Diary of The Journal Keeper

Entry Number Fifteen

Hello Dear friends,
For those of you who have just arrived, (and perhaps do not have the time to “catch-up” with all the past entries), you can click here for a slightly quicker synopsis of what you have missed. For those of you who are returning to my journal, thank you for your perseverance and patience. Unfortunately, when life gets interesting, it’s hard to stop and take the time to write…my apologies for the millionth time!

I last wrote to you about my latest journal discovery; A Journal Keeper from long ago, named Ambriel. She had been a servant girl in a castle in a Kingdom known as Beaufolia. I found it right under my very own nose in Hawthorne Cottage (the ancestral home of my grandfather) but had never noticed it before as it had been cleverly disguised as a children’s fairytale book. Of course finding another journal in the home of my grandfather makes me wonder his connection in all of this. At the moment I really have no answers as far as that goes…

But what I do have is another journal which was originally sketched out in pictures and words by this young and very talented woman. How it got transformed into a fairytale, I’m not sure. (But certainly its disguise did help to keep it from being discovered till now) Although Ambriel’s story was written long ago, I think its message carries through to our world as well and why, I believe, I was meant to find it now. I think perhaps I will just let you read some of its excerpts on your own and perhaps you will feel as I do; that no matter how powerless we may feel in this world to make change, every single person will have the opportunity to stand for something and has the potential to shift the negativity of our world. You will see that her world is not so different from ours - as material wealth and power cannot save her fear driven Kingdom, but rather it is the wealth of a compassionate soul that transforms fear into courage and inspires others to seek positive change.

Here is some of Ambriel’s story as introduced and told by “Virgil” - who looks alarming like my traveling friend, Skelly - but calls himself the “Keeper of the Book.”

Ambriel’s Journal:
“Welcome, I am the keeper of this very old (even ancient) story which has traveled to the stars and back - for we go to wherever we are needed! I rest trustfully now in your hands…

This is no ordinary fable, for this is a true faerie tale taken from the words and drawings of a young girl named Ambriel. Although her beginnings were that of a humble servant girl, her riches were well beyond all earthly perceptions. This is her journey that began long ago, in the ancient Kingdom known as Beaufolia, which in the old language meant “all that is possible.” Unfortunately, at the time of Ambriel’s birth, the Kingdom did not reflect it’s meaning at all! For the time of “possibility” seemed to have long since passed and the once grand Kingdom had been divided into two kingdoms many generations earlier, by feuding brothers who could not reign peacefully together. At this point in time, the great, great, grandsons ruled the separate kingdoms – no longer even recognizing that they had once been members of the same family. To make matters worse, a great drought had parched the land as both kingdoms struggled to grow their crops. The Kingdom west of the great river was ruled by King Argolus and was always more prosperous then the Kingdom to the east known as “The Grimlands,” which never had much rainfall even before the drought and were forced to work much harder to keep their kingdom thriving.

All that seemed to remain of the original kingdom was the grandest of grand trees which rested upon an unreachable island, which sat in the middle of a very powerful river which as time progressed, split the two prevailing kingdoms. As with all great and magnificent trees, its roots sat at the threshold of the doorway between this world and the deeper earth knowledge kept alive by the beings of the “Under” Kingdoms, including the mystical race known as Faerie. The time had already passed when this revered race of the Fae walked freely among man as their equal to guide and teach. For it seemed as man made his choices based upon his material world, the physical companionship between Humanity and the Under-Kingdoms all but dissolved. Although the ancient oaths of guidance still remained intact, few humans were able to see these beings any longer and those that could were not the powerful or well-to-do; only those who still carried the purest of hearts and the most innocent of vision. Let us begin then through the gates to Beaufolia…”

“As foretold, he found the newborn in the moon-washed forest. In a woven basket nestled in silvered leaves, she rested peacefully; a simple golden band encircled her smooth untroubled forehead; an ancient gnarled oak reached out its arms above her, offering its age worn protection. He knew of course, this little one had nothing to fear; because of her heritage she would always be welcomed into the heart of the woodlands. Indeed, there would never be a place she would feel more at home than here. His only job for now was to place her in a home of wisdom and unquestioning goodness, where she could grow strong in both mind and spirit. He knew the perfect place and set off with the baby girl, the moonlight bathing them both as they moved silently amongst the trees along the forest’s path.

He came to the cottage door of two unmarried sisters, known as Arnica and Fern. They knew the gentlemen as “Silvanus” and had encountered each other many times in the woods as they gathered their various herbs and flowers which were used for their work. Knowing that his intellect matched his very kind nature, when they answered the door and he placed the child in their arms on that clear winter night, they asked only, “What is her name?” He showed them the piece of paper that had been tucked in along side of the child and there it read, “AMBRIEL” and her date of birth. This note along with a gold orb were all the possessions she had been left with. When he asked if they would raise her as their daughter, they accepted with grateful hearts. Under their care, they would help to create in Ambriel a nature that was lighthearted, gentle and endlessly fascinated with the vibrant world around her. When the old man returned to visit her from time to time, he could tell by her delightfully open smile that he had placed her well.”

“Arnica and Fern never stopped feeling gratitude for whatever forces of fate had brought Ambriel to their door. She spent her childhood days in the small thatched cottage surrounded by meadow that bordered a dark green forest that was situated on the outskirts of a Kingdom known as Beaufolia. They recognized from early on that she had unusual artistic abilities. They made paints for her from natural sources and her colorful images soon progressed to detailed studies of the beautiful landscape and the animals around her, in a style quite unusual for her time. Her knowledge of the natural world grew as well because her mothers, Fern and Arnica had garnered a reputation as healers and people came from all around asking for their medicinal knowledge of plants and tinctures. So well respected were they, that even the Royal Family would invite them to the castle when traditional medicines had failed them. The Royal family which ruled the Kingdom of Beaufolia was not typical and consisted of King Argolus, Queen Lillianna and their two daughters – Faylene (the eldest) and the younger named Coressa. Faylene was the apple of the Kingdoms’ eye for fair she was! The King’s first wife, Faylene’s mother, died in childbirth though and with a heavy heart he raised her alone - giving Faylene everything she wanted. A few years later, he remarried to Lillianna, a beautiful woman from across the sea who brought her daughter named Coressa. Just two years younger then Faylene, they hoped they would become as close as real sisters…but they didn’t, for they were nothing alike. Coressa was a fragile child, for when she was but a baby, her skin reacted so horribly to the sun that her mother was certain it was an old family curse. When the child was allowed out, she had to be covered completely, wearing a heavy mask over her face at her mother’s insistence. Faylene could not stand being seen with her, afraid others would see her as odd too. Coressa became a lonely child and looked forward to the days when the sisters from the meadow were called upon to come to the castle. Ambriel always accompanied Arnica and Fern and Coressa would have a playmate. Normally one of such humble origins as Ambriel would never have been allowed close to the Princess, but because of her easy nature, never showing fear of Coressa’s strange attire, Ambriel was allowed. Over the years, a close friendship grew and Ambriel soon became Coressa’s trusted confidant. Time moved on and at the age of fourteen, Ambriel was asked if she would like to stay at the castle as one of Coressa’s hand maidens. Although her mothers were sad to see her leave, they knew that Ambriel would have much greater opportunity to further her artistic gifts with better tools then they could offer her. So it was agreed upon and Ambriel left the safe shelter of the cottage in the meadow and entered into her new life at the castle.”

I will continue Ambriel’s story when we meet again… J.K.