Chapter Forty Five

Charlie

The ice fishing was actually really enjoyable and by the end of the day it was hard to remember I wasn't here on holiday, that my visit had a serious purpose. After dinner Annie and I went for a walk together through the softly falling snow to the edge of the village.

"We go back in the morning Charlie. I hope you have enjoyed your time in Denali"

"Actually I have very much all thanks to you but I really didn't come here to enjoy myself, I came to speak to the Guardian leader, to tell him the real story of what happened to my daughter. I know he wont hear the truth from the Quileutes, they'll be forced to lie to cover their own misdeeds."

"I see and you think our leader will be taken in by such lies?"

"Well I think he might be more inclined to believe them than a vampire or a human."

"Really? You know so little of us and our ways yet you presume we are all fools?"

"No, I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply that, I'm just worried for my daughter that's all."

She patted my arm,

"I know that Charlie. You love your daughter very much even though she is now a vampire"

"A father never stops loving his children even when things happen to them and Bella isn't responsible for what happened to her."

"I know but remember Johnny H is father to all the guardian tribes, he loves every one of his children but he isn't a fool or a push over and I think he will do the right thing Charlie."

"I hope so."

We left early the next morning with a different driver, the young man I had spoken to hadn't reappeared and his replacement was much more taciturn so most of the journey was spent talking with Annie. About the guardian tribes and how they had been formed, why they were formed and I learned more of the vampire world too but she didn't automatically speak of them as monsters,

"We believe there is a place on the earth for all creatures, natural and supernatural, we only wish to protect our own way of life. Most of the vampire worlds feel the same way, there is little friction these days unlike in former times, before the Volturi took over the leadership of their world and enacted laws to keep their secret which ironically made the world a safer place for the rest of us. The Quileutes are an aberration Charlie, they have lost their way in their fear and hatred if what you said was true."

"So your friend told you what I'd said?"

"Yes he did"

"Do you think the message will get through to Johnny H?"

"Of course, there is very little that concerns the guardians that gets past him. Don't worry too much Charlie, I'm sure things will be worked out one way or another."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better Annie? It's the one way or another that worries me"

"Well then you carry on worrying and I'll get the rolls and coffee ready."

I looked round but all I could see was snow and hills.

"We may be in the wilderness but a gas ring and a picnic aren't beyond us Charlie, not quite"

I laughed as I helped her set out the picnic on the tailgate of the truck and we stood with the driver eating and talking in general about the area and its fishing and hunting opportunities.

"You know I'd like to come back some day for a real holiday."

"Charlie you are always welcome to visit, my house is your house, and perhaps I may even get to meet your daughter"

"I could bring her with me?"

"Yes unless of course humans are on the menu. I like to meet a variety of people Charlie, it stops me becoming old of mind."

Talking to her it had never crossed my mind to wonder how old she really was and I could hardly ask but she seemed to read my thoughts because she laughed,

"Being a gentleman you would never ask a lady her age but allow me to ask how old you think I am."

"Now that is a very dangerous question coming from a woman and I suck at guessing ages."

"I wont be offended Charlie I promise, take your best shot."

I cringed inwardly as the driver stood smirking, he wasn't going to be any help!

"OK but I warned you I'm crap at guessing ages. Here goes, sixty, maybe a little younger."

They both burst out laughing,

"Charlie you fell into the trap most people do, you see a face or a body and don't think what's behind it. I have children older than you."

"What?"

"Where do you think the guardians come from? They are born as children with a special gene which is triggered by the close proximity of vampires or indeed were wolves although they were hunted to near extinction by Caius Volturi and we hardly ever come across them now. Most tribes don't have the gene and we foster children to them, guardians in the making. Some never phase but live out their lives as members of the host tribe quite happily."

"So the guardian gene is in your make up?"

"Yes, there are many of my children and grandchildren in tribes around the world. Each one of them growing up and living their lives as allotted while I age slowly until another guardian mother is born and then it will be time for me to grow old and die as nature intended."

"What about the Quileutes? Are they your family?"

"Actually no. They are one of the very few tribes that created their own spirit warriors who in turn became guardians. They are a very old tribe with many links to the earth and its natural magic which is why it hurts so much to find they have betrayed their own heritage."

"If Johnny finds against them what will happen?"

"We'll just have to wait and see wont we Charlie"

"Can I ask one more question?"

"Of course but I wont promise to answer it."

"Johnny H, is he one of your children?"

Annie merely smiled enigmatically and turned away packing up the picnic,

"I think its time we carried on. Come Charlie help an old woman into the truck"

I couldn't help a smile, she hopped up in to the truck like a gazelle while I had to pull myself in, she made me feel old if truth were told. I wondered as we started off again if I would ever meet Johnny H or if she and the young man I'd spoken to would pass on my story for him to hear. It would have been good to meet the face behind the name but there was much about the guardians that remained shrouded in mystery and I was an outsider after all.

I slept that night at Annie's and it felt relaxed, like I was with an old friend, it was comfortable and I knew when I left I was going to miss her but I still wished I'd had the opportunity to speak to Johnny H. As much as anything I was intrigued to see this all powerful leader of every guardian tribe in the world, now that took some balls and a lot of wisdom! As we drove to the airport the next morning I asked Annie if she'd had any word on the Quileute problem.

"I think it is being looked into as we speak Charlie"

"So Johnny H visited Forks or did he just speak to the elders? You did tell him that Harry Clearwater wasn't going to be allowed to see him or talk didn't you?"

"Charlie you worry far too much. You look after your people and let us look after ours. Justice is just as important to the guardian tribes as it is to you."

"Yeah I get that, I just would have felt better if I could have put my side of the story."

"How do you know you didn't Charlie?"

I turned to look at her but she merely smiled and waved to me as she and her friend, yet another young man who had been driving, walked away. Now what the hell had she meant by that? Surely she wasn't Johnny H? I knew it was a female name in certain places but was Annie the guardian leader? I guess it made a kind of sense, she was old and wise enough and she was the only person I'd really spent time with so maybe she'd sent an emissary to Forks while I was with her. Hopefully I'd find out when I got back although my greatest desire was to find Bella and see she was doing OK as a vampire.

Just tom let you know I wont be posting tomorrow but things will get back to normal Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to everyone who reads and those who review. Jules x