The Byrds
Okay sorry if anyone reviewed. I haven't had time to check and I don't know about Personal things. No e-mail. Anyways this chapter is just Tancred thinking back on his life.
NO CHARACTER DEATH OR STUFF LIKE THAT.
This chappy is dedicated to The Bunnies Will Kill Us All 'cos she (?) has a psycho cat and has reviewed twice! And she writes great stories even if she is a bit obsessed with beyblade.
Disclaimer: No I'm not Jenny Nimmo, on with the interview. What do you mean you only want to talk to her? Pah. I do not own the Byrds, much as I wish I did. In fact I think half of them are dead.
On with my favourite chapter:
Tancred stood in silence, letting the rain slide down his body. He'd catch a cold and his mother would sigh. She always did. Just like it always rained on his birthday. Though to be truthful, he'd celebrated the week before.
Flashback
He was six and it was his birthday. A dismal affair for he didn't have any friends and his father was away. He dutifully opened his presents with his mother.
Scarf, hat and gloves from his mother's parents. Scary people that forgot nothing.
Books from his father's parents. His favourite people in the world.
Tapes from his father. These he pushed to the side. If he couldn't be there then he wouldn't pay any attention.
Plus he'd got various clothes from his mother. Very exciting. Even at 6 he'd mastered sarcasm.
It had been raining like it always did. He slipped outside. The rain felt wonderful – just as it did now- on his skin. That day there was a red and gold tree in his garden. It had thick branches and he pulled himself to the top. Sitting there, he sung happily. The young boy didn't talk much and enjoyed his own company.
Inside the doorbell rang. A rather flustered Stella ran to get it. She doubted Tancred would.
"Tom!" the young wife flung her arms around her Scandinavian husband. "You're back already? What was Canada like? Why are you here? And who's this?" Poor Stella had seen the cold and dripping family behind him. Tom kissed his wife before pulling her into the house and answering her questions.
"Yup, I'm back. Canada was amazing. We'll take Tanc there one day. I'm back for Tancred's birthday. What sort of a father would I be if I missed my only son's sixth birthday? This is James, Jessimiah (AN. I don't know if that's right but I've only got the 5th books with me and it doesn't say. I think its right.) and their son, Lysander. He's Tanc's age. Speaking of Tanc, Where is he?"
Stella paused from handing around cupcakes to answer her husband.
He's outside." She smiled vaguely before hearing herself. "Ohmygod! He's still outside. He's been in the rain for almost half an hour!" She rushed to get her son, leaving Tom to play host.
Meanwhile, Tancred had found a present for him. It was wrapped in vines and had a label that read: Tancred Torsson – future weather monger. The little boy recognised Tancred and ripped the vines off. Inside was a braided bracelet on which a strange charm/symbol hung. The symbol seemed to glow. Seeing his mother, he stuffed it in his pocket.
"Lo." He didn't seem to notice his mother's worry.
"Tancred, come inside. You're drenched. Guess who's come to see you?" As soon as he was inside he was bundled into blankets and pushed before a roaring fire. He looked around at the guests and his father.
"Lo."
End Flashback
That had been when he and Lysander had become friends. They became like brothers. Lysander was the only person he told about the bracelet.
Next Flashback
It was his 10th and it wasn't going well.
"I'm really sorry Tanc. Lysander whispered. "I don't want to go."
"I know." Tancred clapped his friend on the back and sighed. "You'd better get back."
The boy reckoned this was the worst birthday ever. So far his mysterious well-wisher hadn't come; Sander was going to a weekly boarding school and his father was away until late that night. He shook his head and went outside to the welcoming thunderstorm.
He laughed as he tripped out of the door, over another vine wrapped gift. He hadn't been forgotten. Loud chuckles accompanied the thunder. As he pulled off the vines again, he found a strange snow globe. He shook it calmly.
Inside was the tree he recognised from his 6th birthday and three cats. His laughter increased when rain fell rather than glitter in the globe.
A meow came from his feet. When he looked down, he saw the cats from the globe. Tentatively, he stroked them. Purring, they draped themselves across his feet.
End Flashback
Sometimes he saw things in that globe. He saw Charlie before he'd come to Bloors and he'd seen the vervain in it. It was strange.
Flashback
It was his 11th birthday this time. Tancred was positively bursting with happiness. His grandparents were coming all the way from Tromsø, beyond the arctic circle in Norway, just to see him. Plus his father had passed the rank of chairman to Lysander's father so he wouldn't be going away so much. And his present had arrived again.
This year it was a strange milky ball, like a mini crystal ball. The strange part this time was that it could be squeezed. When it was it emitted some sort of folksy song. Anyway he'd show the rapidly appearing Lysander.
"Happy Birthday!" his friend panted as he reached Weather House. "It always rains on your birthday!"
Tancred chuckled. "I like it. It's December and this is Britain. I'd be ashamed if it didn't rain!" Lysander shrugged.
"Whatever. I think it's something to do with you." He commented knowing his friend's reply. He was right.
"And I think you've spent too much time in that school. Only Dad and grand-dad have that sort of power. They don't particularly like rain either mainly wind."
The boys turned to go inside as Tancred told his friend about the ball. Later he showed it to his Sámi grandfather who whistled softly. He was the sort of man who took everything in his stride, knew everyone's secrets and would take them to the grave. Best of all, in Tancred's opinion, he didn't ask questions.
"That's elvish music. Elves can bring out the best – and worst – in people." Lysander nodded. He had a great respect for the old man.
"My aunt has an elvish hairclip that keeps her hair tidy."
"Hmmm. Still it's important. Elves are strange. I wish I could say you're lucky but I think Good Luck works better." He told his grandson dryly as Tancred put the ball carefully in his pocket.
"Can I see that bracelet?" Tancred jumped – generally people didn't notice it – but obligingly held his wrist out. The old man conjured a wind that swirled around the glowing symbol. It began to rain inside. Tancred grinned but his grandfather screwed up his nose.
"Trust you. Well, you're endowed. Funny that it's rain. Must come from your mother." He mused. "Well get rid of it!"
End Flashbacks
"Oy! Tancred!" Tanc's head flew up and his body quickly followed.
"Far-Far!" (AN Far-far is father's father and Far-Mor is Father's mother. I have Norwegian cousins who live in Tromsø.) he laughed happily and stooped to hug the older weather monger.
"You've grown. I was taller than you. It's raining again." This just made the young man laugh harder.
"Where's Far-Mor?" Tancred grinned.
"With some girl. Happy Birthday. Got any presents?" his grandfather replied.
"Not like that he hasn't." Tancred jumped at Eluned's dry tone. She stood in the rain, towering over his grandmother.
"How do you know?" he asked suspiciously.
"Elvish music ring a bell? I'm just the messenger girl. Happy Birthday laddy." She handed over another vine wrapped present and added. "And it'll always rain on his birthday. I'd better go in. Mifs is gonna kill me for coming out." She sighed and stuck her hands in her pockets. Tancred noticed she only wore a t-shirt and jeans. He tried not to notice how closely they clung to her figure.
"Enjoy it Romeo! And leave Mifs in peace!" she called over her shoulder.
Tancred watched her leave before opening his present. It was a comb that seemed to sparkle. He ran it through his spikes. The electricity that had crawled through his hair seconds before sunk into the brush before forming a lightning bolt he could handle.
"Intresting. Now, lets go in! I can't feel my arse." Tancred laughed and the family strode into the castle.
Done. Sorry it's so long. REVIEW!
