CHAPTER 2
A/N:- The beginning of this chapter is a bit shaky, very shaky, in fact. I apologise for updating late. Also, the long AN will be after the conclusion of the chapter.
I NEED A BETA. PLEASE REVIEW OR PM IF YOU ARE WILLING.
Disclaimer: Damn, forgot this in the first chapter. Obviously, I'm not J.K.R. Thus, I own nothing but the personalities of the founders, the OCs and the plot.
Rowena Ravenclaw, princess of Ireland. A warrior, skilled with a bow and a sword. She was known for her intelligence, logic and beauty. With her light bronze skin, black hair and blue eyes, she had to be beautiful.
When she came of age and her parents started looking for suitors, the tales of her battle prowess spread far and wide. There were mutterings in villages and anger from the more superstitious of the peasants. Every time she heard the accusations they threw at her, she would laugh it off. They needed to learn. She was more skilled than many men and more intelligent than most.
Suitors came in from far and wide. Many caught her eye, but no one would accept her for what she was- a warrior.
One of the suitors she took a particular hating to was Sebastian III, prince of some land or the other and a handsome, arrogant, idiot. He was also a womaniser.
He spent the whole of one dinner boring Rowena with his tales. When she mentioned that she liked eagles and that they were beautiful animals, he chose to smilingly make up tales and boast about killing eagles in Ireland. Was she the only one who had read "Mortal Beasts"?
So once he heard she was a warrior, he decided to mock her about it. She hated him, she really did. She knew for a fact that if they married,he would father over a hundred bastards.
One night, they were eating dinner with Sebastian. Rowena felt exposed in a long skirt in the place of the usual pants she wore. Sebastian was boasting about his prowess in battle. "I am considered one of the greatest swordsmen in history!" He boasted. Rowena mentally groaned. "Really?" Asked her father. "Then you should get along with Rowena. She is very skilled with a sword."
Rowena, tried to smile at him. Sebastian looked at her contemptuously, his blonde hair slicked back and glittering. "You consider yourself a warrior Rowena? I assure you, you don't need to worry your pretty little head over fighting when we are married. Anyway, as a woman, you most probably cannot hit a tree in front of you. Your father speaks out of love for you only."
Rowena was angered beyond words. "Well, Your Majesty", she said, curtseying as elegantly as she could and rewarding him with her brightest, most unnerving smile, then abruptly and unexpectedly said, "Lord Sebastian Malfoy III, I challenge thee to a duel." He laughed. Laughed at her. And would not stop. That idiot actually thought she was joking. Rowena unsheathed the dagger she had kept with her for protection since an assassin had attacked her and held it at his throat. "Or I could kill you here and now. It might get a little messy though... I guess I'll take you outside and kill you. Less of a mess for the servants."
She had no idea how she threatened him lIke that, but she knew that she hated him more than anything or anyone. "D-d-d-don't k-k-kill m-m-me" he stuttered. Rowena looked at him contemptuously and kicked him where it hurt. He cried out in pain and curled up on the ground. "Well? Will you accept my challenge?"
'Even with his measly brain he should realise that refusing will be admitting defeat... Just give it a few hours.', she though smugly. His eyes widened as he realised just that. 'Hmm, faster than I expected.'
He spoke arrogantly despite his curled up position and said, "I-if I win, y-you will be my wife and do nothing-N-n-NOTHING- other than g-g-give me pleasure when instructed. Is that alright with you?"
Rowena could only muse on how arrogant a stuttering person could sound as she said"If I win... Let's just see about that... Ah, I have it- If I win, I choose the punishment!" Her mother winced slightly, thinking that it wasn't ladylike, but her father grinned. King Ravenclaw was never the one to underestimate his daughter. The reply came as expected, "My victory is certain, so please be ready. I do not fear a mere woman!"
Those words were spread through the country and most of those who could afford it came to watch the duel.
It was scheduled for the next week. Rowena woke up on time every morning, letting herself sleep just enough, and trained a lot. Even if Sebastian was as bad a swordsman as he seemed, good training would be useful later on. She was never one to not work hard.
Another way for her to prepare was by reading books on the art of war. She seriously studied techniques that would increase her speed and strength. There was one tome which she really loved. It had been written by a woman, the only other woman who had ever been known to be skilled at war. Her name was unknown and she had been burned to death. Which was why witch-burning was forbidden where she lived. Her parents knew of her hatred of that practise, so after debates and carefully constructed arguments, it had been banned.
Sebastian meanwhile, was acting as arrogant as ever. He spent his days with wine and women. All the cheap women around the castle worshipped him and hoped to be called into his chamber one night. One more reason to hate him.
The day of the tournament approached fast. Rowena woke up early on that fateful day and readied herself quickly. Light, flexible leather clothes would have to do. Too bad the armour she had ordered was not yet ready. She heard a knock on the door. "Lady Rowena? Are you decent?" Rowena grinned. It was her sword instructor, Sir George Wesley. "Yes, Sir George!" She said, opening the door. Sir George stood with a servant beside him. "Milady, here is your armour. As per the design you requested. And here is your sword." The servant moved forward and presented her with a beautiful blade. He kept the armour in the shelf she had reserved just for new items which had not yet found a spot in her room.
"Oh good! The armour is ready early. Thank the blacksmith for me." Rowena grinned again, something she seemed to be doing a lot since she challenged that pompous, arrogant little toe-rag.
The armour was a design found in a book. She and asked for it only a few weeks back. It was very light and gave a good amount of protection. Her sword was also light. It had a thin blade which was blue, and a bronze handle. On the pommel was the symbol of an eagle, which soars where man cannot tread. A noble animal indeed. The same animal was on the nosepiece of her helm, she observed with delight.
All of these were built for speed. After years of intensive training, Rowena was light and fast. She could disarm and move with lightning quick movements, so she thrived in large areas. Her only weakness was power. She never put extra power in her blows, preferring to slip under her enemy's guard. A fast yet strong enemy had an excellent chance against her.
She opened the curtain and saw the rising sun. She was late. Hurriedly sheathing her sword at her waist, she went down to breakfast. She wasn't nervous. She knew that if all else failed, her strange luck would save her.
This luck had once teleported her behind a person when she was supposed to be "dead" in practise. Another time, when an assassin was after her, a lady had accidentally poured garbage on the man's head. That had her laughing at the fate of the assassin for weeks. This 'luck' seemed to be as intelligent as her, at the very least. The only thing she was worried about was that if her luck saved her, her family would have a full-scale rebellion on their hands.
She briskly walked down to breakfast, where Sebastian sat at the foot of the long table. At the head sat King Ravenclaw, and to his left sat an old knight, beside whom sat a beautiful yellow-haired girl.
"Rowena!" Said her father, spotting her and urging her towards him. She walked briskly, ignoring the contemptuous glare of Sebastian on her back. She had also seen him run his eyes over her body covetously. She glared at him the, but not bothered to watch him tremble. She had better things to do.
She walked over to the table where her father nodded to her and asked her to sit down. "Rowena, I would like you to meet Sir Jeremy Hufflepuff and his granddaughter, Helga Hufflepuff.
Sir Jeremy bowed and Helga smiled at her. The girl was about Rlwena's age, with long yellow-blonde hair and a pretty, cheerful face. She had rosy cheeks and such golden-brown eyes. Overall, she looked a lot but not quite like many of the farm girls one would find across Sweden.
"Sir Jeremy was once a fine knight, but he started as a farmer's boy so that is what he became. He cultivated his land and his sons grew up as slightly elevated farm boys." he said. Then nodding at Sir Huflepuff, he said "No offence, Sir."
Sir Jeremy merely smiled. Helga spoke her first words to Rowena in her clear, sweet, lightly accented voice. voice. "Lady Rowena, come sit beside me." Rowena smiled and moved to sit down next to Helga.
"So, Rowena," said her father. "Sir Jeremy and Helga are here to watch the tournament." Rowena simply nodded.
"You have a sword?" Asked Sir Jeremy. "My lady? May I see the blade you wield? I would like to see what sort of a blade I can have crafted for Helga." Rowena's expression brightened as she carefully unsheathed her sword and gave it to him. "Ah, beautiful blade. It is sharp, light and if used intelligently, very deadly. Wonderful design and forging. May I know the maker of the sword and design?"
"Well, the town blacksmith forged it. The design was made by me, based on a very similar design in a tome." Was Rowena's reply as a servant moved in to serve her the usual nutritious diet food.
"Anne?" She called the girl. "Tell cook to prepare a feast for tomorrow if I win this." The serving girl, Anne, turned and nodded.
She spent her breakfast talking with Helga. The girl was really sweet, but Rowena would not have had the patience for sweetness was Helga not so... Informal. The manipulating, cunning world of politics where Rowena lived seemed to be so far from her. This could almost make her jealous. Helga was accepting and thoughtful. A perfect princess. Meanwhile, at the foot of the table, the same serving girl who was serving Rowena, Anne, was serving Sebastian.
Sebastian seemed to have gotten a little drunk, at breakfast, that too, so when Anne went near him he threw out an arm and pinched her. Anne stiffened but continued walking. Both Helga and Rowena were angry, but thee was nothing they could do about it.
"Hey, you girl, give me some more!" Called out Sebastian, making Rowena hate him even more then ever. Anne, however, merely said "You want wine Sir?"
Sebastian nodded. " Give it to me, now..." Anne moved forward and poured some wine. Sebastian took a swig then, as Anne turned around, dragged her onto his lap. Rowena nearly burst with contained anger.
Taking one look at her, Lord Ravenclaw shook his head. "Lord Sebastian..." He began, but before he could continue, Anne had somehow lurched herself forward and escaped his grasp. Sebastian was curled up clutching the same place Rowena had previously kicked him in.
"She-she burnt me that.. That..." Gasped Sebastian. Rowena could not resist smiling. "Maybe he deserved it", she whispered to Helga and then immediately thought. 'Whispering? I met this girl only an hour ago and I'm already close enough to whisper?'
Still, whispering aside, Rowena was shocked. She thought that she was the only one who had these strange things happen to her! If she was proved wrong, this meant that strange happenings could be either something everybody hid or something that was a talent. This had to be researched.
"Helga? I must be on my way now. If you wish to see me, either look in the library or in the practise yard. If I'm in neither place, check my chambers. The better way though, will be sending someone to check for you," she said Helga nodded, but when she heard the last part she said. "No! I'm not afraid of work. It will be no problem to check on you. Good luck, Lady Rowena."
"Just Rowena." She said, walking off. Her first destination was the library, where she took a few books and kept them in her room, where she donned her armour. Then, she walked down to the practise yard. This was to be her last practise before the duel.
She was surprised to see Helga practising there with a long dagger. "Helga?" She called out.
Helga turned and smiled. "Rowena." She said simply. 'I like that. Most people refuse to call me Rowena when I ask them to. This girl is really likeable.'
Helga walked over to her and they started walking towards Sir George. "Do you wield the dagger Helga?" Asked a Rowena, trying her best to be polite.
"I do, but only for the sake of defence. Dark things roam the mountains. I'm. Ot that much into fighting. Too violent, you know? Let it be left to men who don't know better." She glanced at Rowena and added "No offence, My Lady. I'm sure you are more intelligent than most men."
She nodded in acknowledgement and replied "No offence taken. And I thought that, unlike others, you had stopped calling me 'lady'?"
Helga only grinned and nodded. By the time they had finished talking, they had reached the centre of the ground where Sir George was training some of the other aspiring knights.
"Sir George!" Called out Rowena. Everybody stopped themselves from turning and looking at the two girls, as not fully paying attention to the swords could end up harming them
"Ah, Lady Rowena. Come here to practise I assume?" Said Sir George, smiling at her. He immediately noticed Helga by her side and said, "Greetings to you too, my lady..?"
"Helga Hifflepuff." She smiled. "And please, Sir George, I am no lady. Only a descendent of one." Sir George nodded and laughed his booming laugh, although Rowena had no idea why. Maybe he knew Helga's grandmother.
"You wield a blade too, Lady- I mean, Helga?" He changed the track of his way of addressing Helga completely when he saw her glare. Unsurprisingly, at this change in address, the glare melted to be replaced by her usual charming smile.
"A sword I wield only if I must. My weapon of choice is a bow or, if the occasion demands, a long dagger." She said.
"So, Helga, would you practise with Lady Rowena here? I will be pre-occupied with the other swordsmen and Rowena needs to practise with women so that she can fight her match today." Both of the girls laughed at the (poor) implied joke and Helga agreed to practise with Rowena.
They drew their blades in the small practise area set aside for the royal family. Rowena's blade was considerably longer, although Helga's dagger could be considered a short sword. They bowed to each other and the match began.
Helga moved like a bee, buzzing fast with her-yellow and black blade, "Sweet Sting" as she pressed closer to Rowena, using her shorter blade as an advantage. 'She knows how to wield her blade', thought Rowena with admiration. 'She seems to have some practical experience as well, which gives her a slight advantage...'
However quick Helga was, Rowena equalled her in speed. She moved quickly out of Sweet Sting's range as she started trying to slip under her new friend's guard from a longer range. Ten minutes the match went on, ten minutes which they spent attacking and defending. Finally though, Rowena quickly locked hilts with Helga and twisted. Sweet Sting fell to the ground. She out her sword to Helga's throat. "I win!" She said cheerfully, removing the blade.
"You clearly have a passion for this. My mere training with no actual pursuit of this as an art did not stand a chance." Commented Helga, displaying the kind side of her personality, the one that would bring her fame in the future.
"You, didn't have a chance." Replied Rowena, giving an unladylike snort. "It was only through sheer luck that it was my victory! You are equally good, if not better than me with Sweet Sting. If you prefer a bow, then I wonder how good you are with one. In fact, my curiosity is so overwhelming I suggest we go to the archery range right now."
"Oh, I'm not so good with weapons in any form, yet I will not say no to archery." Was what Helga said. "Seeing your skill at the art is something which will no doubt improve my technique."
Rowena graciously accepted the compliment and together they walked out of the practise area. "Practised well, I hope?" Asked Sir George as they walked out of the courtyard. "Of course, Sir George. Rowen had rather easily managed to defeat me with her blade." Came Helga's formal reply.
They continued walking and since it was a long way, Rowena decided to make some small talk with Helga. "So... Who introduced you to the sword and the dagger? 'Tis rare that women are allowed to fight, only my high position got me into this." She sighed. "Seems like everything revolves around politics nowadays."
Helga nodded. "My mother taught me, she had learned from Father's mother."
Her voice took on a sadder tone as she said, "Grandmother was the greatest of warriors. She... Died. The story of her death is for another time."
Rowena nodded as they reached the archery range. Rowena waves a servant boy over. "Get me my usual bow. Also, get a bow for Lady Helga here." He nodded respectfd
"Milady? What bow would ye prefer?" Asked the boy.
"Ah, a good longbow would do. A lighter bow would be better."
The boy nodded again and ran off.
About an hour passed, wherein Helga's great skill was proven. Her shooting grew more and more accurate the lighter the bow she used. She was better than Rowena at archery, as Rowena proffered more powerful shots on her
crossbow, which reduced her accuracy.
After some time, Rowena realised with a shock that she had been having a good time with Helga while everyone was awaiting her for the final preparation before the duel. She had never had so much fun before. Not with her male friends, they were always a little condescending and too distant. Her female companions usually only cared about sewing and gossiping.
"Helga?" She said. "Yes, Rowena?" Came the reply from Helga.
"I must apologise as the hour grows late. They are expecting me for final preparation and for the exercises which I have to complete before the duel." Said Rowena apologetically.
"No problem. May I accompany you?" Asked Helga.
"Of course. Just be warned, act respectful inside the castle when in the vicinity of my mother the queen. To her, I will be acting too casual."
Helga nodded.
The two of them hurried back to the castle. The sun had already risen high, judging from the sundial there was yet time for the duel. She had heard from the few girls who decided to help her that Sebastian, whom she had almost forgotten during the wonderful morning, would be using an axe or a similar blunt weapon. She doubted it. The girls were very bad at hiding their true intentions, they were obviously aiding him.
A few minutes in their brisk pace and they arrived at the castle. "Lady Rowena." Called out Anne, bowing, "His majesty your father is expecting you. He is in his study with her majesty your mother. Lady Helga is to meet with Sir Jeremy Hufflepuff in their quarters."
Mentally, Rowena groaned. She had been avoiding her mother since the challenge. Her mother did not think it lady-like to challenge a man. However, she managed to smile at Helga. "The morning was fine indeed, my lady." Helga looked a bit surprised at the sudden formality in her tone, but accepted it, remembering what Rowena had said about facing the queen.
"I feel the same, your majesty. Thank you for your presence."
Rowena nodded graciously and then ruined the effect as she grinned mischievously at Helga.
She walked away,trying her best to walk regally despite her sweat-soaked clothes. Anne, coming up behind her, grinned. "Milady Rowena... This way of walking is barely regal and ladylike." They had been friends when they were young. Anne had been sneaking out and getting basic sword training when Rowena caught her but had allowed her to continue. However, their friendship had to wane, due to the much-hated political reasons. Anne had her skills with an axe.
'Is it not strange that the females all over the known world are weak? Three of the strongest females seem to be in this castle.' Mused Rowena as she walked towards her father's study which was on the top of the north tower.
She reached and saw her parents inside. She courts eyed as elegantly as she could to her mother, but since she was in pants and wearing her sword at her waist she nearly collapsed and stabbed herself. Her father caught her and steDied her. "There there, Rowena, be careful." He said, smiling ever so slightly. Her mother frowned. "Rowena, you are nearly eighteen summers old! Are you not going to learn to curtsy?" She said dissaprovingly. Rowena stared at her feet, embarrassed.
"Mother... I'm sorry." Her mother only nodded. "You better be." She sniffed. "Now we need to talk to you."
"What?" Asked Rowena abruptly. Seeing her mother's glare, she corrected "Sorry. I mean, what, your majesty?" Her mother nodded.
"I have been... Analysing your talk with Sebastian, especially. And I have to say that I..."
Rowena glared at her mother. "So you disapprove, your majesty?"She said, putting as much venom as she could into those two words. Her mother winced, but Rowena did not care. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she felt too angry, like a caged up bird.
"Do you have any idea what it is like to be me? Looked down upon by my own mother? Do you have any idea how horrible it is to pretend to be something you are not, all the time? Just for the sake of politics, that is it. Oftentimes, I feel like my whole life is for political reasons!" She nearly screamed.
"Rowena I..." Her mother started, but fell silent when Rowena hit her, all the cooped up emotions just coming up and out. "I have never been a lady, I am a warrior. I care not if it is ladylike, it is what I am and I do not wish to change it. Sebastian insulted and degraded me, it was a rash decision to challenge him, yet I do not regret it. He deserved it." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Now say what you need to say, but know how I feel."
"Rowena..." Said her mother hesitantly, as though afraid of Rowena lashing out again. She merely raised an eyebrow.
"You will always be my daughter. It is not that I do not care for you, never ever think such. It is just that you must be more like what is expected of you. And that is wrong. You have to be what the people want you to be."
"And deny what I really am?" Asked Rowena, getting up and pacing. "I am not what the people expect of me, nor will I ever be. It is only logical for you, mother, to get a better heir."
Her mother regained her confidence. "And what of Sebastian? How could you challenge him? A sweet, friendly man who only wished the best for you?"
Rowena felt red-hot anger coursing through her veins again. Her father, who had till then remained silent, placed a hand on her arm. "Rowena, do not say something you will later regret. You are a logical person. Follow your logic."
Rowena nodded mutely, still too angry to speak. "I will restrain myself and tell you only this, mother. Sebastian never wished the best for me. He wanted the best for himself. A truly sweet and caring man would actually allow me to prosper as who I am." She grabbed her father's sword and placed the tip on her heart. "Rowena! No!" Cried out her father. Her mother looked to be on the verge of sobbing.
"I, Rowena Ravenclaw, hereby swear upon this sword of my father and by my belonging to the Noble house of Ravenclaw to marry for love and love alone."
Her parents sighed in relief, although her mother did not look happy. "Know now, that giving me away in marriage is taking away my position as your daughter."
She walked out of the room, ignoring her mother's cries for help. She swathe water clock, a beautiful one of an ancient design. It said that noon approached fast and with it was her duel with Sebastian.
She went to her room and read up as much as she could about different techniques, spending her time assimilating at least a hundred different ways to kill or maim an opponent.
The duel approached fast. She donned her armour, admiring once again the elegantly crafted eagle nosepiece and hung her sword at her waist,she alsokt knives hidden in about ten different locations on her body. Very one of them would be needed.
A knock on her door assured her that she was not too Walt in getting ready. "Rowena?" Called Helga in her musical voice. "The duel approaches fast. The audience have assembled and are waiting."
She swung open the door. "I am ready." She said confidently,striding out of the room. Helga struggled to keep up with her. "A warrior, indeed." she said. "May the gods be with you, Rowena."
She hurried down into the great ground that had been set up only for the duel. "Lady Rowena." Called out Sebastian mockingly. "Prepared for losing, are you not?" His friends laughed with him.
"Be careful how you speak." She replied. "You might be the one who will lose finally." Sebastian only laughed at her, just like the day of her challenging him. This time, though, she would not let him get to her. She would defeat him and show him and all men how formidable an opponent she, Rowena Ravenclaw really was.
A conch shell was blown, so she mounted her stallion, a beautiful black horse named Midnight and rode him into the arena. "A woman riding a horse!" Said Sebastian mocking her again. "Whatever would the fates say?" Rlwena responded by urging midnight onwards and striking him with her lance, leaving him face down in the dirt, hopefully pondering his own stupidity.
After a few more successful rounds with a land, both of them drew their swords. Sebastian's sword was heavy and jewel-encrusted, making a hard hit when swung. She found it almost ridiculously easy to dodge as he was very slow.
His blows had a fair bit of strength to them, but since she was too fast for him she was not affected. However, she moved as fast as she could, dodging the blade instead of parrying. "You fight like the coward which you are!" He taunted. She ignored him and slipped under his guard. Using the same trick she had with Helga, she locked hits and twisted. He withdrew his sword, though.
She kneed him and he groaned in pain. Swinging the sword blindly. This time, the locking hilts worked and his sword clattered to the ground. The crowd cheered and booed. She turned and faced the huge podium where her parents sat. "By the laws of times unknown, I claim this match as my victory!" She cried triumphantly.
'I knew that the coward stood not a chance.' She thought proudly. Unbeknownst to her, however, he had retrieved his sword from where it,ay on the dust. The crowd gasped and she swung around, but it was too late. Her sword clattered to the ground and his was heading straight for her stomach.
"Dishonourable coward!" She cried. The sword nearly bored through her as she dodged the blow. The crowd was panicking now, screaming and running away. Her father's guards approached her, but they would be too late. "Rowena!" Cried her parents, panic in their voices. She retrieved one of her hidden knives and did the only thing she could do.
When Sebastian stabbed at her, there was a bang. He was thrown back. A flash of lightning followed, throwing him to the ground.
"You are a witch, not a royal." Muttered Sebastian. "Still, I... Lost... To a woman." He groaned in pain and, to Rowena, seemed to suddenly die.
"What is this?" A voice boomed and Rowena looked up. Through the haze she saw the only thing that could make her day worse- Sebastian's parents, the monarchs of Wales, had arrived.
The king of Wales seemed to be arguing with her father. "Punish her." The king boomed. "Or I will take her by force. My guards are with entourage of a thousand for the defeat if your daughter. Challenging was bad, but this... Is he dead?"
Black filled the edges of her vision as one of the stable men seemingly threw a rock at her and she missed out on the next part of the conversation.
"Rowena. Rowena." A voice seemed to be calling her repeatedly. "Helga?" She said drearily. "What?"
"Somebody threw a rock at you and injured you. Yes, and you nearly killed Sebastian. If we do not escape now, you are dead. The magic you used also exhausted you, but was seen by the audience. If you stay, you and your parents will certainly die. I'm sorry, but leaving is the best chance of your family surviving."
"Magic?" She asked.
"Accidental." She replied. On seeing Rowena's confused expression, she said, "Curse it! I will explain what I know of it later!"
"Tell me how you know such things then." Replied Rowena.
She followed Helga, her head throbbing. "Can you ride? Because that is the only chance for our escape." Said Hekga
Rowena nodded and mounted Midnight. They rode out at full gallop, past the guards in the gate. They went down the Kingsroad at full speed.
She turned around and took a last look at her childhood home. Surprisingly, she did not feel any regret as she rode away from it. In fact, she felt like an eagle, once trapped in a golden cage, but now free.
"So, Helga, magic? What do you know and how do you know about it?" She asked over the sound of hooves as her vision cleared out, trying to keep herself entertained.
"My grandmother taught me about it." Replied Helga, slowing her horse's pace down to a walk.
"She-she died right? Tell me more about her, from what you have said she seems to be a wonderful woman." said Rowena , barely able to string together a coherent sentence.
"It is a long tale." Warned Helga.
"We have all the time in the world", replied Rowena. "And I cannot fall unconscious."
Helga nodded and said quietly. "She was burnt alive for being a warrior. Also... She had told me that she-she..."
"She what?" Asked Rowena, all traces of wooziness disappearing.
"I-if I tell you, y-you won't tell anyone will you?" Asked Helga, stuttering slightly. Rowena noticed the usually composed girl's stuttering and nodded encouragingly. "I won't tell a soul." She promised.
"Well, she had... M-magic. When she was very young and was just learning, her magic saved her from various sti-sticky situations. It would look like very strange accidents to an onlooker, yet the more superstitious already hated her. So when she moved away from the capital and into Sweden, an assassin was sent to her in the village. She fought as hard as she could, yet this man matched her equally. He was a very skilled warrior. So, blow to blow the fight raged. She won, but only due to 'luck'. All the onlookers saw him flying headfirst into the river. The next day, she was dragged out and burnt alive. She never let out a scream. Just... Died."
Rowena listened silently to the whole thing, the tale ringing very familiar in her ears. Her logic took over immediately. She was magical. These accidents were magical. That girl, Anne, was also magical. Piece were falling together quickly. Now all that remained to be seen was wether or not males could be magical and also if Helga was a witch too. That would make survival considerably easier.
"So, where are we going Helga?" She asked.
"I know a place, but it is over five months journey from here. A castle, a great one at that."
"Whose castle?" Asked Rowena curiously.
"The castle of the ancient and noble house of Gryffindor."
A/N: Sorry for the wait.
