Why me???

"Why me?" thought Ellie as she was stepping through the portal to return back to where the Monacle guarded the Tree.  "I'm nothing special."  All that was in her mind was the vision and finding the small box clutched in her hand when the vision ended.  "I haven't even opened it yet," she said out loud to herself.  She abruptly stopped walking and then stared at the box.  "Should I open it to see what might be inside," she thought  as she started back down the trail.

​She did not get very far before she decided.  "Yes.  I might need to tell Meerher and Dree what is inside."  Finding a large boulder that was flat on the top, Ellie placed the box on it and slowly lifted the lid.  It was empty!

"What the..." she whispered.  In a louder voice after examining the box and making sure there wasn't something little inside that she missed, "Why would the Bag of Possibilities give me an empty box?"

Closing the box and picking it back up, Ellie decided that she needed to move a little faster to get back to House Mother Meerher and the Monacle.  "They will know," she kept telling herself as she started running.  Soon she was able to see the two sitting by the Tree.  It appeared that Meerher was telling Dree something about the Tree since she kept pointing at different branches each time she spoke.  As Ellie got closer, she realized she was right about her assumption since she could now hear the House Mother talking about where wizard wands came from and how each branch took years to form for the different types of wizards.

"Now that branch will not be ready for another twenty years," said Meerher to the new Monacle.  "When the Tree is ready to give it up, it will tell you as it's protector.  It will be up to you to figure out who is needing the wand and making the arrangements for it to be delivered.  That all sounds vague, but the past Monacle seemed to know each time and I assume that the Tree will help you figure it out."

As Dree was about to say something, Ellie interrupted and blurted out "I got to talk to the both of you.  Something strange happened to me!" she gasped trying to catch her breath.  The House Mother gave Ellie a stern look for the interruption but both Dree and Meerher could see the concern in Ellie's eyes and the fact that Ellie had been running and was breathless just trying to get their attention.  As they waited for Ellie to catch her breath, Dree noticed the box that she was clutching in her hand.  When it appeared that Ellie would be able to answer, Dree asked about the box.  "Is the box you are holding part of the story?"   

Startled at first, then realizing that both Dree and Meerher could clearly see that she was holding onto the box, Ellie nodded her head and started her tale about what had happened and the vision she had while in the Dowager's tea room.  When she finished, the Monacle and House Mother looked at each other as they both knew that Ellie had a different mission than what either had intended for her.

It was Meerher who spoke first.  "Ellie, you have been chosen.  You are no longer a Waxing student serving the Luminary Council.  You are now the voice of the Monacle.  I will make arrangements for your move to become a Waning student under my house, but you will also now serve the Monacle."  As Ellie was trying to understand what had just happened, the House Mother continued. 

"E'luminosity, the Bag of Possibilities has given you a great gift.  As you asked for the means to help others, the Bag has bestowed upon you that means."  Before Meerher could continue, Ellie interrupted again.  "But the box is empty House Mother!" she said.  Both Dree and Meerher smiled.  It was Dree who answered her unspoken question.  "Ellie, when something does appear in the box, that is when you will know your services will be needed to help those calling for it.  What appears will be what you or they will need and when something does appear, you will need to tell me and I will help you find where you need to go.  You will be my voice to the outside realms so that every realm knows that the magic of the Tree is there protecting them."

"I've got to move???" muttered Ellie.  "Do you know how long it has taken me to organize my closet space?"... As Ellie was muttering to herself, Meerher was also in  thought.  "I'll also need to get her the moon cresent badge of the Waning house to wear too."