Purposefully she strode across the yellow crust of the ancient lake.  She did not stop until she came to the blue stone glinting beneath noon sun.  It was waiting for her.

She paused just outside the jewel's power circle.  Not looking toward the flashing violet sky, she began the slow movements.  The sound began inside her as a Presence, an essence of frequency.  Quickly stepping into the Circle, she moved around, turning to the Center, where she firmly placed her Glove. Turning around once more, full Circle, she stood still. With arms held high she moved out, away, a peculiar motion of sound shaping form…

--and found herself, rapidly tiring of the rain, searching the rocky cliffs for shelter. Finding a small crevice tucked under a stone overhang, she crept inside.

“My life is a soggy mess just like this storm,” she thought. Futilely she squeezed as much water from her hair and clothing as she could. Pushing long wet strands of hair behind her ears, she peered through the streamers of rain still slanting down outside her rocky lair. So tired, so bone‑weary tired she was. Her thoughts fell into a murmur, she felt her first sense of peace in days,  and drifted into exhausted sleep.

She woke to a clear musical melody. Where was it coming from? What was it?

She scrambled to her knees, but could see only the pearly grey of early morning fog. Last night's storm had cleared the mountain peak behind the dark castle which had been her prison. There! That sound again... what on earth was it?

The sound made her feel happy and she didn't know why. Ah, yes, it drifted from over there, by the line of trees, a glint of rainbow flashed, was gone, flashed again.

Realizing it disappeared each time she looked, she relaxed her body, pretending she was not searching the hillside with her eyes. Barely, gently, the sound came again, closer. She could feel the sound of colors playing across her face. She dared not move or open her eyes for fear it, whatever it was, would go away. She had not felt this peaceful in her life! Where is this place? she wondered. Where am I?

"Hearken to these words, Child, hear these words." The Voice was clear, pure, yet she could hear incredible harmonics in it. More than one voice, all speaking at the same time, and in harmony? Her credulity was stretched to the limit, but yes, this is what she was hearing.

After a small silence the Voice continued. "Understand what endures, child. Once you can do that, you can resolve any problem. And remember: You can always ask for help as well." Tinkle of colored hues, a swirl around her face of gentle touch, and she was alone on the hillside once more.

The morning wisps of cloud were clearing she noted as she looked toward the Dark Castle, remembering with shudders the black horrors she had seen there in its dungeons just before the night's storm had given her a chance to escape.

Sky was turning into a beautiful shade, she could hear birds happily chirruping. The castle did not seem to be darkening the land today. Wait! It should have been up on that high rocky crag; she was certain she had traveled toward the village during the storm. Peering again, she could see no sign of the familiar path, nor the castle, not even the familiar sight of thatched roofs. Where had the night's storm taken her?

Strangely, she felt no fear, only a deep quiet strength that was beginning to flow through her, giving her limbs life once more. She was freed from the Castle with its stone walls. She had overcome her fear of consequences, she had thrust fear away from her resolve. With understanding comes strength, she knew; her mind was already sifting the darkness of fear into oblivion.

"This is the last time I am the Victim", she told herself. "The very last time!”

With a jaunty skip, she danced out of the dark cave into full morning light on the mountain., singing, “Ready or Not, here I AM!”

Was it my imagination, or did just a hint of rainbow laughter follow her?...

© Judith L Bailey 2003