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"You need not worry about Owl as he has safely returned to his nest".
The candle's warm flame darted, danced and jumped off the walls of the long hallway.
Here and there oil lamps were hung, creating a soft glow and helping to splay shivery shadows across the walls..
I was mesmerized by all I was seeing and feeling.
I somehow felt that I was returning home after a very long journey.
I waited for the old woman to start down the long hall.
Old, forgotten memories of my childhood filled my head.
"But, why would Owl leave?" "I thought this was where he stayed." "He seemed so comfortable here."
Sweet woodsy scents of fir, juniper and pine tantalized my senses and filled my nostrils as we started toward the bedroom.
I thought I could heard faint strands of music coming from somewhere.
Then a few more steps and she stopped facing me, her bright eyes glowing in the darkness and the gemstones on her shawl shining on and off like little fireflies.
She made no sound but pointed toward the doorway to the bedroom and gestured for me to step inside.
She tipped the candle in the doorway.
The candle's flame fanned up and out, splaying across a magnificent ceiling towering high overhead.
It seemed to have a myriad of pictures imprinted on it.
There were two stately windows that reached from floor to ceiling.
I was reminded of an old and lovely Victorian mansion.
As she moved the flame around, I could see a silver candelabra sitting on a heavy, ornate dresser with a large mirror which faced a bed with a magnificent headboard.
It appeared to be carved with what looked like angels, swallows, owls and flowers.
It had soft pillows that lay, one on top of the other, plumped in a glorious display of uninhibited comfort.
A plush comforter covered the bed, embroidered all over with birds, vines and flowers.
The nightstand had a lovely tall with slender sprigs of Rosemary and Sage.
Their lovely, herbal fragrance permeated this small, uninhabited space.
I was overcome with emotion.
Forest scents of pine and juniper, Rosemary and Sage were quickly embedded as I was now heady with long forgotten smells from my Grandmothers garden of long, long ago.
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"Time to wake up and smell the coffee!"
This I heard as I was happily wrapped up, snug as a bug in a rug, in a posh comforter, warm and cozy, my head resting comfortably on over sized pillows.
I rubbed my eyes and started unraveling myself from the cocoon I was in, swinging my legs over the side of the bed and firmly placing them on the floor.
I noticed shafts of sunlight coming in from the windows.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to my surroundings.
I kept thinking that during the night I had sensed something enter my room and two bright eyes staring at me but then I finally chocked it all up to "it must have been a dream".
A few feet away there was a small corner bathroom and on the sink I found a cup with a toothbrush and herbal paste.
A large metal bird was standing in the corner on one leg.
Upon closer inspection I recognized it as an exact duplicate of the hair piece the old woman was wearing.
I continued staring as I brushed my teeth then I looked into the mirror, surveying the surroundings behind me.
I was curious as to what was behind the heavy drapes.
As I parted the drapes, I saw that the tall windows looked out upon the quiet pond.
There was an old cobblestone path meandering down to it and on either side, a hedgerow of flowers and shrubs.
Just before the pond a lovely archway stretched over the path from one side to the other.
I just stood there, transfixed, not knowing what to say.
Then I thought, "if there is a heaven this must be it".
As looked further, I could see an expanse of rolling meadows, beautiful tall flowering trees and hear songbirds singing in the tree tops.
There was a gentle humming vibration I sensed, permeating my entire body.
But then I noticed, not too far away, something I did not like. It was disturbing.
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