Dance of Death
Disclaimer: I only own my original characters, plot and ideas. All Harry Potter-ness are belong to JRK.
Authors Note: Sorry for the long time waiting for this one. I have had a bit of writers block and couldn't quite work out what was the happen next.
Chapter 10
Harry found himself looking at each of his companions in turn, smiling softly as he thought about how much they had come to mean to him since they had met. They were as important to him as any of his friends at Hogwarts.
The small group were currently sitting around the fire, considering their near futures, their camp heavily protected. They were now only a days' ride from the city. Earlier Marcus and Tynan had scouted the area, and had returned to report that the area was crawling with patrols of the King's guards. It was for certain that word had reached the King of their capture and then escape, ensuring that their plans of sneaking into the castle were ruined.
"So how do we do this?" Tynan muttered, seemingly thinking aloud, though he looked up at the others as he said this.
"Everywhere between here and the City his guarded, there is nowhere that isn't being watched or patrolled." He continued, his face troubled.
"Did you honestly think that we would just be able to ride right up into the city with no problems?" Bryana scoffed. "Regardless of whether he knew we were coming or not he will have guards stationed within miles of the city, increased patrols within the city, just watching and waiting for someone to try something, anything to stop him. And then when they do, he have them caught and killed." Her voice was blunt and harsh, and there was a tone of bitter remorse in it.
"Eamon is no fool," She continued softly, looking away from them. "As much as I wish he was, he is far from it. He is a wise and cunning man, and will be prepared for any attempts on his life. We will not be able to simply walk in and challenge him" At this she shot Tynan a foul look. "We can only try to out-smart him, a near impossible feat."
"This is a fool's mission." She added coldly.
Harry took a deep breath, he had mostly avoided the Princess since the beginning, her sharp temper and sharper tongue had encouraged Harry to keep his distance from her, but curiosity got the better of him.
"I thought you wanted Eamon dead, so you could take his place?" He questioned hesitantly.
Bryana shot Harry a glare, though it seemed not to hold its usual malice.
"Wanting him dead will not cause him to have a heart attack and die" Came the retort.
Harry snorted, seeing Tynan and Marcus have similar reactions.
Bryana sighed, her face softening from the usual bitter expression it carried to one of remorse.
"I wish to end Eamon's reign, and to save my people from his tyranny it is true. But you cannot deny that my Uncle is well prepared, it will be no simple task to destroy him. As much as I hate to admit it, Eamon is an intelligent and cunning man, he is not easily fooled."
She turned away from them, "and it does not matter, there is no way we can get into the city with it being so well protected, and we will not get close to Eamon with him being so well guarded." The last part was half shouted, almost hysterically. Harry could see the regret and misery in her eyes, and couldn't help but relate to her. Her people were in danger, and there was little Bryana could do to stop them, just as Wizarding Britain was in trouble and nothing Harry could do to help them.
Especially not now...
"We have to try" Tynan stated softly, reaching out to touch her on the shoulder. Bryana spun around,
"Try and fail" she snapped harshly, jerking away from the Knight's touch. "We will die, slain at the hands of Eamon's men, or at Eamon's hands himself. And he will be much crueller than his men will.
"Perhaps not" Obereon replied, instead of his usual mocking or joking tone, his voice was soft and thoughtful, a tone which was mostly unheard from the Demon. Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"What do you mean, Obie?"
"I might have another way into the city" came the slow and careful reply.
"Might?" Questioned Tynan, as Marcus said "but...?"
Obereon shifted, looking uncomfortable for the first time since Harry had met him, and judging by the looks on the faces of everyone else, the first time since they had met him too.
"How?" Came the general question.
Obereon remained silent, a troubled look on his face.
"Might, as in maybe" He corrected suddenly, "no guarantees" He added sharply. The troubled look changed to an unexplainable expression of what appeared to be disgust and indecision. The Demon ran a hand through his hair turning away from the humans and striding a few steps away from them, then turning sharply around and pointing at them,
"Rules! There are rules" He barked, moving his finger to point at each of them in turn. He turned away and back again, striding towards them, stopping right in front of the bewildered looking mortals.
"You stay, right here" He ordered, pointing at the floor of the cave in which was their latest hiding spot.
"Do not leave this cave, under any circumstances." He glared at Marcus and Harry. "You two ward this place. Seamless wards, understand?! I want to have trouble finding this place when I get back, damnit!"
He paced nervously for a second, and then turned back to them once more.
"All of you are to stay here! Don't leave, don't speak, don't even breathe! Just stay right here!" He turned away and went to leave the cave, then hesitated, and spun around once more. Harry felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. The Demons eyes glowed with a cold fire, no longer their bright blue colour, but a golden red.
"If I so much as THINK that you have moved so much as an INCH, I swear I will kill you myself!"
With that last threat Obereon turned and stalked out of the cave, disappearing out of sight amongst the trees.
Harry and Marcus carefully put up the strongest combined ward they could manag then joined the other two once more, they all exchanged nervous and frightened glances and then each carefully sat down on the floor.
-----
Obereon stomped through the forest, trying to his frustration.
What on earth had he been thinking?
He was only here to watch the human's progress, not get so directly involved. Why in the name of Demon Lords did he say that he knew of a way in? This was none of the Demon's business, they weren't supposed to get involved. He was a spy!
Obereon stopped and banged his head on a nearby tree.
For a genius he sure had really gone and said something stupid.
Stupid Obereon, Stupid Obereon, Stupid Obereon.
He sighed, why did he feel the need to get drawn in like that.
It's not like he liked the humans. What did he care if they failed? He would get away without them noticing and go back to his library and his books with the occasional trip back into the human world for research reasons. That's all humans were good for!
…
Demon Lords he was getting attached…
He's learned their names and kept them alive and safe and now he was attached to them…
He'd heard of this happening… quite a few demons had been exposed to humans and found themselves wanting to help them… but he had never suspected that it would happen to him.
Damnit.
Well who knows… maybe it would be informative, the sooner they got this done with, the sooner he could go home and remove this… sentimentality for humans.
Obereon shook his head in dismay.
Getting attached indeed.
Dust collected around his feet and then engulfed him in a cyclone. After a few seconds the dust settled, leaving an empty space where the Demon had been standing seconds before.
------
The Demons were an old and powerful race.
Some believed them to be as old as time itself, all of them ancient and wise and most of all dangerous.
This is true.
Many also believed that Demons kept themselves hidden from the rest of the world, completely careless of the human race in its entirety. Ignoring the wars and ways of the human world.
This is only partially true.
Demons do keep themselves hidden, that is for certain. The last thing Demons want or need is to have foolish and arrogant humans stumbling around on their land and brining their trouble with them.
But they do not ignore humans.
They've tried, Demon Lords, have they tried.
However humans are a very noisy race, they can do nothing but make a fuss about everything.
And Demons are an immensely curious race, which find it impossible not to stick their noses in other peoples business.
However as curious as Demons are, they still loathe the thought of nosy humans. Which left them with a dilemma, how to observe the humans and yet stay hidden? The result was Demons acquiring humans forms and wandering among them, disguised and hidden from the human race and able to observe in peace. Few Demons announced their true forms to humans, only those who believed that exposing themselves would be beneficial. Obereon was one of those who saw the benefits in letting the occasional human learn of the truth. Though there were many who lived their lives watching from behind their human masks.
Nekael was one of those who stayed hidden.
For a hundred years he had lived on the outskirts of the City, watching the human race speed along as they panicked and rushed and grew old and died.
Strange little things really, he wondered why they bothered. They got themselves so worked up and by the time they realized that it wasn't so important after all, they died.
Silly things.
Nekael raised his head as the warning rune stone flared, signaling that another Demon had entered his territory. Nekael frowned; he wasn't expecting anybody, especially not with the human's current war, since most Demons avoided the human wars. They were so messy.
He raised himself from his chair just as the door opened; he gave a wry smile as he recognized Obereon's Aura. It had been quite a few decades since he had seen the scholarly spy.
"Nekael" Obereon greeted him shortly.
Nekael raised an eyebrow at his friend's abruptness.
"Obereon, it's a pleasure. Would you like a drink?" Abrupt or not, niceties had to be observed.
"Demon Lords, yes" Obereon groaned, looking intensely relieved at the prospect.
Nekael poured two glasses of a strong Demon-made alcohol, because every one knew that humans just couldn't make alcoholic drinks properly, and sat down across from the other slightly frazzled Demon.
"What has got you so upset?" He questioned, smirking slightly, it was both interesting and humorous seeing the normally relaxed and unflappable Obereon looking so stressed out about something and Nekael was curious as to what it was.
Obereon shook his head, looking thoroughly disgusted with himself.
"Perhaps something to do with your latest mission?" Nekael questioned. Obereon winced and glared into his drink, but said nothing. Nekael grinned widely.
"Maybe something to do with the humans?" He persisted, never one to be deterred from his chosen course. Obereon shot him a foul look, his bright blue eyes flashing dangerously. He decided to try a new tactic.
"Oh come on Obereon, we're friends. You can tell me." He grinned madly. Obereon managed to look even more disgusted.
Nekael chuckled, fine don't tell me then.
He paused.
"But don't come crying to me when you have to let the humans back into the wild."
Obereon banged his head on the table which resulted in Nekael laughing outright.
"You can't be serious, you like them?" Nekael was having trouble stopping laughing.
"I'll get over it" Obereon sounded like someone trying to tell you that they weren't addicted and could quit at anytime. The fact that he was still banging his head on the table didn't help.
"There there" Nekael chortled, petting Obereon on the shoulder, "But now you see what happens when you get involved"
"It was the easiest way to watch them" Obereon snapped.
"Easy yes, however now you want to keep them."
"Yes well, because of this, I need you to get involved too"
Nekael blinked, then glared at Obereon.
"No." He said flatly.
"It's rather important"
"No."
Obereon rubbed his temples.
"Normally I wouldn't try drag someone else into this, especially not when I have gotten so involved already, but..." Obereon sighed.
"Look at it this way Nekael, Eamon is tearing this place apart! He doesn't care for the land, only the throne. He's severing ties with the border countries, killing those commoners who can't afford tax... in a few years this land will be nothing, no crops, no trade..."
Obereon looked up at Nekael,
"No magic"
"He can't stop magic" Nekael protested stubbornly.
"He already is"
"He can't stop us." The other demon persisted.
"Be he will try" Obereon pointed out sharply. "He will find us, and he will fight us."
"Eamon will loose"
"No, the human race will loose. Eamon would lose innocent humans from his armies, but he himself would not loose."
"What does it matter to us?" Nekael demanded harshly.
Obereon slammed his fist onto the tabletop.
"Everything, damnit!"
Nekael blinked, then sneered.
"You are far more attached to them than is healthy, Obereon."
Obereon snarled and the temperature in the room dropped suddenly.
"We all need the humans much more than we care to acknowledge, Nekael." He stated coldly.
"Oh please." Nekael scoffed.
Now it was Obereon's turn to sneer.
"Fine then, but when there is no trade, and the borders are being torn at by other humans wanting to claim this land, and Eamon is slaughtering anyone who so much as twitches their fingers in possible spell-casting way, and we are exposed to the human race entirely with no where to turn, don't say you weren't warned." Obereon snapped.
Nekael shook his head, a disgusted look on his face.
"You are prone to exaggeration my friend" He admonished softly, though there was a troubled look in his eyes.
Obereon stared moodily into his drink, lost in thought. Suddenly he brightened up, a devious look on his face.
"What are you thinking?" Demanded Nekael, suddenly looking nervous.
"Hrm? Oh nothing, it's of no matter." Came the nonchalant reply.
The hair stood up on the back of Nekael's neck.
"Stop it!" He ordered; a hint of fear in his voice.
"Stop what?" Obereon asked with a laugh.
"Stop thinking!" Nekael replied somewhat hysterically.
"Oh come on!" Obereon laughed.
"When you think, dangerous things happen." Nekael spoke like someone warding off evil.
Obereon laughed outright, but gave no answer, he simply smirked.
"Oh no" Nekael moaned fearfully.
"I think I have an idea" Obereon confessed, his eyes alight with a mysterious and determined air.
"About what?" Nekael questioned against his better judgement.
"About how to get in, and as such, I better get going." Obereon finished his drink and hummed happily. "Thank you for your hospitality my old friend" He shook a stunned Nekael's hand and made to leave, then stopped, and turned looking thoughtful, "You might want to run some errands far away from the city, Nekael, for... safety reasons."
Nekael froze, a myriad of expressions crossing over his face, fear being the most prominent.
Obereon was almost out the door.
"Oh no... Wait, wait, wait!" Nekael yelled.
"Something the matter, Nekael?" Obereon questioned innocently.
"I'll take you to the city, just don't do whatever it is you're thinking of doing" He hurriedly said.
"I knew I could count on you!" Obereon cried cheerfully, clapping Nekael on the shoulder.
"You are an evil plotting lunatic." Nekael sighed.
"I'm offended, Nekael." Obereon pouted, leading the way out of Nekael's home.
"Besides I don't plot, I scheme."
------
Harry glanced sideways at Marcus who shrugged. True to their word they had refrained from moving the entire time Obereon had been gone, too scared by the demon's sudden change in manner to disobey. After only a few hours, their companion had returned with another demon in tow, brief interruptions had been made and they had been told that Nekael had a way into the city which would be unmonitored by Eamon and his men. Despite Tynan and Bryana's original scepticisms about this so called, secret way, Marcus had put his foot down, saying at this point in time they had no other way in, and that he trusted Obereon more than enough not to lead them astray, as should they.
However he seemed less sure of this now that they had been walking for some time. Because of the patrols they were forced to move slowly and occasionally throw up some very quick and weak wards to hide them from soldiers.
"Are we there yet?" Tynan snapped irritably, if softly from the back of the group. Harry hid a smirk, thinking of small muggle children on long car rides. Tynan was ignored.
Harry listened in on what the demons were saying.
"Thanks for agreeing to help, Nekael." Obereon was saying.
"I know that this is simply a manipulation to make me help you." Nekael grumbled.
"Then why help?" Obereon sounded smug.
"Because as much as I want to believe that this is simply you manipulating me, I still remember the temple incident"
"Well I did warn them" Obereon scoffed.
"You didn't give them anytime to respond."
"I gave them ample time to respond"
"You warned them about two seconds before you blew up the temple"
"Well it was the only other solution, and they didn't like the first option."
"They didn't like either!"
"That was their problem not mine"
"It's scary, what you do to find things out." Nekael shuddered.
"What can I say, I'm a scholar."
"Scholars are the scariest creatures on the planet" Nekael replied with feeling.
------
After several more hours of walking they reached a small farm, not too far away in the distance they could see the monstrous, intimidating walls which Marcus said surrounded the entire city. There was no sign of any patrols, neither past nor present. It seemed entirely untouched. Obereon and Nekeal who before had been so cautious about patrols, now seemed to relax somewhat, leading them out into the open. The others all traded a nervous glance. Tynan opened his mouth to say something, but was shushed by Obereon.
They lead the horses to the stable around the side, and then were stopped by the demons.
"Wait here" Ordered both demons at once.
"And don't move, got it." Marcus replied.
Both demons turned and stalked towards the old house, as they watched them, Harry couldn't help but smirk. Obereon was a full head shorter than Nekael, though he seemed to hold himself with a lot more authority than Nekael did.
The two reached the porch of the house, and knocked on the door, an older man answered and words appeared to be shared, there was much gesturing from the elderly gentleman and casual indeference from the two demons. Finally the man nodded and waved a hand towards the barn. As one the humans glanced over at it and shared a confused look. Marcus suddenly frowned and made a unique gesture, Harry recognised it as the motion Marcus made when he was doing slightly more complicated magic. He whistled softly under his breath. He interpreted Harry's look correctly,
"This place is so heavily warded I doubt we could have found it on our own." Marcus confessed softly. "There are a lot of very strong magics protecting this place."
"Don't stick your nose into it" Obereon warned Marcus, they had returned from the porch, the old man having gone back inside.
"Let's move" Obereon ordered, "and no complaining."
They were led to the barn where they entered by a small door slightly to the side of a much large double door. Inside it was dark, and smelt of old hay and grass. Once Harry's eyes adjusted he could see that there were no animals residing inside the building, nor tools or plough or anything similar to that, it was completely empty. Obereon walked unheeded to the far end of the barn, with Nekael by his side. Together they reached down and grabbed hold of something, then they hauled upwards. There was a creaking sound as whatever they held resisted and then a groan as a massive trap door was pulled upwards by the two demons.
"Get in" Ordered Obereon, "quickly"
"Are you kidding me" Tynan and Bryana demanded at the same time.
The fire was back in Obereon's eyes.
"In" He growled menacingly.
They all moved as one, climbing down through the trapdoor, revealing a long tunnel with faded into the darkness. Nekael and Obereon followed them down, shutting the trap door with a resounding thud, locking them in cold, pitch-black darkness.
------
End Note: Well here it is, finally. I hope it was worth the wait. The longest chapter I have ever written I believe. --grin--
Now I am tired and want to go to bed... and I know I am tired because I kept trying to call Obereon, Boewyn... --headdesk--