Application for Brendan from The Secret of Kells

[stbrendan]

Years, perhaps too many, had passed since Brendan had fled the Northmen at Kells, following Brother Aiden. The Book had been at last completed, and Aiden departed to the next world, leaving the Book, and the faithful cat Pangur Bahn, in Brendan's care

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[woocha]

Cat! But book! But cat! But book!

The book won.

Can I see the book, can I?

[stbrendan]

Pangur answered first, yowling and jumping from Brendan's shoulder to cling to a tapestry, then climb up near the rafters. Brendan laughed. "Come now, Pangur, no dog that ever wanted to see a book should be treated so." He knelt, leaning over and putting a hand to the side of his mouth. "She's very jumpy around new folk, but she's really quite nice after a moment to calm down." Then he leaned back, smiling down at the dog. Talking animals weren't so frightening, after all.

He opened the book over his knees, turning it around so the dog could see, the Latin and illustration laden pages reflecting light and color into the stone room. "It is the Book of Kells, and the Book of Iona," he explained. "I am on my way back to the Abbey of Kells, to show any who may still be there that the work has been completed."

[woocha]

Wishbone's tail wagged. It looks so neat! he said.

[stbrendan]

Brendan's smile widened. "It is very neat. It took a very long time to complete, nearly three lifetimes."

[pixie_jenks]

A small pixie wearing festively bright clothing and a little gold and red scarf around his neck zipped into the room, leaving a trail of shimmering dust in his wake. Jenks headed to the application before stopping to hover in front of Brendan and his furry companion.

"Another cat. Turn me," he grumbled. "Take a swipe at me, furball and I'll pix you into next week."

He paced the length of the application before taking flight again. "How do you illuminate pages without a light?"

[stbrendan]

Ah, a pixie? He'd remembered so many stories. "I'm sure she'll be on her best behavior, won't you, Pangur?" He tapped the pink nose, and Pangur Bahn, who had looked just ready to pounce, mewled at him and settled on his shoulder, sulkily.

"Ah, there is a method," he said to the pixie, gently setting the application aside on the desk and opening his bag. Carefully, he pulled out the Eye of Crom Cruach, holding it between his thumb and forefinger so his companion could see. "A crystal and a candle is all I need to see the pages, a feather quill and ink to bring them to light. I can show you, if you like?"

[pixie_jenks]

Jenks hovered closer, giving the cat another mistrustful look before turning his attention to the crystal. He could smell the magic in it.. it was ancient, but familiar. Something about it echoed in his bones. It didn’t smell like earth magic, but it he knew the smell of it, how it felt. “All right. Let’s see what ya got.”

[stbrendan]

Brendan nodded and set to work, pulling out inks, quill, paper, and frame.The torches in the room provided ample light, so there was no need for a candle. Then he put the crystal to his eye, inked his quill, and set to work.

It wasn't so glorious as his work on the Chi` Rho page, but he did his very best, starting with the intricate lines of knotwork, then bolder, bigger patterns, then finally the centerpiece, four pixie-esque figures engaged in a whirling dance on the page, one of them looking quite a bit like Jenks. He worked quickly and diligently, the lines coming from his practiced hand and flowing onto the page as easily as water.

When he was done he sat back with a little smile, letting the ink take in and reflect the light of the torches, glowing golden on the page. All in all the drawing was less than three inches in diameter, the right size, he thought, for someone Jenks's size could easily appreciate even without the help of the crystal.

[timelady_susan]

"You do illuminations?" Susan asked delightedly. "Oh, how wonderful! That'd be, oh, ninth century AD, more or less? What I've seen of it is beautiful. I don't suppose you'd mind if I took a look?"

[stbrendan]

It took him a moment to recover from the shock of seeing a woman in such strange attire, but he managed to shake himself out of it. He smiled politely, and handed her the leather-bound tome. "It is free for all to see," he said, delighted in her interest.

[timelady_susan]

"Oh, thank you," Susan said earnestly, looking through the book as delicately as possible; there was no way she would risk damaging it. "When are you from, exactly?" she asked him curiously.

[stbrendan]

"Kells," he answered, his smile growing as the light from the pages reflected across the room. The work he had done to finish the book had taken such time and care, he could risk a little pride in it. And the delicacy in which the young lady handled the book was more than a little gratifying. "In County Meath, Ireland."

[ducklesspond]

Interesting. There were a lot of unusual people at Hogwarts, interesting even by Amy's standards, but 'gentle and artistic' was a rarity.

...Kells. Religious guy, talking about art, holding a massive book. The Doctor was going to love this.

"Can I have a look?"

[stbrendan]

That accent... "Of course you may," he answered, handing her the book. "If I may ask, your accent...?"

[ducklesspond]

"I'm not the one with the accent," she sniffed, then laughed. "Only it's true, I'm the local here."

[stbrendan]

He blinked at her. "You mean this... is Scotland? Surely not, I can't have walked that far..." could he have? No, there was no way, though this place was some kind of magical, perhaps he'd been transported somehow? "Ah," he sighed. "I suppose I've been waylaid. A bit far from Kells, I should think."

[junkyard_hunter]

Now that both of his boys were back at Hogwarts, Bobby had been feeling pretty damn good. He even paused at the Sorting Room and stuck his head inside. The mention of books, especially expertly illuminated ones was more than enough to get his attention. His house back at the salvage yard was a treasure trove of ancient books and lore.

"They ain't gonna take nothin you don't want to part with," he said, nodding at the way Brendan seemed to clutch the book close.

[stbrendan]

"Ah," Brendan sagged a little in relief. He'd hate to have to part with the book, even for a short time. "I couldn't bear to part with this, at least. Quill and inks and paper, those can be found and made again. But this," he patted the worn leather gently, surprisingly unworried in the presence of this gruff man. He reminded Brendan of the people who had fled to Kells: rough, good folk.

"It is a treasure I have protected with my life, to share with the people. To just give it away... would be a terrible loss."

[junkyard_hunter]

A fellow book lover. He quirked a grin. "I don't think half of 'em would know a literary find like that even if you knocked them over the head with it. That's the real thing, is it? Mind if I take a look?"

[stbrendan]

Brendan grinned happily and handed the man the Book. "Please do, It was made to be shared."