Chapter 5 History Lesson

Lilli gently untied the silver ribbon, broke the royal seal, opened the satchel, and removed an envelope addressed to:

Lilli was awe struck as she read the following words:

If my calculations were correct, and everything has gone as planned, a princess is holding this letter in her hands.
Dear Princess,
It was just by chance that I chose a small volume of poetry off the castle library shelf. On the inside cover there were these intriguing words:
To my Lovely Ruth,
Never forget
The magic will not be granted to all,
but when I place my hands upon this wall,
like a hundred years before.
Let a special Princess of Zen pass through this magical entrance once more.
Love G.
1817

The book also held the torn pages of a very old diary. The pages told of secret passages to a fairy tale world. There were details of a short window of time when a secret entrance was accessible once every one hundred years. The details were just enough to lead me on a search to solve the mystery.
Ruth was my at great, great aunt. A lovely, sweet, kind, and very intelligent lady with an inquisitive personality. She was also a gifted artist and painted many murals on the castle walls. She lived her entire life at the castle. In the same bedchamber that I now occupy. However I could never find the answer as to who had written that notation in the book of poetry, signed “Love G.” in the year of 1817!
Finding the secret entrance had to be done quickly or the opportunity would pass! It was already 1917, the one hundredth year.
As a Princess of Zen I did find the entrance and it has changed everything about my life and destiny of all that will follow! I have left many clues separated and designed so that only you will connect their meaning. If you are the special princess destined to finish this journey, in the year of 2017. it is my duty to encourage you to complete this important task that began in the year of 1690. It will change the lives of many and will take you on an amazing adventure in the The Land Of Shenanigans!
Your Humble Ancestor
Flora,
Queen Of The Land of Zen

At the bottom of Queen Flora’s letter was a curious drawing of golden hand prints and a dragon. Were these more clues?

Lilli sat cross legged on the floor clutching the letter tightly against her chest. She was completely flabbergasted! With a quick start she jumped to her feet, she had to call Kammy. As she reached for the phone Lilli realized it was midnight, she couldn’t call Kammy. It would have to wait until she came for the sleepover tomorrow.

Lilli sat back down and reopened the satchel. She removed the small book of poetry that had once belonged to Ruth. Tucked inside she found a list of important facts and details of a hidden kingdom. The list stressed the importance of a magic golden key. This key had once been the only way to enter the Land Of Shenanigans. However a century before Ruth, there were steps taken to provide another source of magic, shavings from the handle of the key had been melted down and redesigned.

However the gold key was vital, without it a visit could only last three hours and it was need for ceremony that breaks the spell that exiled the kingdom. Ruth wished she could share more information, but she could not. However Ruth was confident that at the right time those secrets would be revealed to the Special Princess of Zen. Also included was the instructions needed for the ceremony; to end the spell, but not a clue about the location of, or how to get through the magic entrance. Lilli knew it must be in one of the castle walls, but which one and how would she know where to place her hands to open the door?

Lilli tried to sleep but dozens of questions kept popping up in her head. Especially about Ruth. Why was it so important that her story be included in the letter? Could the locket play a part, and if so what? Lilli fell asleep, with dreams of a great adventure on her mind.