In the Shadow of Stanton
Disclaimer: I didn't come up with these characters (although you all already know that so I really shouldn't have to say it)
This story is slash. 'Nuff said.
***
Part Three: Arrival
Simon sat as far back as he could in the corner of the train car, knees hugged to his chest with one arm. The other arm supported a book in front of his face. Every once in a while the arm holding the book would fall loosely to his side and he would stare at the window. It was clear that he was simply staring at the window, not through it. A man who got on at one of the stops tried to start a conversation, but was quickly silenced by the woman who had been in the compartment since before Simon had boarded. "Shh. That one don't want to be talked to," she said seriously.
The train made its way slowly westward, passing through some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Britain, but Simon didn't notice. What was he going to do for three weeks in Wales? There wouldn't be Jane or Barney to keep him company, or even Will. There would only be Bran, the arrogant boy with the freakishly white skin and hair. The one who had always fascinated him. What did looking like that do to your life? Simon had never seen him spending time with other kids the whole time he had been in Wales last summer. All of Bran's time seemed to be spent with Will and the Drews or working on the farm. Did Bran have friends? There were a lot of questions Simon had about him, most of which he would never ask. And that was all without mentioning the sense of age and power Bran had about him, both like Will and yet at the same time very different. Simon didn't know whether he would be able to find a way to enjoy his time with Bran or not- he'd just have to wait and see.
***
Bran accompanied David Owens in the Land Rover at the suggestion of Jen Owens to pick up Simon at the train station. He recognized the English boy immediately as he got off the train carrying a large brown suitcase. He looked paler than when Bran had last seen him, and his face was drawn and didn't seem to match his neatly trimmed straight brown hair and blue school uniform. Bran noticed that he was gazing blankly at the crowd on the platform.
"Over here, English!" Bran shouted to him, and he turned and gave them a weak smile. Then he hoisted his suitcase and made his way over to them.
"Still got that chip on your shoulder, have you? You Welsh are simply incorrigible. I say we should make you all sing "God Save the Queen" every day before breakfast." He was trying to act cheerful, but Bran could tell it was costing him a lot of effort. He had changed since ran had last seen him, and not simply because of the illness. Last summer when Bran had met him, he seemed like just a boy. Now he seemed older, more like Bran's equal. Real age of course had nothing to do with it.
The three of them chatted amiably in the Land Rover on the way back to clwyd farm. They talked about the things one is supposed to talk about in that type of situation. Simon shared the recent news in his family, Bran and David Owens related what had been happening around the farm and over in Aberdyfi, and all of them told what they knew of Will.
"It seems funny not having him here, doesn't it?" Simon asked after a while.
"Yes, I suppose," responded Bran lightly. The two of them looked at each other with a glance that said, Ah, so you feel it too. Bran felt reassured. He wasn't the only one that had odd memories about the previous summer, and the boy who had dominated it in some way he could never figure out.
When they reached the farm, Simon was embraced by Jen Evans as if he were a member of the family, and they were all herded into the house. Simon was shown his room, the same one that had been Will's, and Bran carried up his suitcase. As soon as everything was settled down, Jen forced Simon to take a rest. When he woke, it was dark outside and there were smells of dinner cooking coming up from downstairs. He made his way down, and found there had been some additions to the group while he slept. Jen had invited Owen Davies and John Rowlands, as well as Bran, to have dinner with them on Simon's first night at the farm. Simon dug into the rich Welsh food and found it to be as tasty as he remembered from the summer before. After dinner, very tired again despite his rest, he excused himself and went straight to bed.
***
"Bran, we've already been more historic places than I can count! Why don't we just stay around here today?" Simon begged one morning at the breakfast table. After staying in bed for most of three days, he had felt well enough to take walks around the Welsh countryside, and Bran had been taking him on a longer one each day. At some point along each walk they would reach some historic or mythological landmark, but the walking itself was the main object. They didn't speak much, partly because the landscape around them seemed to mute all noise, and partly because it seemed to both that they were waiting for something.
"Alright, but don't start complaining after a few hours that you're bored. If you do I'll pack you straight back to England if I have to wrestle Jen Evans out of the way." So they helped clean up from breakfast, then wandered about the house until Jen chased them out saying they were in the way. Then they went outside, lay down on a hill and stared at the sky. After a while they both turned to each other and said at the same time, in very quiet and somewhat embarrassed voices, "Will's not here."