Ambrosia's Story Read Free Page B

breakfast.”
    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