Soul_will_be_dust
Part one: The Discovering."Havenie! Where are you going? You are still an invalid!" a tall, dark haired boy yelled at the girl at the door. "It's freezing out there, and stormy, you'll be BURIED in all that hideous snow!"
Havenie leaned on the door, and turned to look at Leonard, and said helplessly: "But, you don't understand Leo, I can sense the Dark! It's coming! I've got to go to Frank's place! We've got to get Max safely into our house before the Dark finds him. He is the Last of the Old Ones, without him, our circle that we have being building for so long would be broken, and never again shall peace come on earth!"
Leo was irritated by her speech, he shouted impatiently: "Oh, Circle of the Old Ones, Max, this and that. So you are going to risk your life for them? Well, how nice. Do you ever think about yourself, or me?"
Havenie was shocked to hear the raging emotion he is trying to hide, she whispered fearfully: "Leo! What is the matter with you? You've never lost your temper over a small thing like this before! Anyway, I do think about you, you are the one I care most about, apart from Mum and Dad."
"I don't care what you says. Mum and Dad has given the responsibility of looking after you to me before they passed away, and I'm not going to let you get out of this house without taking me with you!" Leo was furious.
"No. I can't take you with me." Havenie answered him sadly.
"Well then. I'm not going to let you go alone! You'll be killed by the storm!"
Havenie took a deep breath, and said slowly: "Leo, you've forgotten who I am. Remember, I can't be killed. It is only a matter of being reborn with all my memories again. I won't mentally die ever! It is not that I don't want you to come, it is because that you're not an Old One. You will not be able to survive the terrible force of the Dark when it is at the high peak of its power. Your mind will be doomed by the pressure of Coldness and Evil."
Leo gazed at Havenie's wise face, he sighed. He knew that she was right, and he knew that he can't stop her. I don't stand a chance. Leo thought dully. I wish Frank was here. Suddenly, it clicked. That's it! Frank Dawson! I can ask him to come so she doesn't have to risk the journey to his house! "Fine." Leo said sternly, almost in a demanding voice. "But, ask Frank to come here."
*
At the other side of the town, Max, a boy of 15 is frowning at the stormy night, mesmerised.
The door creaked open, and his big brother walked in, "Hey up, rebel!"
He smiled at the nick name for Max. He is the real rebel of the family, and the most handsome son. Max plays lots instruments and pretty good at every subject, from the possible exception of Food Tech, Max was never even a half decent chef. Their parents have high hopes for his future. Though nothing compared to John, of course. John is due to go to Cambridge soon, having achieved 6As in his A-levels. But Max defied his parent's hopes, saying that he does not care about following John's foot step, and wants to go to an Art College. Max and John are good friends, but the only thing they have in common seems to be their taste of music, and friends-Haven. John loves her greatly, with an affection he always said to be "she is like a little sister to me", but both John and Max knows better. John never loved anyone, not like this, and he is confused about it. And Max also knows, Haven look up to John as an impressive figure, so comforting, and always there.
"Mm? Oh hi John." Max mumbled dismissively.
"Cheer up old buddy. The weather's not that bad. At least you don't have to go to school in it, like me, alas for the poor old Six Former!" John grumbled to his brother.
Max raised an eyebrow at John, and replied bemusedly: "Since when did the school loving John started to regret going to school? I thought you liked going to school in all weathers!"
"Oh for heaven's sake, don't do that wise man expression on me. I am allowed to dislike school in a terrible stormy weather if I want to!" John growled half jokingly at Max while shaking his head like a dog.
"Hey, stop that John!" Max squeaked indignantly, as his brother send a shower of water down Max's head.
"That wakes you up. Trying to make that into a painting by staring at it?" John laughed at him, but on seeing his brother's strange expression, he quickly said: "What's up?"
"That!" Max pointed at the storm, "is what's up. It seemed to be different to other storms we had. It's creepy. Somehow, it reminds me of Coldness and Evil." He shuddered at the thought of cold.
John peered at the booming sky. It is a little odd. John wondered. Usually storms don't last that long, nor does it behave so wildly and violently. Oh dear, I'm getting infected by Max's stupid imagination!
"Huh? Who says? It seems alright to me. It is December after all." John lied deliberately, hoping that it sounded much more confident then he felt.
"Mmn, I guess so." I hope so, rather. Max added silently to himself. Or else…what? I've been feeling weighed down all day, it is as if the heavy snow wanted me to be dragged down in to a bottomless black pit, where no living things dwelt. But why would they want to do that?
John looked at his younger brother's pensive face; it is handsome and smooth, clear soft blue eyes now with a lonesome and melancholy glint in them, shielded by a pair of silver framed glasses, where there usually lies the mischievous light. Long straight brown hair flowing across his forehead with the breeze. All their parent's good feature is assembled in this one son; not a single flaw to be found any where. But why is he always sad? Why so unfathomable and uncommunicative? John thought to himself. No one has Max ever talked to about his feelings save Havenie, and no one understood him better than Havenie, not even his parents. She alone can light his whole face up with a happy glow, add the mischievous glint in his eyes. And then again, John thought bemusedly, whenever Haven's sad, she comes to me…
*
"Frank, we've got to safe Max from the Dark. He does not yet know who he is, nor does he have the gift of Cuithyëanná yet. He has no defence against the Rising Darkness." Haven explained to Frank urgently.
"I know, Haven. But how to get him to your place would be a problem. You are too weak to go. Even though you are the best person for this job, as his best friend. But another journey in a storm of Dark will cripple you, and possibly drain you. Now the Light can't fight Dark and protect Max without its Lady can it?" Frank smiled kindly at the 14 years old yet ageless girl in front of him.
"Yes Frank. But the Lion is caring for my health, and looking after me beautifully. I'm much stronger already…"
"The Lion? Oh of course. Fine lad he is. Very devoted to you, no brother can be more caring or understanding or loving than our Lion of the Light. But we really can't afford to have you reborn again. Last time this happened, it proved disastrous, you were nearly killed in childhood in that tragic car crash which wiped out Mr and Mrs Londeste. I wonder, hmm…" Frank suddenly had an idea. The Lion can come with me to fetch Max, since he and John are good friends.
"What are you thinking? Frank?" Haven softly asked him.
"I was just wondering, that young Leo can come with me to fetch Max here, for he at least knows them quite well. And I WILL protect his mind!" Frank quickly added before she could say any thing.
"That is the most brilliant idea you've had all day Frank! Just look after both of them will you? Especially Max, he is much more Vulnerable, for the Dark is seeking to destroy him. But both of them are very precious to me. To lose any of them will be a unbearable loss."
"Don't worry, Lady of the Light. I will protect them." Frank bowed to her before leaving the room.
Haven sat silently on the couch, pondering her decisions. Her dark pupils looking into something far, far away. A small frown crept upon her face; she seems to have remembered something, something important to do with a prophecy concerning Max and the Dark side. What was it? It glimmered and flickered, but she had no time to grasp at it firmly as a knock on the door brought her into reality, so it wavered and went out. She blew out a long sigh and said softly: "Do come in."
"What's wrong Havenie? Why do you need to see Max at this time? Can't it wait? Or can't you phone him or something?" Leo appeared in he doorway with Frank, grunting to Haven as they sat down.
"Oh Leo. It is very important that we, me and Frank, that we get Max here as soon as possible. You know how important it is. So I was just wondering if…"
"No Haven! How many times do I have to tell you that you are not going outside in this weather?" Leo interrupted hastily as he thought he knew what Haven was going to say.
"My dear Leo." Haven smiled to Frank, "Frank, look how much he cared for his baby sister!" and Frank nodded knowingly. Turning back to Leo, she smiled again. "My dearest big brother, who said I'm going to go outside?"
Puzzled, Leo looked inquiringly into Haven and Frank's ancient eyes.
"My lad," Frank replied in a bemused tone. "We are going to ask a favour from you."
*
…
The earth is shaking below me, evil advancing towards our only haven of goodness and purity, our heaven, our home. My friend is trapped! She is in there and I'm out here. I'm a fool…
The sky has gone dark. And what is that I hear? Hooves?
…
"Max? Max!" John is shaking him, trying to wake him up. When did he fell asleep? But his eyes are still open!
"Max? What is wrong? Max can you hear me? Come on, Leo and Mr Dawson is waiting down stairs! Max?" John felt the panic travel through his marrow in waves of attack: what has happened to Max? His eyes, once so clear, like springs under the silver starlight, now like water under ice, that had never seen the light of the day.
…
My only friend, hear her calling my name in anguish. Oh my sorrow…
And what are those hooves, louder and louder they come, like thunder, like rolling of boulders, like, like…like the Rising of Darkness, like Evil running free…
Nearer and nearer they come, a shadow spreading across troubled lands, lands of my fathers, and their fathers, and their fathers…
My friend…Haven! Hear my prayers, be safe, be safe in our heaven. Be brave…
I'll fight them to their death, you'll see…
Oh the sorrow
…
"Oh for heaven's sake, MAX!" every minute John is feeling more and more frightened. Should I go and find Mr Dawson? Leo? But what can they do? Helplessly, he smacked his brother's head, trying to wake him up. But that didn't seems to have had any effect at all. He merely grunted and carried on.
…
I see them! Riders in Black, their cloaks flowing out behind them as they sped towards me. Dust. Shadows…
They stops, one of them got down, he spoke:
"Max Belegar?"
"Yes?" I coldly replied. Haven has taught me not to panic when things like this happen. Oh my friend, I wonder what is happening to her now. How will she defend herself?
"Manners, Belegar. You are not one of the Masters yet! "
A smack he gave me, but for what? Masters? What Masters? But that did hurt…
You wait Black Rider, I can strike back, and I will
…
"Max. Please, what can I do? What can I do!"
Suddenly, Max reached out a fist, and struck John in the stomach. "Whoa! Take it easy boy, I was merely trying to…" but John never had the chance to finish. Max stood up and thumped John on the shoulder, so sudden was the move that John, tall and strong as he is, was taken by surprise and thrown onto the ground. He looked up to Max, he seemed to be changed, not a quiet boy as he used to be, but an almighty tall figure, terrible and powerful to behold, and a glimmering aura surrounded him.
…
His sword has no use against my deadly fists. Look how he cowards down onto the ground, bowing his head! He looks up to me in awe; I shall make him feel ashamed of himself:
"I'm too powerful for you, weakling."
…
What is that, trickling down my face? Blood…my blood? You vile creature! Hear me? Take that…and that…and this one right in your face…
…
Max looked down at John, without recognising his brother, and said in a deep, almighty voice: "Sî ash nazgû a tur, llianwych!" Blow by blow his fist landed on John, as John cried out in fear: "Max! What's got into you? What the hell are you saying? Mr Dawson? Leo? Help me!"
Footsteps… and then Leo and Frank appeared in the doorway, both looked dumbstruck at the sigh in front of them. A crazy, glassy eyed Max, sweating, grunting, fighting violently with a badly beaten John, who is occasionally striking back to defend himself.
"Max, stop that immediately!" Frank shouted demandingly, Leo pinned Max still, while Frank gazed into Max's eyes deeply.
…
"Fight! You coward! Why do you stop?"
…
"You cowardly demons! How dare you attack me from the behind? Come! Fight with me! Man to Man! "
How could he? Finds more fellows to pin me down so that he can kill me with one neat blow? What sadness…my doom is to be tricked by a group of cowards. My friend…Haven…forgive me for not rescuing you. I won't be able to make it
…
"He is visited it seems. Leo, remember to tell your sister this, that Turin has tempted him, and he was one step ahead already." He looked across to Leo, and Leo nodded gravely. Turning back to the still fighting Max, he uttered these words: "Turin, aché sílianos a duchétra, curranu unum âshnaëglué! Max, heámentusiéfu, alianun guoton sî lomi tusa liatos." Frank uttered these words as if speaking a chant, a spell, and Max slumped back onto his bed, and closed his eyes as if gone into a deep slumber.
Hearing the alien language, John was reminded of what Max said to him. They do sound very similar. "Mr Dawson? What language is that?"
Frank looked at John very quickly, and Leo glanced at John worriedly. John was suddenly frightened, for the whole seemed to have gone dark, the air tingling and thick with suspicion and an awareness of intense concentration, there was a smell of metallic dust. He crouched down under the tension, suddenly felt like a little boy, despite his 6ft 3in height.
"Stand up boy." Frank looked at him with a severe gravity, and continued: "There will be a time when all will seem clear to you. But the time has not yet arrived, nor the right person for explanation. You see, everyone's life falls inevitably into the same pattern, the pattern by which our universe evolves around. Each universe has its own pattern. No one call alters it. Prophecies are made about your brother, therefore he shall have to follow it, it's his destiny, or if you like, one crucial thread in the massive pattern of the universe. You too, John, you too have a prophecy surrounding you. But only the Lady of Light and the Lady of Dark, and the Lord of Nature knows it. All I know is it's a curious one. I would have liked to know it in detail, but I shall not ask her, instead, I awaits the day when I shall be granted that knowledge. For all should follow the flow of the pattern and build up the steps of their way up to the goal. One step towards achieving your goal would be to know about…what you have just asked me. But the first step would be Learning, about virtues of Patience and Silent Understanding, and Obedience, which shall be needed very often from you, in order to save many people's lives. And when you have been tested as worthy of the very knowledge that you wants, She will tell you, I hope you will not be kept in the dark for too long."
"She? Who is She?"
"Ah. That will be another thing that you'll learn from her, soon I hope." Frank sighed heavily and gazed at the form of a tall, sleeping Max. "Meanwhile, we have to figure out a way to carry this young man back to Leo's place, he's got some Learning to do before it's too late. And John," turning to the young man, Frank suddenly smiled: "I don't think she will keep you curious much longer."
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There, the first chapter.
Competition Questions:
a) What does She tell John? [30pt]
b) How does John react to this? [20pt]
c) What does She tell Max? [30pt]
d) Who is Turin? [10pt]
I hope you have all enjoyed this. I shall try to update frequently, but I have a school to go to, and lots of homework! Please review with ANY comments that you have, feel free to criticize! Also, please take part in the Competition, put your answers in your Review, and tell me what side you are on! Thanks a lot!
Soul_will_be_dust