Chapter 3

Three more months. That's how long it has been since they left their kingdom in search of…well, something.

Three months in uncharted, hazardous new lands.

Three months of loosing soldiers to battles, poisoning and unsanitary conditions.

It was rough. But, Edward's dream had returned. Every night he would have the same dream as before. The same scene, with the banging and the whispering. Repeating itself every single night.

He looked a tired wreck some mornings and it was even being reported he was turning away whores on a regular basis, which was unheard of.

But he could feel they were getting closer. And the closer they got, the more frazzled he became. His brothers were concerned but as the leader of their army and the eldest of the three, Edward had all the power and so they bit their tongues and just tried to help him where they could.

When suddenly, as their convoy trudged along a river bank, Edward halted his horse. He looked transfixed. His brothers came to his side to assist and somewhat hide him from the others. But Edward wasn't paying attention to them or anyone around him. Because he could hear the banging. The repetitive banging from his dream. The same noise he has heard every night consistently, for months on end with his eyes closed, is now as clear as day to him as he sits atop his steed with his eyes wide open.

He takes off towards the noise, with his brothers and a few other soldiers in pursuit. His horse charges almost in time to the banging until he comes to a cliff top. Jumping off his horse he flies to the edge of the cliff and crawls to peak over.

It was one mighty drop. But there was no mistaking the fact that this was the place. The one from his dream. He looks to the right and finds a somewhat clear path down to the bottom.

So he took off into the trees on foot. The yells of his brothers didn't even enter his ears as he skidded down steep and rocky terrain. He falls the last distance and lands on his front. He looks up and spies the ominous cave in front of him. Not willing to even contemplate waiting, he picks himself up and throws himself into the cave.

Pounding legs and a throbbing head accompany him further into the cavern. It was bitterly cold, with the spray of the waves splashing and soaking him. But he didn't slow his pace. Even when it became pitch black and he had to feel his way through with his hands on the rock walls, he didn't falter in his mission. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and what he saw finally put a stop to his pursuit.

There it was. The alter. It was right before him. And he fell to his knees. The relief he felt after so long on this crusade was exponential. He'd succeeded.

"Edward!" He heard his brothers yell from behind. Their footfalls echoing in the barren tunnel of stone. They arrive next to their brother's kneeling form, out of breath from their strenuous chase but also because of the sight before them. They could finally see what their brother had been describing for so long. It was beautiful. A stone alter carved into the rock with carved effigies and symbols of a time long ago. The small group stood in marvel for a long time before they were interrupted.

Bang, Bang, Bang.

Backs of necks tingled and goosebumps broke out on arms as the ominous thuds sounded. For the first time since he had the dream, other people could hear the bangs that Edward had been hearing.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. A large, tarnished box sits resolute on top of the alter, surrounded by icons and offerings. It was a perfect cube and must have been two and a half feet each way. The odd thing was that the box was not present in Edward's dreams. None of them. He could recite every crack and water drip in the whole cave but not one of the dreams featured this box. He was wide eyed and frozen. What could this mean? He wondered to himself. His dreams were carbon copies of the reality to come. For him to not see something in a dream and for it to be slightly different in the reality was unnerving to him. He stood ever so slowly. Put one step in front of the other and walked towards the old chest. He inspected it. Walked around it and leant over it to study its beauty. He reached out a hand to trace the swirling sea serpent carved in the lid. As his fingers grazed the serpents head, the banging sounded.

From inside the box.

Edward heard the shocked and terrified exclamations from the others but he couldn't take his eyes off of the box. He moved his eyes from the snake-like carving, down the slope of the lid towards the sealed edge, where he spied loops on each corner of the box. Carrying ring. Another round of banging sounded, which spurred him into action. He spun around to face his concerned and terrified brothers. "Bring me some poles and four soldiers." He stated clearly to the group.

"E-Edward?" Jasper stutters. "What do you mean?"

Edward looked his brother in the eye and stated clearly.

"We're taking it with us."