Always A Hero

Wisdom and Love

Anna found Old Tree in less than half an hour. Every month or so, she'd travel with her brothers and parents to the Forests for a small break. She rested her head on the bark, hugging what she could of the giant, ancient tree.

Hello child.

"Hello again, Old tree." She whispered into the bark.

Are you alone?

"Yes."

Why? Didn't want the company? Anna began climbing.

"I needed some time alone. The Forests calm me..."

Yes. You are a growing child. You are much like your mother... Anna said nothing. I am sorry, I did not mean...

"Think nothing of it." Anna soon reached where she wanted to be. She climbed into what her mother called 'The Nest' (which of course, looked like-wise) and observed her mother's old belongings of her childhood. A broken-toothed comb, a doll, a raggedy blanket and others. Then her eyes fell on swords, daggers, blisters, slings and gold coins. Lots of gold coins. She felt the tears try to overwhelm her, but she bit them back.

It is okay to cry, child, Old tree whispered. I told your mother that numerous times. She liked to ignore that advice I gave her. If trees could laugh, Old Tree would no doubt be doing so now.

"You did?"

Yes child. Perhaps you should see her now...

Anna walked on until she arrived in a small clearing. She saw them. She ran. She fell to her knees. Below her lay their bodies, but the statues of hardened clay were too realistic. The statue of her father caught his usual appearance. A shirt, pants, boots, his unique sword and his special cloak. A similar looking cloth hugged his shoulders, yet did not posses the magical abilities Lief's cloak wielded. He lovingly offered it to Jarred who wore it in his memory. The clay-worker caught his hair in a slight messy style, as it looked when Lief had gone on adventures around the land. He had his charming, friendly smile, one Anna couldn't truly see again. He was positioned so he was kneeling, he was the King, a gentleman, he helped everyone he could, and he was holding out his hand. Anna grasped it, familiarity flowed through her, she looked into his painted eyes, they were so... familiar... yet strange, they were not his, she had to remind herself over and over. She dropped his gaze and looked at what gleamed where it was embedded. A model of the Belt of Deltora, painted to gleam, the Seven Gems shining vibrantly. With teary eyes, Anna stared down at the Belt wrapped around her waist, the model and reference were so exact and perfect, that it was extremely difficult to tell the difference. She reluctantly let her hand go and stared at her mother. She too, was kneeling, holding out her hand in offered assistance. The clay-worker stylised her hair into the slightly messy, midnight hair that flowed down her back, her beautiful, emerald eyes painted into the extravagant hues of the forest, her spirit gleaming in her warm eyes. Her mouth was curved into a small, rare smile and she wore her usual green, grey clothes. A mottled cloak of green and grey was a key symbol of her title - a Ranger. Slung across her chest was the mighty longbow, and a quiver of arrows, strangely, was strapped to her right thigh. But proof of her title was the silver oakleaf that hung around her neck. Her soft, flat boots were creased in her position, her soles bent so she was balancing on her toes. She wore two belts, one holding the double-scabbard for her saxe and throwing knife, though Anna knew she secretly had some in her boots. Anna grasped her mother's hand. Tears burst as she remembered something her Father and Old Tree has said... "You are growing up... just like your mother..." She grasped her father's hand with her mother's.

"I miss you. I loved you so very much, and I still do. I will always. There's a spot for you in my heart that no-one can fill." Anna whispered and up above. Above the clouds, a proud couple smiled at their daughter's words