Disclaimer: All characters and plot elements from The Dark is Rising sequence belong to Susan Cooper. The rest is mine.
4. The Summoning
Will walked up the stairs of the cottage and turned left. When he reached the bathroom he placed his hand flat on the door, whispered two words and turned the handle. As the door opened he heard the beautiful, elusive phrase of music that always accompanied his travels through time and space.
He stepped forward, not into a bathroom, but into a dimly lit great hall and felt the door close silently behind him. This was the place, now so familiar to him, to which he'd come on his eleventh birthday and first met Merriman and The Lady. Now it was his turn to summon them.
He walked to the far end of the hall, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor. The only other sound was that of the crackling fire which burnt endlessly in the fireplace, the leaping orange flames somehow never consuming the logs which appeared to fuel them. As always, there were two large carved wooden chairs either side of the fire, grand and imposing like thrones.
Will took a taper from the box on the mantelpiece and lit it in the roaring flames. He moved to the circular candle holder which stood on the large table in the middle of the hall. There were five tall candles, four around the edges, where the crosspieces met the circle, and one in the very middle.
Speaking softly the words of calling, he lit each one, leaving the centre candle till last. As he lit it, all the flames suddenly burned very bright. Will put out the taper and stood before the candle ring. He gazed intently at the centre flame and saw it gradually change colour – from yellow to red, then pink and finally white – pure light. He relaxed his gaze until he was hardly focussing and waited. How long he stood there, he couldn't tell, but at last he became aware of a presence. Even before he turned, he knew they were there.
"We didn't expect to see you again so soon, Will" said The Lady. Her voice was soft, yet clear as a bell. It never ceased to amaze Will how someone who looked so delicate could speak with such strength. And yet, since The Lady had travelled to the place beyond the North Wind, she had begun to seem younger, less fragile and filled with a new vitality.
The two figures sat regally in the high carved chairs, smiling in greeting. Will came forward, happy inside to see his friends. He nodded a bow towards them.
"Please forgive the intrusion, but I need your advice on an urgent matter."
"What is the problem?" asked Merriman. "You can't retrieve the harp?"
"No, it's not that, it's Bran. We met him when we were at the lake. His memories have begun to return by themselves. He wants to find his real father and … well I'm not sure, but I don't think he's mortal."
Merriman was immediately on his feet, eyes blazing. "How can this be? I made the enchantment myself!" he said with a tone of astonishment that Will had never in his life heard before from his mentor.
"Merriman, if this is true, we have underestimated the strength of his birthright and the power of the High Magic within Bran," said The Lady. "You have done right to come to us, Will, this situation is very serious."
"What shall I do?"
"Nothing for the moment. We must consult the Council of the High Law to determine the right course of action. Just wait here for us."
Their images seemed to flicker and fade, and Will was left alone again. He sat down on the richly-woven rug on the floor in front of the hearth. Usually he loved being in this Hall, the place between two worlds where he and Merriman could meet to discuss matters of The Light. This time things were different. A feeling of unease was building inside him and, as he stared into the fire, he could hear again the anguish in Bran's voice as he talked about finding his father.
Suddenly like a flame re-igniting, Merriman and The Lady were there again. Will stood up. The Lady looked graver than before, but Merriman's face was fixed as ever.
He said, "The Council of the High Law has agreed that Bran can go and live with his father, although there are certain conditions to be met first." There was a sternness in Merriman's voice that troubled Will. He looked questioningly at them both.
"If he wants to go," said The Lady, "he must be tested to prove that he is still the Pendragon, not mortal, and entitled to all that follows from that."
"What sort of tests do you mean?" asked Will, slightly baffled.
"We cannot tell you exactly what they will be," she said, "but you may know that he must face three challenges: challenges of identity, authority and birthright. He has to pass all three tests in order to be accepted by the High Law."
"You must ask him what he wants to do," said Merriman, "but you can give him no help or clue about the tests. And you cannot by any means tell him about his father. If he decides to go, the first test will begin at Tal-y-Llyn a week from today, an hour before sunset. If Bran passes that, he will come to Avalon to face the next two challenges."
"What if he fails?" asked Will. An indistinct fear was nagging inside him.
"If he fails any test in Avalon, he will be destroyed by the High Magic," Merriman said without emotion. "Once he has been there and seen the life he would lead with his father, a return to this world would mean a life of torment and desolation and ultimately self-destruction. Therefore the High Magic will allow him no way back."
Will looked astounded at Merriman. "How can I ask my friend to choose that possibility? He can't even remember everything properly."
"Yet you cannot keep that choice from him – it is for Bran alone to make the decision," said The Lady gently. "One more thing," she continued, "You and Jane Drew must come too, as Bran's supporters and for part of the test. There will be no danger for you and you will both return safely."
Will was silent. He looked sadly into the fire once more, watching the dancing, crackling flames and wished he'd never seen Bran again.
"Come now Will. It will turn out for the good," said The Lady. "It seems this was inevitable and Bran must now fulfil his destiny once and for all."
Will knew her words were true, but it didn't stop him from being filled with dread about going back to face Bran.
"What about the harp?" he asked, suddenly remembering his original task.
"That will happen in due course," said Merriman. "You will know when the right time comes. Now it is time to go. We will see you in a week." Will knew he was being dismissed. He walked back to the candle stand on the table.
"Goodbye" he said to the two Old Ones, then turned and blew out the candles. When he looked back at the fireplace, the two chairs were empty.