Chapter 13
Friday December 24th, 1999
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Hospital Wing
11:52 p.m.
Minerva had actually managed to fall asleep at a decent hour, the first in months, so the last thing she wanted in this world was to be woken up with alarms going off left and right. Racing down to the Entrance Hall, she met up with the other teachers, and ghosts even, before actually making it into the Entrance Hall, everyone stopping in shock at the sight that greeted them.
"Mr. Potter?" she asked after a moment. "Your Majesty!" she continued when her brain finally accepted the fact that the Queen of Narnia was there too, leaning heavily on Harry. "What happened? Firenze contact Camelot. Poppy let's get both of them to the Hospital Wing. Filius kindly do something about these alarms, the rest of you go and make sure none of the students leave their houses." she gave off orders as Poppy hurried over to the side of the two, conjuring a stretcher for Ginny.
"I think she went into labour while I was bringing her here," Harry said.
"You think?" snarled Ginny sarcastically. "What could have possibly given you that idea Harry? Maybe it was the fact that my water broke all over Rosemerta's floor or the fact that I've been trying to break your arm for the past the Gods only know how long since you showed up. And for your information I didn't just go into labour. I've been in labour for the past twenty-four hours or so….oooooh Goddess…" she ground out as another contraction hit. "My husbands, where are they? I want them here," she cried.
"Your Majesty I'm sure they'll be here as soon as they know, but let's get you to the Hospital Wing so Poppy can give you something for the pain. Later we'll hear everything," Minerva glanced at Harry before she and Poppy stepped forward to gently pry Ginny from Harry's arm and get her on the stretcher, before Poppy began moving the stretcher.
"Oh Goddess make it stop," Ginny cried quietly as she allowed herself to be helped onto the stretcher. "I want Draco and Blaise…"
"They're coming my Lady, I promise," Minerva spoke quietly, soothingly as they quickly made their way towards the Hospital Wing. "Harry, Poppy will need supplies, you get them," she instructed as they entered the Hospital Wing, the trip going faster than normal, the group practically running.
"There are clean towels in the supply closet and I need the large bowl on the third shelf, fill it with water and cast a heating spell on it," Poppy instructed as she and Minerva carefully moved Ginny onto a bed.
"Get him out of here," demanded Ginny moments before crying out in pain.
Minerva glanced at Harry before looking back at Ginny, "Harry, can you please go wait in my office? Poppy I'll get the things you need."
"Oh Goddess make it stop…please make it stop…" cried Ginny.
"Shh, here we go sweetheart," Poppy soothed as she cast the pain relieving spells. "There we go, better now?" she asked gently as Minerva went to get the towels and water and Harry silently made his way up to the Headmistress' office.
As Draco and Blaise quickly made their way towards Minerva's office, they ran into Harry "Where the hell is my wife Potter?" demanded Draco as he shoved Harry hard into the wall and pinned him there, Blaise standing just behind Draco, looking just as murderous as Draco sounded.
"She's in the Hospital Wing, she's in labour," Harry explained softly, not fighting back.
"If any of your little friends hurt her in any way…" Blaise threatened.
"I can't speak for all that happened to her, but whether you believe me or not, I have been trying to rescue her these last months. But I will take any punishment you feel I deserve just the same," Harry responded quietly, "For now, your wife needs you, deal with me and the others later... please."
"Come on Draco, Ginny needs us," Blaise said pulling Draco's arm, getting him to release his hold on Harry and start to walk away, only to have Draco spin around the punch Harry.
"That's for your part in her kidnapping and what you allowed to happen to both her and Blaise," Draco spat before turning and stalking off down the hall, Blaise falling into step with him, neither one turning back to look at Harry as they made their way up to the Hospital Wing.
"Where is she?" demanded Blaise and Draco in unison when they stormed into the Hospital Wing a few minutes later.
"Your Majesties," Minerva nodded before looking over to where Poppy stood by Ginny's side.
"Beloved!" they cried as they ran straight over to Ginny's bed, Poppy stepping back to allow them room as they both wrapped their arms around Ginny.
"Get me out of here…I don't want to be here…I want to go home…" Ginny cried.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it would not be safe for you or the babies to be moved now that your active labour has begun," Poppy explained quietly, to Draco and Blaise as well as Ginny.
"I don't care…I'm not safe here…I just want to go home where I'm safe…"
"Perhaps we can contact the High Queen; she can come with some of her guards, would that make you feel safer?" Minerva suggested.
Ginny nodded as she suddenly cried out, grabbing onto Blaise and Draco's hands with all of her strength. "Make it stop…"
"How much longer is she going to have to suffer like this?" demanded Blaise in concern, not liking what he heard in Ginny's voice.
Minerva quickly made her way from the room, leaving the young Kings to help their Queen. She glanced at Harry as she entered her office, quickly placing the firecall and within a few minutes Josephine had arrived, her trusted guard there. "My Lady Queen," she nodded.
"Headmistress McGonagall," Josephine nodded, "Lord Potter," she glanced at him, "We will talk later, you and I, you betrayed those you once followed to save her, fear my nephew and cousin not, their anger and fear rules them now, but the Mother has blessed me with a vision this night showing these last months, many things I admit I did not wish to see, but I know this, you did everything you had to in order to see her safely returned to those that loved her, to those she loved. That has earned you a place of honour in my mind and my thanks."
Harry remained silent as he watched her, surprise evident in his eyes though. Minerva glanced between them before nodding, "Follow me my Lady Queen, I'll take you to Ginny."
"Thank you Headmistress," Josephine nodded, "Regulus, please remain and keep Lord Potter company," she instructed, Regulus nodded before moving to take a seat where he could watch the fireplace and the door as Minerva led Josephine and the rest of her guard from the room.
"Avery, Rabastian, Rodolphus, remain here," she instructed when they stopped outside the Hospital Wing, "Sarah, Melissa, you will join us, but keep watch from the far walls, we shall give the Queen as much privacy as we can," she nodded before the men separated to space out and guard the hall and entrance, the four women making their way into the Hospital Wing itself, the two former Death Eaters moving to the two far corners of the room as Josephine made her way towards the group around the bed, Seraphine moving to join the three bodyguards from Narnia. "Hello my sweet one," she smiled as she paused next to the bed.
"Make it stop Josette, please make it stop, I can't take anymore…" Ginny whimpered.
"Shh, I'll do what I can my sweet," she promised before stepping away to speak with Poppy. Once she made her views clear, she returned, quickly making a cup of tea with herbs from Avalon, "Drink this my love, Blaise or Draco, one of you help her please," she instructed softly before stepping around her cousin and gently bumping him so he would move further up towards Ginny's head and give her access to Ginny's swollen belly. Softly she ran her hands over her stomach, whispering words in the ancient tongue as she soothed the babies, telling them what she was going to do, before quietly casting spells from Avalon to make the contractions less painful.
"Be ready Poppy," she looked up at the medi-witch before focusing once more on Ginny's stomach and the babies within, her hands resting gently on top as she closed her eyes, softly talking to the babies, helping them make the trip to this world faster and easier on their mother.
"I can't do this anymore, I'm too tired…I don't have any strength left…"
"Come on Beloved, you can do this," Blaise encouraged.
"You're almost there Beloved. Our beautiful baby will be here soon," Draco said as he and Blaise each wrapped an arm around Ginny's shoulders.
"Babies," Josephine corrected softly, "Two, they can't wait to meet you, they're beautiful," she opened her eyes to look at them with a smile before nodding, "They're ready to meet their Péres and meet their Mére at last."
"Wait…twins?" asked Blaise in surprise, looking between his cousin, Draco and Ginny.
"Princesses for Narnia," Ginny said quietly.
"How long have you known?" asked Draco curiously.
"Since just after I was taken," replied Ginny, exhaustion colouring her voice. "Snape…"
"Shh, not now my sweet," Josephine interrupted, quickly pushing Blaise out of her way once more, "I need both of her hands my loves," she spoke before they glanced at each other then nodding and letting her take them, "Relax sweetheart," she smiled at Ginny, gently running her hand along Ginny's cheek before taking both her hands in her own. Closing her eyes she called upon the Goddess, passing her magic and strength to Ginny as much as she dared before letting go and taking a tired step back to lean against the wall.
A few minutes after Josephine stepped back, the first of Ginny's daughters was welcomed into the world, followed quickly by her twin minutes later, Ginny collapsing back onto the bed when it was all over, Draco and Blaise still at her side as Poppy checked over each of the twins.
"Sleep for now, we'll go back to Camelot when she wakes," Josephine spoke softly.
"Don't leave me," pleaded Ginny quietly, the fear in her voice breaking Draco and Blaise's hearts.
"We're not going anywhere Beloved," Blaise reassured. "Are we Amante (Lover)?"
"We're staying right here with you Beloved," Draco told her, kissing her forehead lightly. "Sleep now, we'll watch over you."
Ginny nodded sleepily, her eyes already closed as Blaise ran his hands through her sweat soaked hair.
"Here, let me get her cleaned up and moved to a dry bed your Majesties," Poppy spoke softly, "And you, my Lady Queen, into a bed yourself, I don't know what you did but you look about ready to collapse."
Josephine chuckled, "I haven't been spoken to like that since my Governess," she smiled before Sarah came over to help her to a bed. "I'll just take a nap my loves; wake me when she wakes..."
"Of course cousin," Blaise said.
Once Poppy had cleaned Ginny up and moved her to a new bed, Draco set about expanding the bed so it was wide enough for him and Blaise to climb into it on either side of Ginny and hold her while she slept, all three of their guards settling down together at the bottom of the bed.
Saturday December 25th, 1999
Camelot
Josephine's Study
11:25 a.m.
"If I never move again, I will die happy," Josephine groaned as she sunk into her favourite chair. Ginny had woken up not thirty minutes earlier and just as quickly the group was making it's way from Hogwarts to Camelot, arriving in her own personal Floo point for the castle, which led to them being in her study. "Someone put a sign on the door not to disturb me, and make sure my husband never finds out I helped Poppy with the birth... which reminds me I still need to know the names of those two," she rolled her head over so she could look at the new parents.
"Thanks for the help Josette," Ginny said.
"Your welcome little one," she smiled, "Just keep what I did between us okay? And I'm still waiting for the names of those two girls?"
"Come on Beloved, you haven't even told us what the names are," Blaise chuckled as he took the baby that Ginny was holding away from her, Draco having a hold of her sister.
"Alright, alright," Ginny laughed. "The one that takes after Blaise, who he is now holding is called Kaelyn Samiya Zabini-Malfoy and the one in her other daddy's arms is Dracen Calixte Zabini-Malfoy."
"They're beautiful my loves," Josephine smiled, "I foresee many times the five us will be chasing three little girls who love to pick on Artie to their heart's content in the years to come."
"And then in the years following that, he'll be helping their father's beat off all the guys trying to get into their skirts," commented Draco.
"May the Gods help any man who falls in love with our daughters," she chuckled, "Especially if we're evil enough to hold them to the same rules that we were raised with, that only those of a certain status are good enough for our children. Course... that would require finding a few more princes and princesses in the world..." she mused with a smile, "Guess that means we have to lower the standards then," Josephine shrugged.
"Well if you think about it we'd really only have to worry about two of the girls cause we could marry Artie to one of these two sleeping beauties," Ginny shrugged. "What?" she asked looking between Draco and Blaise. "It would unite the lands even more if you think about it. Yes by marrying you Draco, we brought union to Narnia and Camelot but you abdicated your right to the throne of Camelot when you did that which means Artie is the next in line to inherit your father's throne so if he marries one of our daughters then Narnia and Camelot will truly be united and …"
Ginny's words trailed off as Draco quickly put a hand behind her neck and pulled her into a kiss. "You're babbling Beloved," he said when he broke the kiss a minute later.
"So sweet," Josephine giggled, "And I love the idea but we should probably wait and see if Artie happens to fall for one of your girls and they for him. I hate having an arranged marriage when the parties have no love for the other, things get all kinds of messy years later," she waved a hand as if to emphasize her point, her mind going to her brother and his former wife. "But on to other things, we can worry about marriages say when they're at least ten..." she smiled before the door opened, "Oh Mother save your beloved child," she raised her eyes to the ceiling and the sky beyond as Thomas stepped into the room.
"Hello..." he stopped, surprised to see them there, "I was coming to see if you could use company coming back from Hogwarts, I see you beat me to it."
"That would be my fault Thomas," Ginny said.
"Your fault that you're here? Well I certainly hope so because it's much nicer having you here than anywhere else," he smiled as he moved over to take her hand, "Welcome back Milady," he dropped a kiss to the back of her hand, "And I do believe congratulations are in order, both for these two," he glanced towards Josephine, "Is there some sort of Malfoy thing?" he winked before focusing on the three and the twins once more, "And as to your marriage."
"Right. Uh…we uh…we should go," Ginny hesitated suddenly backing towards the door.
"Can someone kindly pull her back to her seat so I can talk and make sure she hears me?" Josephine sighed, "And don't look at me that way Thomas Marvolo Riddle, I'm just sitting here because I was up all night."
"Liar," he muttered before taking the baby from Blaise and going to sit down as he in turn went towards his wife.
"Oh no you don't Beloved," Blaise chided as he grabbed a hold of Ginny by the waist, closing the door she had just managed to open and turned her around and led her back over to were Josephine was sitting, sitting her down on the couch opposite Josephine and sitting down next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as Draco sat down on her other side, placing Dracen into her arms and wrapping his arm around her waist as he played with his daughter.
"Okay, I need you to listen to me alright love?" Josephine asked gently but with a slight edge to her tone, showing she was serious.
Ginny nodded, pulling Dracen closer to her and holding her tight, afraid of what her friend would say now that she knew the truth of the situation she found herself in.
"It's alright Beloved," Draco told her quietly, kissing her temple as Blaise gave her a reassuring squeeze before gently wiping away an escaping tear.
"Sweetheart, I know that it's hard, you grew up with the commoner's way of thinking, the beliefs shared by Muggles. But things are different here," she raised her hands to wave them around the room, "Camelot, the lands of the nobility on a whole, we all don't follow the same beliefs as them. And it may seem like it might not be true since we do still have arranged marriages and such, but there is one thing we believe above all others, and that's in love. As long as there is love, we do not judge. Your relationship with Draco and with Blaise, we will never look badly upon you, in truth we'll rejoice in it, rejoice in your happiness and love."
"I wasn't thinking clearly when I let it slip in the Three Broomsticks. I just wanted them to let us go and to stop hurting Blaise," Ginny wept. "I never wanted them to know…they were never supposed to know…" she cried pulling Dracen as close to her chest as possible without hurting her baby.
"Know about the babies or about Draco?" Josephine spoke gently, sharing a confused look with Thomas; she didn't remember Ginny mentioning Draco by name in the Broomsticks... was she more out of it than she thought that day?
"They told Professor Snape what I said and he…"
"What did he say Beloved?" asked Blaise quietly, rubbing her back.
"I can't…"
Josephine pushed herself to stand before moving over to sink down in front of them, taking one of Ginny's hands in her own, "He can be a right bastard sometimes can't he love?"
Ginny nodded, too afraid to actually say what Severus had done to her.
"I blamed myself those first days, crazy as it sounds, I knew that it wasn't my fault, but I had magic and I had the training of a Priestess even if I wasn't born with the magic gifted naturally to us. Even then I blamed myself, each time they came in, when he shut and locked the door, the look in his eyes..." she trailed off.
"I can't," Ginny said quietly, suddenly handing Dracen over to Draco and running from the room.
"I'm sorry," Josephine whispered as she looked up at the two men.
"Give her time cousin," Blaise said as he took Kaelyn back from Thomas. "I'll get her to talk to us; it will just take a bit of time. Her first instinct is always to run. It's how we ended up in Narnia the first time. I'm sure Kiya is with her."
"We should probably get these two little ones to bed anyway. And I could use some proper sleep now that we have our Beloved back with us," Draco said.
"I agree," Blaise said, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Go get some rest, heaven knows I'm ready to follow you into dream land," she smiled before looking at her husband when he snorted, "Which I suspect won't be coming, how in God's name do you even know?"
"We're married, I can sense your mind Josephine and it is blaring the fact that you used ancient magic and Ginny is radiating your magic, doesn't take a genius to figure out. Your brother is going to kill you."
"When you're done killing me?" she raised an eyebrow before sighing, "You four better run before we really start arguing," she focused on her nephew and cousin. "And I suspect there will be yelling later that will be heard throughout the castle when your father finds out so get Gin to your rooms and place silencing charms."
"You think? Draco could rule until Artie is old enough but there's no one to take your throne until our daughter is of age. Lucius is going to be exceedingly angry you put not only your life but the kingdom at risk, even with as good a reason as Ginny's health as why."
"Can we at least let them leave first my love?" she rolled her eyes before he threw his hands in the air and stalked away.
"We'll see you later cousin," Blaise said as Draco rose from his spot.
"Josette," Draco said as they turned and made their way from the room, each carrying one daughter, their guards joining them.
"So..." Josephine looked up at her husband, "Let me sit down on a comfortable chair then feel free to yell my love.
"Bloody witch," he grumbled before crossing over to help her up.
Saturday December 25th, 1999
Camelot
The main hall of Lucius' wing
1:04 p.m.
Ginny had to get as far away from Josephine's study as possible. She couldn't bear the thought of Draco and Blaise learning the truth of what she'd suffered at the hands of the Order. And if she was honest, she didn't feel comfortable in any room that had a Floo point in it, it didn't matter that they were in the safest place next to Cair Paravel. In her mind, if there was a Floo point there was a way for the Order to strike at her. They made it clear that she had been the target the whole time and that they would do whatever they had to in order to keep her and her children away from the nobles.
Blinded by her tears, Ginny was unable to determine just whereabouts in the castle she was, her lack of familiarity with the castle itself playing a role in her disorientation.
"Merry Christmas my Lord King!"
"Merry Christmas," Lucius nodded towards one of the servants before he disappeared around a corner, "What's so bloody merry about it," he grumbled to himself. What did he have to celebrate? His mate, for that's what she was when you got down to the nitty gritty of it, was married to not only his sister's cousin, but his own son, and expecting one of their children. The same woman had been kidnapped by the followers of a man he had been in a war with for only the Gods knew how many years, were holding his son's wife hostage and the poor woman was due to give birth any day. The only good thing these past months had provided was his sister's rescue, though that was tainted by the kidnapping of Ginny, and the fact they had finally figured out just what combination of spells and potions had been used to make Josephine the equivalent of a time bomb in order to kill her, himself, and Thomas... course that took just until three weeks earlier but it was at least something...
Another sigh had him turning the corner, figuring he'd hide out in his study until Josephine and Thomas decided to wake up, he didn't really expect to see his son or Draco's husband, such an odd thought since he hadn't even been at the wedding or anything... out of their room today with their wife and child still missing. Besides he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, he was never having a meeting in another country the day before Christmas again...
The last thing he expected was to nearly stumble over a figure in his path. Looking down he just about fell on his arse when he realized who it was, "Ginevra?"
"Y…your Grace," Ginny said in surprise, quickly wiping away her tears as best she could and dropping into a curtsey.
It took maybe two seconds to click in that the Queen of Narnia was... "Your Majesty please," he held a hand out to her, "You do not curtsey to me."
"I do not wish to offend you, your Grace," Ginny said quietly rising from her curtsey, her eyes remaining downcast.
"There is nothing to offend, your Majesty," he countered gently. "Do the others know you are here? Actually, how are you here?" he frowned, "A Christmas miracle for your husbands perhaps?"
"Is there someplace we can speak in private?" asked Ginny, a hint of nervousness entering her voice, whether her nervousness came from what she wanted to ask or from the prospect of being completely alone in a room with Lucius, she couldn't say. "Preferably someplace without a Floo point in it?"
"Of course," he nodded, "Are you alright your Majesty?" he asked gently as he led the way towards the library.
"I don't know if I'll ever be alright, my Lord," Ginny replied.
"It always seems darkest before the dawn my Lady," he replied softly before opening the door. "Can I get anything for you? Something to drink?"
"As much as I would love a drink my Lord, it probably best that I decline. I do not wish to ingest anything that may cause harm to my children," Ginny said as she turned to face Lucius.
Lucius nodded as he took in her appearance completely, "I'm sure you don't want to be away from them long, what can I do for you, your Majesty?"
"I have a favour to ask of you my Lord and I'm not asking this of you as the Queen of Narnia, not even as the Countess of Rosewood but as Ginevra Weasley, poor, simple, common Ginevra Weasley," Ginny said.
"If it is within my power, I will do it," he promised.
"I want Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Percy Weasley, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape brought before the court at Camelot and their crimes against me aired publicly and I want them punished before not only the court but the common folk they claim to fight for as well."
"Well, to be honest I had already been working behind the scenes with charges for Snape and Dumbledore along with the accomplices that held Josephine hostage... So, I would be more than happy to see them all brought up on charges for you as well. Are you sure you wouldn't want Narnia to deal with them instead of Camelot?"
"Narnia will back any punishment Camelot sees fit to hand down and I'm sure that the Kings of Narnia will be more than happy to lend a hand in carrying out the punishments once they learn the full extent of what they did to me," snarled Ginny.
Lucius sucked in a breath, forcing his own anger down as it flared to life after her statement, "I'm sure they will my Lady," he nodded, "Camelot will see them punished, and the few who hurt both you and my sister will certainly last much longer in their punishment."
"Ron and Percy Weasley for their attack on the King of Narnia, Molly Weasley for the kidnapping of the Queen of Narnia and her attempted kidnapping of Dracen and Kaelyn, Princesses of Narnia and Severus Snape for his unlawful and continual assault on the Queen of Narnia," Ginny said.
Lucius nodded, "I'll see that everything is begun today your Majesty."
"Thank you," Ginny replied quietly. "I'm sorry," she said after a few minutes of silence.
"Whatever for?" he asked confused.
"For everything," Ginny said. "Everything that's happened is because of me. If I'd done as you'd told me to and stayed away…I never should have come after you that day…if I hadn't then maybe none of this would have happened. I know I hurt you when I married Blaise and now with Draco…All I can do is say that I'm sorry and that after my attackers have been punished I will return to Narnia and you will never have to lay eyes on me again," she finished, curtseying once more before starting towards the door, intent on leaving.
"Ginevra wait," Lucius stepped forward, laying his hand on her arm to stop her, "Please, don't do this, don't run away. You're wrong; none of this is your fault. No wait, let me rephrase that. This is your fault, Camelot is your fault, the peace this world has is your fault. If you hadn't come into my life, though I wish things had been different in how I handled it, but if you hadn't, then the truth about my former wife would have never been revealed. Josephine would have had to have eventually made the choice between following the will of the Goddess and what her heart told her, with the outcome either being she led all of Camelot on her own, or betraying the Goddess and leaving our worlds to wait who knows how long for the next chance. You and I... perhaps we weren't meant to be, but you and my son and Blaise belong together, I'd be a fool not to think that. That day, if you had listened to me, so very many people would be different now, and not in a good way."
"My reasons for marrying Draco were purely selfish my Lord," Ginny said, her back still to Lucius.
"Sometimes those are the best reasons, when it comes to matters of the heart."
"I did it because of you. I did it because I love you, because I'm still drawn to you and not because of the bond we share that was formed the night of the Winter Ball. My marriage and love for Blaise suppressed that, just as Aslan said it would but because I've always been drawn to you. Everyone thought it was Harry I wanted but it wasn't. It was you. It has always been you. Ever since I can remember first seeing you, you're the one that I wanted, but you…you didn't want me," Ginny cried, her head resting against the door. "You gave me everything I ever wanted the night of the Winter Ball and then proceeded to destroy me the next morning and for weeks afterwards and yet I still wanted you. I want you still. It's why I stay away from Camelot and Draco…Draco's a part of you. If I can't have you at least I can have a part of you through your son…" Ginny trailed off, wiping away her tears. "Forgive me, my Lord," she said turning and curtseying once more, never once lifting her gaze from the floor at Lucius' feet before making her way as quickly as she could back to her own rooms, Kiya guiding her through the halls of the castle.
Saturday December 25th, 1999
Camelot
Josephine's Study
1:42 p.m.
"... can you have done anything more irresponsible, did you think of your children..."
Josephine's eyes shot towards the door when it opened, smiling at the sight of familiar robe sleeves before she actually saw her brother. "Thomas, darling of my heart, continue later, my brother is here," she spoke up, interrupting his latest point in his venting rant.
Thomas turned and saw Lucius in the doorway, "I think we're going to need brandy or whiskey, I'll get that..."
"So..." she prompted once he had disappeared through the other door, "You look like one of two things, either hell warmed over, or strangely like you did that one time I dragged you on that Muggle tower ride and the first drop left your stomach about ten feet above you."
"What in the name of the Goddess have I done to piss her off?" demanded Lucius as he began to pace in front of the fire.
"Piss who off exactly?" she frowned.
"The Goddess, Josephine," snarled Lucius as he continued to pace. "I have done what was expected of me, I took up the throne of Camelot, despite my reluctance to do so. I turned my wife away for the treason in which she was a part. I stepped away from Ginevra when I learned of her marriage to Blaise Zabini of all people and I even went so far as to accept the fact that I would never have her in my life, except as my daughter-in-law and mother of my granddaughters thanks to her subsequent marriage to Draco but this…this is too much even for her. So I ask you again Josephine, what the bloody hell have I done to piss her off so much she decides to torture me in return?"
Josephine blinked a few times before rising and following him to lay a hand on his shoulder, "Lucia, whatever has happened? How did you even know that you have granddaughters? You saw Ginny..." she continued quietly as her mind caught that small piece of information. "What happened brother mine? What tortures you now when you were starting to move on from everything else as much as you could..."
"She married Draco because he was a part of me," Lucius said quietly as he leant against the mantle of the fireplace, his gaze on the flames before him.
She took a deep breath, leaning back against the wall as well before Thomas returned with the liquor and glasses. She shook her head, and he nodded before disappearing just as quickly, "A braver woman than me, to love not one but three men," she whispered, "God knows one alone drives me out of my mind. I wish I knew how to help you Lucia, I fear the only way I could was to take the knowledge from you... Perhaps..."
"No," Lucius replied quietly. "I will honour her request and I will not interfere in her relationships with Blaise or my son. If she can find comfort in their arms then that is all that matters."
"Of course," she nodded, "Perhaps it would do you good to spend some time in Avalon Lucia, get away from everything here, even for a few days instead of the few weeks I would love to see you roaming the blessed land."
"No Josephine…not yet at any rate. I have a promise to keep, a promise I made to Ginevra and I intend on seeing it through, I just don't know how to go about doing that."
"What is that?" she asked softly as she moved to pour them both drinks, returning with a snuffer of brandy for her brother.
"Bringing her mother, her brothers Ronald and Percival, Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore to trial before the court here at Camelot, before the common folk as well as the nobles," Lucius said taking the glass his sister held out to him and downed the contents in a single swallow.
"Well, it won't be hard, we already had charges ready to be announced against Dumbledore and Snape when they announce the rest of those being charged for their crimes against me," she nodded. "I know you won't take a trip, but perhaps a few hours in Avalon, I'll have Jozséf summon your man as well as the Chief Justice to begin the charges, Regulus can go and gather the elite teams to go and capture our prisoners..."
"I am not going to get you to drop this am I?"
"Not a bit brother mine. You need a chance to let your soul be at peace, even for a short time."
"I fear my soul will never truly be at peace ma soeur (my sister)."
"Then let it be in as much peace as it might be mon frère (my brother)."
"There is only one way for it to be at peace Josephine but the one who could give me that peace isn't free to do so, no matter how much she and I both want it."
"I know Lucia, I know," she nodded before sighing, "Go, if not for your peace, then for my peace of mind. I can handle the charges and such for now, and it will give me a break from my husband's lectures for the time being."
"Inform me the minute we have them and we're ready to proceed. I made a promise to see them pay for their crimes and I intend to keep that promise."
"Of course."
"Tell her…tell her she has nothing to fear from what was said between us in my library. Tell her I will speak of it to no one and that she need not fear seeing me until the time has come for those that wronged her to pay the consequences. She deserves peace of mind and the ability to be with her family without fear of my complicating things for her."
"As you wish Lucia," she nodded, "I wish things were different, that all of us could have everything that makes us happy..."
Without saying another word, for fear of what he might say, Lucius merely nodded before walking out of the room.
Tuesday June 12th, 2000
Camelot
The Throne Room
10:15 a.m.
Six months had passed since Ginny was 'rescued'. During that time things had been… interesting to say the least. Lucius had remained in Avalon much longer than originally planned, in fact only returning that morning. They had come up with a plan in the hours after he first travelled to Camelot and the events that would culminate today were set in motion. He had remained on Avalon's shores, while Ginny, Blaise, Draco and the girls returned to Narnia, Josephine taking up the full mantel of Queen and leading Camelot on her own for all intents and purposes. To the outside world it appeared that their group was falling apart, Lucius leaving Josephine to do everything, as Narnia seemed to pull away from Camelot. Those who needed to know, the High Council and the leaders of each country they trusted knew the truth, that it was a ploy. And it seemed to have worked; the Order became more prominent in their displays, giving them the chance they needed to capture each and every one of those that had charges pending against them.
Charges that had been added to when Harry and Hermione had arrived in Narnia a few days after Harry had disappeared from Hogwarts. The Order had found him when he returned for Hermione, he had been half dead when they stumbled into the forests outside Hogwarts, trying to reach sanctuary there at the school, and instead found the Centaurs who gave them the path to Narnia where they were taken to Cair Paravel. Once they had gotten him back to health, Ginny saw the two married, before they were escorted safely to Camelot and into Josephine's protection. She had taken them both under her wing as best she could, teaching them like she had Ginny about the world he had been denied with his parents' death. James hadn't been actively involved in the nobility, but he had grown with knowledge of the world being the son and heir of a lower noble, and he had claimed the title, but chose to work with the Order against Thomas, he never intended to completely turn his back on the nobility though, it was clear to all that he respected their ways, as well as the ways of others, one living firmly in between both worlds, accepted by both. Another thing Dumbledore had ruined, he never should have taken Harry to his mother's family, he was the son of a Baron he should have been taken to his godfather or with Sirius unavailable, his father's godfather, another baron there in England. Neither had been done and thus Harry like Ginny had never known. The two learned quickly, remaining within Camelot's walls but had seen the land that was Harry's by birth, taking care of it from afar.
Time passed as happily as it could for their family, Pansy had married Joaquin not even days before Harry rescued Ginny and the twins were born, news had just come a few days prior that she was expecting; Elena and Diego were beyond thrilled, their third grandchild with Eva and Horacio expecting once more. Gabrielle and Aleksey had been married in March, were living at his estate in Russia but she visited as much as she could, whenever her duties as Princess and Josephine's duties as Queen allowed it. For now though it seemed the only time all of the 'group' would be together again would be when Millicent married Luciano in two months' time, each of them looking forward to the wedding that was to be held at Camelot. And the world on a whole was celebrating the recently revealed announcement that Josephine was expecting once more, a boy due in four months time. Now though, they were more concerned with the event they had waited nearly a year for…
They had captured those who were facing charges involving Josephine's abduction and Ginny's at various points over the last six months. Surprisingly perhaps, Narcissa had been the first to join her sister in the dungeons, awaiting trial. The last to finally be caught were the four Weasleys, Dumbledore, and Severus themselves, but they finally had managed to get to them a few days earlier. Immediately Josephine had sent word to Avalon and Narnia, and before long everyone had arrived, the High Council present in the Throne Room as well as each of those on trial were brought before the court over the last few days. Sentences had been made for everyone, until finally only the core six remained as they were being referred to. Josephine was relaxing on her throne as Draco and Blaise sat nearby, Thomas standing next to her chair as around the room sat the members of the High Council. In the centre of the room were Molly and Arthur Weasley, their sons Ron and Percy, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Pacing near them was Lucius as their list of crimes were being read, Ginny having risen as well to pace, unable to sit still so close to them, a look telling Blaise and Draco she was fine so they stayed seated for now.
"You have heard the crimes listed against you, and have been found guilty of all," Diego Álvarez finished as he passed the scroll he had been reading to Horacio who sat next to him, "You are here today as this court will deem the correct punishment for your crimes against the High Queen of Camelot and Avalon, the Queen of Narnia, and the King of Narnia..."
Josephine glanced away from her surrogate father towards Percy Weasley as he shifted; the closest of the group to where she sat with her nephew and cousin. Frowning slightly she watched him a moment, the flash of insight filling her mind just before everything became white, followed by red and orange.
Outside the Throne Room, standing guard over the doors, Regulus and the other members of the High Queen's guard along with other former Death Eaters that guarded them in the new world they lived in. They heard it, before everything began to shake. Once the tremors stopped, he was up, forcing the doors open with Rabastian and Rodolphus by his side, stumbling to a stop at the sight that greeted them. The High Council members were struggling to sit up, Diego across the room from where he had been standing, Horacio nearby unconscious from hitting the wall with his head. Lucius was covering Ginny's body with his own, both unconscious at first glance. Thomas had been thrown against the wall behind the thrones, in a crumpled heap while Blaise and Draco both were laying over Josephine...
Regulus forgot to breathe at the sight of all the blood that covered the three, tearing his gaze from them to find out where the others were, to secure the room. Percy Weasley was quite frankly nowhere to be seen... actually, his head was across the room, Regulus noted. The other five had been thrown across the room as well, it looked like Molly and Arthur were injured, seriously perhaps, life threatening perhaps... they could wait. "Someone send for the Healers, Rabastian, Rodolphus, you're with me. Sarah, Melissa, check on Queen Ginevra and High King Lucius, the rest of you spread out and check on the High Council members," he ordered before heading towards the Queen. "Serena, go and make sure Principe de León and Knyazhna Gabrielle don't come near here," he glanced back at the woman, who quickly left with two other guards.
Saturday June 16th, 2000
Camelot
The Healers' Chambers
9:39 p.m.
It had been four days since the explosion, four days of piecing together what happened, rebuilding, and sitting by bedsides as the Healers worked.
The members of the High Council had been the first to 'walk away' from the explosion, most not having been thrown too far save Diego and Horacio, much to Eva's horror as she was stuck between worry for her father, husband, 'sister' and so many other members of her family. Once her husband and father were safe, she turned her attention completely to focusing upon the others, remaining in the Healer's Chambers everyday except when Horacio would literally drag her from the room, only leaving them because Gabrielle, Pansy, and Millicent would be alternating as well, two of them there at all times.
Around the world, in Avalon, and in Camelot, hundreds remained in vigil, praying for the beloved rulers, their anger put aside for now with the immediate execution of those that did live from the explosion: Dumbledore, Snape, and Ron Weasley. Molly and Arthur had died from injuries sustained in the blast, the blast that originated from some sort of homemade bomb that had been strapped to Percy.
Sighing, Eva sat back in her chair, across the room Gabrielle was watching over Josephine, while she watched over Ginny, keeping an eye on the other beds in the room. "It's time to rise and shine Ginny love," she whispered as she brushed her fingers over Ginny's hand. She and Lucius hadn't been hurt as bad as the others, but they had been seriously hurt just the same. The months to come would be hard on all of them, but first they had to wake…
"Eva," Gabrielle called suddenly, looking away from Ginny, Eva smiled at the fingers waving at her.
"I'll be right back," she promised Ginny's sleeping form before rising and crossing the room to Gabrielle's side, "About time you woke up mi hermana del corazón (sister of my heart)," she grinned.
"How long?" Josephine croaked, "Water…"
"Please," Thomas echoed.
"Don't you love how the bond works," Gabrielle chuckled as Eva went to get water for both of them.
"It's a wonderfully interesting thing, but didn't help all that much when you were stuck chasing Frannie, Artie and Addie on your own when you were holding Kaelyn four days ago."
"Thank God Alek didn't end up unconscious from injuries leaving me unconscious too," Gabrielle agreed.
"Exactly," Eva smiled as she came back before stopping in shock, the water glasses falling as she stared at the bed where Ginny had been.
"What?" Josephine asked as she pushed herself up with her elbows, "Merciful Goddess…" she breathed as she took in the empty beds that had once held Ginny and Lucius only moments before.
"Where did they go?" Gabrielle looked back at Josephine who had raised a hand to her mouth, smothering a sob.
Ginny woke slowly to the feeling of someone running their hand ever so gently and slowly up and down her back. It felt as if they were tracing every muscle, every rib and every vertebra in her back, as if they were trying to commit every part of her to memory. She moaned softly when she felt their hand slip over her hip and begin to massage her breasts, her body pressing back into the body that now lay right behind her, trapping his hardness between them eliciting another low moan from Ginny as she felt his shaft slide along her backside, while her lover feasted on the flesh of her neck and collarbone.
Ginny's mind was racing. There was something so familiar about her lover's touch and yet she was unable to figure out what exactly it was. Before she had a chance to even put a coherent thought together she heard her lover mutter a whispered incantation, between the kisses he continued to lavish on her body, the familiar weight of a blindfold was suddenly covering her eyes as her hands were pulled above her head and fastened there with a piece of silk. This was a part of their game; he never let her see his face, keeping his identity secret from her.
She was no stranger to sex games, having done numerous different things with Draco and Blaise since their marriage, but this was one that she had never shared with them. This was her desire, her secret wish, to be completely submissive to another. They never knew because she never told them. Every time she had tried they refused to let her be completely submissive to them. She wanted someone else to take complete control at times, someone to take care of her. She was tired of being the one in charge, the one responsible for everything. Draco and Blaise, as much as she loved them, were slowly starting to annoy her because despite their positions as King of Narnia, which they gained through their marriage to her as Queen, and their power to do something, they continued to come to her for her final say and then they would act accordingly. It didn't matter that she told them numerous times to make the decisions themselves and she would stand by their decisions; they refused to do anything without her consent. This was why she had turned the right to try and punish her attackers over to Lucius and Camelot. She knew that he would take full responsibility for seeing justice done with no need to consult her, whereas if she had left it to her husbands, she knew that despite their anger at the actions of her attackers, they would look to her for final judgment and that was just something that she could not do. She was tired of being in charge, of being responsible for everything and so when she started having these dreams she relished in them, keeping them to herself. She told no one of the mysterious lover that visited her in her dreams, or that she willingly submitted her mind and body to him, to do with as he pleased.
She couldn't stop the whimper that escaped when her lover stopped his ministrations on her neck and his hand pulled away from her breasts. Her whimper turning into a moan seconds later as her lover rolled her onto her back, settling himself on his knees between her legs as his hand and lips when to work on her clit. He spent endless minutes tormenting her, bringing her to the brink of release only to refuse to give her the release she wanted, only to repeat the process time and time again. Ginny bit her lip hard to prevent herself from begging her lover to give her the release she so desperately craved as she knew from past experiences that if she asked, he would merely continue his torment longer and refuse her the release she needed.
Ginny's whole body was tingling with sensitivity thanks to her lover's manipulations. She was so lost in the fog of her over-sensitized body that she was not quite prepared for when her lover entered her for the first time. His first trust into her was hard and fast and it was angled perfectly to hit her g-spot as his hand pressed down on her abdomen right over where her g-spot was located, giving her external stimulation to match his trust, causing her to cry out as she was finally pushed over the edge into a shattering release.
Feeling her convulsing around him, her lover remained still inside of her until her orgasm was done, only then did he begin to move slowly inside of her, laying his body completely on top of hers.
As Ginny slowly came down from her release, she noticed that there was something different. Normally her lover would have taken her hands in his and pinned them to the bed where they lay bound to the headboard by the length of silk, as he pounded into her. Instead of his usual driving need for completion, her lover was barely moving inside of her, his arms were wrapped around her, one around her waist while the other was around her upper body, holding her tightly to him, almost as if he was trying to make them one as he moved ever so slightly, causing as little movement inside of her as possible. It was as if he was desperate to hold onto her and make the encounter last forever.
"Wait…please," Ginny said quietly. When she felt her lover still and start to withdraw, she continued quickly, "Oh Goddess don't stop," she pleaded. "It's just…I want to see you. Please…"
A few minutes later, she felt her lover shift, pushing into her completely once more, causing her to moan at the sensation as she felt his hands go to her wrists and undo the length of silk tying them to the bed. As soon as her hands were free she pulled her arms down inside of his that were propped on either side of her head, holding his upper body up and off of her slightly giving her freedom to move enough to remove her blindfold. When she pulled off the silk covering her eyes, she found herself staring up into a pair of very familiar icy-blue eyes. "Your Grace?" Ginny gasped in shock. /-/No wonder he was so familiar/-/ she thought to herself as she gazed up into his uncertain gaze.
"Ginevra…" Lucius began uncertainly when she gasped in shock, prepared to stop everything if she asked him to.
"Don't stop," Ginny said reassuringly moving slightly underneath Lucius and tightening her internal muscles just enough so that he would feel her tighten around him.
"Gin…" he moaned, dropping his head to the sheets next to her head when he felt her contract around him as she forced him just a little further inside of her.
"Lucius look at me," Ginny instructed quietly. When Lucius refused to move his head, Ginny carefully manoeuvred so that she could gently pull his head towards hers. "Lucius please look at me," she said again, just as quietly as before. When his icy-blue eyes met hers she continued as she gently caressed his cheek, "Don't stop," she told him as she lifted her body up and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I want this just as much as you do. I want you Lucius. I have always wanted you. Make love to me Lucius…"
Any further words Ginny may have been planning on saying never crossed her lips as Lucius leant down and captured them in a kiss as he began the process of making love to Ginny for the next several hours.
Sunday June 17th, 2000
Camelot
The Healers' Chambers
1:52 a.m.
Thomas had argued with her for nearly an hour after they were informed they could leave the Healers' Chambers, but she had insisted, taking up the place Eva had guarded earlier, by the empty bed that once held Ginny. On the other side of where she sat was the empty bed that had held her brother before he, like the beloved red-haired woman, had simply disappeared. The others had finally given up, retiring to rooms just as Saturday became Sunday, though she could hear her husband as he sat up, unable to sleep with her not there.
Sighing, she shifted in the chair, wincing slightly at the residual pain that plagued her muscles, even after all these days of constant potions and spells and ancient magic even done by those from Avalon, the slight pain was still there, another two sessions with the High Healers from Avalon who were using the same magick she herself had used on Ginny the day her great-nieces were born would be needed to completely heal all of her physical injuries. Her mental and emotional ones would be much harder...
Another sigh as she relaxed into the chair, wondering just how much longer the two would be, before, quite unexpectedly, they were suddenly there on either side of her, both asleep. "Give me a bloody heart attack why don't you," she rolled her eyes before reaching out to hold her fingers against Ginny's wrist, assuring herself that her pulse was strong and steady before repeating the gesture with her brother, then simply settling in to wait for one or both of them to wake.
As hard as she tried to hold onto the last remnants of her dream, Ginny felt them fading away as she climbed towards wakefulness. As she slowly opened her eyes and took in the room, she sensed something inside of her was different. "The bond!" she cried out as she suddenly sat up, ignoring the fact that her voice was dry and hoarse as the reality of everything started sinking in and she began to shake.
"Mordred, Morgana, and Arthur," Josephine nearly jumped out of her skin, before quickly moving to the side of the bed and pulling Ginny close, "Shh, shhh, you're not alone my love," she whispered knowing Ginny's mind must have done what her's did when she realized her brother and the woman in her arms had disappeared together just after she herself woke.
"Oh Goddess what have I done?" asked Ginny through her tears, having seen the marks on her wrists before Josephine pulled her into a hug.
"Shh, whatever happened it happened as it was meant to," she spoke gently. "Sweetheart... tesoro (treasure)..." she continued before stopping, not wanting to say what she knew she needed to make sure Ginny knew.
"I thought it was a dream, like all the others I've been having but it wasn't…" Ginny trailed off as she held her wrists up for Josephine to see. "It was real. It really happened which means…which means…Blaise and Draco are…Oh Goddess what have I done…"
"Stop, stop sweetheart," she ordered, raising her hands to cup Ginny's face, making her look at her, "Ginny, you didn't do anything wrong. None of this is your fault, you hear me? You love him as much as you loved them, whatever happened it wasn't wrong. I know it's the last thing you want to hear, but they'd want you to be happy sweetheart..."
"But they only just died and I…I…"
"Sweetheart, we're not like normal people, we don't conform to the way regular people view things. If things were different, perhaps you wouldn't have been in his arms this soon, but they aren't. The bond exists my love, that changes how things are in a way, and even if... sometimes the only way one can feel comfort, is in arms they know will keep them safe, with one they know loves them, even if it's never been said."
"It has," Ginny said quietly.
"Seems my brother finally realized he needed to admit a few things," she smiled gently, "I'm so sorry my love..." she continued on a small sigh.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ginny pulling away slightly. "Your brother hasn't admitted anything Josette. It was me. I told him I loved him. He's never said anything to me."
"In that case, remind me to smack him when he wakes up for still being an idiot," she gave a slight shrug, "He may not have said it, but he does love you tesoro (treasure)."
"May I leave?" asked Ginny quietly.
"Let me summon the Healers they'll want to check you over now that you're awake, and then you're free. Though I'm not sure the full extent of your injuries so they might have a spell or two left but I doubt they'll insist you stay in here for them if they agreed to let me return to my chambers..." she nodded.
"Then summon them please."
"Of course," she nodded before carefully rising and going to the other room to wake one of them, returning within a few minutes with the Healers.
"May I leave?" Ginny asked the healers when they were done a short while later.
"Of course my Queen," one of them nodded as they stepped back, "We are sorry that we failed you, my Lady," she continued quietly, not looking at Ginny.
"Come on, let's get you settled," Josephine spoke as she stepped forward, "Relax I'll be back for my treatment," she nodded at the Healers when another one started to say something. "Do you want to go back to your suite or another one perhaps Gin?" she asked softly once they were in the hall alone save for Kiya and Seraphine who had been waiting quietly across the room until they moved to leave it.
"I want to be alone," Ginny said quietly, her hand going to Kiya's head.
"Okay, if you need any of us, all of the girls are here, just call and we'll be there okay?"
Ginny nodded before turning and walking away, Kiya keeping step beside her.
Josephine watched her go, before making her way back into the Healer's Chambers, "I'm going to kill him," she groaned when she saw the empty bed that once held her brother, looking over at the Healers she saw them raising their hands and backing away before rolling her eyes. "Find me when it's time for my treatment," she instructed before making her way from the room and grumbling to herself about annoying brothers.
Ginny slowly made her way towards her suite of rooms, Kiya at her side, Rickon and Cassius off mourning the loss of their kings in their own way. She was so tired after everything that had happened that she just wanted to lie down and get some honest to Goddess sleep, without the annoyance of dreams as she'd had her fill of those thank you very much. The last thing she was expecting was to have someone waiting for her when she finally made her way to her rooms.
"Ginevra," Lucius greeted from the fireplace when Ginny stepped into her suite, causing her to jump in surprise.
"Lucius I…forgive me, Your Grace," Ginny said, catching herself, curtseying quickly. "I thought you were still in the care of the healers. I thought you were still…"
"Unconscious?" he filled in for her.
"Yes, Your Grace," Ginny said quietly.
"I woke shortly after you did, Your Majesty," Lucius told her. "I wanted to speak with you privately about what happened."
"I know what happened," Ginny said, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"I want you to return to Narnia," Lucius said, his voice taking on a note of iciness, causing Ginny to look up suddenly.
"Your Grace…"
"It is not a request Ginevra," he snapped suddenly. "I have already sent word to your court here in Camelot that they are to prepare to return to Narnia immediately. The servants will be here shortly to begin packing your belongings. I want you out of Camelot before first light."
"Have I offended you in some way, Your Grace?" asked Ginny, desperately trying to hold back her tears. "Was I not to your liking?"
"You've just lost your husbands Ginevra," Lucius said stepping over to where she was still standing just inside of her doorway. "You need time to grieve and you can't do that here. Return to Narnia," he said stepping around her to open the door.
"I meant what I said, Your Grace," Ginny said, causing Lucius to pause, his hand on the doorknob. "I love you Lucius, I always…"
"Goodbye Your Majesty," Lucius said, never turning to look at Ginny before stepping from the room.
"I will see that the children are being prepared Mistress," Kiya said.
"Thank you Kiya," Ginny said quietly, locking her tears away. Now was not the time for tears. She would have time for tears when she returned to Narnia. Turning she made her way through her sitting room and into her bedroom, intent on changing into her favourite green dress and to prepare for her journey.