Chapter Eight; y Mynydd Sibrwd.
(The whispering mountain)
Bran climbed the familiar mountains of his home in the Welsh valley. He sat on a convenient rock near Panorama walk where he had agreed to meet the others. He looked over to mynydd sibrwd and sighed. So many adventures and tales lay about this place. It was hard for him to go a day without seeing something that reminded him of hid mother and father. Arthur's seat was on his right, a grey peak in the distance, ringed with mist and clouds.
Slowly, as he waited for the Drews and Will to arrive, under his breath he chanted the old prophecy.
"When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,
Three from the circle, three from the track,
Wood, Bronze, Iron, Water, Fire, Stone,
Five shall return and One go alone."
That last line had not yet come to pass, but Bran also did not wonder how he knew that ancient verse because he knew, neither Merriman or Will had ever spoken it clearly in his presence. A line repeated itself once more in his mind, 'Wood, Bronze, Iron, Water, Fire, Stone.' The elements must have significance to each of the Six. Jane would be fire, she was quiet but she had an inner spark. She was the only one who had dared to yell at the strange boy with the white hair and owl's eyes. No one else had in all his life, certainly not someone who had only just met him. Will would be water, strong, powerful and calm. He found it easy to go against tradition and flow his own way. Merriman would be sturdy iron, surviving the years with great strength. Simon would be old bronze, rough on the outside but strong and beautiful on the inside. Used to protecting others. Barney would be the youngest, rowan wood, bright with berries and youth. He would be enduring stone, strong and ornamental in a King's palace.
The sound of laughing voices distracted him from his deep thoughts. He sat upright and turned around to see Simon and Barney emerge over the crest of the hill. Both wore simple shirts and jeans with sturdy trainers on their feet. Then finally, cheeks flushed from the exertion came Jane and Will. Jane had grown up somewhat and matured, growing into her body. She was no longer the awkward girl he remembered but more graceful. She her hair was loose around her shoulders and she wore a fitted white shirt and snug jeans. Will wore his usual blue shirt and jeans.
Bran stood up to greet them as they drew nearer.
"Welcome back to Wales." Simon and Barney immediately shook hands with Bran, Will nodded and Jane simply smiled at him. She sank down to sit comfortably on the grass the others soon followed her lead, sensing they were going to have a long talk.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Fine thank you Jenny. A little lonely at times but that's life here. You?"
"Great thanks. It's good to be back here." She turned to face Will, "Merriman isn't going to be here with us this time is he?"
"No. I'm afraid not. And this time we don't have a parchment or rhyme to guide us either."
"So all we know is that…" Before Barney could finish his sentence Bran and Will both leapt to their feet. Bran held in his hand a large knife, almost a dagger he had drawn from an invisible sheath at his side. He stood, poised, alert, and ready to spring. In a language that had died out on the earth several thousand years ago Will shouted a harsh command. His choirboy voice was twisted in rage. A blue shield, streaked with red leapt up around the five. It was just in time, for in that same second a grey shape leapt from behind another rock and hit the shield. Bran swore in Welsh
"Diawl!" For he had seen what the others had not. A ring of grey shapes circling the protective sphere and the gathering darkness…
('Diawl' means 'devil' or the equivalent of 'damn' and here I will leave you, wondering what is going to happen next. Well, I'll be nice and tell you a little…
No one will be killed but they won't be together at the end of the next chapter, and the Dark have found a horrible way to break the signs… hee hee hee, *evil chuckle* aren't I mean…
Next chapter should be up by the New Year.