The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale)

by Michael Alexander Card-Mina

  The face was that of a man’s but it was the size of it that had caused Aaron to yell in fear. The huge head was bald and his eyes flicked between the two in annoyance. Jack could feel it’s warm breath across his face and body and felt disgusted, the smell of the giant man’s breath was just about all he could take before gagging. He looked up to see it was lifting their tent roof into the air.

  Aaron was dressed only in boxer shorts decorated with comic book superheroes. He had picked up a large staff and was waving it at the giant man who huffed and puffed in annoyance before pulling up the walls of the tent and turning and stomping away across the field to where there was a growing pile of disassembled tents.

  Delaius, Hobbins and Ruffalo were stood on the pathway a few yards away, talking to the girls. Hobbins and Delaius were beaming, casting amused glances in the direction of Aaron’s underwear, but Ruffalo was less than happy, he walked over and grabbed the staff out of Aaron’s hand.

  “Give me that boy, you’ll hurt yourself,” he bellowed.

  “What…what” Aaron said still stunned. He felt hung-over and the events of the morning had sent his blood pumping, aggravating his hangover. He was annoyed at being woken up in such a way and he seemed to explode as he yelled out “What the hell was that!” Thankfully, he sounded more stunned and shocked than aggressive.

  “That was a Gargant, boy” Hobbins said as if he should have known.

  “No that was a giant.”

  “Yes, they are rather aren’t they” Hobbins said happily

  “Right I’m not being funny but I think that giants pulling your house away in the morning is something we ought to have known about, don’t you.”

  “Hmm yes, sorry must have slipped my mind,” Delaius said smiling at Hobbins “now come on, get dressed, it’s time to get you home.”

  Frankie glanced at Aaron’s boxers and laughed. “Not the man of steel this morning then.” Aaron blushed and grabbed his pants while the others burst into unsympathetic laughter.

  “Right then I’m off old chap, got to get this back to Horace in Greymir. I’ll see you soon.” Hobbins told Delaius.

  “Take care, my friend.”

  “Take care lads and lasses” Hobbins said as he left them on the patch of grass where the tents had stood.

  The midmorning sun gleamed down on them and they could feel a cool breeze blowing across the increasingly deserted festival grounds. They nodded their goodbyes and Ruffalo followed Hobbins, still irritated with Aaron for having touched his staff.

  “That was close” Jack said to Aaron, who had glared at Ruffalo’s back.

  “Well how was I supposed to know? Come on, let’s finish getting dressed, I feel like a tool standing here like this” he said as people walked through the field gazing at him half dressed.

  Helena and William, who had been getting some breakfast, strolled over to them across

  the field which was busy with dozens of giants who appeared to be between ten and fifteen feet tall, they all looked human except for their size.

  They towered over the remaining festival goers who were scurrying around to dodge the Gargants as they cleared the site, everyone was leaving. The Gargants were taking down the canopies and pulling the tall stanchions out of the ground with ease, far faster than if normal people had done it.

  Delaius noticed the four of them staring open mouthed at the Gargants working around the fields, they couldn’t look away, it was incredible.

  “There quite friendly really, just don’t upset them.” Delaius said and seeing that they continued to stare at them he added “There not too fond of being stared at. Probably best to divert your eyes” he finished as one of the Gargants caught them glaring at him and let out a loud snort.

  They all quickly diverted their eyes and when Delaius told them to hurry along they followed closely behind.

  “How come they only appeared now?” Lily asked. “I never saw them last night.”

  “They do not partake in the festival; they simply allow the use of their land.” Delaius told her

  “Why are they taking down the tents?” Frankie asked.

  “The festivals over isn’t it”

  “Yes but why is it just the giants that are taking them down. It seems a bit wrong”

  “We are on their land; they have hosted this event for decades. And the king of Fenver pays the Gargant king for the use of it. And so they set it up and take it down. It doesn’t take them long and they all get paid.”

  “Oh” Frankie said as she dodged a pile of horse droppings. “Phew” she said passing it and holding her breath from the pungent smell.

  And so they retraced their footsteps towards the gate that had brought them into this world as the giants continued to take the tents down and clear the fields.

  As Aria had promised, Jack had woken free from the headache he’d had the night before and he thanked Delaius for healing his wounds. But as they walked he argued with him, half in jest, for over ten minutes about why he had to be knocked out twice with what he referred to as poison. Delaius had told him it was to help him but Jack had been less than pleased and swore never to take a drink from him again.

  Now they were heading home, chatting about how amazing it had been and about everything they had seen. At Delaius’ house the day before they had been reserved about following Delaius, he was a stranger, but Jack had to go with him so he could get his arm fixed up in case of infection, and, not wanting to leave Jack on his own his friends had followed and they were more than glad they had.

  It was incredible; each of them wondering how they were going to cope with their normal boring lives after what they’d experienced and so they walked through the woods, with William and Helena following closely behind.

  “And did you see how he made us see those dragons…”

  “Yeh but what about those Fenverau, what was going on there with the monkey thing?”

  Lily and Frankie were saying to one another.

  “Yeh you know I think we’ve grown closer from all this, you and I” Aaron said putting his arm around Frankie’s side.

  She smiled before removing his arm “you know I think there’s a medical explanation for you Aaron, you might want to get yourself checked out.”

  “Oh come on” he said watching her walk off whilst Jack and Lily were laughed in front of them and William and Helena laughed behind.

  “I think she’s warming to me” he said to William.

  They’d walked for over thirty minutes before they reached the gateway and it was only when Delaius had stopped and murmured the spell that they’d realised they’d arrived.

  “Alright,” he said “go on, through you go.”

  As they had safely come through the night before, even Frankie wasn’t worried about the return trip. With William leading the way, they quickly made the passage back to the maze on the earth that they knew.

  “Weird huh” Aaron said as he looked around the clearing.

  “Weird but wonderful” Lily said smiling at Jack which caused him to smile back.

  Frankie let out a breath of exasperation at the two of them which caused a response from Aaron.

  “Oh give over, just coz you’re void of feelings.”

  “Of course I can feel, I feel sick every time you open your dirty little mouth you…you…Jackal”

  “Give me a chance you may warm to me, and our warmth may just melt that icy shell of yours, with time of course, I can’t perform miracles” he smiled.

  “I don’t even know what that meant but you can keep whatever warmth you think you have to yourself thanks”

  “Come on” Delaius said, leading them back out of the maze and across the fields in the direction of his house.

  “This is where we part ways guys” William said, shaking hands with each of them.

  “We’re going back home?” Aaron asked, stunned and unhappy.

  “Of course” Delaius said.

  “Do we have to? I was just starting to enjoy myself” Aaron m
oaned.

  “So was I” Lily said looking at Jack. Jack felt the butterflies in his stomach again and he didn’t want to leave either.

  “They’ve got a point. Maybe we should stay for a little while longer” Jack said looking at Delaius.

  “No, I cannot allow it, it’s too dan...” he stopped himself, calming his voice and rethinking his words. “You must go home, now come” he signaled them to follow.

  They realised that protesting wouldn’t get them anywhere, so they said their goodbyes to William and Helena.

  “Keep your chin up Jack, I’m sure we’ll see you again” William told him.

  Jack didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing after everything Delaius had said, but he decided to be happy about it, after all it was going to be difficult going back to normal life after all they’d experienced over the past two days. William and Helena headed back to the house whilst Delaius led the rest of them over the fields and away from his home.

  They walked for about half a mile. Jack looked around, it was early morning and a few clouds were visible in the sky but apart from that it looked as if it was going to be a beautiful day. The fresh scents of a morning in the countryside filled their sinuses. Jack turned around and looked back towards the house. It wasn’t there. Jack looked stunned.

  “Hey where’s the house gone?” Jack shouted to Delaius who stopped and looked at him laughing.

  “You like that one.”

  Jack joined in with his laughter and walked on wondering what other tricks he had in his armoury. As he caught up with Aaron he heard him mutter to Frankie “How did he do that?” She was as stunned as he was.

  They marched for what seemed like ages, passing woods and a small lake as they went. Lily came up next to Jack and placed her hand on his, smiling as she did so.

  “Have you thought about it then?” Jack said as they walked.

  “What does it look like” she said and they both smirked and carried on.

  Jack was feeling brilliant. He’d seen a giant, an elf, a family of pixies, the Fenverau in the tent that had seemingly turned into animals, a werewolf, a vampire, and a banshee whom he’d happily forget, and wizards, but best of all for Jack was the fact that he had fallen in love with Lily and he was having the time of his life just holding hands with her.

  Jack was on top of the world as they held hands, exchanging smiles and glances as they walked until the car became visible a little under a mile away.

  “There it is” Frankie pointed.

  “Ah yes, here we are then” Delaius said coming to a stop. “No time to waste then, I have much to do and I must take my leave here.”

  They all turned to Delaius to thank him. Frankie and Lily both hugged him. Jack was sure Delaius whispered something to each of them. Aaron shook his hand. “Do you think we’d be able to visit sometime?” he asked in hope.

  “I’m afraid not” Delaius said kindly.

  “Ah come on” Aaron pleaded. Delaius leaned in and whispered something in his ear before Aaron said goodbye and joined the girls. The three of them moved slowly in the direction of the car to allow Jack to make his farewells with Delaius.

  “Well you take care of yourself Jack”

  “Thanks for everything Delaius, it’s been the best weekend of my life and I can’t thank you enough. And my arm, well, again thanks. You’ve done so much for me and I just wish there was some way I could repay you.”

  “There is Jack” Delaius said more seriously “promise me you’ll be a good person, you must.”

  “Err yeh sure I promise, I try everyday as it is” he said, taken off balance by the subject and intensity of the request.

  “And remember; tell no-one of what you have seen, nor of yourself.”

  “I won’t but like I’ve said, I can’t speak for my friends.” Jack said not knowing what to do about them.

  “Your friends won’t remember a thing from the trip when they wake up from their next sleep.” Delaius assured him. “I have put false memories into their heads; they will think they have completed the walk and spent a pleasant, uneventful, if somewhat drunken, time in the hotel.”

  Jack looked horrified “no wait” he said looking over at Lily “she…I! ah you have to take it back please I need her” Jack begged.

  “It’s too dangerous” he said strongly “you won her once; she obviously has feelings for you Jack. I’m sure you’ll find a way to win her again” he smiled sympathetically.

  “It only happened because we discovered a whole different world. The dangers and excitement, all we have shared, it brought us closer. I don’t think I’m going to get a second chance do you?” Jack argued “and I won’t even see her, oh no!” he said not knowing what to do.

  Delaius put a hand on his shoulder “my friend, you will always find a way, it is who you are.” Jack wasn’t listening; he was too busy ripping himself apart inside.

  “Let’s hope we never meet again my friend. Never doubt yourself Jack. You are stronger than you know” Delaius said as he turned around.

  “No! You have to make her remember. Please!” he said looking up but Delaius was gone. “Delaius” he shouted as he ran on to a hill for a better view, but it was useless. Delaius was gone. How? Jack didn’t know but he was nowhere to be seen “you have to make her remember!” he screamed.

  “Make who remember mate?” Aaron called “you alright?”

  “Yeah I’m fine” Jack said as he took one last glance across the fields and hills. It was useless, Delaius was gone.

  “Come on then. It’s going to be a long drive back and the last thing we want is to be caught in the countryside when it starts to go dark.” Aaron said looking anxiously around.

  Jack thought about what Delaius had said ‘when they wake up from their next sleep.’ So all I have is until she goes to sleep he thought angrily, he felt betrayed. Great! He thought as they walked the short distance to the car.

  As they reached the car, he turned to Aaron, saying “Will you drive?” he was hoping he could spend the car journey home with Lily.

  “Honestly I can hardly see from this hangover, sorry mate but I’ll end up getting us killed” he said matter-of-factly.

  “He’s definitely not driving us and does he even have a license” Frankie said.

  “What about you then?” Jack said ignoring her question and asking her as she sat behind Aaron.

  “I’m not insured” she told him.

  “You’ll be fine” he pleaded “we won’t get stopped.”

  “No” Frankie said ending the conversation “I’m not risking it! Now just drive.”

  Jack was defeated. There was no way out of it. It was nearly a six hour drive back to Preston and everyone looked knackered. It was only a matter of time before they fell to sleep. They set off home, all the while Jack built up a resentment of Delaius’ actions. He could have told her not to say anything, she wouldn’t have he told himself. There was no way out. Jacks emotions were running wild. He wanted to burst out and cry. They hit the motorway and, after half an hour of smooth running, Frankie and Aaron fell asleep. Lily, still awake, reached forward and put her hand around the side of Jacks chair. He felt her hand on his side and held it with his own, stroking her fingers, all the while he was racking his brains to find a way that would ensure that she would remember what they had come to mean to each other. Suddenly he pulled the car over into a service station and parked at the edge of the car park.

  “Why have we stopped?” Lily asked, worried that there was something wrong.

  Jack got out, opened Lily’s door and helped her out of the car.

  “Lily.” he said urgently, gripping her by the shoulders and staring intently into her eyes. “When you next wake up you won’t remember any of this.”

  “What are you talking about?” she replied smiling.

  Jack continued “Delaius did something to you which will make you forget what happened next time you fall asleep. He couldn’t let you remember everything we saw in case you t
old someone” he said.

  “Jack…” Lily said chuckling as if he‘d told a joke.

  Jack interrupted and continued “Lily listen to me. I want to give you something before you forget what happened between us.” Jack moved around to the boot and opened it. There he grabbed Aaron’s backpack and pulled the lunchbox from it. Jack pulled out the pendant he‘d found whilst out walking. He shut the boot and came back to Lily.

  “Here” he said holding it out to her “I want you to have this, I don’t know maybe it will help you remember…” he said knowing the chances were slim.

  “Jack it’s beautiful but I can’t take that it must have cost you a fortune.” Lily demurred.

  “I didn’t pay for it. It was given to me” he lied “and there is no-one I want to have it more than you.” he said as he fastened it around her neck.

  “From the minute I saw you in Uni I haven’t stopped thinking about you. Heck I don’t even like business.” he smiled before continuing. “I just want you to know that I didn’t believe in love until I met you and I think…no, I know, I love you and I need you to know that before it’s too late” he finished, looking into her eyes with longing.

  Lily returned the look “Jack I’m not going to forget what happened between us” she said as she placed a hand on his cheek. Jack moved towards her and their lips met for the third time, only Jack knew it was probably the last. As their kiss came to a slow end, Jack held the pendant now hanging around Lily’s chest. “I hope this will help you remember and, if not, then I hope everything works out for you. I just want you to be happy.” he said. Lily kissed him again and as she finished she whispered “I’m not going to forget Jack.”

  Jack smiled at her before he got back into the car and continued driving. She placed her hand back around the chair and they clasped hands once more. Jack believed that she would forget, although he kept a glimmer of hope that she might not. As time passed her hand slowly slipped from his and she sat back in her chair. By the time Jack saw the first sign for Preston, Lily had joined Aaron and Frankie in a deep sleep. It was over and there was nothing he could do about it. He considered telling her what had happened when she woke up but realised how weird he’d sound and he spent the next two hours morosely trying to think of ways in which he could get her to remember.