sharanya sriram

The Dreamer's Prince

As soon as Lily closed her eyes, she found herself standing in front of an ancient castle. She recognized it as the one she had dreamt of many times before. Her heart raced as she realized she was dreaming again. But this time, she could feel the cold breeze on her skin and the rough texture of the stone walls under her fingers. It was as if she had actually traveled through time. She had always been able to time travel through her dreams, but she had never been able to control where or when she ended up. The dreams were always jumbled, random bits and pieces of the past or the future. But this time, it felt different. It felt real. Lily walked around the castle, marveling at the details she had never noticed before. She saw a knight in shining armor ride by on his horse and a group of peasants walking to the market. It was a scene straight out of a history book. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to see a young man, about her age, with curly brown hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing a royal blue tunic and leather boots. He smiled at her and said, "Greetings, fair lady. What brings you to these parts?" Lily blushed and stuttered, "I-I'm just passing through. I didn't mean to intrude." The young man chuckled and said, "No need to apologize. You are always welcome here. My name is Thomas. And yours?" "Lily," she replied, still in shock that she was having a conversation with someone from the past. Thomas took her hand and said, "Come with me. I'll show you around. You might like the gardens. They are in full bloom this time of year." As they walked, Thomas told Lily about the history of the castle and the kingdom. He spoke passionately about his people and his duty as a prince. Lily listened intently, fascinated by his stories. After a while, Thomas stopped in front of a beautiful rose garden. He turned to Lily and said, "I have a confession to make. I have never met anyone like you before. I feel like I have known you for a long time, even though we just met. I know it might sound crazy, but do you feel the same way?" . Lily's heart skipped a beat. She had never felt such a strong connection with anyone before. She nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. Thomas smiled and said, "Then I have something to show you." He led her to a small pond in the garden and pointed to the reflection on the water. Lily gasped. The reflection was not hers but of a woman with long black hair, wearing a white dress. It was as if she was looking at herself in another life. Thomas took Lily's hand and said, "I know this might be hard to believe, but I have dreamt of you too. You were the one who brought me to this garden. I believe we are meant to be together, Lily. In this life or the next." Lily was speechless. She didn't know what to say. Her heart was telling her to stay with Thomas, but her mind knew it was impossible. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She clutched it, gasping for air. Thomas tried to steady her, but it was too late. She woke up, back in her own bed, panting and sweating. It took Lily a moment to realize what had happened. She had fallen in love with someone from the past, through her dreams. But it was all a cruel illusion. She would never see Thomas again. Lily cried herself to sleep, dreaming of Thomas and the life they could have had together. But when she woke up, something was different. She felt a strange tingling sensation all over her body. As she sat up in bed, she realized that the pain in her chest had disappeared, replaced by a warm feeling in her heart. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to focus her mind on the dream world. Suddenly, she was back in the rose garden, facing Thomas once again. He looked surprised but delighted to see her. "Lily, you're back!" he exclaimed, taking her hand. Lily couldn't believe it. She had never been able to control her dreams before, but now she was back in the past, with the man she loved. Thomas smiled at her and said, "I knew you would come back. I have been waiting for you." Lily smiled back and said, "I don't know how this is happening, but I don't want it to end." Thomas took her in his arms, and they shared a passionate kiss, sealing their love across time and space. From that day on, Lily and Thomas visited each other in their dreams every night, exploring the past and the future, and falling deeper in love with each other with every passing moment. Lily knew that their love was not bound by time or reality. It was a love that transcended all barriers, a love that only existed in dreams. But for her, it was the most real and precious thing in the world. And so, Lily continued to dream of Thomas, the dreamer's prince, the love of her life. In her dreams, they lived happily ever after, and nothing could ever tear them apart.