Another chapter, and yet I still am only borrowing what belongs to JK Rowling.
Rowena had spotted his bright red hair through a window as she was walking down to breakfast that morning. Changing her course she made her way to the east terrace to join him outside.
She had been making little noise but he still greeted her without turning around, "Good morning lady Rowena, I am rather surprised to find you outside instead of entertaining your guests at breakfast".
"Are you not also one of my guests Godric," she questioned. She stood still beside him, both watching the sunrise over the mountains.
"Indeed, but if we are being honest then we both know that of your guests I am the least important. The deeds of my family stretch back only far enough to grant me a place in society but not so far as to bring any great honor or notoriety. I consider myself lucky to be included as always," he said.
"Well I hardly believe that. Or rather I hardly believe that you concern yourself with such ideas. Anyone who has met you speaks of you in only the nicest of terms, and anyone who has fought with you is reduced to an awed silence. I think you do just fine in our society and abroad if the stories of your adventure in Gaul are indeed fact." As Rowena spoke Godric turned to watch her, her tone never changed but she had intended to surprise him with her knowledge of what happened in Gaul and had succeeded.
"Hector never could manage a secret," Godric said.
"Hector never could manage his ale," Rowena countered.
Chuckling as he tried to figure out the best course of action he decided that the truth was most fitting, "The issue with the manticore was hardly as dangerous as I'm sure Hector made it out to be. Besides the beast had been terrorizing communities all the way from Greece. It was more a stroke of luck that by the time news of it reached our ears it had already made it's way to the Frankish territories. What is more now with all this talk amongst the families of becoming overly casual with our magic around muggles and the need for secrecy it hardly seems appropriate to boast about such an accomplishment."
"And what are your feelings then, regarding secrecy," she questioned.
Smiling through his beard he regarded her as he spoke, "In most cases the magic witches and wizards use is so mundane that I should think it hardly matters. If they wish to bind themselves with such rules and regulations to make the extraordinary even more difficult to accomplish so be it. But for those, such as yourself, capable of magical artistry it would seem not only a waste, but also a crime itself to expect you to contain or limit your abilities merely for the sake of going unnoticed by a few muggles."
"And what would you know of my magic master Gryffindor," she asked keeping her eyes on the growing rays of sunlight.
"Only what I hear unfortunately. But I trust the words spoken by Hector and of course by my father," he said.
Rowena was thoughtful for a moment, "Yes, he was present at the Battle of the Lowlands, but also I think during the clash at the Antonine Wall? He is a sight I will not soon forget, with his great lion helm. I feel his battle cry may challenge any lions' roar."
"He would be honored to hear you say so lady Rowena," Godric said. "And I am sure that I have occupied enough of your time, it seems only appropriate that we join lady Helga and Salazar back inside."
"I am rarely concerned with what is appropriate Godric. But I am curious as to why you seem so quick to rid yourself of my company. Perhaps in my time away I truly have become as boring and dreary as Helga so often suggests," Rowena said now facing him.
"Not at all my lady," Godric said quickly, "it is just that your whole reason for bringing each of us here, your idea of a school, while most compelling seems rather beyond my own abilities."
"You sell yourself short Godric," she began.
"Hardly ever my lady. I simply know my place. And while it is true that I may be able to slay manticores, take on giants, win a duel, and even occasionally cross swords with a muggle if I find myself so inclined what you speak of, learning and educating are not areas in which I have much experience. So you will forgive me if I question why you sought me out and extended such an invitation to join you for what will be a most important and difficult task, and one for which I am most ill suited."
"There are a great many ways to learn and as such a great many ways to teach," Rowena began. "And while your many deeds are impressive the trait in you that I find myself most drawn to in regards to this situation is your loyalty. Tell me is it ignorance or forgetfulness on Salazar's part regarding your mother and her heritage?"
Godric looked away, but the anguish on his face he tried to hide carried over to his tone, "We have been friends for nearly twelve years and still I hardly know. Salazar can become rather all consumed with himself or at least with his own family. I knew him before that ordeal with Selwyn and even then he could be absorbed by a singular goal or thought. Now of course that quality has become magnified ten fold. Some might see his actions as driven by pride but I know better. He is driven by survival, it simply seems that his definition of what it means to survive is rather higher than that of the average person."
Rowena walked around to his other side so that she could look in his eyes as she spoke, "Yet even as he speaks such horrible things about those born from muggles with magical ability, still you remain his closest friend. You choose to devote yourself to what you see as his best qualities, while letting those dark, detestable parts remain acknowledged but unchallenged. Your capacity for commitment is most endearing and I will say in large part why I find you such a necessary participant in this plan to attempt to bring together so many who may fight or have quarrels with each other and try to teach them something new."
"You are most eloquent lady Rowena but I fear that you may have overstated the simplicity of my actions," he said.
"Simplicity is nothing to find shame in and truly it is a concept that I find most refreshing. What is more just because something is simple does not mean it is easy. I do not give out my admiration lightly Godric so I do hope that you will trust me when I say that you have qualities that are essential to this idea of founding a school and I hope that you will consider joining us only after recognizing that your talents extend beyond dueling and daring deeds," she spoke gently but there was a steeliness in her eyes that suggested to Godric that to heed her words was not just the safest but the only option.
"Now all this talk has served to increase my appetite," she said before he could respond. "If you would be so kind as to escort me?"
Her question hung in the air for only a moment before Godric took her extended hand and placed it on his arm. As they made there way back inside the castle he asked a question that he had been considering for a while, "If you will permit my curiosity my lady, what are your feelings regarding muggle born witches and wizards? That is to say regarding my mother and her impact on my own blood status?"
"I, like many of my family before me, have a profound appreciation for greatness. Whether it be expected," she paused to look at him, "or a surprise."