Ambrosia's Story (6 page)

He made his way closer using the large tree
trunks as coverage. He got about thirty feet from them and stopped.
He needed to figure out what to do next. Daniel McDonald sat down
and listened.

“Once we clear this grove, Rom, it is only a
little over a mile to the spot where we can climb back up the
mountain. Once back on top we will be back in the boundaries of the
Mystical Forest and Mirabella can heal you.”

“The Mystical Forest!” Daniel McDonald said
in a whisper. How could it be possible? He thought things through.
The dwarf-like creature was clearly injured and it would not be
difficult for him to grab Ambrosia take the horse and make his way
back to the car, but what if Ambrosia had found this Mystical
Forest? If he could find it, would be a rich man.

From the tree, the watched Ambrosia help Rom
to his feet. The horse paced nervously.

“Rom you are too heavy for me to help you far
and I don’t think I am strong enough to push you up and onto Majik.
We have to figure out how to...”

Before Ambrosia could finish her statement,
Majik sat down beside them. Ambrosia smiled. “It looks like Majik
has solved our problem for us.”

Ambrosia steadied Rom while he slowly lifted
his injured leg and straddled Majik. Rom slumped forward exhausted
and gripped a handful of Majik’s mane tightly in his hand.

Ambrosia kissed Majik softly on the head.
“Thank you,” she said. “You need to hold on tight, Rom, while Majik
gets to his feet.”

“I’m ready,” Rom said gripping Majik’s mane
with all the energy he had left.

Ambrosia moved to Majik’s side and placed
both her hands on Rom’s good leg to help steady him. “Okay,
Majik”

As carefully as he could Majik returned to
his feet. Rom was tossed about a bit, but he held on.

The threesome headed back toward Troll
Mountain. Daniel McDonald moved around the tree and kept out of
sight. Once they had passed him, he began to follow them at a safe
distance. They’d lead him to the Mystical Forest, where he would
grab Ambrosia and become a rich man by revealing the forest’s
existence to the world! He rubbed his hands greedily together as he
watched them enter the sunlight as they exited the protection of
the tree grove.

“Are you doing all right?” Ambrosia asked Rom
placing her hand gently on his leg.

“Don’t worry about me, Ambrosia, I’ll be
fine.”

Ambrosia left Rom’s side. “He looks like he
could pass out any time,” she whispered to Majik. He neighed
softly. He picked up his pace slightly, but feared going any faster
would make Rom too uncomfortable or worse yet cause him to fall
off.

Leaving the shelter of the trees, Daniel
McDonald had to move quickly to keep up, yet remain hidden. There
were plenty of rocks large enough for him to hide behind, but they
were spread out across the open meadow.

As they drew closer to the mountain, Majik
slowed slightly. They were approaching the still body of Nog. Nog
had caused nothing but pain. His whole life he lived only to
torment those around him. Rom hated Nog deeply, but felt a twinge
of sadness as he looked down at the still body of the Troll King.
He had once been the controlling force in his life, now as they
passed him he became a fading memory.

Majik, Ambrosia and Rom reached the base of
the mountain and began to follow the trail that would lead them
home.

Daniel McDonald had reached Nog’s body.
Looking down at the stiffening figure, he poked him with his foot.
“What the heck are you?” he asked aloud. In death, the Troll King
had lost all of his intimidation. The smell of the dead creature
made Daniel McDonald sick to his stomach. As badly as he wanted to
investigate the creature further, he could not stand the smell and
could not chance losing sight of Ambrosia. He got up from his knees
and made his way to the next rock.

There were no rocks along the trail large
enough for him to hide behind so he followed them from a great
distance.

* * * *

“Here we are,” Ambrosia said. “From here it
is all up. Do you need something to drink before we start up?” she
asked Rom.

“Yes, please,” Rom said.

Ambrosia pulled another gourd of water from
the saddlebag. Rom drank a few sips then handed it back to her.
Ambrosia took a deep swallow. The large gourd was almost half-full.
She broke off the top of the gourd and brought the water to Majik.
He drank up the last of the water neighing his appreciation.

The three friends began the climb back up the
mountain as Daniel McDonald watched them from the safety of a large
boulder. They had to move slowly because of the injured thing on
the horse so he was not worried about keeping up with them.

It took them about twenty minutes to make the
climb and Rom had used up all most all of his energy hanging on to
Majik’s neck to keep from sliding off as they got to the steep part
of the journey.

They all sighed with relief as they crossed
back into the safety of the Mystical Forest.

“Let’s get to the shade of the forest up
ahead and Rom can rest in the coolness of the trees while you go
for Mirabella,” Ambrosia told Majik.

An aura of blue suddenly surrounded Majik as
his horn reappeared. They were home and safe...so they thought.

Daniel McDonald quickly climbed the
mountainside. As he reached the top, he looked across the
mountaintop. He saw no sign of Ambrosia so quickly he climbed up.
He ran to the closest tree and pressed his back to it. The climb
was a steep one and with one being injured, they would need to
rest. They could not be far ahead.

As Daniel McDonald made his way toward the
forest Majik took off in search of Mirabella. Ambrosia sat with Rom
in the shade of a big oak tree. She held his hand tightly in
hers.

“You saved my life Ambrosia.”

“Majik did all the work I just came along to
keep him company.” She smiled at him and he squeezed her hand.

Rom was having a hard time staying awake, but
ambrosia feared letting him sleep in case he had a concussion.
Every time he nodded off, she would gently take his face in her
hands and wake him back up.

“Mirabella will be here soon, Rom. I need you
to stay awake until she gets here.”

While Ambrosia kept Rom from falling asleep
Daniel McDonald located them and watched them from a safe
distance.

* * * *

As Majik entered the village, he found
Mirabella awaiting his arrival. She spun happily in the air as
Majik told her Rom was within the boundaries of the Mystical Forest
hurt, but very much alive.

Mirabella quickly gathered everything she
would need to heal him and followed Majik with a happy heart.

* * * *

“Rom,” Mirabella cried out at the sight of
him. She fluttered over to him landing gently on his shoulder. She
kissed his cheek softly.

“His leg is broken Mirabella,” Ambrosia
said.

“But he is home and alive thanks to you and
Majik, Ambrosia!” Mirabella smiled up at her and Ambrosia smiled
proudly back. “We will discuss everything once we have Rom back on
his feet and safely back in the village.”

Mirabella flew down and looked at Rom’s leg.
“Ambrosia I need you to cut the material holding the stick to Rom’s
leg for me.”

Ambrosia tried to untie the sleeve, but it
was too tight.

“I have a knife in the pocket of my shirt,”
Rom said.

Ambrosia got the handmade knife and cut the
sleeve. Slowly and gently, she removed the stick.

“Good, Ambrosia. Now I need you to tear Rom’s
pant leg so the whole wound is exposed.”

Ambrosia felt nausea’s as she tore the
material and exposed the large hole in Rom’s leg and the protruding
bone.

Once the whole wound was revealed, Mirabella
asked Rom to straighten his leg the best that he could. Rom groaned
with pain as he shifted his leg.

Mirabella removed a small container from her
pouch. She took the lid off and sprinkled its contents all over
Rom’s wound. Then she opened a second container full of a glittery
powder and dipped her small wand into the container.

Hovering just above his wound she spiraled
around in slow circles chanting these words: “Healing light
surround me now.

With love sincere, I chant this prayer.

In the divine name of the Goddess who
breathes life into us all I ask that you charge this spell with
might.

Mystic moon and brilliant sun send your power
here this way.

Gracious Lady, bless this charge that I
lay.

Powers that are, powers that will be gather
around this spell.

I ask that you empower my working three times
three sending fourth to see it last!

So shall it be!

Mirabella and Ambrosia watched as the wound
that was causing Rom such pain began to heal itself. It took
several minutes, but the wound was now gone.

“Your wound has healed my friend, but your
body still needs rest. Your spirit has been greatly stressed. Majik
will now take you home and I will watch over you through the night.
Tomorrow you will be strong again.”

“Thank you, Mirabella.”

“I should thank you my dear friend for your
pain was caused by the act of bravery you did to save me. Now save
your energy let’s get you to bed and we will discuss everything
tomorrow.”

* * * *

Daniel McDonald sat in disbelief. He had just
seen a unicorn, troll and a fairy. He had watched as the red haired
fairy had healed the troll. His mind was in a frenzy trying to
absorb all that he had just witnessed.

As the unicorn with the troll upon its back
followed Ambrosia and the fairy deeper into the forest he began to
follow. With every step he took he began plotting an evil plan he
was certain would enrich him beyond his wildest dreams.

* * * *

Mirabella watched Rom’s steady breathing.
Thanks to Ambrosia and Majik he was home safe where he belonged.
Tomorrow he would awaken his old self and they would all move
forward without looking over their shoulders anymore for Nog was
gone and they could forever live in peace.

They had so much to be thankful for, so much
to celebrate, but yet something caused her to feel a sense of
darkness near. As hard as she concentrated, she could not get a
grasp on what her senses were trying to warn her about. For
tonight, she would concentrate on Rom and tomorrow they would deal
with them.

Ambrosia slept peacefully in her hut. She
snored softly. Her father watched her sleep through the hut’s
window. He could easily take her now, but he decided it would be
best to be patient. He knew if he were to profit from all of this
he would need proof, which meant he would need to capture one of
the magical beings and bring them back with him. He needed to think
it all through; one mistake and he could end up empty handed and he
refused to allow that to happen.

Once he made his fortune from the Mystical
Forest, he could cut Ambrosia free and live the high life. He
headed back into the woods found a dark rock cave and slept soundly
on a bed of moss dreaming of the riches to come.

* * * *

When Rom exited his hut that morning,
everyone gathered around him. The children rushed him attaching
themselves to his legs.

“I am glad to see you too,” he said
encircling them with his large arms.

Mirabella sat on Ambrosia’s shoulder. “All of
that is because of you, Ambrosia. Rom is home and safe. Without you
he may have died alone in a world he did not belong to.”

“Majik did all the work. He carried Rom all
the way home and found you to heal him,” Ambrosia said as she
watched Rom with the children.

“Majik did not stop Rom’s bleeding nor did he
splint his leg to prevent further damage and pain. You were very
brave Ambrosia and you should be very proud of yourself.”

Tears silently ran down Ambrosia’s cheek. “I
hope that those are tears of joy,” Mirabella said.

“No one has told me they were proud of me
since my mother died.”

“Oh, sweet Ambrosia, you are a very special
girl and your mother would be so proud of the young lady that you
have become.”

Ambrosia smiled through her tears. Rom joined
them. He tried to form the words he needed to tell Ambrosia how
grateful he was, but they would not come. Instead, he wrapped his
arms around her and hugged her to him. Ambrosia put her head on his
shoulder and she felt true love for the first time since she lost
her mother.

Daniel McDonald watched from behind a tree.
“Patience,” he whispered to himself. Soon he would put his plan
into action and begin his planned journey to riches.

Ambrosia he would get while she slept tonight
and after he had secured her in the cave, he would come back for
the red haired fairy. She would be easy to transport and once the
world sees her they will pay him millions maybe even billions to
reveal the whereabouts of the Mystical Forest.

As Daniel McDonald formed his evil plan,
Ambrosia and her new family gathered in prayer giving thanks for
the safe return of their beloved Rom.

* * * *

As darkness fell, Daniel McDonald watched
from the forest as the village wound down for the night. One by
one, lighted windows went dark.

He sat in the darkness just outside the
village giving its inhabitants plenty of time to go to sleep. He
had planned out the safest route to Ambrosia’s hut and Mirabella’s
mushroom. He needed to get in and out as quickly as possible and
get beyond the boundaries of the forest before daylight.

He had made a rope from a thick vine he
discovered dangling from a tree. He carried that rope on his hip.
He would secure Ambrosia with it then return for the fairy.

He made his way through the woods taking
cover behind the trees. The moon was full and if someone would
awaken, he could easily be spotted.

Reaching Ambrosia’s hut he checked around
him, nothing stirred. He considered entering through the door, but
he feared it would make enough noise to wake Ambrosia from her
slumber. Instead, he carefully entered through the window. When his
feet hit the hut’s dirt floor Ambrosia stirred, but did not
waken.