The Lantern Lit Sanctuary

Before Your Dream

By: Fedor Alphenaar

Narrated by: Ellie Henrys

The Lantern Lit Sanctuary is a gentle, atmospheric work of literary fiction for bedtime listening. It is crafted for those who love contemplative short stories, slow-living fiction set in poetic forests, and dreamlike prose where every detail glows softly in the mind.

In a forest where the air carries the scent of cedar and old parchment, lanterns glow with quiet memory and time moves with unhurried grace. Travellers follow a winding path of light to a hidden wooden door, half-concealed by ivy. Beyond lies the Lantern Lit Sanctuary—a vast, living refuge where books hum softly, shelves spiral around ancient trees, and pools reflect not only light but the listener’s own sense of stillness.

This is not a story of action, but of presence. You will wander reading halls bathed in amber glow, pause in a quiet nook by a rippling pool, and share a wordless moment with the Keeper, who offers tea and company without asking for conversation. Lanterns illuminate the journey, each one holding a fragment of memory, a tender echo of something once known.

Part of the acclaimed Before Your Dream series, this novella offers a space to rest in, a narrative designed to slow your thoughts and invite you into an inner hush. Listeners seeking calm, immersive storytelling will find a sanctuary here—an evening companion that lingers long after the final word.

If you cherish gentle, meditative tales that are as much about atmosphere as they are about story, The Lantern Lit Sanctuary will be one to return to whenever you wish to step away from the noise and into the quiet light of the forest.

©2025 Mr Fedor Alphenaar (P)2025 Mr Fedor Alphenaar

Be still. And know.

Moments of peace. Not just of quiet, but of stillness. Not of emptiness, but of fullness.
Come. Walk. In the dark, but not in darkness. And listen. And feel. Slowly. Gently. Quietly. To a yet undiscovered forest sanctuary. Guided by not people.Not knowledge. Not intuition. But by the soft radiance of something else. Something kind. Something genuine. Something welcoming. Something silent.
And rest. Be it a moment. Or a lifetime. In a moment of peace.