Disclaimer: All characters and plot elements from The Dark is Rising sequence belong to Susan Cooper. The rest is mine.
A/N Hope you like the story so far – please keep reviewing, it helps to know someone out there is reading all this!
5. Choices
"He must be somewhere," said Jane.
Bran was looking at her in a way that really unnerved her and she suddenly felt vulnerable without Will. The next moment they heard footsteps on the stairs and Will walked into the kitchen.
"Hey Bran, did you know the hot tap's not working?"
"Where have you been?" demanded Bran.
"In the bathroom, where else?"
"I checked just a minute ago and you weren't there. Look, what's going on?"
Will glanced at Jane, saw her tense expression and knew there was a problem.
"Look Will, I'm not stupid, something weird is happening. You and Jane turn up out of the blue, Jane has a ring with a stone I've seen in my dreams, then you disappear and reappear pretending you've been to the toilet!"
Bran's eyes narrowed in suspicion, as if he was trying to read Will's mind. "Has this got something to do with my father?"
Will was a little startled by this, but knew it was the High Magic within Bran breaking through, not any powers of telepathy he'd suddenly acquired.
"Well… yes and no really. Jane and I didn't come here intending to see you, but now that we have, I have to tell you or rather ask you something that will change your life completely."
Bran's expression went from suspicion to astonishment, then to wonder. "Do you know who my father is?" His tawny eyes were suddenly shining with hope.
"Yes I know, but I'm forbidden to tell you about him – as are you Jane."
"She knows too?!" said Bran, instantly full of anger.
"Listen to what I've got to tell you," said Will quickly, trying to calm Bran's rising temper. "Your real father is not an ordinary person. He is a long way from here and you can go to him, but there are two important things you have to know. Firstly, if you decide to go, you can never return to this place or see the people you've grown up with ever again.
"Never return…?" echoed Bran more subdued.
"Secondly, you will face certain tests to ensure that you are your father's son and entitled to remain with him. If you fail the tests…" Will faltered, not wanting to go on, but knowing he must. "If you fail, it will mean the end of your life."
Bran's head jerked up to stare at him in dismay.
"You have one week to decide whether or not to go, and to say goodbye if that's what you choose."
"I don't understand," said Bran looking bewildered. "What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you anything else." Will's voice was shaking and he felt terrible. "You must look inside yourself."
He could say no more and turned away, unable to face Bran. He felt choked by his own feelings as well as sensing Jane's horrified emotions as she took in the full implications of what he had said.
Bran sat down at the table, a look of fear and incomprehension on his face. Tears were beginning to well in Jane's eyes and she looked utterly shocked.
"Will isn't there any other way?" she asked huskily.
"No, those are the conditions set by the High Law."
'The Lady asked that you be there too for the tests, as Bran's supporter,' he spoke into her mind.
Slowly, Bran seemed to have some sort of realisation. "These tests…you're not talking about blood tests or genetics, are you. You mean something more… more supernatural. It's to do with the things in my dreams isn't it?"
Will nodded. He looked into Bran's face, which was, if possible, whiter than ever, and longed to tell him about his father. But he knew better than to disobey his instructions – the High Magic would deal harshly with him for that.
There was a long silence, then Bran asked, "Where is this place I have to go to?"
"It's part of this world, but outside the time and space that you know. It's difficult to explain - until you go there, you cannot understand what it is ."
"But what's it like?"
"I can't tell you exactly because I haven't been there, but I know it's a place of peace and contentment. And I think once you're there you'll never want to leave." With quiet longing, Will thought of the day he too would go there forever.
Sighing, he said "Jane and I have to go now, Bran, but we'll come back in a week when you must choose your path. We'll meet you by the lake one hour before sunset. Just one piece of advice though. Talk to your Dad – he knew your mother and he knows you. I think his wisdom will surprise you."
He motioned to Jane to go and she stood up. She touched her hand briefly on Bran's shoulder, although she really wanted to hold him and comfort him like a mother reassuring her child.
They left him sitting alone in the kitchen like a little boy lost, unable to understand what was happening to him. As Will closed the cottage door he was overcome by a wave of guilt, wishing so strongly that he had never come back here, never disturbed Bran's life, never allowed those memories and dreams to be stirred up into real hopes and fears.
Jane felt so drained that she couldn't speak. She just followed Will back down the road, hardly aware of where she was going. Finally, as they came to the small clump of trees where they had first arrived, she realised Will was speaking to her and tried to focus her attention.
"Jane please don't hate me for what's happened. I don't think I could bear that. It had to come, one way or another, because the High Magic is so strong within Bran – the Old Ones made a mistake in that. If Bran doesn't go and face this testing, he will become so tormented by his half-remembered memories that it would literally drive him mad."
"Will, I don't blame you, it's just that everything has to be black and white for the High Law – Light or Dark, good or bad. There are never any shades of grey or half-way states. It just seems so unfair to put Bran through all that."
Will didn't know what to say. How could he keep trying to justify it all to Jane when he felt the same inside?
"We must get back now." He held out his hand to her and she took it. They passed through the invisible doorway and were once more in the castle gardens. The afternoon sun was hot on their faces as they walked in silence back to the High Street. Will could feel the turmoil of Jane's emotions and suddenly put his arm around her. Accepting his comfort, she pressed a little closer to him.
All of a sudden, she turned to him and asked "Have you always been able to read minds?"
Surprised by the question, Will smiled. "No, it's something that's developed over the last few years. I can usually sense people's feelings, but knowing what they are thinking takes a lot of concentration… although with you it seems to flow more easily."
"I don't want you to keep reading my thoughts – it's like you're invading my privacy," she said with sudden annoyance.
"OK, OK. I won't unless I really have to, or I sense you want me to – like before at Bran's."
"I wasn't sure if I was right, so I wanted to test it out."
Will laughed. "You were right."
As they reached the railway station Will said, "Jane, you will come back in a week, won't you? Bran's going to need both of us to support him."
She nodded sombrely. "Of course I will."
They stood in silence both unsure what to say next. Finally Jane burst out
"Will, when this is all over, please don't make me forget again. Please don't take away my memories of everything that's happened, they are so special to me. And I feel… there's something… special between you and me – a connection that the others never had."
"Yes, there is," Will said, smiling that smile that lit up his face. "We've been through some very powerful things together. I think that's why The Lady wanted you to help me."
At last Jane smiled. "So can I keep my memories?"
"Look…I really wish I could say yes, but it's not up to me. I'll do what I can. Jane, I--"
"I'd better go," she interrupted. Will could feel her disappointment but there was nothing more he could say and he watched her walk towards the ticket barrier. But, as she disappeared from view, he sensed her reaching out to him.
'Will…see you next week.'