Gypsy Flower: Whispering Willows, #4

By Diana Dawn

Snow is willing to risk everything to find the sister she never knew she had, even her new happy life in the Willows. Leaving her true love behind in search of her family, her plans are to bring her sister back to the Willows with her. But will her journey into the mirror bring her the outcome she desires...will she find her sister, or will she again face the witch, her stepmother Margurite? 'Gypsy Flower' is the fourth book in the Whispering Willows series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diana Dawn
• Release date: Jul 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393105619

Diana Dawn

Finally, I want to thank you the reader, for coming along on this ride. I hope you had as much fun as I did, and enjoyed getting to know the heroes and heroines of Whispering Willows. If so, please take a moment to post a review and tell a friend.  I would love to read your review!         The adventures are just beginning, so if you'd like to follow along, and get notifications of new releases, freebies and special offers on my books, please join my email list by going to www.DianaDawnBooks.com or drop me a line at [e-mail].  I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you and happy reading!

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Whispering Willows

Book 4:  Gypsy Flower

Chapter 1

Journey Into the Looking Glass

Ben was still taking the thought into his mind, Snow, you’re not proposing going into that mirror?

Why not? You and Mitch did.

Ben approached her quickly, But we just went into a few castle rooms. That’s totally different than going back hundreds of years to search over an entire kingdom and then some. Snow, you have no idea where to even begin! You can’t go on a quest like this on your own.

Snow sat back down and took Ben hands in hers, Well you know, I’ll be looking for a dwarf. Come with me, you could help me!

Ben pulled away defiantly, No way! There’s no way I’m going back into that blasted mirror!

Snow stood, also defiantly, Then I’ll go alone.

Snow, no! Please at least go and get Mitch. Take him with you.

Snow turned away, He’d never let me go, and you know it! This is something I have to do, Ben. Look, my sister could be in danger. Margurite read that letter and chose to never give it to me. If she’s trying to kill me, then she could also try and go after her since she is the first born and heir to the throne. You don’t know what she’s capable of. She could be out searching for Lily right now. Lily … Snow smiled as she thought, I have a sister named Lily. What a lovely name. She shook her head with even more determination, No, Ben … I must go after her. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing you can say that will stop me.

Ben followed Snow below to the old mirror chamber. He felt somewhat relieved in remembering that Mitch had to have the piece of the other magic mirror in order to go through it. You sure you won’t change your mind, Snow?

No. But thank you for all of your help. Your information may come in very handy.

She hugged Ben and approached the mirror. She lifted the mirror off of the floor as Mitch had set it face down to try and keep Margurite out of the Willows. Then to Ben’s horror, she pulled the mirror shard out of her pocket as she prepared to go through.

She turned at Ben’s gasp of surprise, Oh… she looked at the shard in her hand, You didn’t think I knew about this did you?

Ben was frantic to think of something to keep her from going, but knew there was nothing he could say. Wait! Why don’t you … he hesitated as he patted his wolf on the head, … take Max with you?

Snow smiled, Thank you Ben, but I think you need him here more than I would. Anyway, it would be hard to explain having a wolf in the palace. After one more thought, she added, I’m not even going to swear you to secrecy, as I know that you’ll be going straight to the Willows to tell Mitch where I’ve gone.

Ben nodded, The thought did cross my mind.

Snow motioned to the mirror, Well, I don’t know how the time factor works in this thing, so just tell Mitch that I love him and that I’ll be back as soon as I can.

The mirror’s reflection suddenly shone her father’s room. It appeared to be empty. Sunlight was coming through the bedside window.

My father’s room faced the east. Good, that means it’s morning there. I’ll have a good day’s head start.

Holding the mirror shard, she pressed her hand through the glass and then stepped through to the other side. Ben watched helpless as the Princess vanished from sight.

Come on Max! Immediately, Ben took Max and headed for the Willows to warn Mitch. There was no telling how long Snow would be gone. Ben anticipated that Mitch would be furious at him for letting her go. How was he to stop her? It’s pretty clear that she’s quite bigger than he was.

Outside, it had stopped sleeting to Ben’s relief. But instead, it was deathly quiet, too quiet. As they headed through the woods towards the village, Max abruptly stopped and began to growl towards the brush.

What is it, fella? Ya smell somethin’?

Suddenly breaking through the brush was a black wolf headed straight for Ben.

Max intercepted the wolf’s pounce knocking the creature off of its feet as Ben yelled, Max!

Max leapt toward Ben and head butted him in the back. Living for years with Max, Ben knew this was his wolf’s signal to run. He took off toward the village as fast as he could. Max would always be following behind him to protect him. But to Ben’s horror as he turned around, this time Max was not there.

Trent, will you put that blasted tambourine down! Me ‘eadache is bad enough as t’is! Donnie held his head while sipping on some stout ale. Trent played like he were scared to death of Donnie’s threatening tone as he made his hand quiver while setting the jingling instrument to the floor. Donnie was not amused.

Mitch looked on with observation, Well, maybe if you’d have some hot tea rather than ale, you’d feel better.

Not tha’ I asked for your opinion, mind ya. Bu’ for your information, it’s the leftover remnants of this cold … or whatever it was, and not the ale that’s givin’ me the ‘eadache!

Kate leaned in to Mitch, Cranky, too.

I ‘eard that!

I know ya did! as Kate glanced back at him with a grin.

Nicholas was dealing out cards to Rein on the now clean dining table. Where’s your new bride, Mitch? I thought you two would be inseparable?

I told her to go and rest after our tiring afternoon sledding. I thought I’d let her sleep for awhile.

For awhile before what, man? That’s the question. What are you having her rest up for? Rein smiled wickedly as he looked at the cards in his hand.

Oi! Mitch, that sleddin’ was fun today, wadn’t it? Stevie was still thinking about their chilly afternoon.

Yes it was Stevie, as Mitch cast an unnoticed hard glare over at Rein.

The loud forceful knocking at the main hut’s door just about made everyone jump.

Who would knock? as Mitch went to answer the door.

Whoever it is, they better have a damn good reason for scaring the hell out of me, tutted an annoyed Natalie. She then appeared even more annoyed when she saw who it was, Oh, it’s him again.

Ben! What are you doing here? Mitch observed that Ben was out of breath and very tired. You look worn out. Did you run all the way here?

Ben nodded as he tried to catch his breath. He pointed at Mitch and tried to gasp enough air to speak, I need to talk to you. He took another few breaths, Can we talk in your cabin?

Well, Snow is sleeping in the cabin.

Ben shook his head as he took a few more breaths, No she’s not. That’s what I have to talk to you about.

Mitch was taken aback, She’s not?

Duncan stood from his chair to approach the dwarf with concern, If there is a potential danger with a member of our community, it would be best if we all hear it.

Ben nodded in understanding as Mitch offered him a chair. He smiled and waved it off as he sat on the floor by the fire.

Mitch sat near him in a chair gaining a panicked tone, Is there something wrong with Snow? Did she come to see you just now? Where is she?

Ben took a deep breath, now better able to speak, Yes, Snow just came to see me. She knows I’m here right now.

Mitch stifled the urge to ask more questions knowing they will probably be answered in what Ben had run all this way to tell him.

You should have seen her when she got to the mine. I’ve never seen her with such a purpose driving her. She said she had tried to hang the painting I gave her for Christmas, but dropped it somehow. He then pulled out of his pocket, Snow’s letter which he still had. This fell out from behind the portrait. It’s a letter to Snow from her father. Margurite was supposed to give it to her when he died, but Snow never got it. Here, let me just read it. It pretty much explains itself.

As Ben read the letter aloud, astounded looks spread across the cabin, especially from Mitch.

At its conclusion, there was a brief pause before Mitch verbally spoke the new revelation, A sister? Snow has a sister?

Ben handed the letter to Mitch, Yes. The problem is that she thinks it’s her mission in life to find her.

Donnie crinkled his brow, But tha’ was hundreds a years ago. Wha’s the point of …

He was interrupted by Mitch’s realization of where Snow was, God! Ben, she didn’t?

Ben’s lowered gaze gave it all away for Mitch as the horror shone on his face. Mitch … I couldn’t stop her, I tried! She knew I was coming here, though. She wanted me to tell you that she’d be back as soon as she could.

Mitch shook his head as he started toward the door, No, she couldn’t have gone without the …

Ben grabbed his leg, Mitch, she had it.

Mitch turned with a shocked look, What?

She had the mirror shard with her. I saw her go through with my own eyes.

Mitch looked down as if speaking to himself, That’s right. I told her about how we went through. Bugger! I wish I hadn’t told her!

Kate stood and approached him, concerned with Mitch’s public display of almost sheer panic, Mitch, don’t blame yourself. Isn’t there any other way to follow her? To bring her back?

Mitch’s head snapped in Ben’s direction as the thought hit him, Ben, where are the rest of the broken mirror pieces? We can use one of them and follow her, just like Kate said.

Well, I buried the rest. I didn’t want them to be causing any more trouble. I can show you where they are.

Again, Mitch started for the door when Donnie stopped him. He didn’t even have to say a word as Mitch knew what his meaning was, Donnie, don’t start with me on the woods again. We’re talking about my wife, here.

Donnie’s tone was stern, And I’m talkin’ ‘bout the wolves!

Ben interjected