CHARLOTTE IV

When they got out of the cabin, Charlotte was in awe. They were in the middle of a forest. The grass, the leaves of the plants climbing everywhere, and the treetops all had different greens. Charles smiled when he saw Charlotte’s face and started to walk towards a path between the trees. 

They walked for a few hours, and every now and then, Charlotte stopped to smell the flowers that called her attention, falling in love with their perfume. 

Suddenly, they started to hear the sound of falling water. With every step they made, the sound became stronger and stronger. Charles made his way through some branches and unveiled a clearing in the middle of the forest. There was a glittering cascade with crystal water. 

‘Are these the Sacred Stones?’ Charlotte asked, and Charles smiled, admiring Charlotte’s innocence.

‘Not exactly,’ he answered. ‘I just stopped by to say hi to an old friend, and I figured you would enjoy some freshwater.’

They walked towards the fall, and a shiny man came out of it as if a door had opened between two water curtains.

He opened his arms, waiting for Charles, and when he hugged him, Charles’ body became brighter. 

‘This is Charlotte,’ he said while turning to her. ‘Charlotte, let me introduce you to Ank, an old druid friend.’

‘It is my pleasure to meet you, Charlotte,’ Ank interrupted. ‘It is great news to see more humans on these lands. Glorious times are coming, right?’ 

There was something special about him. He interacted as an ordinary human, but his color and his long and undefined fingers made him special. 

She smiled and hugged Ank. She wanted to feel that white light around her body as well. And she found that there was something about him that made her want to stay there for longer. 

‘First time here?’ Ank asked, looking at Charles.

‘Yes, she arrived yesterday through one of the old portals from London,’ Charles answered. 

‘I didn’t know they were still open,’ Ank said.

Charlotte sat quietly and put her feet in the water. She wasn’t fully listening to the conversation. Instead, she was drawn to the water, the rocks, and the plants as if she could talk to all of them at the same time. 

‘I happened to open one of the portals in one of my missions, I had to carry many books with me, but I never expected it would bring people in,’ Charles continued. 

‘How’s everything up there?’ Ank asked. 

Charles smiled at his friend’s question, and with a kind tone, he answered:

‘Everything is as it should be.’

‘Wise words…Where are you headed?’

‘To the Sacred Stones, ‘ Charles answered.

‘Someone is going to meet our Grandmother Turtle, huh?’ Ank asked and raised his voice to call Charlotte’s attention, wholly lost in the shapes that danced along the water. 

She smiled. And they all confirmed that a smile is always the best answer.

‘Time to go,’ Charles said. After a hug and farewell words, they continued their journey. 

When they were back on the path, Charlotte’s curiosity burst in.

‘Charles?’ she asked.

‘Yes, my dear,’ he answered. 

‘What were those moving shapes inside the water?’ 

‘Undines! Beautiful creatures. They live in the water. I mean, they are the water. They are forms of the water’s consciousness. You can talk to them. They can purify every living creature. Ank taught me they are great healers.’

‘Well, our bodies are mostly made of water, Charlotte added. 

‘Exactly, young lady. I see that you started to remember.’ Charles said and turned backward, looking at Charlotte, fully immersed in the walk, with her eyes wide open observing every step and every flower on the way.

‘You let me know whenever you are tired. I know many beautiful spots where we can stop to rest’, Charles said.

‘Thank you, but I am fine. I am actually excited to meet Grandmother Turtle’, she said.

‘Alright then,’ Charles said and fastened his pace.

The rest of the walk was in complete silence. Charles was focused on following the right path and Charlotte kept singing inside her head the chant Sohia taught her. Her heart was beating fast. And she could feel her body was lighter than usual.

They arrived at the Sacred Stones in the afternoon.