Adventures of Arabella and the Mysterious Tree: Strange Encounters

By Dorothy Angkahan

Arabella is the only daughter of Baron Arthur Leon Wellington, and she is the heir of the Wellington dynasty. Her mother, the baroness, died giving birth to her, and the baron still mourns for his late wife, going on eleven years. So to deal with the loss of his wife, the baron keeps busy ten months out of a year, living in other lands, promoting and selling his commercial enterprises, textile and livestock from his estate, and among other business enterprises in other kingdoms. The baron realizes that his time is running out to salvage his dwindling relationship with his daughter, whom he leaves in the care of her governess and the head housekeeper of his castle. The baron's daughter, Arabella, will turn eleven years old this year, and little does she know that for every fifth generation of the Wellington heirs, a huge mysterious, glittery white tree appears on the Wellington Castle grounds among the tall trees next to the castle. When a Wellington baronesses every five generations dies giving birth to a girl, the mysterious, glittery white tree appears shortly after the girls turn eleven years old. Today is Arabella's eleventh birthday, and soon the mysterious tree will appear on the castle grounds. The reason the mysterious, glittery white tree appears is explained by her fifth-generation ancestor, who sends her a scroll in a small golden box that is under the mysterious, glittery white tree. No one can see this mysterious tree but Arabella, and the Wellington girls to whom the mysterious tree appeared after they turned eleven years old, the ones who lost their mothers, the baronesses, after giving birth to them. The ancestor, a female who also lost her mother, the baroness, after giving birth to her, is Arabella's fifth-generation great-grandmother, Baroness Mary Ann Wellington Armstrong. In the scroll she sends to her, the ancestor tells Arabella she is destined to go on four separate journeys, goodwill missions, that she also went to after turning eleven years old, to help an oppressed people who are waiting for the stranger to arrive. This has been foretold, and she will rescue them from their dire situation. But at the same time, Arabella, as her ancestors, the baronesses, before her, will have the greatest adventures in her lifetime and will have lasting memories of people she will grow to love on each of her journeys and, through the trials and perils she goes though in each journey she undertakes, will make her strong in faith. She will also gain values that will benefit her and others for the rest of her life. Also, according to Arabella's ancestor's handwritten scroll, no one in the castle will know that she is gone, because each journey will last a moment there at the Wellington Castle; however, each journey Arabella goes on, while she is in the distant lands, will last up to eleven months. It was the same for the other Wellington girls the mysterious tree appeared to after they turned eleven years old, the ones who lost their mothers, the baronesses, during childbirth. When Arabella realizes she has the opportunity of a lifetime to see great, fantastic adventures on her journeys and goodwill missions to help others in need, she decides it beats sitting in the old castle, waiting for her father to get over her mother's death and return to her at the Wellington Castle more permanently as she is growing up, because she wants her father to be with her. She is indeed looking forward to her four journeys, and her first journey is about to begin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644626702

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Chapter 1

Wellington Castle

In a distant and faraway land lives a little girl named Arabella Elizabeth Wellington. She’s a beautiful girl with fair complexion and blush-pink cheeks. Her hair is long and blond, and when she walks, the curls of her hair bounce off her shoulders. But the best of her qualities are her blue eyes and her heavenly voice, because when anyone looks into her eyes, they have a glimpse, a window, into her inner beauty, and when she speaks, her voice graces their ears with that of an angel; therefore, those who know Arabella are captivated by her natural beauty and charm.

Arabella is an only child, because her mother passed away giving birth to her. When she grew old enough to understand what happened to her mother, she became sad. Her father is Baron Arthur Leon Wellington, a descendant of the long line of the Wellington dynasty. When Baron Wellington’s father died, he became heir to a vast fortune and land, acquired through his father’s and forefathers’ service and loyalty to the monarchy during their time, in peace or wartime, against hostile kingdoms that raise arms against the monarchy they serve under. And by decree of the first monarchy of this kingdom, any land the Wellingtons acquire from their kings, for their faithful service to the crown in their generation, is tax-free, and this is irrevocable.

On the Wellington land are towns, villages, and farms, scattered all throughout the vast estate, and, Arabella’s father, the current baron of the Wellington dynasty and estate, is adored by the people who live there because he’s a just and generous man, as were his late father and his forefathers before him. Since the Wellingtons’ agricultural, textile, and livestock enterprises have kept the barons, and the baronesses, down the generations secure many times over, the Wellingtons down the generation have therefore not requested any rent and taxes from the tenants that live on their land, but with the condition that the people use a percentage of their income, by trade (business) or as hired help (laborers, supervisors, and managers) with skills to work and take care of the Wellington agricultural, textile, and livestock enterprises in this vast estate, for any repairs on building structures in the towns, villages, and farms and to also maintain any bridges and roads within the estate the tenants may reside in, and to honor the Wellington sovereign right over them—by the generosity of the monarchy, the kings the Wellington barons have served faithfully in their own generation.

The loss of the baron’s wife, Arabella’s mother, has caused him to grieve even to this day, and although he loves his daughter, he nonetheless finds it difficult to be around her, because with every day that passes she looks more and more like her mother. So instead of spending time with his daughter, the baron keeps himself busy with his business enterprises, to cope with his late wife’s death; thus, he is often away, promoting his textile and livestock enterprises in other lands, through sales and some such activity.

As for his daughter, Arabella, she’s left in the care of her governess, Ms. Catherine, and the head housekeeper, Mrs. Porter, who manages the castle and the servants that live within it. Mr. Porter, her husband, manages the castle grounds and the groundskeepers and stable help that live in cottages on the castle grounds as well.

Since Arabella receives her education from her governess, she isn’t around other children much, except when it’s her birthday. Each year on her birthday, Baron Wellington gives her a grand party, and everyone who lives in his estate is invited to attend with their families. Her birthday celebration lasts one week—a festival with food, games, and music to entertain her invited guests. The reason her birthday celebration lasts one week is so no one who resides on the estate is left out from celebrating Arabella’s birthday with her. Still, she has no children her age to play with daily. And even though she loves her governess, and her governess is like a mother to her, she nonetheless longs to be with other children her age.

So as Arabella grows older, she invents imaginary friends so she can play games with them within the castle. One will think she doesn’t have time to be lonely, because everyone that knows her can see how refined she has become at the age of eleven—she speaks three languages and receives the finest education from her governess, Ms. Catherine, and Arabella is very bright and well taught and very mature for her age. She also excels in the arts, such as painting, writing poetry, dancing, and music. Arabella can play the piano beautifully because she is naturally gifted, so it hasn’t been difficult for her to learn.

Yet this lovely girl who has everything is still lonely. And if Arabella has her way, so she may spend more time with her father, she will gladly give everything away. But she knows she has to be content with her governess and the head housekeeper and her imaginary friends. With her keen imagination, she plays hide-and-seek and other games with her imaginary friends in the castle’s long corridors, so she may escape into a world of fantasy, something she can hold on to, all because of her witty imagination.

Of course, the castle is an ideal place for Arabella and her imagery playmates, for within the castle are high ceilings, and on the tall walls in the main area hang large tapestries, woven with the finest threads, with an array of different colors. Some of the tapestries are woven with amazing sceneries of the outdoors, and others with patterns of intricate designs and colors—all quite beautiful. And in the library, and truly in other areas in the castle, are huge portraits of her ancestors, the Wellingtons. Every time Arabella plays near the portraits of her ancestors, she imagines they are pleased with her and they are also watching over her; she then smiles and begins to giggle to herself. When she doesn’t want to play with her imaginary friends, she likes to walk the castle grounds, for on the grounds are tall trees, and she’s fascinated by them.

Today is Arabella’s eleventh birthday, and Ms. Catherine goes into her room to get her dressed, so she may have breakfast with her father, the baron.

Arabella, wake up, child, Ms. Catherine says, so I may help dress you.

She opens her eyes and stretches out her arms and is now fully awake. She replies, Good morning, Ms. Catherine.

Good morning, Arabella, Ms. Catherine responds. By the way, happy birthday, dear, she tells her.

Then Arabella remembers that today is her birthday and her father has returned home and will be home for two months, before he’s off again on his business endeavors in other lands.

Then the child tells her, Thank you, Ms. Catherine. She smiles. Is my father in the dining room yet? she asks after.

No, not yet, but we must hurry, Catherine replies. You know he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

While Ms. Catherine is dressing her, Arabella tells her, Sometimes I don’t want my birthday to end, because in no time, two months go by so quickly and my father is off again for another ten months, Arabella says with a sad look on her face.

Ms. Catherine is very fond of the child, so it grieves her to see Arabella so unhappy because her father is always away for so long. Someday, dear, your father will spend more time back at home and you will see him more often, she tells Arabella. This puts a smile back on the child’s face, because she longs for the day her father won’t go away for so many months every year.

After Arabella is dressed, they both leave for the dining room. The baron is already sitting at the table when she enters and goes to sit down.

Good morning, Arabella, her father says. Happy birthday. Did you have a pleasant night? he asks.

Thank you, Father, and yes, I slept well, she responds.

They have a cordial breakfast together, and the baron uses this time to inquire about her education and the other activities she has had with her governess while he’s been away.

After she tells her father about her schooling and other activities there at the castle, Arabella says to him, Father, Ms. Catherine takes me sometimes—after my schooling and other activities, of course—on picnics at the great lake nearby. Or we go to the nearest town and walk around, meeting the people there.

Every time the baron is away, he feels guilty, and deep down he’s hoping one day his mourning for his late wife will pass and only the fond memories they shared together will remain.

That’s good, child, he replies, that you spend time around the people, because someday you’ll have all this and rule over the people who live on your estate. He smiles at her. You must rule with a firm hand, yet with a compassionate heart, all for their well-being. This is what our forefathers have done, and I’m also doing, and soon you will too, Arabella, because it is our destiny to rule justly. This is our ancestors legacy, he tells her.

At that moment, Arabella notices that this is the first time her father is speaking to her as an equal, not like a child. She knows the Wellington dynasty is important to him, and she respects her father for carrying on with the Wellington legacy, because it is important to her as well, for one day she will rule this land—it must run in their blood, she thinks.

Yes, Father, I also want to follow the ways of our forefathers, she replies.

After breakfast, the baron excuses himself because the first day of her birthday celebration begins at midday and he wants to check that everything is perfect for his little girl, but before he leaves, she says to him, Father, thank you for the time we had together this morning, because I know how busy you are, especially today, for my birthday.

Then her father smiles and says, You’re very welcome, my sweet child. Then he leaves, and she goes to find her governess, Ms. Catherine.

Arabella finds her governess in the far end of the castle, where she receives her schooling, and she goes to sit near her. Ms. Catherine smiles at her when she enters the activity room and asks her, Did you have a nice time with your father during breakfast?

Yes, thank you, she says. Ms. Catherine, my father spoke to me as if I were an adult on matters that concern the people and the Wellington dynasty. Am I looking older to you?

Silly girl, with you turning eleven, your father wants to start preparing you for the day you’ll rule the Wellington estate, not because you look older, but for your age, dear, she answers.

Oh, Arabella responds. Then she gets up and goes to look out the window and gets all excited. She says, Ms. Catherine, please come here and look at all the birthday decorations the servants have put up. They’re beautiful.

Ms. Catherine gets up and walks over to Arabella, looking out the great window.

As Catherine looks out the window, she says, They are beautiful. The banners and flags and streamers of pink, white, and gold. She then tells the child, And look, the gypsies are here to entertain you and your guests.

The gypsies are paid each year to perform for her birthday; they play music and do comical acts to entertain her and her guests, and every year, it’s a great success.

Ms. Catherine, I do enjoy my birthdays, because all the people who attend are happy with the music, the dancing, and the food, and lastly, my birthday cake, Arabella says. Yummy. I’m looking forward to having some cake, especially that it’s served each day for one week.

Yes, that’s a lot of birthday cakes, Catherine replies to the child. And how shall we ever survive all that sugar? Then she and Arabella start to laugh, because they both have a sweet tooth.

It’s noon, and the birthday celebration is starting. The gypsies are entertaining the guests, those who have come to celebrate her birthday on the first day of the festival. Arabella is sitting with her father, and to her right is Ms. Catherine. The guests come by to wish her a happy birthday, and she thanks them for coming and for the gifts. They place her gifts on a large table nearby. Arabella receives many gifts for her seven-day birthday celebration, and after the festival is over, she will keep some, but the rest of her birthday gifts, she will give away to the orphanages on the estate; however, the invited guests, to this day, aren’t aware that each year she gives most of her birthday gifts to the children in the orphanages. She prefers they don’t know, so this way, other children may benefit from her birthday too, especially the less fortunate ones.

Since this is the only time of the year Arabella has other children to play with, not one moment will go to waste. She knows many of the children by their names because she remembers them from one year to the next on her birthday, so Arabella excuses herself and goes to play with the children. Her father and her governess, Ms. Catherine, smile at her when she leaves to play with the other children.

She sees one of the girls that come to her birthday celebration each year, and says, Hi, Sally. It’s nice to see you again. You’ve grown taller.

Sally’s father and mother are tall, and she is sure to take after her parents, because Sally is taller than some of the boys who are older than her who are at the birthday celebration today.

Hi, Arabella, she responds. Then they both join the other children that are playing. The children have pony rides and fun games, like pin the tail on the donkey and sack races, and some of the gypsies dress as clowns to entertain the children. Everyone is having a grand time, especially Arabella.

While she is playing with the children, the baron asks Ms. Catherine, How is Arabella doing with her education?

Ms. Catherine replies, Oh, Baron, your daughter is an excellent pupil. She is very bright and amazingly witty. Arabella’s education is at an older youth level. This level is usually for sixteen-year-olds.

The baron looks very pleased with her report about his daughter and says, Yes, she is very bright. I am pleased she has excelled with her education.

Of course, Catherine is happy that the baron is very pleased with Arabella’s education.

Then he tells her, When I turned eleven, my father, the late baron, started teaching me about the Wellington estate, what should be done to run it and also how to rule the people who live here. Actually, the Wellingtons begin training the next heir, the descendants, at the age of eleven, so I will take Arabella, after her birthday celebration, with me to start training her while I’m here from my business endeavors in other lands, to check on my properties back at home also.

This is something everyone knows about the Wellingtons, even Ms. Catherine, that the heirs of the Wellington dynasty begin their training at the age of eleven. And that is exactly what she’s told Arabella this morning, after the child has had her breakfast with her father, the baron.

Yes, I understand, she responds to the baron. If I can be of any more service concerning your daughter, just let me know.

He replies, Thank you, and yes, I will keep your offer in mind. The baron also has another concern on his mind about Arabella, and he says to Catherine, There’s something else I want to ask you about my daughter, because you’re close to her.

She asks him, Baron, what is it? wondering what it may be that concerns his daughter.

Then he asks her, My being away ten months out of the year, has this affected my daughter in any way?

Since the baron has asked her, she has an opportunity to speak for Arabella, indirectly, and just maybe the baron will understand that it grieves his daughter that he is away so long every year. Well, sir, this is only my own observation, and I am not speaking for anyone else, Catherine replies. Yes, it does affect your daughter, because you’re absent from her life ten months out of a year. Sir, Arabella is very conscious about her own environment, that you are not a part of it, so this make her very unhappy. She sighs inwardly. Everyone here in the castle, including myself, is doing their best to show her how much she means to all of us, yet we are not her kin. You’re her only family, except for her late mother’s relatives, who live in another kingdom, and your other relatives as well. I know she grieves that you’re away too long. She pauses, then adds, I hope you don’t mind me telling you so.

And the baron responds, Not at all. This is why I’ve chosen you as her governess, because you have exceptional qualities, and so I respect whatever you tell me about my daughter. And you are right, she needs me to be here for her, especially because she has no mother. The baron knows that being away ten months out of the year will eventually affect his daughter, and now he’s sad to hear that his being away so many months from home is causing his daughter to grieve while he’s gone.

Then he tells Ms. Catherine, I am hoping soon I can start staying close to her, as soon as I can find someone reliable and I can trust to take over my business enterprises in other lands.

She is delighted to hear this great news, that the baron will soon be staying home to be close to his daughter, and she tells him, Baron, I am truly happy that you’ll be staying home more often to be with your daughter. This will make Arabella very happy.

But the baron doesn’t want his daughter to know yet, so he tells Catherine, One more thing, don’t say anything yet to my daughter, at least until I find someone to take my place with my business enterprises in other lands.

Ms. Catherine tells the baron she won’t say a word, because it isn’t her place to tell his daughter, that it should come from him. He also agrees with her. This is the first time the baron feels comfortable being around other women since his wife died, and he’s happy that Ms. Catherine is his daughter’s governess. Too bad Arabella isn’t around to see her father speaking to her governess and see how comfortable they are with each other—this will be the best birthday yet, if her wish came true, that someday her father and her governess will marry.

It’s time for everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Arabella and for her to blow out the candles on her birthday cake so that everyone there, the guests, servants, and gypsies too, may have a slice of cake. Of course, this is the time Arabella and Ms. Catherine are looking forward to, to have a slice of the delicious cake. She blows all eleven candles and also makes a wish, that her father will stay home more often. Like she says, she loves her birthdays, but she knows her father will go away for another ten months once his two months are over.

After everyone has a slice of cake, the music starts and the older guests begin to dance; even the children are dancing, and everyone is having a great time. Arabella convinces Ms. Catherine to dance with her, so they dance together. The baron is watching them, and he can see how Ms. Catherine and his daughter are really enjoying each other’s company. Then, as he watches his daughter, he starts thinking about her mother. So he gets up and goes for a walk alone in the castle’s garden, at the far end of it. He’s thinking that it’s been eleven years today since his beautiful wife died, and he realizes this mourning can’t go on for much longer, because Arabella is growing up so fast and, in a few years, she may marry. He’s worried that sooner or later, he is going to lose her love, because someday her love for him may turn to resentment. This is why he must find someone to take his place with his business enterprises in other lands, to prevent losing her love. That’s why on his next business trip for ten months, the baron plans to take with him one of his best managers, the one who handles the business aspect of his landholdings on his estate while he’s away in other lands, conducting his business, promoting, and the sales of his textile and livestock enterprises. The young man is very reliable and efficient, and he isn’t married, so his taking the baron’s place ten months out of each year will not be burdensome on the young man.

After he spends a while in the garden, the baron returns to join the guests, and he is hoping his daughter hasn’t noticed that he has left her birthday party. Unfortunately, Arabella has. But she doesn’t say anything to Ms. Catherine. Now, she is trying to be lively around her guests, but she is very disappointed that her father had left her birthday party.

That evening at Arabella’s bedtime, she continues with the pretense in front of her governess, and she says to her, Ms. Catherine, today was a perfect day. Everyone seemed happy celebrating my birthday.

Ms. Catherine is aware that the baron left his daughter’s birthday party for a while, and she also saw the disappointment on Arabella’s face, but she doesn’t say anything, because the situation is out of her hands. But at least when the baron asked her earlier if his daughter has been affected in any way by his absence ten months every year, she spoke on Arabella’s behalf, and she hopes he’ll take her response to his question seriously, that it is affecting his daughter.

Yes, Arabella, it was a perfect party, and you have six more birthday parties coming up, Ms. Catherine replies.

Then Arabella wants to change the subject, saying to her, Ms. Catherine, I know my mother is gone, but sometimes I wish I had an opportunity to meet her once in my lifetime. But I know it’s a foolish notion, because it will never happen. All the same, I wonder about it.

Arabella, it isn’t foolish that you have desires deep in you to want to know your own mother, she replies to the child. But what could be harmful is when this desire to know your mother interferes with your opportunity to have a healthy outlook on life. Others in the same situation as you have gone on to have happy and productive lives because they don’t hold on to things that they aren’t destined to have. You honor your mother by living a just life and loving your fellow man.

Thank you, Ms. Catherine, for sharing this with me, Arabella says, and hopefully, these words of wisdom, I may start applying them in my own life.

Ms. Catherine kisses her on the forehead and then leaves the room for the night.

After the one-week birthday festival is over, everything goes back to its regular routine, except for today Ms. Catherine will take Arabella to the orphanages in the Wellington estate so she can give the children her birthday gifts. As for the baron, he plans to take Arabella on her training, how to run the estate, tomorrow morning.

On the way to the first orphanage, they ride in the carriage with three wagons of gifts following behind them. As they approach the first orphanage, the headmistress of the orphanage has all the children standing outside, waiting for Arabella to arrive. She and Ms. Catherine get out of the carriage, and they walk to where the children are waiting in line, and the gifts are unloaded from the first wagon. As Arabella hands out the gifts to each child, she greets them and says to one of the little girls standing, waiting for her gift, Hello. And what is your name?

The girl responds, Hello. My name is Suzy Edwards. Arabella gives her a gift, and Suzy says, Thank you.

You’re very welcome. And it’s my pleasure, she says to Suzy.

Once every child in the first orphanage has received a gift, the children sing a song to Arabella, and afterward, the care attendants serve the cake. Arabella had the head chef of the castle make three large cakes, one each for the orphanages. Afterward, she and Ms. Catherine go on their way to the next orphanage.

As they ride off, she asks Ms. Catherine a question, Why haven’t the people living on the estate adopted any of the children in the orphanages?

Before Ms. Catherine answers, she thinks about it first, then she replies, That is a good question, but there isn’t one answer.

Then Arabella responds, Ms. Catherine, can you explain to me why the children aren’t living in homes instead of orphanages? My father doesn’t charge any rent or collect taxes, but only a small percentage of the tenants’ annual income goes for the upkeep of the Wellington estate for the repairs of building structures in the towns, villages, and farmhouses and for any other repair required in the estate where they live.

Now that Arabella is growing older, things are starting to surface, things that Ms. Catherine isn’t aware of, things that disturb the child, that the children are still living in the orphanages on the estate. So she replies, Arabella, some people have their own families, and they prefer it that way. And others don’t want to be responsible for other children, only their own, and there are a number of other reasons.

But Arabella doesn’t like the reasons the children aren’t adopted by the people that live on the Wellington estate, and she doesn’t mind saying so. If my father can show charity to others by refusing to charge rent or collect taxes, then the people who live here should want to follow his example, she says, voicing her concerns. Ms. Catherine, when my father turns the Wellington estate over to me when I am older, I will make sure we don’t have any orphanages on the estate any longer. And those who have no charity for others here in my father’s estate, such as the children in the orphanages, should find another place to live and raise their families in. I want my forefathers’ legacy to live on, but how can it survive if the very people my family shows kindness to don’t practice charity to others also?

You’re right, Arabella, Catherine says, but let the people here gradually learn about your views, and when the time comes for you to take over your inheritance, as baroness, those who don’t agree with your views will have plenty of time to relocate in other lands. But that would be a foolish act on their part, because they will have to pay rent and taxes in the other kingdoms they may move to.

Ms. Catherine, you’re right, Arabella says. That’s an excellent idea. To let the people who live here know my views about showing charity to others that are underprivileged. Thank you for your counsel on this matter of the orphans.

Then she tells the child, Arabella, when the time comes, you’re going to be an exceptional baroness. But, dear, don’t be too hasty for drastic changes until then. Again, let your concerns become known gradually to the people who live here, but also allow them to know that you will rule them justly and you’re also willing to hear others’ views too, if it will make the Wellington estate a better place for the people to live.

Arabella replies, I will, Ms. Catherine, and thank you for your kind words, that I’ll be an exceptional baroness.

When they finish distributing the gifts at the other two orphanages, they head back to the castle. Arabella is happy because this is the best part of her birthday, to see the children happy to receive one of her birthday gifts at the end of the festival and to enjoy some birthday cake too.

As they are riding home, Ms. Catherine says, Tomorrow you won’t have any schooling because your father wants you to accompany him as he rides through his estate to listen to the concerns of the people who live here, and to check on his agricultural, textile, and livestock enterprises here on the estate. He wants to start your training as baroness with how to run the Wellington estate.

Arabella becomes excited because she will be spending more time with her father tomorrow, and she tells her, That’s wonderful, Ms. Catherine. I get to spend time with my father.

Then her governess cautions her to be attentive in what her father will say and do when he stops in the towns, villages, and farms.

She hugs her governess and says to her, I will do my best, Ms. Catherine.

The following morning, while Arabella is having breakfast with her father, the baron says to her, Daughter, this morning I will take you with me to visit some of the towns and villages and farms within the estate, so you may start your training on how things are done in managing the Wellington dynasty—the business aspect of it. And also listen to the concerns of the people living in the estate, for their well-being. He pauses. We will also attend town meetings with appointed officials, to make sure the upkeep is being taken care of throughout the estate.

Yes, Father. I’m looking forward to going with you this morning, she replies. Also, I’ll observe you very closely, so I may know how to conduct myself when I inspect the estate, and the business enterprises, and also the concerns of the maintenance of the properties and any concerns for the well-being of the people who live here, she tells her father.

Good, Arabella, her father replies.

As they go about in the Wellington estate, Arabella mostly observes her father, what he does and says. She listens to how he addresses any concern with the tenants or on the properties when he meets with his appointed officials concerning the upkeep of the estate.

When the day is over, Arabella wants her father to know how grateful she is to see firsthand how her father runs the Wellington dynasty, and she says to him, Thank you, Father, for taking me along. I learned so much today, especially how time-consuming it is to run the Wellington estate. I hope one day I can be efficient like you and my ancestors before you.

The baron is happy to see how enthusiastic his daughter is about the Wellington estate, which she will inherit someday, and he says to her, Daughter, it pleases me very much that you are interested in learning how to run the Wellington estate, even at your age. When I was eleven, I took my instructions from my father, your grandfather, but I wasn’t as enthusiastic as you are. He smiles at her. Running the Wellington estate didn’t appeal to me much at my age then, because at eleven, like my friends’ age, I only wanted to think about girls.

Arabella looks at her father, and they both start laughing.

Then he says to her very seriously, But you, young lady, you are not to think about boys until the age to marry, and that is some time away yet.

I understand, Father, she replies.

Then the baron smiles at her.

Although it has been a wonderful experience for her to learn about running the Wellington dynasty, soon she will have experiences of a lifetime that will surpass all others.

One day, after Arabella is finished with her school lessons for the day, she wants to go outside to walk among the trees, so with great enthusiasm, she asks her governess, Ms. Catherine, I’ve completed my lessons for the day. May I go out and take a stroll on the castle grounds?

Yes, Arabella, you may go outside, her governess replies. But please try not to get your clothes soiled. Your father is expected to arrive this late afternoon. She knows too well that the baron expects his daughter to look presentable at all times.

Yes, Ms. Catherine, I’ll be extra careful, Arabella replies. Then she leaves the room and walks toward the rear exit, to the castle grounds. On the way out, she runs into Mrs. Porter, the head housekeeper. Mrs. Porter is busy making sure the maidservants have everything in the castle as the baron likes it.

When Mrs. Porter sees the child run past her, she asks her, Arabella, where are you going in such a hurry? Mrs. Porter likes to tease her, because she knows the child is going outside to explore the trees. It’s a game the head housekeeper likes to play with Arabella, pretending that she doesn’t know where the child is going.

Oh, Mrs. Porter, you already know where I’m going. I’m going outside to explore the trees on the castle grounds, she answers.

Then Mrs. Porter smiles at her as the child exits the side door to the grounds.

When Arabella goes outside, she heads toward the trees near the castle. Then she notices something odd among the tall trees, an unusually huge and most striking, appealing white tree that glitters, which was never there before among the other trees on the grounds. She also notices near the trunk of the glittery white tree a small golden box that shines even under the shade of this huge white tree. As she approaches the tree, something draws her to go closer and closer to the tree. Although Arabella isn’t aware, she is about to find out that this mysterious tree only appears every five generations on the Wellington Castle grounds, and in the small golden box is a message from her fifth-generation, distant great-grandmother, Baroness Mary Anne Wellington Armstrong. She walks up to the small golden box and then glances around to see if anyone is nearby, expecting at any moment for someone to come and retrieve this beautiful golden box. As Arabella looks around, she realizes there’s no one in sight—the groundskeepers are busy in the other side of the castle; she remembers waving to them when she was exiting the castle. Since no one comes by to get the golden box, Arabella sits next to it. Then she decides to pick up the golden box to examine it. To her surprise, she notices there’s no lock to the small golden box, and decides to open it. Inside is a scroll with a pink ribbon tied around it. Somehow, Arabella senses that the small golden box is meant for her to open and the scroll inside is for her. She quickly removes the scroll and unties the pink ribbon.

Then she unrolls the scroll and looks over the contents. To her own amazement, it’s a message from her distant (fifth-generation) great-grandmother:

Dear great-granddaughter,

I am delighted to inform you that every five generations of the Wellington family, the heirs, a mysterious tree appears on the castle grounds where you live, at Wellington Castle. I know you have no mother, as it was for me and for every female descendant for every five generations of the Wellington family heirs, when the mothers, the baroness, dies giving birth to a girl. By this mysterious tree you are going to experience fantastic journeys—up to four journeys. Don’t worry, you won’t be missed at the castle, for each journey will last but only a moment. But for you, each of your four journeys may last up to eleven months to complete.

Arabella pauses for a moment to take it all in, and then she continues to read the message.

You will have great and wonderful adventures that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. These amazing adventures, you will share with your children and grandchildren. Furthermore, the reason the mysterious tree appears is to test your faith and to build up your character with values that will benefit you and those around you as you blossom into an adult and for the rest of your life. I know, for my adventures helped me.

However, there’s one thing I won’t keep from you, the kind of experiences you’ll encounter in your journeys. Child, there will be times you are faced with dangers; however, this is when you’ll be tested the most. Also, each journey you undertake is a goodwill mission to help others in need, but it requires faith, so you must believe that what you’re doing is for the good of others in order for each of your goodwill missions to be successful.

So my dearest, use your faith to your own advantage and for others, not recklessly, for your faith shouldn’t be used in that way. Besides, your faith won’t work under futile conditions.

Another thing, what may appear to be life-threatening in your journeys is not that at all, because it’s your faith and that of your companion, in what you are both doing for the goodwill of others, that is your defense against any harm in your journeys.

Of course, Arabella is concerned what these dangers may be, and who is this companion that’s mentioned in the scroll, but she continues reading it.

Now, my dear, on each of your journeys, you’ll encounter a companion to accompany you on your goodwill mission. So be alert. Expect someone around your age, girl or boy, who will be a tremendous blessing to you. Also, when each of your journeys is completed, the mysterious tree will reappear. But no one else can see it, only you, just like the mysterious tree you’re under right now. No one else can see it but you. You’ll be transported to your next journey, except when you complete your fourth journey, you’ll be transported back to your home, here at Wellington Castle, as those heirs before you who already went on their journeys when the mysterious tree appeared to them several days after turning eleven.

By this time, Arabella’s heart is pumping rapidly, because she’s excited about the journeys, but she continues to read on.

Furthermore, whoever you encounter on each of your journeys, you may tell them about the mysterious tree appearing on the castle grounds, but not about the scroll in the golden box. Also, you may tell them who you are and about life back at home, but nothing else, because they must figure out why you are sent to them without you telling them you’re on a goodwill mission to help others in need.

And now, my dearest one, may you enjoy your journeys.

Oh, by the way, the small golden box and the scroll within it aren’t yours to keep. When you’re done with your journeys, the mysterious tree will disappear, and then it will reappear with the small golden box at the next fifth generation, to one of the Wellington heirs.

Your loving great-grandmother,

Mary Anne Wellington Armstrong

Arabella knows all her ancestors by name and recognizes the name Mary Anne Wellington Armstrong, and she becomes overwhelmed because the portrait of her Great-Grandmother Armstrong is her favorite in the castle. Then Arabella rolls up the scroll and ties back the pink ribbon and puts the scroll back into the small golden box, placing it back underneath the mysterious tree, where she found it. After Arabella’s excitement over the mysterious tree, and the small golden box and the scroll from her distant great-grandmother and the journeys she’s about to undertake, somehow subsides, she decides to lie down underneath this great, glittery white tree, to savor what just happened. Suddenly, as she is lying there, under this great, glittery white tree, with its branches extending outward like a huge umbrella, she is lifted off the ground and into the air and in a flash is being transported to another land, far from the Wellington Castle and her sheltered life.

Arabella is overwhelmed with what just happened and realizes this is not a dream after all, and now she is looking forward to her adventures.

Arabella isn’t aware that, in a flash, the mysterious tree is transporting her to her first journey, because it’s invisible while she is being transported. Furthermore, when she is ready to be transported to her second journey, the mysterious tree will reappear and she must go underneath it to be transported to her next journey, an, once her journeys are completed, the mysterious tree will transport her back to the castle grounds, at the Wellington estate, as the scroll from her distant ancestor Mary Anne Wellington Armstrong said.

One thing is certain, when Arabella reaches her destination, the first journey, she isn’t afraid of heights, when she suddenly appears and sees the land below! Then she notices that the land below has no towns, villages, and farmhouses, and she finds it odd. However, Arabella does see a lake and a great forest next to a valley. Yet she’s wondering to herself why she is coming to this land where there are no signs of civilization below, and she finds it rather eerie and hopes there’s some kind of explanation as to why she is sent here. Also, if there aren’t any people below, then how can she find out why she’s come—that is, if this is where her first journey is going to begin. Arabella is definitely puzzled by now and wondering if she is only passing through to reach her first journey.

But suddenly she starts to descend, and her heart drops. Well, now Arabella is starting to believe this is where her first journey is supposed to begin, so she better start trusting her great-grandmother’s message in the small golden box under the mysterious tree on her father’s castle grounds. She then wonders that there must be people living below. But where? Nevertheless, her expectations are running high over her first journey.

Chapter 2

Land Below

Arabella gradually lands on her feet on a sloped road, with a great green forest to the right side of her, but not close to the road. Of course, the first thing that crosses Arabella’s mind is to find someone to help her. While standing on the road, looking at the open valley next to the great green forest, she wonders to herself which direction to take so she may find a town or village or farmhouse to get someone to assist her; she decides to go forward and walks quickly on the sloped road, but she notices this isn’t a good place to be walking on at nightfall.

Then Arabella hears someone yelling from the direction of the forest. A boy’s voice.

The boy shouts and asks her, What are you doing walking out in the open?

Of course, Arabella notices that’s an odd question to ask, and she replies, You are asking what I am doing walking in the open. She’s annoyed. Do you know a better way to find a town or village so I can get help? she asks. I don’t know exactly where I am. She seems to be talking to someone behind the trees. Besides, what is wrong if I’m on this road, walking in the open?

Then the voice behind the trees replies, The dragons patrol during the day, looking for prey. That’s why it isn’t safe to be in the open.

Of course, this catches Arabella’s attention, and now she’s frightened. What dragons? she asks. We don’t have dragons where I come from.

Then a young boy about her age comes out from behind the trees, saying to her, Hello, I’m Jason. Please come into the forest, because it’s dangerous to be out in the open.

She quickly leaves the road and runs to him, saying, Hello, Jason, I’m Arabella. My father is Baron Arthur Leon Wellington. Have you heard of him?

No, Jason answers, but maybe my king has, King Henry. Unfortunately, he was recently slain by one of the dragons, along with men who served in his great army, and the rest of the king’s army fled back into this forest. Now the head commander of the king’s army is making preparations for another assault on the dragons, who invaded our land three years ago. He can see the unbelief on Arabella’s face.

Arabella tells the boy that she is sorry to hear about the king’s and the soldiers’ deaths. Then Jason tells Arabella that on previous battles against the dragons, the king and the head commander of the royal army and the soldiers weren’t successful to rid the land of the terrible dragons. So for everyone’s safety, they fled from their towns, villages, and farms to the forest, as a refuge from the dragons’ wrath, and as they fled into the great forest, the people took whatever they could with them. The boy also tells her that after the people fled into the great forest, the dragons destroyed what was left of the towns, villages, and farmhouses and the army headquarters and army barracks and everything else in the kingdom, like bridges, roads, etc., except for the late king’s castle, which was built on a large plateau next to a great mountain on the other end of the forest.

All the while, Arabella listens to the boy in disbelief.

She also learns from Jason that the late king has a daughter, Princess Anne, and since the king no longer lives, the princess is now queen of this kingdom. She and her servants and the castle commander and the royal guards are prisoners in the castle, and they have less than a month of food supplies left, because those in the castle are close to running out of live stock that’s kept there, cattle, lamb, and chicken kept there on the castle grounds for food—although they still have the vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.

Jason also says, As for their drinking water, there’s a well on the west end of the castle, built over an underground stream. The water comes from the mountain’s snowcap next to the plateau. Since the great mountain is very high, there’s a snowcap year-round, and at the lower elevation of the mountain, the snow begins to melt. That’s how the castle well has water year-round too. Also, when it rains near the castle, water runs down into deep holes to the underground stream next to the well.

Then Arabella asks, Why haven’t the dragons destroyed the castle like they destroyed the army headquarters and the towns and villages and farms in the kingdom? Her curiosity is building up inside her.

The boy replies, The plateau the castle is built on has these unusual trees growing on the mountain next to it. These trees are not found anywhere else in the kingdom. Although these trees have a pleasant scent year-round, the scent is revolting to the dragons. This the late king and the head commander and his men in the army have observed. Not even the flames that shoot out of the dragons’ enormous red mouths have penetrated through the trees’ scent, so the castle and those in it are safe from the dragons. It wasn’t until later the king learned that the scented trees is recorded in the history of my people about the trees protecting the castle from dragons.

As they stand there on the inner edge of the forest, Jason remembers telling his parents he’ll return to the refuge early, before the sun sets, so they won’t worry. So he starts to walk toward the refuge and motions to Arabella with his hand, saying, Come with me, Arabella. in a hurry to get back. She walks close to Jason because the trees are getting very dense the farther they walk into the forest.

Then Jason explains to her, It’s impossible for the dragons to enter the forest, as you can see, because it’s thick with trees.

Yes, I can see that it is, Arabella responds. So why haven’t the dragons burned it down yet?

Jason is surprised that the girl has so many questions to ask, but replies, Because the forest is the dragons’ food source. If they burn the forest, they won’t have any food and will then be forced to leave this kingdom in search of food elsewhere.

Then Arabella asks, How do you and the people survive in the great forest?

When the people fled into the forest, some brought cows and hens so we may have milk and eggs, while others brought field horses and donkeys that once plowed the fields in their farms. Now they’re used around in the refuges to haul things, such as cut lumber. Others brought seeds for planting and small fruit trees. We also have deer and wild pigs and pheasants in the forest for food, Jason says to her.

Arabella also learns from him as they walk through the forest that the people in the refuges in the forest have managed to plant vegetables and fruit trees on the forest’s outside perimeter, where the sun hits the most, so the vegetables and fruit trees may grow.

Earlier, when Arabella was in the air, as she looked down on the land, she saw the gardens and orchards spaced apart on the outside perimeter of the forest, and it seemed odd to her at that time why anyone would want to plant the garden and orchards at the forest’s edge, but now Jason has explained why they are planted there, and it makes sense to her now.

Then she asks, Are those deep ditches alongside the gardens for irrigation?

Yes, he replies. There’s a large lake to the north of the forest, and since the dragons don’t fly at night, looking for prey, the men in the forest have built a small dam next to the lake—for several nights—so the water can be released from the dam and can flow into the deep ditches near where the gardens and small orchards are.

That’s interesting, Jason. Please tell more, she says to him.

Arabella hasn’t figured out how she is going to explain why she’s come to his land, so she decides to ask questions about him and his people to deter him from asking her any questions yet. But she does realize it’s only a matter of time before he does.

Jason notices that the girl seems interested to know how the plants and fruits are harvested since the dragons fly around during the day, looking for prey, so he continues to explain to her how they care for the gardens and fruit orchards and also when they are harvested. When there’s a full moon to see at night, or when my people use the large lampposts along the ditches and where the gardens and orchards are, the men are able to release water from the dam to flow into the deep ditches that run down to where the gardens are, to keep the plants and fruit trees irrigated. Also, the harvest is done at night.

So they harvest at night. Arabella finds it very interesting.

Harvest at night? I would like to see it done, and maybe I can go along and help, she tells Jason.

He senses her eagerness to help with the harvest at night in the tone of her voice. Yes. It would be wonderful for you to come along and help with the harvest, Jason replies. Then he tells her that the people take turns tending to the gardens at night and with the harvest.

She continues to ask questions about the people in captivity by the dragons. What else do your people do at night? she asks.

Jason notices that she isn’t about to get off the subject yet, so he continues, saying, The soldiers take turns taking the military horses to graze at night in the valley next to the forest. It’s better this way instead of hauling the wild grass into the forest.

Arabella hopes he doesn’t mind the questions she’s been asking; she just can’t help herself, because she’s beginning to become fascinated by the people here in this great forest. She continues asking him questions, saying, Why haven’t your people tried to escape at night from the dragons and go to other lands to live?

My people don’t want to leave because this is the land of our ancestors, he replies. Our people have lived in this land from one generation to the next for a thousand years. They worked this land and made their homes here, and the people have been loyal to the kings that have ruled over them in their generation.

Then Jason says something that catches Arabella’s attention: Besides, the whole kingdom has been waiting for the stranger to come, and this stranger will help the royal army get rid of all the dragons from our land.

When Arabella hears what Jason is saying about the people waiting for the stranger to come and help them destroy the dragons, she wonders if this is her goodwill mission. But she doesn’t say anything to Jason, because her distant great-grandmother said in the scroll that wherever her journeys take her, the people in her journeys must find out for themselves why she’s sent to them.

This is more to her liking, because soon she’ll know herself if her first goodwill mission will begin here with Jason and his people.

As they keep walking, Jason tells her that it’s not much farther to the refuge. Arabella wants to ask as many questions as possible before they get to Jason’s refuge, because she thinks this is a good time, since the boy is willing to answer her questions. She then asks, Why haven’t the army gone at night to rescue Queen Anne and the people in the castle?

Jason realizes that she’s just interested in his people, so he doesn’t mind answering her questions.

They can’t, he replies. The dragons, with their long jagged tails, have destroyed most of the road that goes up to the castle. Some parts of the road are about four feet wide, and the rest of the road lies on the small canyon floor below the plateau, making it too dangerous for anyone to attempt to get there at night without torches. The torches will alert the dragons that sleep in the deep and huge crack in the lower part of the mountain close to the plateau and near the castle road, that someone is on the castle road, so you can see why it’s too risky for the men to attempt to go rescue our queen and the people at the castle.

Arabella starts to get a clear picture of what these people are up against, and it saddens her, because Queen Anne is separated from the rest of her people and her army here in this great forest, except for the castle guards and the castle commander that remain with the queen and her people at Fenwick Castle. She asks, Then how do your people communicate with the queen?

Jason likes the stranger, so he answers her question very courteously. We communicate with Queen Anne and those in the castle by carrier pigeons. This is why we know how much food supply they have left. Also, she can be informed about the army when they fight against the dragons, and to also let her know how the people are holding up in the forest, in the refuges, Jason tells her.

Oh, she responds. Arabella thinks the people are pretty organized.

As they continue walking through the forest, she starts to feel happy they haven’t reached the refuge yet, because she is learning a lot about the people here in this kingdom, more so than later, when they reach his refuge, because the people will be the ones asking the questions why she’s come there.

How many refuges are in this great forest? she ask. Jason says to her, he isn’t certain.

We have two valleys, he then tells her. One is the northwest valley. That one had about thirty combined towns, villages, and farmhouses but was destroyed, as I said to you before. The other valley is greater in size. There are fifty combined towns and villages and farmhouses, he says. That was the valley you were walking on when we met.

Arabella is impressed with the size of this kingdom.

When they reach a small clearing, a meadow, in the forest, they stop to rest. As they sit there, Jason pulls out a couple of apples he brought to eat, one apple for on the way to the edge of the forest, and the other apple to eat on the way home. But because Jason had a strong urge to go to the edge of the forest, he didn’t stop to rest. Now he’s glad he didn’t, because Arabella will have been alone by now on the sloped road, not knowing about the dragons that look for prey during the day.

Do you want an apple to eat? he asks. I have an extra one.

Apples and strawberries are Arabella’s favorite fruits, so she is happy that Jason is offering her one; besides, she is getting hungry walking through this great forest.

Why, sure, she answers. Thank you, Jason. I’m a bit hungry with all this walking.

As they are both sitting on a log there in the meadow, some wild pigs go by to stop by a creek and drink water. Arabella becomes alarmed, because back at home, she was told wild pigs are mean and dangerous. But she notices that these wild pigs and their young are friendly, and she also notices that Jason isn’t at all concerned that they are close by. So she decides to trust his instincts rather than hers, because he lives with his people in the forest among the wild animals. She calms down and becomes relaxed.

This is really a beautiful forest, Arabella says. I especially love the small meadows with the wildflowers and the creeks that run through some of them, she tells him. It’s hard for the dragons to spot these small meadows because of the tall evergreen trees.

Then Jason replies, Yes, this great forest has many beautiful places within it. In some areas, where the forest reaches the mountain’s edge, there are great waterfalls. The contrast of the waterfall close to the tall emerald evergreen trees is breathtaking to see. He smiles. Since we’ve fled here for safety, I’ve always been in awe every time I see the great falls next to the forest.

Jason, I have noticed that this forest has huge magnificent trees, not only tall evergreens, she says. Back at my father’s castle, the grounds have many huge trees too, and we also have tall evergreen trees. And I just love to walk among the trees on the castle grounds, because I am very fascinated with them.

Yes, I love the forest trees as well, but what I find interesting about them is that they live for hundreds and hundreds of years. I just think, what these trees can tell us if they could will be very interesting, things about the past. Don’t you think? Jason asks.

Arabella notices that Jason is no different from her, because he is also interested in his