Like Fallen Leaves on the Winds....
The Little Dreamer Amy, Dear Readers, had tired of playing alone with the Tiny Dolls, and decided to try and find Beth after all. She had no idea how long it was since Beth had gone out, but she was fairly sure that she could find her at the Castle Ruins. She hoped she could catch up to her if she hurried.
The morning was still young, and the air was fresh
and sweet with the scent of Heather on the moors.
She wished she had left when Beth did....
it was much more fun to cross the Briar Moors together.
Sometimes they even got to ride the wild ponies...
but today they were nowhere in sight.
Maybe she would find them along the way
she thought as she trudged over the hill....
or maybe not....
You never knew when the ponies would show up!
And I suppose you might not be surprised to learn
that Tommy's little sister Beatrice
had also decided to try to catch up with her brother...
She knew he had gone to the Castle,
and she hated being left behind!
But her little legs were short.... and the walk was long.
She was beginning to wonder if she should
just sit and wait for him to come home again,
when she heard a horse and rider approaching.
It was the Gypsy on her huge horse!
Maybe she was going to the castle too, thought Beatrice..
(it would not be the first time their paths had crossed!)
"Are you looking for your brother, Little One...?" called the Gypsy.
Beatrice could only nod...
And before she knew it,
she was lifted up to ride with the Gypsy!
Wait 'til she could tell Tommy she had ridden on such a huge horse...!
thought Beatrice as they rode of swiftly towards the Castle.
And what of Tommy... you wonder?
Well, the closer he got to the Castle, the darker the day became!
He almost thought he should turn around and go back....
there was an eerie light and dark clouds gathering..
But perhaps he would just go inside first....
since he had come all this way...
just in case there was anyone here...
When they entered the stables, no one was there.
Sometimes the stable was full of the Castle horses...
But today it seemed there was nobody here at all.
But maybe he would take a look anyway... just in case...
Perry, too, had arrived to find an empty castle, Dear Readers,
but he had not arrived at the same "Time" as Tommy!
As some of you may know,
Time in the Castle is Fickle at best!
The children often strayed from one Era to another....
their wanderings were natural and easily allowed
because they were young and didn't yet know what to expect!
The possibilities were only limited by their imaginations!
Sometimes Perry was in Tommy's Era,
and sometimes Tommy was in Perry's...
But more often they were both in another Era altogether!
Perry had gone straight to the Chamber where they had found the Sword...
but today it looked different....
there was no old Treasure chest by the window....
He wondered where it had gone...?
The Gypsy and Little Beatrice had arrived too...
where she set up her Fortune Teller's table.
She like to be there early so she could watch the guests arriving.
So far the Castle was empty.
"Do you need help finding your brother...?" she asked Beatrice.
But Beatrice did not answer.
She was looking around as if she felt very lost.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, but in another Era,
the Little Dreamer Beth was crossing the Great Hall.
She had been trying to catch up with Perry
as she headed for the castle....
But he was not there...
The Great Hall was empty.
And Dark!
Where had Perry gone... she wondered?
But just because the Little Dreamer did not see anyone there...
Did not mean there was no one there!
For just a short Time ago..... in a slightly different Time,
Ken had been starting to decorate the Great Hall
for the All Hallows Eve Party!
He had invited some of his "old" Friends to help him welcome the guests...
It was going to be a Wild Time he thought!
And a Long Time Ago,
but not very far away at all, Dear Readers,
The Wizard had been watching from the Battlements
as the children were flocking to the Castle....
"What mischief was afoot now....?" he wondered...
as they arrived one by one...
He could feel the tension in the air....
But could not tell its cause....!
And yet, he knew in his bones...
the Time of year was Ripe for Mischief...
All Hallows Eve when the Spirits were abroad....
And the Thin Veil of Time between Then and Now....
was tattered and torn...
He would need the Help of Greater Powers
to Protect them all...
And just at The moment he had that thought ....
there was a sudden brilliant flash..
And a Crashing Sizzling Booming
of thunder over the Castle!
It shook the entire castle!
And Everything Shifted....
In the Great Hall, Beth could Feel the air around her changing....
Beneath her feet a Carpet appeared....
where none had been before....
Things she knew she had seen before...
appeared where they had never been...
Or was it She who had never Been where they were...?
Until Now?
And how could she be sure....?
When everything shifted before her eyes....?
And up in the Council Chamber....
Perry stood in shock as the room transformed in front of his eyes!
He could not have imagined this!
The Little Dreamer Amy had only just arrived in the Stables...
And what of Beatrice and the Gypsy...?
Beatrice has found herself in the Ancient Kitchen...
with Henry and Belle...
But the Gypsy has Disappeared!
Even over at The Lovely Old Dollhouse, Dear Readers,
the force of the Thunder was felt!
"Heavens, did you hear that...?" says Pollyanna.
"I hope that didn't strike anything...!" replied Arthur.
"Do you think the storm will ruin the Party...?" asked Pollyanna.
"Nah," said Arthur. "It'll probably blow over pretty fast.
It'll be all done by the Time we need to go out." he added.
Well, Dear Readers, I hope you will not mind if we pause here....
just for a minute or two...
until the Storm blows over...
While we try to find the Scattered pieces of Time....
To Be Continued.....
