Aunt Myf was already in the dining hall eating her lunch when Peter and Sarah arrived. She was sitting with Anir, who was wearing his cloak ready for travel, and Aneryn, who was looking very solemn. Aunt Myf smiled at them.
“Come on you two, we have started without you.”
“Where are the others? Where is Gwyn?” asked Peter.
“They will come soon,” answered Anir.
“Come,” said the Lady Aneryn, “there is roast lamb, vegetables, salad, a pork pie, bread, cakes and much fruit. Please, eat well.”
For a while they gave all their attention to the food. Aunt Myf was chewing on an apple when Anir leant across the table.
“There is much we have to discuss,” he said. “we will go to your rooms…”
A rustle of feet interrupted him. Gwyn and his Elves came into the Hall. Anir bowed as Gwyn passed them. Gwyn paused.
“We must speak with you later, Anir,” he said, and made his way to the high table.
Anir ushered Aunt Myf and the children out. Aneryn followed behind. Down the passageways they went, back to where they had slept the night before. Peter and Sarah made for Peter’s room but Anir pulled them out and pointed to the room where Aunt Myf and Sarah had slept, as it was larger.
They jumped on Aunt Myf’s bed and got comfortable. Anir sat on a stool. Aunt Myf settled herself on the bed between Sarah and Peter.
“And so!” she said, questioning Anir with her eyes, “Can we go now or can’t we?”
“That is a very difficult question, lady,” said Anir, “I have been scouting with Ederyn this morning. I am afraid THEY have attacked your car.”
“What!” cried Aunt Myf.
“It is quite burnt out,” Anir said, matter of factly.
Peter and Sarah looked at each other anxiously, expecting Aunt Myf to faint or throw some kind of tantrum. Aunt Myf did nothing of the sort. She was horrified, but managed to retain her composure.
“At least none of us were inside it!” she said, “I shall have to claim on the insurance.”
“Also,” said Anir, “there are reports that your house may have broken into. Orddu’s work, of course.”
“Then it is a good thing we left it when we did,” Aunt Myf said, keeping a very straight face.
Peter and Sarah had never seen her like this before and they began to see their Aunt in a new light.
“The question is,” Anir looked round at each of them “what to do now? Gwyn is preparing to cross the sea to his kindred, in order to seek their aid. Ederyn will ride north, to the Elves of the High Places. A great army will gather. It is to be my place to guard Arx Emain with Eldol, for the present at least. It will take time to bring all the armies together. I will not be able to watch you all the time if you are ‘out there’. Although, Elves could be posted near to you as protection.”
Anir said this thoughtfully, as if he were trying to form a plan.
“But I will not be able to be with you unless you are in very great danger. Hopefully, Orddu will have reported your disappearance to her master. Arddu will naturally assume that you are here. He knows he cannot make a direct assault on Arx Emain, not unless the Elves were very much weakened. That means you are safe as long as you remain here. It is my counsel to you, that you stay here until Gwyn returns from gathering his armies.”
“But I can’t,” wailed aunt Myf, “the local Police must have noticed the car and someone may have reported the break-in at my home. I at least must go and clear everything up.”
“That could be arranged,” said Anir, “we would have to send Elves with you, but I think that Peter and Sarah should stay behind.”
He looked at the children. Peter was deep in thought, but Sarah looked back at Anir, almost angrily.
“I’m fed up with all this,” she said, “I want to go home!”
“Well, perhaps you might be able to go,” Anir replied, calmly. “At any rate, Gwyn wishes to see you all before he leaves and he will want to know what you have decided. I will leave you for a while to talk over what I have said.”
And he rose from the stool and slipped silently away.
They did not begin to discuss anything straightaway. Each sat with their own thoughts for quite a little while. Then Sarah said:
“I want to go with you, Aunt Myf. I want to play on the beach again.”
“But what about me?” retorted Peter, “It seems I can’t take a step out of here without some witch or demon wanting to cast a spell on me! I want to get back to our holiday too, but it looks as though I’m stuck with all this. I think I shall get rid of my stone collection and collect stamps!”
Peter’s voice became much raised by the end of this speech and he positively glared at Sarah.
“Now then, children PLEASE!” Aunt Myf had to almost shout at them. “Don’t have a fight here. I just couldn’t stand it! And my dear little car gone too. I only had the M.O.T. done a couple of months ago. Very upsetting and annoying it is!”
“I really don’t know how you can be so calm Aunty,” said Peter. “Supposing I’m sill stuck here when Mother and Father return to collect us after the University Summer School has finished?”
“We shall just have to cross that bridge when we come to it,” said Aunt Myf, with just a hint of being annoyed.
They all sat silent again.
“It seems to me that Fate will decide this for us,” said Aunt Myf at last, “I have got to go home and clear up or the Police will think I have been kidnapped, or worse. Sarah could come with me. This Orddu can have no interest in her. It is you Peter that they are after. They want you and that Stone.”
“But, Aunt Myf,” stammered Peter, “surely I can come home too? The Stone is here.”
“I think you will have to ask Gwyn-ap-Nudd, he’s bound to know. After all, he has been fighting these monsters for centuries! Now you two run along. I’m going to have a rest.”
Aunt Myf settled herself on the bed and shut her eyes.
“Come on,” said Peter, “let’s go and wait for those Elves to finish eating.”
“Where shall we go?”
“We’ll go and sit in that golden room again. I want to think.”
And with that Peter started down the labyrinth of passages again to find the golden throne room, which held the magic Stone.
As they passed the dining hall, they heard sounds of a meal being taken in almost sombre silence.
The Elves apparently were also in serious mood. Arddu, The Dark One, was a serious matter. At last they came to the huge wooden doors. Peter pushed on them and they opened, swinging back silently, to reveal the golden room.
“You know, at first, I thought the Elves preferred silver. They certainly seem to for everyday things.”
“I know what you mean. But, hang on; of course!” cried Peter, “that is why our ancestors sometimes called this place Golden Hill.”
“Clever old thing,” said Sarah, slapping him on the back.
Their quarrels forgotten, they went to sit on the steps again. Somehow the peace of the room calmed the children as they pondered events.
“I think you ought to stay here with me, Sis,” said Peter.
“But what about Aunt Myf, the break-in? There’s bound to be an awful lot of clearing up to do. Someone ought to help her.”
“Yes, there is that, I suppose,” Peter sighed.
In his bones he felt that Sarah returning to the world outside with Aunt Myf was a very bad idea. He felt safe inside Arx Emain and was beginning to enjoy the strange way of life that the Elves had underground. Also, in an odd way, he felt that he must stay close to the Stone of Gardar, though why that should be, he did not know.
Their discussion over the ‘pro’s and con’s’ of Sarah’s return, or not, with Aunt Myf went to and fro, until Anir’s head appeared round the door.
“Come on, Peter, Sarah, The Lord Gwyn-ap-Nudd commands your presence in the Great Hall. I hope you have decided on your course of action.”
“Er, not exactly,” Sarah blushed.
She had begun to feel ashamed of her earlier remarks. Wishing to return to normal holiday life now struck her as rather selfish, under the circumstances. However, she was genuinely in a quandary as to what she ought to do. Aunt Myf would need help and the cronies of Arddu, Orddu and all of those could not possibly want her, or Aunty for anything at all; could they?
They arrived back in the Great Hall. The Elves had finished their meal. Gwyn-ap-Nudd was at the high table, still talking with some Elves, among whom were: Ederyn, Eldol and Aneryn.
With Aneryn was Aunt Myf. They were deep in plans and did not notice Peter, Sarah and Anir until they had climbed the stairs that led to the High Table.
“Welcome!” smiled the Lord Gwyn, and most surprisingly he arose and bowed to the children.
Peter bowed back and Sarah curtsied, it seemed the polite thing to do. Anir led round the table to Aunt Myf, who hugged them both tightly. He then went to stand behind Gwyn, who resumed his seat.
“Here we all are, then.” Said Gwyn, “The armies will soon be gathered. And what shall your part be in all of this; Peter, Sarah, Myfanwy?”
He looked at each one of them in turn. It seemed to the children as if he were trying to read their thoughts.
“Spooky!” Sarah remarked afterwards.
“I at least must return, O Lord of the Fair People,” said Aunt Myf.
“I agree,” said Gwyn, “but what of the children? Are you happy to leave them here with Anir and Aneryn? They will be in safe hands, you have my word.”
“I doubt it not,” returned Aunt Myf “ but I feel that I should have them with me.”
“I do advise you, most seriously, to listen to the Lord Gwyn-ap-Nudd,” broke in Anir, “my heart tells me that Arddu has good cause to fear Peter and the Stone, and he will seek to destroy them before they destroy him.”
“Either that, or he will seek them to use them for his own dark purposes,” said Gwyn, “after all, we speak of the Stone of Gardar. Peter has had time enough as its guardian to feel its power and may be able to wield it.”
“Have you?” said Aneryn, sharply.
She suddenly looked hard at Peter; almost, as it were, straight through him. Peter frowned, thought for a while, then said quietly:
“Yes, I have.”
“I felt it too, once, long ago,” Aneryn said, laying her hand on his shoulder, “I know what it is.”
Her hand was that of a young woman.
“Power!” said Gwyn, “All peoples lust after it.”
“I will stay here,” said Peter.
“I don’t know what to do,” wailed Sarah, miserably.
Her mind wrestled with the problem of how old Aneryn might be. She had forgotten, momentarily, that Elves are one of the Immortal Peoples.
“I don’t know what I ought to do, but I want to go home,” she wailed again.
“You come back with me then.”
Aunt Myf patted and squeezed her hand kindly.
“It is decided,” Gwyn-ap-Nudd said sternly, although he did not look happy, “but I am still of a mind to keep Sarah here with Peter.”
Sarah was shaking her head.
“Very well. Anir, fetch Eldol back, he and the Lady Aneryn, Echel and Elivri must ride with Sarah and Myfanwy. Lady Aneryn, you know what to do and so do the others. Anir, you will stay here with the rest. I leave you in complete charge of my Halls, of Peter and the fate that rests in the Stone. You may not leave until I or, as is more likely Ederyn, return. Myfanwy, you and Sarah will go now while it is still daylight. A Guard will be posted around your dwelling to protect you from any further attack. I do not expect our enemies to return to your home, but do not even your army generals say: ‘One must expect the unexpected’”.
Gwyn sprang down from his seat as Eldol entered with two other Elves.
“The horses are ready, Lord,” Eldol said, bowing low.
“With your permission, my Lord Gwyn, I will go and prepare myself for the journey,” said the Lady Aneryn.
She almost ran down the steps of the dais and down the Great Hall.
“Why must we hurry?” asked Sarah, just as Anir returned with Eldol.
“Because, little lady, you must ride home before nightfall. The Dark One’s power is greatest at night, as I have told you before! It would not do to be out riding in the dark when his people are out and looking for you and Peter. At home you may lighten the darkness with many lamps. The Dark One’s creatures do not love the light and you will be safe.”
Anir looked out of breath and, Sarah thought, slightly irritated.
“Gwyn thinks as I do!” he looked at the Elf lord, who nodded assent from his throne, “We believe that having turned everything over in Myfanwy’s house and found the Stone gone, they will have no further interest in the place. Now go and make ready. You ride soon!”
Aunt Myf and Sarah went with Peter to their rooms. They had brought nothing with them to Arx Emain, save themselves and the travel rug in which Peter had been wrapped when in the enchanted slumber. The rug now lay on Peter’s bed.
They collected Sarah’s jumper and Aunt Myf’s cardigan. These had been cast off, as it was quite warm in Gwyn’s underground domain. Then they said a rather tearful farewell to Peter.
“See you soon, take care of yourself my dear,” said Aunt Myf, and hugged him close, “at least I know you will be safe here.”
“Don’t do anything silly,” said Peter to Sarah.
“I’ll try not to.”
“Bye, then, Sarah.”
“Bye, Peter.”
Anir put his head round the door.
“You must come now. All is ready and the others are waiting.”
“Good job I go pony trekking from time to time, isn’t it?” Aunt Myf laughed.
Peter knew she was trying to make light of it all for his and Sarah’s benefit. Good old Aunt Myf, just like her! He waved as they turned the corner into the passage that led to the front door. He then went and sat down miserably on his bed, feeling like a spare part and wondering what to do next.
Anir hurried Aunt Myf and Sarah off to, and out of, the front door. There they found Aneryn, mounted already upon a beautiful grey horse. Sarah was surprised to see that she was dressed like Anir, in breeches, tunic and cloak, instead of her graceful blue dress.
Three other Elves were with her: Eldol, Elivri and Echel were also mounted on their steeds, ready for the journey. Sarah climbed onto the pony that had been brought for her; a dear little skewbald, and Aunt Myf was soon seated more gingerly on a rather large brown horse. Sarah blinked in the sunshine. It was a lovely afternoon.
“Farewell!” said Anir, as the Elves began to encourage the horses into a walk, “And may the blessing of Gwyn-ap-Nudd, and all who dwell in Arx Emain, be with you.”
“Farewell!” they called back. Eldol’s beast broke into a trot and at last they were on their way back to Aunt Myf’s home at Cwm-yr-Eglwys.
“Back home! I’m going home,” chanted Sarah happily to herself, as her pony trotted merrily along.
Then she thought of Peter and felt rather guilty.
“This takes me back to when I was a girl,” trilled Aunt Myf cheerily from atop her horse, “I used to muck out at the local stables and then I used to get a free ride. Come on Sarah, we shall soon get home at this rate.”
They crossed the main road.
“How far is it from here?” asked Sarah.
“About seven or eight miles as the crow flies,” Eldol told her, “never fear, we shall be back before it is truly dark.”
And he spurred his horse into a canter. Somehow Sarah’s pony had difficulty in cantering and most of the time did a cross between a very fast trot and a canter.
The terrain was awkward. Ascending a hill was not too bad, it was the descending that was the trouble. The horses would trot down the hills and Sarah’s pony insisted upon putting its neck out and its head down. Sarah felt that eventually she might ‘bump, bump,’ down its neck, as on a slide, until she slid off altogether. Of course she did not do anything of the sort, it just felt like it.
They hurried over the main road near Fishguard, well after what ought to have been teatime; indeed, it was probably nearer to Sarah’s suppertime. Eldol took them speedily on round the outskirts of the town. The roads were quiet; probably everyone was home for the evening. And it was a beautiful summer’s evening.
As they crossed a bridge over the river Gwaun, midges rose in clouds above the water and house martins swooped overhead, making the most of the abundant insect life. The sun was beginning its descent into the sea beyond. The seals would be playing in the bay below Aunt Myf’s cottage, thought Sarah, wistfully.
The riders came to the coast road. Eldol looked up and down the road and from side to side. He particularly cast his gaze at the hills, which rise up from the coast and lead, at last, to the Prescelly range.
“There is no sign of Orddu or of any of the Dark One’s creatures. I do not feel any evil presence either, so I will risk our riding on the road itself.”
“Will the motorists see us?” asked Aunt Myf.
“They may indeed,” replied Eldol, “but they will think they have seen a few holidaymakers out late after a pleasant trek.”
“It doesn’t feel very pleasant!” thought Sarah to herself, “Are we nearly there yet?”
“About two or three miles at most,” said Eldol.
“Come, ride by me, little maid,” Aneryn said, smiling, “we will finish this journey together.”
And, setting her horse next to Sarah’s pony, she ensured that they kept pace with each other.
Aunt Myf, who was eager to see what had befallen her property, went on in haste with the other Elves. So at last they turned left down the track that led from the road to Aunt Myf’s house.
When Sarah and Aneryn arrived at the front porch, they were surprised to find a very red faced Aunt Myf in animated conversation with the local policeman. Aneryn and Sarah dismounted and went to join her. Eldol, Elivri and Echel had obviously bade farewell, as they were mounting ready to leave.
Eldol waved to Aneryn who pushed Sarah towards Aunt Myf and went over to him.
“I shall stay here awhile,” he said, “then it will be Echel’s turn to be on guard, then Elivri. If all remains well with Sarah and the Aunt you may return with him to Arx Emain at the end of his turn.”
Aneryn turned to the others:
“Good speed,” she said.
They were on the point of leaving, when Sarah ran up to them.
“Wait!” she cried, “Can’t you take some things back with you for Peter? Goodness knows how long he may be stuck in your tunnels. Not that they aren’t very, very nice tunnels,” she added as an afterthought, “but your Elvish way of life is so different to ours.”
Then, before anyone could say anything, Sarah ran past Aunt Myf and Sergeant Emmanuel and into the house. This was easily done, for the front door had been broken down and now swung lopsided on its hinges.
What a sight met her eyes! All was turned out and turned over. It was easy to see why Sergeant Emmanuel had been on door duty. Sarah ran into Peter’s room. Here was the worst mess of all. However, in the corner, behind a beanbag was the cache of Peter’s favourite books kept for rainy days.
These were undisturbed, so Sarah snatched them up and looked for some spare clothes. These were scattered all over the floor where drawers had been emptied. She ran back to Eldol with a supermarket bag full of goodies, including the battered teddy that no one must ever know about. She thrust the bag at Eldol.
“Give these to Peter. They are very important,” she said.
Eldol bowed as well as he could in the saddle.
“Peter shall have these as soon as I return to Arx Emain, before I have given my full report to Anir!” he smiled and bowed again, “Farewell, we shall meet again ‘ere long.
“Goodbye,” said Sarah.
“Goodbye,” called Aneryn and Aunt Myf.
Sergeant Emmanuel was writing in his notebook.
“Went off on pony trek – returned to find house burgled. Sergeant Emmanuel on duty, having been called to the scene of the crime earlier today by Mr. Evans the milkman. Today being the second of August.”
He licked his pencil and cleared his throat.
“You had better go in and see if there has been much stolen, Myfanwy,” he said, and ushered her in through the broken door.
Sarah and Aneryn followed.
“I’ll put the kettle on for tea, Aunty,” said Sarah and went with Aneryn to the kitchen.
Fortunately there was little damage in this room and they busied themselves preparing a supper with what food there was available. Aunt Myf all the while making pretence at looking to see if anything was stolen. When at last she could not suggest anything to Sergeant Emmanuel, she invited him to take tea, but he would not.
“No, no, indeed my other half is waiting with my dinner at home and she will be very annoyed if I get in too late. Thanks, Myfanwy, maybe another time, perhaps tomorrow. We shall have to have a full statement. I will come at half past ten. That will give you time to clear up. A very strange business altogether! Good night all.”
He tipped his cap and stepped out into the night. They heard his bicycle tyres crunching up the drive.
“Thank goodness! Now we can have something to eat,” said Aunt Myf.
They were soon seated round the kitchen table and there was silence for quite some time after that.
Later, after the washing up, Sarah had a hot bath and climbed thankfully into bed. She fell into a deep sleep. Far away, in the house of Gwyn-ap-Nudd, Peter had done the same, having remained wakeful only long enough to make sure that the ‘pony trekkers’ had not returned.
He had hoped so much that they would, but eventually Morvith, who had tended him before came to beg him to go to sleep. She was quite right to do so, as it turned out. Eldol and Elivri did not arrive until dawn. They had had several unpleasant adventures upon the way and were discussing them with Anir when Peter came, bleary eyed, into the Great Hall.
He went to get himself some breakfast, then went over to the group and sat on the floor behind Eldol. Immediately, Eldol rose and handed to him the supermarket bag that Sarah had filled with his things. Anir turned towards him;
“Eldol brings these to you, they are from your sister.”
“Oh thank you, Eldol, thank you!” said Peter seizing the bag greedily.
He had come to enjoy being with the Elves but one can have too much of a good thing. Sarah had sent him his most favourite things.
He peeped into the bag. It contained books, a few spare clothes, his wash bag and other necessities, including the teddy bear that must never be mentioned.
The Elves returned to their conversation with Anir. A tear started in Peter’s eye as he looked at the things that Sarah had sent. He could not help himself. Suddenly he felt he could run straight out of Arx Emain and back home. Instead he slunk out of the Hall and went down the corridor to the room where the Stone was kept.
He pushed the doors open and took his belongings to the foot of the dais, upon which rested the golden throne of Gwyn-ap-Nudd. Peter started to read one of his books in the glow of the Stone. One and half hours later, Anir found him.
“I am very glad to find you at last,” he said, “time must hang heavy when you are not active on Elvish business and away from your loved ones.”
“Yes,” said Peter slowly, “I wonder what Sarah is doing now? I do wish she had stayed.”
“By Eldol’s account, she and your Aunt have a great deal to do at the cottage. But do not fear; they are safe. Aneryn and others are guarding them. You are safe too, as long as you are here.”
“I just wish that there was something that I could do.”
“You are helping our cause very greatly by remaining here with the Stone,” sighed Anir, looking up at the Stone in its niche.
The glow from it never wavered. Anir spoke again:
“Here, in Arx Emain it is in its rightful place. Gwyn and the Elves will not use its full power except in the very greatest of dire need.”
Anir came to the dais and sat down beside Peter. Peter realised that Anir was in a good listening mood.
“But,” said he,” why must I stay with the Stone if it is safe here?”
Anir looked at Peter sympathetically.
“Anyone who has kept the Stone for any length of time as you did becomes ‘in tune’ with its power. It has a very great magic within it. The Elves know how to use it, but so does Arddu, or thinks he does. He thinks that he might be able to bend its power to do his evil will. I think that he is mistaken, but the Elves dare not take the risk.”
Anir rose to go.
“But me!” cried Peter, “What about me?”
Anir looked down at him kindly.
“You kept the Stone for a long time, as these things go,” he said softly, “you too could use it.”
“Me!” Peter stared at Anir in disbelief, “but how? I don’t know how, I wouldn’t, couldn’t know…“ he stammered.
“If the time should come,” Anir said solemnly, “the Stone itself would guide you. You would be shown what to do and you could bring the power of the Samildanach down upon whomsoever you wished. That is why Arddu wants you because you are a danger to him. However, you are also a danger to the Elves because Arddu might try to capture you and force you to use the Stone against us. That is what Gwyn-ap-Nudd has said. Personally, I do not think that Arddu could force the power of the Samildanach to work against the Elves. It would be like using their very own power against themselves. That is what I think, but I may be wrong. Who knows? Gwyn-ap-Nudd possibly, but he is not here. A few days and he will be returning from over the sea with his kinsfolk. We must wait for his call. Ederyn will join us with armies from the north; then we must ride to the meeting place where all the Elves will gather for battle!”
“Then must I stay here all the time?”
Peter looked wistfully at Anir. The thought occurred to him that he would actually rather enjoy meeting the Elvish armies.
“For the present you must stay. But,” Anir paused, he saw the disappointment in Peter’s eyes, “and a BIG but it is too – we will only know the answers to that and many other questions when Gwyn-ap-Nudd has gathered all his armies and sent messengers to tell us what passes. That may take time, perhaps a week, perhaps longer. But do not be afraid, you may not have to wait too long and then you will be free to go.”
“Oh, I do hope so,” said Peter.
Anir patted him on the head. Peter rather resented this. Then Anir strode out of the room and Peter picked up his belongings and followed. Anir returned down the corridor towards the Great Hall.
“More plans afoot,” thought Peter, and took himself off back to his room.
“If only,” he thought, for about the millionth time, “Mother and Father were not both at the University Summer School again this year!”
He felt that his parents would not stand for any of this present nonsense, or would they? Were they like Aunt Myf? She was different. She was in league with the Elves! A very strange sort of Grown-up. Being a member of the Celtic History Society obviously did you no good at all.