Ambrosia's Story (3 page)

Finding the room empty, he threw open the
closet but found it empty as well. “I’ll find you, Ambrosia, you
can count on that.” He slammed the door shut behind him.

* * * *

In the forest days turned into weeks and
Ambrosia was now a part of every detail of all of their lives. The
warm summer days faded into fall and the villagers soon began to
prepare for winter. Mirabella had decided it was best not to dwell
on 'could bees' so she put her fears and doubts away.

Despite the earliness of the day, there was
much activity in the village. Dew glistened like diamonds upon the
grass as Rom and Ambrosia picked the last of the apples from their
small orchard. The task was much simpler for them since they did
not need to climb the trees. They could easily reach the apples
while their feet stayed solidly on the ground.

Mirabella and her Fairies had just finished
canning peaches, beans and the last of the potatoes from the
garden. They could have used their magical powers to speed up the
process, but it made them all feel a great sense of pride to use
their hands. They also enjoyed the time together in Basil’s
kitchen. They talked and giggled like little girls.

Bean and the other gnomes were busy taking
the baskets Rom and Ambrosia filled with bright red apples to the
cellar of the church where they would stay cool and fresh through
the winter.

Raz and the elves were busy collecting
walnuts and hickory nuts from the forest floor. After they had
filled their baskets, Raz had his elves carry what remained of the
pile to the base of an old oak tree where a family of squirrels
lived high above. The squirrels would take much joy from them.
Elves never took more than what was needed and they always shared
with the animals that called the forest home.

Ellie and the Sprites headed into the forest
to join Serena and her Pixies as they searched for any remaining
herbs and berries. As they fluttered about their laughter echoed
among the trees.

Almost two years had passed since their fray
with Nog. Their lives were once again joyful, but they would never
forget the fear that they had felt or the loss that they suffered.
In their battle to protect the then newly born Majik from Nog and
his troll minions they had lost three gentle souls.

The loss of Tallon and Faron had hurt Bean
badly. They were his gnome brothers and he missed them painfully
still. Dalin the elf was also lost to them and his wife Cantor
raised their sons up with the help of the villagers. The two gnomes
and elf perished when a net trap they were trying to tie off that
contained a nasty troll snapped sending the troll and trio crashing
down from high in a tree. The beloved lost souls were buried under
the wishing tree where the children often play. Mirabella chose
that spot so that they would always be surrounded by the laughter
of their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all
future generations.

Their world was safe again. They had quickly
settled into their old routines. It took some time for the others
to accept Rom as Mirabella did, but today he was one of them. They
trusted him. They had grown to depend on him especially as winter
neared.

The children loved Rom. He would often sit
with them spinning tales of dragons and such. They treasured him as
an elder and a friend.

Mirabella dearly loved Rom. He had saved her
life, risking his own.
It would
have been much easier for
him to have followed through on Nog's orders, but Mirabella's
goodness had touched his heart and he could not bring himself to
harm her. Rom had left behind his world to protect theirs.
Mirabella often wondered if he ever missed those among whom he once
lived. It had to be difficult for him at times to be the only one
of his kind.

Nog and most of his army of trolls had been
sealed inside their cave. The few trolls that remained had banded
together and long ago moved away. They have not been seen since.
Rom had returned to the mountain to offer them the opportunity to
live in peace with the inhabitants of the village. They had no use
for peace. All they could think of was quieting the hungry sounds
coming from their stomachs. When Rom left them, they were fighting
amongst themselves for the now vacant spot of ruler.

Now Ambrosia was part of their world. How
things had changed. Mirabella could not help but worry about what
other changes the future might hold. As her mind wandered, she was
brought from her thoughts by Rom's deep voice.

“We have finished in the orchard, Mirabella,”
Rom said breathing in the delicious smells from Basil's kitchen. He
breathed deeply and smiled.

“That was fast,” Mirabella said as she smiled
up at him. “Sit, I will have Basil make you and Ambrosia something
to eat.”

Rom sat and watched as the kitchen began to
quickly fill up. The sweet smells that came from Basil’s kitchen
had drifted out the windows and caught everyone’s attention. Soon
Basil and Ogre were serving up bowls of warm spinach soup, homemade
rolls and apple pie.

Laughter filled the kitchen and intermingled
with the tantalizing smells. The mood was festive. Several of them
had taken their meals outside to eat with Ambrosia. Things were
finally back to normal for them. They had spent most of the past
two years coming to terms with their emotions and finding faith in
the fact that they were once again safe. They had all grown in
wisdom and in strength.

“Can you box up some of this delicious
spinach?” Mirabella asked. “We will take it to the unicorns. We
need to be sure they are also properly prepared for winter.”

“We have several baskets of apples put aside
for them,” Rom said.

“Good,” Mirabella answered. “The girls and I
have beans and potatoes for them. Let’s take them the spinach and
Ambrosia and Rom can carry baskets of apples. I will ask them to
come tomorrow so we can pack up their saddlebags with the
rest.”

Happily, they prepared for their journey to
the Rainbow waterfall where the unicorns lived safely hidden behind
its rushing water.

* * * *

Majik ran out to meet them as they stepped
into the meadow.

“We’ve brought you some fresh spinach,”
Mirabella said as she stroked his head lovingly. She could not
believe how fast he had grown. Mirabella remembered the
rambunctious young foal he had once been. Now, before her, he was
all grown. He was the most beautiful of creatures. Majik took after
his father when it came to his noble ways, but he also had his
mother’s strong spirit. It was a regal combination.

While Bean and Rom placed the boxes of
spinach on the ground Jollah and Nadia appeared. Ambrosia stroked
Majik's soft fur as his parents appeared from behind the waterfall.
How the child loved the young Prince. They had formed a very
special bond. It was now a common sight to see her riding high upon
the unicorns back, laughing aloud.

They visited with the unicorns for a bit, but
the darkening sky sent them on their way.

As they returned to the village, the sky grew
angrier.

“A powerful storm is not far off.” Rom
warned.

An hour later, the storm struck with a great
fury. Thunder roared and lightning snapped. Mirabella watched from
the window of her mushroom. She so loved storms. She loved the
sight of lightning; she saw it as heaven’s magic wand. When the
storm passed, she knew the world would appear anew. There would be
a great smell of freshness. This storm, however, was about to bring
much darkness upon them.

High above on the mountain that protected the
Mystical Forest from the human world, a strike of lightning struck
through rock. The same rocks that had for the past two years sealed
off the troll cave. The rocks crackled and shifted. The snapping
sounds stirred something deep in the darkness of the cave.

~ Chapter Four
~

Nog rose slowly to his feet. He felt his way
through the darkness. He walked with a great limp. A large rock had
broken his leg the day of the explosion that had sealed him and the
others inside the cave. The leg had not healed properly.

Nog had spent the last two years deep inside
the dark, damp cave. He’d spent that time dreaming of freedom and
plotting revenge. His evil heart had grown even darker, his soul
more bitter.

Nog had survived with only two other trolls.
How they had survived is the most evil of things. They had lived on
the flesh and blood of their own kind.

As he limped forward in the darkness, he
could see a point of light. The lightning had shifted the rocks and
left a small opening. He peeked out into the daylight and
immediately shut his eyes in pain. It was the first light they had
been exposed to in over two years. Despite of the pain, Nog
smiled.

He called out to the others. “Get up, you
lazy dogs! Come to the front of the cave. I have a job for
you!”

He could hear them stir. They began to bicker
among themselves. “What is that?” one of the trolls asked.

“Light, freedom!” Nog bellowed. “The storm
has freed some of the rock. Start moving rocks see if you can make
an opening big enough to get through.”

Despite the fact that there were two of them
and that they could easily kill Nog, they did as they were told.
Trolls are not bright. Their fear of him overpowered any courage
they may have been able to muster. They began to push on the rock,
as they did so they cursed under their breath. Trolls hated
work.

They saw little progress and were about to
give up when one of the rocks tumbled from the top of the cave
portal and crashed to the ground. Now the hole was large enough to
get their hands through. It took them several hours, but soon the
hole was large enough for them to squeeze through. The light was
blinding. The trolls sat on the ground; their eyes squeezed shut
and they breathed in the fresh air. It took several hours for their
sight to return and even then, it was blurry and painful.

“We must find food and a place to hide,” Nog
ordered.

The three trolls set off across the mountain
in search of shelter. Nog’s mind was already plotting his
revenge.

* * * *

Though the trolls had been sealed up in the
cave for over two years, Majik or Jollah would climb to the top of
Troll Mountain at least once a week to check on things. They
believed the trolls were long dead, but Jollah was sure that
eventually the others would return. When that happened, they would
be watched very closely.

Three days after Nog’s escape, Majik climbed
to the top of Troll Mountain with Ambrosia on his back. When they
reached the cave the sight of a hole in the portal silenced
Ambrosia’s laughter. Majik could still smell the lingering scent of
troll.

“Nog.” Ambrosia said. Majik shook head and
ran as fast as he could and went in search of his father.

Finding him in the meadow father and son
quickly went in search of the Fairy Princess.

* * * *

Hearing Jollah’s voice in her head Mirabella
turned to watch him approach. She could clearly sense his
apprehension. “What is it, Jollah?”

“Princess, Majik has just returned from Troll
Mountain. There is an opening in the portal opening.”

“I could smell the lingering scent of troll.
Something either got in or someone got out!” Majik explained.
Ambrosia got down from Majik’s back and watched the silent
communication between Mirabella and the unicorns.

“Nog!”

“We don’t know that for sure, Princess, but
yes it is a good possibility,” Jollah said.

“We have to return to the mountain. We must
be certain of what has happened,” Mirabella said. “I will find Bean
and Rom. Meet us at the waterfall. We must keep this to ourselves
until we are certain of what we are dealing with.”

“I must share this with Nadia,” Jollah
said.

“Of course, Jollah, I will meet you at the
waterfall. Ambrosia, return with me to the village, you must stay
there where you will be safe, but speak of this to no one.”
Mirabella fluttered off in search of Bean before Ambrosia could
respond.

Mirabella found Bean with Raz carrying apples
into the church basement. “Bean,” Mirabella called.

“Princess, what is it that has you looking so
troubled?”

“Nothing,” Mirabella said as she smiled at
Raz. “I just need Bean’s help with something.”

“Of course, I am almost done here.”

“This task will also take Rom’s assistance. I
will find him and meet you back here.” Mirabella turned as she went
in search of Rom.

Mirabella found Rom with the children. He was
spinning a tale about a magic wishing tree. She felt a pang of
guilt in having to interrupt this spirited moment, but she had no
choice. “I am sorry to interrupt children, but I need to steal Rom
away for a while. Ambrosia will take over telling you tales while
he is gone.”

Their small faces looked up at Ambrosia with
excitement.

Once the children were far behind Rom asked,
“What is it Mirabella, what is wrong?”

“Majik has returned from Troll Mountain. The
cave is open. We must return to the mountain and see what danger we
are facing.”

“If it is Nog, his forces have dwindled, but
he will still be a great threat.”

As they headed for Troll Mountain Mirabella
could not help but think of the great battle that had taken place
with the trolls.

When they reached the top of the mountain and
stood before the cave all were silent. Mirabella felt sick to her
stomach as the reality of the situation struck her. They all knew
in their hearts that nothing had gotten into the cave, but clearly,
something had gotten out.

Majik walked around the flat stopping here
and there and taking deep breaths. It did not take him long to
catch the scent. He neighed loudly.

“Majik says that they went that way. They are
most likely searching for shelter. Rom, is there any place nearby
that they would feel safe?” Mirabella’s fear was clearly reflected
in her voice.