Chapter 20

Prelude to War

Gin tugged nervously at her chin length hair, wishing she could somehow will it to grow faster. She knew it was somewhat petty to be concerned over her hair, but pacing wasn't helping stave off her nerves. Every second that had passed since she had been told Blaise and Draco were on their way to Hy-Brasail had felt like an hour. Besides, she thought with a chuckle, her pacing led to Fury pacing which made for very nervous Fey. It wasn't as if the O'Carolan's were known for their kind, gentle behavior or anything. Sometimes it was the little things that were the most amusing.

Instructed to wait in the enormous foyer, Gin tried to stand still as not to cause even more an uproar but, by all the gods, if they didn't arrive soon she would do something rash- like go looking for them or something equally rash- what she wasn't sure but if this took much longer she was sure she could think of something. Hades she didn't know what it was she would do just that she needed to do something as patience was not something she had in abundance.

Riada bumped his head against her hip, whimpering. Running a hand through his hair, she attempted to calm herself, even a little bit, knowing that the cooshie read her mood and that her current antsy mood had the poor creature very nervous. "I'm fine, Riada, no need to worry over me."

Fury snorted. "Sure. I don't think either of us believes you."

She didn't miss the change in his stance a moment before the doors opened. It was the same moment she felt Draco and Blaise. Not waiting for the okay from Fury, she ran to the doors and threw herself at both men, tears of joy streaming down her face. "I am never letting you two out of my sight again," she muttered fiercely.

It was as if a weight lifted as Draco slid his arms around her and Blaise. "We've missed you so much."

Blaise was holding Draco and Gin, with her tucked between them, near tears himself though he would never, ever admit to such a thing. "Who says we'll be letting you out of our sight, eh?"

"Just hold me," she whispered, kissing Draco and then Blaise in turn, her grip on them tight enough to reassure herself that they wouldn't be parted from her without a fight. "Let's go to our room and we can just be."

"Perfect," the men chorused, all three of them utterly ignoring everyone else in the room and either unaware of the wave of energy radiating from their position or simply ignoring it. They hurried down the corridor with Gin leading them towards their suite.

Not one person on the grounds had any doubt what their plans were.

-DGB-

It was two days before the residents of Hy-Brasial had fully recovered from The Homecoming as it had become known. While many new mated pairs had been discovered, war preparations had not stopped either. It was a further two weeks more before word came from Andromeda that she had finished with her 'prisoners' and that the execution date was set for a week from Saturday.

Gin's eyes lit with glee when she heard the news, turning to Vakko, happy to wheedle it out of him if he hadn't already made preparations for the journey. "We get to go, yes?"

He looked up, a bland expression on his face though his smile was bright and almost paternal. He did something so rare that there were gasps from the assembled fey, he reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it lightly. "Of course, darling one, we shall go- all who wish to see the punishment of these," one could nearly hear the venom in his tone, "blind fools."

She did a little dance right then and there, not caring if she looked foolish or not. It may have been petty and vindictive, but Gin felt that after all she had dealt with in the past months that she had the right to be that way.

"You truly are Ilea's daughter," Vakko said, chuckling lightly. "I do bring news from outside our wards as well, news that is not so cheerful."

Gin reached down as she stopped her little victory dance immediately, gripping Draco and Blaise's hands instinctively. Though she rather thought that she did not want to know what the further news was, she knew they needed to know. "What is it? What has happened?"

Vakko's expression went flat and emotionless. "Humans continue to surprise me... That fool Riddle has attacked the Muggles."

"So?" Draco asked, not looking too terribly concerned. He squeezed her hand lightly though he was watching Vakko closely.

Vakko's next words did nothing to settle her nerves. "He did so with magic. Most of the major cities are destroyed."

"Just in England?" Tonks asked warily from where she and Remus were curled up on one of the many couches.

"England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland..." Ilea answered, her tone was laced with enough anger to send everyone's nerves on edge. It was literally like a dark oppressive cloud was pressing down on the entire room.

"Paris, Calais, Marseille, Lyon, Tuolouse..." Cullen nearly spat.

"Berlin, Hamburg, Munich..." Aiden offered, his eyes bright with anger.

"He did what?" Severus demanded, all but jumping to his feet, shocking everyone with his clear show of emotion. Even Narcissa, whom he had been sitting with, was all but gaping at him.

"It is clear that he plans on sweeping across the continent," Vakko said, now pacing the room, hands clasped at the small of his back. "He does not have the forces to continue, at least not until we fall completely. But, this time instead of attacking the wizarding world, he went straight for the Muggles."

Gin's eyes narrowed dangerously. There was a nervous, twitchy feeling just under her skin that made her anxious. She had grown comfortable with the security of this place and did not want to hear anything that would have her questioning that security. "But why? Does he plan on them attempting to attack our world in retaliation? Is this his new plan to overtake the fools in charge?"

"I fear so, dear one," Vakko said, stopping to stare into the scrying pool in the corner.

The room went nearly silent as they all waited for him to say something, say anything that would give some indication of what the fuck they were going to do- or alternatively not do- about this newest tactic.

"He-" Vakko said softly, his voice carrying easily, "seems to be pitting the Muggles against the Magical and hoping to drop in after they have decimated one another to take control."

"Sadly," Kingsley interjected, stepping out of the shadows in the far corner. "With all do respect, I know I usually keep silent." At Vakko's motion, he went on. "Sadly, this tactic may work. I am sure none in this room need reminding of the Burning Time. But, Lord Vakko, what can we do to safeguard the magical population?"

"Everyone who can and will stand with us is being retrieved and pulled behind our wards. The Muggle weapons will not reach them."

"Should we allow them to kill one another off?" Fleur said softly. "It has been done before."

"It will be done again," Vakko said, his tone one of an immoral tired of the machinations of mortals.

Blaise, who has this far remained silent, merely nodded. "How long will it take them to destroy one another and the world?"

"What of the innocents?" Anne asked, stepping forward with her head bowed.

Vakko shook his head. "None of you are to worry about this now. We focus on the executions we have planned."

Gin wasn't sure she liked it, but she was not stupid enough to question him. If Vakko had the confidence- or knowledge- that whatever was going on would be resolved in their favour, so did she. Tugging the boys hands, she made for the door. Vakko clearly wanted them all elsewhere and she was more than happy to comply with his wishes. There would be time for questions later.

-DBG-

Severus waited, shooing Narcissa off to check on the younger ones so that he could speak with Vakko and Ilea. When the room had all but cleared- Cullen, Ciaban, Adeh, Kieran, and Claude had stayed behind as well. "Will we truly sit back?"

Vakko's low laughter was not pleasant, filled with loathing and venom that weighed down their very souls. "Fey are the Children of the Gods and Wizards are our children. To say that the Gods have been angered would be a dangerous miscalculation."

Severus stared, blinked and stared more. Vakko could not possibly be saying that the Gods were entering the war. Could he?

"No no, they refuse to leave their realms, but that is not to say that they are idle."

Relaxing a bit at that, Severus joined Vakko and Ilea at the scrying pool. At Ilea's wave, he studied the water- seeing the rest join them ranging around the pool.

The surface stilled and they saw flashes - volcanoes erupting, tsunamis crashing into land, earthquakes, fires ravaging across enormous Muggle cities, the sky full of thunder and lightning... on and on it went. He nearly fell over when he saw acolytes - for that was what they must be- half were in Norse armour and with bright white wings that carried them soundlessly through the air- they had not been seen since the Gods withdrew and the others painted bright wode blue that shone brighter against their blood red armour each with a raven flying with them as they descended on a manor he recognized as one of Riddle's strongholds. The surface shimmered and cleared again, this time showing massive avalanches roaring down on unsuspecting towns and villages. More and more pictures flew by so rapidly that he could barely keep track of them all.

"Now you see," Vakko drawled, his eyes flashing. "Hades halls will fill tonight."

They were shown more, Ministries the world over falling at the hands of warriors most Muggles thought were beings of legend. Vakko was the oldest Fey in the world, but he was not by far the only one. "But, only the Potter boy can kill him for good."

Ilea laughed delightedly. "No, Potter holds a piece of that fool's soul inside himself. So long as all known pieces are destroyed- Potter included- Riddle can be killed."

"But," Ciaban said, still watching the battles in the pool. "You said-"

"No," Vakko said smoothly. "I said that they would kill one another off. I never said there would not be divine retribution as well."

Adeh grinned. "When will we be let loose, Milord?"

"Soon. The Gods did not attack until all those who are loyal and worthy of protection were safely behind wards. There will still be a war to be fought, never fear."

"It is," Ilea said, grinning fiercely, "not yet our time."

Severus nodded. "But, it will soon be."

"Soon is...relative," Vakko said with a chuckle. "Go now, all of you. Do not worry and do not despair. Train the young ones for we will need them when the time is right."

He bowed and turned on his heel, hurrying towards his and Narcissa's rooms. Much had been revealed but much had also remained hidden. He trusted Vakko and the Gods utterly and completely. He knew, a deep down assurance that he recognized easily, that the Gods would only allow so much to be destroyed before they pulled back to wait and watch. Then, and only then, would the wholesale slaughter begin. He knew his history as well as any and the Muggles liked nothing better than finding an excuse to go to war with one another. Even though he hated to think of all that death and destruction, he also knew it was necessary and that the Gods had been on the brink of this for years upon years.

They would never allow the Burning Times to happen again.

-DBG—

Within a week, the large map that had been conjured in one of the main rooms was lit up red, green, and blue. Gin stared at it, horrified to know that the red meant that the Muggles had indeed gone to war every place that was red. According to Vakko, they had begun attacking all whom they thought were magical- destroying their own people.

As she watched, a green light appeared in Scotland. "What is that?" she asked Fury, who was never far behind her wherever she went.

"Hogwarts," Draco answered, looking to Fury for confirmation.

"I thought it was already secure," Blaise said before Fury could answer.

"It was, but now it is being utilized as a safe haven," Fury explained. "You three know that the blue are wizarding battles and red are Muggle, but soon those will be purple. Enough of Riddle's forces and those sympathetic to him survived and sadly there are wizarding kind who are flocking to him, thinking that he is their only option for survival. It will not be long now before they try their luck against the Muggle armies."

Fury pointed to the blank areas - one just to the west of the Mediterranean Sea and another in Eastern South America and finally one in North America. "The Gods have taken their most powerful weapons and corrupting agents away. They will not see the Earth destroyed over greed and stupidity."

"Will there be anything left?" Gin asked sadly.

"Do not despair," Fury said, his ethereal face turning to her - sadness filling his eyes. "We do not wish for you three to feel any despair. You should go now and prepare for travel."

"We will be ready," she promised, turning to leave with Draco and Blaise flanking her. "We would not miss this celebratory day for anything."

She rather thought she should feel bad for executions being deemed celebratory but after all of the shit her had been through, she simply did not bother to do so. Those that were to be executed today deserved their fates. All had picked their fates the moment they acted out so grievously.

"I, for one, will be celebrating heavily once Granger is gone for good." Blaise smiled winningly at them. "And to know that Potter can be offed and Riddle still killed just made my day brighter."

Gin shook her head; her thoughts drifting back once more to the map. There had been one thing that had surprised her though she had kept quiet about it until now. "The map," she started, waiting until she had their full attention. "Was I the only one shocked at all the Muggles that were being protected?"

Draco shrugged. "I was at first, but once we were told they believed in the gods and the Fey it was clearer."

"So many persecuted who will now have a voice," Blaise said softly. "To have no magic and yet stand by their beliefs is rather amazing."

"It is, and it assures us that they will not be instigating another Burning Time," she replied, pushing open the doors to their room. When the door closed behind, she turned to them, feeling as if she could say what was weighing heavily on her mind now that it was just the three of them. "This new world that we will be a part of, what if something goes wrong?"

They held her close, murmuring, "Wrong? Whatever do you mean?"

They had not tapped into the mind link, something that had been agreed upon days ago. They could and did use it, but they preferred to speak aloud, communicating in a more normal way. "I just fear something, some piece of the puzzle not falling into place and this plan failing. I know I should not but we have all seen disappointment, heartbreak, and betrayal too often to discount it."

"It will," Draco whispered.

"The Fey and the Gods will not allow any other outcome," Blaise added.

She sighed, hearing the truth in their words. "I am sorry for allowing my fears to overcome my good sense. What do you say to resting a bit before we prepare to leave?"

"Perfect," they said, already backing her towards the bed.

-DBG-

Luna was excited to see Aberffraw, but she was not as thrilled as the rest of their reason for going. It wasn't that she did not feel that those to be executed deserved death, because she very much did, it was just that at her heart she was a healer. That was why she was here in the healers wing, preparing tonics and potions. Practicing the simple tasks Anne had set her- ones that would help to bring her latent Fey abilities to the surface. It calmed her frazzled nerves.

"Luna, we need to prepare to leave."

She turned with a smile for Theo. It still amazed her most days that she had gone from a virtual outcast to being not only welcomed by the best friends a girl could have, was tapping into magics she never thought possible... but that she had found Theo. Capping the last of the vials, she nodded to the house elf who had been standing at the ready to clean the room.

He kissed her softly before tucking her arm in the crook of his. They walked together through the winding corridors until they reached their room on the far eastern side of the massive manor. "The elves have packed for us and laid your clothing out."

She shook her head. "I am still not used to all of this."

"You will be, love, someday. For now, you should not worry about anything. We will go, watch what needs watching and have another manor to explore. Cullen told me earlier that the library is extensive."

Laughing at the glee in his voice, she hurried off to change. Theo was right; worrying over things that could not be changed was silly. They had enough to deal with as it stood. Nodding to the house elf, Cara if she remembered correctly, she turned to the gorgeous dress that was hanging ready for her. It was sky blue silk save for the waistline which was a shade darker and velvet and the only ornamentation was the small crest designating her as a Seelie healer. The pretty blue silk flats had been clearly made to match. As Cara laced up the dress, Luna brushed her hair, leaving it loose and then stepped into the shoes.

"Thank you," she said softly, knowing the elves here would not mind. The elf bowed and disappeared. Shaking her head, Luna stepped back out only to find that Theo had changed into a more formal version of everyday wear for the men. His trousers were the customary black but the rest was green or grey, bringing out both colours in his eyes which usually looked more grey than green since he preferred black clothing. The tall black boots he was pulling on completed the picture. Trying not to swallow her tongue, or rip his clothes off and have her way with him, she crossed the large room.

"I am reminded, once again, what a lucky woman I am," she said teasingly.

He rewarded her compliment with a laugh before scooping her up in his arms and kissing her soundly. "Later, after the formal proceedings, I am finding an empty room so you can show me what a lucky man I am."

Snickering from the door had both of them looking to see who it was. "Mandy, don't you look stunning!"

Mandy laughed, playfully curtsying much to the amusement of Ciaban who was leaning against the wall- weighed down with weapons as usual. Her dark reddish brown hair had been pulled up in a complicated sort of updo and there was a small circlet of silver just barely visible. Her dress was deep chocolate brown with slits up the sides revealing her leather trousers and knee high boots. "So do you, Luna. We should get going. The first group has already left. Put her down, Theo, or you will wrinkle her dress!"

Rolling his eyes, Theo complied, kissing her cheek before joining Ciaban. "You look like you expect a battle," he said, brows rising.

"Always."

"Oh none of that," Luna said, shaking her head. "We will be perfectly safe."

Mandy winked at her before taking Ciaban's hand. "He worries constantly."

Ciaban led them down to the reception room that they would leave from. "If I am always prepared than I am never surprised. Now, into the circle."

They complied and with a few murmured words they reappeared in another reception room, this one Luna knew to be on the grounds of Aberffraw. They were led out and down three long, winding corridors and up three sets of stairs before they arrived in what looked to be the Great Hall. Everyone was milling about but Ciaban led them over to the left where the rest of their friends were gathered. He nodded to everyone, kissed Mandy and disappeared into the crowd. She noted that nearly everyone was dressed in silk and velvet, with more than one circlet and torque shining brightly in the candlelight. It was a happy and fun atmosphere all in all.

She leaned in, whispering in Theo's ear. "Is this an execution or a party?"

He just shrugged. "Both, I think."

She couldn't help but wonder how many more surprises this new world she lived in would have for her before it was all said and done. That, and if she could keep up with them.