Glasruhen Gate (20 page)

‘Can I sit on your head when you go down?’

‘No you can’t,’ grumbled Camelin.

‘It’s alright. You can sit on mine,’

‘Thank you, thank you,’ said Timmery. ‘Come on, let’s have a go.’

Camelin tutted before flying to the top of the ride. Jack decided to let him have his own mat.

‘Hold tight,’ Jack croaked.

‘Wheeeeeee!’ cried Charkle and Timmery as they whizzed around the helter-skelter.

‘That was brilliant,’ said Jack. ‘Shall we do it again?’

They’d just set off on their second run, when Hesta and Winver arrived. They flew around the outside of the helter-skelter and followed Jack as he made his way to the bottom.

‘We’ve been looking everywhere for you,’ said Hesta before giggling loudly.

Jack could hear Camelin groan.

‘We’re busy,’ he said. ‘Too busy to talk.’

‘We’ve not come to talk.’

Jack gulped and looked around quickly in case there was any mistletoe about.

‘The Queen’s asked us to come and find you,’ continued Winver. ‘You have to go back to Gwillam’s house. It’s almost time for the Festival and you two are to be the guests of honour.’

Hesta laughed.

‘There are going to be two perches for us to share at the amphitheatre, right next to the Queen’s throne.’

Jack and Camelin didn’t say anything.

‘Isn’t that wonderful?’ said Timmery.

‘They’re not for you,’ replied Camelin.

‘We’re all going to sit next to the Queen, Timmery and Charkle too.’

Camelin humphed and, without another word to anyone, took off in the direction of Gwillam’s house. Jack, Timmery and Charkle gave Hesta and Winver an embarrassed smile then flew after him.

Gwillam was waiting for them by the door.

‘I’m glad you came straight away, you’re to be…’

‘The guests of honour,’ Camelin said.

‘How did you know?’

‘Hesta and Winver told us.’

‘No matter, we need to get everything together. You’ll be going straight on to Glasruhen Gate when the Festival ends.’

Jack’s heart missed a beat. He’d been having so much fun he’d almost forgotten why Elan and Nora had come into Annwn in the first place. Now they were going home, tonight.

‘The Queen will be waiting for us, are you ready?’ asked Nora.

They all nodded. Gwillam and Gavin picked up the cauldron between them. Jack could see his and Camelin’s wands inside it along with the acorn-filled leather bag. Nora stepped out of the house then dashed back inside. She came out with the jar, which still had an angry-looking wasp buzzing around inside it.

‘We nearly forgot this!’

Jack looked at the jar. He had the uncomfortable feeling that the wasp was staring at him.

‘What will happen to Velindur? Will he be a wasp forever?’

‘Oh no,’ replied Gwillam. ‘Once he’s been released the transformation spell will wear off. But he’ll never be able to enter Annwn again. If he does he’ll turn back into a wasp and have to stay like that forever.’

An even angrier wasp buzzed in the jar. Nora put it inside the cauldron with the rest of the things they were taking back through the portal.

‘Will the other three gateways be opened again now the Queen is back?’ asked Camelin.

‘That will be for the Blessed Council to decide, but I know the Queen would like to reopen them,’ answered Nora.

Jack couldn’t get used to Elan being a part of the Queen. It felt strange without her.

‘Come on,’ said Nora. ‘We need to go or we’re going to be late and you two are going to be…’

‘The guests of honour,’ said Camelin. ‘We know, we’ve been told.’

They made their way from the village past the clearing where the Monolith stood. As they entered the amphitheatre the crowd stood and cheered. The Queen sat on a beautiful throne that was covered in silver runes. She clapped too as they made their way towards her. Camelin and Charkle were shown to a perch to the left of the Queen, and Jack and Timmery were offered the one on the right. Hesta landed next to Jack. He looked over at Camelin, Winver was already next to him. The Queen held up her hand to the crowd and they fell silent.

‘Let the festivities begin,’ she cried.

The best jugglers, storytellers and singers entertained the crowd until the light began to fade. When the sky darkened Nora took a candle to Coragwenelan then passed one to each of the others. Everyone in the crowd got their candles out too.

‘Please allow me,’ said Charkle and he blew a small flame towards the Queen’s candle. Nora lit hers from the Queen’s and one by one the flame was passed from one candle to the next until the whole amphitheatre was filled with flickering light.

‘Bring forth the Treasures,’ Gwillam cried, banging his staff on the ground three times.

Three hooded figures advanced to the centre of the amphitheatre, each bearing one of the Treasures of Annwn. Nora pulled up her hood, picked up the cauldron and joined the others in the middle of the arena and then turned to face the Western Gate. It was the first time Jack had seen the Sword of Power. It was very big. The hooded figure held it high above his head and faced the Southern Gate. Another tall figure held the Spear of Justice by his side and faced towards the North Gate. Jack was amazed when he saw the Stone of Destiny, he hadn’t realised it would be so beautiful. It too was held high and the light from the candles flickered on its green and blue surface as it was pointed towards the East Gate. The Queen stood and addressed the crowd:

‘The time has come for our visitors to depart. Annwn will be forever grateful for what they have done. Without them I would not have been restored to you.’

A great cheer rose and echoed around the hillsides.

‘Timmery and Charkle, for your bravery and fearlessness in the face of danger we give you the right to enter Annwn through any portal. Once in Annwn, you will transform again into hummingbirds. The freedom of the land beyond the four portals is yours for eternity.’

Timmery and Charkle fluttered around the Queen’s head then raced around the arena whilst the crowd clapped and cheered. Once they were back on their perch the crowd became silent and waited expectantly for the Queen to continue.

‘Where is Lloyd the Goldsmith?’

‘I’m here, Your Majesty,’ said a voice from the crowd.

A tall robed figure, with a candle in one hand and a small leather pouch in the other stepped towards the platform and bowed low before the Queen.

‘We have a gift for you Jack, made by the Master Goldsmith of Annwn.’

Lloyd came and stood next to the Queen and opened the pouch. Into her hand he shook a golden acorn. Jack gasped. It was beautiful. It was the same shape as Nora’s, only smaller. The stalk had been looped and a chain threaded through it. The Queen walked over to Jack. He bowed his head.

‘For you,
The One
, who has saved us all, a special golden acorn. All the power of Annwn is within it. You have proved yourself worthy, a true Brenin. Annwn has been honoured to have the presence of a Brenin once again.’

As she put the chain around Jack’s neck, the crowd stood.

‘The Brenin, the Brenin,’ they chanted.

The Queen turned to face the crowd and the chanting subsided.

‘We have one more guest to honour,’ she said as she walked over to Camelin. ‘Is there anything we can give you as a gift?’

Camelin bowed his head and winked at Jack.

‘Could I have an oracular frog? It’s something I’ve always wanted.’

‘You may. We will send someone to find one before you depart.’

Gwillam approached the Queen.

‘Your Majesty, my former acolyte, Gavin, says he has an oracular frog he’d be more than happy for Camelin to have.’

‘Oh! Thank you, thank you so much,’ croaked Camelin.

Gavin held the jar high for the Queen to see. Inside was the little green frog. Jack wondered if Camelin was overdoing the
thank yous
, but no one seemed to suspect he’d planned the gift in advance. Gavin walked to the centre of the arena and gave the frog to Nora. She carefully added it to the other things in the Cauldron.

‘It is time for The Parting of The Ways,’ announced the Queen.

Gwillam banged his staff three times and when every eye was upon him he announced loudly: ‘Let the procession begin.’

The people rose and filed down the hillside. The bearers of the Treasures stepped apart and began to walk towards the four corners of Annwn. People from the north followed the Spear, those from the east set off after the Stone of Destiny and the villagers from the south followed the Sword.

Jack and Camelin flew onto Gwillam’s shoulders, Timmery and Charkle perched on Gavin’s and they set off towards Glasruhen Gate.

Jack looked around to see who was following. Only the Queen, with Hesta and Winver perched on her shoulders, was behind them.

They followed a pathway lined with standing stones, which skirted the swamp. After a while Nora stopped and put the cauldron down.

‘Gavin and I will carry that for you now,’ said Gwillam.

‘I think the rest of you can fly,’ said Nora.

The Queen stopped too.

‘Now we’re away from the eyes of Annwn we can be ourselves again. Hesta and Winver, you can show Jack and Camelin the way. We’ll meet you at the gate.’

The Queen raised her hands in the air and began to spin. It wasn’t long before Cora, Gwen and Elan appeared.

‘Follow us,’ croaked Hesta.

Jack and Camelin flew after the two white ravens. They raced over the brow of a large mound and carried on towards Glasruhen Gate. Jack looked back towards the Citadel one last time before it was lost from sight. He couldn’t see much except millions of bright stars in the sky and the snaking candlelit processions as the people made their ways home. He sighed. He wanted to stay but he also wanted to get back to Arrana. He couldn’t wait to see her face when they showed her the acorns.

DEPARTURES

Jack remembered the last time they’d tried to fly through the portal. It seemed like days since they’d arrived but he knew that they’d only have been gone from Earth for a few minutes. He sat with the others on the lowest branch of one of the Sentinel Oaks and watched the candlelit procession drawing nearer. He could hear distant singing from the other processions.

‘We haven’t heard the
Parting of the Ways
sung for a very long time,’ said Hesta.

‘You will come back soon, won’t you?’ asked Winver.

‘We will,’ piped Timmery and Charkle. ‘We will.’

Jack and Camelin just nodded. No one spoke until Nora and Elan had almost reached the tree.

‘Time to go,’ said Camelin to the two white ravens. ‘No time to chat now.’

Gwillam and Gavin put the cauldron down by the gate and then Gwillam turned to Nora.

‘You’ll write often won’t you and tell me all the news from Earth?’

‘I will, it won’t be long until Samhain and we’ll all be back again.’

‘Next time you come through Glasruhen Gate there will be a proper welcome waiting for you,’ said Elan.

Jack looked at her.

‘Aren’t you coming back with us?’

‘No Jack, I’m needed here for a while. We can write though, you’ll be able to tell me about all the things I’m missing.’

‘But…’

‘I have to stay. Cora and Gwen need me. We have work to do to put Annwn to rights again. When that work is done I’ll return.’

‘How long do you think you’ll be gone?’

‘I really don’t know, but I promise I will come back. Now the portal is open I’ll visit whenever I can.’

Jack felt sad. He’d miss Elan, but he understood why she wanted to stay and put things right. He remembered the gift she’d given him.

‘Thank you for my beautiful golden acorn.’

‘You have proved yourself worthy to wear it. The people will see you one day as you really are. When you return at Samhain, you’ll take your place as King.’

‘Me? King of the Festival?’

‘No just King, the visiting King. You must know by now that you’re
The Brenin
the prophesy foretells.’

Jack felt confused. Why did they all keep calling him
The Brenin
.

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I thought you knew,’ said Nora. ‘Brenin means King. You are
The One
, the
King of the Forest
.’

‘That’s why you’re able to harness the power of Annwn through your wand. You’ll be able to do the same through your acorn. Arrana gave you her knowledge. Her power is within you, all you need to do now is to learn how to use it,’ explained Elan.

‘We couldn’t have opened Glasruhen Gate without you, we were both too weak, but the power of Annwn is strong within you. Once you’ve been crowned, you can take your rightful position,’ added Nora.

Jack took a deep breath. Elan and Nora’s words had stunned him into silence. There were so many questions he needed to ask but he didn’t know where to begin.

‘It’s time to go,’ announced Nora. ‘You four will have to fly through the portal.’

Timmery and Charkle hovered around Nora’s head.

‘I’d better transform you two first.’

With a flick of her wand the two hummingbirds spun around until two little bats reappeared.

‘I loved being a bird,’ piped Timmery. ‘It was great to be able to see in the daytime.’

Gwillam hugged his sister and patted Jack and Camelin on their backs. Gavin bowed to them all. Elan also hugged Nora, then came over to the branch and stroked Jack and Camelin’s feathers.

‘I’ll miss you both.’

Jack couldn’t speak, he was fighting back tears.

‘Are we ready?’ asked Nora as she picked up the cauldron.

‘Ready,’ they replied.

‘Bye,’ Elan called.

Jack replied as they flew through the gateway. The green glow disappeared as the dark forest greeted them. He quickly looked around. Nothing had changed. His clothes were where he’d left them. Nora crossed the threshold. After she’d stepped off the last branch she put the cauldron down. For one last time they all looked into the green light coming from the other side of Glasruhen Gate.

‘Time to hide the portal,’ Nora announced as she took out her wand and pointed it at the ground before the archway where the branches lay.

The doors swung back slowly and closed without a sound. Then the Sentinel Oaks disappeared.

‘Shall we go and see Arrana?’

They all agreed.

At the edge of Glasruhen Forest, Nora stopped.

‘Listen, can you hear singing?’

It was the saddest song Jack had ever heard. There were no words, just a multitude of voices crying through the night. Nora looked worried.

‘It’s Arrana! We must hurry. Fly on ahead, we have to wake her. She has to touch the acorns and transfer her knowledge, or everything we’ve achieved will have been in vain.’

Jack and Camelin raced through the forest. Their wings clipped branches as they flew. They headed as fast as they could to where Arrana stood. They didn’t see any Dryads, but the closer they got to the centre, the louder the singing became.

They landed in front of Arrana. She was surrounded by every kind of Dryad Jack had ever seen. None spoke to Jack and Camelin, they didn’t take their eyes off the Hamadryad as they continued their sad song.

‘Arrana,’ Jack called. ‘Arrana The Wise, Protector and Most Sacred of All we have come to speak with you.’

‘It’s no use. You’ll never wake her like that. You’re going to have to wait ’til Nora gets here. She’ll have to use her wand to wake her,’ said Camelin.

Jack knew he had to do something. If the Dryads hadn’t been able to awaken her there must be a real problem. She might even have faded away already. He hopped over to her trunk and put his head next to it. He listened. If he’d been a boy he’d have hugged the trunk to let Arrana know they’d returned. He didn’t want her to feel alone. As Jack moved closer his acorn touched the bark. A golden light shone onto Arrana. The singing stopped and the forest seemed to hold its breath. Jack heard Arrana’s voice inside his head. He remembered she’d told him that if he spoke with his heart she would hear him. He closed his eyes and imagined she stood before him. He reached out to her with unspoken words.

‘Arrana, we have the acorns from Sylvana; the forest can be saved if only you will wake and touch them.’

Jack felt a stirring inside the trunk. He hopped back to where Camelin stood. A rapid movement followed. The trunk vibrated rapidly from side to side and when it stopped, in its place, the faint outline of Arrana appeared. It was hard to see any of her at all in the darkness. Jack heard the Dryads whispering then the mournful singing began again.

‘Arrana,’ thought Jack, ‘we have the acorns, hold on a little longer. Nora’s on her way.’

Jack heard Arrana’s voice inside his head.

‘You have done well Jack Brenin, friend to us all and rightful King of the Forest, but I grow weak, too weak to give my knowledge to all the acorns. There is no more time left, come closer, come closer.’

Jack moved towards Arrana, he heard Camelin sob as she bent forward. Her outline had almost disappeared. She pointed her finger at Jack’s chest. A green light shimmered weakly until it hit the acorn around his neck. There was a burst of light, which illuminated the whole grove. The singing stopped.

‘I empower you to do my work. You have the knowledge of Annwn, now I give you my final gift, the spirit of the Hamadryads. Use it wisely Jack Brenin, without you the forest will not survive.’

Jack felt hot. He fought to breathe. The acorn felt heavy around his neck. As the brightness increased it blinded him. Although he couldn’t see her he could feel Arrana’s presence and joy, and then there was nothing. He suddenly felt empty. The light faded and the forest was still. When his sight returned Arrana was gone. He touched the bark of the oak and found it was empty, only a hollow tree stood where Arrana had been.

‘No!’ cried Jack. ‘No!’

The Dryads wailed. Nora appeared and rushed over.

‘What happened?’

Jack choked. He couldn’t speak any more.

Camelin looked at Nora.

‘Arrana’s gone. She’s faded. We were too late.’

Jack cried silently before the empty oak. Nora put her hands on the bark then cried too. Camelin hung his head and put his wing around Jack. There wasn’t another sound from the forest.

Jack had no idea how long they stood before the tree; eventually he became aware of the stillness. Nothing stirred until one of the Dryads stepped forward and bowed.

‘All is not lost,’ she said to Nora. ‘Arrana gave the last of her power to Jack. He can save us all if he chooses.’

‘Is this true?’ asked Nora.

‘I don’t know what happened,’ said Jack shakily. ‘Arrana pointed to the acorn, a light exploded, and then she was gone.’

Nora turned to face the Dryads: ‘Behold, The Brenin has returned, he will restore the Hamadryads to their former glory. You shall not fade away. With Arrana’s gift he can breathe the life of Annwn into the acorns. The forests will flourish once more.’

Jack didn’t understand. He knew Nora was talking about him but he didn’t know how he was going to do all the things she was promising. How could he give life to the acorns?

Nora smiled at him.

‘Don’t worry. You weren’t too late, you woke her in time. Only the true King of the Forest could have woken her without the aid of magic. Arrana gave you her power, she entrusted you to pass on her knowledge.’

‘But I don’t know how.’

‘Tomorrow, everything will be made clear, but now we need to get you home. We don’t want your grandad worrying about you.’

Jack took a deep breath. The Dryads began to sing again, but the song was different. The sadness was still there, but now he could also hear words of joy, about the forests and how the Hamadryads would once again protect the trees and all who lived in them. Nora took her Book of Shadows from the cauldron and tapped it with her wand. She began to read from the page where it opened:

When all is equal, all is done,
And joy is brought to everyone.
The Brenin will be crowned again,
Over the Forests he will reign.

‘That’s you Jack,’ said Camelin.

‘When Arrana’s heirs are ready to replace her and carry on her work, then you will be crowned King of the Forest,’ explained Nora. ‘That’s the last part of the prophesy.’

‘But I’m just a boy,’ said Jack.

‘A raven boy,’ corrected Camelin. ‘And a Brenin. No, you’re not just a Brenin, you’re
The Brenin
but don’t think I’m going to bow to you, not until you’re wearing the greenwood crown. And don’t you go getting any airs and graces either.’

‘Come on,’ said Nora. ‘I’ve brought your clothes from the gateway; we need to get you home. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.’