Simon stormed up to his room. Of course. It was so obvious everyone would
take sides with Will.
He slammed his door shut, so hard that it was a miracle that it didn't come off its hinges. And only to be opened again by. . . Jane. Oh how great. Just another mindless drone to add to the increasing number of people who took sides with Will.
"Simon? What on earth is the matter? Was Will downstairs a minute ago? If he was, it's a shame he didn't come to say hi-"
"Look, please, stop talking for just a second. Breathe woman." He replied rudely.
Jane's brow knitted into a frown. "What on earth has got into you Simon? Perhaps I should just go, I would rather speak to Will than listen to you throw insults at me." She said angrily.
"No- look, wait." He sighed. "I'm sorry. And Will's gone- to meet with Grace-"
"Grace? What? That girl we met at Carn March Arthur? - Well, it wasn't pretty much a meeting, she just appeared out of no-where, said hi, practically told us to trust her, brainwashed Will into trusting her- and left."
Simon smiled, forgetting his present troubles. "Do I hear a hint of jealousy in the young ladies voice?" He laughed.
Jane looked as though she could just pick him up and throw him out of the window. "What are you talking about? That's ridiculous! What are you suggesting?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just surprised that you would feel so strongly about him going to meet with Grace."
Jane sighed. "Whatever Simon. I'm hoping this is just a phase. I honestly don't think I can take much more of your wise cracks. I just wanted to know why you were so stressed out a minute ago."
Simons grin vanished. "Ah no reason. . . just some stuff. . ." It was best to be as vague as possible- no matter what he said, he was sure she would try to defend Will.
"Stuff? Yeah right! I haven't seen you so mad. . . well. . . so mad since the meeting and you got angry that Will wouldn't tell us what was going on!"
"Fine, you want to know what's my problem? WILL!" He hollered. "WILL IS MY BLOODY PROBLEM!"
Jane walked over to him and put her arm around him for comfort. "Hey, relax. What has Will done this time?" She asked sarcastically.
"Oh for goodness sake Jane! Don't talk to me like that! So sarcastically. I know how you feel about him. And how he feels about you, and us. And how he just wants to control everything because that's the way he is! I hate him so much!"
Jane released him from her grasp. "Well. . . this, I wasn't expecting. But, we're such good friends with him! Why on earth. . . there's really not that much of a reason for you to hate him! Besides, we need his help to defeat the Dark."
"YES! Yes there is!"
"Then what? What on EARTH could he have done to make you hate him?"
"Can't you see?"
"See what, Simon? Stop talking in riddles for goodness sake!"
He pushed her against the wall, his face going red with fury.
"HE'S TAKING YOU AWAY FROM US! FROM THE FAMILY!"
Jane remained silent, and wiggled away from him.
"That's just. . . ridiculous, Simon."
"Why? Why is it ridiculous? Remember last week, when we asked you if you wanted to come to the cinema with Barney and I, and you said you were going out with Will? Or about the time when we had all sat down playing a board game with father because he hadn't gone to work that day, and you and Will went outside and left us and didn't return until 9pm? He's not the angel he appears to be Jane. I have no idea what poison he's been feeding you, but it's surely turning you away from the family. This could brake the bond of the six if we all start to hate each other. Then there'd be no way to beat the Dark- even we wouldn't be powerful enough without the love we have, or had shall we say, for each other."
Jane looked as though she was about to say something, but thought better of it, and turned away from him, and left his room. There was no point in sinking down to his level.
Simon sighed, and flung himself onto his bed. Great. Another person who hated him. At this rate, the whole house would be inhabited by Will lovers.
* * *
Grace sat alone on this cliff overlooking the ocean where she was supposed to meet Will. Was this all a bad idea? Should she really tell him everything? Or should she miss out all the parts about The Lady? After all, if the Dark overheard her talking, then perhaps they would use her as a means to get to The Lady and hurt her. She sighed. She couldn't think about her now. It was too. . . too soon. . . raw, and painful.
Suddenly she sat upright in attention. A noise. Scurrying feet: - Will?
"You came."
He nodded. "Hello." He whispered nervously. Ah. another chance to mentally beat himself up. Where has your loyalty for Jane gone?! Things couldn't go on like this. He had just met her yesterday!
"Um. . . no-one suspects. . . anything of me, right? They don't think I'm one of the Dark? She asked suspending Will's present worries.
"No- no, of course not. They barely know you. Besides they're all too busy being angry at me to even worry about if you're an enemy or not." He replied ruefully. Was the way he acted to Simon wrong? But no. If Simon hated him, there was nothing anyone could do to change that. He was too head strong. And he couldn't have just said to Simon that he had much more knowledge and wisdom than he did- that would have just made him angrier. If that was even possible.
"Oh! Why would they be angry at you- or is it because of me? I knew I would just make everything all worse I-"
"No! No, it's not you. . . it's not like anyone could ever. . . I mean. . ." Oh come on, you're blushing like a beetroot here, thank god it's dark. "No, you're not the reason they hate me." Way to go. Smooth.
"Oh, okay. That's. . . well, thank God. I would hate to put you in difficult circumstances. I always got people in trouble back when I had friends. . . I didn't mean to. . . I was just, I guess, a natural child of mischief." She grinned, and let out a quiet laugh. "Oh how I wish everything was as simple as it was before. . . before all this." She sighed. "The truth is such a burden. It's something I never wanted to hear. But my own curiosity got me into all this. . . She paused, and finally glanced over at him. "I'm sorry! I'm not making much sense to you at all am I?"
How could she be so trusting to someone she hadn't even spoken to before yesterday? As though she had known him forever. But he shook his head as if to say that it didn't matter nevertheless. He didn't mind! "It doesn't matter. I came hear to listen to you after all didn't I?"
She nodded, and he was sure he could see her blushing under the light of the moon too.
"Are you sure that it was your curiosity? That it wasn't your destiny?" He suddenly asked.
She laughed. "Destiny? Damn destiny. Damn fate. Destiny means that we don't make our own choices. It means that we are not really free to think as we want, act as we see right. Destiny means. . . that whatever we do will lead to the same thing. That we can't change anything in life. That we can't change our mistakes for the better. That everything we do, every way we act, every way we think, will lead to the same thing. What if I chose to rebel against the Light- and turn to the Dark side? What would happen to my destiny?" She finished off, but after a few seconds added as an after- thought, " Perhaps if it wasn't for destiny though, I wouldn't be here right now. . . with you."
Oh, thank God for destiny, he suddenly thought. I thank you God for bringing her to me. He smiled. He had once more turned into the mere child he was, taking over all his rational thoughts as an Old One. He had to think about this logically, this thing, well, whatever it was that he thought was happening between them, just couldn't possibly happen. So, operation be nasty was going to have to go under way. But not too horrible.
"Oh- I just wanted to ask you something. Why are you really here? It's just that. . . well. . . our destinies have been laid out in front of use, and there was never a 7th person. I-" He stopped, as Grace's head abruptly turned away from him. Yeah, way to go, tell her to get lost and leave all of us alone. That's such a subtle approach!
So, that's what she'd always be, and outsider. Some things never changed did they? The High Magic was wrong. She wasn't supposed to be here. Where she wasn't wanted. Where everyone was pushing away the help she offered. They would just shut her out!
No, no we wouldn't. I never would.
Oh for God's sake. Where on earth has the commitment you made to yourself a few seconds ago gone? You have a will of mercury Will. Unbelievable.
Grace however almost flew half a metre into the air at hearing a voice in her head. She immediately put back the defence she had in her mind.
So hard was the barrier, and had come so swiftly, Will moaned in pain and threw his hands to his head to massage his temples.
She suddenly realised what had happened. "Oh my God, Will! I am so sorry!" She crawled over to him and placed her hands on her shoulders, trying to get him to look at her. "I didn't realise it was you and, and I was shocked! Are you okay?" She stuttered.
Will meanwhile was trying to get rid of the dull ringing in his ears, and when he lifted his head, found himself staring into Grace's beautiful eyes. He was sure his heart had just skipped a beat.
Nope- this commitment thing just wasn't going to work. He was a person attracted to this wonderful girl. A person. He was only human. Grace was so honest and innocent, it was hard to imagine that anyone would ever want to hurt such an amazing creature. But again, his Old half took over his childish thoughts with more rational thoughts. Love, such a delusion. There wasn't such a thing, was there? Just the thought that someone actually cared enough to die for you. But there would never be such a person, because everyone looked out for themselves first. That was what fear was for; for our own survival. For no one else's. No one really cared about anyone else. It was just the illusion that they would do anything for you, to cross the limits of friendship and earn your love. But they wouldn't. No one did that! No one cared about anyone else, as long as that person served them a purpose, everyone wanted something back from the things that they did for someone else. Selfish. It was for their own benefit really. Knowing that they did something good for someone else, and then expecting the other person to love them, therefore that person would never be alone because they had earned the love and friendship of someone they had helped. They had escaped the one thing they had feared most. Being alone. Dying alone. But that didn't account for Will. He wouldn't die, therefore he didn't need a companion. He was fine being a loner. Right? There was no need for Grace to be his distraction. He didn't need her! Ah, sorry to brake your fantasy Old One, but um. . . what about Jane? He shook his head. Damnit! Why were girls always so complicated?
"No problem. I'm sorry for scaring you! I just. . . I just wanted to comfort you. . . He said quietly before he could stop himself- okay, act untrustworthy, maybe she'll back off then, "and you had just let your guard down, and I thought there was something wrong because you went silent-"
Ah come on, don't look at me with that look in your eyes! He thought to himself.
"No, no, it's fine. Honestly. I just don't. . . I'm just never so lax I guess. . . I was just startled."
They remained silent for a while just gazing at each other. Not the reply he was expecting.
"Well," Will said, finally braking the silence and not trusting himself to gaze at her for another second without bending over closer to her and kissing her lips which had turned blue from the cold. "You look like you're freezing. I'm so stupid not to have realised- here, have this." He clumsily took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders before she could protest. You are a fool Will Stanton.
"But- but you'll get cold! Don't be daft! You'll catch a cold or something!"
"Sssh, just relax. It's a beautiful night." He laughed suddenly, as he glanced up into the dark sky. Well, it didn't look like he could actually be horrible to her.
"I just wanted to say. . . thank you. . . and I appreciate all this. . . a lot. Thanks for listening to me. I- I haven't had anyone to talk to for such a long time."
"It's okay. My pleasure." He interrupted as he moved closer to her and put his arm around her and let her rest her head on his shoulder. Just a friendly gesture. Yeah, just keep telling yourself that you idiot.
He sighed happily.
"Grace. I think. there's something I've been meaning to say. Grace?" He glanced down at her face, now so peaceful- and so asleep. He groaned. Well. . . it was nice while it lasted.
* * *
"You're sure this will work?"
"Well. . . of course, there's no reason why it shouldn't. This is the only way to get to Grace. There would be almost no way to capture Will or the Pendragon anyway- so if we kidnapped the mortal girl then Will would go after her, and Grace will follow- no doubt."
"This had better work. We're already getting behind. If this doesn't go smoothly, then we won't have much of a chance to. . . well. . . win in the end. We can not beat the Light without this girl. I hate to admit that we're not strong enough, what with success of the sign-seeker and now that the Grail is no longer in our possession, she is our only hope."
"I understand my Lord. It will work. I assure you."
He nodded. "Now leave. You have a lot of work to do. Begin right away."
The man in the black cloak left swiftly, pondering on how on earth he could get to Jane Drew's house in the most discreet way. It's important Grace didn't track him. Grace.
"Ah, my child. I will be with you once more. I can not wait till we meet again." He sighed softly.
* * *
"Hey. Hey! Grace, wake up."
"Argh."
She shivered.
"Hey Grace, if we don't move, you're going to get ill. You look like you're going to die from cold."
"Will? Oh dear. What happened?"
He laughed softly. "You fell asleep, we've been here for an hour already, but it was getting really cold, and I thought it best that you should go home and sit by the fire until you de-frost."
"Oh. . . yes, it is cold isn't it?" She laughed nervously. "I wonder why. . . it's quite weird actually for it to be so cold. It's not. . . usually. I hope nothing's wrong." She asked nervously. The night felt. . . Dark. Evil. She was sure she could here people cackling in the night, mocking them. Just like in her dream. . . Jane. . . why would she dream about Jane? She could barely remember the dream anyway- she was probably mistaken.
"Don't worry about it, Merriman would take care of everything, and if something was really wrong, he would have found us by now and told us the. . . um. . . good news. Come on." He stood up and held out his arms so that Grace could balance herself.
"Thanks. I'm stiff all over. I had no idea how tired I was. I haven't been to sleep in two days!"
Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew in the opposite direction, pushing Grace back hard, she could barely stand up properly after just waking up anyway, and fell onto the rocks that surrounded the cliff.
"Argh!" She moaned as she tried to lift up her arm. Blood was visible gushing out of a wound that was made by a sharp piece of rock. "What's happening? Something's wrong!"
And just as swiftly as it began, it ended. Will ran over to her and helped her up, examining her arm gently. "That's a nasty cut you have there!" He rummaged in his pocket for a few seconds, and finally pulled out a tissue. "Here, hold this against it, it looks pretty bad. You should get that checked out at a hospital or something."
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Just wondering what on earth that. that gust of wind was. It's awfully strange. It's almost as though. . . no. . . no of course not, it couldn't be!"
"Be what?"
"Nothing. I'm just being paranoid. Don't worry about it." She cast a glance down at her wound to avoid eye contact.
"Um. . . okay. Let's head back, you're not well, we shouldn't have stayed out here for so long."
They walked back in silence for fifteen minutes, when Will finally spoke. It had been bugging him for the whole day why on earth Grace spoke about Bran the way she did- and the only thing that came to his mind was that Grace had to be related to him. It was so obvious. He got the same feeling when he met Grace like he did when he first met Bran, and also, there was sort of a majestic air about both of them. Like the formal but polite way in which they acted around people. The way they spoke to people they didn't know. And most importantly, their confidence in themselves. It would at least take his mind of how kind and beautiful she was for at least second.
"Grace?"
"Hmm?"
"I was just wondering. . . and I don't mean to offend you by asking you this. . . but are you related to Bran by any chance?" He finally burst out.
Grace turned tense, and a dark look came over her. Her eyes glazed over- she looked as though she would burst out crying any second.
"Bran?!" She exclaimed, trying to keep her voice steady. She took in a deep breath and abruptly halted and turned so that she was facing the moon. "Bran. ah, innocent Bran. not aware of all the pain this cruel world could inflict upon him. the death of Cafall was only the beginning of his sorrow."
And with that, she cast a last apologetic glance back at Will, whispered a few words, and disappeared. And straight after her departure, Merriman appeared. So that was it. Just some sophisticated incomprehensible words, and she was gone? This day just couldn't get any worse.
"Ah! Hello Will!" He surveyed his surroundings briefly. "Oh, but where is Grace?"
"I. . . I have no idea. We were talking, and then she just disappeared." He said sombrely. It was a shame she had to leave so soon. He had only talked to her two times, and he was already beginning to like her. Beginning. Ha! Don't fool yourself. You've got a crush on her you fool! Start behaving more like an Old One, and not like a moronic little boy. Besides, you're too immature for her!
"Oh dear. . . did you mention Bran by any chance?" He asked, fully aware that all the things that Grace was feeling was so raw, and she couldn't control the strong surge of emotions inside her, she was having a nervous breakdown. She just couldn't cope on her own- and yet, she didn't want to show anyone her weakness. That's why she had left. So that Will wouldn't see her crying.
"Yes, just now, why?"
Merriman sighed.
"Come, give me your hand. We're going to find her. . . evil people are about tonight, and she shouldn't be out on her own. . . and perhaps I can help her. . ."
And with a swish of Merrimans cloak, they disappeared as Grace had done moments earlier.
* * *
Jane shivered as she bolted upright in her bed. A nightmare. Such a bad nightmare- she barely even remember what she had been dreaming. But it was weird. Dark shapes and men in black cloaks. That's all she could remember. She dragged herself out of bed so she could splash her face with some cold water when she stopped dead in her tracks. The window was open. She had closed it before she had gone to bed though. Suddenly a strong gust of wind entered her room, blowing everything in her room about, all the pieces of paper on her desk got thrown around the room, and a pen came flying in her direction.
She ducked as she held up her arms and turned her face sideways, trying to fight against the wind to the window so she could close it when-
"Ah! Jane! You're awake!" Whispered a man with a black cloak, as climbed in through the window.
Jane took a step back, still dreary from her dream. He laughed menacingly, mocking her, threatening her to make a move on him. The cackle pierced through Jane like an echo repeatedly resounding in an empty room. A cold feeling came over her and she found herself shivering uncontrollably, and screamed. A feeling of emptiness and forebodingness came over her. What was this man going to do to her? What was happening? Echoes. Echoes of her morose feelings.
"Ah now, we can't have that. You'll wake everyone up!" He said in a false tone of angry-ness, as he walked across the room to where Jane stood, and clasped both of her hands pulling them stalwartly behind her, and turned her around so she was facing the window, and put his gloved hand over her mouth. Jane- still in the shock of everything, couldn't do anything to help herself. She was a defenceless little girl with no strength or will to fight against this man. She made a frail attempt to scratch the man's hand away from her mouth so that she could bite him, but she could already feel herself slipping away into unconsciousness. She tried to moan, no sound came out. She tried to make any sound of some kind, knock something over, that would be able to wake up her brother's next door- but she failed. She had already gone unconscious.
* * *
AN: Was that more eventful for everyone? Or did you think that Will was too OOC? But it was fun writing Will so confused and. out of character! Hehe, I like the evil guy! The evil guy rules! Yay! Kill Jane! No? You guys don't want me to kill Jane? Hehe. . . nah, I didn't think so either. . .
I've looked over this fic about four times for mistakes, but if you spot any, please feel free to point them out to me. . . I'm prone to making at least two mistakes in every chapter hehe. . . oh, and I'm sorry for the way the second chapter came out, and I realise how annoying it was that some parts were in italics and others weren't, but I honestly put them in, in the right places, but when I changed some of the formatting, the italics also just changed for some reason (I have a retarded computer). Anyway, please review!!!! ^-^
He slammed his door shut, so hard that it was a miracle that it didn't come off its hinges. And only to be opened again by. . . Jane. Oh how great. Just another mindless drone to add to the increasing number of people who took sides with Will.
"Simon? What on earth is the matter? Was Will downstairs a minute ago? If he was, it's a shame he didn't come to say hi-"
"Look, please, stop talking for just a second. Breathe woman." He replied rudely.
Jane's brow knitted into a frown. "What on earth has got into you Simon? Perhaps I should just go, I would rather speak to Will than listen to you throw insults at me." She said angrily.
"No- look, wait." He sighed. "I'm sorry. And Will's gone- to meet with Grace-"
"Grace? What? That girl we met at Carn March Arthur? - Well, it wasn't pretty much a meeting, she just appeared out of no-where, said hi, practically told us to trust her, brainwashed Will into trusting her- and left."
Simon smiled, forgetting his present troubles. "Do I hear a hint of jealousy in the young ladies voice?" He laughed.
Jane looked as though she could just pick him up and throw him out of the window. "What are you talking about? That's ridiculous! What are you suggesting?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just surprised that you would feel so strongly about him going to meet with Grace."
Jane sighed. "Whatever Simon. I'm hoping this is just a phase. I honestly don't think I can take much more of your wise cracks. I just wanted to know why you were so stressed out a minute ago."
Simons grin vanished. "Ah no reason. . . just some stuff. . ." It was best to be as vague as possible- no matter what he said, he was sure she would try to defend Will.
"Stuff? Yeah right! I haven't seen you so mad. . . well. . . so mad since the meeting and you got angry that Will wouldn't tell us what was going on!"
"Fine, you want to know what's my problem? WILL!" He hollered. "WILL IS MY BLOODY PROBLEM!"
Jane walked over to him and put her arm around him for comfort. "Hey, relax. What has Will done this time?" She asked sarcastically.
"Oh for goodness sake Jane! Don't talk to me like that! So sarcastically. I know how you feel about him. And how he feels about you, and us. And how he just wants to control everything because that's the way he is! I hate him so much!"
Jane released him from her grasp. "Well. . . this, I wasn't expecting. But, we're such good friends with him! Why on earth. . . there's really not that much of a reason for you to hate him! Besides, we need his help to defeat the Dark."
"YES! Yes there is!"
"Then what? What on EARTH could he have done to make you hate him?"
"Can't you see?"
"See what, Simon? Stop talking in riddles for goodness sake!"
He pushed her against the wall, his face going red with fury.
"HE'S TAKING YOU AWAY FROM US! FROM THE FAMILY!"
Jane remained silent, and wiggled away from him.
"That's just. . . ridiculous, Simon."
"Why? Why is it ridiculous? Remember last week, when we asked you if you wanted to come to the cinema with Barney and I, and you said you were going out with Will? Or about the time when we had all sat down playing a board game with father because he hadn't gone to work that day, and you and Will went outside and left us and didn't return until 9pm? He's not the angel he appears to be Jane. I have no idea what poison he's been feeding you, but it's surely turning you away from the family. This could brake the bond of the six if we all start to hate each other. Then there'd be no way to beat the Dark- even we wouldn't be powerful enough without the love we have, or had shall we say, for each other."
Jane looked as though she was about to say something, but thought better of it, and turned away from him, and left his room. There was no point in sinking down to his level.
Simon sighed, and flung himself onto his bed. Great. Another person who hated him. At this rate, the whole house would be inhabited by Will lovers.
* * *
Grace sat alone on this cliff overlooking the ocean where she was supposed to meet Will. Was this all a bad idea? Should she really tell him everything? Or should she miss out all the parts about The Lady? After all, if the Dark overheard her talking, then perhaps they would use her as a means to get to The Lady and hurt her. She sighed. She couldn't think about her now. It was too. . . too soon. . . raw, and painful.
Suddenly she sat upright in attention. A noise. Scurrying feet: - Will?
"You came."
He nodded. "Hello." He whispered nervously. Ah. another chance to mentally beat himself up. Where has your loyalty for Jane gone?! Things couldn't go on like this. He had just met her yesterday!
"Um. . . no-one suspects. . . anything of me, right? They don't think I'm one of the Dark? She asked suspending Will's present worries.
"No- no, of course not. They barely know you. Besides they're all too busy being angry at me to even worry about if you're an enemy or not." He replied ruefully. Was the way he acted to Simon wrong? But no. If Simon hated him, there was nothing anyone could do to change that. He was too head strong. And he couldn't have just said to Simon that he had much more knowledge and wisdom than he did- that would have just made him angrier. If that was even possible.
"Oh! Why would they be angry at you- or is it because of me? I knew I would just make everything all worse I-"
"No! No, it's not you. . . it's not like anyone could ever. . . I mean. . ." Oh come on, you're blushing like a beetroot here, thank god it's dark. "No, you're not the reason they hate me." Way to go. Smooth.
"Oh, okay. That's. . . well, thank God. I would hate to put you in difficult circumstances. I always got people in trouble back when I had friends. . . I didn't mean to. . . I was just, I guess, a natural child of mischief." She grinned, and let out a quiet laugh. "Oh how I wish everything was as simple as it was before. . . before all this." She sighed. "The truth is such a burden. It's something I never wanted to hear. But my own curiosity got me into all this. . . She paused, and finally glanced over at him. "I'm sorry! I'm not making much sense to you at all am I?"
How could she be so trusting to someone she hadn't even spoken to before yesterday? As though she had known him forever. But he shook his head as if to say that it didn't matter nevertheless. He didn't mind! "It doesn't matter. I came hear to listen to you after all didn't I?"
She nodded, and he was sure he could see her blushing under the light of the moon too.
"Are you sure that it was your curiosity? That it wasn't your destiny?" He suddenly asked.
She laughed. "Destiny? Damn destiny. Damn fate. Destiny means that we don't make our own choices. It means that we are not really free to think as we want, act as we see right. Destiny means. . . that whatever we do will lead to the same thing. That we can't change anything in life. That we can't change our mistakes for the better. That everything we do, every way we act, every way we think, will lead to the same thing. What if I chose to rebel against the Light- and turn to the Dark side? What would happen to my destiny?" She finished off, but after a few seconds added as an after- thought, " Perhaps if it wasn't for destiny though, I wouldn't be here right now. . . with you."
Oh, thank God for destiny, he suddenly thought. I thank you God for bringing her to me. He smiled. He had once more turned into the mere child he was, taking over all his rational thoughts as an Old One. He had to think about this logically, this thing, well, whatever it was that he thought was happening between them, just couldn't possibly happen. So, operation be nasty was going to have to go under way. But not too horrible.
"Oh- I just wanted to ask you something. Why are you really here? It's just that. . . well. . . our destinies have been laid out in front of use, and there was never a 7th person. I-" He stopped, as Grace's head abruptly turned away from him. Yeah, way to go, tell her to get lost and leave all of us alone. That's such a subtle approach!
So, that's what she'd always be, and outsider. Some things never changed did they? The High Magic was wrong. She wasn't supposed to be here. Where she wasn't wanted. Where everyone was pushing away the help she offered. They would just shut her out!
No, no we wouldn't. I never would.
Oh for God's sake. Where on earth has the commitment you made to yourself a few seconds ago gone? You have a will of mercury Will. Unbelievable.
Grace however almost flew half a metre into the air at hearing a voice in her head. She immediately put back the defence she had in her mind.
So hard was the barrier, and had come so swiftly, Will moaned in pain and threw his hands to his head to massage his temples.
She suddenly realised what had happened. "Oh my God, Will! I am so sorry!" She crawled over to him and placed her hands on her shoulders, trying to get him to look at her. "I didn't realise it was you and, and I was shocked! Are you okay?" She stuttered.
Will meanwhile was trying to get rid of the dull ringing in his ears, and when he lifted his head, found himself staring into Grace's beautiful eyes. He was sure his heart had just skipped a beat.
Nope- this commitment thing just wasn't going to work. He was a person attracted to this wonderful girl. A person. He was only human. Grace was so honest and innocent, it was hard to imagine that anyone would ever want to hurt such an amazing creature. But again, his Old half took over his childish thoughts with more rational thoughts. Love, such a delusion. There wasn't such a thing, was there? Just the thought that someone actually cared enough to die for you. But there would never be such a person, because everyone looked out for themselves first. That was what fear was for; for our own survival. For no one else's. No one really cared about anyone else. It was just the illusion that they would do anything for you, to cross the limits of friendship and earn your love. But they wouldn't. No one did that! No one cared about anyone else, as long as that person served them a purpose, everyone wanted something back from the things that they did for someone else. Selfish. It was for their own benefit really. Knowing that they did something good for someone else, and then expecting the other person to love them, therefore that person would never be alone because they had earned the love and friendship of someone they had helped. They had escaped the one thing they had feared most. Being alone. Dying alone. But that didn't account for Will. He wouldn't die, therefore he didn't need a companion. He was fine being a loner. Right? There was no need for Grace to be his distraction. He didn't need her! Ah, sorry to brake your fantasy Old One, but um. . . what about Jane? He shook his head. Damnit! Why were girls always so complicated?
"No problem. I'm sorry for scaring you! I just. . . I just wanted to comfort you. . . He said quietly before he could stop himself- okay, act untrustworthy, maybe she'll back off then, "and you had just let your guard down, and I thought there was something wrong because you went silent-"
Ah come on, don't look at me with that look in your eyes! He thought to himself.
"No, no, it's fine. Honestly. I just don't. . . I'm just never so lax I guess. . . I was just startled."
They remained silent for a while just gazing at each other. Not the reply he was expecting.
"Well," Will said, finally braking the silence and not trusting himself to gaze at her for another second without bending over closer to her and kissing her lips which had turned blue from the cold. "You look like you're freezing. I'm so stupid not to have realised- here, have this." He clumsily took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders before she could protest. You are a fool Will Stanton.
"But- but you'll get cold! Don't be daft! You'll catch a cold or something!"
"Sssh, just relax. It's a beautiful night." He laughed suddenly, as he glanced up into the dark sky. Well, it didn't look like he could actually be horrible to her.
"I just wanted to say. . . thank you. . . and I appreciate all this. . . a lot. Thanks for listening to me. I- I haven't had anyone to talk to for such a long time."
"It's okay. My pleasure." He interrupted as he moved closer to her and put his arm around her and let her rest her head on his shoulder. Just a friendly gesture. Yeah, just keep telling yourself that you idiot.
He sighed happily.
"Grace. I think. there's something I've been meaning to say. Grace?" He glanced down at her face, now so peaceful- and so asleep. He groaned. Well. . . it was nice while it lasted.
* * *
"You're sure this will work?"
"Well. . . of course, there's no reason why it shouldn't. This is the only way to get to Grace. There would be almost no way to capture Will or the Pendragon anyway- so if we kidnapped the mortal girl then Will would go after her, and Grace will follow- no doubt."
"This had better work. We're already getting behind. If this doesn't go smoothly, then we won't have much of a chance to. . . well. . . win in the end. We can not beat the Light without this girl. I hate to admit that we're not strong enough, what with success of the sign-seeker and now that the Grail is no longer in our possession, she is our only hope."
"I understand my Lord. It will work. I assure you."
He nodded. "Now leave. You have a lot of work to do. Begin right away."
The man in the black cloak left swiftly, pondering on how on earth he could get to Jane Drew's house in the most discreet way. It's important Grace didn't track him. Grace.
"Ah, my child. I will be with you once more. I can not wait till we meet again." He sighed softly.
* * *
"Hey. Hey! Grace, wake up."
"Argh."
She shivered.
"Hey Grace, if we don't move, you're going to get ill. You look like you're going to die from cold."
"Will? Oh dear. What happened?"
He laughed softly. "You fell asleep, we've been here for an hour already, but it was getting really cold, and I thought it best that you should go home and sit by the fire until you de-frost."
"Oh. . . yes, it is cold isn't it?" She laughed nervously. "I wonder why. . . it's quite weird actually for it to be so cold. It's not. . . usually. I hope nothing's wrong." She asked nervously. The night felt. . . Dark. Evil. She was sure she could here people cackling in the night, mocking them. Just like in her dream. . . Jane. . . why would she dream about Jane? She could barely remember the dream anyway- she was probably mistaken.
"Don't worry about it, Merriman would take care of everything, and if something was really wrong, he would have found us by now and told us the. . . um. . . good news. Come on." He stood up and held out his arms so that Grace could balance herself.
"Thanks. I'm stiff all over. I had no idea how tired I was. I haven't been to sleep in two days!"
Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew in the opposite direction, pushing Grace back hard, she could barely stand up properly after just waking up anyway, and fell onto the rocks that surrounded the cliff.
"Argh!" She moaned as she tried to lift up her arm. Blood was visible gushing out of a wound that was made by a sharp piece of rock. "What's happening? Something's wrong!"
And just as swiftly as it began, it ended. Will ran over to her and helped her up, examining her arm gently. "That's a nasty cut you have there!" He rummaged in his pocket for a few seconds, and finally pulled out a tissue. "Here, hold this against it, it looks pretty bad. You should get that checked out at a hospital or something."
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Just wondering what on earth that. that gust of wind was. It's awfully strange. It's almost as though. . . no. . . no of course not, it couldn't be!"
"Be what?"
"Nothing. I'm just being paranoid. Don't worry about it." She cast a glance down at her wound to avoid eye contact.
"Um. . . okay. Let's head back, you're not well, we shouldn't have stayed out here for so long."
They walked back in silence for fifteen minutes, when Will finally spoke. It had been bugging him for the whole day why on earth Grace spoke about Bran the way she did- and the only thing that came to his mind was that Grace had to be related to him. It was so obvious. He got the same feeling when he met Grace like he did when he first met Bran, and also, there was sort of a majestic air about both of them. Like the formal but polite way in which they acted around people. The way they spoke to people they didn't know. And most importantly, their confidence in themselves. It would at least take his mind of how kind and beautiful she was for at least second.
"Grace?"
"Hmm?"
"I was just wondering. . . and I don't mean to offend you by asking you this. . . but are you related to Bran by any chance?" He finally burst out.
Grace turned tense, and a dark look came over her. Her eyes glazed over- she looked as though she would burst out crying any second.
"Bran?!" She exclaimed, trying to keep her voice steady. She took in a deep breath and abruptly halted and turned so that she was facing the moon. "Bran. ah, innocent Bran. not aware of all the pain this cruel world could inflict upon him. the death of Cafall was only the beginning of his sorrow."
And with that, she cast a last apologetic glance back at Will, whispered a few words, and disappeared. And straight after her departure, Merriman appeared. So that was it. Just some sophisticated incomprehensible words, and she was gone? This day just couldn't get any worse.
"Ah! Hello Will!" He surveyed his surroundings briefly. "Oh, but where is Grace?"
"I. . . I have no idea. We were talking, and then she just disappeared." He said sombrely. It was a shame she had to leave so soon. He had only talked to her two times, and he was already beginning to like her. Beginning. Ha! Don't fool yourself. You've got a crush on her you fool! Start behaving more like an Old One, and not like a moronic little boy. Besides, you're too immature for her!
"Oh dear. . . did you mention Bran by any chance?" He asked, fully aware that all the things that Grace was feeling was so raw, and she couldn't control the strong surge of emotions inside her, she was having a nervous breakdown. She just couldn't cope on her own- and yet, she didn't want to show anyone her weakness. That's why she had left. So that Will wouldn't see her crying.
"Yes, just now, why?"
Merriman sighed.
"Come, give me your hand. We're going to find her. . . evil people are about tonight, and she shouldn't be out on her own. . . and perhaps I can help her. . ."
And with a swish of Merrimans cloak, they disappeared as Grace had done moments earlier.
* * *
Jane shivered as she bolted upright in her bed. A nightmare. Such a bad nightmare- she barely even remember what she had been dreaming. But it was weird. Dark shapes and men in black cloaks. That's all she could remember. She dragged herself out of bed so she could splash her face with some cold water when she stopped dead in her tracks. The window was open. She had closed it before she had gone to bed though. Suddenly a strong gust of wind entered her room, blowing everything in her room about, all the pieces of paper on her desk got thrown around the room, and a pen came flying in her direction.
She ducked as she held up her arms and turned her face sideways, trying to fight against the wind to the window so she could close it when-
"Ah! Jane! You're awake!" Whispered a man with a black cloak, as climbed in through the window.
Jane took a step back, still dreary from her dream. He laughed menacingly, mocking her, threatening her to make a move on him. The cackle pierced through Jane like an echo repeatedly resounding in an empty room. A cold feeling came over her and she found herself shivering uncontrollably, and screamed. A feeling of emptiness and forebodingness came over her. What was this man going to do to her? What was happening? Echoes. Echoes of her morose feelings.
"Ah now, we can't have that. You'll wake everyone up!" He said in a false tone of angry-ness, as he walked across the room to where Jane stood, and clasped both of her hands pulling them stalwartly behind her, and turned her around so she was facing the window, and put his gloved hand over her mouth. Jane- still in the shock of everything, couldn't do anything to help herself. She was a defenceless little girl with no strength or will to fight against this man. She made a frail attempt to scratch the man's hand away from her mouth so that she could bite him, but she could already feel herself slipping away into unconsciousness. She tried to moan, no sound came out. She tried to make any sound of some kind, knock something over, that would be able to wake up her brother's next door- but she failed. She had already gone unconscious.
* * *
AN: Was that more eventful for everyone? Or did you think that Will was too OOC? But it was fun writing Will so confused and. out of character! Hehe, I like the evil guy! The evil guy rules! Yay! Kill Jane! No? You guys don't want me to kill Jane? Hehe. . . nah, I didn't think so either. . .
I've looked over this fic about four times for mistakes, but if you spot any, please feel free to point them out to me. . . I'm prone to making at least two mistakes in every chapter hehe. . . oh, and I'm sorry for the way the second chapter came out, and I realise how annoying it was that some parts were in italics and others weren't, but I honestly put them in, in the right places, but when I changed some of the formatting, the italics also just changed for some reason (I have a retarded computer). Anyway, please review!!!! ^-^