~PRINCESS MIRA'S DIARY ~

3/24/01

Dear Diary,

Well, here I sit under the shade of a most lovely shade tree...This morning I went under my disguise to the stables to work as stableboy..They still have not figured it out as yet although I cannae truly say there have not been some strange looks...I left a note for Rolf in my room to say that I was with Mary for my daily workout and that we would be gone from the Castle proper this day and to not worry if we were to be late...NOW I know this is a fib perhaps a white lie which has very many holes indeed...I can only hope that my request sent to Mary will keep her out of Rolf's way and explain my lack of presence indeed for my instructions..Alas I have weaved a very dizzy web but I like to think it is for a very good cause.....*SIGH*

It seems to be about midmorning, I struck out at dawn and I should be very close to the Cave...I stopped to rest Maximus as he is NOT happy with me...I also needed to get my bearings AND my courage up...I don't mind saying HOW frightened I am!...I am of a mind to go back home but I cannae for I have weaved tooo many lies to face.....OH MY STARS....I lost my way abit of a time seeming to find the same OLD Large ROCK over and over again...I was exasperated and Maximus had that look in his eye that said he would buck me off if I found that Rock AGAIN....AND leave me to my fate...He is eyeing me as I write, a mite uneasily....LA....

I am trying to gather my courage as I munch this piece of dried fruit....I be so relieved to see the trees budding out...Although there is still danger of frost and it still gets very cold at night but warms up in the light of day....I can hear the roar of the surf....I do so wish that I could turn tail and run...I dinnae think that I would get my wish for ADVENTURE so soon....BE CAREFUL for what you wish for 'ay my friend....OH MY STARS....I shall leave Maximus tethered here loosely by the small stream...I shall head on foot the rest of the way....The sun is high in the sky, so dear friend I BEST meet this head on.....DEEP BREATH.....Aye but I do so wonder what Mary or Dante' or Prince Rowan would do???.....At least if something happens I will have told you and perhaps someone will find you AND my ramblings....SO just in case_I am headed for that Cave which is hidden down the side of the cliff by the sea...It is not more than walking distance from this tree nor more than a 3 hour ride from Castle Lion going toward the sea_.....Hope that helps my rescue party...OK SO I am a wee bit dramatic....

BIG DEEP BREATH....I am going...I am going on foot now so I shall close....Wish me well my friend....~yours, Mira~

To be continued...........

~PRINCESS MIRA'S DIARY~ 3/24/01 Dear Diary, I am writing this sitting under that same tree once again, it is nightfall...Very late indeed..I sit in front of the small fire rehashing everything that happened in the cave...I still cannae believe it all...I feel different and yet the same...I can hardly begin to tell my tale as yet to you but I will share a bit more when back safe in my room at Castle Lion...It is very hard now to write as I still tremble with disbelief and some denial.. "As I walked in the direction of the cave , climbing and tripping, I find it very hard going...I could hear and see the surf , the cave overlooked the sea and was very difficult to reach but at last I did...At this point I was very wary... I climbed up and then over finding the entrance facing me finally....One wrong step and I could fall to my death...I took a deep breath , whispered a prayer of safe keeping and went in...I was blind once I reached the interior as the sun had been so bright, I thought for a moment to be in utter darkness...My eyes slowly adjusted...I could see outlines of boulders and the rock walls...I tripped over small rocks but righted myself.." "I went deeper into the darkness with great unease..I sat on a high rock, hoping that I wouldn't touch or feel anything alive and frightening trying not to let my imagination get the best of me..I could hear things scurrying furtively..I closed my eyes and waited...Time passed it seemed very slowly...I noticed a glow against my eyelids that continued to grow brighter...I peeked out through a slit in my eyes...I could see nothing but a distant glow BUT it illuminated the cave around me...I could see many living things but they were struck dumb and were not moving as if entranced..." "I could not swallow as I was so dry mouthed from pure fear...I was ready to BOLT then as if something read my mind I could see a figure coming toward me.....It was a man with long gray and black hair tied back, all dressed in black ....He was extremely handsome....He came to a certain point and stopped....I looked at his face...It was impassive with no emotion showing at all save for the eyes....They sparkled in an unearthly way...He filled the cave with his presence, the power radiated from him, he seated himself on the rock across from me...saying nothing at all...He seemed to be waiting for something, I dinnae know what it be...I held my breath lowered my gaze to the ground trying to keep from running..I heard a grizzled deep voice speak within my mind...It said " Young one, it is ok to fear but it clouds the mind, I will not harm ye if ye be the one I am to meet...Let me study ye...Ah yes , YE be her....I have been WAITING for ye for a very long time , my dear.....Jenna Jewel be your name though ye are known to the world as Princess Mira Lion...Ye are the "Gem of the Seasons" The special one!...INDEED... It is time child for ye to learn a few things....We do not have much time....NOW I command ye to listen to me then YE may speak...Do not interrupt me!....No lip will I hear until I have said my piece..." Oh Diary, this strange man talked with me, telling me that I must look for 12 gems..It is very important that I find them..They will be found in 4 sets of 3....I must search for these gems as they will help me fulfill my destiny..They will impart different pieces of wisdom, knowledge if you like, teaching me something important..I have no idea how they will come my way as I travel the land or how I will find them...He assured me that things would move of it's own accord in this as long as I take the right actions..Very puzzling indeed....Perhaps even overwhelming....Just as I thought he had finished, he caused a flash and things appeared on the ground in front of him...He said these items were for Jenna (me) to use as I saw fit in my quest to find the gems... I examined these items...There was a pair of leather leggings, a double shouldered jerkin in black and a dark cloak....Along side the clothing was a very light chainmail, with mountings worked into them that were empty....THere was a belt with a hunting knife..There was also a half staff with a whip..He encouraged me to examine all of this..The whip fit in snuggly to the end of the staff in a very unique way...Everything was black with the exception of the chainmail , it being a dark steel gray...He explained that the mountings would hold each gem as I found them...He continued speaking for a time then quietly bid me farewell...As he backed away from me to turn I asked if I would see him again...He half smiled and answered that indeed I would should the need arise or when the time was right......He left me then in a flash of light and the glow faded as it had come...I was confused and very stunned....I picked up the garments and chainmail put them in the soft bag of a material that I did not recognize that was there...I picked up the weapons and turned toward the way I had come... There is much more said BUT this I will finish with... Later Mary found me outside a little ways from the cave out cold...She said she could not rouse me so she put me on her horse and took me back to where I had left Maximus...She laid me down on some blankets and hoped to see if I would come around...She knew I was alive but I could not be awakened...She was beside herself but then Mary does not show that....She just matter of factly made a fire and waited with her sword across her legs on watch as the night closed in.... She did say that she had followed me as close as she dared, but she could not get inside the cave as it was warded....So she set out to wait for me to come out....She found herself feeling unnaturally drowsy, suspected magic but did not go on other than to tell me that she awakened hours later only to find the opening to the cave to have disappeared...We will leave at daybreak so next you shall hear from me in the safety of Castle Lion as I have MUCH to sort out in my mind...*SIGH* I thought I wanted ADVENTURE......Aye but I am not sure I want to be this OTHER one.....I will explain later...Good nite, my friend....at least I am safe...I am so glad that Mary is at my side...I should have known I could not fool her....We should be at Castle Lion by mid morning~yours, Mira~ to be continued.......