The two girls looked at Ulis and then at each other. Ulis had, for the first time in his young life, felt a sense of belonging. The look on his face was one of peace and love, instead of the fear and longing that was usually present. The three of them turned and stared in the door. There before them was a room like they had never seen before. It was beautiful. In the center of the room was a long table with a white tablecloth, beautiful dishes, real silverware and lots of food and drink. The room itself was decorated in silver and gold figurines of strange shapes. There were long filmy curtains all throughout the room, so you couldn't even tell that you were deep in a mountain. There was a huge fireplace along one wall with a warm fire going in it. Along another wall were rows and rows of books, all up and down the wall.

"Welcome to my and now your home, my children." The three of them looked up and coming from and unseen door was the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. She was dressed in a white dress with dark blue trim. Around her waist was a belt of gold with a strange design on it. She wore a necklace that had the same design, only this one was silver. She had hair black as a raven's feathers and eyes the color of violets. She looked so familiar, but none of them could place her. She waved towards the table and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you in any way. Come, sit down and eat. This is all for you." Ulis didn't need to be told twice. He almost knocked down the two girls trying to get to the table. Dawnetta looked at Krystelyna's face, trying to read her expression. But Krystelyna's face showed nothing. Almost as though she was in a trance, Krystelyna walked to the table and sat down, her eyes never leaving the lady or the pendent. Dawnetta followed her and sat next to her at the table.

The lady took the seat at the head of the table, next to Krystelyna. Her eyes followed Krystelyna gaze to where she was looking. "Do you like it?", she asked. Krystelyna seemed to snap out of a trance and she lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry for staring like that, it's just that I know I haveseen that design before, just as I know I have seen you before. I just can't place either one. The pendent is very beautiful." Krystelyna bent her head and just looked at her plate. The lady said, "Yes, my dear child, you have seen both before, but the when and where will be reveled all in good time. Right now, you need to eat and then I will show you to your rooms that I have had prepared for you." Dawnetta started to say something, then thought better of it and continued to eat. All this time, Ulis never said a word, but continued to eat. After they had finished eating, the lady stood up and said, "Now if you all will follow me, I will show you to your rooms." The three children stood up and followed her down a long well-lit hallway that had doors on both sides.

They came to a door and the lady stopped and opened it. "Ulis, this is your room.",the lady said as she opened the door. Ulis looked inside and his mouth flew open. The room was the biggest thing he had ever seen before. He had never even seen a house that big. He looked at the lady, then at the room, then down at his clothes. "I'm sorry but I can't possibly go in there.", he said with tears in his eyes. The lady looked at him and said, "Is there something wrong with it? I can change anything about it that you want me to." "Oh no.", said Ulis, "It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It's just that my clothes, along with, me are so muddy and dirty, that I'm scared I'll mess something up and then you'll be mad at me. The lady smiled at Ulis and said, "Don't worry about that. In your room you will find a hot bath, brand new clean clothes and other things I think you will enjoy." Ulis' eyes got big again and he shot past the lady and the girls, almost slamming the door in their faces. He quickly opened the door again and with a half-bow to the lady he said, "Thank you! Thank you very much!" And with those words, again the door shut behind him and his shrieks of pleasure and surprise with each new find could be heard all the way down the hall.

The girls followed the lady to another door, where they stopped in front of it. The lady looked at Dawnetta and said, "My dear, this is your room.", as she opened the door for Dawnetta, "You too, will find a hot bath, new clothes and other essential items that a young lady needs for her care." Dawnetta looked around the room, which was decorated in burgandy and lavender furnishings and curtains. The room was just as large as the one that Ulis was now occupying and, in her opinion, even more beautiful. Ulis' room had been decorated in different shades of blue, which was beautiful, but her room was in her favorite colors. She looked around for another bed, as she had only seen one. She looked at the lady and asked, "But with only one bed in here, where is Krystelyna going to sleep or are we to share the bed? It is big enough for the both of us, but the clothes that are laid out on it will never fit her." The lady looked at Dawnetta and said, "fear not for your little sister. She has her own room next to yours. This room is for you and you alone. No one will come in without your knowledge or your consent. Now go and enjoy your bath and we will all meet later and have a long talk." Dawnetta looked at the lady and for the first time she smiled. "As I am the eldest, I feel it my duty to thank you for all you're doing for us. Somehow we will find a way to re-pay you for all your kindness." The lady looked at Dawnetta and said, "Nonesense, my child. This is your home now and how ever long you and the other two wish to stay. If there should come a time when you feel the need to roam, then you will always have a home here to come back to." The lady put her arms around Dawnetta and hugged her tightly. Dawnetta hugged the lady back and quickly went into her room before the lady could see her tears.

The lady led Krystelyna down the hall to the next room. "And this, my dear, is your room.",she said, as she opened the door. Krystelyna looked into the room and a shriek came from her open mouth. The room was exactly like the one she had seen in her dreams. The carved red and white roses, the white walls, the massive 4-poster bed in the middle of the room, everything was the same. The lady looked at her with shock. "My child, what is wrong? Is there something wrong with the room? Don't you like it? What can I do to change it for you? Please tell me. It's alright, I'll do what ever I can to make it the way you want it to look." Krystelyna looked at the ladyand said, "The room is just like the one I have been seeing in my dreams. The dreams are the reason we came to see you and now I see the same room before me. Would you mind coming in so I may talk to you?" The lady looked at Krystelyna and said, "Why don't you bath, change your clothes and rest a little first. Then later, just you and I will go for a walk and talk about all that has been happening to you." The lady hugged Krystelyna and then turned her to face the doorway. "Go on in, my child, there is nothing in there or anywhere around here that will ever hurt you again." Krystelyna went inside the door and the lady closed it for her. As the lady went back down the hallway towards her own room, she had a wonderous glow around her and her face shone with the smile that was on her face. She thought to herself, "Now, at long last, praise be to the Goddess, my children are finally home."

The Beginning? -- chptr 1