It was one dark winter's night while I slept, that I awoke in vision to a dark and dreary world. It was a sad and unhappy place void of green growing things that tend to liven the heart and lift the spirit. Everywhere stone and scorched black earth was to be seen. Deep cracks and chasms dotted the scant view around me and I had no choice but to go forward, for the way behind me was blocked. A mist of darkness arose a short distance beyond my sight and obscured all knowledge to me of what was beyond in the night, making my journey treacherous and slow.

As I moved forward, I came to see at my feet a small path that proceeded off into the mist. I followed the path, not knowing why or where I should be headed. Time moved slowly and what was really hours seemed like days. I continued on however, not knowing aforehand where this path should take me.

When all my hope began to be lost and I surrendered myself to the torment of never again seeing those that I loved, I looked and beheld in the distance that the mist was clearing and before me stood a large tree, unlike any tree I have seen before.

The tree was large, reaching high into the sky beyond the reach of my vision. The trunk was as white as newly fallen snow during midwinter night. Above it sat the stars of the world and the full moon. Around the tree was a green and beautiful garden the glowed with the radiance of the tree now before me. All manner of Flowers bloomed in the moonlight to reveal a hue of white never before seen by the eyes of any mortal man but myself. Beside the tree ran a river, the water of which was as pure as the nightime sky on a clear night. I reached and drank from the water and was refreshed from my long journey.

I then placed my hand on the tree. The light from the tree flowed to fill my body and I at once was caught up inside of it. From my place inside the tree I could see the myriad of veins that carried the white-glowing, life-giving sap that was a bright as the noonday sun. The veins carried the sap high into the trees where the leaves captured the light of the sun and the moon and stars. It then carried it's elixir down to the roots of the tree where before me was revealed a wonderland of colors. Blues, reds, yellows and all manner of colors were present in the roots. It was if I was surrounded by jewels, all refracting the light from the sap and the tree to create a most spledid vision for my eyes.

It was within these colorful foundations before me I saw a table and a cup. The cup was of gold as the brightest gold ever seen. Upon it was engraved the very tree which I was now in. The sap flowed into the cup and I took it into my hands and drank. The eyes of my understanding were opened and before me flashed images of all manners and types. Visions of heroes and fair maidens, proud warriors and jealous gods appeared before me. Stories unnumberable were unfolded before my eyes and I knew them all as if I had lived each one in a million lifetimes. Each time I drank more was revealed to me and I knew that it was good.

Nine times did I drink before the cup was empty. I placed it again upon the table and then found myself back at the base of the tree and my eyes did wonder. For by the tree was the white stag as brilliant to behold as the tree. He then spoke to me.

"Take these things with you into the world and tell them to all who will listen. For within all are these stories found and to each who hears them is entitled to what you have seen this night. Return often Eoghain, partake of the cup which you have seen and more shall be yours to see. Such is the gift of the storyteller to you."

I then awoke from this dream and my sleep was sweet unto me......