Lea's Garden

"Ensuring the well-being of my spiritual self," I murmured. Then I blinked. "The garden, the one on the other side of this place . . . It's yours."
"Indeed, child," she said. "Did you not think it strange that in your turmoil-strewn time here none of your foes - not one - ever sought to enter from the other side? Never sent a spirit given form directly into your bed, your shower, your refrigerator? Never poured a basket of asps into your closet so that they sought refuge in your shoes, your boots, the pockets of your clothing?" She shook her head. "Sweet, sweet child. Had you walked much farther, you would have seen the mound of bones of all the things that have attempted to reach you, and which I have destroyed."
"Yeah, well. I nearly wound up there myself."
"La," she said, smiling. "My guardians were created to attack any intruder - including one that looked like you. We couldn't have some clever shapeshifter slipping by, now, could we?" She sighed. "You took a terrible toll on my primroses. Honestly, child, there are elements other than fire, you know. You really ought to diversify. Now I have two gaping maws to feed instead of one."
"I'll . . . be more careful next time," I said.
"I should appreciate such a thing." She studied me quietly. "It has been true for your entire lifetime, child. I have followed you in the spirit world. Created guardians and defenses 'pon the other side to ward your sleep, to stand sentinel over your home. And you still have only the beginnings of an idea of how many have tried." She smiled, showing her delicately pointed canine teeth again. "Tried, and failed."
Which also explained how she was always near at hand whenever I had entered the Nevernever. How she would be upon my trail in seconds whenever I went in.
Because she had been there, protecting me.
From everything but herself.
"Now, then," she said, her tone businesslike. "You left a considerable trove of equipment in my garden for safekeeping."


Changes Chapter 15, Page 136-137