Hello, this is my first story for "The Secret of Kells".
My main inspiration comes from WhiteFangKakashi300 (on DeviantArt) and her wonderful art^^. Thanks to her for being my BETA reader too!
English is not my first language, so I'm sorry if there are still mistakes.
Enjoy!
Brendan's heart leapt when his torch went out. His mind reeled, afraid of the darkness, until a cracking sound echoed.
A blue light glowed beneath his feet as the ground split in two, making the earth tremble, and before the boy knew it, he was falling into an unknown world.
The Abbot felt strange as he woke up that morning. He sat up and held his head with one hand, trying to get himself together but he could not shake this odd feeling.
He could have sworn he had felt the earth shaking in the night… And a voice, there was a voice he could still hear in his memory. But it was unfamiliar. And the words he recalled did not make any sense.
"Just a dream." he thought and got up, putting these thoughts at the back of his mind.
He had a lot of work to do, yet his steps slowed down when he walked next to the trap door. Cellach stopped for a moment, staring at it. He wanted to check on his nephew, see if the boy was still sleeping, if he was fine. But he went ahead, swallowing down his guilt and worry.
Later in the morning, Brother Tang came to him, bringing him his breakfast.
"Take it to Brendan." he declined. "See if…"
"…he's alright."
"See if he comes to his senses."
"Old fools… old fools should learn to keep quiet." Aidan muttered again, still staring at the flames.
He didn't realize that he had been staying like that for almost two hours, too lost in his own thoughts.
The illuminator felt crushed under the weights of the years, his guilt towards the boy and the horrifying memories of the Vikings attacking Iona. He tried to remain focused on happier thoughts, to see the bright sides of things as he used to do, but now it was too hard. Brendan was locked in the tower because of him, the poor lad…
The sound of the door opening made him turn around. Brother Tang peeked inside, looking concerned.
"Brother Aidan?" he called almost timidly, entering the scriptorium. "Is Brendan with you?"
"Brendan?" he repeated, confused. "No, the Abbot locked him in the tower."
"I know but…" the older man put the plate he was holding on a desk. "…he is not in his cell."
Aidan's eyes widened.
"I have no idea how he escaped." added Tang. "But I believed that, however he did it, he would go to you, to the Scriptorium."
"Are you sure he was not in his cell?"
When Tang nodded, Aidan's heart clenched with worry. Where did the boy go? He thought hard, trying to understand, to have an idea of where Brendan went. Then, he flinched.
Did Brendan go to the forest? At night?
The lad told him he had a friend inside the forest, he knew the name "Crom Cruach" before Aidan revealed it to him (he heard him whispering it), and he really wanted to continue his training.
Everything was confusing, he didn't know if that made sense but he had to try and find him.
Aidan looked back at Tang and told him to look everywhere in Kells, to ask their brothers' help to do so, but certainly not the Abbot. The boy might already be in trouble at the moment, he didn't need to have more with his uncle.
They splited up once outside. Aidan went to the gates. Fortunately, someone was there with a key and opened it when he asked. He stood still a moment, then took a deep breath and walked towards the forest.
Brendan didn't know how long, nor how deep he had been falling until his body floated in this strange realm. He rushed to a side as something arrived, almost hitting him in the way.
No sound could be heard.
The boy looked around, scared and fascinated by his surroundings. Remembering his goal –finding and bringing the Eye back to Kells- he looked at his hand. The drawing were still printed on his skin. The ink glowed and he looked up.
Crom was in front of him.
The day was almost over, the sun would set soon. Cellach rubbed one of his shoulder, soothing the ache. He looked around with another tired sigh, so much to be done, and he had no idea if time would be on their side.
Then he frowned slightly, realizing something. Where were the Brothers? He had not seen one in an hour! Annoyance raised inside him as he noticed none of them were working on the wall, and he decided to go and look for them.
They were gathered at the steps of the tower, whispering agitatedly and sometimes flailing their arms. The Abbot raised an eyebrow and walked silently towards them. As he drew closer, he could hear all of them speaking at the same time, but he made out some of their sentences.
"How is it even possible?" questioned Brother Assoua.
"Brother Aidan did not come back yet." Brother Square informed.
"What should we do?" stammered Brother Leonardo. "Should we tell the Abbot?"
Cellach frowned, wondering what this was all about. He was reaching the group when the Brother from Africa snapped.
"Yeah, sure go ahead! What are you going to tell him?!" he raised his arms in the air. "Abbot, Brendan is gone!?"
Brother Friedrich turned his head to his right at that precise moment and gasped, getting the attention of the other Brothers. Assoua put a hand over his mouth, paling, while the others were petrified at the sight of the Abbot.
He was frozen, staring wide-eyed at them.
"Brendan is gone?" he repeated when he found his voice.
Although his face remained calm, his mind was in a haze. Contradictory emotions and thoughts battled inside of his head for about a minute before Cellach came back to his senses.
"When did that happen?" he demanded.
The monks exchanged concerned and guilty looks. Tang was the one who spoke up.
"Brendan was not in his cell this morning." he revealed.
Cellach's heart stopped beating for a second, confusion, fear and worry clawing in his chest. He immediately glanced at the Scriptorium, but Tang continued.
"He is nowhere in Kells." The Asian monk looked down. "We've been looking for him the whole day."
"…Where is Aidan?"
Despite being worried for his nephew, a vicious feeling of jealousy mixed with betrayal made his way inside the Abbot. Brendan had looked up to Aidan so fast, like Cellach had himself at a time, and put his trust in the man from Iona to the point of defying his own uncle. And Aidan wanted to finish the Book of Iona more than anything in the world… Could it be the both of them ran away together?
"Brother Aidan went to the forest in the morning, to look for Brendan." he was answered. "And he hasn't still… Abbot! Wait!"
Wrapping his cape tighter around him, Cellach rushed to the forest. He couldn't tell if he was more angry than worried, but the idea of Brendan and Aidan being in the forest for such a long time without coming back were enough to make him move.
Brendan swam desperately, barely escaping the monster's huge mouth for the second time. He started reciting prayers in his mind, calling out for help.
Why did he think he could do it? How could he be so arrogant? He was just a child, an illuminator in training, what could he do against Crom Cruach?
In his rush, he hit the body of the creature and lost control. He was falling again, his small body rebounding against the much huger one.
Fear and despair seized him as the tail of Crom wrapped around his waist, sending him flying up towards its face.
His thoughts went to Aisling, Brother Aidan and his uncle. He prayed they could forgive him for failing them, and for wasting the sacrifices they made for him.
Aidan jolted awake. It took him a while to remember where he was, and why.
Brendan. The boy was gone and he ran to the forest to look for him. He walked for hours, trying not to get lost, calling for him. But no one answered, no soul were seen. The forest had been quiet, too quiet. And he had ended up sitting against a tree to rest and had fallen asleep.
The old man stood up, his legs slightly shaking. He was exhausted, but grateful for being still alive. Wolves lived in that forest, he could have been attacked. A sound made him jump, he turned around, ready to run.
A familiar meow resonated in the silence before Pangur Ban went out bushes to jump in his arms.
"Pangur!" he exclaimed, relieved. "Where were you, girl?"
The cat purred against his shoulder, relaxing the illuminator. He petted her a moment before realization strike him.
"Where is Brendan?" he asked. "Were you with him?"
Pangur looked up at him. Aidan always marvelled at how expressive she was, but now, her expression only increased his worry. The white feline jumped on the ground and ran off, stopping a few feet away from him, inciting him to follow.
Aidan followed as fast as he could through the nature, praying the boy was alright, or –had anything happened to him- that it was not too late. When Pangur stopped, he scanned the place and gawked in disbelief.
"Is that the Dark One's cave?" he muttered.
The cat went ahead, and he cautiously walked after her. The clearing was unnaturally cold and dark, and there was a strange smell that reminded him of blood, rot and death. They stopped at the entrance of the cave, which were blocked by a thrown statue. Aidan glanced at his pet, confused.
"What are you trying to tell me, Pangur Ban?"
The white cat meowed sadly, scratching the earth under the statue. Aidan gasped.
"Brendan!" he called at the top of his lungs. "Brendan! Can you hear me? It's me, Aidan!"
He pricked his ear, hoping for an answer, to just hear the lad's voice. But there were only silence. Panic seized him, if the boy was inside, how could he help anyway? He had to go back to Kells and find help.
"Brendan! Don't worry, lad! We'll get you out of here!" he shouted. "But I have to ask for help, please hold…"
He stopped dead in his sentence as his eye caught something. Right under the statue.
The end of a brown cloak.
"Brendan? Aidan?"
Cellach was growing desperate as the forest got darker, he had to find them before night! Some of the brothers had followed him, but the forest was huge, how could they find a children and an old man in there? God only knew how long these two had been here and where they went!
A sound resonated suddenly. A strange echo.
The Abbot turned around. Against better judgement, he walked towards the source of it. A voice inside of his head called him a fool, telling him it could be dangerous, but he kept walking. He barely noticed that Brothers Sergei and Assoua were behind him.
Another sound. Steps this time.
The speed of Cellach's heartbeat increased, hope rising in him. Could it be…?
Aidan appeared before him. Alone, his cat at his feet. No sign of his nephew.
He tried to mask his disappointment and resentment towards the man, but soon, worry took over again.
The Brother of Iona was holding something in his hands, he was pale, and he muttered to himself and walked slowly. He didn't notice them until Assoua called out for him.
When he looked up, their eyes meet. Cellach was not sure of what he expected, but Aidan rushing to him with eyes full of hope and tears took him by surprise.
"Cellach, please, tell me! Do you recognize this?"
The younger man blinked at what was almost shoved in his face. A piece of cloth? What were Aidan thinking?
Oh…!
His eyes widened and he pulled the cloth out the white haired man's hands.
"This is from Brendan's cloak!" the Abbot stammered and stared at him. "Where did you find it?"
Sergei and Assoua stared at their eldest expectantly too, praying for good news.
But Aidan's expression shattered all hope. A tear leaked down his cheek and his hands shook as he joined them. It took a minute for him to collect himself. Between sharp breaths and choked sobs, he blurted out.
"Under a fallen stone!"
The three men stood there, shocked. Cellach's hands gripped the piece of his beloved nephew's cloak, his whole body shaking. The image of a huge figure falling on the boy -crushing cruelly his little body- invaded his mind.
"No…! Brendan…"
Cellach fainted.
Brendan thought it was all over until his chalk came into view. And everything became clear.
His fear and hesitations were shoved away by an intrepidity and determination he had not been aware he had.
He grasped the chalk as if it was a weapon and then heard a screech. Crom was diving on him, but he was not afraid anymore.
He drew a line before him, creating a shield.
The Dark One bumped into it and screeched out of pain.
Night has fallen on Kells. The Scriptorium was silent, except for the sound of wood cracking in the fireplace. Aidan was alone, his beloved pet for only company. His heart was heavy with guilt and sorrow, he could only think about poor Brendan. He was not even sure why he seek refuge in this place that held so many memories with the lad.
Pangur Ban licked the tears off her master's face, then rubbed her soft forehead against his cheek. Aidan petted her with a small smile, whispering a "thank you" before his gaze fell on the Book again.
"This is all my fault, isn't it?" he breathed. "Had I not involved Brendan into this, he would still be here…"
The white cat let out an upset "meow!", as if she was scolding him. Her eyes and ears made it clear that she was annoyed at him, for what, he could not tell. Her stare was crying "why can't you understand what I say?!"
"I wish you could speak to me, like a human would, I mean." he chuckled, scratching her under her chin. "Are you angry with me because I'm blaming myself to much for your taste?"
Pangur's frown (if it could be called that) deepened and she growled.
"No? Then what is it?"
She rolled her eyes, exasperated, before jumping on the desk and pushing a piece of paper in front of him. The Illuminator looked at it confused. It was the paper on which he drew the crystal to show what it looked like to the boy. Pangur then started clawing at it, which confused him even more.
Aidan had no idea what she was trying to tell him, but her gaze was enough for him to understand that he had missed something back there. He held his chin in his hand, humming pensively. Had he made his conclusions too fast? Was Brendan still alive, trapped in that cave? What was going on?
His reflexions were interrupted when the door of the Scriptorium opened. Brother Square came in and made his way to him, a cup full of a steaming beverage in his hands.
"How are you feeling, Brother Aidan?" he asked gently, offering him the drink.
"Not very well." The old man confessed "thank you" he added, accepting the cup.
The two stayed silent a moment. Aidan sipped the infusion. It tasted good and warmed him a bit inside.
"I still can't believe it." Square uttered suddenly. "This is all so sudden! I can still hear the boy laughing, asking questions and running around!"
The older man looked up, his heart clenched in sympathy at the expression of his Brother. He took one of his hand and squeezed it gently.
"Neither can I, Brother Square."
Pangur rolled her eyes and jumped down the desk to lie next to the fire. Aidan shook his head with a little smile at that before reporting his attention to the other Illuminator.
"What about Cellach?" he inquired, forgetting to mention his title.
Square looked down an instant before answering. Concern and guilt gleamed in his eyes.
"The Abbot had locked himself up, demanding to be alone. But after a while, our Brothers and I saw him going down the tower and heading to the Scriptorium. He looked so furious! We feared he could do something he could regret, so Brother Tang and Brother Jacques tried to stop him, to reason him. He would not listen to them, so others –myself included- stepped in and we did our best to calm him down, to hold him back and then… he snapped, or more likely broke down."
The English Illuminator paused and wrapped his arms around him. Aidan shivered, he was worried and wanted to know more about what happened, but he respected the other's silence. He gave him the time he needed before he pursued.
"I've never seen him like this before! He was shouting and crying, blaming you for everything that happened. And he was so angry he had been the last to know about Brendan disappearing…" Square put a hand on his face, shedding a tear. "Then, Abbot Cellach pointed at us and reproached us many things, some of them were said because of his sorrow, no doubt, but most of them… were true! I am so ashamed of myself!"
Aidan listened to the other white haired man listing to what had been said. He didn't know why or how this was possible, but he could perfectly imagine the scene, as if he had been there. He could hear his old friend's voice, could see his frantic moves as he talked with tears streaming down his face.
"Do you think I'm stupid or deaf? I know you've all been mocking me behind my back! You don't even have the courage to stand up for what you believe in or to tell me and look at me in the eyes! And these books! If my concern with the wall is ridiculous, so is yours with them! What are you going to do with books? Use them as shields against the Northmen's sword? Or their arrows? Or the fire?! Or worse, are you ready to flee with the books and leave everyone else behind?! You talk about the future, but can't you think about the present, now? Can't you see the menace is real? It's coming sooner or later, and if we are not prepared, we'll all die! And your precious books will burn with our corpses! Is there something good about it?!
The world needs books, perhaps, but at the moment, we need protection! You may worry about them later, when we are safe! Are you all that blind?! Were there not enough refugees for you to realize that?! I… I don't know what to do anymore! None of you listen to me anyway! You'd rather turn to Aidan, then just go to him! I wash my hands of this! I could not… I couldn't even protect my own nephew, how could I protect Kells and all its inhabitants? I can't! I'm the Abbot, but I can't do it, I just can't go on! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
The illustrator of Iona swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew Cellach had every right to be angry at him after what happened, and it hurt. He was only a guest, a refugee, it was not his place or role to teach anyone in Kells.
"We were all frozen, unable to speak or move… all we could do were watching him turn his back on us and walk away." sighed Square, interrupting his gloom thoughts. "I feel so guilty and so useless!"
"Please, don't be too hard on yourself, Brother." soothed Aidan and put a hand on his shoulder. "Cellach is completely shattered after what happened, he needs time to grieve, and to think. We all do."
He sounded serene and confident, yet Aidan himself had a bad feeling.
"I'm sorry, Brother Aidan. I am bothering you with my own feelings!" exclaimed Square. "I came here for you, and here I am, being comforted by you…"
"You are helping me." he affirmed. "More than you think."
Aidan meant it, Square might not be aware of it, but his presence kept him from brooding. And he understood perfectly how the other felt.
The wind was blowing harshly on that autumn night, yet Cellach did not feel the cold. He felt empty and tired, his eyes watched the forest and beyond without seeing. His tears were dry, he had no more to shed. The Abbot had cried much more than he had after his sister's death, when he had saved Brendan, eleven years ago.
He hung his head in guilt and sorrow. Brendan. His only family!
It was not a nightmare -like he had hoped the moment he recovered- he would not wake up and find the boy sleeping soundly in his cell. No matter how he wished it was.
Cellach leaned his back against the scaffolding, his legs almost giving in. He gazed at the starry sky. Memories flood his mind. The times his nephew scared him out of his skin when he was recklessly rushing downstairs or on the scaffoldings. The nights when the boy was too scared to sleep alone because of a nightmare, the days he ran and clinged to his legs crying because he feared being left behind or just because he wanted to hug his uncle.
Every little details about his expressions, his little habits, and the way he moved. His kindness, his will to be useful, his brightness… how his smile and laugh could lighten up people. Brendan was a ray of sun in those dark times. He remembered how the boy used to look at him as a small child, like he was the whole world. But in truth, Brendan had been the Abbot's world.
And now his world had crumbled down.
He slided down the wood, until he was sitting helpless on the cold stones. The wind blew again, making him shiver without realizing it. All he could think of was Brendan.
The Abbot stayed like this for a long time. He would have stayed the whole night, however a voice caught his attention. It was low, gentle and it called for him. It reminded him of what he thought he heard the night before.
It kept calling him…
"Abbot?"
Cellach blinked and turned around. A woman was standing behind him, and stared at him with concern. He recognized her, she was one of the refugees –a family of six- who arrived in Kells months ago. Her name was Bree, he was quite sure of it.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly.
He frowned slightly, confused. What was she talking about? He was sitting at the top of the wall near… His eyes widened and his heartbeat increased as he realized he was standing in front of the main gate. She walked slowly towards him, and he unwillingly took a step back.
"Did you…" she hesitated a bit. "Were you going to the forest?"
"I-I don't know." He answered truthfully, his body shaking.
Bree's eyes saddened and she stepped closer to him. She scanned him, he didn't know what she was looking for and it made him ill-at-ease. He avoided eye contact, too tired and feeling too unworthy to look at her directly. She was one of the people who had faith in him and his wall, but now, he knew he could never fulfill their hopes. What a shame.
"You are chilling to the bones!" she exclaimed in a low voice.
Cellach startled when she took her veil off herself to wrap it –as best as she could- around his shoulders. The fabric felt burning hot on his skin, making him aware of how cold he actually was.
Their eyes met.
The Abbot's breath were taken away. Even without her veil, she looked like a picture of the Virgin. Her gentle gaze, her benevolent expression and face… He was almost scared he would sully her cloth. She looked so sacred!
It was her turn to look down, as if she wanted to tell him something but could not find the words. He saw her –rather than heard- swallowing.
"I'm truly sorry for your loss." she took his hands in hers, they felt so warm.
Cellach's lips moved, but no sound came out. He could not find his voice. When he tried to force a word, his throat hurt and he coughed.
"Please, don't…" he replied hoarsely. "You're not the one who should say that, and I'm not worth your sympathy. I-I cannot save anyone, I…"
"You're doing your best." she interrupted gently. "Abbot, I know what it is to lose a child you love, were he your own or not."
"My nephew…" he muttered. "The last thing I told him… how I treated him that night…"
"You did because you loved him." Bree affirmed. "And he loved you too. We just sometimes don't know how to say it, or show it. I am sure little Brendan wanted you to be proud of him."
Cellach thought he had no tears left, yet his eyes watered. He pressed his lips together to muffle a sob and tried to hide his face in his hands, his legs shaking violently. And when the Saint-like woman put a hand on his shoulder, whispering more kind words of comfort, he collapsed. Falling on his knees, Bree's arms wrapped around him as she knelt before him –trying to support him- and he bursted into tears. He embraced her back, his head bent low as he cried.
He barely felt her hand on his forehead, but heard her gasp.
"Abbot, you are running a fever!"
Everything was obvious now. What the people he loved most taught him in mind, Brendan just knew what to do.
He dived and kept drawing a line, the monster hitting its own head against his wall each time it tried to attack him.
Brendan was tracing a perfect circle around Crom -like the wall his uncle wanted to build around Kells, inspired by the strength and agility of Aisling and with the knowledge Aidan gave him- to imprison it once and for all.
He could do it!
"Brother Aidan, please" whispered Tang "I will watch over the Abbot now, you can go and rest."
Aidan hesitated a bit, eyes still locked on his –finally asleep- old friend. Not that he did not trust Tang, this Brother was one of the wisest person he had ever met, and he was indeed exhausted.
The night before, after talking a bit more with Brother Square, the bad feeling he had felt earlier refusing to go, the monk from Iona decided to go and look for Cellach. The man might not have wanted to listen to him, or even see him, but Aidan had wanted to check on him.
It had been difficult to even think of a place where the Abbot could have been that was not inside the tower or his room. Aidan had tried to remember the time they shared, so long ago, when they were still close friends. He had wandered aimlessly, thinking, until he had almost reached the main gate. A woman had cried out for help, so he had run to see what had been going on.
And he found Bree, supporting a half unconscious Cellach barely able to walk. His face was white, whiter than it had been when he had fainted earlier that day. Fortunately, Brother Assoua and Brother Leonardo had arrived too –alerted by her cry- and helped them both to take the Abbot to his bed. He, Tang and Bree had taken turns to watch over him the whole night.
It had been a very long night. Aidan could not find sleep, and when his turn to watch over his friend came, he thought guilt and sorrow would kill him at the sight.
What a shocking sight it had been, and hearing the poor man muttering unintelligible things one moment and crying the next did not help at all. Aidan shivered at the memory.
The worst part being when the Cellach had tried to get up, calling out for Brendan. The illuminator's face had been wet with tears as he forced him to stay in bed, and it had not been an easy task.
With a tired sigh, Aidan thanked the monk from East and went back to his cell. He collapsed on his bed and just felt Pangur Ban settling against him before falling in a deep sleep.
The cage was almost finished, but he still had to take the eye. The monster, in a last attempt to devour him, charged and caught him by his ankle. Brendan lost his grip on his chalk due to the shock. For a moment, he desperately tried to take it back but it was out of reach, already disappearing in the darkness.
He looked down in alarm and saw the eye, no, crystal shining. And it was so close to him!
Gathering his courage, the boy seized the crystal with both hands, his fingers forcing their way under the lids and his feet resting on the huge head, and pulled.
Aidan sighed as he sat at the table, but managed a friendly smile for Brother Leonardo who brought him a bowl of soup. Lunchtime had passed three hours ago, but he had been fast asleep, and the Italian illuminator –full of consideration- had kept some food for him.
"Where are they?" he asked, thinking about the other brothers. He had mostly seen villagers on his way.
"They went back inside the forest." Leonardo informed him. "They are trying to find the clearing where…" he paused and bit his lip. "We would like to bring Brendan home and give the boy a proper ceremony."
Aidan's eyes widened.
"But they can't find the place." the monk's voice shook slightly. "No one remembers the path to follow, but we won't give up, we can't let him be lost and alone out there!"
The illuminator of Iona got up and took his Brother in his arms. The both of them cried, Aidan silently, Leonardo sobbing, holding tight on each other.
That day was long and sad, even the skies were grey. The villagers went about their occupations, but they did without energy or enthusiasm. Most of them were afraid of what might happen if they would lost their Abbot, and prayed for him to get better.
Without the Abbot directing everyone, some persons did not even know what to do. The monks who did not go to the forest were not sure if they should work on their books, or if they should try to work on the wall. They ended up sitting silently in the Scriptorium, deep in their thought.
Tang spent almost the whole day watching over Cellach, mopping at the man's forehead and calming him down. Bree came to help, she brewed some infusion and medicine and took the dirty laundry away to bring clean one. Her daughter, little Fiona, followed her, and it seemed hearing a child's voice somewhat helped the Abbot sleeping more peacefully.
When the night started falling, the group of monks came back, heads low and walking slowly. The clearing could not be found. They all ate their dinner without a word, only exchanging looks of sympathy and –attempts of- smiles to comfort others.
Aidan asked about Cellach's whereabouts the moment Tang and him were alone. And he did not like what he heard.
"His fever is really bad, he had pushed himself much too hard, working too long and so hard without taking care of himself." Tang had sighed sadly. "And I'm afraid he does not have the will to heal, his grief is crushing him. If it does not change, the Abbot might…"
Aidan watched quietly his friend, asleep, breathing roughly. His lips curled upward when he saw the little girl gently tugging at the blanket before following her mother out. Now alone with the laid up man, taking a breath in, he kneeled in front of the bed and took one of Cellach's hand in his.
"Cellach, please, don't give up." he whispered. "I am sorry, I truly am. For Brendan, for not listening to you, and so are all of the Brothers. But, please, try to listen to us too. Protecting lives is as important as knowledge, we can't let people live in the dark, ignorance and fear…"
He gently squeezed the cold hand, and pressed his lips together seeing the Abbot moving slightly, shivering.
"Brendan would not want you to let go because of what happened to him." he added. "Please, my old friend, hold on! I… I don't want to lose you too!"
Cellach let out a wet cough and blinked awake. He turned his head in the illuminator's direction.
"Aidan…?" he muttered, barely conscious, his mind dazed by the fever.
"Yes, I'm here."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Aidan thought he had just gone back many years ago. It felt like he was looking at Cellach back when he was a child, about Brendan's age -the two had a lot in common, more than they knew. Aidan and Cellach had been so close then, as they grew up and matured, what had happened to their relationship?
His reflexions were interrupted when the Abbot weakly grasped his hand back. Aidan's heart skipped a beat, a spark of hope inside him.
"Have courage."
A few tears fell as Cellach closed his eyes again.
Crom Cruach hissed in pain and rage, flinging its head to get him off.
Brendan held on and kept pulling with all his strength.
The struggle lasted only ten seconds, with one last pull, the eye came out and the young monk floated away from the monster.
Opening his eyes, Brendan could only watch the creature maddened by pain and rage. Now blind and trapped in the drawn circle, the Dark One first bit into his own body -surely not realizing what it was doing- then devoured itself entirely.
The boy grimaced slightly at the view before reporting his attention to the big crystal he were holding.
He had done it!
But before he could properly rejoice about it, Brendan blacked out.
The light of the sunrise was the first thing Brendan saw. He blinked, feeling a bit dizzy, and noticed he was still –thankfully- holding the crystal. It was just a lot smaller than he remembered. Then, he realized the entrance of the cave was free, that could only mean…
"Aisling!" he stammered and rushed outside.
He called her again, but she did not show up. However, the light of the sun was bathing the clearing, now covered in little white flowers. Aisling's flowers.
His cloak was folded on the ground, a snowdrop laying on it. The boy carefully held the flower and heard the howl of a wolf from the forest.
Brendan smiled, relieved.
"Aisling is alive." he marvelled. "She and the forest are healing!"
His heart full of mirth, the young monk went on his way home. Something had changed within him, he could feel it. He did not need any help to find Kells, the forest seemed clearer to him, small details he could not see before appeared to him, and the sounds of the forest were now music and words to his ears.
As he reached Kells, excitement raised in him. He wrapped the eye in his cloaked and hurried through his secret passage. He was so looking forwards seeing Aidan to show him the crystal! Aidan would not believe his eyes and be thrilled!
Aidan was following Pangur Ban, the cat acted so strangely that morning! She had been so excited, kept meowing –waking him up- and pulled on his cloak until he actually followed her through the still village. She headed to a part of the wall, still covered by scaffoldings. The old man saw his pet disappearing behind them and stopped, unsure if it was safe.
"Pangur!" he heard. "Thank you for coming to meet me!"
Aidan flinched as he recognized the voice.
"Brendan?" he called.
The boy appeared before him, grinning widely, and for a moment, he thought he was either dreaming, or that he would faint.
Brendan were surprised to see Aidan there, but happy. Pangur rubbed herself against his legs, purring loudly, which made his heart warmer than it already were. But before he could say anything, Aidan pounced on him, hugging him tightly.
That stunned Brendan, not that he complained about it, but he felt something was wrong. Aidan was not holding him like this by gratitude –he had not even shown him the crystal yet. This felt… desperate? Yet relieved?
"You're here!" You're back! Safe and sound! Oh Brendan!" his master was sobbing, which worried the boy.
He listened quietly Aidan thanking successfully God and every Saint that went through the old man's mind before he dared speaking up.
"You knew I escaped the tower?" he asked. "I'm so sorry for worrying you!" he apologized, then another realization struck him.
"Did uncle notice?" he inquired, looking at the illuminator. "It was just for the night! I hope he did not…"
The child stopped, seeing his elder's expression changing.
"The night?" muttered Aidan with wide and confused eyes. "Brendan… you were gone for two days!"
Brendan almost dropped the crystal.
"What? But it can't be!" he quivered. "It was not that long, and the sun had just…"
Brendan held a hand to his mouth. Time did not run out the same in Crom's realm. His battle against the monster only lasted five, maybe ten minutes at most for him, and yet the sun was rising when he woke up. The boy had concluded that the night had ended but…
Aidan grasped gently his shoulders, still kneeling in front of the little monk.
"We have been all so worried about you!" he said. "Everyone was looking for you, and I went to the forest and Pangur led me to a dark clearing with a cave."
"Yes!" exclaimed Brendan. "The Dark One's cave! I was inside it, fighting him! Look!"
Brendan unwrapped his cloak and presented –a bit proudly- Aidan the crystal.
Aidan's eyes widened again, but wonder were alongside the new shock.
"Collumcille's crystal!" he breathed. "But how… you defeated the Dark One?!"
Brendan, forgetting a moment about the time's lapse, excitedly explained what happened and how he managed to take the eye of Crom.
Aidan was both astonished and amazed at the tale, and he felt a new hope rising inside him, for the book, for Kells, everything! The boy himself was the hope people needed in those dark times. The monk of Iona embraced his apprentice again, thanking him.
"That's what you tried to tell me!" he exclaimed, looking at Pangur.
She sent him a stare that could only mean "of course, silly!" making him laugh. But he needed to tell Brendan what happened. Gently, he pulled away from him.
"Brendan, good lad" he caressed the boy's head. "You have to know…"
It was now Brendan's turn to listen to him, to know what happened while he had disappeared. The child was shocked when told they thought him dead, because of the cloak he found under the fallen figure. His face paled as Aidan talked about the Abbot, his breakdown and illness.
Brendan stood still a moment, his hands shook slightly and his gaze went from his master to the tower. Understanding his torment, Aidan caressed his head once again.
"Go see your uncle." he smiled. "We will have a lot of time to draw later."
Brendan swallowed and nodded.
"Thank you, Brother Aidan!" he replied.
The boy was about to run to the tower, but turned back an instant to give Aidan the crystal, afraid to loose or break it. The old man took it carefully and watched Brendan dash to see the Abbot.
His heart no longer heavy, the illuminator went to the Scriptorium, his cat on his heels, and put the crystal where it would be safe (and where he would find it). He thought about going to the tower too, but realized he had to tell everyone else the good news first.
When Brendan reached the Abbot's room, his heart clenched with worry. How would his uncle react? Would he be angry at him or disappointed? Ask him where he had been for two days? His stomach turned as he walked, he felt guilty for betraying his uncle's trust –even if deep down, he knew he was right- and making him literally ill with worry and grief.
Tears welled in his eyes at the sight of Cellach. The boy had never seen him like that before, he could not even remember seeing him so ill that he was forced to stay in bed. And he seemed so fragile! He was so pale Brendan feared for a moment he had stopped breathing.
"Brendan…"
His body petrified at the call. His uncle had just called him in his sleep! The tears were now streaming down the child's face.
"Uncle, I'm here!" he whispered, taking one of the Abbot's hand in both of his. "I'm right here, please, wake up!"
Brendan did not know if he was waking up to his voice, or if the man was only sleeping lightly, but Cellach opened his eyes.
Cellach's head hurt, and he felt really cold and exhausted. His mind was in a fog, it took him some time to remember where he was and to notice that someone was holding his hand. Vaguely remembering Aidan doing so the night before, he turned his head, expecting to see the old man.
He froze, not believing his eyes.
Shaking, his hand touched gently the boy's face. His skin was warm, real, and a bit wet from the tears.
"Brendan?" he called, still unsure if it was not the fever playing tricks on him. "Is that really…?"
His nephew threw himself at him for an answer, holding him tight and sobbing in his neck.
"I'm sorry!" he cried. "I'm here, uncle!"
Astonished, Cellach weakly embraced him back as his eyes watered.
"I… oh God!" he muttered between two coughs. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
They both clinged to each other for a while, crying. They did not notice their Brothers glancing at them through the opened door before going back downstairs, wiping away a tear.
"I love you."
Neither of them could remember later who said it first, and it did not matter. They had both said it.
Brendan's eyes were still a bit red when he came to the Scriptorium. It took him a little longer than expected, with all of the Brothers jumping on him to hug him, relieved and happy to see him alive and well. After escaping (surviving) their tight embrace, he also went to meet Bree, the "lady healer" as Tang called her, to thank her. She was as kind as he had imagined her.
Aidan was waiting patiently for him, Pangur in his arms. She meowed to welcome him.
"Are you ready?" smiled the man of Iona.
"Yes!" the boy was very enthusiast, then he added. "Uncle let me come here! So I have to show him the best I can do!"
"That is indeed a miracle!" chuckled Aidan and patted his head. "Go on, lad, let's not make him regret his decision as soon as he gets better!"
Brendan let out a little laugh and took the offered feather. The old man watched him quietly caressing it before dipping it gently in the ink. His other hand holding the crystal to his eye, the illuminator-in-training started drawing with a huge smile on his face.
Aidan's grin widened. He could not tell why, but he was certain everything will be fine.