I woke up to the sound of dishes clattering about in the kitchen behind me. Stretching and sitting up slowly, I smiled looking at the blanket that Haku had put over me before I fell asleep.
Getting up I watched as Chihiro helped Granny with a stew and Haku was setting the table.
Moving over I snatched up glasses that were on the counter, giving him a cheeky grin before setting them on the table to help him.
He grinned at me and shook his head.
"How was your sleep dear?" Granny asked, her head turning slightly to give me a kind smile.
"Very nice thank you, after all the events that have happened I'm surprised I didn't crash earlier." I replied happily.
Chihiro's head popped out from behind Granny, her voice excited as she spoke.
"Oh, did you dream? What did you dream about this time?" She asked, waiting impatiently for my answer.
I laughed, Chihiro never remembered her dreams and it was always our tradition for me to share mine with her whenever I had them, which was pretty much every night actually.
"This was a slightly funny one actually, I was standing in a field of blue grass, and I mean like sapphire blue, it was breathtaking. And you Haku were running in front of me from one end of the field a huge grin on your face and your movements were in slow motion.
On the other end of the field was my father, and he was running towards Haku with the same grin and slow movements. You both didn't seem to notice me and you met in the middle with a huge overexagerated hug. I laughed in the dream and you both finally noticed me.
My father looked at me and said, 'remember the song I used to sing to you, the whole song and that is where you will find all of your answers. Remember it's never forgotten just lost.' And you Haku you nodded and smiled with him as if you understood, and then you both ran off in the opposite direction of me, into the forest holding hands as you ran."
I finished, looking at the ground in thought, the song he sang to me was my favorite and I could barely remember the time when he sang the whole thing.
"Hmm well it sounds like you had a good dream, although the Haku in your dream didn't sound much like me. What about the song though, what does he mean by that, is it the one you sang while Chihiro was wrapping you?"
Haku asked a half smile on his face making my heart do flips as I tried to collect my thoughts.
"Well I remember a time, a long time ago…right before he left actually where he sang the while thing but it's so fuzzy and I can barely remember most of it. All I can really remember is that he sang and before he left the room he said, 'for now this memory will disappear but when you need it most just look inside, it is still there'. And that's it, that all I can remember, Awww it's so frustrating." I said sighing heavily and plopping down in one of the chairs feeling defeated.
I could never remember much of my childhood, I remembered feelings and snippets but most of it seemed shut away under lock and key.
"Awww that is where I come in, now just relax this wont hurt I am just going to help you retrieve the memory." Granny said pulling a chair out to sit in front of me.
Her warm soft hands, one on top of my head, and one holding my hand, felt calm and comforting. I closed my eyes, as a feeling of sleepiness seemed to overcome me.
A soft blue light reflected from outside my eyelids and suddenly I felt like I was being pulled backwards.
Now I was standing in that memory, and my father was sitting by my bed, a small six year old form lying underneath the covers.
His hair was just how I remembered it, brown and worn in a long ponytail behind his head, and his deep brown eyes looked down on my form lovingly.
Looking back on it now, he looked tired and nervous. He had bags under his eyes and his usually long kind face looked strained as he went through our nightly routine.
"Now my little princess, I am going to sing our song but this time I am going to sing the whole thing. I created this song when you were born, so that someday you can remember."
His voice was saying and then his deep voice was comforting me to sleep as he sang.
Suddenly it all came back, everything was completely clear and in my sleepy state I sang what he had sung to me that day to the small group around my form.
"Hmm mm
The road my child
Is sweeter than it seems
When I am gone
I am never too far between
The spirits of the land and sea
Whisper with the an ease
Learn to listen
Learn to see
And the treasure box
Will always be open for thee
The road my child
Is sweeter than it seems
When I am gone
I am never too far between
Remember me always
Leaving is a curse for me
Come search for me
The treasure holds the key
Look upon the etched angel wings
Trace each feather with a finger
Softly, gently, still
And as you look upon a dragons eye
Lean down to kiss its heart
Let it fly with love my child
And then all the answers shall be stilled
My darling, my love
You will understand what will
The road my child
Is sweeter than it seems
When I am gone
I am never too far between."
His voice and the memory faded fast as I finished the song, my voice drifting in a whisper on the last note.
I felt a rushing sensation and the sleepy feeling went away, as did the blue light as I opened my eyes.
Looking about all eyes were on me, waiting to see if I had an answer for the memory and what the song means.
I pulled the box towards me, talking both to myself and to the others around me.
"Well my father was a literal man, even though most thought he spoke in metaphors he really didn't, he just thought differently. Now at least I know why, all of his actions make more sense after being here. The song said to trace the angels wings, softly."
I said and taking a deep breath I turned the box to the side as I traced my finger softly along the wing on the front of the box.
I jumped slightly as the very wood itself, sunk in where I had touched it. The whole wing itself was now an inch or so deeper than the rest of the wood.
"And then it said to his the dragon's heart…" I mumbled and set the box upright leaning down to kiss the green dragon on the top of the box, where I thought the heart would be.
I jumped this time as the whole dragon sunk below the wood even deeper than the angel's wing.
There was a small click and a seam formed around the box a little more than from the bottom.
Another clicked sounded and the lid popped up slightly, waiting now for my hands to open what had been hidden for so many years.
"You are your fathers daughter Lena, just like him." Zeniba said clapping her hands happily.
I remembered that she was friends with my father and smiled as I put my attention back on the box.
Lifting its lid slowly I smiled as Chihiro, Haku, and Zeniba were standing behind me now and pressing into my back aching to see what was inside.
I guess no one has actually seen the relic, I thought chuckling slightly.
Lifting the lid, a metal object was laying gracefully on white silk padding on both the top and bottom of the box.
The metal relic was in the outline of a sun in silver, while it's ray were in gold and extended out in waves from the middle and wrapped down towards the bottom of the piece where it all came together in a point.
The relic was beautiful, and odd at the same time. I let my fingers glide over its smooth and shiny surface as gasped as I felt a soft fluttery heartbeat beneath my fingertips.
Lifting it up by the silver chain it was suspended on I held it up to the light.
"I never thought I would live to see the day that my eyes would come upon such a powerful magical object." Zeniba said smiling like a fool.
"As you are the new protector the best place to keep the relic now that it is out of the box is traditionally around your neck. That is the safest place so you can always keep an eyes on it." She said motioning for me to put it on.
Chihiro and Zeniba stood in front of me as I stood; wrestling with the clasp in front of me I held back a small shriek when I felt Haku's hands grab the clasp out of my hands.
His hands grazed the back of my neck sending chills and goose bumps down my spine.
Both Chihiro and Zeniba seemed mesmerized by the metal, if you watched it, it looked like it's form was moving slightly with a life of it's own.
His hands finished behind my neck but lingered still causing me to brush furiously.
While Chihiro and Granny talked to each other about the necklace, I felt Haku lean forward, his lips bare centimeters from my ear as his hand slid across the soft skin on the back of my neck.
"Do I have some strange affect on you. My closeness seems to make you nervous." His voice whispered, as I cursed him in my head.
He chuckled as he let his hand trace the back collar of my shirt before he moved away from me and added his input to the conversation in front of us.
Oh, he is getting way too ballsy, I thought irately. I loved it so much, his touch, his skin, and his voice.
It was not fair that he had such a huge affect on me while I seemed to have none on him.
Damm spirit traits, I bet that is why he can stay so frickin calm.
My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a slight nudge on my arm from Haku, who looked at me devilishly before motioning for me to listen.
Easy for him to do, I thought, completely flustered.
"Alright now that the relic is out of the box, the nest step is to take it to the Isle Lakes where your grandmother Isletta of the Isles lives. She resides in the largest lake at the bottom of it in a large underwater cave. The shadows know where you are so they will follow you and once you come down closer to land they will try to attack so you must be quick.
I suggest you leave tomorrow and even though this is Lena's burden to bear she needs both you Haku and you Chihiro to get through and destroy this relic.
For now we will eat and after dinner I will put the balm on you back Lena so you guys can fly without stopping. Now come lets put the days journey tomorrow out of our minds so we can eat."
Granny finished and grabbed each plate filling it to the brim with incredible smelling meat stew.
We all sat down and chatted happily as we ate. I could feel Haku stealing glances at me when he thought I didn't notice. His piercing green eyes watched me as I ate and spoke, turning away quickly when I met his gaze.
I smiled into my bowl of stew, as Chihiro looked at me questioningly, noticing the same thing I did.
She smiled broadly when I gave her a wink; we didn't need to talk to communicate what was going on.
Who knows maybe I did have an affect on Haku after all, I thought happily as I continued eating.