Glasruhen Gate (18 page)

LITTLE ACORNS

Jack’s heart was still beating wildly as they made their way back to the Queen’s garden. The strain of the last few hours had drained him of energy. He hadn’t had the jolt Camelin had received from the Spear but he still felt dizzy. He was also hungry; it was well past lunchtime. The smell of food wafting on the breeze and his growling stomach confirmed that he needed to eat.

‘Was that you?’ asked Camelin.

‘Sorry,’ Jack replied. ‘I could eat a mountain, I’m that hungry.’

‘Don’t worry I’ll get you some food.’

Jack wondered if Camelin was going to do his shuffle dance to impress everyone, but he somehow didn’t think it would be as good, now he was a boy. Camelin stopped, put his hand to his head and wailed.

‘Oooh! I feel so dizzy, I think I need food.’

Nora fussed around and supported him under his arm.

‘It won’t be long. I’m sure we can ask for something from the Queen’s kitchen. Do you think you can make it that far?’

‘I think so,’ Camelin replied in his wobbliest voice.

They’d dropped behind the rest, but Nora didn’t hurry to catch up.

‘Are you two alright now?’

‘Yes,’ Jack replied and gave Camelin a look so he wouldn’t overact too much.

‘We had no idea how the trial was going to go. All we’d had was a message from the Queen. Only Gwillam and I knew she was going to represent you. We just put our trust in you to tell the truth, and you did. You were so brave inside the Council Chamber.’

‘So brave,’ echoed two voices from above.

Jack looked up. Hesta and Winver were perched on the wall. They giggled when Camelin went red.

‘The Queen sent us to tell you dinner’s ready,’ said Hesta.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Nora. ‘Camelin’s still not feeling very well. We’ll get there as soon as we can.’

‘We’d better hurry,’ said Jack. ‘We don’t want it all to be gone by the time we get there.’

‘Oh it won’t be gone,’ replied Winver. ‘You two are the guests of honour and they won’t start without you.’

The garden looked slightly different. A long trestle table, laden with all kinds of food, stood under the shade of the apple trees now.

‘Oh wow! Look at all that food!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘Aren’t you excited Camelin?’

‘I would be if I was a raven again, I’d really enjoy that lot. Now, I’m hungry, but not like I used to be. Food just doesn’t taste as good anymore. And I don’t like not being able to fly. Now we’re free we can explore but it won’t be the same if I have to walk.’

Gwillam overheard and, looking sad said: ‘I thought you’d decided to be my acolyte again and finish your training.’

Camelin replied: ‘I don’t feel right as a boy, it’s not much fun. I think I’d rather go home with Nora and Jack than stay here, if you don’t mind. We’d be able to come back and visit you, wouldn’t we?’

‘Of course you can visit, and Jack too. Maybe Nora can finish off your training. You’ll need to be able to read and write now you’ve got your own wand.’

‘But I can read and write.’

Gwillam looked at Nora.

‘It wasn’t me, I didn’t teach him; Jack did.’

‘Look,’ said Camelin as he picked up a stick and scratched his name in the earth.

Jack could see Gwillam was impressed. Camelin didn’t say he’d only just learnt and needed a lot more practice.

‘Nora’s given me a Book of Shadows, you’ll be able to write to me,’ said Gwillam.

Jack smiled. Gwillam would find out for himself just how bad Camelin’s spelling was.

‘Maybe you could write to us too,’ said Winver as she flashed her bright blue eyes at Camelin. ‘We know how to write.’

Camelin swallowed hard but didn’t answer.

‘I can’t wait to see you as a raven,’ continued Winver. ‘I bet you’re very handsome, don’t you Hesta?’

‘Not as handsome as Jack.’

Now it was Jack’s turn to feel embarrassed. He was relieved when Elan appeared in the doorway with Timmery and Charkle hovering above her head.

‘Oh Jack,’ cried Timmery. ‘We’ve heard all about the trial. You were both so brave.’

‘Yes, we were,’ agreed Camelin.

‘Are you alright?’ asked Elan.

‘We are,’ replied Jack.

Everyone waited expectantly for the Queen to appear. A noise from inside the room made them turn around. An old woman, about Nora’s age appeared, followed by a younger one.

‘Can I present to you my mother, Cora, and my grandmother Gwen,’ said Elan.

Gwillam bowed.

‘Your Majesty,’ he said, ‘I think it’s time to reveal your secret to your most loyal subjects.’

Elan, Gwen and Cora bowed their heads together. They joined hands and held them high in the air. A breeze wafted around them, which slowly increased until a small whirlwind engulfed them and they began to spin. The brightest colours Jack had ever seen sparked in all directions. When the spinning stopped the Queen stepped out of the bright light. Jack and Camelin looked astonished.

‘But…’ gulped Camelin.

‘You’re the Queen, all three of you, Cora, Gwen and Elan,’ exclaimed Jack. ‘You said I could see you as you really were in Annwn. And to think, I thought you were a hummingbird!’

‘No one except Nora and Gwillam have ever known,’ explained Coragwenelan. ‘When Elan got trapped on Earth we were no longer able to appear as the Queen. We needed to be together to transform. We didn’t realise until it was too late and by then we’d lost most of our power. If you hadn’t opened Glasruhen Gate, Annwn would never again have had a Queen; it would have been left to the mercy of Velindur.’

‘There’s not much mercy in that man,’ interrupted Camelin then went red when he remembered who he was talking to and added: ‘Your Majesty.’

They all laughed.

‘If you don’t mind we’re going to separate, we feel better as three people. It’s been so long since we’ve been Coragwenelan that it still feels strange being together.’

‘I know what you mean,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘I wish I could turn back into a raven. I’m not sure I like being a boy.’

‘Do you truly wish to be a raven again?’ Coragwenelan asked. ‘We can grant your wish. You have done so much for Annwn it’s the least we can do for you.’

‘Oh please! Make me a raven again.’

Coragwenelan took her wand from her silver girdle and twirled it around. She sent colours spinning around Camelin’s body until he was lost from sight. As the colours subsided a dark shape could be seen.

‘You did it,’ he croaked and hopped around. ‘You did it, I’m myself again. When can we eat? I’m starving!’

Jack saw Winver nudge Hesta. Camelin was too busy eyeing up the food to notice.

‘See, I said he’d be handsome.’

Coragwenelan raised both hands in the air and began to spin around again. Through the explosion of coloured light Jack could see three separate figures forming until Cora, Gwen and Elan stood before them. Jack’s stomach growled and Camelin’s replied.

‘I think we ought to eat before Camelin collapses again,’ laughed Elan.

‘Camelin’s had his wish, what would you like Jack?’ asked Elan when they’d all finished eating. ‘It should be something you’d like for yourself, you deserve it.’

Jack didn’t have to think, he knew exactly what he wanted.

‘I’d like to see the Mother Oak when you go to collect the acorns.’

‘We can grant that easily. We’ll meet you back at Gwillam’s house later and then go to the Mother Oak together.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Now Camelin can fly again, why don’t you go and explore Annwn?’ said Nora.

‘Great,’ said Camelin through a beak full of food. ‘D’you know this is the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted.’

‘That’s a compliment, he’s tasted quite a few,’ laughed Elan.

‘Can we come too?’ asked Hesta.

‘Sorry, boys only,’ replied Camelin.

‘Ooh, wonderful, that means we can go Charkle,’ said Timmery.

Camelin scowled.

‘Of course you can come,’ Jack told the two hummingbirds. ‘We’d be pleased to have you on our
boy’s outing
.’

Hesta and Winver looked disappointed.

‘We’ll see you at the Festival celebrations later on then. Maybe we could go round the fair together?’ suggested Winver.

Nora smiled.

‘That would be lovely, wouldn’t it boys?’

They nodded, but without any enthusiasm.

‘Come on, what are we waiting for?’ said Camelin. ‘We’ve got things to do, places to go, and lots to see. Ready?’

As they flew out of the garden Jack’s heart felt ready to explode. He was so happy. They were free and off exploring together.

‘Where to first?’ Jack shouted.

‘How about the mountains? They’re amazing, you can see right through into the Caves of Eternal Rest where the Druids are sleeping,’ said Timmery.

‘To the mountains,’ Camelin croaked as he did a triple loop-the-loop before going into a barrel roll.

‘Now you?’

‘I’m not ready to do that yet,’ replied Jack.

Charkle flew rapidly towards Camelin then at the last minute he reversed his wings and flew backwards.

‘Show off,’ grumbled Camelin as they flew off in the direction of the mountains.

As the mountains loomed above them the air temperature dropped. They’d left the fields and the forest and the warmth of the sun behind. Now, in the shade of the tall snow-capped peaks, it felt very cool.

‘Over here,’ shouted Charkle. ‘The entrance is this way.’

As Jack swooped down towards the cliff face he could see a ledge. A path wound around the mountain to a natural arch in the rock. Something that looked like a piece of glass covered the mouth of the cave. Timmery hovered in front of it.

‘Come and look, you can see right through it.’

Jack peered in. What he thought was glass turned out to be a sheet of ice.

‘Oh Camelin, look at this,’ he cried.

Camelin flew over and landed on the ledge. He cocked his head and peered in.

‘Wow! Are they jewels?’

‘No, they’re crystals,’ replied Charkle. ‘We found out a lot about this cave. No one can break in. The ice is magic, the Druids put it there when they sealed themselves in. They decided on this cave because it’s full of natural crystals which give out their own light.’