Everlasting...
When the Children's Father returned home that afternoon, Dear Readers, and found that Tommy's Pony, Prince, had come back without Tommy, he was worried. Tommy was a decent rider and usually had no trouble from Prince. But when he realized that Beatrice was also missing, he went looking for her older sister, Caroline to find out why. You can imagine that when he found no sign of Caroline or their dog Snowy, he became truly alarmed! This was beyond troubling! Caroline was so sensible and rarely went against the rules... where would she have gone? His wife, Charlotte had been with the baby all day, who was excessively colicky, and the Housekeeper had been at the market all afternoon. He was afraid he knew that the children had gone to the Castle Ruins.... they knew that was out of bounds! And on top of it all, the evenings came so early at this time of year and a storm was approaching.... he must hurry to find them before it was dark! He grabbed a lantern and headed off across the meadow.
He tried to comfort himself with the thought
that their dog, "Snowy", was with them....
And that they had each other to rely on....
he Hoped they were safe....!
And I hope you will understand that when
Caroline and Snowy had neared the Castle,
Snowy had dashed ahead, following the scent of Beatrice,
who had gone around to the cliff side hoping to find the caves.
Snowy rushed down the path right to the water's edge...
But Beatrice was not there....
He could not see her in the water.... or anywhere nearby...!
He would wait right here...!
She would come back... he knew she would....!
As for Caroline, hearing the enchanting music,
she had gone inside the Castle and found the little doll...
It was all alone in this Deserted old Castle Ruins.....
Oh how she wanted to pick her up and take care of her....!
She was heavier than Caroline had thought she would be....
"Just like a real baby...!" thought Caroline,
who had been allowed to hold her baby brother JoJo.
But what should she do with her? Who did she belong to...?
Maybe she could find somebody who could help her....
Caroline turned for the door.....
But suddenly she began to feel reluctant to move....
She didn't know what to do or where to go....
And she hadn't noticed that the music stopped
the moment she touched the doll...
Meanwhile, Dear Readers,
you must have wondered where Tommy had gone?
Tommy had been to the Wizard's cave a number of times,
so he knew the way.
He had been hoping to find the cave empty....
because he knew it led to another cave...
where the dragon had taken the sword...
Or at least he thought he remembered going there once....
but this time the Wizard was in the cave....
As though he expected to see Tommy...
and he was blocking the path to the other cave....
And he spoke!
"Young man...." said the Wizard,
"You will not find what you are looking for on this path..."
"Your task is not to find Treasure that is not yours,
but to guard the the Treasure that is!"
Tommy had no idea what he meant.... but he nodded all the same.
"Your sisters,..." continued the Wizard,
"Need your help and protection...
if they are not to come to harm!"
"You will find them on the cliff paths...
they are looking for you...."
Tommy turned and headed for the cliff paths....
he could hardly believe he was supposed to care what his Sisters did....!
But in his heart he was worried...
Beatrice was on the cliffs.... ?
Meanwhile, Deep in the heart of The Castle,
Old Meg had felt the shift...
She nearly always could be found
in her corner by the kitchen hearth...
yet Sometimes....
she knew she was needed elsewhere...
She could feel it in her Bones
when trouble was afoot!
The Wizard needed her help with Potions...
The Children had strayed into realms where they did not belong
and had seen that which they could not see!
She would need to dip her hands into the Spring of Dreams....
And chant a charm of "Forgetting"....
And summon the Little Dreamers
from the Lands whereof they Dreamt....
And in that moment the Little Dreamers
were standing before the Spring of Dreams...
She turned to the Little Dreamer Beth...
for even though she was blind... Old Meg could "See"...
"This potion you must carry to the top room of The Castle Tower..." she said...
"And tell the child you will find there
that she cannot leave the Castle if she holds the doll!
It is not of her Time.... it must not be done!"
"She must return it where she found it...." said Old Meg, clearly...
"And when she does, you must pour the potion over her head!"
"Only then can she leave and return to her Time!"
"And your sister..." she says, turning to Little Dreamer Amy,
"Must wait outside the Castle by the Cliffs...
and tell all the children they are to not enter The Castle,
and especially tell the boy he is to wait
for both his sisters before he takes them home...!"
Little Dreamer Beth headed straight for the Castle...
She knew her way upstairs...
she had been here many Times before...
but there was no child in this room....
she was not sure she had been up these stairs before....
At the top of the stairs she finds a girl holding a beautiful doll....
"Old Meg said to tell you the doll is not of your Time..." said Beth.
"You will never be able to leave The Castle as long as you hold her!
"You must put her back where you found her..." she added.
The girl said nothing at all...
but turned and took the doll back...
At that moment, Beth reached out
and poured the potion over Caroline's head...
As if in a trance, she walked out of the room....
She had not seemed to even notice...
that the enchanting music had started to play again...
But Little Dreamer Beth had heard....
and was enthralled by the beautiful little doll....
Tommy had headed for the cliffs, Dear Readers,
hoping he would not find Beatrice in danger!
He didn't see Beatrice anywhere,
but he was a little surprised to see Snowy
sitting on the rocks below!
"Snowy...!" called Tommy....
"What are you doing out here...?" he demanded
as Snowy ran toward him. "Where's Beatrice...?" he added.
But Snowy could not answer him....
And as you might recall, Beatrice had gone to The Cloud Palace
with Hamish Harry 'Hotcakes' McCloud!
Beatrice had wondered about The Cloud Palace
ever since she had heard there was such a place....
(she had not been sure it was possible!)....
But now she knew!
It was very beautiful... and airy..... and Cold!
And to tell the Truth...
she was quite afraid she might fall off....
Clouds... after all... were not very solid!
Blue, the Blue Fairy Beary came to
welcome Beatrice to The Cloud Palace.
"You are welcome to look around she said....
but I can grant wishes too...
(she was fairly certain that Beatrice wished she were someplace else!)
The only thing Beatrice could think of to say was
"I want to find my brother Tommy!"
Suddenly there was a golden wishing star in her hand.....
and in the very next instant.....
Snowy was running down the cliff path....
And Beatrice was there to meet him!
"Woo-woo..." said Snowy excitedly...!
He had found her!
"Woo--wooo-ooo!" he said louder...
he was so glad to find her!
"Where have you been?!" declared Tommy,
(he was a trifle upset.)
"I wanted to find you ..." cried Beatrice....
"but you were not here!"
"You are not supposed to follow me to The Castle...!" he said loudly.
"You are not supposed to come to The Castle either....!" she said.
Just then Tommy noticed someone standing on The Castle stairs....
"You must not enter The Castle..." she said.
And Old Meg says you must wait here
for your other sister before you can go home.
Fortunately, they did not have long to wait....
no sooner had Little Dreamer Amy stopped talking,
when Caroline appeared at the top of the stairs.
At last they could set off for home!
(Tommy wondered briefly where Prince had gone....)
When suddenly there was Papa coming towards them through the gathering dusk...
"Papa, Papa....!!!" cried Beatrice...
"We wondered where you were for so long...!"
"Well, you have found me...!" Papa declared, picking Beatrice up...
she was much too little to walk all that way herself!
"And now you must take me home!" he declared.
"We don't want to be late for supper!"
Well, I suppose, Dear Readers, you might think
that is the End of the Enchantments for this evening...
But I must remind you that
The Castle All Hallows Eve Party
is just getting under way...!
Gabrielle and a few little Princesses are gathered
at the Gypsy's Fortune Telling table...
waiting to hear their Fortunes for this Night....
Helen and Charles have just arrived
and Helen is a bit disconcerted to learn
they are not the first guests!
"Are you sure we are not late, Charles?" she asks.
"I was so certain the Party didn't start until Dusk!" she added.
"Well, I'm sure everybody is as eager as we are
to get here in Time!" said Charles soothingly.
Fleur has come as a "Lady's Maid"
the better to look after all the little Princesses.
Fred And Cherie Aileen are a Pirate and his Moll....
Jack 'o Lantern is glowing away....
Snacks are available for those in need of.... Enchantment....
(Be Careful what you eat or drink on All Hallows Eve!)
Pollyanna and Arthur are ready for Magic.....
Sally May and Chip have arrived ... she's a Witch like her sister,
and He's sporting his "Award Winning" Regular Guy costume!
(Although he swears he doesn't "do" costumes!)
And their daughter Annabelle....
is the cutest Fairy ever!
Victor and Joanna are Robin Hood and Maid Marion....
And Great Aunt Agatha is lurking in the corner...
keeping an eye on Stray Time Travelers...
She brought her pet Albino Spider along......
And above in the Gallery... everybody's Favorite band
"The Deadly Nightshades" are just getting started
on a Wild Night of Rock and Roll Classics....
Shaking the Bats from the rafters....
with "Werewolves of London...." Awoooooo!
It seems as though everybody is having a Ball!
Except, perhaps, for the Little Dreamer Beth...
who can hear nothing but the Enchanting music played by the little doll!
Well, Dear Readers, they say that
All Hallows Eve is a Time of Magic....
Spells and Enchantment are in the Air!
I hope you can come to the Party....
and Take a little Magic with you...
Enchantment Forevermore....!
