The Mirror Guardian

Chapter Fifteen: Got To Love Those Dreams.

Mailee dreamt.

She was walking down the long, secret passage again. She didn't have a candle, not did she have a string to lead her. She chose the arch on the right, for the other two were dank and unwelcoming, and this one seemed to be warm and pleasant.

And the smell--it wasn't the smell of mildew, but of flame lilies. The passage twisted and wound, and Mailee found herself descending a narrow set of stairs. For some reason she couldn't name, she avoided brushing against the stone.

The staircase swooped down, winding on and on, and she followed the lily scent whenever another door or arch appeared. Just when she grew tired of so much walking, she reached the bottom of a set of stairs and stopped. She stood before an old wooden door.

A bronze knocker in the form as a lion dog head hung in its center. It seemed to be smiling at her. Mailee waited for that terrible breeze, or to hear the forgotten language, or for it to become cold and damp. But it was still warm, and it still smelled lovely, and so Mailee, with a bit of mustered courage, turned the handle. Without a sound, the door swung open.

She expected to find a dark, forgotten room, but this was something far different. A shaft of moonlight shot through a small hole in the ceiling, falling upon the face of a beautiful wooden statue laying upon a tree. No--not a statue. A female Treant. She looked magical as her face bathed in the moonlight.

The ancient tree stood at a massive 25 meters tall and had an imposing crown of countless arching branches leaves of emerald that had started turning to ruby awaiting their inevitable fall. 

Light and dark green, well groomed hair gently hangs over a thin, warm face. there were also leaves and flowers in her hair. Wide golden eyes, set low within their sockets, watch guardedly over the wildlife they've grown affectionate of for so long.

Tribal marks in the form of swirls all over her marks her ranking. She defiantly stand towering among others, despite her muscled frame.

Trees were carved into the stone ceiling, and they stretched above the sleeping female Treant. The Treant was surrounded by a small body of water and flaming lilies were all over the place. Mailee's breath was sucked from her when the Treant opened her eyes and turned to her.

"Welcome, little one. What is your name?" She questioned aloud, her light voice reverberating through the still chamber. Mailee stepped back, tripping on something, and as she staggered, she put her hand on her heart. A coating of dirt flew into the air around her. "Do not be afraid, child. Come closer."

Mailee inched towards the female Treant. There was something calming and familiar about the woman's face, something that reminded Mailee of a certain someone. But there was still something off about her--something odd.

"Mailee..Who are you?" Mailee approached the small step stones that lead to the Treant's little island.

"My name is Lady Mira." She flickered her eyes towards the ceiling , and her face became grave. "I've risked much brining you here tonight. We do not have much time." Mailee, despite herself, took a step away.

"Risked?"

"I cannot stay here long--and neither can you," said the Treant.

"What sort of absurd dream is this?"

"They are distracted for now, but I'm not sure if he will enough in his condition..." Mira looked at the door. Mailee's head ached.

"Who? Is it Soveliss or someone else distracting something above?"

"Soveliss, little one. The maid, the cook, and the keeper; you know whom I speak of." Mailee stared blankly at her, but then understood.

"Their the ones who are the threat to everyone?" The Treant nodded.

"We have manage to buy some time, and I was able to slip past..." She grasped Mailee's arms. To her surprise, it hurt. "You must listen to what I tell you. Nothing is a coincidence. Everything has a purpose. You were meant to come to this castle, just as you were meant to find Soveliss, to learn the skills necessary for survival against many."

"Soveliss is supposed to help me?" The nausea began. She hoped Mira wouldn't speak of what her heart refused to remember, hoped that the Treant wouldn't mention what she had spent so long forgetting.

"Many evil dwells in this castle, wicked enough to make the stars quake. Their malice echoes into all worlds. They should not be here," the Treant went on. "You must destroy them. Forget your friendships, forget your debts and oaths. Destroy them, before it is too late, before anyone else has to go through death."

Her head whipped around, as she heard something. "Oh, there is no time," she said, the gold of her eyes glowing. "You must stay alive and come back here in the real world. You must understand that things are not like they appear."

"But why me? Why--" Mira reached into her long flowing green dress pocket.

"They must not catch you here. If there do--all will be lost. Wear this." She pushed something cold and metallic into Mailee's hand. "It will protect you from harm." She pushed Mailee towards the door. "You were led here tonight. But not by me. The old guardian wanted you to learn; she wanted you to see..." Her head snapped to the side as a growls rippled through the air. "They are coming," she whispered.

"But I don't understand! Old guardian? I'm not--I'm not who you think I am!" Mira put her hands on Mailee's shoulders and kissed her forehead.

"From only the ashes of who we are, can we rise up to become who we're meant to be. Remember, in order to rise from one's ashes; a phoenix first must burn." Mira said with sudden calmness. "You have been chosen by her. You must accept her blessing and take her place when the time comes."

A distant bowl shook the walls and made Mailee's blood icy. "Go," said the female Treant, shoving Mailee into the hallway by her long branches. "Run!"

Needing no more encouragement, Mailee staggered up the stairs. She fled so fast she had little idea of where she was going. There was a scream below, and snarling, and Mailee's stomach rose in her throat as she hurled herself upwards. The light of her chambers appeared, and as it neared, she heard a faint voice cry from behind her, almost in sudden realization and anger.

Mailee hurried into the room, and saw only her bed before everything went dark.