Life Crusades
Chapter Eleven
Heat
"You're very stupid, aren't you?"
Mila sighed from where she'd been lying by the fire, staring up through the trees to look up at the sky. The sun had just set so the sky wasn't yet dark enough to display all of the stars clearly. She was only really half surprised to hear him. Mila had felt someone had been following her. And since she'd back tracked for the last two days trying to find out whom and hadn't come across one clue, she had already figured Dagon had followed.
"What makes me stupid?" she asked warily, feeling slightly stupid since the assassin was still invisible.
"This is the worst possible time to go and try to find yourself," came the answer in a derisive sort of way.
Mila's lips pinched together as she shifted to lace her hands beneath her head, continuing to stare up at the darkening sky. "Why are you here?"
"Things were getting boring, back there," Dagon announced as he became visible and led his Dehjinae into the small clearing until he was standing very near.
"You are very strange, demon," she said softly while all of her senses were solely on the assassin standing two feet away from her.
"Says the girl who blushes every time sex is mentioned."
"I don't," and just to prove herself wrong, she blushed. Dagon rolled his eyes. "I don't want company. Go bother my brothers."
Dagon said nothing for a time and instead started making himself comfortable in her camp. First by seeing to his Dehjinae, whom Mila was curious if he'd named yet, by feeding him and offering the brilliant stallion as much water as he could want. And then when that was done, the assassin set relatively close to her, facing the fire. And then he finally spoke. "They perfected their potion."
Mila smiled to herself. She knew they would and had known it wouldn't take those three clever boys any time at all.
"Is this what you've been doing since you left Borsteria? Nothing?"
"You should know. You've been following me."
Dagon didn't reply, for which Mila was grateful. Every time the assassin opened his mouth, Mila grew nervous, afraid. She didn't know him very well or his moods, but she did know those moods changed quick and drastically. She really wanted to know why he'd followed her. Probably as a game.
They were silent for a long time before Dagon suddenly sat up, peering at her with a sort of veiled excitement. "The rebel camp is but a league away," he announced. "The Cymae Isles are very close."
Mila sat up also, finally looking him in the eye. "Really? About the rebels, I mean. I know exactly where I am."
"Yes, about the rebels," Dagon replied, amused. "And I thought… since you don't like to stay still, and we both prefer to be active in a killing the enemy way…"
"That sounds like fun!" Mila exclaimed before she could comprehend what she was saying and to whom she was showing excitement.
Dagon came as close to a grin as he ever would and dropped back down to his back. "There's a reason why I followed you…" he didn't look angry, but there was something in the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes that had her grasping for the dagger she kept up the sleeve of her tunic. She was sure Dagon had caught the move and yet he did not show it.
Mila's breath hitched. "I- I'm not letting you under my skirt."
Dagon laughed lowly. "If I wanted, you wouldn't be able to stop me. But rest easy, that is not why I have followed you. Besides, I've seen beauty beyond yours. Why should I want you?"
Mila didn't know whether to be relieved or insulted. "Then why are you always making inappropriate gestures?"
Dagon shrugged. "Your reactions amuse me to no end."
"Did you… did you come here to murder me in my sleep then?"
Dagon rolled his eyes at the purple and orange sky above him. "Ozemir and I never kill our victims when they're asleep. There's no fun in that. There's no fun when they don't see it coming…"
Mila turned towards him , though she trained her eyes onto the flames. "Ozemir wouldn't-"
"Yes he would. Yes he has. Yes he will," Dagon replied with ease. "Just because we are no longer one doesn't mean Ozemir is suddenly going to stop liking that part of him."
"But…"
"The Scholar completed most of our missions on his own when we were ordered, girl. The only part of being in the Kibosh Ozemir didn't like was the fact we were slaves to that clan. Other than that, other than the fact we had to obey a master, he loved the occupation. As he's told his charges before. Do not let his idiotic light side fool you, girl. His eyes still burn red and he still likes to cause death. Only difference between us is the fact he likes to do it with that stupid happy laugh of his and he has a bit more restraint then I do. There has to be certain… elements involved for him to take a life whereas I don't care at all about why's or reasons. It's just fun for me."
That didn't make Mila at all comfortable with being so close to him while they were alone in a forest and no one would ever hear her scream. Dagon looked at her, flashing his teeth. His feral grin made it plain he didn't need to be able to read minds in order to know what she was thinking at the moment.
Looking away, Mila cleared her throat, trying to calm her nerves and fear. She was actually very shocked by his previous declarations about Ozemir and didn't know if she could believe him at all. But she didn't get a chance to say more on the matter because after that Dagon demanded she pack up her measly and horribly warded camp. He wanted to see the rebels, muttering something about time and being too late for the bloodbath, and soon they were on the way, both of them walking with the Dehjinae a little behind them. They were in no hurry, as the camp was only a league away, so they walked at only a brisk pace and Mila assumed Dagon didn't want to tire his horse out by riding him when it wasn't necessary.
"You aren't planning to stay with me are you?" she asked suddenly.
"I'll leave you alone when you start to bore me."
"You are so…" Mila ground her teeth and looked away. Best not anger the demon.
"Yes?" Dagon prompted. He sounded amused; like he had an idea of what she might have wanted to say.
"Never mind."
After almost an hour of silent walking, Dagon looked at her sideways. Mila could feel him look her up and down. Thankfully, the look was only calculating. She didn't think it had to do with anything sexual. Finally he asked, "what's your favorite way of killing?"
"Breaking necks," she answered promptly.
"Of course," the assassin muttered with disgust. "No doubt because it's the quickest and often times most painless way of death."
"Actually… I like the sound," she whispered, a little embarrassed now.
"What?"
"The sound," she said more firmly. "The sound of the bones grinding together. The sound of bones cracking, snapping, and breaking under my hands. It always makes me shiver. I especially like it when I do it to males as they're usually bigger and stronger than me. But they are helpless once their heads get into my hands."
Dagon stopped in his tracks to stare at her, his hands curling into fists beside him. "There may be hope for you yet," he said very seriously. Mila rolled her eyes. "And all of this comes about from following the halfling's orders?"
Mila held back the sharp retort that automatically came from hearing her brother being insulted. "Sort of," she replied, shrugging after a moment. "It's how we stayed alive before and after fleeing from the realm. Similae was obsessed with keeping me alive, which meant he trained me as much as he could. And then at some point, I'd go off and do the killing on my own, to protect Similae when he didn't realize we needed it. Back then, just after the massacres, he hadn't grown quite so bitter. He still had hope, as he'd been born before the massacres and couldn't quite believe the realm was in ruins with no chance of righting itself without the power of Royal blood. Similae hadn't yet come to grips with the fact most everyone was our enemy now, and back then we still had our parents, alive and well and still fighting. I was fifty when our clan began to be targeted for whatever reason, and we lost them all, our entire clan, and Similae grew distant in his depression. Careless. Inconsolable.
"I had to take care of him or we would have both perished. Eventually he got better, to an extent. He wasn't the same, but he was back to being my big brother," Mila ignored his snort, "taking care of me, but he saw I liked to take care of the two of us too, so he asked for me to do things for him and I did. I liked it. It made the both of us feel needed. Gave us some type of purpose, especially when we finally went to the human world… and now, Similae's back to how he used to be. Happy and at peace with where he is, and I'm just…" Mila cringed and refused to look at the elf walking along side her. "You didn't really want to hear all of that, did you?"
"I would have made it plain, had your speaking begun to annoy me."
"Do you plan to show yourself to the rebels?" she asked in a desperate need to change the subject.
"I haven't decided. Do you?"
"Not if I can help it. Some of them know me."
They didn't say anything else to each other until they came upon the camp. Dagon was impressed with the amount of wards and charms around it. With how well it was concealed. Mila didn't know they were standing just on the borders until Dagon pointed it out, and even then she couldn't see it until he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards a waterfall, leaving his horse behind.
"What about your Dehjinae?"
Dagon looked back at his horse, who'd already moved back to blend in with the trees. "Satar will be fine on his own for a little bit. I've protected him with strong charms."
"Satar…" Mila said thoughtfully. That's a pretty name. She wondered if Dagon had come up with that or if the Dehjinae had picked it. She knew from her teachings that sometimes the horses chose their own names and sometimes they allowed the riders to choose the name.
"Come. Follow me," the demon said with a grin Mila didn't much like. That grin, she thought, didn't bode well for her. Dagon released her arm as they moved closer to the falling water. Mila followed slowly, watching as the assassin slipped behind the waterfall and then she too was behind it, though she blinked in confusion when she saw the long stone tunnel. The confused part was that Dagon was nowhere to be seen.
"Dagon?" she whispered, thinking perhaps he'd made himself invisible. She hadn't any time to ponder on his disappearing when suddenly she had something sharp digging into her back and someone was relieving her of the sword sheathed at her waist and the bow and arrows on her back before she could even blink.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A spy?" a voice inquired in her ear.
Mila internally fumed. Dagon had left her to get caught on purpose, the bastard!
Bill was in the process of searching through the camp, looking for Serin once again when he was interrupted by Teku. "Someone was caught moving through the tunnel into the camp! She claims she's not a spy."
Bill sighed and nodded. Seemed Fate didn't want him knowing anything more about Raelu at the moment. Teku led the way to the center of camp, which was in an open grove where the big bon fire was located and where most of the rebels gathered to socialize when they had nothing to do, or like now, when they were waiting until nightfall before attacking the enemy troops they had already scouted located around the crystal temple. Bill came out of the trees with Teku and immediately spotted the intruder.
"Let her go," he called out, jogging over and noticing how annoyed she looked as her eyes examined every inch of the camp. He slowed to a walk, wondering why she was there and how she had found the camp. The hands gripping Mila's arms released, but she noticed Bill didn't order her weapons back.
He came to stand in front of her. "So then," he grinned and she was unsurprised by the slight suspicion in his eyes, which explained why he hadn't told his people to give her back her weapons. It was a smart move on his part and she wasn't insulted. "What brings you here? How?"
"I was led here by Dagon. He disappeared right before your people found me. He probably thought it would be funny for you to 'capture' me. Especially since I hadn't planned on showing myself to you," she replied truthfully and with the same annoyance that shone in her eyes.
And then Bill relaxed completely and laughed. "Return her weapons. She's good."
"Thank you," Mila said primly as she took back her sword and bow and arrows. Once she had those, Bill beckoned her to walk with him. Bill led her around the fire and back into the trees where most of the rebels had set up their tents. He didn't say anything else until they'd stopped to go into one of the tents.
"So is it only you and the assassin?" Bill asked as he waved her to sit down on the narrow bed opposite the one he sat down on.
Mila eyed the cot a moment before sitting. "Yes. I'm travelling through the realm… we thought if you're going to attack anyone tonight, we'd like to join. We're bored," she ended with a shrug.
"You can join us, yeah, of course… but why you aren't you with the Family? Thought you'd be going to the Ball. Didn't you and Pansy do most of the work in its planning?"
"I need to travel," Mila responded.
"Well we do a lot of that…" His gaze turned hopeful onto her, "you wouldn't happen to have any blacksmith skills, do you?"
"Afraid not."
"Healing?"
"Yes," she said slowly, "I can heal to a certain extent… but I'm not going to stick around forever."
Bill shrugged. "You can stay with us as long as you like and as long as you can contribute…"
"I thank you, but as I said, I will not stay with you after you leave Cymae."
"That doesn't seem safe, travelling alone. What about your brother? I know for a fact my brothers are not pleased with you for leaving Borsteria's protections," he said with certainty, knowing how found the twins were of Mila.
"I'm old enough to take care of myself, thank you," she replied through gritted teeth.
Sensing she was becoming annoyed with this line of talk, Bill thought he'd drop it and shrugged again, though he was curious as to why she'd headed off on her own with the demon of all people.
Mila narrowed her eyes at him. "I know you have a way to communicate with those in Borsteria. Please do not tell them you've seen me. Don't tell them where I am."
"If that's what you like," he replied, even as he knew he would tell Falde about seeing her alive and fairly safe the next time he spoke to the Commander. But she didn't need to know that, and he didn't feel at all guilty for making it seem as if he was going to adhere to her wishes. Whether she liked it or not, Mila was now family. And that meant family looked after one another, even if they didn't like it. "Anyway, you can rest in here. It'll be a couple hours at least before we make a move. I'll make sure someone wakes you before we move out."
"Thank you."
Mila sat on the cot long after he'd left, thinking and waiting for that treacherous assassin to show and explain himself. He never did. She cursed after a while and figured a lie down would be good. As she drifted off to sleep, she hoped the Ball was going well. Hoped it turned out as well as Pansy hoped it would.
Pansy was quite pleased with herself. Everything was turning out splendidly, even if the beginning had started off a bit—odd, for what people were normally used to in regards to gatherings such as this one; starting out with Ozemir finding out he wasn't an only child. And then Ozemir's sister arriving to take the Scholar into what Pansy had quickly realized was loving hands, and the family had taken their places upon the dais.
And then Harry and Draco had proceeded to do their thing. Striking awe, fear, and respect into everyone in the crowds. Pansy had especially liked Harry's performance. Even though for Harry, none of it had been an act. She quickly came to the conclusion that Harry was a tiny bit crazy and loved to prove it when people looked down their noses at him. Pansy also suspected Harry acted like that in front of people on occasion because Draco loved it when he exerted his strength and power in such an easy and unrestrained manner.
After the traitors had been claimed and taken care of, Pansy settled on making a circuit around the ground floor, and then after, moving onto the balconies while the rest of her family mingled. Once up on the balcony, she had caught sight of Ozemir with his sister and another elf. A male with chin length light blue hair.
"Cute," she whispered, as she continued to watch, noticing Harry and the other Gryffindors lining up behind the Scholar. Pansy figured the blue haired elf was Ozemir's brother and the Gryffindors were doing their thing to protect Ozemir in case it all turned to Hell. As time passed, it quickly became apparent none of them had anything to worry about in regards to Ozemir and his siblings. They seemed to accept him without any type of fuss whatsoever. A soft genuine smile, very rare for her, crossed her face as she watched this. It was true what Harry said in the antechamber. Ozemir really was considered family.
Pansy continued on with her observations, noticing with a smirk that no one wanted to approach her outright. If they hadn't noticed that she was part of the new blood from seeing her on the dais, then they definitely would have realized it after looking at the jewelry she wore. They would notice the large ring with the new blood crest upon it adorning one hand and the heavy long necklace hanging around her neck and dropping down nearly to her stomach. The pieces were slightly gaudy, but Pansy didn't care. Draco was always complaining about her taste in jewelry, but in this case, Pansy thought the royal pieces matched her shimmering sea green and blue Ball gown splendidly.
As she descended back to the main floor, Pansy grinned when she spotted the Dark Lord tugging his small mate out through a side door. Tom looked slightly desperate, while Luna was smiling brightly. Pansy wondered what had gotten into Tom to make him lose facial control like that in front of everyone.
Mila would be pleased too, Pansy thought as she continued to make a silent circuit. Even if the girl weren't there. Pansy had been a little angry at Mila for just abandoning her like that, but then she reasoned; Mila had at least waited until all the arrangements had been made. She hadn't left Pansy high and dry at a crucial moment. Still, Pansy thought it would have been nice if Mila could be there with her in order to share the smugness of a job well done. Pansy really liked Mila. Being a realm born Ukatae, Mila was naturally uptight, smug about being a dark elf, so of course Pansy adored the snobbishness, but Mila was also honest. An honest soul; blunt and strong, and Pansy adored that as well. Which is why she was also so close to Ginny and Hermione now. Pansy felt Mila's absence maybe more than the others did, aside from the twins and Similae, of course. Pansy felt a bit... bad that she'd never actually made it plain how much she treasured the friendship she had with Mila. If she had, would Mila have thought twice about leaving?
Having enough of silent observations, and seeing the dancing portion had begun, Pansy set her sights on a target and headed over to a group of males, setting a small slightly cold smile on her face. She came up behind one and lightly tapped his shoulder. He spun around and his eyes, like those of his friends, widened. His eyes look like Zohrek's, she thought as the elves bowed formally to her.
Pansy held out her arm the moment Aerin had righted himself. Quickly catching on, and knowing it would be folly to refuse, Aerin latched onto her arm and led her out to the dance floor. Pansy smiled at Neville as they passed each other; the Mar'raeh heading across the room to an alcove, probably for a sit down. Looking around, she spotted Dudley talking with Lucius, Severus, and Brumek's father.
"Your name is Aerin," she started the moment Aerin began to lead her around the floor.
"Yes, my Lady. It is an honor to dance with you."
"Yes, of course it is."
Amused laughter from their right caught her attention and she found Draco and Harry very nearby. Harry must have heard her, for he was giggling and muttered, "smug Slytherins." She flashed him a genuine smile as he snuggled his face back against Draco's broad chest.
"Now then, Aerin," she went on, directing her gaze solely on her dancing partner. "A few things about our lovely Scholar, whom we all love very much and would kill anyone who would ever think to do him any kind of harm. I hope you are listening…" her smile was predatory when he swallowed thickly and nodded.
Neville watched everyone leave the dais; watched the crowd move and converge like the rippling of water, merging into each other. He stood still a moment, frowning as he felt his stomach roiling, watching everyone move about, smiling pleasantly, and chatting excitedly; seemingly genuinely happy to be in the presence of the Royal family. It wasn't until he felt warmth at his back and a gentle but firm hand grasping his elbow that he allowed himself to move, or more precisely, allow Dudley to slowly herd him around in silence.
Dudley had been shooting him worried glances all night. That could have probably had to do with Neville's silence throughout the day and evening, and the fact Dudley had been trying to pay him more attention than usual and Neville had told him to bugger off on more than one occasion. He felt he was getting back at Dudley for his mate's continued disappearances, but to be fair Dudley hadn't been doing too much of that the last few days. Their positions seemed to have reversed in that regard and Neville had been the one to be standoffish. Maybe it was because he still didn't know why Dudley had been avoiding him in the first place. He'd asked on several occasions and had only been subjected to horribly played out subject changes.
"Neville," his mate's breath brushed his ear, "I know you're frustrated that you couldn't do anything but stand on the dais-"
"Its fine, D."
Dudley sighed in exasperation, knowing it was not fine. "You've been off slaughtering the enemy for the last few months, Nev. You deserve a bloody break and the rest of us deserve a chance to spill some blood, you know?" Neville cracked a smile at his mate's feigned whining and when Dudley saw that hard won smile, he grinned broadly. "Honestly, you should stop being so bloody selfish in regards to the killing!"
The Mar'raeh snorted and lightly jabbed his elbow into Dudley's gut. And when Dudley circled him until they were standing face to face; when Dudley rested one hand over their baby and the other at his lower back, leaning in to capture his lips in a deep loving kiss, Neville was sure he hadn't felt this happy and content in a while. And his stomach had instantly settled.
A bit later, they split up for a short time- Dudley being dragged off by Lucius and promising to escape Malfoy's clutches as soon as possible- Neville was happy to find a wide well-lit alcove with many seats. Not only that, but many of the seats were taken by other elves who were clearly pregnant as he was and also needed a sit down. About a dozen expectant elves. An equal number male and female. As he walked in and saw this, his eyes widened, not having expecting it. But it also seemed to sooth him even more; especially when most saw him and didn't seem to take exception to his presence.
"Please don't stand. No need to bow," he said quickly when they tried to do that.
"Here, come sit, my Lord," one lady said, patting the arm rest of the empty chair beside her. "You look as if you could use a break."
"Yes, thank you," Neville said smiling and doing just that. Everyone else remained silent a moment as they all watched Neville's Saen take a stand directly behind his chair. Only another moment passed before the talking resumed; most tentatively directing questions at Neville, and when they found he wasn't adverse at all to conversing freely, the conversation sped up and warmed. And soon Neville found out when the dozen elves around him were due and they knew when he was due, and he smiled at how excited they all seemed to be, but of course they were since it was still relatively new for them to even comprehend having babies in the realm again. Most were first time mothers as well, with only four of them already having children that were already grown.
At one point, the lady beside him began waving her arms around excitedly as she talked and Neville had to duck her arms quickly, though he wasn't bothered. She was extremely energetic and happy. He didn't even mind it when she accidently nicked his hand with the ring on her hand as she waved it around. She kept apologizing profusely and Neville then had to use his aura to keep her from apologizing more.
Neville sat back listening and realized this is exactly what he needed tonight, beyond him and Dudley going back to normal. That weirdness between them had been weighing heavy on his mind, but now it seemed to have gone. And since he was feeling so good, it completely surprised him when the next thing he knew, his vision blurred and tunneled, his stomach cramped painfully, and the voices around him became an annoying buzz in his ears. A cold sweat drenched his forehead and down his spine. Shakily he got to his feet. He needed to get out of the public's eyes before succumbing to whatever this was. He would not be an embarrassment to his family by collapsing here in front of everyone.
As he stood, the lady beside him cocked her head, smiling in an eerie fashion. "Feeling alright?" she asked sweetly. Neville reached back to grab the armrest, narrowing his eyes on her. The others around went deathly quiet, blinking at the lady's sudden change of tone and expression.
"You poisoned me," he accused with certainty, with a flat voice that did not give away his concern. The lady's twisted smile widened in answer.
Most of the others gasped and stood, moving back away and staring at her in horror at the thought that she would have purposely done harm to the Mar'raeh. At least Neville hoped they weren't in on it to. Quickly he reached into his robes and withdrew a thin vial with clear liquid within. Uncorking it, he immediately drank down the entire contents; a potion that was supposed to be able to slow down any type of poisons effects until an antidote could be given. All the new blood walked around with a vial of that stuff.
"Why would you want to hurt me? My baby?" Neville asked even as he raised a hand to stop his Saen from attacking her. He wanted an answer. He wanted to know why a stranger would want to hurt him.
"Your clan has caused me nothing but grief," she hissed, her smile fading away to a poisonous showing of teeth. "You deserve the same in kind."
Two of the male submissives came forth, grabbing the lady by her arms and jerking her out of her seat, being none to gentle about it. They looked murderous. "Treason!" they hissed.
"Watch out for her ring. She did it with her ring," he told them. One of the other ladies stepped forward and ripped the ring from her finger. "You seemed so nice too," Neville whispered, disheartened and scared, but desperate not to show it.
He cursed himself for letting his guard down for even a moment. She seemed so young and innocent; happy and glowing as all expectant mothers, and he'd been completely taken. Neville was used to the enemy looking like an enemy. He was used to the scowling grim faces of opponents on the battle field and had completely forgotten that the worst sort of enemy was all around him. The innocent ageless faces of Ukatae. All dark elves were deceptive. He should have remembered that.
Neville straightened, a cold look filling his eyes. "That was very clever of you, slipping it past me and my ever watchful Saen. However, I'm amazed you actually think your poison will do me any real harm. Have no doubt my blood is far stronger than yours, far more powerful and can defeat any kind of poison you just used." Neville then turned to the elves keeping her hostage. "Keep her here."
"Do you need help?" one lady asked coming towards him. Neville stepped away from her.
"Do not touch me, please."
The lady bowed her head. "We're not… we didn't know her plans, Lord Neville."
Neville walked out of the alcove. The others turned back to the female who scowled at his back.
"Why would you do that?"
"We've only just got Royal blood back!"
"Why would you try and kill him?"
The she elf glared at them all. "They took something from me. I am desperate for revenge."
"They will kill you."
"I don't think so," she said sweetly, caressing her bulging belly.
One of the males who had her arm, sneered in disgust as he flung her back into her seat. "Imagine, using your unborn child as a shield."
And imagine the lady elf's surprise when after Draco entered the alcove with several members of the Family behind him and he spent a moment staring deeply into her narrowed eyes, he announced coldly, "her baby will be taken. And then," he paused and turned to Blaise, "kill her."
"With pleasure."
Blaise and Sirius stepped forward and grabbed the elf's arms and began dragging her out of the alcove, while Draco remained behind, assessing the others within. They looked afraid and angry. Afraid of Draco, and angry, he quickly discovered, over the situation. Neville would probably feel better to know none of the others he'd been speaking to had anything to do with this.
Rushing into the ante room, Harry came to a halt just inside the door, watching Neville leaning over the side of a divan, retching horribly into a bucket. Kaego knelt beside the bucket with both his hands upon Neville's stomach.
"What happened?" he demanded, striding in to stand beside Falde and looked at Dudley, who stood at the head of the divan with his hand in Neville's hair, looking helpless.
"He was poisoned."
Harry looked around, his eyes narrowing on Neville's Saen. "How?"
"I-I let my guard down," Neville rasped. "They all seemed so… content."
"Blood. Now," Kaego snapped at Dudley, who quickly dropped to his knees and thrust his wrist against Neville's trembling lips.
Harry watched them for a few moments, watched Kaego's brow furrow in worry as he worked his hands over Neville's stomach and chest, watched as Neville continuously drank from Dudley. And then Draco was telling him exactly what happened before asking how Neville's assailant should be punished.
Death, obviously, Harry promptly answered.
She looks ready to pop, lover. We, as a race, cannot afford to kill off the unborn. Especially if the baby is innocent of the mother's crimes.
You're right. Fine then. Take the baby and then kill her.
I'll see that it's done… also, you might want to tell Nev that the others in the alcove had nothing to do with this.
Okay, I'll tell him. "Neville, Draco says the other expecting mothers didn't know what was going on with that other lady." He explained this now, knowing it would make Neville feel better. He thought correctly. His best mate seemed to sag in relief at his words and his lips curved against Dudley's wrist. "Will he be okay, Kaego?"
Kaego replied with a hesitant jerky nod. "Your quick thinking in taking that potion before the poison was able to travel throughout your body probably saved you and your baby, Neville. However, we need to return to the palace. I can care for you better there."
"I will provide protection," Falde gruffly stated, striding over as Dudley carefully picked his mate off the sofa and lifted him into his arms. Kaego hurriedly paced a Circle.
Brumek says there's trouble on the outer beaches, Draco then announced. We're going out to check.
Draco followed Brumek out of the temple and down onto one of the docks until they were standing on the edge, peering across the lake to the shore. From here he could see and hear the fighting going on.
"Falde mentioned he told the rebels to move camp near here. That's probably them… picking a fight with the enemy," Brumek said to him. "They probably surprised the enemy. The warriors will not attack until Falde or I give the order."
Just after saying this, a great big dark hulk rose into the air with a deafening roar, followed closely by a victorious whoop from a smaller shadow upon the hulk's back. And then the night sky was lit by fire being belched from massive jaws. Draco grinned savagely at hearing Charlie and the rebels' shouts of laughter over the cries of pain as the enemy was lit by fire. "Shall we engage too?"
Brumek grinned. "If that is your wish, Highness."
"Oh yes." Harry, get your sexy arse out here. It's time to fight. Quick too, lover, before the rebels take all the fun.
Okay… I'm bringing others. Give me a minute…
Neville?
Being taken back to Borsteria, but Kaego thinks he'll be okay… tell you about it later when we have the time.
Okay, good. Come on, come on, lover! I want to battle with you!
Harry mentally laughed. We're coming!
Make sure some of the family remains behind though. It would look bad if we all deserted the Ball to go have some fun in a fight.
Again Harry mentally laughed; his excitement and relief obvious. Excitement over the fight and probably his relief over Neville.
Not much time passed before Harry appeared beside him, wrapping arms around Draco's neck and pressing their lips together hotly, grinning. "I left Lucius in charge. The grown ups wanted to stay behind at the boring Ball."
Reluctantly, Draco pulled away to look around to see who else Harry had brought along with them. Tom and Hermione stood beside them, their weapons drawn. Both with a feverish look in their eyes. The twins were also there with Similae, Blaise, Ginny, and Pansy beside them with. Pansy's eyes were firmly on the hovering dragon across the lake.
"Falde?" questioned Draco to Fred.
"Last I heard, he was with Neville."
"Yeah, he went along with Kaego, Dudley, and Neville," Harry replied. "Said he'll join us soon."
"Everyone ready then?"
Brumek grunted and removed his formal jacket, tossing it carelessly to the side before drawing his weapon. "We'll Circle across."
"Wait for us!"
Everyone turned to find Ozemir rushing down the dock with Taera, whose sword was perched on her shoulder. Harry quivered with excitement. This was going to be brilliant.
Similae studied Taera when she came to stop beside him, dressed in her pretty gown and the huge weapon sitting upon her shoulder. The weapon was pretty too. Large and broad with numerous intricate designs and runes etched upon it. "That's a nice sword!"
Taera smiled brightly down at him. "Thanks!"
"It gets better!" Harry gushed. "Show them!"
Taera smirked and lifted the blade for everyone to see. Grasping it with both hands, she pulled until it became two glowing blue blades. "Do you like? Aerin constructed it. He makes all my weapons now."
Ozemir's eyes widened. "By himself? But he's so young!"
Taera beamed with pride and nodded. "He's the next Elachai, mark my words, Ozemir."
The Scholar laughed delightedly. "My siblings are brilliant! Just like me!"
Brumek rolled his eyes. "Can we go now?"
Bill didn't know if he should call a retreat or not. It hadn't anything to do with them losing, but usually the rebels pulled back no matter what after a certain time. But none of his people looked as if they wanted to go. The atmosphere of this battle was extremely different than the others they had engaged in. It was more… lighthearted, he thought with a frown as he managed to duck a blade and send his own into a raider's stomach, lurching it up from the elf's gut all the way to his neck.
Maybe not lighthearted, because it was a battle, but the atmosphere was more uplifting… his comrades were laughing as they slaughtered the surprised enemy; as Ordlaen fried and chewed the enemy wherever she turned. Perhaps it had to do with the location and the fact that they knew that not only was there troops of warriors stationed about, but the entire Royal Family was very nearby. Perhaps the rebels were happy to be so close to them, and making it a point to show their allegiance by taking out the enemy before the warriors needed to be called. It could also be because the rebels hadn't attacked anyone in a week. Bill hated to admit it, but raids had become addictive. Battling the enemy was enjoyable when their odds were good, and it usually was when they were surprise attacking.
A flash of white caught Bill's attention as he spun around to lob off the head of a raider rushing by him. Bill paused only long enough to make sure the raider's head fell completely off before he rushed through the masses towards that white. He heard Charlie calling out to someone and looked over his shoulder a second. Eyes widening when he saw a female elf in a sparkly dress jump from the ground to land behind his brother, wrapping her arms tightly around Charlie's waist. Pansy.
His attention snapped back to where he'd seen the white and was correct in thinking it was Ozemir. He hadn't seen anyone else in the realm who had hair like that. As he made his way towards the Scholar, Bill sucked in a breath when he caught sight of his baby sister amidst a group of raiders. But she was with Blaise and Similae and the three of them were kicking arse. He noticed Ginny's choice of weapons were two long fighting daggers. The kind held against the inner forearm until one was ready to attack. Ginny seemed very well trained in fighting with the daggers. She didn't have any problems getting close to the enemy, dodging their own long reaching weapons to slice and dice with those daggers. She was very quick too, but one had to be very fast when using such weapons.
Attention yet again averted, he spied a scene behind that group. His gaze was caught by a female elf with pink hair spattered with blood, very much like Ozemir's, who fought beside her. She was in a ball gown. Bill blinked at the odd sight. He was used to seeing her dressed as all warriors were dressed. But now she had on a gown that flowed around her legs as she moved. Spinning, kicking, jumping… and yet the gown didn't seem to bother her in the least. She looked amazing fighting like that. And Ozemir… Ozemir had blood dripping from his hair and wings. Dark red against stark white and his eyes were gleaming red as well, though he had that goofy grin on his face as he slaughtered any enemy that got within feet of him, his movements nothing but blurs. No enemy stood even a remote chance against the Scholar when they came to close.
"Hey!"
Bill nearly jumped a foot in the air and quickly turned to the snickering elves beside him. Harry and Draco. They weren't void of blood either. He gave a broad grin and bowed, before drawing them both into a fierce hug.
"So I guess the Ball was boring if you've left it in order to fight out here," he laughed.
Draco was prepared to answer but quieted when shouting began to reach their ears. The three looked around, and Bill spotted Fred and George a few feet away, sprinting in and out of the fighting. "Rebels, back away!" the continuously shouted and the rebels did exactly as commanded even if they were in the middle of a fight with a raider.
"What are they up to?"
Draco's question was answered a moment later when there were pops all around them and the raiders started to explode into pieces.
"Ooh, new inventions!" He grinned and grabbed onto Draco's arm, giving it an excited shake. "Look at the gore! Bloody wicked!"
"Literally," laughed Bill.
Soon the twins were out of sight, but those watching could still hear the pops and see exploding raiders trailing after the cackling twins. After that, the enemy thought a retreat was in order. That was when Falde returned, and he looked furious that he'd missed the fight. Harry laughed at him, and then went on to tell him what the twins had been doing during the battle. That put a smile on the Commander's face.
"No! Is it over?" Ozemir could be heard whining. "No fair! Surely he sent more than this! I FEEL CHEATED!"
Taera smiled and patted her brother's shoulder in a placating manner.
"No!" he yelled, and Taera laughed harder. "Someone was taking my victims right from under my nose too!"
Two elves ran up to stop beside Bill; they were grinning as they bowed to Harry and Draco, before reporting to the redhead. Once they were done, with the report that all the enemy had decided to retreat, Bill cleared his throat, looking off across the way. "You guys could always come to our camp," he said to the Emperors. "It's nearby. There are waterfalls and a wide stream to clean up with. We've enough food to feed a huge army…"
"That would be great!" Harry agreed. Draco smirked, having good eyesight and seeing exactly where Bill was staring.
"We'll be sure to bring everyone we came here with," the blond announced. "And I'm not in the mood to return to the Ball. Father can handle it. He was doing exceptionally well with most of the higher up politicians before we left."
"Your camp's awesome!" Harry exclaimed after they'd walked behind the waterfall and through the short tunnel and passed the barrier into the small clearing. There was another waterfall nearby, near the edge of the rock and tree line. The small clearing was empty of tents, and seemed to be a gathering palace, for it had a large bonfire in the middle. The tents were placed around the clearing as well as in between the surrounding woods and stone hills wherever there was room.
At the waterfall, there was a mildly deep stream that ran deeper into the woods and Harry could already hear some of the rebel elves jumping in for baths to clean themselves from the recent battle; others were lounging around the fire, talking animatedly. He caught sight of Blaise and one of the twins following Charlie towards the stream. Blaise and the twin already discarding their jackets. Harry didn't know if that were George or Fred, but Similae was missing, so Harry figured it was Fred with Blaise as George was most likely with his mate.
Looking around, Harry sought out Falde and didn't see him. Probably returned to the temple as Brumek had come to the rebel camp with them. Nearby, Ozemir and Taera stood. The High Lieutenant standing back as she watched her big brother excitedly playing with her ice blades. Ozemir handed back her weapon and pointed up to the starry sky. Taera fused her blades back into one, the blue glow dimming as she cocked her head to the side. And then her face brightened and she nodded. Ozemir grinned, withdrew his own sword, and they both jumped into the sky, hovering over the large bonfire and facing each other.
Near to where Harry stood, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, and Pansy were standing together, talking animatedly and looking up at Taera and Ozemir sparring. Behind them were Draco and Tom talking with Theo, Richard, and some other rebels. Tom kept peeking over towards the trees where Harry knew Charlie's dragon taken herself off.
Harry turned back to Bill and found the eldest Weasley watching Ozemir and his sister closely. "Thanks for helping, Bill. You guys do a lot for us."
Bill pulled his eyes away from the sky, grinning. "Honestly Harry, its fun. And the work is gratifying."
"You sure you don't mind some of ours staying here tonight?"
"You wouldn't have been invited otherwise. Most here feel it's an honor. And we're all in a celebratory mood. Demai'Tah was thrashed tonight. I doubt he expected us to know about the Ball."
Harry flashed a grin and they both moved over to Draco's group, Bill laughing as Harry skipped over to his mate and then flung himself onto the blond without warning. Though Draco was quick to recover and swiftly repositioned Harry until the lithe brunet was straddling his waist.
"Alright there, Harry?" Richard laughed when Harry lips attacked Draco's. "Yeah, we're doing great here, too. Thanks for asking."
Theo snickered while Tom just rolled his eyes at the usual display, gaze leaving his brothers to study the two siblings sparring in the sky over the bonfire.
"Is that what one usually wears to a royal engagement?" Richard inquired, looking Harry over.
Harry pulled away from Draco's mouth, grinning. He turned in his mate's arms to face Richard and nodded. Laughing at the scowl on Theodore's face and from the annoyance he felt swimming between his and Draco's link.
"Perhaps," Draco began, his voice low and deadly, "you should pull your eyes off my mate, Scarpin."
Harry's grin just grew wider. Theo huffed and reared back with his foot to kick his mate in the shin. Richard snickered and dropped his face against his mate's head.
He does that on purpose, you know. To annoy both you and Theo, Harry relayed as he waved at Charlie, who'd crossed the clearing and was in the process of disappearing into the trees at the other side.
Taera and Ozemir suddenly dropped from the air; Taera looked more out of breath than Harry had ever seen her and she was shaking her head with a smile on her face. "Hirsha, brother. I'm no match for you."
Ozemir preened. "No one is a match for me!"
Bill walked over to the two. "Hey, pretty lady. Are you staying here tonight as well? Please say you will. I'll make it worth your while if you do."
"And what could a baby offer me that a grown Ukatae could not?" Taera responded with an impish grin.
The scholar broke down in giggles while Bill stared at her; torn between being amused, insulted, and enchanted.
"What the FUCK are you doing?" a shout from Charlie echoed around the clearing. Everyone looked around quickly, and Harry noticed Pansy, Ginny, Luna, and Hermione were now missing. "Get away from her—ARE THOSE RIBBONS? You put PINK bowties on my dragon! Ordlaen! You let them put bowties on you? You're a vicious dragon, for fuck's sake!"
This was followed by an awful roar and when that died down, the unmistakable laughter of females. Moments later Charlie walked back into the clearing. His face was red in fury, but he walked out of the forest regally. Or it would have been regal if the entire length of his back- from his ankles to his shoulders- wasn't smoking slightly. All his clothes, softly singed. Charlie passed by them, spearing his brother with a look that clearly said, "not one word."
Bill broke down laughing at that. Harry pulled away and rushed into the trees, stopping a few feet away when he came to the dragon, smiling when he saw Pansy sitting on Ordlaen's snout, Hermione on top of her head, Ginny and Luna on the dragon's paws. Ordlaen had pink bowties tied around the horns upon her head and around the horns lining her spine. The dragon was kind of purring as the girls talked to each other as they stroked Ordlaen's scales. Harry was only a little surprised that the dragon allowed the girls to sit on her, but Ordlaen seemed to like the attention.
"Where'd they get the pink bows?" he wondered to himself. None of them were wearing pink gowns. Pansy's was an ever changing aquamarine color, while Hermione was dressed in periwinkle blue. Ginny's gown was a light green affair, and Luna… Luna had surprised everyone by wearing a sinful red. It was more of a surprise to Tom, but Harry could see how pleased he was of the color.
Just as Harry was turning back to rejoin his mate and the others, he stopped and did a double take. He hadn't really seen Luna since the beginning of the ball, nor during the battle- Harry suspected Tom had made his mate stay at the temple until it was all over- so the appearance of her new appendages came as a complete surprise. "Luna! You have your wings!"
The girls looked his way and Luna smiled brightly at him. Harry approached them slowly, just in case the dragon only wanted girls' company, since she'd seared her rider's back. But Ordlaen didn't seem to mind his approach. Harry figured then that Charlie had been blasted only because he'd yelled at his dragon.
Luna stood on Ordlaen's paw, turning her back to Harry and easily stretched out her blond wings, exposing to him the dark metallic red markings on the feathers. Harry figured she must have known, for the red markings matched her Ball gown perfectly.
"They're beautiful, Luna." He would have been more surprised that her markings didn't reflect her eyes, but since this was the Mother, it made sense, seeing as Hirsha's hair had been this red color before she was reborn human. "Are you four staying here tonight?"
"Sure! You are too, right? It's sure to be fun!" Ginny exclaimed.
But Harry was shaking his head. "No. I want to get back to Caellum and Neville."
The first thing Harry did upon returning to the palace in Borsteria was go to the nursery where all the royal babies were being kept. He smiled at the four Saen standing guard inside the nursery. The guards were standing very close to two cribs. There were only two cribs because Zohrek and Ozemir always shared a crib when in the nursery while the triplets shared a larger crib.
As he softly and carefully pulled Caellum from the crib- his son woke a little- being sure to wrap him securely in his blanket and grab the white dragon, Harry wondered if he should take Zohrek too since the Scholar was staying with the rebels along with everyone else. Harry sighed and ran a finger down Zohrek's chubby cheek, smiling softly. He then asked Vendyl to scoop Zohrek up and place him in his arms as well. He spent a few minutes watching the triplets sleeping before turning away to leave the nursery.
Cradling the drowsy, yet awake, little boys, Harry hummed softly as he walked out of the nursery and down the corridor. "Vendyl." He waited until the Saen was walking beside him, and then smiled up at his guard. "Did you see your family tonight?" Vendyl nodded. "Was that your father I saw who was standing beside you and Kaego at one point?" again the Saen nodded. "Was he happy to see you?"
Vendyl smiled and finally verbally answered. "Yes, Highness."
"Does he know you and Falde made up?"
Vendyl rolled his eyes. "Kaego wouldn't shut up about it."
"Is he happy about that?" Vendyl nodded with another smile. "And what about Kaego?"
"My father seemed pleased over my mate… you are being overly nosy again, Highness," Vendyl announced and reached over to take Zohrek from Harry, cradling his second cousin against his chest.
Harry grinned sheepishly. "I know. Sorry. I tend to get hyper after a well won battle. You know, you've seen how I am."
Vendyl smiled broadly. Yes, he was well aware of Harry's habits by now. "Father plans to come to Borsteria in the next week to visit Falde, since he hasn't seen either of us in years." Five hundred years, in Vendyl's case.
"That's cool! You can have the day off when he visits."
The Saen sighed. "That's an order, isn't it?"
"Yep!"
"You really should stop giving me time off."
"What could happen to me here?"
"You tend to fall into trouble, Highness."
"I do not!"
"What about that time you ran into a horde of Mindless alone and unprepared?"
"But that wasn't my fault-"
"Or the time you fell into a den of nursing Shadow Hounds?"
"Again! Not my fault!"
"Or the time you fell into the river and were nearly swept away in the current after having had too much to drink."
"They were well earned drinks, and I only fell cause Neville tripped into me! And I didn't almost drown!" Vendyl smirked at his indignant expression. Harry growled. "First, don't ever tell Draco that last story, and secondly, shut up! Besides, I can't get into any kind of danger like that here in the palace, now can I?"
"I've heard the stories about how you were at that wizards school, Highness. You were supposed to be safe there as well, and yet you still found trouble."
Harry huffed and threw up a hand in frustration before lifting Caellum and brushing his lips against his son's cheek. "Everyone is against me."
Caellum's soft gurgled cry could have been an agreement. Harry rather thought Caellum was agreeing with his Saen. Vendyl must have thought so too, since he reached over to softly pat the top of Caellum's head with a smug smile.
Draco rubbed his bottom lip with the pad of his thumb as he stared into the fire while the rebels, his siblings, and friends talked around him. The blond was drawn back to the recent battle, mentally shaking his head over Demai'Tah's stupidity. Surely he must have guessed, or at least prepared for the fact the ghost rebels may be around. It was no secret anymore that the ghost rebels worked alongside the Royal legions. But it seemed like the ex clan master hadn't planned at all for an attack. It seemed as if Demai'Tah had fully expected to get away with attacking the ball goers as they left for the night. Why else would enemy troops have been posted along the outer beaches of the Cymae temple?
An hour ago, Draco announced to all who were worried that Neville was alright now, as was his baby, though Neville was confined to bed for the next week and he and his baby were being closely monitored, more so than before. So at the moment, Draco was pretty much pleased with the world. He missed Harry though, which wasn't surprising, but he understood. Now that Harry wasn't away with the legions, his mate would most definitely spend all the time he could with their son, even if Caellum was most likely asleep by the time Harry returned home.
Draco had to smile. Harry had been extremely hyper when he'd finally returned to Borsteria. He could understand why. Harry was hyper when he jumped into battle. Draco, for his part, had mentally hesitated at the beginning when they'd first arrived to help out the rebels, whereas Harry had jumped right into the fray with a stupid insane laugh. Draco wasn't yet used to battle fighting, so everything was kind of chaotic to him at first- all the emotions and need for blood, the swift movements, cries of pain and shouts of attack from hundreds of voices- before he pushed it all away and followed after his mate.
Draco pulled his thoughts back to the here and now, moving his gaze away from the fire to look near his left, eyeing Falde, who sat upon a log with Brumek sitting next to him. Both warriors were gingerly inspecting some of the decoy detonators the twins and Similae had reconstructed to become mini bombs. Fred was sitting on the ground between his mate's legs with George and Similae sitting in front of him. One of Falde's hands rested against the side of Fred's neck and it hadn't moved in the last twenty minutes.
Draco watched Similae from under his eyelashes. The short elf was sitting in George's lap, chatting up a storm with the twins and some of the other rebels. Draco had debated earlier if he should let Similae know his sister was very near, or at least had been very near at some point. He couldn't sense her anymore, but he had during the battle towards the end and then when they'd first arrived in the rebels' camp.
Similae was in the process of rolling another of his smokes, and as soon as it was finished and he began to bring it to his lips, Draco stretched out a hand and summoned the rolled cigarette to his hand. He placed it between his own lips just as Similae located where his smoke had gone and pouted. Draco smirked as he snapped his finger, lighting the thing.
Draco had taken to smoking the baanco leaf a few weeks ago when he'd come across Similae smoking. He could honestly say it was one of the most pleasant scents he'd ever come across and the smoke went down soft and mellow; sweet almost, and was in fact very tasty. So he was always taking Similae's rolled cigarettes whenever he could get away with it. And he so enjoyed it more when he felt Similae's annoyance with him for doing so.
"Draco?"
The blond exhaled a lungful of smoke before turning to raise an inquiring eyebrow at his brother. Tom was watching him with worry. "Yes?"
"You've been quiet."
"Only thinking…"
"You're allowed to turn your mind off sometimes."
Draco was so surprised by this statement that he laughed in Tom's face. "Look who's talking."
Tom shrugged and then grunted when Luna shifted in his lap, accidently jabbing him in the stomach as she leaned over to hear whatever it was Ginny was trying to whisper in her ear. Draco snickered when Tom's annoyed look morphed into a stupid look as Tom inhaled the scent of Luna's feathers. It was only Tom's monumental restraint that kept him from stuffing his nose into those blond feathers.
"We should prepare for Demai'Tah's reaction after tonight," Draco finally murmured, gaining Tom's attention back, and now Hermione was listening in as well. It seemed everyone who was close enough started to listen the moment they heard him mention Demai'Tah. He nodded at all of them. "Demai'Tah will retaliate in a horrific way after this horrible fail of his. Right, Ozemir?"
The Scholar nodded from his position beside Brumek. "Unfortunately, yes. He will rage. No one on our side perished tonight. There will be hell to pay because of it."
"None? NONE?" Demai'Tah bellowed within the audience chamber incased in ice. "You're telling me there wasn't one enemy casualty? NONE? You weren't even able to attack the guests?"
Ron winced and was glad he was standing behind the clan master when he did it. He tried keeping the fear off his face as he listened to his master bellowing at the messenger, but he knew where this was going to lead. The forces Demai'Tah had set about the Cymae Isles to attack the new blood and their allies at the Ball had been hit, again by those ghost rebels, and apparently only their forces had taken casualties. And Ron knew this meant Demai'Tah was going to take his ire out on someone. Most likely lots of someone's, but mainly him when all was said and done. Ron steeled himself for it, because he knew if he tried to cower away, to hide in a shadowed corner until Demai'Tah cooled down, well… that would only make it worse on himself.
Ron mentally sneered. Demai'Tah should have sent him to Cymae. He wouldn't have failed.
"You!" Ron sucked in a breath when he was suddenly faced with Demai'Tah. The messenger already dead and bleeding on the ground he'd been standing upon seconds ago. "You will make up for this, Ronald! You will set the world on fire," his master breathed in his face.
Ron responded by smiling. He could do that. He was a master at it by now. "Yes, Master."
"Good." Demai'Tah paused to study him, and Ron felt the smile on his face fading. He understood what that look meant. "Now go to the Black Ice room and await for me there."
Ron paled as the smile completely vanished, but he didn't dare say anything against that. All he could do was nod and turn away. Turn and head for the place that was the room Demai'Tah used to torture his mate when he was in a particularly vicious mood. It was a room that always tormented is soul, for not only did Ron consider it his horror, but he was also starting to anticipate the time he spent in there with his mate. The more time he spent with Demai'Tah, the more Ron felt he was losing grip on all that he knew. Losing grip on his sanity. He wanted it to end before he started to completely depend upon the insanity. One way or another, he was desperate and determined for it to end.
Harry and Caellum went to visit Neville first thing in the morning after Molly had arrived to take Zohrek for a time, and his best mate was very happy for their visit. Stepping into the bedroom, he greeted Dudley with a smile and handed Caellum over to the builder. The little prince was squealing and reaching for his mother's adopted cousin.
"On the battlefield, it's easy to tell enemy from friend, you know," Neville said quietly to Harry when the brunet climbed onto the bed to sit beside him while Dudley took a chair beside the bed with Caellum happily gnawing on Dudley's finger. "You can see the malice in their eyes. The kill or be killed intent. But… it's a whole different kind of danger once we're off the battle fields. I'd forgotten that."
"Not to mention it was a pregnant lady that tried to harm you," Harry replied softly, completely understanding what Neville was saying. "Had I been you, I would have been tricked as well. You're right. Being on a battle field is completely different."
Neville nodded. "Should have known though. She was the nicest of the bunch at first. It took the others a bit more time to warm up to my presence… what did you do about her?"
Harry frowned. "What the hell do you think I would do with someone who would try and kill my best mate?" he spat.
"You killed her then? Good," Dudley grumbled, wincing a little as Caellum continued to use his finger as a teething toy.
"Not exactly. Not yet. She'll be taken care of today. After a healer has delivered her baby via C section. The baby will be placed in a good home."
"Okay, good," Neville breathed. "That's better."
Harry nodded and the three adults went quiet, with the baby occasionally making soft gurgling noises while Harry fidgeted.
"What is it?" Neville finally asked Harry with an eye roll.
"What was going on with you two?" he blurted. Dudley tensed and avoided all eye contact. Harry narrowed his eyes. "Dudley?"
Finally Dudley sighed and handed Caellum back to his mother before looking at Neville. "I was scared. I was scared of our baby, Neville. I didn't know how to deal with it. I was… I don't want to turn out like my father," he ended in a whisper.
Neville's eyes widened and Harry figured now was a good time to depart. "I'll just go now."
As Harry left, he clearly heard Neville exclaim, "you great wonderful idiot!"
"Hey! I'm not an… okay, maybe I am, a little. But we're having a… a little us, you know! It's daunting!"
Harry snickered and walked through the apartment, giving Neville's Saen a nod of acknowledgement as he passed him. He sensed a massive amount of disappointment swirling around Crhii as he passed. Harry didn't bother trying to console him. Not because he thought the Saen deserved it, but because he knew Crhii would continue to blame himself no matter what Harry said. But he really wasn't to blame. No one would have suspected that girl. Not only because she was a terrific actress, and had had a very good way of passing on the poison, but also because everyone believed all the traitors had been captured.
The she elf had escaped notice by feigning fatigue just as the royals ascended the dais at the beginning of the Ball, so she'd been in that alcove as Draco swam through minds. She'd been safely tucked away and Harry wasn't too surprised Draco missed someone. There had been so many minds to swim through after all, and Draco was only one elf. Still, Harry made a note to talk to Vendyl about his soldier. He knew Crhii was just as fond as Neville as Vendyl was of him.
As Harry walked into the Royal breakfast room, he was delighted to find most of the older family members already sitting around the table. Lucius, Sirius, and their babies. Severus, the Weasleys, the Lestranges, Aunt Petunia, and Amortia.
"Good morning!" Harry exclaimed as he took the seat between Sirius and Severus. Caellum squealed happily and tried squirming out of Harry's arms in order to reach the bowl of fruit sitting in front of Severus.
"Morning, Harry," the others returned, smiling at the little prince.
"The borry berries," he told Severus when his uncle took Caellum in order to feed him. "Caellum likes borry in the mornings—You guys missed an awesome fight last night! I mean, it really wasn't much of a fight when we got there. Bill's rebels and Charlie's dragon had already pretty much turned the tide of the battle, kicking the raiders' arses-"
"Harry, language," his aunt admonished with a little frown, pointedly looking at the little prince.
"Sorry, Aunt Petunia." Harry grinned sheepishly. "So what are you all doing today?"
"Training. All day," Sirius replied and with a grimace that was shared around the table. Harry mentally snickered.
"And then we'll need to return to the human world," Lucius replied.
At which point Harry pouted, hoping for more time with all the adults.
"No worries, pup," Sirius murmured. "We'll all be back next weekend… for more bloody training."
Harry smiled as he fed another small piece of fruit to his son. A soft pleasant tingle ran down his spine then just as a voice colored his mind. I'm home, lover. Harry's smile broadened. "Draco's back!"
Severus hissed under his breath. "Which means the warriors have returned as well."
The males around the table groaned. Amortia tisked. "You boys are a bunch of babies. Training is delightful."
"Yes," Petunia agreed. "The warriors probably wouldn't be as hard on you if you would only do what they ask the first time around instead of whining about it for minutes on end." She said this with a sharp look at both Lucius and Rodolphus. The latter pretended not to hear his lover's accurate assessment.
Lucius lifted his chin as he hefted Eadric into his arms. "I do not whine, Petunia. The thought is utterly ridiculous."
Sirius opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it when he caught Luce's sharp gaze on him. He settled for smiling stupidly and playing with his twin girls as they were finished with their milk and happily babbling into the air.
They heard many voices approaching and looked to the doorway just as more of their family poured in. First Hermione, Tom, and Luna. The table expanded. Fred, George, and Similae appeared, closely followed by Ginny, Blaise, and Pansy and the table expanded again to accommodate everyone. Sirius made sure to scoot his chair over so that Draco could conjure a chair and sit it next to his mate. Draco strode in last with Ozemir. Zohrek perked up in Molly's arms and squealed, "ma ma ma," just as Caellum started calling for his "da da!"
And then the triplets started to try and duplicate the sounds, but didn't quite have it down yet. The adults all quieted down as they took seats, smiling and eating as the room was filled with the babies chattering.
"Dare I hope the warriors were called away for some business or other and training has been cancelled," Lucius finally spoke, directing his question to both Fred and Ozemir.
Fred snorted. "You wish, Lucius. Nope, they'll be along in a moment. They only wanted to make sure the rebels moved camp as soon as we left. For their safety."
Ozemir grinned at the frowning Malfoy head. "They also needed to oversee the transport of the prisoners we took from the Ball to another location."
"What about that person who tried to poison Neville?" Ginny asked lowly.
Molly smiled widely at her daughter. "Alice and Amortia will take care of her. That's where Alice is right now."
"But why'd she try to kill Neville?"
"Neville wasn't a specific target," Draco began, since he knew the most after having been in the lady elf's mind. "She… her mate was in Demai'Tah's army. Killed by our side. She went last night seeking revenge and would settle for any of the new blood."
"It's just as Neville said," Harry went on. "He fell into her lap by accident."
"The thing is," Draco went on softly, "she was half glad to be caught, and even more so when I announced she would be killed after her baby was taken. I don't think she really expected to live much longer if she did manage to poison one of us."
"But Neville's alright, yes?" Similae asked, his brow drawn together in worry.
"Yes. Quite alright. He'll just need to stay in bed for a while."
Hermione looked at her brothers. "What's going to happen to the traitor's baby? It shouldn't be persecuted for something its parents did."
"Of course not, Hermione! Geez, what do you take us for? Monsters?"
There was a lot of clearing throats and finally Tom laughed delightedly, grinning at his brothers. "Yes, sometimes you are. And the both of you can be very vindictive. And this had to do with Neville, so I'm very surprised you didn't just kill her and her baby right out… in fact," Tom's eyes sparked, "I would have done so happily."
"No you would not," Luna said flatly, and everyone shivered, staring at her and her pearly white eyes. "My children are not to be harmed if they haven't done anything to deserve punishment."
It was amusing to watch the Dark Lord deflate and sink slightly in his chair, but no one voiced their amusement. "Where's the baby going to be sent to?" Pansy asked.
Draco looked at her and frowned. "Err… I haven't really thought that far ahead yet."
Ginny, Pansy, and Hermione rolled their eyes. "Honestly, Draco."
"Not to worry," Ozemir chirped. "Falde will know of someone who would love to raise the child."
Speaking of the warrior, he came in seconds later with Brumek. The two warriors paused just inside the room, Brumek glaring around the table.
"You should already be in the training arena," he announced to the elder Ukatae.
And then Falde was smirking. "If you've had a lot to eat this morning, training is not going to be very pleasant. How many times have we told you not to eat before morning training?"
"That's your cue to get up and go," George whispered to his father, who'd grown a little pale. "Before they pull out the whips."
Fred perked up. "Falde, do you have a whip?" he asked hopefully, hot mischief swirling in his eyes.
A number of expressions crossed the Commander's face. Comprehension, shock, a mountain of lust, and finally, embarrassment when his gaze shot over to Molly for a split second after he'd made it plain Fred's comment had turned him on. And then he retreated, calling over his shoulder, "training, now!"
Harry snorted and then broke down laughing. Fred sighed with a dopey grin. "I seriously hope he has a whip."
"Fred!" his mother screeched. The twins snickered and waved as she and the others left the table to trail after the slave drivers.
"If you don't mind, Lucius," said Ginny when the blond began to push the triplets stroller out in order to drop them off at the nursery, "we'll watch the triplets. We'd like to."
"If you're sure?" he said, looking around.
"Of course, Father," Draco responded as he handed his son yet another piece of fruit and just barely pulled back in time to keep his finger from being bitten off along with the fruit. "Vicious thing," he cooed. Caellum looked up at him with warm shining gold eyes full of adoration.
Lucius smiled at the sight of his son and grandson and nodded to the three girls who'd gotten up to hover over the floating stroller, peering down at his youngest babies and cooing to them. Talynia, Peria, and Eadric were gazing back at them, smiling and obviously in the mood to be doted on. "Alright then. You have permission to enter our quarters as well should you need anything else for the babies that isn't already in their bag."
"We'll take great care of them," Pansy answered as she bent over to scoop Eadric out of the portable bassinette.
Harry smiled brightly before turning back to Draco and his own son. He was just caressing Caellum's hair when he was suddenly overcome by immense heat. Burning painful heat. He pulled his hand away from Caellum and balled it into a fist as he shut his eyes and gritted his teeth, willing it to go away. It was like white hot flames were licking at his skin, melting him.
"Harry!" Hands grabbed his shoulders and roughly shook him, shaking the heat away as well. "Harry!" his lover's frantic, worried voice speared through his pained mind.
He opened his eyes and realized he must have been sitting there for a while with his eyes closed and his breathing labored, for now Hermione had Caellum in her arms, Draco was turned to him, his hand on his shoulder, and everyone was looking at him with worry. "I-" he cut off, choking on his own breath as if he'd been inhaling smoke. His throat felt hot and raw. "Did any of you suddenly feel hot? Lots of heat? Fire," he rasped and grabbed for the goblet of juice sitting in front of him.
"I didn't feel anything," Ozemir replied softly and the others said the same, staring at him oddly. In such a way it made Harry uncomfortable.
Lover?
Harry turned back to Draco and tried smiling. He couldn't quite pull it off so he took Caellum and hid his face against the top of his son's head. "Nothing. It was nothing," he muttered. "Just my imagination." And then he hopped from his seat. "Who's up for the garden? We're going to go play in the garden."
He was gone before anything else could be said. Draco was the first to follow, shooting Ozemir and his siblings a worried look as the others got up with him, knowing full well that whatever had just happened to Harry, it had not been nothing, nor had it been his imagination.
A/N: I have a perfectly good and reasonable explanation as for why this chap took so long to get out and why it's shorter than most of the Life chapters. Real Life. RL was hectic this last month and a half and I'm not such a fan of this chapter. I just wanted to finish it and move on.
Despite all that, hope you enjoyed chapter 11.
Have a great day :D