Hey, to you all. This is a new version of my old story. I plan on making it better. Hope you like it. If you have any suggestions, any advice etc. feel free to leave a message. If you have any ideas on what you'd like to happen with the story, give me a hint. You never know I just might include your bit in the plot. R&R and just have fun. ^-^ - Martha
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any other character created by J. K. Rowling.
The horse carried it's mistress through green fields and pastures, passing forests and rivers. Both the rider and the animal moved as one becoming almost a blurred point of black upon the sunny landscape. She could feel the pull of the land. It's power recognizing her own and fueling it. She was embraced by it as if a cocoon of warmth closed around her. She heard the beat of the land like that of a big heart. It was an ever present noise in the background that she only allowed herself to hear on rare occasions. Now was such an occasion. She was saying goodbye.
She recalled the previous day with a hint of sadness, but it was overpowered by the sense of joy and purpose. Not only could she finally prove her worth in the court, she would realize her biggest wish on the way as well.
Her horse run into the cool water of the river spraying her face with it. She forced it to a stop and dismounted onto the bank. She realized the kelpie from her charm and the horse disappeared into the shallow waters with a neigh of indignation. She sighed and stretched on the grass. Her eyes closed. She could smell the freshly cut hay and the small flowers in the field close by. She could feel a small breeze coming from the stream. The sun fell on her face warming her. Birds sung and cicadas played their song. She would miss it all terribly, she was sure.
She relaxed and opened her mind and soul. Waves of warm energy flooded her senses. She welcomed it, knowing that she won't feel the supportive power of her homeland ever again. She mourned it in her heart. Tears fell into the grass beneath her. The force she was united with sensed the change, she heard a rustle and saw two small foxes running straight for her. They cuddled by her sides giving small whines. She laughed merrily and scratched them behind the ears. They barked and cuddled closer. She would miss the way even nature wanted to comfort her when she was sad. She would miss how the bird sung when she was happy. She would even miss the heavy thunders that signaled her anger.
She must have fallen asleep because when she woke the foxes were gone and the sky was painted violet. She rubbed at her eyes and stood. She stretched her hand towards the river and concentrated. The ever present force around was only too happy to support her energy as she sent it towards the now dark water. She saw the horse that carried her before and pulled. A high neigh flew through the evening air as a dark shape emerged from the waves and kicked angrily at the air.
Kelpies were extremely proud. They hated when she used them as steeds. But they were obedient enough under the pressure of her magic. The water demon kneeled in front of her offering her his back. She climbed atop it, holding tight. It stomped angrily for a moment only to run towards the narrow road around the field, leaving wet hove traces in the dirt. It galloped towards the castle looming on the horizon.
She had a rather long journey home ahead of her, and even though Kelpies could gallop for hours and never tire, it would still take a while. She remembered the satisfied smirk on her father's face when she agreed to his plan. She could see the cruel glint in his eyes.
It was just short before noon when her brother burst into her room announcing with an unreadable face that father wished to see her. She was surprised, because he never talked to her, unless some court function put him in a position, in which he had to play a doting father to his children.
She hurried along the corridors, because it was never wise to keep His Majesty waiting. She dared not invoke his anger. The heavy doors to the throne room easily gave way to her magic, letting her pass. She could see the throne at the end of the long alley. She strode ahead not paying much notice to the constellations entrapped in the darkness around her. The stars being born in great explosions and dying in magnificent supernovas. She had her eyes trained on the man sitting in the throne.
Her father was a powerful man. A king to a powerful kingdom. Their land lay high in the Carpathian mountains, It was a harsh environment that made the people tough and strong. The circumstances made them also not very trusting, so whenever a foreign wizard or muggle chanced among them it wasn't a warm welcome he received. They were suspicious but also cautious by nature. As for how the local population hid their magic from the muggles, they didn't. Muggles in their land knew all about magic, and the government saw nothing wrong with it. In fact there were laws against harming or manipulating a muggle. The muggles themselves knew what would happen to them if they ever brought attention to the wizards and witches of the land and kept quiet. The foreigners simply thought them superstitious.
She walked along the marble floor fearing the conversation more and more with every step she took towards her father.
'Come, daughter of mine, don't stand there in the dark.'
She gasped in surprise. He addressed her as his daughter in front of the few nobles allowed around his throne. She stood in the circle of warm light cast by the candles.
She bowed.
'Your Majesty, you called for me?'
'Why else would you be here?' He laughed, and a shiver went down her spine. She was even more afraid now.
'What is it you wish of me My Lord?'She could not help the tremble in her voice.
'Come now, am I not allowed to simply desire to see my daughter? My smartest and most adept daughter?' One of the nobles laughed, and the rest followed his example. Their laughter echoed through the room.
'Silence!' The sound died on their lips, leaving them pale and frightened.
'Out!'The king ordered and the nobles scurried away toward the door in a hurry. Before the heavy doors closed behind the last of them she was already terrified.
'Rise your head' She straightened her back but kept her eyes trained on the floor.
He rose from the throne and came close. He came behind her 'Look at the throne' his whisper left goose bumps on the back of her neck. She raised her eyes and regarded the massive ash tree armchair, with a grand snake eating it own tail, engraved onto its back. The Uroboros. The One that is All. The symbol of the king of their land. The continuity of the dynasty. The mark she carried on her back.
'My throne. I fought for it, and won. Now I will leave it to a child of mine. To my son.' She shivered at the coldness that filled his voice.
'Yet you are the one who carries The Mark. You were chosen by the Goddess to rule one day. And I will not allow it.' Dread swarmed into her soul. His threats were never idle.
'Am I to die then.' She would not show fear. Fear was weakness and she was strong.
He laughed. She spun around and faced him with her head raised high. She was his daughter, even if she was just a royal bastard. She was calm. He sobered instantly.
'you are indeed my child. You show courage and strength where your siblings are weak and fearful. You are smart and you value your education where they disregard it as foolish and useless. A Pity you don't look like your mother, you'd make a perfekt daughter for me then. She was a beauty, and you're simply plain. But I admire something else in you as well. Your power.' He walked past her and sat in his throne.
'you are too precious to be killed' his face was a mask of indifference.
'you're a royal child after all. You have a choice. Either be stripped of your power so that Kain may rule or leave.'
He sat then waiting, like a vulture waiting for a lamb to die so it could feast on its carcass.
'leave, My Lord?' her voice was barely a whisper.
'yes. You will be sent to a boarding school until your brother is of age and ascends the throne. After that you are welcome to return. You will no longer be a threat.'
He said it in almost a bored tone.
'you will, of course, be provided for. I'll assign you some company so you do not suffer your exile alone.'
She looked him in the eye seeing the cruelty deep inside him. She knew he didn't care for her. He never did, why would he start now. She should be grateful he didn't kill her on the spot. Could she leave though? Could she forsake her powers if she didn't? She stood there motionless and silent, deep in thought.
'Would it help if offered you an apprenticeship with The Knowing after your return?'
Her eyes shot up looking at him in shock. It must be really important if he offered her, her dream on a golden platter, so to speak.
She knew she would never get another chance like this. She would never be let into apprenticeship another way, not when she was his bastard.
'When do I leave?' Those four whispered words put a big satisfied smirk on his face.
'I knew you would like my offer. You have two weeks to prepare. Take whatever you would find helpful or necessary. Say your goodbyes.'
She bowed and waited.
'you may leave for now. I shall summon you when I find a suitable companion for you.' And he dismissed her with a wave of his hand. She turned and almost run out of the throne room and back to the library, accompanied by curious glances of the nobles waiting behind the door.
She was forced out of her memories by the Kelpie who came to a stop in front of the fountain in the palace courtyard. The night was almost upon them. She heard the laud song of the cicadas. She was leaving in two days. She released the Kelpie and went for the door.
'Catharina!' She turned to see a face she never again expected to see.