Chapter 13: A Day Off

Anna stares at the trail deep in thought. She woke up very early this morning, much earlier than Popsie Reed. No one wakes earlier than him. But this morning is different.
Anna feels so restless, even her locket keeps glowing endlessly. She awoke from a dream or should she say a nightmare.
In her dream, there was a terrible blanket or cloth that was suffocating her. She heard voices whispering but she couldn't recall by now what she heard in her dream. All she can remember was the feeling of not wanting to be left behind.
Does the dream have some kind of truth in it? Or is it just her emotions that created such a bizarre nightmare? Anna keeps pondering on this. She just wishes she can remember the whole dream altogether. It might give her a clue on how to understand it.
Marmee Rose and Popsie Reed rushed to her room upon hearing her moaning in her sleep with her locket sending green streaks of light from her bedroom. The scene appears to be some kind of distress call from Anna for her parents to help her immediately. It was pretty much too symbolic for their impression. Both got so worried that they ended up staying awake. They were also bothered by the disturbing dream.
So now, the good part about this whole incident is that Popsie Reed was able to convince Marmee Rose to take a little jog and stroll at the trail with him. However Marmee Rose only agrees after Anna assured them several times that she was fine and was just having a bad dream.
Now she is sitting on one of the branches of the willow tree, thinking very hard on what her dream meant. She feels a bit lazy too to join her parents or maybe too tired from lack of sleep.
The sun has already risen and still Anna didn't move even an inch from her position.
Suddenly, Anna hears someone approaching. She glances at the trail anticipating to see her Popsie and Marmee back but she is mistaken.
Caspian is already looking at her up the willow tree with a big smile on his face.
"Good morning Anna! I saw Popsie and Marmee in the forest trail. They told me where you will be." Caspian tells Anna as he climbs effortlessly up the branches of the willow tree then sits beside her without making any sound at all.
Ever since Caspian has revealed his true identity to Anna, rather, Anna admitting that she knew him to be a Fairy; he has never made any efforts to conceal his abilities from her. It makes him at ease to be his self when he is with her.
Anna feels contented that Caspian is behaving naturally around her. She appreciates his honesty regarding his true self. That makes her feel she belongs, she is trustworthy.
Caspian automatically holds Anna's hand, which makes her blush a bit. She can never get used to that gesture. It makes her heart skip a beat every time Caspian does that.
"I thought you will be with your Popsie and Marmee when I saw them in the forest?" Caspian inquires, staring at Anna.
He expects Anna not to miss spending quality time with her parents. Also, he knows that Anna loves jogging with her Popsie Reed in the mornings. Having Marmee to join them is a bonus.
"I feel off today. I woke up so early," Anna reasons.
"Well, I was awoken by my nightmare and couldn't get back to sleep. That's why Marmee and Popsie were also up early." she corrects herself.
"What nightmare?" Caspian asks with a concerned tone.
Anna starts narrating her nightmare to Caspian. He tells him the same things as what she told her parents. Everything she can recall, which is not much. Caspian listens intently trying to analyze what she is saying.
"I am not really sure if it has to do with learning about my past, which is so mysterious for me. This bizarre nightmare must be just because of my over thinking about it." Anna rationalizes.
"It's okay. Don't dwell too much on it." Caspian suggest calmly and puts his arm on Anna's shoulders.
Caspian stays silent, giving Anna her time to ponder peacefully as well. He absentmindedly caresses her shoulders with a gentle rubbing motion as a gesture to make her feel that everything will be okay. She is safe with him no matter what.
He does not care about Anna's past. Anna will always be Anna for him. Her past is of little concern to him. His feelings for Anna are absolutely stronger than before. He cares for her more and more in each passing day. He wishes her to be okay always.
They stay that way for a while on top of the willow tree.
"So why are you here early?" Anna suddenly asks, turning her face towards Caspian. She realizes their faces where too close...both of them blush.
Caspian takes a while to respond. He is fascinated by Anna's green eyes. "umm, well, I was patrolling in the forest when, umm, I, umm, saw your Popsie and Marmee and they told me you were up, I mean awake and up here...and I suddenly get this strange feeling to check on you," he admits, stuttering a bit.
Anna smiles at him then asks, "Patrolling? I thought you're into growing stuff and all. Are you some kind of soldier now?"
"Earth fairies are responsible for nurturing the land but we also need to protect our kind. We have rangers. They are our fighters and protectors. They have knowledge in combat and weaponry." Caspian explains excitedly.
"Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to join the rangers. I have heard about the legendary rangers like Aldar, the wise, and Marion, the courageous..." Caspian suddenly stops and seem to be thinking about something.
"Even about the feisty ranger named Melandra is known by all fairies. They are the bravest of them all. They were not scared to fight the dark fairy Alirion. They helped in capturing this dark fairy."
"However, Alirion used an evil spell that left Aldar and Melandra unconscious, like in a deep sleeping spell. Only Alirion can undo the spell. But he has to willingly do it. Both rangers were kept in a safe place where Alirion cannot reach them."
"The elders say that both rangers are keeping a very important secret that is why Alirion didn't kill them. He will stop at nothing to get to them. But Marion, he did not spare. He killed him on the spot for protecting the King." He seems so saddened by this part of his story.
"That's why rangers have been patrolling everywhere since the dark fairy escaped. I joined the rangers to help protect our realm, and yours too. With this dark fairy on the loose, there's no telling what he will do to your people too. If he has no qualms killing his own kind, your people are an easier target for him." Caspian stops, looking towards the trail.
Anna stares in the same direction and after a while, her Popsie Reed and Marmee Rose appears hand-in-hand laughing.
Anna can't help but admire her parents' love for each other. It shows in their every gesture and radiates to others, to her. No wonder she grew up feeling loved despite of her being abandoned by her own.
"Hey kids! Let's go out for a bite! It will be my treat!" Popsie hollers to them looking up the willow tree at the same time.
"Where are we headed?" Anna hollers back.
"Let's go to town. Let's try the breakfast buffet at Sally's." It is Marmee Rose who answers excitedly.
Caspian stands and helps Anna too. After a while both reach Popsie Reed and Marmee Rose on the ground.
Popsie Reed goes in the house and comes out jingling the keys to his blue pick-up truck.
"You're coming with us right?" Anna asks Caspian as she jumps at the open back of the pick-up truck.
"Why wouldn't I join you guys? Let's take a day off from these worries for now." Caspian replies, sitting soundlessly at the back beside Anna.
The blue pick-up truck speeds away along the street on a very bright day towards town. It seems just a fine ordinary day to have a regular brunch at Sally's.