The Nightrose Chronicles I: Broader Horizons

We Meet Again

She could hear soft cheerful noises float through the air and vaguely smell the baking of breads and other pastries. She could feel the ground beneath her. Cold. Hard. Stone? The sensations she felt were different than she could ever remember and it confused her. A feeling of soft warmth surrounded her, it was comforting and yet... Odd. Mostly indescribable, but something close to being bundled in the softest silk, only it was by an intangible presence. A voice called her name softly and she felt a warm touch, a hand stroking her hair. Daddy...? The word popped into her mind, it was the only word that seemed to make sense or that had any meaning at all in her waking brain, "... Here... I... You..." They said softly. Her body wanted more rest; she was exhausted yet she felt so safe and warm. Her curiosity and excitement though, along with another strange feeling welling inside her, pushed her to open her eyes slowly.

Blurred colors swam through the air, she suddenly felt desperate to be able to see, like she was afraid the person who had been speaking to her might disappear. Her eyes drifted to the figure next to her as she waited for everything to come into focus. A man sat next to her smiling softly, warmth and pure happiness radiating from him.

He looked rather youthful but she couldn't tell his age. Somewhere in his thirties or forties maybe? She felt safe with him but, she still sat up startled. Her head really didn't seem to like this idea though, it swam violently nearly sending her back to the ground. He caught her quickly and held her, "Hey, you need to rest a bit," He said gently.

She wondered who this man was, but part of her felt like she knew him or had met him somewhere before... An accusing voice sounded in her head, You trust everyone you meet! she grew slightly worried. "Who are you?" She asked. She slowly scanned the environment when her vision returned; they sat in the middle of a cobblestone street, small brick cottages lining either side, Lena lay next to them curled into a ball with a blanket draped over her, Oh yeah... Further down the street she heard someone calling "Fresh bread! Only 3 gil a loaf!" the smell of fruit filled sweets drifted with the noise.

"It's okay Annie, you're safe."

"How do you---? I'm dreaming, that's it," she yawned as she rested herself against him, curling into his chest.

He held her close and laid his head on hers, "You aren't dreaming."

She looked up to see a playful smile on his face. She examined his face; light skin, short brown hair covering part of his eyes and a dimpled smile. "You may say that but the people in my dreams tell me the same thing," she smirked. His smile broadened into a soft laugh and he ruffled her hair, "Hey!" she laughed.

"Yep, totally dreaming," he grinned.

She smiled, "How would you know that I'd rather be called Annie then?"

"Because, I've been with for you for a long time. I'm your guardian angel, Lailah."

She giggled "Lailah?"

"Lailah isn't girly!" he smirked at her teasing.

She giggled more, "Never said it was."

"It means 'Night' in Hebrew."

"Right. Well I don't doubt that's your name..." Who would lie about that?

He smirked "I heard that!"

She stopped "Wha---?"

"'Who would lie about that?'" He mimicked.

"Yep! Dream," She said matter-of-factly, "Why else would I be in Alexandria?"

"No it's not," he laughed, "How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Okay, Lailah, prove it." He grinned in reply.