Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 20: Dorrie's Encounter
Note: this chapter features Dorrie as a child as seen in my story "Dorrie". This chapter is a surprise birthday gift for Sofia2015.
An invisible visitor
Dorrie had just returned to Enchancia Castle after attending school for the day in the village. She went into her room, put her wand on a small table, and started getting changed from her school clothes to her maid's uniform. As Dorrie was changing into her maid's uniform, a young woman, invisible to Dorrie, watched. The young woman was in fact a young angel named Monica.
In the angel community, there was talk of a young witch who was rapidly making a name for herself at Enchancia Castle. The young witch was in fact Dorrie, and there was talk that Dorrie had a bright future in store for her. Since Monica was in the area, she thought she would drop in and catch a glimpse of Dorrie for herself. What was the harm after all? Monica was going to be invisible anyway, so her presence would be unknown.
As Dorrie changed, Monica started looking around Dorrie's room. It was a nice enough room, well suited for a girl Dorrie's age. Before long, Monica spied Dorrie's wand. It was a beautifully crafted wooden wand. As Monica picked up the wand, she noticed it was nicely balanced.
"Now where did that wand go?!" Dorrie exclaimed to herself as she looked around the room. "I could have sworn I put it on the table".
"Oh, my!" Monica thought to herself in horror. "What have I done?!".
As Dorrie looked around the room, Monica quickly placed the wand back on the table.
Discovered
Just as Monica placed Dorrie's wand back on the table, Dorrie turned to see the wand appear on the table out of thin air.
"Hello" Dorrie called out. "Who's there?".
"Just stay quiet" Monica thought to herself. "I'm still invisible after all".
"Whoever you are, please don't be afraid" Dorrie said in a reassuring tone. "I just want to thank you for bringing my wand back. I need it for housekeeping duties".
"Now I've done it" Monica thought to herself. "I wasn't suppose to make my presence known".
"Please show yourself" Dorrie requested. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I'd really like to meet you, whoever you are".
"Well, in for a penny, in for a pound" Monica thought to herself. "I might as well try to make this right".
In a few moments, Monica became visible to Dorrie.
"Don't be afraid, little one" Monica gently reassured Dorrie. "I mean you no harm".
"Who are you?" Dorrie asked.
"My name is Monica, and I'm ... an angel" Monica answered as a white glow surrounded her body.
Dorrie quickly kneeled, and bowed her head.
"I'm honored to be in the presence of an angel" Dorrie said.
"Please, stand up" Monica smiled. "You don't have to kneel on my account. I'm not exactly what you would call a high level angel".
Dorrie stood up, and looked at Monica.
"There are levels of angels?" Dorrie asked, interested.
"Oh, yes" Monica cheerfully answered. "There are those who have choir duty. I would have liked that, but I don't have the best singing voice. To be truthful, my singing voice is downright awful. Then, on the higher level of being an angel, there are case workers who work on helping people one on one".
"And what are you?" Dorrie inquired.
"I'm with search and rescue" Monica answered. "Those of us in search and rescue take care of saving people in times of crisis. A good example would be during a storm when a boat is in danger of loosing control when suddenly, like a miracle, the boat regains control and safely makes it back to harbor. That would have been a few of us in search and rescue safely guiding the boat back home".
"Sounds like a very important job" Dorrie remarked. "Are you doing some search and rescue here at Enchancia Castle?".
"Well, not exactly" Monica confessed. "The truth be told, I was in the area, and I wanted to get a peek at you. You are the talk of the angel community. The powers to be upstairs think highly of you".
"Of ... me?" Dorrie asked, taken off guard. "I'm just a young witchlet. It's not like I've done anything special".
"I beg to differ, young lady" a woman's voice came from behind Dorrie and Monica.
Meeting Tess
Dorrie looked to see a heavy set black woman standing there. In a few moments, a white glow surrounded the woman's body.
"My name is Tess" the woman smiled at Dorrie. "I'm an angel, although I suspect you already figured that out, young lady".
"Two angels on the same day?" Dorrie asked, puzzled. "What makes me worthy of such an honor?".
"Well, Monica wasn't suppose to be here, period" Tess remarked. "But, she sometimes tends to get inquisitive. As a supervisor, I thought I'd come down to clear things up".
"Clear what up?" Dorrie inquired.
"Monica is right that you are the talk of the angel community" Tess answered. "The people upstairs are very impressed with the young lady you've become".
"But what have I done to deserve such praise?" Dorrie wanted to know.
"And she's modest, too" Tess remarked to Monica about Dorrie. Tess then turned back to Dorrie. "What have you done, young Dorrie, to deserve such praise? Your goodness, your willingness to help people, your kindness to animals, when you helped defend Sofia against Miss Nettle, the times you've helped Danika, just to name a few things".
"But those are things anybody would have done" Dorrie pointed out.
"Not everybody would have" Tess informed Dorrie. "You have the gift of kindness. And every time you use it, God smiles in happiness. He's very proud of you, Dorrie".
Dorrie smiled at the complement.
"Monica and I had better be going" Tess announced. "It was a pleasure meeting you, young lady".
"A great pleasure" Monica added.
In a few moments, Tess and Monica vanished into thin air. At that same moment, a knock came at Dorrie's door.
"Come in" Dorrie invited.
The door opened, and in walked Baileywick.
"Dorrie" Baileywick started, "there has been a change in your duty schedule this afternoon. Instead of general cleaning, please report to Chef Andre in the kitchen. He needs help in making pastries for tonight's reception. Since you've become quite a good pastry chef, he's requested your help".
"I'll report to the kitchen immediately" Dorrie happily acknowledged. Dorrie just loved helping out in the kitchen.
As Dorrie left her room, Tess and Monica, now invisible to those in the castle, watched.
"Tess?" Monica asked. "Is it true that Dorrie is a chosen one?".
"Yes, angel girl" Tess smiled. "We have special plans for Dorrie after her life on Earth is finished. She, along with Sofia and Lucinda, will be appointed as angels once they have lived full, rich lives".
"That's right" Monica remembered. "Sofia and Lucinda eventually become adopted sisters".
"When they are fourteen" Tess remarked.
"And what does Dorrie's life hold?" Monica asked.
"She will become a great person in her own right" Tess answered. "Her and Prince Frederick will marry when they become of age, with Dorrie becoming a princess in the process. The two of them will have a son and a daughter. And Frederick will eventually become King of Ornburgh, with Dorrie as his Queen".
"Well, I've better be getting back to my duties" Monica said to Tess. "And I'm sorry for making my presence known to Dorrie".
"I'll let it drop this time, angel girl" Tess smiled. "After all, no real damage was done".
"I know I've asked this before, but is there any chance that someday I might become a case worker?" Monica asked, hopeful.
"You've got a lot of years to go before that can be considered" Tess gently answered. "However, I think if you work hard and prove yourself worthy, I think you have a good shot".
Monica smiled at Tess' encouragement.
That night
The reception at Enchancia Castle was a big hit, with the guests having had a good time.
Before going to bed for the night, Dorrie walked into the castle chapel, kneeled, and looked up toward Heaven.
"I give thanks for the passing of another fine day" Dorrie started, "and ask that you watch over all of us during the dark of night".
Dorrie stopped for a moment, then continued.
"Tonight, I'd like to add something" Dorrie smiled. "I want to thank you for the confidence you have in me. I will always strive to be worthy of that confidence".
Dorrie got up, and put out a ritual candle she had lit that morning. Before leaving the castle chapel, Dorrie once again looked up toward Heaven.
"Good night" Dorrie said as she looked up.
As Dorrie started to walk out of the castle chapel, she felt a gentle breeze touch her face. Dorrie knew that it was a sign from above. A sign of something good and caring.
As Dorrie walked away from the castle chapel, a man's voice, unheard by Dorrie, spoke.
"Good night, dear one".
Author's notes
For more about Dorrie, see my stories "Dorrie", and "Enchancia Castle".
For how Sofia and Lucinda become adoptive sisters, see my story "The Newest Princess".
Monica and Tess are from "Touched By An Angel". The Monica seen in this chapter is a younger version of Monica, long before she became a case worker on "Touched By An Angel". Meanwhile, Tess also makes appearances in my stories "A Sofia Christmas Carol", and "A Royal Rift".