From the author:
I have changed several small but important items in the story in several different places. These changes were prompted by a few reviews I have had and are noted at the end of the chapters. I have also corrected the double posting of a chapter and included a chapter that was left out by the incorrect posting. Please enjoy the story. If I get other items that need to be explained or corrected I will try to include them.
Chapter 1 – Three into One
Samantha sat in her room crying because the war had just claimed her friend as a victim. The war was killing families and friends and the entire magical community. How do I stop this war? Mother was beginning to realize the cost of her decisions to continue with her position. I will have to find a way to stop the war before all is lost. Samantha's research gave her a way to stop the war. She concluded that only magic Herself would have the power to end the war. But She wouldn't listen to anybody that did not prove they were worthy of Her attention. She would not provide a solution but if one was presented, She may be persuaded to help. Samantha needed to find allies from the warring clans that wanted to end the war as well.
"I'm Samantha First born of Clan Bones. I have asked you to come in peace."
"I am Karn First born of Clan Malfoy. I come in peace. We have spoken before."
"I am Sam First born of Clan Lantar. I come in peace. Why do you ask for this meeting?"
Now or never, she thought. "Sam, I have been meeting with Karn for several weeks. We have discussed a proposal. After considering several others we have decided you would be the best person from your clan to approach. The magical world is going to kill itself. Look at your own clan. Look at how many have died in this war. I am not asking you to betray your clan so I want you to look and evaluate for yourself the truth of what I say. I will contact you again when we can meet."
"Karn, it's been a week. Do you think he will come tonight without bringing his clan with him?"
"He is an honorable person. That was one of the reasons we settled on him. If he comes, he will come alone."
"You are right. I am honorable. I have looked at what you have told me and I find that it is true. I will listen to your proposal."
"Samantha has found a way to contact magic Herself. If we can persuade Her to help we may be able to stop the war and give each side what it wants. I warn you that if She gets involved it will be a heavy price to pay."
"How would you contact Her? She does not show Herself to anybody."
"First we have to convince Her that we are serious. I have a way but it's dangerous. I have found a clan of centaur whose land was taken and destroyed by our fighting. I found them a place to call their own. It would be safe from the war. I have protected it with all the power that I can and presented it to them. If they accept the gift we may get Her attention long enough to present our request."
"Samantha, tell Sam what you are going to request. If we get Her attention, he needs to know."
She licked her lips. "I have found a binding spell. When it is cast on a couple it puts part of their soul in their bond mate. It joins souls together. I modified it to make it so each person joined will defend the other. I have thought of a way to make it usable to stop the war. We could give each faction what they want but not in exactly the way they thought. Those that want to rule would be bound to a muggle ruler. The price is the loss of their ability to do magic. Magic would be past on to their children but they would still be the ruler. Those that want to withdraw would be joined to those that want to live side by side. The price for withdrawing is that they can't disappear completely. The muggles will still be able to find them if they know where to look. The price for the side by side is that they have to live in a closed off world but it can be found by muggles if they look for it."
"Why do you need magic Herself if you know how to do the spell you spoke of?"
"I don't want to kill anyone. Those that don't want to have this done could resist it. She would have the power to force the spell on others to take away their ability to command magic so they couldn't harm others. I believe She could put compulsions on the binding spell forcing others to follow the judgments. This is why we would need to contact Her. We would have to convince Her that this power is needed and that we could wield it properly."
Sam thought for a moment. "My father suspects that I am doing something. I have to move tonight. I will not be able to get away again."
Karn looked around. "Sam there is no going back once we start. We will either die or succeed."
"That is why we have to go tonight. If I have gotten away, nobody will follow us. I don't want to kill anybody and I don't want to die without trying to stop this war."
Karn looked at Samantha. "You were correct. He doesn't want this war either. Lead the way and we will follow."
Samantha led them for several days through the land. They learned about each other. They learned to trust each other. The more they talked, the more evident it became that someone else would have to pass judgment because they were part of the warring clans. They talked about who would be best to hold and direct the power they were going to ask for. They would only consider the fairness of the judgment and thus only be the enforcers. This topic took many days and much debate. They realized this may be their last walk in this world and did not rush. Finally she took all three of them to a glade with a giant tree on a rise. She looked around walked up to the tree and put her wand on the ground. She motioned for them to do the same. Karn looked worried but did as he was asked. Sam was about to say something but kept his mouth shut. He had made his decision. He had found friendship and trust with these two so put his wand on the ground by the tree. She turned and walked toward the tree line motioning for them to follow her. She stopped after a few steps.
"You have seen what I offered. The paths here are few. I have spent the last year putting protection spells on the paths. I have shown you the way here and given you a way to protect your children. It was my clan that caused the destruction of your land. I offer you this land in its stead. It is away from battle. It is hidden, as hidden as I can make it. Will you accept my offer of peace between the three of us and your tribe?"
Sam looked at Karn. Karn shrugged his shoulders.
"I am Chorster, and speak for the homeless tribe. You have kept your word. We will have peace with the three of you."
The biggest centaur they had ever seen stepped from the woods around the glade. "I can not say we will trust you but you have proven your word is good. I give you the respect you have earned."
Several armed warriors stepped from the woods all with arrows knocked. Sam started to react but Karn stopped him from moving.
"You would never make it. That is why she had us put the wands down. We are not here to fight and we are not a threat to them without our wands. Let her finish and then we will see."
"For this to work I need to be by the tree. Send one of your worriers to pick up the wands so we may approach the tree. The wands are not trapped in any way and may be handled without harm to you."
"If this fails what becomes of this land?"
"This glade belongs to Her. The spells I cast on the paths recognize the keepers of the land and will respond to you."
She turned to go. "If we die, please burry us here so we may rest in peace."
Samantha, Sam and Karn approached the tree. They took an hour to prepare.
"This is your last chance to leave. After this, it will no longer be in you hands to decide."
They nodded to each other and didn't move away.
"Mother magic we beseech you, hear us. I have given all that I have to make amends to the only ones that I know that have been harmed by me. I am willing to give my life to talk with you. Will you come and talk with us?"
The very ground seemed to wait, listening. An old woman came forth from the tree and looked at Samantha then Karn and finally Sam.
"You are from three warring clans and yet you stand here together. What is it you want Children of Man?"
Sam spoke before the other two started to talk. "We would end the war. It is killing everybody and destroying the land. Before they can destroy even more, the war must end."
"Are you willing to give your life to end the war?"
All three nodded.
"I can power the spell you seek to use. I can gather the leaders to give them your solution. You three will be the ones to determine the fairness and enforce the judgment. What clan would hold the reigns and decide where to use the power you seek?"
Samantha turned. "Karn, have you decided which family should have this power?"
"Those that developed the basis for the spell and are neutral in the war should hold the reigns of power."
"Sam, do you agree to the choice Karn has made for the holder of the power?"
"If the spell does not have the power to kill, how will it be able to force others to follow it?"
"It can take away their power to work magic, make them muggle. It can compel them to follow the judgment rendered."
"Then I agree with Karn."
The old woman went to the tree and touched it. It shrank to the size of a staff and held it out to them.
"Hold the staff horizontal. Through your mind to your souls I bind you to the task you have set forth. I will deliver the staff to the leader of your choice. I will ask if they will be your champion and judge."
She set her power on the staff and their bodies fell to the ground.
"Chorster, you and your tribe shall be known as the Clan of the Glade. These three have set you a task. Intern their wands with their bodies. I have watched her train you and yours for the care of my land. She did everything she knew to insure your peace and isolation from the war. I will add a few things of my own. You are safe here. Remember these three. They have given you peace at the price of their lives."
Staff in hand, She approached the dwelling door. Here was the last hope of man to keep magic, a leader with no desire for war and kindness in his hart. His mate was strong, kind and family minded. She stepped up and knocked on the door.
Langeon opened the door and Janerris had her wand out protecting him. "May I help you?"
She smiled. "I have a task that needs your attention. Three Children of Man have given their lives to start the task. They chose you and your family to carry it out."
They looked at her. Each was trying to see what was behind the words. "I sense no malicious intent on your words but they confuse me."
"May I come in and explain?"
This was the test. Would they listen or would they send her on her way? How well did the children think things through?
Janerris spoke first. "We ask only peace while you visit our home. If you will abide by this we would like to hear this tale."
Caution, this was indeed the family. "Peace is why I am here and peace is why the three chose you."
They stepped aside and she entered. She placed the staff on the table in front of them. She looked into their souls.
"Janerris, you have seen the basis for what you see here, your binding spell. In a moment I will summon the three leaders of the factions of man. I will insure that no harm will come to this house or you."
"Again you speak of something that can not happen as these three are enemies and yet your words have power. What task has been asked of us? We want nothing to do with war or killing."
"War is coming to us husband. We will not be able to avoid it."
"If it were not for the three that gave their lives, war would be here now. I have delayed them. They can not find your home."
She rose and put forth power few have ever seen. Before them, looking around as if lost stood the three stunned leaders, not a single weapon between them.
"Your first born have given their lives for you to have a chance to save magic for man. Allow me to introduce them to you."
She waived her hand and the three shadowy figures emerged from the staff. They stood together and looked at their parents.
"We have asked magic Herself to create the means to end the war before all is lost. You have fought so long you no longer even know why. We are the intelligence behind the Staff of Judgment and we will enforce the will of the keeper of the staff. You will not be able to repeat to anybody what you have seen. You will not be able to tell anybody who the keeper is. You have this one chance to try to follow through with peace."
They turned to Langeon and Janerris.
"Will you act as keeper, to judge fairly, to bring an end to this war?"
"We are neutral in the war. We do not want to fight. We want peace. What is the price you ask for this peace?"
"Agree to be Keeper and you shall have peace. We have the power to protect those bound to the Staff of Judgment."
"Langeon, with peace we could have children and not worry so much. I will follow your decision."
"We have a way to offer what the opposing sides want and the power to enforce it. We do not have the power to judge others only the ability to decide the fairness of a judgment. We will have final say on the judgment that has come from someone else, one that does not want war."
Langeon looked between them. "I will be Keeper. The leaders must agree to help end the war by taking us to their followers and explaining the offer to them. Most are tired of fighting and this may be a way to get what they want without fighting."
The three put forth power from the staff and their parents backed away.
"Through the mind to the soul we grant you the power to judge. None will be able to attack the House Weasley. Our protection only works if you judge fairly. If you do not, we will choose another Keeper and you will again be in the war. Will you join souls together so that all the factions receive what they want though not necessarily the way they want it?"
Langeon and Janerris looked to each other.
"We have the power to force judgment on others that do not want it."
Langeon and Janerris looked at the woman and kneeled before her.
"The House Weasley will be the judge. We will be fair but firm."
She smiled. "The children have chosen well. Through your mind to your soul I bind you to the Staff of Judgment. You will not be able to speak of the staff to anyone that is not bound to the staff."
Langeon turned and looked at the three leaders. As the staff floated to his hand spoke "Will you agree to have fair judgment passed on you and your followers?"
"I do not agree to this."
"Nor I."
The last to speak was worried. She had never seen such power as this woman wielded. "Samantha, we are all dying and now you are lost to me. How can you bring peace when you are not here?"
"Only the Keeper can answer your question."
Langeon turned to the first two. "In three days I will come to each of you. I have been given the details of the plan. You have till then to decide to help or be forced. If you help you may be able to guide the decisions made so that your followers will get what they are fighting for. If you do not wish to help then it will be forced on you. You may leave to contemplate but not talk to any of what has transpired. I ask if this is fair."
"We judge this as fair. It shall be as you say."
The three put forth power and the two vanished.
Langeon turned to the last. "In you I see a longing for peace. The war has cost you your daughter. What would you do with this life you have spent?"
"I will help. Your home would be well remembered so I offer mine in which to judge. I shall have my followers come to my house tonight."
"To those that answer to your call you may tell the story of peace. If they hear the story they will not be able to leave your home until judgment is past. We will come tomorrow as the sun sets. Is this enough time for you?"
"Yes, it is enough time."
"I ask if this is fair."
"We judge it as fair. It shall be as you say."
The three put forth power and the last vanished.
Langeon looked at Janerris. "I want peace more than the power we were given."
Langeon turned to speak with magic Herself. All he saw was a smiling shadowy visage fading away.
Author Note:
My thanks to Stephanie O for pointing out the need to add a better description of what was being asked for from magic Herself.
An anonymous review lead to the inclusion of the first paragraph to help set the story.