A few years ago, there lived in a cottage, in an English forest, a young woman called Joy. She was a pretty girl with long black hair and dark smiling eyes. Joy lived with her grandmother. She was a wise and understanding old lady with a twinkle in her eye. Grandma was a widow, and because Joy had lost her parents, she had cared for her since she was a baby. Although poor, the old lady and her granddaughter lived happily together. Behind the house they had a garden, a cow called Daisy, ducks, geese and chickens. They grew vegetables. Daisy provided milk. To keep warm in the winter, firewood was collected from the forest.
As Joy was attractive, men called at the cottage; they often asked grandma for Joy's hand in marriage. Some of them were ill-tempered and ugly. Others were polite and handsome. When they were unpleasant and grandma said no!, Joy was pleased. When they were nice and grandma said no!, Joy was annoyed.
Peeved, Joy would ask her grandma, "How will I know when it's the right one?, you give none of them a chance."
Smiling, grandma said, "Joy, there is a little bird in your heart. When the right man comes, the bird in your heart will flutter its wings. You will blush and feel shy. You must then stare into the well where we draw water. Look into its crystal mirror. If it is true love, your loved one's features will show as a reflection in the water."
Joy thanked her grandmother and remembered what she had been told.
Joy had lived in the forest all her life. She had made friends with the animals and birds who lived in the grass, bushes and trees. She had learned the language of the singing birds, the dainty roe deer and the timid rabbits. These creatures all loved her. One day, wandering with her friends, she came across a clearing in the trees. Although it was daytime, to her surprise, the copse was in darkness. Joy looked to see if there was a dark cloud overhead, but the sky was clear, and a lark sang down to her. Joy, followed by her friends, decided to investigate and entered the copse.
Inside the copse, there was only darkness. Suddenly a piercing beam of white light, as though from a giant torch, startled them. Nervous, but curious, Joy approached the light. On the ground, illuminated by a circle of light, was a man. The figure was about one inch high. The beam broadened; the midget grew in size until he was over six feet in height. Joy turned and ran. She tripped on a tree-stump and fell to the ground. Too frightened to move, she lay there with her hands covering her eyes.
"Joy, did you hurt yourself when you fell?" said a soft and soothing voice.
Peeping through her fingers, Joy saw the smiling face of a young handsome man. He had deep-blue eyes, a tanned complexion and fair hair. How did this person know her name? Joy decided that he must be a wizard.
"There is no need for you to be afraid. I mean you no harm."
Feeling less frightened, Joy replied, "I'm fine, thank you."
Joy could say no more; she felt shy. She blushed and a little bird fluttered in her heart. The stranger sat down beside Joy. He placed a protective arm around her.
Joy found the courage to whisper, "How do you know my name?"
"Where I come from, we know many things. I know all about you."
Joy was no longer afraid. He had an aura of peace and calm. Even the roe deer and the other animals, who had run away, returned. They were no longer scared.
Joy asked, "What is your name magician?"
"You can call me Michael. I know that you like that name."
Michael was indeed, Joy's favourite name; it was her late father's name.
"I will call you Michael. I still think that you're a magician who can read my thoughts. I vow that when I'm with you, I will stop thinking."
Michael laughed and all the creatures joined in the merriment.
Michael wore blue clothing that matched his eyes.
"Are you a prince who wears such fine clothes?"
"In my land, every single person is either a prince or a princess. Shall I be your special prince?"
Joy laughed, "Will I be a princess?"
"You are my princess."
Michael kissed her on the cheek. Joy was shy again. Grandma had been right. A little bird fluttered in her heart and her face was crimson from blushing. Joy was happy; she had fallen in love with Michael.
Joy felt inquisitive.
"Where is this strange land?"
"My world is all around you. It's so small it can't be seen by humans."
Two white doves glided from a tree. They joined the group around the lovers.
"Tell us more, Doo, Doo. Tell us more, Doo, Doo, of this land that people cannot see."
Michael grinned, "My world is called 'The Land of Light'. It's peopled by 'The Souls of Light'. We have no bodies, but we're cleverer than the Earth people. We are all rays of light, and in our world we live forever."
Joy pondered, "Have you a king?"
"We are all equal, but we exist in harmony. We are ruled by 'The Creator of all Light'. It is he who has sent me here."
A wild pig, who had been rooting amongst the bushes, snorted his disbelief.
A red squirrel who had listened, while chewing on a nut asked, "Why did this 'Creator of Light' send you? "
Michael helped Joy to her feet.
"For the moment, I will say no more Come Joy, being human has made me hungry. Your grandmother, at this moment, bakes scones for tea. I will take you home now. I long to meet this good woman."
Joy's friends scuttled, bounded, or flew away. The happy couple strolled, hand in hand, to the cottage. Even the wild flowers seemed to nod and bow, as they passed.
Joy whispered, "Did the creator send only you?"
"No, thousands were sent to many countries on Earth. Are you pleased I came?"
"You know that I am."
Michael kissed her again, but this time even more sweetly and tenderly.
Joy's whole being was full of love. She longed to be married to Michael.
Reading Joy's thoughts, Michael told her, "All that you desire you shall have, but only for a few brief Earth years. I must then return to ' The Land of Light'."
Joy was sad. Was she to lose Michael so soon after their meeting?
"Joy, you have no need to worry. All will be well; you will be happy with me, I promise you."
Minutes later, they reached the cottage. As they passed the well, Joy looked in. Sure enough, the reflection of Michael smiled back at her.
At the cottage, Joy introduced Michael, "Grandma, this is Michael. We met in the forest. He is a prince from another land."
The honest woman gave Michael a curtsey.
"I am honoured to meet you. My granddaughter seems happy."
Michael returned the curtsey with a bow.
"Good lady, I desire your permission to court Joy, and stroll with her in the forest."
Grandma saw the blushing face of her granddaughter and sensed the rapid beating of her heart. She granted Michael's request and was rewarded with the glow of delight on Joy's face. Michael took a ring from his pocket and pushed it on Joy's finger. The ring sparkled and shone, aided by the light shining through the window.
Michael then produced a bag of gold coins.
"Grandma, there are twenty coins here. One for every year you have cared for Joy. I am rich and will see to her every need."
Joy expected the proud woman to refuse the gold, but she accepted. Grandma thanked Michael and hid the gold in a secret place, under the floorboards.
The following months were the happiest Joy had ever known. In the mornings, she would help around the house, milk Daisy, collect eggs from the hens and help prepare lunch. In the afternoons, Michael would meet her and accompanied by her animal friends, they strolled and kissed in the forest.
Michael told his loved one many things, which he said must remain a secret. Joy, being a simple girl, did not fully understand him, but she enjoyed listening to the soft tones of his voice.
Michael explained that the 'Creator of All Light' was worried that humans were destroying their world. The humans were cutting down trees, poisoning the life in the rivers and seas, and making powerful weapons that could destroy everything that was green and beautiful. In the 'Land of Light', the pitiful cries of thousands of innocent children could be heard. He knew that if mankind destroyed its world it would effect 'The Land of Light', and the 'Souls of Light' would be scattered amongst the stars. Joy did not understand his mysterious talk. She did know that she loved him, and wanted to marry her unusual lover.
One wonderful day, Michael arrived at the house with sweets and flowers for grandma. He asked for Joy's hand in marriage. Grandma consented, and a week later, the lovers were married in a small wooden church at the edge of the forest. They spent their honeymoon in the copse which was bathed in sunlight every day, even when it rained elsewhere In the copse, fruit trees grew and a merry-brook provided drinking water of perfect purity.
Some months later, Joy was with child. She told Michael and her grandmother, the good news, while they took tea together.
A serious Michael said, "We must walk in the forest. I have things to tell you that are not for the ears of grandma."
In the copse, Michael explained, "I knew that we would have a child. It is the reason I was sent to you by 'The Creator of All Light'. Our child will be a boy; he will be both an Earth-Child and a 'Soul of Light'. Our son will have similar brothers, from different races, throughout the world. These children will be more intelligent than human children. They will, in time, be the leaders on this planet. Their wisdom will save Earth from destruction. I will stay with you and instruct our son till he reaches manhood. I must then return to 'The Land of Light'. Each year, on our son's birthday, you must visit the copse. There, you will find a bag of gold, so that you will never be hungry."
When the time came, Joy's baby was born. As predicted he was a boy. The happy parents called their new-born Ray because he was from 'The Light'. He grew up to become a clever, handsome man. He had his father's fair hair and physique and he had his mothers lovely dark eyes. The following years were happy ones for the small family. Even the passing away of the grandmother was not sad. She had lived a contented life with Michael, Joy, and the boy Ray, who she had adored.
When Ray was eighteen, Michael declared, "It's time I returned to my own dimension. Iv'e told Ray and he understands. Tell people that I sailed to my own country, my ship foundered, and I drowned."
Michael's worried wife inquired, "Will I ever be with you again?"
Michael held her close and kissed her for the last time.
"Joy, every person looks forward to their own heaven. You are for ever my soul-mate, and later you will join me in 'The Land of Light'."
Michael left, and walked to the copse which was again in darkness. A beam of light shone on him; he became smaller, and smaller, until he was again a ray of light, and could be seen no more.
Joy spent most of her time in the cottage. She still took walks with her animal friends, who stopped her from being lonely. Ray became a brilliant scholar who could do difficult sums and write good English .He became fluent in the languages of other lands. At the university, the masters were certain that he would become a leader of men.
Every year, on Ray's birthday, Joy visited the copse. There, as promised, she found a bag of gold. There was never enough gold to make her rich or so little she would be poor. There was just the correct amount to keep her in comfort.
Joy knew that one day, she would be with Michael as his twin soul in 'The Land of Light'.
Philip's Army is now available in Paperback and Kindle formats.
ISBN-10: 1479242624
ISBN-13: 978-1479242627
Chapter One The War Council can be read for free here.
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