It's been a while. No excuse. Just haven't been inspired to write for this story. Lack of hits and the belief of it is just not that interesting to most. But why should I care. It's my story and I should put everything I've got into it. I love the little Fable Universe I've created. I hope you enjoy it too. On I write, whether or not someone reads this. Enjoy and hope to see you next chapter.

Chapter Fourteen

Close to Home

He watched her from the doorway. Quietly she prepared several days' worth of food, wine and water. Looking out the window, she gave a big sigh. She wasn't happy that they were going. She wanted them to stay. Too dangerous this time of year she said, but it was a journey that had to be taken. They needed the extra supplies for winter. The snows had already started, but they had mostly melted away. The roads were still passable and as long as they were open they would take the journey.

His mother sighed once more as she finished wrapping up the last of the rations. Hearing her discontented sighs, his father came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She disappeared behind his well-muscled body. Just barely he could hear their conversation.

"You're not happy…," his father place his chin on her head.

"Of course not," she sighed, "I don't want you to go."

He shrugged his shoulders, "You know that we have to. The extra supplies will really help out. Mother thinks it's going to be a bad winter… having something extra is always a good thing…"

She sighed once more, "I know, I know. It's always good to have a full larder, but not if it means possibly losing my boys," she wiped away a tear.

"Sephire," he was surprised by her response, "You're not losing anyone. We're just going to the village south of here. Four… five days tops. We'll be back before you know it," he gave her a reassuring hug.

"I just… I just have a bad feeling," she shuttered, "I don't want you and Will to go."

He hated that she felt this way, "Nothing's going to happen. Will's a strong young man now. He can even swing my biggest maul with ease. Shape metal that took me until I was in my twenties to hammer out. He's strong," he gave a strange smile, "Stronger than most… I think he takes after you," he kissed her lightly on the top of her head.

Little did his father know how true that was. Will pulled away from the tender scene with his parents. Heading back to his room, he thought about all that he had been through the last six years. Finding out that he had magical abilities and his mother too possessed them. Together they would go out into the woods for lessons on how to control them. After he would be in the shop all day, at the bellows or shaping metal for his father, he would sneak off with his mother to learn about what lay dormant in him. Something that was waking slowly… something that was growing every day.

For the most part, Will had a grasped his internal flame. Not yet mastered, but could wield it with confidence. It was sometimes difficult to hide his abilities from the rest of his family. If the forge was growing dim, he could bring it back to life. His father wondered how he was able to relight it so quickly. He would just stumble through an excuse and his father would just rub his stubble filled chin, shrug his shoulders and accept his son's answer.

Though… Will was sure that his father knew something, but he wasn't going to prod.

Probably for the same reason he didn't ask his mother how they could perform such strange feats.

Picking up his bag from his bed, Will swung it over his shoulder and headed out back to the main room. He looked to see if his parents were still in a loving embrace. His father was gone, leaving his mother looking out the window sighing.

"Mother?" he called to her.

"Oh Will," she seemed to come back to herself, "I didn't see you there. Are you already to go?" she straightened his shirt and brushed his mahogany locks out of his face.

"I am," he smiled, "but are you?"

She shook her head as she grabbed the food rations, "I don't know what it is, but I have a bad feeling about this trip."

"Oh mother," Will rolled his eyes, "We've done this a thousand times and have never had any trouble. No bandits or beasts or demons… nothing has ever come after us."

"I know," she sighed, "but a mother worries," she gently stroked his cheek.

He took her hand, "We'll be back before you know it. It will be like we never even left."

She only sighed, "I know..."

"We're not too late, are we?" his grandmother stormed through their front door, "If those two left without breathing a goodbye, they better not come back."

"Oh Etty," his grandfather rolled his eyes, "Give it a rest."

"I will not," she snorted, "There's my little boy," she noticed Will and ran over to him with open arms, "I'm glad you haven't left without saying goodbye to your elderly grandparents. I would be so devastated if you did," she gave him a big hug.

"Oh grandmother," he hugged her back, "We wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"Not if we wanted to come back anyway," his father entered with a laugh, "I rather like it here and my wife," he threw one of his arms around Will's mother's waist.

"Glad I'm a reason you want to come back," she pulled away from him, "I've packed enough for a week just in case," she handed him a neatly bundled package of food and drink, "Hopefully you won't be needing it all."

"Thank you my dear," he carefully place the package in his bag, "We'll be back soon," he leaned in for his goodbye kiss.

Her lips met his and they lingered for a while. Will turned away from them. He was use to their affection ways, but he still didn't want to look at it. Of course he couldn't escape from his grandparents' displays of affection either. He would just close his eyes and wait for the kissing noises to stop. Once they did, he knew it was safe to open his eyes.

"Alright then," his father pulled away from his mother, "We better go before it gets too late. It may not be far, but I would like to get to the village by sunrise tomorrow."

"If you wanted that, then you should have left when the sun came up," his grandfather snorted.

"Well he's not traveling with you now," his grandmother clicked her tongue, "He's the one who's going out into the world. Facing all the dangers. He has Will traveling with him, not some dried up, growing fatter by the day old man."

"Now listen here woman!" his grandfather started.

Will's father motioned for them to leave before it got ugly and it would. Quietly they made their out. Gingerly his father closed the door. The sounds of his grandparents' argument could still be heard, but they would soon stop.

His father released a heavy sigh, "They'll be at it for a while, but you know how it goes," he chuckled, "We'll be back in few days," he brought his wife in close and kissed her in between the eyes, "Keep an eye on my parents, won't you?"

She managed to smile, "You know I will. Come here son," she held out her arms to Will.

Will came in and gave such a big hug, he lifted her off the ground, "Love you mother," he kissed her on the cheek.

"Love you too," she whispered in his ear, "Keep your father safe… you too…"

He understood what she was referring to. They pulled away from each other. His father move in, gave his own big hug. Their lips meet in a tender embrace. His father pulled back, but his mother seemed to want it to go longer. It was time to part though. The sooner they left, the sooner they would be able to return. It was always difficult to say goodbye, but they wouldn't be long. It was supposed to a quick trip to the village in the south. Will and his father were visiting a fellow blacksmith to trade goods and supplies. But there was also something very important that they were picking up.

"Goodbye Sephire," his father kissed her once more, "We'll make it by morning, trade our goods and come right back before the roads become too treacherous. Alright my love?" he kissed her once more.

She smiled as she gave him one more hug, "Take care of our son and yourself," she pulled away, "I love you… always…"

That seemed like such a strange thing for her to say. She always worried whenever they left, but her goodbyes were never… so sad. Waving them off, she watched them follow the only road out of the village. Will looked over his shoulder a few, just for one last glimpse of his mother. She stood there until the trees covered the road and the buildings could no longer be seen. His father was right when he told him a long time ago that when one is on the road all they think about is home. For three years he had traveled with his father to places far, but his mind and heart would always be at home with his mother and grandparents.

"You alright son?" his father patted him on the back.

He smiled, "Just thinking about the gift for mother," he pulled out a metal key that he kept on a string around his neck, "She's going to love it."

"I just hope that James was able to make the mechanism that plays the song," his father sighed, "Without it, the music box won't play. I'm sure he has though," he looked up through the canopy, "He's a good sort and better at making moving things. He won't let us down. Sephire will love her birthday present."

Flowers, chocolates and new baking pans were always on the standard gift list when it came to Will's mother. She loved everything that she got, but these things had grown stale over the years. He and his father wanted to give something that had thought and sentimental value. Having good heads on their shoulders, they did the sensible thing. They asked Will's grandmother what they should give his mother. A music box she suggested; something she could listen to while they were away and keep them close to her heart. It was perfect. Will's father meet with his friend and he told them how to make the box for the components he would make. An ornate eight sided box with a top that would open. The song that they chose was one that his mother would hum throughout the day and into the night. It had no words and seemed a little sad, but it felt sweet and innocent. It was the last thing Will would remember before he fell asleep. It often woke him gently in the morning with smell of bacon, eggs and biscuits. He loved that song and it would sound so lovely coming from hand crafted box.

Their journey was an easy one. No bandits or beasts. Just small woodland creatures and song birds came across their path. They stopped and ate their mother's prepared meals. Will's father even let him have a sip of the mulled wine she packed. It was little too much for him and he spat it out right away. His father laughed as he took a big swig from the bottle. With full bellies, they were able to continue through the night till the stars and moon faded in the growing light of the morning sun. It was peeking just above the horizon as they entered the village.

Will was always amazed by the sheer size of the place. It was far larger than his own village with a lot more people as well. Where he was use to only forty or so people, there had to be over a hundred people living there. Homes and businesses crammed into a tiny plot of land next to a wide river. He felt overwhelmed when the streets grew crowded and had a hard time passing through them. It was early enough that most people were still at home eating their breakfast.

In no time they made their way to the blacksmith's shop. He was already getting the forge ready for a long day's work. His two apprentices were at the grinding stone sharping tools and knives. They greeted Will and his father as they entered the shop. The blacksmith growled at them to get back to work, which they promptly did. He came over and gave Will's father a hardy handshake.

"Good to see you James," his father greeted him.

"Same here old friend," he laughed, "Good to see you too Will," he slapped him hard on the back.

Will coughed out a hello as his father and James laughed. Motioning them to follow, Jame lead them to the back of his shop. Back there he had all sorts of widgets and gadgets that he had been working on. Will didn't know what most of them did... most probably didn't. Looking through all of his creations, he finally found the one he was looking for. Gingerly taking it from the shelf, he asked for the box that Will and his father made. Pulling it from his bag, Will's father placed it on a wooden table in the shop. James took his small tools and started to place the mechanism in the box. He fastened it tightly, but making sure not damage any of the delicate parts. Wiping his brow, he closed the top.

"All it needs is the key now," James looked to Will's father.

He nudged Will. Stepping forward, he took the key from around his neck and handed it to James. Gently he placed it in the hole that they left. It fit perfectly as they had hoped.

"Turn it son," his father smiled.

Taking in a deep breath, Will twisted the the key until the spring inside grew tight. Letting it go, Will watched as the metal box opened. As it did, the melody that his mother as hummed filled the air. His father laughed as he congratulated James on a job well done. Will wasn't really listening to them. He was more interested in the haunting song. So many memories came back him; so many wonderful times with his mother. He swore he could feel her warm arms around him as he listened.

The song started to slow as the music box wound down. Instead of hearing his father words, he heard something else entirely. Screams of men, women and children filled his ears as the last note of the song played. They were crying out in terror. He turned away and put his hands over his ears to block out the terrible cries, but they wouldn't stop. His father noticed his anguish and tried to see if he was alright. Will couldn't hear a word he was saying. The screams died down, but his world grew dark. A vision came to him. He saw his mother kneeing before a man with a white and red mask that wore dark armor and a red hood. She was begging and pleading with the man, but Will couldn't make out her words. The masked man bent down to her, stroked her cheek, wrapped his cloak about them and disappeared.

The suddenly the light returned to Will's world. He had ended up on the floor of the shop clutching the music box in his hand.

"Son! Son!" His father's words finally reached him, "Are you alright?"

He couldn't speak as he sat up. The nightmarish vision of his mother and the masked man plagued his mind and held his tongue.

"Drink this son," he held a ladle of water to his lips.

He only took a few sips before he felt the need to stand up. His father tried to convince him to stay down, but his heart told him that he had to move quickly. He made it to the front of the shop before his father took home of.

"What's wrong son?!" he held him tight, "What's gotten into you?"

Will could feel that his lips were ready to speak, "They're in danger!" he shouted, "I've seen it... Villagers screaming in terror... Mother down before a man with a red and white mask..."

His father turn ghostly white, "What did you say Will?" he turned him around, "A man with a mask? What did he do? What did he do to her!?"

Tears started to fall from his eyes, "... he took her... He took her..."

His father's eyes went wide as he looked to the north where their village lay. Will was about to say something but the sound of galloping hooves interrupted him.

"The children of Balvorn are attacking! The children of Balvorn are attacking," a man on horseback rode up to the growing crowd.

"Where?! Who?! Us?!" many of the villagers grew frightened.

"The village north of here! They're heading there!" he yelled as he rode off to warn more people.

Whispers filled the air as everyone started to wonder if the demonic army would come to their home. Will and his father paid them no mind. Down the road they ran; out of the village as fast as their legs could carry them. They cared not what beast or man they met along the way. Nothing would stop them from returning home. All Will could think about was the vision that filled his mind with horror and tore deep into his soul. He hoped and prayed that they weren't too late. He hoped and prayed that his vision was wrong or hadn't happened yet. He hoped and prayed that they would make it back to the village in time.

"Mother," he whispered.