The Jewels Rise Again: Chapter 7

This is a nice chapter :D

Yes, it is taken from the Epilogue. I cut out certain bits so I wasn't just repeating what Peterson already wrote, and I added others for some texture.

The Journey and the Maker's World

“What are you doing?”

Sara started awake at the noise and sat up quickly. She blinked sleep from her eyes and rubbed them. They stung from the tears she had cried. It took her a minute to remember where she was. It all came on her in a rush: the trip to Anniera, the storm, Janner’s body.

She glanced down but didn’t see him, and questions filled her mind. Where is he? Have they taken him and buried him already?  Then she remembered that Nia had led her back to the cellar and sung her to sleep. 

Grief filled Sara’s heart again. Janner had been alive in her dreams. They had run through the glistening fields and laughed. But this is the true, bitter reality. 

“It’s time to go. Everybody, up!”

Sara tilted her head struggling to recognize the voice as her eyes adjusted to the unexpectedly bright orange light reflecting off the cellar walls. Before her stood a boy, younger than she, with dark curly hair and a grin plastered to his face.

“Kal, what are you doing?” Leeli murmured grumpily. “It’s too early to be awake.” 

“The sooner we get going, the better. Are they coming?” A loud, humor-filled voice called from somewhere outside the cellar. Then a head popped into the opening, and Sara saw Artham.

“Yeah, they’re awake and grumpy,” Kal rolled his eyes, but the smile stayed on his face. 

“What’s going on?” Leeli asked through a yawn. 

Nia glanced at her son and brother-in-law warily, eyeing both of them. The two had a penchant for mischief, and while she was glad the Artham she knew and loved when Esben was still alive had come back, she also knew that he had plenty of pranks in store. 

Kalmar leapt  across the cellar floor and leaned down, taking Leeli’s crutch in his left and helping his sister up with his right. “We,” he declared grandly, in a voice that reminded Sara of what fairytale kings were supposed to sound like. “Are going on an adventure.”

*****

An hour or so later, they were on a grand adventure indeed, though Sara did not fully understand the nature of their venture quite yet. And for some odd reason, a man she had known so long ago in Glipwood, Oskar N. Reteep, was with them. They were literally flying across the Dark Sea of Darkness on the backs of Sea Dragons! Sara almost felt as though she recognized them from Glipwood on Dragon day, but those dragons had had no wings. She voiced her question to Leeli, who answered her with merry laughter. 

“Sara, this is what the Water from the First Well can do! Janner gave some to them during the Battle of Ban Rona, and not only did it heal their wounds — it gave their dead and crippled wings life and strength.”

Suddenly, Sara knew. She glanced over to the green dragon who carried Kal, Artham, and Janner. She had heard stories of the First Well, and now she saw and felt exactly what the Maker did using that Water. Hope slowly bloomed in her heart, flooding her with gladness and praise. “Oh, Maker,” she prayed aloud. “Please, do not let this hope, this light in my spirit be for nothing. I pray You will bless this family’s — and Janner’s — sacrifice and that You will spare them of this grief.”

Sara bowed her head, tears of hope and sadness mingling on her face. 

“And,” Leeli’s sweet voice rose in front of her. “Please be merciful to Sara. She needs Janner, maybe more than anyone else does.” She glanced back at Sara and smiled. “I know you love him. And I know he loves you,” she whispered. 

*****

At first all he could see was light. Light and beauty and love. Somehow, he could see love in the glowing, pulsating glory of…wherever he was.

Janner looked around, blinking in the dazzling light. Slowly, he was able to see more and more. The richest green grass imaginable, color-filled, dainty flowers, towering, flourishing trees that reached higher than he could see, and the most glorious sky he had ever seen surrounded him. 

Janner took a few steps forward and glanced down, gasping in amazement at what he saw. A path of the purest gold lay beneath his feet, so polished and perfect that he could see himself in it. He stared, surprised. He looked the same as he had just that morning, but his scars were gone. The scars on his neck and face had disappeared, and he saw clear skin instead of the once-painful blemishes. He pulled back the sleeve of his shirt and found the scars on his shoulder gone, too. 

What happened? He wondered. And where am I?

“Janner!” A voice cried. He looked up, feeling as though he recognized the voice but couldn’t quite place it. A man ran toward him, picked him up, and swung him around in a circle. Then he pulled Janner close to his chest and hugged him. “Oh, Janner. My son. I love you. Well done.”

“Papa?” Janner breathed. He saw not the towering, golden bear he remembered from the evening his father died, but a strong man with golden, wavy hair — like Leeli’s — and a face that looked strangely like his own. 

Esben laughed heartily at the confusion and wonder on his son’s face. “Janner, I want to relish every moment I have with you.”

Janner looked at his father and cocked his head. “What are you talking about?”

Esben smiled and set him down on the golden pathway, taking Janner’s hand and leading him into the carpeted forest. “Janner, the Maker gave you to our family to watch over your siblings and those you love. You’ve done splendidly, son, more splendidly than I ever could have imagined. When the Maker told me His plans for you, I can honestly say that I nearly laughed out loud.  What He wanted you to do,” Esben took a breath. “It’s something I never believed any imperfect man — much less an imperfect boy — could ever do. Yet,” Esben shook his head in wonder. “You’ve done it. And what's in store...” his words trailed off and he grew quiet.

“Papa?” Janner asked, looking away from the trees above and the flowers below and the animals on the branches and in the bushes. It was all so perfect and beautiful, and somehow, he was able to see it all at once, even when he really wasn’t looking at it. 

Normally, his mind would pepper him with questions.  Normally, voices would come at him from every side, telling him he should do one thing or another. Normally, he would feel scared about the muddled state of his father’s words. But he didn’t. He felt the most perfect peace. It reminded him of the way he had felt outside the Fane of Fire, after the Maker told him: Be still.

“Janner, I thank the Maker that you have more time ahead of you. And I also thank Him that He is gracious enough to allow me to have time with you. So, in lieu of that,” Ebsen grinned at him. “Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”

Janner obeyed reluctantly, even as he felt perfect willingness to listen to every word his father said. He could still see light through his eyelids, and he smiled. 

“Just keep holding my hand. Trust me. You’ll enjoy this.” 

Janner kept placing one foot in front of the other, and his father kept speaking. He held every word, every syllable, every letter, as a precious treasure. The longing he had for his father was being fulfilled. He was with his father, his father in a perfect, healthy form. He was alive and whole and handsome and strong. Janner loved his papa with all his heart. And for the time being, nothing else mattered. 

“Alright, I’m going to pick you up. Keep your eyes closed.” Janner felt himself lifted by his father again, and he felt oddly like a very young child in his embrace. It was a lovely feeling. 

Then he heard the creak of wooden boards and a gentle rocking. His heart leapt. He recognized the sounds. “Can I open them?” He asked, desperately wanting to see what he believed was before him. 

“Just a second,” Esben chuckled. He fiddled with something, and Janner heard the creaking of wood again and the splash of something in water. “Okay, go ahead.”

Janner’s eyes flew open. Even as he saw exactly what he had expected to, it was like nothing he could have ever imagined. They were drifting away from shore slowly, leaving the forest of towering beauty behind and sailing out into the open ocean. He looked out into the water. It sparkled and shone, glittering with beauty. The cerulean and turquoise waters sparkled with the beauty of a thousand gems, and the waves cradled the boat’s hull, sending up sprays of lily-white sea foam. 

Esben set Janner down on the deck and smiled at his son. How long he had wanted to do this, how long he had wanted to spend time with Janner. How long he had wanted to share the beauty of sailing with his son. “Do you like it?” 

Janner turned toward him with a look of pure joy on his face. “Yes. Oh, yes, Papa! I love it.  Thank you.” He buried his face in his father’s clothes and wrapped his arms around him. Then he turned back toward the ocean and continued embracing his father. 

Everything was beautiful. He still didn’t know where he was or what had happened to him, but in his heart he felt peace, joy, and love. 

And it was all perfect.

Notes: I REALLY wanted to do a portion from Janner's POV in this story, specifically when he was...well, dead. Because I thought it would be fun :D