Forever Young (5)

Peter instantly knew that he was talking about his mother and their friends.

"I know, but I can't think straight," he said. "There's so much going on in my head right now."

"So you don't blame them for what they did?"

"Are you kidding? They lied to me my whole life. After all the times they lectured me on how wrong it was to lie, it was all a load of crap."

"It didn't stop you lying though," said John.

"That's not the point. I was just a kid, and it was nothing compared to what they all did."

"Fine, they lied. Get over it."

"That's your great advice? That's what you came back from the dead to tell me, to get over it?"

"I never said that my advice would be great. And there's more I want to say to you."

Peter looked over at his unconscious body. "You better make it quick; I think I'm starting to come round."

"Okay, here goes nothing. Now keep in mind this mightn't make any sense," said John.

"Yeah, just like everything else that's happened to me today."

"Here it is. When I found out that I was the heir to the throne, I changed. It didn't happen straight away; it happened over two years.

You see, before the truth came out, your mother and I were like big kids. But as I said, the news of who I really was had changed me for the worst. I say that because of all that happened throughout the two years of being King. I grew up, and that was the worst thing, because I forgot some of the things that made me. What I'm trying to say is, no matter what happens, no matter how bleak things look or how things are, Peter, never ever grow up."

"Everyone grows up."

"Tell that to Kilamen and Ulicoth. They are like children waiting for their father, Salith, to return. And the only way that you can defeat them is to think like them. You see, it's okay to grow up in body and mind, but never grow up in heart or soul. So go out with your friends, have as much fun as you can, and live, son. Remember those words, for in the end, they may be the difference between winning and losing the war, or even the difference between your life and his."

"How can you know that?"

"I don't know. I believe that because I forgot who I was, I lost and paid the price. Do yourself a favour and remember my words to remain young at heart and soul. That is how to be forever young. Oh, it looks like time's nearly up." said John.

To Peter's eyes, John was fading, away and when he looked at his own hand, he saw that he too had started to vanish.

"Peter, the chest and everything in it is all yours. You'll find that there's a magical lock on it. All you have to do is say the words:

"Wern fasu hutat som truu oprit hiwt comtro helj lilet sanit porap haet uen I haj jeon gad tor lio lawf.

Uen legin som tju vaka haet hute tru ront et thi fotjad droult haet agen uen ker yega bena jalcor comtro."

In English John's verse meant,

Be it known to thee that thy master has long since passed, and now I, his son, am here at last.

Listen to this voice and know the truth of my father's disaster.

Open now for your new found master.

"My rhyming is a little weak," he added, "but it should do the job nicely."

"What makes you think I'll remember that?" laughed the teenager. "I've got a head like a sieve. You know kind of the worst memory in history."

"Don't worry. You'll remember. Your memory will get better, trust me."

Peter nodded.

"Now remember all that I've said, Peter," said John in the most serious tone. "See you soon."

The boy looked on as the outline of his dead father finally disappeared.

The next Peter knew, he was looking up through the square hole and at the beams that were holding the roof over his head. He lay there at first wondering whether it had really happened or whether it was all just a dream. When he did get up, he climbed the ladder to the attic and went straight to the chest. It was still covered with the dusty white sheet. Peter pulled the sheet off and laid it on the floor. It was quite large and spread out far. It overlapped as it ran out of the room. He saw an old mattress sitting in a corner and dragged it over and set it on top of the sheet. He knelt onto the mattress and recited John's verse. There was a click and the lid opened.

"It was real," he thought. Peter looked in. There was a sandy-coloured cloth with Dragdani's Dragon sewn into it. He lifted it away, and there was John's old wand and the sword he had used to use to play Ves-guards and Dark Wizards with his friends when they were young.

There was also a short sword and his old spell book. On the book was an inscription in the Wizard language, which Peter read, even though he had never seen this type of writing before. To his surprise, he knew exactly what it meant.

Plias thi Dorminya.

In English it roughly means:

Take me to my Dorminya.

A blue light started to surround him. With one hand he grabbed part of the mattress, and with the other he took hold of the sheet, as though hoping that would stop whatever was happening to him. But that only caused the light to surround them as well.

When the light completely engulfed him, he felt as if he were sinking forever in a deep beautiful blue ocean.