CHAPTER 2

AT DAWN A TALL MAN WAS WALKING BRISKLY THROUGH THE LUSH GREEN FOREST. For a
moment he stopped and saw something, was it a trick of the sunlight or
his tired eyes, an unconscious female lay across the shore of crystal
-clear lake. He hastily approached her and checked her pulse.
"She's barely alive!," said to himself in astonishment. "Have to
take her home quickly." he immediately lifted the female's wounded
body and move about.

LATER, DUSK WAS SLOWLY PUSHING AWAY THE WARM AFTERNOON. As the day gave up
to the night, the girl tossed and turned on her bed and was moaning in pain.
Her head was wrapped with fabric of thread.

"Huh!?" She gasped. The lass were still trembling in fear and had trouble
speaking. Finally, and with great difficulty, she communicated to the man in
front of her. "Who are you?" she asked in confusion. The room was dark,
except for the small flares pointing straight upward, barely fluttering on a
windless night. She could not clearly see whom she was talking to. The
man's contour was silhouetted due to the candle's flickering light.

"Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm." soothed by the tall man. He held
her shoulder with his right hand for a moment to calm her and to encourage
her to remain in bed and then gallantly removed his hand away again.

"Where am I?" When she closed her eyes, she saw the blurry image of the
horrible monsters attacking her. She opened her eyes and then swept her gaze
around in the candle-lit room. "What happened to me?" she nestled in her
bed and using the bedsheet as a shield for her obvious fear.

"I found you unconscious and wounded near a tall cliff and decided to bring
you here at our humble home. You were asleep the whole afternoon," calmly
explained by the tall man. He looked at her enchanting eyes and spoke
softly. "By the way, my name is Brin, Brin Oirazor, and that is my uncle,
Uncle Jan," Brin gently pointed at the man across the room. His uncle has
graying hair with olive skin and black and a carefree air for caring. "How
about you, what's your name fair lady?"

"Me?" her eyes narrowed. "I'm...ahhh...I'm...uunngg!" the girl held her
injured and gauze head and then frowned. "I can't remember who I am?" She
shockingly said. Her eyes bulged in appall.

"Do not upset yourself pretty lady. Your memory will resurface sooner or
later. In the meantime have some more sleep and then I'll see you in the
morning," Brin stood-up and smiled. "Farewell."

"Thanks." She said with a juvenile shyness. Brin nodded and then grinned.
He looked at his uncle and started walking towards the door along with his
Uncle Jan. The lass were left alone in the candle-lit room. She then
scrutinized the old fashion room. To her right a variety of wooden and
ceramic sculptures of numerous animals was neatly arranged on the wooden
shelf.
To her front, different sizes of painting were nailed on the concrete wall.
The painting was mostly of hills and mountains in different angles and
shapes.

And at the center was a magnificent canvass of a beautiful woman sitting on a
barren rock. The painted woman was staring heavenward as if searching or
waiting for something. The woman was majestically wearing a white flowing
robe. The inquisitive lass fixed her eyes at the woman's expression; it was
very gloom and mystifying. She also took noticed of the abstract coloration
of the background. It was filled with hues of white and blue and yellow and
many more. Focusing her eyes at the woman's background, she surprisingly
saw a super-imposed image of multi-colored bird flying upward. Eyeing at the
detail of the bird's face, she saw tiny bluish tears flowing down on its
cheeks and then suddenly the droplet of tears disappeared. Twice, she
blinked her eyes but there weren't any traces of the bluish tears.

Did her mind played tricks with her perception, she began to query herself.
Since her head was still hurting, sleep came easily.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, she was awakened by the single shaft of sunlight,
piercing through the windowpane. She gently rose from her bed and looked
around the room once more. To her marveling eyes, it was even greatly
wonderful in the daylight as if everything was alive with colors. It
was a lavish bedchamber, done wildly in crimson with festoons of red silk
coming from its ceilings down over the pillars of the bed. The marble floor
was snow white in color. Gazing at the wall, she was awe-struck again by the
magnificent painting of the woman.

The newly awakened lass then move to the window and opened it. The first
thing that greeted her eyes was the bright rays of the sun and then followed
by the scent of the trees and plants that was all around the area. She
inhaled deep and the clean dewy air refreshed her lungs. When she looked
down, she notice the design of the masonry, it was patterned after a
miniaturize castle. And she estimated that she was at the fourth level.

Her attention was sorely focused at the amazing scenery, that the knocking at
the door startled her. She immediately headed towards the door.

"Who is it?" Asked the girl while leaning at the door.

"Its Brin."

Upon recognizing the comforting voice of Brin, she unbarred the door and then
found herself standing in front of a man who wore a regal-style tunic.
They had looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity, both do not
know what to say and act. Is this Brin? The girl thoughtfully. The lass
was looking up at the tall and muscular man, she estimated the man to be in
his late twenties, with a tanned and angular face. There was an air of
authority about him, heightened by the intense blue of his eyes.

It had taken a quarter of an hour for Brin to spoke.

"Hi!" Brin's voice brought a tingle to the girl's spine. "How's your head?"
He asked kindly.

She sighed long and then spoke softly. "I'm quite all right now," she ran
her fingers through her hair. She looked at his bright colored eyes. "Please
come in." Invitingly said by her. She then widely opened the door and
allowed Brin to stepped in. Again, they gazed at each other's eyes.

"I was at the town a few hours ago and bought you some new clothes." he
raised the lavender and pink dress.

She found it simply beautiful. Deep within her sub-conscious,this is what
she likes to wear. The dress will bring out the complexion of the girl.
She stands about five-feet and four inches with a long black hair,
Slender and with a deep-brown eyes. Brin was filled with awe by the
graceful movement of the girl.

"You mean there's a town near here?" she wondered.

"Ha?!" The question surprised Brin. "Ah...its far for someone like
you." He said evasively.

"Why?" she asked testily.

"Because you will get tired easily and besides your wounds haven't completely
healed yet." Utteringly said by the blue-eyed man.

"I don't think so." she said simply.

"By the way, have some freshly picked fruits. I know you are starving by
this time." Brin attempted to change the topic.

They proceeded to the small table and arrange the fruits in a plate.

"Umm...ahh..fair la.." he paused and looked at her mystifying
eyes. "What would I call you?"

The lass smiled. "Sorry, but I still can't recall my name." she said at
length.

"If you want, I'll name you as Ayla." Brin suggested. His face was
emotionless.

"Ayla?" she listened to sound of the name and stared at him. "Why Ayla?"
she asked blankly.

"It was derived from my mother's name, Nala. I just changed it a bit and
then Ayla came up."

"Ahh," her voice was filled with understanding. "Is that your mother?"
she was pointing at the magnificent painting of the foreboding woman.

"No," he shook his head. "She's my great-great ancestor, Ardeen."
explained Brin.

"I see." she said thoughtfully.

"My uncle said that my mother looked a lot like her."

"Anyway, I like the name you gave me." Ayla noticed Brin was incredibly
attractive.

"Really?" Slowly, a twinkle appeared in Brin's eyes and a smile lifted the
corners of his mouth. Ayla found herself grinning. "Hey, were so wrap-up
with our conversation that we forgot that you were starving. Please, eat
some more of this." He pointed at the fruits.

Ayla, happily took some and then looked at it. "What do you call this
fruit?" She was holding a small rounded lavender fruit.

"You mean, you do not know this fruit?" Brin was surprised. "Its called
GRAPES."

"Grapes!," she whispered and then paused as if something was burrowing
through her clouded mind. "Grapes?" she said again as she tried to
remember the seemingly familiar fruit. Her mind swirled in desperate attempt
to remember.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No," she was jolted back. "No, not at all. I just felt dizzy so
suddenly."

"I guess you still need more rest." he proposed. "I'll just come back after
my uncle and I finished cleaning the plantation."

"Okay." she remarked.

Brin stood up and so does Ayla. She then escorted Brin to the door. The
moment Brin walked away, Ayla again barred the door and then walked back
towards the window. She rolled her eyes at the hypnotizing beauty of nature
and garden below her and began to ponder.

"I wonder who I really am?" She asked herself. "Where did I came from.
What's the connection of this grapes in my life." Ayla continually asked her
self and then sighed long. "I wish that my memory will recall everything
there is about me." She forced herself to remember but all she could recall
was the two gentlemen who seemingly rescued her from the clutches of the
monsters that was after her. She had no evidence that the monsters were
real or just figments of her dreams.

AS THE DAY MOVED ON TO THE BRIGHT AND WARM AFTERNOON, Ayla was getting bored
and lonesome. She made up her mind that she will move down to the garden and
have a look at it closely.

Ayla moderately opened the door and then swept her eyes left and right at the
hallway. Not finding anyone, she cautiously headed to the spiral stairs and
began to descent. Ayla passed along several doors. All the doors were
double doors with graceful twisted handles of plated gold, and fancy carving
frames for their narrow and shinning pane of doors. Each new object, like
the statues from china, the Grecian urn and the lavish glass vases of flowers
startled her - these things stood in pedestal. The carpet was sewn in
magnificent details with the tree of life, full of birds of Heaven, and the
fruit of heaven, and figures walking beneath the tree limbs, figures in Asian
dress. Her curiosity wanted her to open each door yet she lack the courage
to do so for she might catch eye of Brin and or his Uncle Jan. Instead, she
continued her descent and then upon reaching the huge wooden door she
discreetly unlocked it.

Ayla was temporarily blinded by the sun's bright glow, she shut her eyes with
her hand and then let her eyes adjusted to the glaring light. There were
noises that were alien to her ears, it sounded like tiny musical boxes
playing a unified song of joy. As her eyes were fully regulated, she slowly
opened it. What she saw was breath taking. The garden was filled with
several kinds of full-blossomed flowers. It was almost like paradise. She
approached the banquet of flowers and feasts her eyes and then picked some
and then reventely smelled it. The sight and scent of the garden overjoyed
Ayla. Then from the northwest direction, dragonflies and butterflies was
heading her way. It had put a smile on her face. She was like a child
walking at the Fantasy Park.

Then the most brightly colored butterfly alighted onto her shoulder and she
let it fly to her finger. She smiled at the strangely blinking lights of the
butterfly. She leaned her head at it to scrutinized why it was blinking, she
was astounded on what she discovered, the butterfly was a pixie, she shook
her hand in surprise sending the poor pixie up against the branches and
crippling its wings. Since Ayla was naturally kind and helpful she
immediately lifted the poor colorful butterfly and gently and lovingly
caressed its damaged wings. To her surprise, the crippled wings were
quickly healed as if nothing had happened. The shimmering faerie flew and
circled around her and then seemingly kissed her right cheek. The butterfly
joined the other insects that were flying around the garden and then they
twirled in a playful dance above the gleaming lagoon.

Although she was astonished, it was quickly eroded by happiness that the
amazing garden was generating. From the southeast direction she looked, to
see a spry of exquisite tiny orchids growing from a cleft in the bark of the
cypress. Again, she picked some flowers and then a familiar voice sounded
from her back.

"I see that you love flowers!" Brin said blissfully.

Ayla swirled around. "Huh!, Brin! you startled me." Ayla said while
holding the flowers close to her chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to," Brin raised his right hand from his pocket.
"But you know what?, you look even more beautiful when you were
startled." He then returned his hand at his pocket.

"And you're a silly man." Ayla smiled lovingly at Brin. She slightly pats
him and he held up his hands in mock defense. They laughed heartily.

"Come, I'll give you a tour at our estate."

"I love to."

The two walked towards north. The sunlight flooded through a break in the
trees. Ayla smelled the dewy grass beneath their feet. Then turning her
head to her left, she saw a collection of different domesticated animals.
She heard the horses neighing and dogs barking whimsically. Roosters were
milling around with their mate and siblings. Beyond the trees, at due east
birds galore. The birds fluttered their wings and flitted playfully among
the broad-leafed trees, occasionally making a dainty landing on the bamboo
grass close to her. Watching them had given Ayla great joy. A swan appeared
in black and white plumage, gliding tamely at the lake, the bird seemed
poised in the center of peat-dark mirror, superimposed upon a reflection of
itself. Their vitality showed her it was possible to survive in her bleak
nightmares, strentening her resolve.

"So?," Brin asked. Then looked at Ayla. "How do you like our garden?"

"Everything so far was enchanting Brin." she replied. Then she added. "It
seems that everything was well taken care of."

"Landscaping is the best hobby I have while my Uncle loves to take care of
our pets."

"By the way," Ayla stopped walking and then fixed her eyes at the towering
man. "You don't mind if I ask, why do you have pixies here?" she queried.

"That's...that's..." Brin was grasping for words then shrugging, he
explained. "Probably you mistook the large butterfly to a pixie because
the sun was brightly up this morning."

"No. I'm certain." Ayla insisted. "I even examined it in close range and
when I was frightened I accidentally shook it off my hands. And out of pity
I lifted and caressed the little one and its wounds was miraculously healed
in an instant." She was motioning her hands from her previous encounter.

"I'm sorry to disagree," Brin spread his arms outward, "but if that was a
pixie how come it still looked like butterflies to me.?" Brin pointed at
the swarm of butterflies. Ayla turned and looked at it.

"Now that's strange, I could have sworn..." Ayla shook her head. "I guess
your right." she breath long. "What a day I'm having."
"Forget about it." Brin said. "Just think how will your memory of your
past will be recalled." Brin stopped walking and then faced Ayla. "What
was the last thing you remember?" He asked.

"I do not know if it were a dream or not but I was being chased by monsters."

"Monsters? Did you say monster?"

"Yes. And they looked horrible!"

"Can you describe them to me in detail?" Brin suddenly seemed
interested.

Ayla tried to conjure a mental image of the monsters but everything was
all hazy. "Its no use Brin. My head hurts everytime I try to dig deep
into my mind."

"Do not grieve Ayla, it will return sooner than you think."

"Thanks for the confidence Brin."

The two continued their strolling as the sun slowly fell on the mountains.
Brin was very much happy to have an acquaintance with the beautiful Ayla.
Ayla on the other hand, felt at eased with Brin Oirazor. Before the night
spread across the plains, Brin accompanied Ayla back to her quarters. Ayla
felt energize and smelling fresh from the cold air.

"Would you like to join me tomorrow in watering the plants?"

"Sure." she answered happily.

"I'll see you then in the morning."