivity was always touchy.
“Go on,” Lord Morpheus said quietly, “I believe you are correct.”
“Well, is there a way to show dreamers that this is really a good thing and not a trick or something that will hurt them?”
Matthew craned his neck to see Lord Morpheus’s face, and found him deep in thought. He took a deep breath and began to move the hand that was not holding Matthew.
Matthew narrowed his eyes as everything began to feel… nicer. The frozen waterfall seemed more glittery and there was a feeling pushing at his mind of safety and relaxation. Matthew frowned.
“Did you just… turn up the emotion on a landscape?”
“Dreamscape,” Lord Morpheus corrected, “and yes. You can feel it?”
“Yeah, it feels like it’s trying to invade my head.”
“That is because you are a creature of the dreaming. It should feel natural to the dreamers.”
Matthew adjusted his position, which may have taken the form of snuggling into Lord Morpheus’s side a little closer. “So how long do we have to wait for another dreamer?”
“I can draw one in now,” Lord Morpheus said, gesturing again with his free hand.
Another dreamer stepped out of the forest and looked around in wonder, grinning broadly. This time when the sun began approaching them they gave a delighted gasp and when it stopped and gave its first hum, their eyes filled with happy tears. The dreamer reached out to the ball of the sun, then nodded enthusiastically as it asked its question.
Matthew watched as the dream sun traveled up the dreamer’s arm and then into their chest. The dreamer’s face was blissfully peaceful as they faded away back to the waking world.
Matthew couldn’t help a joyful caw. “You did it!”
Lord Morpheus’s smile was miniscule but Matthew could still tell that he was very pleased.
“I thank you for your assistance, Matthew,” he said, running his finger over Matthew’s beak.
“That’s what I’m here for!” Matthew replied cheerfully.
Lord Morpheus made a sweeping gesture and the space in front of them was suddenly the throne room. He stepped from snow onto stone and Matthew felt the temperature immediately rise. He was quiet as Lord Morpheus began unwinding the scarf from around him. He wanted his wings free, of course he did, but… well it had been nice and cozy.
Matthew shook himself as the last length of scarf came away.
“Wait!” he cawed, seeing Lord Morpheus about to dismiss the dreamstuff that made up the scarf.
Lord Morpheus raised an eyebrow at him.
“Could I keep that?” Matthew pointed at the scarf with his beak.
Lord Morpheus regarded him with a curious expression and a subtle lift to one corner of his mouth. “If that is what you wish.”
“Yeah, uh, for the cave, you know. I think Eve might like it.”
Lord Morpheus smiled more broadly, then quickly schooled expression. “Certainly.” He folded the scarf over, making it much easier for Matthew to carry.
“Thanks, Boss.” Matthew took the scarf in his beak, bumped his head against Lord Morpheus’s hand, and took off.