Clovis was stunned seeing the before him, but the more he gawked, the more he felt a stinging pain. He quickly took his hand and looked away, "I'm sorry, I haven't been taking care of myself lately, could you let me rest for a bit?". Briar nodded, "Of course, I can't have my guide dying on me. If you go downstairs everything you will need will be provided and if you want, clothing can be found in every room, take your pick".

     Clovis went downstairs and reached the main hall, the fire was still burning and his things were now dry. "Hmmm, a guide", he thought as he recalled what she said, " An heir?".

      As he rested, he decided to take out the small diary that he found on the bloody bed from his back pocket, it still had a few dry flakes of blood. He figured it was Briar's diary and felt guilty reading it, but he assumed she would not speak of any private matters to him. He opened it and saw the date '3-25-1532', he did not make much of it and started reading. The first entry seemed childish, but no misspellings, one entry stated they she was 9 years old. She talked about roses and how she could grow them in any color. The entry then went on to describe a boy with silver hair, gentle and considerate who always made her inhale the powder from a plant to calm her. Then one day, he said some strange words to her and left, after that, she was unable to go outside of the tower, essentially becoming a prisoner. Clovis imagined his new companion in that room counting the days, he went on and read more," The boy left, but I am sure he will come back, I want to see him again." Clovis read on and stopped at age 14," I started to sit by the window where I can almost see outside of the abyss, and I wait, and wait, and wait, but... he doesn't come back...and I'm starting to think.... he never will". She stared out the window for 5 years without moving, alone and dreaming until a peculiar man presented himself at the door.

     Clovis suddenly heard Briar walking down and hid the diary, he placed it in his back pocket and turned to see her. She walked down, now wearing a brown cloak with a broach with a flower engraved in it, a white linen shirt, brown pants, and knee-high boots: A lovely traveler who smelled of flowers. She stared at him as she uncovered her head, "Whenever you are ready". Briar walked towards him and saw the worried face he carried but, dismissed it, her eyes still cold and sleep-deprived. Clovis refused to look directly look at Briar, she radiated something almost supernatural, it was suffocating, and entrancing, a horrid feeling almost aching to get out. This wasn't him, yet aside from his impulse, there was still something inside almost whispering something, protective? he really couldn't say. Briar saw his discomfort and quickly pulled her hood over, covering her face.

     The duo walked in unison towards the main entrance, the sound of rain was still apparent. Clovis quickly walked through landing on the soft dirt, he then turned to Briar on the other side. He could see her hesitate as her feet refused to step over.

      Clovis reached out and smiled. Briar felt like he was mocking her, but, did not know why she reached out as quickly as she did. Briar closed her eyes and grabbed his hand, they felt rough and scarred, twitching with her touch. He slowly pulled her out as she came closer to the doorway, then with a few more steps she felt it, soft and uneven ground. Briar breathed heavily, tears almost welling up but she still refused to open her eyes. Clovis held on to her hand as he was scouting about, "Now, how am I going to get us out?". Briar exhaled to calm herself and gently let go," Please, allow me". Briar faced Clovis and lifted her gaze, " Hold on to my cloak, Clovis ". Clovis looked confused until felt vines envelop and support them at their feet, Briar raising her hand. The vines gently hoisted them up as the rain poured on them. 

     They finally reached the top and Clovis helped Briar over the edge, "Briar, you can look now". She began to walk forward and removed her hood, Clovis let go of her cloak as her eyelids fluttered open. She couldn't believe what she was looking at," Beautiful". The grass danced with the water droplets, the dark sky roaring with a rumble of thunder, the violent wind and rain knocking her over, and the dirt turning to mud as she stepped. Briar fell to her knees and cried, her screams beautiful and violent as blue roses began to bloom as if nature was greeting its mother again. Clovis smiled and looked up, " How are we going to get out of the rain."

                                                                                                  ...

    The rain grew heavier, and the pair desperately needed shelter. Clovis led the way and occasionally turned back to see Briar, "Just so you know, even if we do come to find a place to stay, I don't have any money to pay unless we come across an abandoned hut or house", Briar wiped the rain from her face and shouted into the rain, "Do not worry about that, find me a hill and we can use it to wait out the rain".

     After walking for an eternity, the pair came across a good enough hill Briar could work with. She quickly cracked her knuckles and began to draw a small circle on the steep side of the hill and tapped it. The hill began to contort creating an entrance for them. Clovis then began to start a small fire as Briar took off her hood. Clovis glanced as she shivered, but could not offer her anything except the fire. However, before Clovis could say anything, Briar asked a fair question," How do you know about the Tower?" she stared into the fire as he took in her words. Clovis sighed, "There are many stories about you, urban legends and fairy tales that tell of a being with extraordinary beauty who can perform miracles, locked in a tower where no one can reach. Some say that you locked yourself in and are in a deep sleep, some say you were betrayed and cursed, and there are many other variations. There are even tales of you answering prayers", Clovis recalled as he tended the fire. Briar held her knees to her chest, her eyes beginning to close," Really... and what do they call me in these.... tales?" Briar closed her eyes and began to doze off. Clovis looked up as he heard an exhausted snore, he helped her lie down near the small fire, hoping she did not catch a cold with the wet clothes. He stared at her and smiled, " They called you a 'Relic' ".