The Golden Acorn Read Online Free PDF Page A

magnificent. As they walked underneath the branches and moved closer towards the base of the trunk, Jack felt more curious than afraid. He had an overpowering urge to put his hands on the rough bark but before they got any closer Nora stopped again. She raised her head and began speaking in a loud voice.
    ‘Arrana The Wise, Protector and Most Sacred of All, we have come to speak with you.’
    ‘When you address a Hamadryad you have to use their full name or they don’t realise you’re talking to them,’ explained Elan in a soft whisper. ‘Nora has to shout; Arrana’s so old now she spends a lot of her time sleeping.’
    ‘I’ve never heard a name as long as that before,’ replied Jack.
    ‘Names are very important and powerful things, you can learn a lot from them. Arrana was given hers in Annwn before she came to Glasruhen.’
    ‘An-noon. Where’s that?’
    ‘It’s sometimes known as the Otherworld.’
    Jack shook his head. He’d not heard of this place either.
    ‘Annwn is a land in another world, a place of peace and happiness, where it’s always summer. There used to be portals on Earth, secret gateways which could only be opened in certain ways at special times of the year. Only Druids had the knowledge and skill needed to perform the rituals that opened the gates. They each possessed a golden acorn. Without it they couldn’t pass between the two worlds. The one in your pocket is very special: it’s the only one left.’
    All the time Elan had been whispering Nora had waited patiently before the great oak. Nothing happened and Jack began to wonder if they were playing a joke on him after all. He put his hand in his pocket and felt the warm heavy acorn. What was he supposed to do with it? If all this was real how could he possibly be The One? He wasn’t special; he had no powers.
    There was a sudden movement. A gasp seemed to echo around the forest. Jack watched in fascination as the trunk of the massive oak began to waver and shimmer. It was a small movement at first but gathered momentum quickly until the whole tree was in motion and eventually became a blur. When it stopped the gnarled trunk of the oak had transformed itself into the most beautiful woman Jack had ever seen. She was also the tallest. He had to tilt his head right back to see her face. Her copper coloured hair flowed down in beautifully groomed tresses. Her skin was nut brown and smooth. He knew he should be frightened, it wasn’t every day you came across a woman as tall as this, but instead he was fascinated. Jack wasn’t sure what he’d expected Arrana to look like. Maybe small and wrinkled, especially since he’d been told she was very old. Camelin described her as bad tempered but she looked kind and gentle. This wasn’t a trick, it was really happening. How was he supposed to speak to her, he couldn’t even remember all her names, and what should he say? He realised he was staring and managed to close his mouth but his feet were rooted to the spot.He wasn’t able to break free from the Hamadryad’s gaze.
    ‘I’ve been expecting you,’ began Arrana.
    She spoke slowly in a deep, striking voice that sounded more like singing than speaking.
    ‘Step forward Jack Brenin and show me the sign.’
    Jack’s rigid body went limp and he suddenly felt afraid. Nora hadn’t prepared him for this. What should he do? He looked at Elan, then Nora, but they both nodded their heads encouragingly and smiled. He took a couple of hesitant steps towards the gigantic Hamadryad and felt compelled to bow. As he stood up he held the golden acorn out on the palm of his trembling hand. He raised it as high as he could so Arrana could see it.
    A long willowy arm reached forward but Arrana didn’t take the acorn. Instead she gently placed a slender finger in the centre of Jack’s forehead. He immediately felt her presence. He knew she could read his thoughts and sense how he was feeling.
    Arrana gasped.
    ‘It’s true! This is the mortal boy the