"Strange. I didn't see anyone coming to the door." Mrs Stanton picked up the red envelope. "For you, Will. Oh, surely you're too young..."

"I'm fifteen, Mum."

James ran upstairs, laughing. "Will's got a girlfriend! Will's got a girlfriend!"

Will walked to the windowseat, where no-one could see him. His hand was trembling a little as he pulled the card out. "You are the only one," it said in curling letters, above a picture of solitary tree.

He opened it up. In Old Speech, a dark hand had written, "The only one… But we are legion."

Dead petals cascaded to the floor.