prophecy speaks of. There’s hope for us all now.’
Jack wasn’t sure if she’d spoken aloud or not. He should have protested. He wasn’t who they thought he was; they’d got the wrong person. He didn’t want to believe what he could see and hear but Arrana’s touch had taken away any fear or doubt he’d ever felt.
‘If you speak with your heart I can hear you Jack,’ Arrana’s voice told him. ‘Don’t be afraid.’
‘I’m not,’ replied Jack truthfully, although no words left his mouth.
‘We need your help,’ Arrana continued. ‘You are our last hope.’
‘I’m not The One. I just found an acorn in the grass.’
‘If you hadn’t picked it up we wouldn’t be speaking now. The other signs cannot be wrong. You were born at sunset on the first day of the New Year in the shadow of Glasruhen Hill.’
Jack felt a sudden relief. His birthday was in October not January.
‘Our new year begins at Samhain,’ Arrana’s voice continued, ‘as the sun sets on the last day in October.In other words the day of your birth.’
Jack couldn’t speak. He was trembling again.
‘We need your help. The time for my eternal sleep approaches. Unlike other nymphs I’m not immortal. I need another to take my place before it is too late and I fade away into nothingness. Without a Hamadryad’s protection this forest will not survive. The dryads will disperse and leave behind them hollow trees. Glasruhen is the only refuge left on Earth where the old ways exist. We are eternally grateful to Eleanor, Keeper of Secrets, Custodian of the Book of Shadows, Guardian of the Sacred Grove and friend to us all.’
From behind the trees Dryads stepped into the clearing, their anxious faces watching Jack expectantly. He could feel the sorrow in Arrana’s heart and see the looks of sadness in every pair of eyes.
‘How can I help? I’m just an ordinary boy.’
‘Journey through the window in time with Camelin into the past and find what was lost. Eleanor needs it so she can re-open the portal and return to Annwn. Only the Mother Oak there bears the Hamadryad acorns she must collect.’
‘It’s impossible to go back in time.’
‘There is a way. Eleanor has the knowledge and power, but without your help she too will soon die. Each year a Druid must drink a potion brewed from the leaves of the Crochan tree which grows only in Annwn. All Eleanor’s leaves are gone. She must return. Her cauldron has to be re-made before the ritual can be performed. We only have until Samhain. Time is running out for us all. If the portal remains sealed we are all doomed.’
Jack looked at Nora. She smiled and nodded again. Could she hear what Arrana said? He didn’t think so.
‘You won’t be alone Jack. Eleanor and Elan will guide you and Camelin will teach you all you need to know. You are the Brenin we’ve been waiting for. What other proof do you need? You have the Druid’s token. How many other mortals do you suppose can see or hear the spirits of the trees?’
Jack didn’t answer. He knew if he told anyone what he’d seen or heard in the last few hours no one would believe him.
‘Before you decide, you ought to know that there may be danger. You’ll need courage and strength…’
‘There isn’t much of that around here,’ Camelin muttered as he swooped down and landed by Nora’s feet.
Jack felt his face redden. He was angry with the talking bird. How long had he been listening? It was obvious he could hear Arrana. A sudden determination filled Jack’s heart. He might not be very big and he certainly wasn’t very strong but there were other things he could do. He always kept his promises and tried to do his best; they had to count for something.
‘I’ll help you,’ said Jack loudly so everyone would hear his decision.
Camelin choked back a caw, Nora and Elan hugged each other and Arrana smiled. The forest filled with song, the most beautiful music Jack had ever heard. He wished he could join in. Singing was
Jack wasn’t sure if she’d spoken aloud or not. He should have protested. He wasn’t who they thought he was; they’d got the wrong person. He didn’t want to believe what he could see and hear but Arrana’s touch had taken away any fear or doubt he’d ever felt.
‘If you speak with your heart I can hear you Jack,’ Arrana’s voice told him. ‘Don’t be afraid.’
‘I’m not,’ replied Jack truthfully, although no words left his mouth.
‘We need your help,’ Arrana continued. ‘You are our last hope.’
‘I’m not The One. I just found an acorn in the grass.’
‘If you hadn’t picked it up we wouldn’t be speaking now. The other signs cannot be wrong. You were born at sunset on the first day of the New Year in the shadow of Glasruhen Hill.’
Jack felt a sudden relief. His birthday was in October not January.
‘Our new year begins at Samhain,’ Arrana’s voice continued, ‘as the sun sets on the last day in October.In other words the day of your birth.’
Jack couldn’t speak. He was trembling again.
‘We need your help. The time for my eternal sleep approaches. Unlike other nymphs I’m not immortal. I need another to take my place before it is too late and I fade away into nothingness. Without a Hamadryad’s protection this forest will not survive. The dryads will disperse and leave behind them hollow trees. Glasruhen is the only refuge left on Earth where the old ways exist. We are eternally grateful to Eleanor, Keeper of Secrets, Custodian of the Book of Shadows, Guardian of the Sacred Grove and friend to us all.’
From behind the trees Dryads stepped into the clearing, their anxious faces watching Jack expectantly. He could feel the sorrow in Arrana’s heart and see the looks of sadness in every pair of eyes.
‘How can I help? I’m just an ordinary boy.’
‘Journey through the window in time with Camelin into the past and find what was lost. Eleanor needs it so she can re-open the portal and return to Annwn. Only the Mother Oak there bears the Hamadryad acorns she must collect.’
‘It’s impossible to go back in time.’
‘There is a way. Eleanor has the knowledge and power, but without your help she too will soon die. Each year a Druid must drink a potion brewed from the leaves of the Crochan tree which grows only in Annwn. All Eleanor’s leaves are gone. She must return. Her cauldron has to be re-made before the ritual can be performed. We only have until Samhain. Time is running out for us all. If the portal remains sealed we are all doomed.’
Jack looked at Nora. She smiled and nodded again. Could she hear what Arrana said? He didn’t think so.
‘You won’t be alone Jack. Eleanor and Elan will guide you and Camelin will teach you all you need to know. You are the Brenin we’ve been waiting for. What other proof do you need? You have the Druid’s token. How many other mortals do you suppose can see or hear the spirits of the trees?’
Jack didn’t answer. He knew if he told anyone what he’d seen or heard in the last few hours no one would believe him.
‘Before you decide, you ought to know that there may be danger. You’ll need courage and strength…’
‘There isn’t much of that around here,’ Camelin muttered as he swooped down and landed by Nora’s feet.
Jack felt his face redden. He was angry with the talking bird. How long had he been listening? It was obvious he could hear Arrana. A sudden determination filled Jack’s heart. He might not be very big and he certainly wasn’t very strong but there were other things he could do. He always kept his promises and tried to do his best; they had to count for something.
‘I’ll help you,’ said Jack loudly so everyone would hear his decision.
Camelin choked back a caw, Nora and Elan hugged each other and Arrana smiled. The forest filled with song, the most beautiful music Jack had ever heard. He wished he could join in. Singing was
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