The Old Ones

In the back garden on the Stantons' household, a deteriorated storehouse was placed, unevenly and it was not in place. It jutted out of the garden like a mole. The wood was decaying, it was drab and expired. A miniature light was shining, glowing inside the small oak room. Four figures loomed, in and out, like ghosts portrayed on the walls. One tall figure stood there, rising above the other three, who were sitting, as small as children. The older and taller figure spoke to them, grave and rich. They were concentrating at the tall man, as if he was teaching and lecturing them. They were cramped into the small compartment, as tall as the man was, he had to angle his back, as not to bang his head on the ceiling. "The Old Ones," started Merriman, "are of the Light. We are a company of special people, here to stop the Dark from taking over the Earth with their corruptness." He rolled his tongue over his teeth, bathing them in his saliva. "We have completed out main task. We rid the Earth of the Dark, we cut the blossom from the tree, we activated the spell. And although this happened, Bran was not in full power of the spell. It was de-activated as soon as he left this time, back to his own, with his father - King Arthur of the Round Table." Merriman sloped over to Jane, the only girl of the three children, and set his hand on her shoulder. "I know that you know all of this." He looked into her eyes. She nodded in agreement. "I know what you're talking about, Gummery," replied Jane. "Tell me something that I don't know," she said. Merriman concurred. "I agree, you need to know. All of you need to know." Merriman stood up, looming over the three children in the small shack, which was placed oddly in the Stantons' garden. "When Bran left us, we thought that we were safe. The prophecy had begun to act, the World was safe again, as in King Arthur's reign." The light from the lantern shone around the insignificant shed, illuminating the children's face. "But when Bran cut the silver from the tree, he did not know what he was doing. He cut it because he thought it was proper, he thought it was his right to do it. He was dreadfully wrong." Merriman sat back down on his small stool, and took his hand off Jane's shoulder.

"Bran's spell didn't work too well. Yes, the Dark was vanquished, and they were taken out of Time itself." Jane sighed. Merriman looked specifically at her, staring at her with his crisp eyes. "As I was saying," he started again. "Bran could not defeat the Dark once and for all. That is why I call upon you, Jane." Her eyes widened. Simon gasped, turning his head at his sister. "Jane, my girl. I know that the last few years have been hard on you, but I need you again. Again, for one last chance to wipe out the Dark."
Jane glared coldly at Merriman. Suddenly, she stood up, pointing at her Great Uncle. "You! How dare you!? You have tormented me, made me think over my whole life, just so that we can beat these damned people!" Jane lowered her arm, yet her stare was as icy as it was before. "I let you use me as a pawn in your little game, and my whole life has changed, just because of this." She sighed. "I thought we beat them. I was happy, we all were happy. Not happy because our world was saved, but because this whole ordeal had ended! I want no part of this!" She turned around and reached for the door. "Jane, Will was not the last Old One. He was actually one of the Oldest of the Old. You, Jane of the Stanton's, are also not the last, but of this era, you are the Youngest." Merriman was standing as Jane turned around, and his facial features were as angry yet as modest as they could be. "Jane Drew, I need you. We need you." Jane turned back to the door, opened it and stepped out. Simon stood up and lunged at her as she left, but she was too swift for her, she had left. "Leave her," said Merriman. "It is her choice, not yours and not mine. Let us just hope that she chooses well." Barney, who had been quiet for a long time now, spoke. "Gummery, I think I know how she feels." He walked towards his Great Uncle, hands in pockets. The shack was surprisingly large, about the size of a garage. He walked around it, head down, thinking. He spoke again. "I felt the same, for a short while. I didn't know what to feel, I thought that I was being played. I wasn't sure about what to do..." Barney fumbled around for words. "I felt as though ... I wasn't real anymore, my whole world fell upside down." Merriman sighed. "Take your hands out of your pockets, boy, it's manners." Abruptly, Barney removed his hands from his pockets. "You have to believe, Barney." He turned to Simon. "And you too, Simon, my boy. You must trust me, trust Will. Have faith in the Light, and do not fear the Dark." He walked towards the door. "I must be going now, I need to talk to your sister." He seized the doorknob, and twisted. As the door opened, an immense wind struck the hovel, and it struck the door off it's hinges. "Jane!" Merriman cried out of the boundary of the shed. Barney walked towards the door. "I do hope she is alright." Merriman held onto Barney's shoulders, shook them, and spoke to him. "Barney, have faith." After he spoke, he departed from the group. "He's gone into the storm!" cried Simon. Barney re-spoke the words that his Great Uncle Merry had spoke to him. "Have faith."

Merriman forced at the attacking wind, water streaming across his face from the precipitation. "Jane!" shouted Merriman, as he fought back the storm. He was getting close to the house now, the conservatory was now only a few feet away from him. He lunged at the handle, but the wind pushed back at him. Will became visible from the kitchen door, which lead into the glass room that overlooked the lawn. He mouthed a few words, which were not understandable to Merriman as he beat down the strong breeze. He waved his arms in the air wildly, and he was obviously losing the battle. Will's eyes widened. A dark figure loomed behind the Old One, and it came out to be the White Rider. He raised his sword in triumph, and pointed it down to Merriman's head. He screamed in victory, and let fly his powerful blade. Suddenly, Jane appeared from the conservatory doors, wearing a robe. She closed them behind her, and chanted some sacred words. "Among the dead, the White shall become." As she said this, the White Rider screeched in agony, rousing his arms. Jane walked towards him, with suspicious ease as the storm had not extinguished. She raised her arms, and as she did this, her pupils turned grey, and her hair flew up like flames. The White Rider fell onto his back, and as he did this, he disappeared.

The wind diminished, leaving Merriman completely fatigued. Jane walked towards him. "I'm sorry, Gummery. I didn't mean what I said ..." she pointed over to the shack, where she had insulted her Great Uncle. "Jane!" cried her brother - Simon, who came out of the wooden hut, running. "What happened? Are you alright?" questioned Barney.
"I'm fine, thanks," declared Jane. She turned again to Merriman. "Gummery, can you forgive me?" Merriman smiled, gazing at Jane. "Of course, my child. I can never be irate with you." He turned to Will. "Ah, my young apprentice." He placed his fingers on his chin, stroking his hairs, as if thinking. "What were you trying to tell me?" His eyebrows creased.

"The White Rider. Could you not see him?" Will gazed at Merriman, as if judging him. As he said this, the Stantons came out of the house. "What are you doing out here? Were you out here in the storm?"
Merriman turned to Mrs. Stanton, who asked the question. "No, we were in the shed." He turned to it, and pointed. He was distracted by the constant gaze of Will. He turned to him, suspiciously. "What ..." started Will, but then he stopped. "Don't worry, mum. We're all fine." She went back into the house, leaving the door open.
"I think I'm losing my senses, Will." Merriman, lowered his head, so he was looking at his apprentice. "That is why Jane is needed. You shall be the master, and she your apprentice." Will turned to Jane, and he raised his eyebrows. She smiled back at him. "Jane Drew, you are an Old One. Will Stanton, you are now a Lord of the Light."