OKAY! TAKE TWO!! Because the computer doesn't seem to like uploading with page breaks, I have just inserted several enters instead. Hope this reads easier.
A/n. Just out of curiosity, one standard size novel page is actually 1/3 of a page of typing on MS Word, on size 12… I was just curious, so I typed out a page of Wild Magic… lol.
For those who haven't read She Walked Upon A Cloud, I suggest you do, although it isn't strictly necessary. This first chapter is based in Tortall; if you choose not to read it then that will be fine too, but again, suggested.
This is a Harry Potter story. I'll spare you to details of She Walked Upon A Cloud, because I'll be explaining (kind of) it in the second or third chapter.
Also, when I started writing this story I kind of forgot a lot of the fifth year… ie Fudge resigning at the end. So I completely disregarded that, and he's still the minister for magic in this story. There may be a couple of other things, but the reason I put the story in the place of HP:HBP, is because I really didn't like the ending of that. For those that have read it, you ought to know what I mean by 'the ending.' For those that haven't (SHAME ON YOU) then this won't spoil that. Everyone's happy!
Enjoy!
Prologue- The Beginning… Again
Sarah walked briskly through the front door, not bothering to look at her mother as she whisked through the living room. "Don't worry," She started without preamble, "I'm just here to pick up my wallet. I'll be out of here in under two minutes."
She dug around in her hand bag that hung almost permanently off of her bed post until she found what she was looking for. Slipping it into the right pocket of her breeches, she dodged past her mother, who had followed her into the room. "Sarah…"
The younger woman turned around, fire blazing in her eyes. "What?" The other woman looked suspiciously apologetic. "If you wanted to apologize, maybe you should have came to see me at the hospital, when I wasn't fit enough to walk away from you."
The older woman narrowed her eyes. "How would you know if I did? You were asleep most of the time."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Before I woke up the first time no one was allowed to visit me; the cops didn't know who actually knew me and who was the press trying to get close. And after I woke up for the first time… well let's just say that months of being thrown out of bed by a cranky Shang in the early hours of the morning has taught me to wake up when someone else enters the room. And you aren't nearly as quiet as Wildcat."
She turned without waiting for a response, digging into her wallet to check for her ATM card and the cash she knew was there. Nodding in satisfaction, she stalked out through the open door, ignoring her mother standing in the living room, staring after her.
PAGE BREAK!!!
Sarah checked to make sure that her new backpack with its contents securely in its belly sat soundly on her shoulders. She surveyed the beach in front of her, deserted by the public who considered it too dangerous after what had nearly happened. Her cool, green eyes watched as the blue grey water lapped at the shore gently, nothing to betray the ocean's dangerous nature. She sighed and fingered the pendant that Mithros had given her. Calling upon a fleck of crimson energy, she turned the inner circle, feeling the pull of magic as it took her from her home dimension and back to the place she felt so much more comfortable.
When the scenery cleared and stopped spinning, she noticed Wildcat and a class of pages staring at her. She gave a little wave to them as the Shang quickly wrapped up the session, giving them the last half an hour off. Wildcat walked towards her, shocked by her appearance little over a week since she had left, and voiced her surprise. The Shang's face closed over, and she asked warily, "What's wrong?"
Sarah shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it, Wildcat."
Wildcat took the hint and changed the subject. Pointing at her backpack, she frowned. "That has to be the weirdest pack I have ever seen, and what are you wearing?"
Sarah looked back at the pack, which happened to have a World Industries logo on it, and a rather violent one at that. The yellow paint splotch was driving a buzz saw through the blue paint splotch's head. Sarah shrugged. "A backpack. After training here I realised how truly impractical over the shoulder satchels were." Looking down at her jeans, sneakers and patterned tunic top, she shrugged. "As for the clothes… well this is the latest fashion back home. And my breeches were getting a little nasty, they need a wash. I had enough money in my savings account… and I really don't think I'll be there long enough next time to need much money."
Wildcat looked on in interest. "Do you have a lot of money back there?"
Sarah grinned wickedly. "I had enough this morning to buy a little present for everyone. Won't last long, the way it tastes, but I figured you might appreciate it."
The Shang's interest was piqued, and she asked, "What is it?"
Sarah shook her head and looked towards the palace, an uncertain look passing over her face. "Is King Jonathon in? I need to discuss something with him." The Shang nodded and led her towards the palace, and through the twisting turns towards the King's quarters.
About half way there they ran into Daine, who looked delighted, if confused. "Sarah, what are you doing here? Not that we don't want you here…" She trailed off as Sarah shook her head. 'Not now.' She mouthed to the Wildmage, a sombre look on her face as she passed by, leaving Daine standing there in the hallway.
Knocking on the chamber doors, they heard Jon call 'Come' and entered. Wildcat left her alone as she stood before his desk. The King stood, a smile gracing his handsome face. "Sarah! What brings you here, you left little over a week ago!"
Sarah coughed lightly into her hand. Why do they all have to bring that up? "I'd rather not talk about it, Majesty."
His smile turned into a mock scowl as his blue eyes sparkled. "Haven't I told you not to be so formal? It's Jon, unless we're in public. What can I do for you?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times before starting. "When I came out of the Chamber… did that make me a real knight, or because I didn't complete the full training course am I just an anomaly?"
He almost chuckled, but held off when he saw her face. "My dear, you've already been added to the manuscripts."
Sarah nodded, relieved. "Alright, good."
He eyed her warily. "Sarah, look at me. What's wrong, really?"
She met his eyes firmly. "I really don't want to talk about it. Why don't we just drop it?"
He opened his mouth to argue, but thought better of it. There was no way he could make her talk. He changed the subject. "You know, there's never actually been a knight on the manuscripts without a fief next to their name." She frowned, confused at the sudden twist in the conversation. He continued. "I'm quite glad you came back; you know the crown rewards knights that do a great deed for the land, correct?" Without waiting for a response, he took a purse out of a draw in his desk and threw it lightly towards her.
When it landed in Sarah's lap it bulged so much that the top opened, spilling several gold coins onto her jeans and showing many, many more where that came from. Doing a quick count Sarah's eyes boggled. "Jon, this is too much. Way too much. I can't accept it." She tried to give it back, but he wouldn't take it from her outstretched hands.
As she tried once again, she was interrupted by Thayet walking into the room, talking to Jon without looking around. "Darling, weren't you going to join the pages for the first lun-" She cut off as she noticed Sarah there, hands outstretched with the purse thrust towards Jonathon. "Sarah?" The queen threw herself at the girl, hugging her tightly in a greeting. Seeing the problem Sarah was having, she turned to Jonathon, "Well, where's that other thing?"
He looked at his wife, rolling his eyes. "I haven't gotten to that yet."
Sarah looked at them, suspicious. "What 'other thing'?"
Jonathon pulled out a scroll of parchment, sealed with wax in the design of the royal coat of arms. Cautiously Sarah broke the seal and saw it was the deed to a fief, called Greenstone. While she stared, the King explained. "It's a reasonably sized fief just south of Corus, about half a day's ride. It has deposits of malachite; that's where it gets its name from, but none of the families that have lived there before have bothered to mine it. Right now it's managed by a crown appointed clerk, but in case you're thinking of refusing, crown appointed clerks generally don't manage fiefs very well if they don't see the profit. The best thing for the people of the village there, which is also a reasonable size, is for you to take the fief and care for it yourself, or hire a better clerk."
Sarah glared at the monarchs, but the expression softened as she stood and bowed. "Thankyou, Jon, Thayet."
Thayet returned the softened glare with a grin. "No problem. Um, Sarah, does anyone else know you're here? I was just with Alanna and she didn't let on…"
Sarah shook her head. "I just showed up in the training field, and asked Wildcat whether you were here. When she said you were we came straight here. Daine saw us in the hallway."
Jon interrupted whatever Thayet was about to say next. "Why did you want to see me, if you don't mind me asking?"
She met his eyes. "I want you to put me to work. Wherever you can."
Thayet almost asked what was going on; Jon shook his head slightly, leaving her frowning instead. Sarah took this opportunity to change the subject. "I brought presents."
Thayet was about to ask what she was talking about when there was a loud knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Alanna stomped through the open door, on the brink of one of her famous Lioness rampages. "You come back and you don't even stop by to say hello? I had to find out from Daine! How long have you been back, anyway?"
Sarah looked down at her hands as they trembled in her lap. She took a deep breath to get a hold of her emotions, and answered quietly, "I've been back for about an hour. It was really important that I saw Jon first, before I went to see anyone else."
If Alanna noticed her trembling hands, she was tactful enough to keep it to herself. Thayet diverted attention from Sarah's obvious discomfort by asking, "What presents?"
Sarah grinned. "Chocolate."
Alanna was confused. "But we have chocolate here…"
Sarah shook her head. "Not like this you don't. You couldn't think of the amounts of different kinds we have. I know, so no one else gets annoyed at me for not visiting them, let's have a little get together, in my rooms! Assuming… I still have them?" She was answered by Alanna, with a laugh and a little shove towards the door.
PAGE BREAK!!!
Sarah's little shindig went well. Alanna, Daine, Numair, Raoul, Buri, Thayet, Jon, George, Wildcat and Myles all turned up, glad to see Sarah back. Neal and Kel were stuck at New Hope, where there had been reports of Scanran activity barely three days ago. All of the chocolate was a hit; Thayet was especially partial to the Violet Crumbles; claiming the entire bag as her own.
Sarah awoke the next morning after the first actual decent night's sleep in over a week, feeling refreshed, if still depressed. She made her way to the stables to visit and groom Topaz, apologizing profusely to the horse for not visiting sooner. Occasionally it still felt weird to speak to the horse as though it understood, but Sarah got over the weirdness quickly, murmuring words of praise to the muscular mare. When Topaz lipped her shirt, obviously forgiving her for not visiting sooner, she broke down. The mare's forgiveness was too much for her to handle, and she sobbed quietly into her mane. After a few moments she sensed someone standing behind her.
Without turning around she knew it was Daine. The way Topaz's ears perked up when she saw the newcomer was clue enough. Sarah shuddered a breath before saying quietly, "There's something wrong when my horse can accept me, but my own mother can't."
She sensed swift movement behind her and the Wildmage was laying a hand on her shoulder, turning her around. "Sarah," She began, eyes serious, "What happened?"
Sarah looked at her feet as she answered quietly. "My mother kicked me out. The Gift is considered… evil, when you look at it from a Christian point of view. And she is very Christian."
The Wildmage pursed her lips, shock evident on her face, as well as anger and, Sarah was humiliated to notice, pity. Daine gave her a quick hug and led her to the kitchens to beg some lemonade off of the maids. Sarah remained silent for the entire time, thinking, if anyone understands, it's Daine. She was chased out of her home too. Before she knew it, Sarah was being led to a small set of gardens, and Daine sat her down on a stone bench before sitting next to her.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Daine ventured quietly, "Thankyou for trusting me enough to tell me. I'll tell you this now; you have and will always have a home here, among us. It'll get easier, I promise."
Sarah nodded mutely, staring at the grass as it glistened in the dying sunlight. After a while she wiped her eyes once more and stood, sighing gustily as she gave her friend a wobbly smile. "I'm going to head inside."
Daine nodded, and replied, "I should probably get back to my rooms too; one of the palace cats had a complication during childbirth; I should make sure it's alright." They walked back inside together, heading in different directions.
PAGE BREAK!!!
Sarah stared out her window at the sun as it slowly set over the palace grounds, casting a beautiful array of reds, oranges and yellows among the scattered trees and training yards. A shuffle disrupted her reverie, and she looked to the door to see Riley standing there, watching his feet as they shuffled side to side. She mustered a grin. "Riley, come in! What brings you here?"
His response was mouse quiet. "I heard you were back… I wanted to see you, to say hello."
Sarah's grin faded as she noticed a shadow around his left eye. "Riley, look at me." When she saw how truly swollen the eye was, she swore. "So, has Brad been helping you fall down still? I swear I'm going to throttle the little twerp."
He met her gaze bravely for a moment, before looking away again. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. Brad didn't help me fall down…"
She rolled her eyes. "Ahuh. Meet me here at sunrise tomorrow morning. You're going to learn how to defend yourself properly. None of this rubbish about the Shang arts being savage; they're the most effective way to pound the snot out of that little punk"
His eyes widened, and he looked like he was about to refuse. She beat him to the punch. "Don't make me order you; I'm a full knight now. You have to do what I say."
When he opened his mouth to argue, she held up a hand. "Ah! No. No arguments. I'm older, I'm higher in the food chain, now do as I say. See you at dawn. And I don't mean you get up at dawn. I mean you get up before dawn and get here by dawn. I'll be meeting Wildcat in the morning at the training fields; you'll be joining me. Now scat, I'm busy thinking."
As he walked out the door Alanna walked in. "You're popular today. Who gave the kid the shiner?"
Sarah scowled. "A little punk page in his year. The kid's joining me at dawn tomorrow for training."
Alanna winced. "Tomorrow? Can't you torture him when you get back?"
Sarah immediately turned suspicious. "Get back from where?"
Alanna grinned. "Get back from Fief Greenstone, for your first official inspection. Daine, Numair and I will accompany you."
Sarah scowled. "Already it's starting. The extra responsibilities, the duty to my people… if they bow to me heads will roll. I am not comfortable with people scraping their foreheads against the ground just because I happen to be walking past. It's not right."
Alanna laughed. "So you'll come then?"
Sarah sighed. "I suppose I'll have to. But we'll leave an hour after dawn. I'll get up early and saddle Topaz, and we'll do our training session and just leave. Riley doesn't get out of it that easy."
PAGE BREAK!!!
True to her word, Sarah accompanied Alanna, Daine and Numair on a half day ride to Fief Greenstone. As they made their way through the grassy meadows and hilly country side, Sarah groaned. "How much longer? I so don't want to be here. I just know there's going to be bowing and scraping and I won't be comfortable. Why did Jon force this on me?"
Alanna rolled her eyes. "Your innate sense of decency made you take the fief, not Jon. He just manipulated you into taking it." Sarah glared, even as Alanna continued. "And we're already on your fief. Didn't you read the deed? It's seventy hectares, most of it meadows and grass lands, interrupted by a few veins of malachite."
Sarah continued to grumble. "Yeah, but how big can seventy hectares be? Honestly…"
The others laughed, shaking their heads. "Have patience Sarah, we'll be there soon." Alanna advised.
PAGE BREAK!!!
They trotted through a village that resembled the outskirts of Corus somewhat. Sarah looked around warily, as though waiting for the first person to bow or curtsey so she could glare at them. A young voice sounded. "Mama! Mama, look! It's the Lioness!" Sarah's head whipped around to see a young girl; no older than five, standing and pointing shamelessly. For a brief moment she hoped that all the villagers would be so brash as this child.
That hope was shattered when a lady who was obviously the young girl's mother yanked the girl roughly into a deep curtsey, and Sarah's sharp hearing picked up a scolding. "What, are you addle brained from the heat? Don't you remember his lordship saying an important lady was comin', 'cause the crown gave her this fief for doin' something grand. Now curtsey deeper, th' lady's watching!"
Sarah growled under her breath as she dismounted. Slapping a carefree grin on her face, she stepped towards the duo, who had been joined in their curtsey by everyone in sight. I have to defuse this situation quick, don't want to teach them bad habits…she bent over in front of the girl, who was grinning shyly at her, suddenly lost for words.
"Hello, and what's your name?"
"Tiffany, my lady." The young girl squeaked.
Sarah met her eyes. "I'm not your lady, Tiffany. My name is Sarah. That's what I want you to call me. Can you do that?"
The girl looked confused. "B-but, my la- I mean, um… aren't we supposed to call nobles by their titles? Aren't you a lady?"
Sarah grinned ruefully. "Not by choice." She shook her head at the way that sounded. "And I'm serious, call me Sarah. You should call other nobles by their titles, unless they ask you not to. Which I am doing right now. So, Tiffany, will you introduce me to your mother?"
The young girl nodded enthusiastically, her shyness evaporating when she noticed Sarah didn't bite. "Mama, this is Sarah. Sarah, this is my mama, Abigail."
The older woman's curtsey never failed. "My lady, please excuse my daughter, she is young. I-" Sarah interrupted her by gently lifting under the lady's arms to lever her into a standing position.
"Abigail, was it? Same goes to you." She raised her voice to be heard by all the villagers present. "Same goes to all of you. Don't call me 'my lady'. It makes me feel old. It's Sarah, or if you can't remember that, miss. If I catch any of you calling me 'my lady' I'll… I don't know. Find some chamberpots for you to clean or something. Understood?"
A chorus of confused affirmatives met her question, and she smiled in satisfaction. "Good." She mounted Topaz and nudged her in the direction of the tower which loomed over the village, nodding to the men at arms who opened the gate for them, and ignoring Alanna, Daine and Numair's snickers as she kept her eyes forward, ignoring the villagers who stared at her.
PAGE BREAK!!!
Sarah rested under a tree, having already looked over her accounts under the guidance of the current clerk who, dry as he was, seemed overly enthusiastic to be rid of the trouble of managing someone else's fief.
The fief was more or less a patch of dirt, with no exports, farming, breeding or mining to keep it going. When Sarah asked how the village was being sustained, the clerk couldn't answer, and didn't seem too concerned.
Sarah sighed, closing her eyes. If these people were going to prosper, she was going to have to do a major overhaul of the books, and hirer a proper clerk, someone she could trust to manage it properly when she was gone.
A loud crack heralded the arrival of Mithros. She cracked her eyes open, annoyed that he had come to ruin the relaxing afternoon of nothing that she had planned. "What do you want?" She asked crossly.
When he answered, his tone was mocking. "What, you thought that the messenger of the gods job was over when she defeated the Sorrows? Not nearly, my dear."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "What is it this time and why should I do it?"
He splayed his fingers and advanced towards her. She threw up her hands quickly. "Really, no need to be rash. Let me guess, a lot of people die. What is the mission? I want an explanation this time. And in case you haven't noticed, I have a lot of commitments here now. You're standing on my new fief, just so you know."
He narrowed his eyes. "I shall speak with the clerk. He will remain here for the duration of your mission. The Wildmage and the Black robe will remain in this dimension, and inform your king. The Lioness will go with you. You will be required to help a wizard stop another from destroying their world. The way you do that is entirely up to you."
Sarah opened her mouth to argue against Alanna being pulled into this mess, but Mithros had already swept her off of her feet, a swirling sensation pulling at her body as she landed in a heap on wet grass. The first thing she noticed was Alanna, moaning and retching on the ground next to her.
"Goddess, it's just like travelling on a boat." She heard from her mentor before chuckling slightly and moving over slowly to comfort the red headed knight.
When Alanna had recovered they looked around, and what they saw shocked them. Standing before them was a castle that rivalled the palace in Corus, and strolling out to meet them was an old man with a long white beard, twinkling eyes and a small grin on his face.
TBC…
