"Janet, wait up!" Janus cried, catching up to her human daughter. Normally, she would have let Janet wander off by herself, but not today. No. She wanted to see her daughter succeed and if wielding a bunch of daggers was the only way to get through to her, then so be it!
"Mother, I don't need your help," Janet declared, softly.
"Oh!" Janus sagged. The least she could do was help. "Janet, this is going to sound very strange, but we've worked for the past four weeks. I just want to make sure you're all right."
"I'm fine." Janet fumed.
"No, you're not! We need to talk!" Janus said, calmly. "It's been so long since we've had a meaningful conversation."
"I can't talk now! I've got to go!" Janet said, blazing down the road. Janus stopped, hesitant to follow her.
She called, getting her daughter's attention, "Janet!" That did it! "Meet me in the village square, after you're done talking with Aslan! I would like to speak with you alone." Would her daughter listen? Would she heed her warnings? She hoped so, but then who could tell what was going on inside that girl's head?
.
Janet looked at her Dalmatian mother, who stood in the near distance. Janet groaned in agony. The thought of meeting up with her mother again, like this, was aggravating! Surely, there had to be a good reason why she wanted to speak with her. But then, she didn't want to waste any more time!
Janet darted into the village. She moved past the thatched houses, before coming to an open workshop. There was hot, blazing stone forges, where elves practiced and hewn weapons. The way the elves beat the metal with their iron hammers, the dashing looks on their faces made Janet swoon.
One elf who caught her eye was the mullet-haired Taegan, who was dressed in a brown apron, a brown shirt, and black trousers. He pounded the blades on an iron anvil, shaping them until they became leaf-shaped. He gave her a knowing expression, letting her know it was time for a trade.
"Oh!" Janet unstrapped the daggers, still, inside their sheathes, before passing them onto Taegan. He nodded, before resuming his work. Once the hot metal was cooled, he passed the blades and their new leather sheathes, with embroidered tulips sewn into the fabric, onto the maiden.
"Here you are!" Taegan said, once Janet strapped the weapons to her belt. "Use them well!"
"Thank you," Janet nodded, smiling calmly at him.
"I put a little elven magic, magic that Aslan knows, into the blades." Taegan explained, "They should be balanced enough for your use."
As the human woman pulled out the daggers, a high-pitched song rang out from the blades. It was beautiful! The best she heard since she entered this world. She gave a small smile, grateful that something was accomplished today.
"I hope you enjoy them," Taegan said with a warm smile. "I made those, especially for you."
"I hope so," Janet said, sheathing the blades. She lowered her head in shame. She couldn't shake off the fact that her mother wanted to speak to her in private. What did she want?
"I know that look," Taegan said, understanding. "You'll have to go easy on her, you know." He added, "Your mother. She means well, but she can't seem to let go of an idea, once she's grasped it."
"What do you mean?" Janet asked, confused.
"Well," Taegan shrugged, "the first time this world was created, one dog named Maximus explored a cave, met with Hades and became Cerberus."
"I know this!" Janet cried, softly. She asked, calming down, "What's your point?"
There was a pause. At first, Janet didn't know whether Taegan would tell her the full story. Then again, nothing made sense anymore. If her mother had been a thorn at her side, why then was she starting to debate this? Maybe her mother was just caring for her. Maybe she had her reasons. Either way, things seemed a little far-fetched to be taken seriously.
"Well," the elf shrugged, "your mother was under strict orders from Aslan not to find Maximus. She didn't listen and let herself get into trouble with Zeus. She won, but only because Zeus allowed her to explore the Underworld."
"She never told me this." The woman admitted, stunned.
"You'd be surprised what you learn around here," Taegan answered, calmly. "She means well. Give her a chance. You'll see I'm right."
"I doubt it," Janet told him, unconvinced. Still, it didn't hurt to ask further questions. "What happened after she explored the Underworld?"
"She changed," Taegan admitted, shocked. "Overnight, she became a different dog." He added, kindly, "Look, she cares about you. She just has her way of showing love. Give her another chance. She means well!" He said, softly, "You'll see what I mean in time."
"Well, if my mother weren't so strict at times, we'd finally have a decent conversation," Janet said, crushed. This was hardly what she thought would happen. She sighed in defeat. She needed time to think about things. If only time were on her side, then maybe things would be different. Sadly, she wondered if her wish would ever come true—
"Taegan!" The Great Lion named Aslan appeared out of the blue, startling the elf and the human woman. He spoke frankly to the elf, saying urgently, "We're the last village to leave this world. I suggest we hurry up. I fear the tremors will come much sooner than I thought."
"Right away, Aslan!" Taegan nodded. He tapped Janet's shoulder, smiling warmly at her again. "I'll see you soon." He said, running off after the ginger, curly-haired hobbit named Halfbern. Apparently, he wasn't alone. Janet saw villagers run to and fro down the road. Something was happening.
"Come with me, child," Aslan said, softly, getting her attention. "We have much to discuss, and in little time to do so." Janet nodded, following the Lion down the road, not knowing where her path was taking her this time.