The door opens before her and she is met with a field of glimmering white. On stone, on trees, in mounds, and coming down softer than rain. Calidis reaches out and feels snowflakes falling upon her palm, lingering before melting. When she steps forward again she feels the soft snow give way beneath her bared feet, though she does not feel the chill so keenly nor does the ice cut into her skin. Even as she goes she walks atop it, practically gliding.
And then she hears it -- ethereal harp strings.
She follows the sound, which seems to wipe away all anxiety and fear and replaces them with warmth and tranquility. She meanders down stone steps, taking them almost two at a time, and then pauses in the snowy courtyard. Calidis glances to the right and sees a pair of elves sitting upon another flight of stone steps; one umber-haired with silver eyes and the other ruddy cheeked with hair and eyes like night.
The latter has one arm about the former, looking at her with an expression of tenderness as her fingers gracefully pluck at shimmering strings upon an ornately carved harp balanced in her lap. Calidis stands still and quiet as she watches the pair. The snow continues to fall silently and the flakes stick to her long, dark tresses.
Eventually, the song is brought to an end, the last notes lingering in the air. The pair of figures share a longing look with each other before turning their gaze upon Calidis. Time seems to stand still and she forgets to breathe. The male figure stands, keeping one hand resting leisurely upon the lady's shoulder and both of them smile at her with no small amount of fondness in their eyes.
And then, they fade away. She notices, how it doesn't bother her. The feeling in her chest isn't like a caged bird for once. Rather, she feels content and at peace.
She returns the way she came, up the stone steps and back through the door...
...
When Calidis blinks and comes back to the present, she is lying under the covers of her bedroll, looking up at the stone ceiling of their haven in Hrimbarg above her. Calidis props herself up on her elbows and forearms and glances about the room. Then, she feels it, the bareness of her feet underneath the blanket. She reaches up with one hand and feels dampness upon her hair and even some yet-unmelted snowflakes...
