I don't own anything that you can recognise that is DEFINITELY from Dark is rising!
Summary: The weight of the world lies on their young shoulder, to save it from the Dark. Young yet ageless, innocent yet wise. throught their immortal bonds came love, through love, came hate, and through hate, the Dark came rising in.
Competition Scoreboard:
Light: 0
Dark: 0
This chapter is for Uniasus, who was my first ever reviewer! Thank you so veru much Uniasus!
THE CIRCLE OF THE LIGHT
Part two: The Learning.
The journey back to the Londeste Manor wasn't easy, the storm was blowing harder than ever, and Frank, was aligned with the double task of carrying an unconscious Max, and protecting the mortal minds of three boys, which is no easy task. But, despite all the hardships, they did eventually make it back. The sight of the unconscious form of Max sent Haven into a panic, but she was calmed down immediately by Frank.
"Lady, this is not the time to panic, it was nothing but Turin. We cannot tell what she has managed to achieve, but let us hope that Max does remember." Frank gravely pronounced it with his usual Welsh accent.
"Ah, yes, that is why I was frightened. Do you remember the Prophecy concerning Max and the Dark side? The one that I told you about, the one that I could not remember?"
Frank frowned deeply, what if he had arrived too late, and Max and Turin has already connected? But he waited silently for Haven to carry on.
"Well I recollect it now. Just then, I had a little slumber, and Elda visited me, and told me not to forget the Prophecy of Bewitchment, to tell me that this Prophecy alone, out of all the countless other ones, is not inevitable, and can be prevented. Then I remembered that this is the right day and hour of performing the Prophecy of Bewitchment, and hoped that you could have reached him before Turin performs it."
John stood a little aloof, trembling like an aspen leaf. Then he let out a long sigh, as if resolved to take on something quite big, and said:
"Haven, "
She saw the strain in his face, and was grieved. What if the goal she intended to achieve involves hurting him, sacrificing him even? Could she do that? She will have to, it is her destiny. So slowly, painfully she drew a long breath, then, facing John she said softly:
"Yes John."
"Haven…" John's voice faltered, he hid his face behind those rough hands. Such big comforting hands, hands so familiar that Haven knows where every line and every callus is, having traced them countless times, as far back as she can remember. Hands that are always there, ready to catch you if you fall, to hold your hands whilst you grieve, to stroke and pat your head with pride. But now? Now to hide its owner's own face as he tries to block away the unpleasant truth. Slowly, painstakingly, John turned to Haven with a face full of longing, and whispered: "Haven, please. Tell me that what I have seen is not true. Tell me that my dear little Haven is nothing more like the Haven I have always known, nothing…supernatural. Tell me Max will wake up and be the same Max who was my little brother. Please! Tell me that!"
Those large hands cupped Haven's face, she found a pair of clear blue eyes searching, searching for the answer that lies somewhere inside Haven's dark, unfathomable eyes perhaps. Haven reached up and touched his hand, deeply grieved for what she is about to say.
"John…John, I can not tell you that. I have always been like this, only that I hid my supernatural side. Max will never be the same Max again, nor you. "
John's hand slowly slid back, and fell limp by his side. Looking at John, Haven made a resolve, that no matter what, John deserves happiness, and free will. Yes, a little risk is worth it, and she knows him, he should make the right choice.
"I give you now two choices, you can either forget everything that has happened today, and will be immune to any other similar events that will definitely occur in the future, very frequently. But you can choose not to remember them or recognise them. I have the power to grant you this."
Frank looked intently at John, who glanced at him hesitantly. A heavy expectancy fell into the room. After a long pause, the heavy silence is broken by an almost inaudible whisper from John, who uttered these words as if pronouncing his own doom:
"What is my other choice?"
Instantly the expectancy fell away into nothingness, as if it never before existed. The whole room seemed to be glad. John heard Haven utter the smallest sigh possible, or has he imagined it?
"Your other choice would be to remember everything that has happened today, and you will be able to recognise any other…supernatural events in the future. But I warn you, once you've made this choice, you may never come back again to this point again, where you'll be granted this choice. You'll have to carry whatever you see in your mind, and there will be heavy consequences if you let anything out. So weigh those choices carefully, we will not push you."
"What is going to happen to Max?" gazing at his younger brother's unconscious form, John asked worriedly.
Before Haven can say anything, Frank told John: "John, your brother will never be the same again, once Haven wakes him."
"N…Never?" John gasped, lost for words.
Stroking John's arm, Haven said softly: "It's his destiny."
Blindly John clutched at Haven's hand, as if a talisman of reality, and gave her a look filled with startling emotions that should surely be impossible for any human being. Haven never in her long eternal life forgot that moment, when she would have forsaken everything just to wipe that fear, that longing, that sadness, and a hint of realisation away from John's face and eyes. She knew that her old, comforting, even loving, friendship with John will never be the same again with this knowledge in John's mind, unless John chooses to forget, of course, it can only be worse, or better. But the chances of the later is minimal, unless inside John, there are other emotions which Haven has yet not discovered, emotions that would ensure his faith in her as he always shown. And then, after that long gaze, John let go of her hand, and uttered those few broken words:
"I wish…I wish I could be able to forget all these…"
Upon hearing this, Haven swayed on the spot, fearing a fall, she clutched at the nearest hand, John's hand. Yes, always there, ready to catch you if you fall… She has pictured this in her mind, but the reality of it was so large that it enveloped her, she can't stand it. She wept sadly. Their goal, the happiness of the universe has just gone, flew away like that, evaporated into thin air. She has thought John would take the other path, rather, she hoped John would, but now…
As Haven swayed and clutched John's hand, something clicked in John's mind. He suddenly realised what he has done, and how much he has hurt and disappointed his friend Haven. And at the same time, he suddenly experienced a cloud of emotion rise in his chest, an emotion quite new, yet quite familiar, he struggled to contain it. The John that Haven will remember for the rest of her life will not be one who seeks peace of mind behind lies. Catching a silently weeping Haven in an enveloping embrace, John whispered in her ear in a strong, decided voice:
"But, I know I will never choose to live in a lie."
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Competition Questions:
a) What does she tell Max? [30pt]
b) How does Max react to this? [20pt]
c) What is the Prophecy of Bewitchment? [30pt]
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Uniasus: Very good, could have got more points with more detailed answers! Give you 10pts for a) because she tells John much more, 5pts for b), 10pts for c), yes she tells him everything, but what exactly? 10pts for d), good one! So that's a total of 35pts! Bravo! Please keep on reviewing! and please tell me, which side do you want to be on, so that I can add in your points? Thanx! The idea wasn't mine, I got it from a colleage from Harry Potter FanFics.