***
Tears burning her eyes, Kristina lay in bed awake long after everyone else was asleep. The castle was quiet. What a mess she'd made of her life. She could not get Colin out of her head or her heart. She missed him sorely and prayed his father would recover from the wound.
What a daft ninny she'd been to reject Colin's marriage proposal, but she'd had no other choice. Because she loved him beyond anyone and anything, she could not saddle him with a useless wife. How she wished she was capable of scaling mountains and doing things beyond what the average woman could do. Why had her sight been taken away? What had she done to deserve this punishment? She could not comprehend why some people had easy lives, while others were kicked down at every turn.
Feeling sorry for herself, she cried herself to sleep and dreamed.
"What do you truly want, my child?" The whisper sounded like her mother's voice.
"Ma?" she asked, opening her eyes within the dream.
Her mother stood beside the bed and a bright golden light emanated from her, as well as from behind her, as if the sun were shining in the bedchamber window. Kristina loved how she was always able to see within her dreams.
"Are you truly here, Ma?"
"Aye. Whatever you want, Kristina, just ask God and your angels for it and believe. You do not need to suffer any longer."
"Angels?" Kristina frowned, confused. "I did not know I had angels."
"Of course, sweeting. Everyone has guardian angels for help and protection."
"But… what I want is impossible. I want to spend my life with Colin and be a good wife to him. I cannot do that without my sight."
"Nothing is impossible. Ask God's angels to lift your prayer for healing your eyes to heaven. And then believe you have already received this."
"But that would be…"
"A miracle?"
"Aye."
"Miracles happen every day, but you must believe with such a strongknowingthat it is no surprise to you when your prayer is answered." Her mother smiled. "You have a strong and beautiful spirit, Kristina, and Colin is your soulmate."
Gasping, Kristina woke up instantly to the blackness. She sat up, disappointed that the eyesight she'd had in the dream was gone. Her mother's image had been blindingly bright and warm in the dream. So real.
"Ma?"
Silence filled the chilly room. Was her ma's spirit still with her? Were her guardian angels by her side as her mother had said? She could not feel them.
And what her mother had said about Colin being her soulmate… good heavens! Could it be true? How could she be a soulmate and wife to such an exceptional man? She did not believe she had it in her. How could she possibly rise to such a lofty position?
She felt lonelier than ever before. Cold and alone.
Her mother's spirit had visited her in the dream. She had no doubt of it. 'Twas too real to be only a dream.
She lay back down, turned to her side and thought about what her mother had said about angels and asking them for help.
"Angels, are you there?" she whispered.
After a few moments, her loneliness drifted away and she felt cocooned in a warm, loving embrace. Could there be real angels holding her now, or was she only imagining it? Either way, she felt better… calmer, not so afraid. No longer alone. Her mind drifted into daydreams where she imagined herself with Colin, and for the first time she could see him in this fantasy. He was gorgeous, with tawny hair and eyes the color of silvery gray clouds.
Colin, I love you. And more than anything, I want to be a good wife to you.
He smiled at her and kissed her cheek. The fantasy was so vivid, she even felt his breath upon her skin.
"This is what I want, God… angels… anyone who is listening," she whispered. "To spend my life with Colin and see his face. Thank you for hearing my prayer."
As she floated toward sleep, she visualized herself walking with Colin, hand in hand, up a beautiful, heather-covered hill. Everything around her was so bright and vivid—the purple heather, the green grass, the blue sky reflecting off the loch. But she could hardly take her eyes off Colin's wonderful smile to view the stunning scenery. 'Twould be truly magnificent to have her sight back, for then she would have a fulfilling life with Colin. She could be his helper and mate. Her dreams would come true. She knew they would.
