Every Now And Then......

Darkness......Takes Over....

It Was no longer Now, Dear Readers, it was Then. And the Darkness was growing stronger with every hour, stealing Light from both ends of the Day and chasing the sun to Southern shores. But Tommy was not paying any attention to the Time of day or the Disappearing hours as he rode out on his pony Prince, because he was dreaming of feats of valor and adventures bold and daring, and maybe even wishing he could find that sword... the one he was fairly sure he had lost a while ago.

And as was often the case, he was headed for the Castle ruins, 

            where he knew he was not supposed to play, 

                                                       but where he went whenever he could.

He was quite startled to look up from his dreams 

and spot a Gypsy wagon across the meadow,

 and even more surprised

 when a beautiful Gypsy lady approached him!

                      At first he was so surprised, that he did not notice what she was carrying... 

 Until she was very close and spoke to him....

"I believe you are the Young Man who took this sword from the Castle.." 

she said in a clear and beautiful voice.

Tommy could only nod his agreement.

She handed the sword to him and said 

"You must return this sword to the Castle straight away."

And then she added very firmly 

"You must Not use it for any reason

 except if it is to help the Little Dreamer."

Tommy nodded again... 

he was not entirely sure he was not dreaming still....

But he could not remember who the Little Dreamer was!

But he knew where the Castle was, 

and he was headed that way already...

 so perhaps it was best if he take the sword back at once!

If he wasn't Dreaming after all... 

it would be best to get it over with.

So he rode on his way heedless of the gathering gloom.

And I am sure that some of you will not be surprised

 to learn that Time was being fickle...

Those who arrived at the Castle could never be sure

 what Time they would find.

Sometimes it was the Medieval Times... 

 When the kitchen was kept always warm....

And Old Meg sat by the fire keeping watch through the Ages.

And sometimes it was neither Now nor Then....

but sometime in between...

Lady Athena spent a great deal of Time in the Castle...

 at one time it was her home.

And she entertained her fellow Witches frequently.

Recently her twin sister Cassandra had joined her there...

Cassandra's own home was undergoing some much needed upgrades,

so she had come for a while and she had brought her latest favorite project...

 

A tiny dollhouse!

But the Witches were paying it no attention today. 

They were preparing for the onset of the Dark Times....

 "By the way..." said Cassandra quietly, 

"I don't know whether you heard

 there will be a party here on All Hallows Eve?"

"There always is," replied Lady Athena.

"We might have to roll up the carpet."

But Somebody, Dear Readers, was not paying attention

 and left the Tiny Dollhouse open just a small bit...

And when the Witches were all somewhere else...

If you looked really closely you might see 

inside the house to where an even smaller dollhouse stood

 under a beautiful Christmas Tree!

And if you waited long enough.... 

you might just spot a Teeny Tiny Little Dreamer 

as she climbed out to have a look around!

Certainly the Mischievous little Fairy noticed!

He had been hanging around Forever waiting to have some Fun!

Meanwhile, across the room in front of the Pier Glass, 

another Tiny Person appeared.

She came and went from time to time.....

The Teeny Tiny Dreamer had found her way down to the floor....

 this seemed to be mostly a matter of a leap of Faith....

but there she was, no worse for wear!

"Hullo..." called out the Tiny Alice...

 (for I am sure you have seen her before...)

"Did you come in through the Looking Glass too....?" she added.

 

"Um... no...I came in the Little House..." 

said the Teeny Tiny Dreamer.

"Oh... you had a whole House...!" said Alice with a touch of envy.

"Not really....!" declared the Teeny Tiny Dreamer. 

"The doors didn't work and there were no stairs. 

If I were to make a House I would be sure to have stairs...

 and real doors! With hinges!" she said emphatically.

"And food in every room...  just to be sure" she added.

"Oh... I would not eat anything if I were you!" said Alice.

"How do you think I became this small...?"

"It's not easy finding your way back, you know..." she added morosely.

"Oh Dear...." gasped the Teeny Tiny Dreamer looking over Alice's head.

"Are you the White rabbit....?"

"No... I am only Harriet Hare..." she replied.

"Don't worry.... I am vegetarian... I don't eat Little People."

"But watch out for the cats... " she added.

Well, Dear Readers, we will have to leave them here for now,

 as the fire burns low and the darkness grows.

I am sure we could play for hours, 

but there are other matters to attend.

For the Little Dreamer Amy was not content

 to just wait for her sister to arrive.

She had decided she must go get help!

It was not a sunny day.

 In fact it was quite gloomy... 

and already getting late...

she knew she must hurry!

She was ever so happy to see her favorite pony appear over the horizon...

Ginger Snap came right up to her... 

she knew what was needed!

Little Dreamer Amy climbed right on...

And they were off .... flying like the wind... 

Whisper running with them too...

Heading straight for the Castle and the Wizard's Cave!

 Where the Wizard stood... staring into the fire.

He was sure he was no longer Dreaming...

But clearly not All had awakened!

    The Little Dreamer Beth was missing... 

and none knew where she had gone!  

He would need to summon all the help he could find....

starting with her siblings...

But that is not all, Dear Readers, 

because I am sure you are aware 

that there will be a party at the Castle

 this All Hallows Eve!  

 The local folk were all donning their favorite costumes...

Pollyanna is going as a Witch, and Arthur as a Wizard.

Joanna is going as a Fair Lady and Victor as her swain.

Annabelle is once again the cutest Fairy...

while Sally May, like her sister is a Witch.

Her husband Chip always prefers to dress as an "Ordinary Guy".

They are waiting for Helen and Charles...

and Helen is worried that her costume is not good enough.

She chose a different gown...

"You look Beautiful, my Dear!" declared Charles.

"Let's just get your wrap...."

"Shall we be off now...?"

"You look Lovely!"confirmed Victor.

"Everyone is ready..."

But was the Hall ready...?

Ken had certainly thought it would be ready!

Well, Dear Readers, we will have to leave you here,

Because Every Now and Then,

 the Darkness Descends...

Ready or Not!

I do hope you will come to the Party!

(to be continued....)