Ch. 1 The Beginning

A star-filled sky really is a magnificent sight. I've always enjoyed stargazing. The sparkle of countless stars and the pale swirling glow of the Milky Way always put me at ease. As if it drains the stress from my body and mind.

Unfortunately, there's not a star in sight. In fact, there's absolutely nothing insight, in any direction. Every direction I look, I'm met with the chill-giving view of an endless void. As if I'm floating in the deepest reaches of an abyss.

This has to be a dream. That's the only thing that makes any sense.

I just don't remember going to sleep. Or even being awake. To make matters worse, I'm not really sure how I know I enjoy stargazing.

Wrecking my brain for any memory at all is turning up fruitless. No matter what I try, I can't remember anything. Not going to sleep, not what I do for a living... I can't even remember my own name!

My anger is quickly building. As well as my panic and desperation.

It feels like there's a wall in my mind, that's keeping me from getting to my memories. As if it's acting as some sort of barrier.

But if it's a wall, then this is just temporary. You can go over a wall or under it. Hell, with enough power, you can go through a wall!

I put aside my attempts to find a memory, and focus all my attention on getting passed this wall. After a thorough search of my mind, I can envision a dome-like structure surrounding my memories.

Using my imagination, I conjure a multitude of weapons to use against the dome. I relentless probe and pick at the dome, and alternate between piercing and blunt force attacks.

I have no idea how much time has passed, but I'm near exhaustion by this point.

Deciding to take a break soon, I hit the dome with one final and vicious bombardment. To my surprise, a long crack spiderwebs across the surface of the dome. My celebration is short-lived as I can sense the crack beginning to repair itself.

In a desperate bid to break through to my memories, I throw everything I have at the small fracture. My panic is swiftly rising as my exhaustion quickly builds.

With the last of my strength, I shove everything I have into the widening fracture. A thunderous explosion echos through my mind as the dome shatters.

I can only think of collapsing at this moment when a surge of images begins streaming through my eyes. The flashes don't seem to make any sense. I think I'm seeing my life flash before my eyes, but there's no order to it.

An image of me at my high school prom with Janice Auberry is followed by an image of me being given a bath when I was a toddler! That's followed by a memory of me doing push-ups during some sort of military training!

My head begins to ache, trying to make sense of the flashes. Wrapping my hands around my head, I squeeze my eyes shut and try my best to ignore everything.

I can sort out my mind once everything calms down. I just need to focus on easing the pain.

After what felt like hours, the wicked little slide-show comes to an abrupt end. My head is still ringing, but I push through the pain and start to sort my memories.

Not wanting to see my self as a toothless, diaper-shitting, titty-sucker, I start searching for the most recent memories.

I had to make a conscious effort to organize my memories chronologically. It's odd and frustrating, but I slowly start to piece things together.

There are images of me reading books, watching television, and even having sex.

One memory catches my attention! It's an image of me in my early twenties. I can see myself loading up an old pick-up truck, with my few belongings... I was about to start a cross-country drive... Because...

Because I was going home! Or, more specifically, I was heading to my mom's house. I was heading there... Cause I just finished serving four years in the United States Marine Corps.

Wrecking my brain, I sort through hundreds of memories of my time in The Corps, before I find another image of me driving.

The latest memory I can find is of me driving late at night. I was speeding, driving way over the speed limit. I was only a few miles away from my exit. My mom lives another ten minutes from here.

I was so tired, but being so close to home, I didn't want to stop. I was so close.

I fell asleep.

Try as I might, I couldn't find a memory of me pulling into my mom's driveway. Or me taking that exit ramp off the highway...

This is all just a dream. It has to be a dream.

I keep telling myself that, over and over. I'm not sure if I believe it...

No! I am dreaming. And I have to wake up right now! I'm driving, damnit!

Once I open my eyes, I'll make sure I'm not in a ditch... And then, I'll finish the drive to my mom's place. Man, she's going to so excited to see me...

My breathing is getting quicker the longer I'm in this place. I don't know how many times I've pinched myself, but I'm not waking up.

Unable to hold it back any longer, I shout out in frustration!

With the release of my remaining energy, my shoulders sag, and my eyes become heavy. Sleep is hitting me hard. There's no point in fighting it.

I'm about to let my eyes close when a chime echos through the darkness. I force my eyes open with a flutter and stare in shock.

I'm completely surrounded by an uncountable number of small bubbles. Each of the crystal looking orbs have a swirl of color running through them.

Looking around at the colorful balls slowly rotating around me, my eyes lock on one in particular. Inside the tiny orb is a beautiful swirl of red and gold.

As if possessed, I reach out and gently grab the ball as it's floating past my eyes. With it held between my thumb and finger, it suddenly disappears. I'm not sure why, but before it vanished, I thought I saw the image of a tiny baby.

I'm still trying to process this when the remaining orbs shift into small grey cubes. Unlike the tiny bubbles, these cubes are perfectly uniform.

Slowly turning around, I carefully look over the identical cubes before deciding to grab one at random. With a palm-sized cube clutch in my hands, I bring it close to my face.

The walls of the cube melt away, and in my hand is a glass vial filled with a deep blue liquid. After staring at the small vial, another image comes to mind.

"Huh. This looks like the..." My words are cut off by excruciating pain running over my entire body!

It only takes a moment before I throw my head back and scream.

************************************

A sweat covered woman clung to the sheets of the bed, as another contraction hit her. Her breathing was heavy, and her green eyes were filled with pain. Her small chin quivered as the contraction eased.

A young handmaiden carefully dabbed the sweat from the birthing woman's face with a wet cloth. Several more handmaidens were moving about the room, preparing for the delivery.

The birthing woman would be considered handsome, during the best of times. Giving birth is not the best of times.

"It is time, milady. The baby is coming," Maester Volarik announced.

A buzz of excitement went around the room as the elderly Maester slowly crouched on his stool between the mother's legs.

The Maester gave the noblewoman directions and encouragement in equal measure. The woman did her best to remain dignified, but a few groans and screams did escape her from time to time.

It was at the end of one of these screams that another cry could be heard. The cry of a babe fills the room.

The sudden slam of the door against the wall drew the attention of all in the room. A broad-shouldered man in a red quilted doublet fills the doorway. His light green eyes locked onto the woman laid in the bed.

With swift and sure steps, the man crosses the room and kneels beside the bed. Taking the woman's hand in his own, he brings it to his bearded face and gently kisses her knuckles.

"Congratulations, my lord and lady," the wispy voice of the maester is heard. In the man's arms, is a wrapped bundle of blankets. "You have a healthy baby boy," Maester Volarik declares.

Carefully taking the babe from the maester, the father moves back to the bed to share the sight of their child with his wife.

"What is his name, Kevan?" The mother asks the blonde-haired man. As she stares at the most beautiful thing, she has ever laid her eyes on.

Beaming with pride and happiness, "Lancel. He shall be named Lancel Lannister."