Ambrosia's Story by Tammy Marie Rose

life. He
headed back into the woods found a dark rock cave and slept soundly
on a bed of moss dreaming of the riches to come.
    * * * *
    When Rom exited his hut that morning,
everyone gathered around him. The children rushed him attaching
themselves to his legs.
    “I am glad to see you too,” he said
encircling them with his large arms.
    Mirabella sat on Ambrosia’s shoulder. “All of
that is because of you, Ambrosia. Rom is home and safe. Without you
he may have died alone in a world he did not belong to.”
    “Majik did all the work. He carried Rom all
the way home and found you to heal him,” Ambrosia said as she
watched Rom with the children.
    “Majik did not stop Rom’s bleeding nor did he
splint his leg to prevent further damage and pain. You were very
brave Ambrosia and you should be very proud of yourself.”
    Tears silently ran down Ambrosia’s cheek. “I
hope that those are tears of joy,” Mirabella said.
    “No one has told me they were proud of me
since my mother died.”
    “Oh, sweet Ambrosia, you are a very special
girl and your mother would be so proud of the young lady that you
have become.”
    Ambrosia smiled through her tears. Rom joined
them. He tried to form the words he needed to tell Ambrosia how
grateful he was, but they would not come. Instead, he wrapped his
arms around her and hugged her to him. Ambrosia put her head on his
shoulder and she felt true love for the first time since she lost
her mother.
    Daniel McDonald watched from behind a tree.
“Patience,” he whispered to himself. Soon he would put his plan
into action and begin his planned journey to riches.
    Ambrosia he would get while she slept tonight
and after he had secured her in the cave, he would come back for
the red haired fairy. She would be easy to transport and once the
world sees her they will pay him millions maybe even billions to
reveal the whereabouts of the Mystical Forest.
    As Daniel McDonald formed his evil plan,
Ambrosia and her new family gathered in prayer giving thanks for
the safe return of their beloved Rom.
    * * * *
    As darkness fell, Daniel McDonald watched
from the forest as the village wound down for the night. One by
one, lighted windows went dark.
    He sat in the darkness just outside the
village giving its inhabitants plenty of time to go to sleep. He
had planned out the safest route to Ambrosia’s hut and Mirabella’s
mushroom. He needed to get in and out as quickly as possible and
get beyond the boundaries of the forest before daylight.
    He had made a rope from a thick vine he
discovered dangling from a tree. He carried that rope on his hip.
He would secure Ambrosia with it then return for the fairy.
    He made his way through the woods taking
cover behind the trees. The moon was full and if someone would
awaken, he could easily be spotted.
    Reaching Ambrosia’s hut he checked around
him, nothing stirred. He considered entering through the door, but
he feared it would make enough noise to wake Ambrosia from her
slumber. Instead, he carefully entered through the window. When his
feet hit the hut’s dirt floor Ambrosia stirred, but did not
waken.
    Once beside her he knelt down and clasped his
hand over her mouth. She awoke seeing her stepfather’s face and
immediately began to struggle for her freedom.
    “Stop struggling, Ambrosia, or I will hurt
you and your little friends too.”
    Ambrosia immediately stopped fighting him
knowing in her heart he would do exactly what he threatened.
    “I need to take my hand from your mouth now.
If you scream I will hurt you and the others, do you
understand?
    She nodded yes.
    He removed his hand from her mouth and began
tying her hands in front of her. “Now come quietly with me,
Ambrosia, or your new friends will pay for your actions.”
    Daniel McDonald tied her feet together then
hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack. He carried her back to
the cave. When he put her down, he was breathing heavily.
    He tore off a piece of his shirt and stuffed
it into her