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Hermione woke up the next morning when the charms which signified an intruder went off quite loudly in her head. Shaking what remained of the cobwebs from her brain she rolled out of bed and pulled a silk robe over her underwear and bra.
"Isabella, Maria," she hissed as she picked her wand up off of the nightstand and tucked it into the invisible pocket of her robe.
"Miss, someone approaches from the gate. It appears they tricked the gate," Maria explained when she appeared. Isabella was not long behind her; a long wooden spoon hanging forgotten from her hand dripped a chocolatey mix onto Hermione's carpet.
"There is two someones now Hermione, both riding white horses with very expensive looking gowns. Miss, they are moon elves," Isabella informed Hermione who cocked her head to one side.
"Moon elves?" Hermione asked, unsure of the significance of this title.
"Has your guardian taught you nothing?" Maria demanded indignantly. She pulled Hermione's robe off and went to dig in the closet. "Isabella you are dripping brownie mix on the carpet. Go back to the kitchen."
Hermione looked startled at Maria's outburst but obediently took the dress handed to her and stepped into it. She had to grab onto the dresser as Maria began tightening the laces.
"In the time of King Farid moon elves were the elves that administered and governed the forests of the far North and East. These forests covered much as Nevasharite, the sacred land of the elves – humans have since destroyed them and the great city of Sharita fell to human mages. That was when your great grandmother withdrew her people to a secret universe gained by passage through an archway made of stone. The secret to this gateway was given to the head of each coterie, or coven, of elves. The moon elves passed the secret from elf to elf and were the only ones who ventured out into the world again trying to cultivate the great forests of olden times. They are the proudest and most regal of elves respected by all."
Maria tied off the laces and forced Hermione onto the vanity seat. She undid Hermione's hair and ran a brush through it, allowing it to fall gracefully to Hermione waist.
"Your mother sought me out when she foreswore the throne for Michael. She entrusted me with much of the history of the Crown of Farid – a crown and heritage which has both blessed and cursed her family since its inception. Your mother was born to rich elven heritage but out of wedlock. To protect her from the rigors of court which the Queen feared would ruin Lucia's life she fostered her among the moon elves who found her a home in the human realms where they hoped they might one day follow. Lucia was never meant to rule she had several older, legitimate, half-siblings."
"I thought elves did not give birth to many children," Hermione said trying to hide her stunned expression at Maria's long speech.
"Elves do not usually have many children but every queen descended from Frost's line births sets of twins. That Lucia was an only child was a statement to her illegitimate nature. Thus she was sent from the palace and fostered but her siblings were killed, and Lucia would have ascended to the throne but for her ties in our realm. When Lucia was fostered to the moon elves she was only several days old -- when she was placed among mortals her eldest sister had just been coronated. One by one in the years she was fostered her siblings died of natural and unnatural illnesses, no one could figure out why."
"But my guardian said the throne has stood empty for nearly a millennia," Hermione said.
"In the elven realm time passes both much slower and much swifter. In terms of time whole centuries can pass in half the time here. But the realm also grants much longer lives to the elves because it is removed to a plane apart from time. Elves might live to be three or four millennia old only aging when they set foot back into the human realm. Here, in this realm, elves might live to be several centuries but not much longer than that."
"What do these elves want?"
Maria didn't answer instead she reached into the air and seemingly pulled a tiara out of it. Hermione looked at it in disbelief; it was a tiara she had never seen twined with impossibly small threads of white and yellow gold and glittering with every kind of jewel imaginable.
"This is the crown the Queen of Elves wears when she is not in full royal clothes, it was given to Lucia in preparation for her coronation, before she married Michael. She carried it with her always to remember her heritage and to protect it from the wrong hands. You will not be Queen of all Elves until the Council of Elders agrees to be bound by your rule but wearing this will make a statement –"
"It will tell them I will bow to no one," Hermione finished. Maria placed the tiara carefully and arranged Hermione's long hair around it.
"Yes it will, now you must go or they will be waiting at the door and you will be at their summons instead of the other way around. Remember to be courteous, they value themselves first among elves and control four of the seats on the Council of Elders. Make no promises today, wait to decree anything until the day of your coronation."
Hermione nodded as she stood and admired the gown Maria had chosen. It was a deep emerald woven through with gold, silver and brown which sparkled as she moved. The sleeves were a lighter green gauze which gently encased her arms without hindering her movement.
Checking her invisible pocket for her wand she turned and apparated to the front door which she immediately opened. Dean and Mona were holding the elven horses as the two women dismounted. Hermione closed the door gently behind her and waved to Mona who offered a small, slightly confused smile, but did not return the wave. Dean turned to lead the horses to the closest turnout and Mona followed without a second glance at Hermione, who sighed inwardly but not before remembering to clear her mind and reinforce the boundaries she had learned to build to keep others at bay – especially other elves who were used to sharing memories and feelings telepathically.
The two elves approached at their own pace, seemingly speaking to each other through a special link, but it gave Hermione a chance to take them in. One was a striking young woman who appeared barely older than Hermione herself. The woman had chestnut brown hair streaked through with white blonde which was almost silver. The other was a dark male with deep black hair – both wore their hair long, practically to their waist, tied in a deep emerald ribbon. They wore similar tunics with clean deerskin leggings and boasted wide set pools of lavender for eyes. Their ears curled even longer than Hermione's and showed quite clearly through their long hair.
The elves stopped several feet from the steps and dropped into bows appropriate for a Queen. Hermione offered them a smile and they rose.
"It must be important if you could not wait for my outrider to meet you at the gate and you instead barged right in."
"Ah, we did not realize you kept such spells still intact. We entered from the other realm and crossed through the gate as we crossed through the fabric of realms. I apologize, it was my misjudgment Your Grace."
"I don't know what time you departed your realm but it is barely past waking here I would be greatly pleased if you broke my fast with me."
The two elves nodded and Hermione pushed the door open behind her, turning swiftly to lead them into the foyer. As they removed their outer cloaks Hermione gestured to their short swords and bows.
"If you would leave your weapons with your cloaks, there is no need to carry them in the haven I have created here."
The two elves glanced at each other for a moment and seemed to reach a consensus un-strapping their belts they laid laid their swords on the hall table and their bows on top. That done Hermione felt much safer with them at her back, she led them to the formal dining area where breakfast was waiting.
The dishes were mainly fresh fruit harvested from Hermione's own lands and some grain based foods like French toast and pancakes. Hermione sat and the two elves followed. As she scooped berries into a small bowl Hermione gestured to the two.
"Please eat, the fruit is fresh harvested from my own greenhouses. My name, as I am sure you know, is Hermione Rowena Ravenclaw. My…guide told me that you are descendents of moon elves who once ruled the great forests of this realm. Why have you come?"
"My name is Fir'lean Bannielvris. This is my half-sister Nulyn Auvrea-eplith. You guardian visited us after she delivered news that she had found you at long last. We come to extend our loyalty and to offer support for your ascension."
"However, we are members of the Council of Elders and this is a formal visit, though it is one most enjoyed."
"We come to bestow you with your elven name which only the Council of Elders has access to. Written by Lucia into the royal bloodlines you were decreed 'Lylanna Ouessaghymn'. You will need this name to ascend."
"It means 'wolf daughter, heir to the forgotten ways.' No one is quite sure why Lucia chose this name but her own elven name was 'Yavain Baequi'ly.' 'Spirt bridge blessed by the wolf,' her mother wrote this in the blood lines and Lucia was her only child who was named for the wolf. Yavain was the first since Frost's own children to be given to the wolf in their name."
"These are things that my Guardian could have told me," Hermione stated blandly. She sensed Maria arrive in the room somewhere in a corner, a silent ally.
"We come also," Fir'lean began.
"To ask a boon," Nulyn finished.
"We would ask to be recognized finally as cousins of the throne and return to our mother's original status within the walls of Sharita when it is restored in all its glory."
"And what makes such a claim valid, I am the only remaining descendent to the throne. I wasn't aware my mother had cousins."
"Your mother did not but Tobias had four children when he died."
"Heresy," Maria hissed from behind them, moving to Hermione's elbow. "Tobias had only three children – two with Frost and one with a previous wife."
"Tobias had a fourth illegitimate child with a moon elf who was married to a elven lord. When he died she inherited his holdings but her claim was contested and instead passed to another relative. We would claim that holding once more."
"My guardian told me elves rarely stray from their partners."
"Tobias married a woman who was not a true elf – something I am sure your guardian has not told you yet. Queen Frost, may her soul rest in peace, was born a nineca or a magical
winged wolf – an intelligent species with the ability to shape change. She went before the gods of the elves and bound herself to the elven race. Before she bound herself she could bear no elven children, Tobias strayed because he felt his line was not secure with the one daughter borne to him by his first wife."
"And you expect me to believe this."
"We have proof but it is in the elven realm, within our current holdings."
"I will review it, after I am coronated."
"You will need help other than our's to ascend," Nulyn said softly.
"I will make my allies when I am ready to ascend but I am far from familiar with the elven ways and I am nowhere near ready to return Nevasharite to its rightful place. That type of magic would be beyond my control right now."
"The magic is meant to be a group working, involving the entirety of the Council of Elders. This will mean allying yourself with its entirety and with your cousins – not just us but the descendents of Tobias's first child."
"If they are descendent of the royal line why did they not come forward to claim the throne?"
"They could not make sure a claim because they would not have be able to garner the support of the council but also because Tobias's first daughter agreed to lay any claim aside in return for a seat with the Elders. She made a pledge to Frost and all of Frost's descendents – in return Frost pledged that a seat on the Council would belong always to the daughter and her descendents. It is the same pledge made to our ancestor."
"Ah," Hermione said softly. "Well I will have to think all of this over and consult with my Guide. But I will do what I can to aid you in your cause. Is there a way I can contact you?"
"Now that you have met us, we can meet In-Between when you pass from consciousness to unconsciousness." Fir'lean replied softly.
"I appreciate your visit but know this: I will ascend to my mother's throne and I will return Nevasharite to her rightful place. But I will do this on my own terms regardless of the Council's will. I intend to be Queen among Prince's, first among equals and I will rule as I see fit—with or without the approval of the Council. I will make no concessions."
"So it shall be decreed," Nulyn replied, "Your Grace."
The two stood, bowed and departed leaving Hermione sitting at the table by herself except for Maria who was looking at her with some respect. Hermione let her head fall into her hands.
"That was an impressive speech," a male voice said from the doorway. Hermione looked up and met Draco's eyes. He wore a cool smirk as he joined her at the table popping a strawberry into his mouth.
"Thanks…You're here early," Hermione said.
"I had some business to take care of…I figured I would come here straight after, if it's a problem I can go to the family manor." Draco drawled, popping another strawberry into his mouth.
"Do I want to know what you had to do," Hermione asked trying to keep the groan out of her voice.
"I was visiting Blaise, she was a little under the weather and my liege wanted me to look in on her."
"Oh that sucks, is she still going to make it tonight?"
"Yeah seems like it. She seemed like she was starting to feel better as the morning wore on. So what are you wearing tonight – so that I can find you."
"You know I can't tell you that sweetheart," Hermione said with a small smile. She stood, leaned towards him as if she was going to kiss him and began to draw back. To her surprise Draco leaned forward and kissed her wrapping a hand behind her neck and pulling her gently into his lap.
"You taste like berries and cream," he said huskily – kissing her again and darting his tongue out to lick her lips.
"And I have a lot to do before the party," Hermione said after another kiss, pulling herself out of his lap. "There are suits and dress robes in the wardrobe in your room. Maria picked them up for you, there should be something you can wear tonight – I left you two masks on your desk if you don't like them you can find your own."
"Thanks…" Draco watched as she left the room her hips swaying in the most eye captivating way.
He ate another strawberry then his mind working as he chewed slowly on it, savoring the taste. He sat there for a long time after that, staring at the wall and thinking.
When Hermione descended the stairs that night into the ballroom is was already half filled, but there was not a doubt in anyone's mind that she was the hostess. She was wearing the red gown she had intended for the Valentine's ball the year before. It was a gorgeous red corset with full skirts that just barely grazed the gown. Her mask was a matching crimson red that still managed to accentuate the smoky black makeup that adorned her eyes.
She had thought, while picking out her gown, that she might want to tune it down a little. But instead she had thought it important to remind her guests upon whose hospitality they dined. Isabella had laced her up, pulling the laces extra tight and making Hermione's body even more perfect that usual. As Hermione looked around the room an auburn haired girl came to her elbow and steered her towards the bar.
"Hello Ginny," Hermione said softly, squeezing the other girls arm. "Pleased to see you could escape to here."
"Spectacular party, it looks just fantastic. Have you seen Blaise yet?"
"No…Why?"
"Because she's looking quite…well she's put on a few pounds and doesn't seem to be hiding it like she was the first night at school."
While Hermione waited for her soda and vodka she looked discreetly around the room and saw Blaise who was in a fashionable dress with a definite bubble.
"What's your guess…Two…Two and a half months?" Hermione chuckled as she took the drink. "Who do you think the father is?"
"That was what I wanted to –" Hermione watched as Draco, in a matching crimson mask, brought Blaise a glass of punch and helped her onto one of the cushions near the wall. He was smiling at her – laughing at a joke she made before moving away to talk to a guy nearby.
"It's Draco." Hermione said simply. It wasn't an angry admonition, merely a self-realization.
"She was over Malfoy manor practically the entire summer. Hermione, they must have been trying or something…"
"I know why…It's fine, the child won't ever be what she thinks it will. Not anymore."
"I just…I wanted to tell you before but it seemed like your marriage had enough problems."
"Ginny, I don't blame you…It's fine. I'll deal with it…Did you bring Lucius?"
"Yes…But the invitation said I could bring a guest – you don't mind do you?"
"No I need to speak with him and I'm guessing he's under glamour…Can you tell him to meet me in the library."
"Sure…"