Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Auld Lang Syne ❯ Chapter 1

Auld Lang Syne

 

”Dad, why are we here? It's freezing and it's DARK.”

 

“You'll see, son,” the older man said, leading his thirteen year old son into the heart of the stones.

 

“Why am I wearing this? I look like a girl,” the boy said, looking down at the heavy red, green and white plaid. “Or a Christmas package.”

 

The man laughed and ruffled his son's hair. “It's tradition. All men of the clan are brought to the Oracle when they turn thirteen.”

 

“Does that mean I'm a man after this?” the boy asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

 

“Not by today's standards, no. But when this tradition was first started you definitely would have been. Of course, if you lived to thirty then you'd have been considered very old.”

 

“Well, I guess that means you're very old at thirty seven, Dad.”

 

“Har-dee har har. Quiet now, here they come,” the man said, putting an arm around his son.

 

The boy could see lights moving through the trees along the path to the stone circle they were standing in. He also felt an odd pressure in his chest that he couldn't quite explain. He moved a little closer to his father.

 

“Dad, if this is some kind of weird father/son bonding thing I don't think I like it very much,” the boy said, fear evident in his eyes and voice.

 

“It's okay, son. I was nervous too. You'll be fine,” the man said, squeezing the boy's shoulder reassuringly.

 

The boy nodded and watched the lights get closer. He could finally make out a half dozen people flanking someone in the middle. He could just see it was a woman, heavily veiled and being led by the two people on either side of her. From the way she moved, he guessed her to be very old. An odd shiver raced through him upon seeing her, something he couldn't put his finger on but it sent cold shivers of fear rocketing up his spine.

 

When the woman and her companions crossed over into the circle was when the boy began to tremble in earnest. The urge to flee into the dark was almost overwhelming.

 

“It's all right, son. I've got you,” the man said soothingly.

 

The small procession stopped a few feet from them. They seemed to be waiting expectantly for something.

 

The boy's father spoke in a tone he'd never heard him use before. “Oracle of the clan, I do hereby bring my son forward to be judged a man and to receive his rightful due as one of its sons.”

 

“Come to me, bairn,” the old woman said.

 

“Go on, son,” the man said into his ear. “She won't hurt you.”

 

The boy took several shaking steps forward until he stood directly in front of the woman. She reached out a gnarled hand and tipped his chin up slightly. He held back the pained hiss when she touched him, something here was very odd and very wrong from his point of view.

 

“Ah. A special, special bairn ye are,” she said. “Ye're gifted beyond imagining. But ye'll suffer for it. Those seeking power will come for ye and ye'll not be able to stand against them in the beginning. Ye'll be a strong and powerful man but ye'll nae be a good one. Most of yer soul will be eaten away ere yer thirty summers. Ere tha happens, come back to me, bairn,” she let go of his chin and looked to his father. “Ye've bred and Oracle.”

 

The man stood in shock for a moment. “But I thought only women could . . .”

 

“Aye, tha is usually the way of it. This one though, will see more in a day than I hae in a lifetime. Teach him to guard himself well. The time is coming when he'll need all he's been given.”

 

The man nodded. “I will, Oracle.”

 

She turned back to the boy. “Remember, bairn, when ye feel the call, come to me.”

 

Come to me.

 

Golden eyes shot open and tried to focus in the dark room. He sat up in bed, shaking just a little as he tried to find some rational reason as to why he'd suddenly had that dream that was a memory after fourteen years. He shook his head. He knew why. Knew there would be no denying it or putting it aside. It had to be done.

 

He shoved his hair back from his face. “Time to go home.”