Dark Planet Day Challenge: Forumshire fanfic

oh, lots of reading to catch up on here :S... are there one story here, or several?

Norc wrote:oh, lots of reading to catch up on here :S... are there one story here, or several?

Several.

oh, confusing then x)..we'll see when I have the time to read through it all.

Petty and Kafria both have their own serialized stories, and Mrs Figg and Amarie also had a few shorter pieces. I can try to sort through the thread and make a Table of Contents in the opening post that would be helpful.

That would be very helpful indeed

I added a Table of Contents to the very first post in this thread. It has links to all the parts of each of the stories posted in here so far in. Hopefully that will be useful in following each of the stories in the proper order. I'm not aware of any titles for several of the stories, so authors, if you have one you'd like me to add in the OP, just let me know.

Very neat Eldo.

Bloody Hell! Do you guys have to write so much.... I plan to read EVERYTHING... but boyo...

Me too, Anon.

“You are under arrest” the harsh voice from the sky repeated.
Petty squinted up into the bright light.
“Do not move, ooooh, not now” the voice said.
Petty raised an eyebrow, “What did you say?” he shouted squinting up into the light.
“I said you are under, oooh, arrest, heeheee” the voice said ending on an odd giggle.
The light above them swung about erratically, the spotlight hit the wall on one side, then the street before swinging up the other wall, “Oooh, well maybe a little-but not now,” the voice said again,”Em, I mean, do not move,” the voice went on returning to the harsh tone again, “you will shortly be ooooooh yes!” The light swung violently for a moment or two then the whole strange contraption, light and all, fell from the sky and crashed into the street, there was a final blinding flash of light and then darkness fell.
Squach cheered, things were looking up in the excitement stakes.
Odo, Primmy and GB emerged from the pseudo pub at the sound and took in the scene.
A figure emerged from the wreckage, it had a severe hip wiggle and was brushing her hair back from her eyes.
“Pretty!” Petty exclaimed, “that at least explains quite a lot about what just happened. Is he still alive in there?”
“Ooh you got out then,” Pretty said dismissively catching sight of her brother, “And no, he isn't, but he went out smiling.”
“Why didn't you help me? You could have got me out of that place any time from what I hear you've been up to with Council Members,” Petty retorted.
“How many guards did you beat up in there?” Pretty asked putting her hands on her hips and arching an eyebrow.
“Dozen or so,” Petty said with a shrug.
“And you got to smash Brad one too?”
“Well yes, of course,” Petty replied.
“And you wanted me to stop it?” Pretty asked with a knowing look.
“OK. Fair enough,thanks sis, you're the best,” Petty replied, “And I forgive you.”
Pretty undulated towards him, she undulated everywhere, “I haven't done anything to forgive,” she said and punched him full in the face sending him sprawling, “There. Now I accept your forgiveness.”
Petty got up face red with fury and blood from his nose, “Why you little cow!” he screamed and leapt at her.
“Someone stop them” Amarie cried horrified.
Odo looked on unmoved, “They are Scothobbits, “he explained.
“And family” Kafria put in.
“This is how they say hello,” Mirabella finished, “it'll be over shortly.”
And indeed Petty and Pretty soon collapsed into two battered heaps, panting on the road.
“Good to see you again sis,” Petty finally managed.
“And you Petty, although your not much good without a buckie in you are you?” Pretty replied dragging her self up and offering a hand to Petty who took it and stood.
“Shame you still kick like a girl,” Petty added in a low voice as he walked away. Pretty booted him, full stretch with all she had and Petty sailed through the air, right across the street and smacked into the wall with a sad slapping noise then collapsed with a sigh on to the street, out cold.
“Oh brilliant,” Odo said with a roll of his eyes, “I hope nobody expects me to carry him,” he added.
"How did you get in with the Council?" GB demanded of Pretty.
"Do you think I am part of a big conspiracy GB?" Pretty asked him mockingly, "I just blew my way in," she smiled sweetly and blew him a kiss.
GB went red in the face and mumbled something before trailing off into silence.
Odo spotted Wisey for the first time and ran over to his brother, “What's wrong with him?” he demanded.
Wisey was murming to himself, his brow was deeply furrowed as if in pain.
“We don't know,” Kafria said, “he was like this when we found him in that place over there. Its some sort of Channeling place.”
“What's he saying?” Odo said leaning in close to try to hear.

"Found these in the back of one of Madge's cupboards.
I'd completely forgotten about them.
So had she, which is why she's too embarrassed to apologize herself.
Now, er, I'm supposed to grovel,
blame Harold and quickly change the subject.
So, how about the weather today ay?

From an episode of Neighbours I once saw and was ashamed to find myself liking."

“Dear Eru's beachwear!” Odo exclaimed in horror, “He's channeling Australian soap operas! We have to get him out of here. Now.”
“Where can we go?” Kafria asked Amarie, “is there anywhere safe we can hide?”
“Not now,” Amarie replied, surveying the wreckage in the street. “Pretty destroyed a Searcher and Ringdrotten took out a guard in the alley, I'd say we have about five minutes before we are surrounded, unless,” she broke off looking troubled.
“Unless what” Odo demanded, “if you can help us dear lady now would be the time.”
“Do you have that mini-palantir still? Come on,” she said in response to Odo's pathetic attempt to look innocence, “I know you've been getting messages from outside.”
Odo put his hand in his pocket and withdrew it with the small black globe in it. He handed it to Amarie.
“What are you going to do?” Kafria asked, immediately interested in anything technical.
“I am a Council Member,” Amarie replied, “I do have certain, powers here.” She ran her hand over the surface of the palantir and immediately it coalesced into the image of Eldo. Amarie blushed. Odo glanced at the image and tutted in deep disapproval.
“Never barge in uninterrupted on a teenage boy,” Pretty observed, she glanced into the globe again, “He'll go far,” she added.
“What the hell is this?” Eldo angrily demanded, adjusting himself appropriately in the view of the globe, “Who the hell are you?”
Sirens blared into life in the near distance.
“No time for that. I am sending your friends to you,” Amarie said.
“What?” Eldo replied, looking horrified, “But there isn't the room here!” Eldo insisted, “I mean, its just a small bolt hole, nothing elaborate at the tax payers expense you know, not in the slightest.”
“Small or not they are coming your way, “Amarie replied. The sirens were much louder.
Amarie threw the palantir up in the air and thrust out her arms towards it and a dark light flowed from her finger tips, it struck the globe which shattered but all the tny bits hung suspended in the air then slowly drifted apart, a dark web of lines was drawn between the shards. Soon there was a hole, made of darkness in the air before them suspended between the broken fragments of palantir.
“Cool,” Squach commented, glad things were finally looking up.
“You've reversed the signal and used it to locate the origin point and then somehow opened a wormhole between the two,” Kafria said breathlessly, “Can I see your workings for that?”
“Now is not the time for your heathen lingo Kafria!” Odo admonished.
Blue light were flashing off the buildings now, searchlights pooled the street at the far end.
“Go, into the darkness,” Amarie urged them, “Before its too late.”
Odo looked hesitantly at it, “Its not a very respectable looking hole” he complained. The lights flashed nearer.
“Tough,” Pretty said and kicked Odo through the hole, he disappeared with a cry.
“Oh my! Odo dearest!” Primmy cried and leapt in after him.
"Now you GB, go," Pretty said.
GB nodded and flung himself throught the hole.
“Kafria?” Pretty said,”You and Squach next.”
Kafria looked into the hole then back down the street and the sweeping lights drawing ever closer, “I don’t need a kick thanks,” she said to Pretty, “close your eyes Squach.”
“Aw mum, but I'm not scared its just a hole,” Squach grumbled.
“I meant when you get to the otherside,” Kafria replied thinking of the Palantir image.
She leapt in holding Squach by the hand.
“I get the idea,” Ringdrotten said. Peetty hefted up Wisey, “Take him with you,” she said and Ringdrotten hefted Wisey up over one shoulder, “See you two on the other side,” Ringdrotten said approaching the hole. He too leapt in.
“What about you?” Pretty asked Amarie.
On the ground Petty groaned and sat up, “What’s going on?”
“Its too late for me,” Amarie said in reply to Pretty, “they will know I helped you.”
“What the f!*!& is that?!” Petty demanded staring at the hole of darkness, the sirens blared and he turned and looked back down the street, “And what the f!&@! is that?!” he demanded.
Pretty ignored him, “Tell them we made you help us, that we forced you?”
“Would someone tell me what the f!&@! is going on here?” Petty demanded angrily.
Pretty turned to him sharply, “The Dark Planet authorities are coming to get us, Amarie made us a doorway out to Eldo's place, everyone else is gone, but now she is going to be in trouble because of us if she doesn’t tell them we forced her to help us.”
“So what's the problem?” Petty asked.
“They wont believe me,” Amarie said tears in her eyes.
“Oh I think they will,” Petty said standing up, “Pretty?” He nodded to her.
“Sorry,” Pretty said and punched Amarie in the face, she fell to the ground in shock as much as pain.
“Boots?” Petty said.
“Boots” Pretty confirmed and they began kicking.
The sirens were close now, the light s finally swept down on them as they put the boot in. Petty grabbed Pretty by the arm, dragging her away.
“I'm not going Petty,” Prety shouted.
“What?” Petty shouted back over the sirens, “yes you f!&*@&! are!” he insisted.
“No I'm not, they can capture me and I will confirm Amarie's story,” Pretty said stubbornly and folded her arms across her chest, “I can look after myself.”
Petty knew that look, he wasn't going to get her out of their without a long and violent fight, and he didn't have time for that. He could see dim figures moving in the lights now, seconds away.
“Promise you will come back for us brother” Pretty said.
Petty stepped back towrads the Dark Hole and stepped in.
The Hole hissed and snapped closed and the palantir bits tinkled and shattered as they fell to the ground.

It was dark. Petty could feel something soft in front of him, pressed against him he tentatively squeezed it and a hand slapped his face, “Hey!” Kafria's voice said.
“Is everyone here?” Petty asked the darkness, which felt very crowded.
“Are those your hands Primmy dear?” Odo's voice said suspiciously.
“Eldo wasn't kidding when he said it was small,” Mirabella's voice grumbled nearby in the increasingly claustrophobic space.
“Where is Eldo anyway? Shouldn't he be here?” Petty said.
“Maybe it was a trap by Amarie after all?” Kafria postulated.
“No,” Odo's voice replied, “I think we're just in a cupboard. There's a door handle here.”
There was a soft click and the door swung open, harsh light blinded them but quickly softened out into a gentle yellow. They squinted and tumbled out of the cupboard. They were in a large room, there was a plush four poster bed in one corner with a Star Wars poster above it and a box of tissues beside it. On the poster it said, “Now in 3D” and Petty shook his head in disapproval.
There was a large bathroom off the bedroom, partly visible through a doorway, a voice was humming the Imperial March from within.
“Are those gold taps?” Petty asked suspiciously.
Eldo emerged from the bathroom with a towel round his waist and nothing else, he stopped in his tracks, “You're actually here,” he said in shock.
“Of course we are,” Petty replied, “we were just speaking to you.”
“That was two days ago,” Eldo replied.
“Of course, there was a temporal effect as we crossed the event horizons,” Kafria said clapping her hands together, “I should have predicted that. Especially if its String Theory which looks increasingly likely.”
“Would you please keep your uncouth talk to yourself dear lady,” Odo said annoyed, “the men folk can work this out.”
Squach kicked him on the shin and said, “You're a bad man.” Kafria snorted in agreement and Petty noticed, or at least thought he noticed, her dragoon tattoo moving restlessly. He blinked and the motion had stopped.
“Are there chicken nuggets here mum?” Squach asked.
“Where's Pretty and Amarie?” Mirabella suddenly said looking round.
“Knowing that girl she probably has got Amarie still in the cupboard,” Odo said disapprovingly, “I wouldn't disturb them, not with minors present.”
Squach immediately craned her neck to see the cupboard to see whatever it was she wasn't supposed to. But the door had swung closed again.
“She's not in the cupboard,” Petty admitted, “she wouldn't leave. Amarie and Pretty will have been captured by now.”
“Then we have to go back for them,” Mirabella said.
“Let's not be too hasty,” Odo said hurriedly.
“You can't anyway,” Eldo said, drying his hair with another towel,”as soon as you did you would set off every alarm in their system. Well most of you would.”
“What do you mean most of us?” Kafria asked.
“If you broke a rule while you were there you will be flagged up as soon as you re-enter,” Eldo explained.
“Well we all broke the rules,” Mirabella said.
“Not everyone,” Eldo said, “I am a Lore Master after all, I haven't been idle while you've been in there.”
“Yes so we saw on the palantir,” Odo put in shaking his head.
Eldo ignored him and went on, “I got access to some of the dark Planets Lore files, there is one of you who accepted the Rules immediately and then never broke a single one whilst they were there.”
“I don't see how this can possibly help us,” Odo said a trickle of sweat glistened on his brow.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“You spineless toad Banks!” Petty growled.
“At least I acted respectably whilst I was there,” Odo retorted, “I have often thought our Community could have don e with a few more rules and a lot less," he glanced at Squach, "rude beaviour. At least I acted with decorum and utter respectability. Not like some I could mention.” He glared at Ringdrotten here.
“Hey I did what I had to to help my friends,” Ringdrotten said in response to the look, “is this because I won Most Respected off you this year? It is isn't it?”
“I wouldn't trust any award given out by a McTyrant and sponsored by gutter filth like the News of the Pure,” Odo replied.
“Now calm down Odo dear,” Primmy said laying a hand on Odo's shoulder and taking a hanky stretched up to mop his high brow, “do remember about your blood pressure. And I doubt there is any jelly here,” she said, “at least not the proper sort.”
“What's through there?” Petty asked Eldo suspiciously nodding towards a thick set of double doors.
“Nothing, another cupboard,” Eldo replied airily.
“Oh is it now,” Petty said. He nodded to Mirabella and the two of them went over and flung open the doors and looked through. Petty whistled.
There was a marble balcony before them, the walls either side, and curving round the large circular room, were covered in books and scrolls. Petty stepped up to the balcony and looked down four floors.
“Just a little bolt-hole?” he said turning to Eldo.
“Well, I keep a bit of my own Lore here. Stuff I've written myself and gathered over the years.”
“Anything we can use?” Petty asked.
“Nothing I haven’t already thought to try to get you all out,” Eldo replied.
“Amarie got us out though,” Kafria said.
“Yes, but I have no idea how,” Eldo responded with a shrug, “That’s Dark Planet Council Member Lore, I am nowhere near cracking those levels yet, if I even can.”
“So we are stuck here forever,” Odo asked gloomily.
There was a moments silence then Eldo said, “Sorry I was thinking, but no we are not stuck here forever, just a short while. There is some good news. I have found us a new home. A land where we can be free.”
“Oh?” Petty said raising an eyebrow at this unexpected good news, “And who will run this new land?”
“Well, I suppose, I will, “ Eldo said casually.
“I knew it!” GB exploded, “you and Ady planned this between you. He sells us out to the Dark Planet and runs off into the night and you get rule of a new land.”
“This is not a conspiracy GB,” Eldo insisted, “I knew nothing about the Dark Planet until it descended on the Tower of Lore.”
“It does sound awfully suspicious Eldo,” Petty put in, “but we could do with a few solid facts here.”
“The facts are overwhelming,” GB said, “Eldo sold us out and now he wants to be our Supreme Ruler.”
“Its a good case he has Eldo,” Petty conceded.
“That's because your brain is not working properly Petty,” Eldo replied then put his hands up in defensive gesture as Petty stepped towards him, “what I mean is, its not in proper working order. I have just what you need.” He leant behind a desk and pulled up a bottle of buckie. Petty grabbed at it, snarled at everyone like an animal and ran off into the corner with it where he did a small jig on the spot, sat down legs crossed and opened the bottle, he inhaled it deeply and then began guzzling it down.
“That was a blatant attempt to distract, “ Odo observed.
“Not at all Odo,” Eldo said looking shocked, “I was just helping, look how happy he is. And think how happy you and Primmy will be in your new home when we get there. There is a beautiful place, rushes, small pools, perfect hills for real estate, jelly, Needlehole they call it, problem is,” Eldo said with a shake of his head, “I need someone, you know, respectable enough to live there, and set the example for others to follow.”
“Yes well,” Odo stammered, “I am sure you are as blameless in this as the rest of us Eldo. I am now certain it was all Ady's doing.”
“You can't just buy the voices of people off!” GB said outraged.
“Quite now Beard,” Odo said, “Yes he can.”
GB shook his beard in despair, “I'd still like to know then how he escaped to here in the first place.”
“I used the Lore before they took it all,” Eldo explained, “and that's the point. They took it all. We can go to the new land but we'd have to start anew. All our Lore is gone, its on the Dark Planet somewhere and without it we have nothing.”
“So we have to go back for it,” Mirabella said.
“But Eldo said we couldn't,” Kafria pointed out.
“He said one of us could,” Petty said from his corner between gulps of buckie and looking at Odo.
“Now,” Odo warned, “I don't think that would be a good idea at all,” he quavered.
“You'd be a hero,” Kafria purred at him.
“You'd be famous for saving the Lore,” Eldo put in.
“And if you go,” Petty added, “I'll not have to kick you continually until you do go. My sister is stuck in there.”
“But you hate your sister,” Odo squealed.
“And I want to go on hating the bitch,” Petty growled back downing from the bottle and feeling better and better as the world dissolved into a familiar friendly blur with no sharp edges..
“Well,” Odo gulped, “it would be quite heroic now wouldn't it? Yes, well I am terribly brave of course amn't I Primmy?” he said turning to his wife for reassurance.
“The bravest hobbit of them all dear, especially on jelly night, your eyes hardly ever water.”
“The bravest hobbit of them all,” Odo mused, puffing his chest out,”Of course if I were to go it would only be proper upon my return for there to be some sort of commemoration of my heroics.”
“We'll put a plaque up if you die,” Petty said dryly.
Odo started and his eyes widened behind his glasses, “I was thinking more of a statue and a parade,” he said in a level tone.
“Yes a parade,” Kafria said throwing her hands up, “if that’s what you want.”
“But what am I to do when I get there?” Odo asked looking worried.
“Find my sister,” Petty said.
“And find a way to get our Lore back,” Eldo added, “that's the priority.”
“No Pretty is,” Petty said turning to Eldo, “I nearly made a promise. And besides without her he will never do it on his own, will he?”
“Fine, get Pretty and Amarie if she still wants out, she should be able to help if she does. But get our Lore back.”
“How do I get back there?” Odo asked.
“That's easy,” Eldo replied, “I can do that from here with the Lore I have. They welcome people through the front door with open jaws at the Dark Planet. If you're foolish enough to walk through them.”
“Thank Eru we're sending a fool then,” Petty murmured under his breath.

This is brilliant stuff! I love my portrayal and everyone else too, it's great. The time travel is awesome too, it's just the right touch of Who-ness without intruding on the Forumshire setting. I love that Odo gets a part to play, though I wonder if Orwell will end up helping to retrieve the Lore. My only complaint is that I certainly did not cut a deal with Ady to destroy the old forum.

Well, so you say......

Ingrates!

NB I added the most recent two parts to the Table of Contents in the OP, but there's still not title. Do you have one for the story?

Umm, no. The Darkest Day?

There and Back Again Several Times Then Somewhere New?

I think The Darkest Day is probably the more workable of the two titles.

It will do until I think of something better.

Sounds good to me. I added it to the OP for the time being.

How about;

It's perfect!

I'm AWESOME! I LOVE IT!!

Isolation part five. (This one got away from me a bit!)

Rue shivered and clutched her knees tight to her chest, striving to contain the small amount of heat still trapped by her arms, as she sat on the rim of the Howe. The cloud blanket of the last few days had fled and high above the stars decorated the vast expanse, letting the worst of the voids chill in. Behind on the greenway the pony cropped grass, contentedly tethered near their cart and makeshift camp. A tremor fled down her back as she gazed beyond to the dark shadows encased in branches, who knew what could be concealed there, creeping ever closer. She hoped Freya was right about the Howe providing protection, they would need it if anyone found them out here, and she was sure they would, with the hollow lit up like a beacon.

She returned her gaze to the simple enclosure of the Howe, the high bank and sacred stones long gone. Motes of light drifted and spun away, suspended in the rising smoke of four fires, each marking the quadrants of the winds. The crackle of wood and flame drowned out what small noise the earthly surrounds made. In the centre of the circle, where the central stone once stood, was a fifth fire, contained within a carved stone pit and purified with the hazel she had collected earlier. Above it sat a ceremonial cauldron, covered in a delicate web of lines and symbols, burnt into the leather by ancient hands. Freya stood motionless behind this, eyes closed as she began to chant through the rituals to clear her mind in preparation for the scrying.

Rue managed one more glance around before her fascination pinned her attention on her mother. She had only ever heard tell of the old ceremonies in the sagas, retold only as myths from the depths of time. Suspicion and distrust had always followed the trustees, misunderstanding giving way to a desire to control. Knowledge had been rejected and those who kept the old laws were driven into hiding. Nature itself came to be seen as an enemy to be conquered and tamed as order was imposed by those who thought they knew better. Not all had been lost; a scattered few remained who passed down the traditions, sibling souls searching endlessly to find a familial spirit. And now for the first time she would get to see the evidence of the old power that saturated her veins.

Freya began to raise her arms, calling the winds to order. She bent swiftly to the ground and retrieved four pendants held on leather thongs, which she lowered into the bubbling cauldron. She sprinkled herbs from her pouch on top and resumed her earlier chant, hands held to catch the steam trailing up in delicate wisps. Droplets condensed on her hands and she used these to anoint her brow. Falling quiet she selected the white pendant, an intertwining knot of many strands, and drew it slowly from the water as she turned north and approached its summoning fire.

“Circle of my life to the wind of the north, binding me to the earth and the realm beyond,” Freya proclaimed, casting the token into the fire, before returning to the cauldron. Next was a square knot in bright green.

“Earths power to the wind of the east, calling the spirits forth.” Freya walked slowly, eyes losing focus as she fell further into the ritual. Third was the ancient triad; three blue circles encased in a circlet of gold.

“Triskele power of my mind, body and spirit to the wind of the west, for the finding of a new beginning.”
The final pendant was pulled from the water and Freya turned to the final quadrant with a blood red dragon dangling from her fingers. Rues mouth dropped open as another shiver raced down her back, her mother never took that pendant off.

“And to the wind of the south, power of the dragon to harness the elemental power of all,” Freya intoned and cast it deep within the forth fire. Returning to the central circle Freya sank to her knees in front of the remaining fire, holding her hands towards the flames.

“Many are those that will call, many will be their demands, yet only the trustees may be granted unity. I seek to cross the gateway, grant entry to my spirit.”

Rue gasped, one hand reaching to her mouth, the other half lifting her off the ground as her mother plunged her clasped hands into the flames. Freya made no movement, no sign of any pain or discomfort and Rue paused, confusion rooting her in place. Curls of smoke rose from her mother’s hands as the flesh burnt away to reveal the gold and red scales beneath, talons breaking forth. Streaks of flame leapt out from the fire, racing along her arms and revealing her nature, while leaving her tunic untouched. As the flames engulfed her head she lifted her face to the sky and let forth a roar, flames burst from her jaw and the five fires within the hollow, illuminating the entire clearing and chasing the shadows deeper into the forest. Rue fell back to the ground and covered her face against the fierce heat, eyes scrunched tight.

“The power of the dragon is mine. Knowledge of the trustees I keep. Unity with the spirits I seek.”

Rue gaped in amazement. Freya stood before the cauldron, glimmering in the dancing flames as her scales seemed to dance. Using her talons she pierced the cauldron and lifted it to her lips, draining the liquid within. She dropped it to the ground at her feet, as her head fell against her chest and she stiffened into a living statue.

“Freya? Mother?” Rue called softly, but Freya’s vigil was unaltered.

A rustling in the leaves of the trees announced the arrival of the winds and broke the spell that held Rue’s attention to the Howe. Her eyes darted around the clearing, searching for any sign of change, that flare would have caught the attention of anyone nearby. The pony was trotting restlessly around the circlet of its tether line, unsettled by the events in the Howe. Rue hurried down the slope and caught his head, crooning gently to him. He stopped, raised his nose to her face, huffing out a deep breath. She tickled under his lip as she blew softly into his nostril, reconnecting and calming him. Reassured he dropped his head and returned his attention to the grass.

Rue looked around, assessing her camp. She wondered if Freya had known she would enter a trance, had she completed the summoning before. Rue didn’t think she would be so reckless as to leave her alone and undefended. What had she said this afternoon when Rue had been worried, something about a haven; the Howe. Quickly she leapt to re-harness the pony, cold fingers slipping on knots and straps. She glanced repeatedly over her shoulder, losing her grip on fastenings and communicating her tension to the pony who began stepping sideways.

“Well, what have we here?” drawled a voice.

Rue spun around to see four men step out from under the trees, each weather-beaten, and with a leering look of anticipation on their faces. Rue said nothing, desperately fumbling with the last fastening.

“Looks to me like a changeling brat, they’re the only ones stupid enough to try and use the circle.”

“Folks don’t hold with the likes of them messing with that dark power.”

“It seems to me we should teach her a lesson.”

“I can think of a good lesson or two I’d like to teach her.”

Rue stood and trembled as the men discussed her and her mother, terrified by the gleam that lit their eyes. Her feet remained rooted to the spot by their blatant hate. Seeming to reach an agreement the men started to walk towards her. Her heart pounded through her veins, her breathing stuttering as her brain shut down. The nearest of the men reached out and grasped her wrist and his rough touch broke through her daze. She kicked out, missing his leg, but still making contact. He folded to the floor with a soft moan, clutching his body. His companions swore and broke into a run to try and reach her. She turned and grabbed the pony, leading him away.

“To the Howe you daft girl,” shouted a new voice.

Rue stopped, shocked at this latest intrusion. Hurrying across the clearing and rounding the Howe was a wiry man with a shock of red hair. He wore a woven cloth wrapped around his waist and tossed over one shoulder and his face was covered in blue curling symbols. As he ran he was pulling a long sword from the belt about his waist.

“Run! Hurry! Do you want them to catch you again? Move,” he said in a strident voice. “Get yoursel’ in the Howe!” he urged as he passed by. Rue needed no further encouragement and took off as fast as the pony would allow, up and over the bank and into the shelter of the hollow beyond. Tethering the pony tightly, she grabbed a quarterstaff and returned to the lip to see what was happening. A second of her attackers was on the ground, but more were appearing from the trees. Her saviour glanced around, eyes narrowing in thought before making a run for the Howe. He came scrambling breathlessly over the bank.

“Protection chant – you know any?” he asked without preamble.

“Yes,” Rue replied, heading bobbing in confirmation.

“Say it! Walk the four quadrants and say it, understand?”

“Yes, but…”

“No time, I’m gonna call up the haven, but I’ll need time. You need to give it me.” He stared her in the eye until she nodded once more then turned to the central fire and Freya “Foolish, foolish..” Rue could hear him muttering as she turned to do as instructed.

“Power of the dragon calls us. Power of the dragon marks us. Power of the dragon exposes us. Power of the elements hear us. Power of the elements cleanse us. Power of the elements protect us,” she chanted, repeating it at each of the quadrants and watching as each fire burnt brighter. As she completed the last fire the first of the attackers reached the lip of the Howe.

“Now I’ve got…” Before he could finish a gust of wind shot from the nearest fire and sent him sprawling back down the slope.

Well that was one element down, only three more to go. Rue turned around searching for the next attack. It came from the far side of the circle, two men rushing over the side at once. They began to slip and slide as the ground turned to mud at their feet and then became softer still, sucking them down until they were thigh deep in mud.

In the centre of the circle the newcomer had stood beside Freya and placed his hands to her head, raising it so he could see her eyes. He was muttering a rapid chant while staring into her eyes. They slowly cleared.

“They you are. We need to invoke haven. Now!” he said. Freya nodded slowly and then closed her eyes as she spoke the invocation. Rue was watching the rim and caught her breath as three groups appeared just below the rim, there were only two elements left, she gripped the quarterstaff tight and turned to face them. They grinned and stepped towards the lip.

Flame raced around the rim, linking the four quadrant fires as it shot high in the sky. Each of the men threw up their arms and staggered backwards; a rush of wind pummelled them as clouds rushed up and released a deluge onto them. They turned and fled into the forest. The flames dropped away and the clearing calmed. Haven!

Rue watched them go, waiting until they were out of sight before turning to greet their rescuer.


So what do you think? think I may have gone a bit ott with the magic bit. And can you figure out who the rescuer is? His name is Taranis if thats any help

Brillaint Kafria. I am absolutely loving this- it feels like I am reading a genuine Celtic saga I had somehow missed before- great stuff- cant wait for more.

(And I think I might have a sneaky suspicion as to the mystery rescuer!)