Twenty-Nine
An Ill-Fated Wedding
By the time Severus arrived, all the guests were assembled and waiting; in fact, Severus was running so late that he had expected the ceremony to have started already. As he walked over to where Jennifer was standing, he couldn't help but notice that even with her spectacles pushed smartly up on her nose, she seemed distant and quite worried. He felt her jump as he gently touched her arm and then sighed when she realized whom it was.
"Something wrong?" he murmured.
"Yes, and I wish I knew what," Jennifer whispered back.
"Careful," Severus said quietly.
"Severus, I've a terrible feeling something is going to happen to Ambrose today," Jennifer said. Severus frowned, gazing at her steadily.
"Any more specific feelings, Jennifer?" he asked.
"No, that's just the trouble," Jennifer whispered fervently. "I spoke to Sagittari last night and he kept going on about some sort of premature alignment of stars or something. I even went to Essie's, but all she's been dreaming about lately is Aurelius in knights errant armor going on some sort of quest with Joanie Weasley and Jamie Potter as his squires of all things!"
"Now, Jennifer, you know better than to look to portents of the future for advice. What matters is the here and now and nothing else," Severus said in a low voice.
"Well, right here and right now I'm worried about Ambrose," Jennifer said firmly. Severus nodded solemnly.
"Very well, then we'll keep him close at hand if it'll put you more at ease," Severus said, glancing past her. "Fortuna, why don't you ask Ambrose to come over here and stand with us until he's needed? I believe he's down the path with Ashley's party."
"Sure," Lucky shrugged, but Jennifer frowned as she watched her disappear into the crowd.
"Are you certain that's such a good idea, Severus?" Jennifer asked.
"Why, do you have a bad feeling about her as well?" Severus inquired.
"I don't know, I didn't look," Jennifer murmured under her breath. Severus pretended that he didn't hear it.
"At any rate, I doubt you have cause to worry. Lucky isn't likely to take any unnecessary chances," Severus mused as he noticed someone slip out of the crowd to catch up with her on the side path. "Unnecessary being the key word," he added as an afterthought.
"Lucky, wait up!" Dale said with exasperation. "Just five minutes, honest, and I'll leave you alone."
"Is that a promise?" Lucky asked irritably. "What the hell are you doing here, anyhow? I thought you had a gig tonight, being New Year's and all."
"We do," Dale said, but was encouraged when she slowed down for him. "Mom is using the wedding as an excuse to try and get a word in with Professor Craw, actually. The media has been going positively insane since you hit me, Lucky. They're trying to figure out who you are."
"Ya, I know. I heard they widened up that game shot of us sittin' together," Lucky admitted. "At least the kids at school will stop saying I was lyin' about being there that day."
"What? They were?" Dale said with a frown. "Why didn't you tell me? If I'd known they'd said that, I'd have set them straight."
"I can fight my own battles," Lucky shrugged unconcernedly.
"Yes, I think I've learned that lesson the hard way," Dale chuckled.
"Ya, about that," Lucky sighed, stopping within sight of where a small crowd of women had gathered up the path. "Look, I'm sorry I hit you, okay? It's not my place to say who you go out with."
"Well, I'm sorry I let my father talk me into going along with that stupid photo op to begin with. It was the first time I saw the girl since that day at the game, Lucky, I honestly couldn't care less about Miss Malibu Barbie as you call her. I'd prefer a girl with more fire, and a lot more depth," Dale admitted quietly.
"Yeah well, good luck with that. I gotta go get Ambrose, the Professor wants to see him…"
"I'll wait, Lucky," Dale said evenly.
"Yeah, prolly not a bad idea, it's all women over there. I'll be right back," Lucky said.
"That's not what I meant, Lucky, although I will walk you guys back over," Dale said. "I meant that I'll wait for you." Lucky gazed at his serious expression guardedly. "I'll wait until you're ready."
"Then you're gonna be waitin' a lot time, chico," Lucky sighed. "Hell, I may never be ready."
"Then so be it," Dale said with a shrug. "Then I'll wait the rest of my life and die a bachelor if I must, but I'm not backing down, Lucky, and nothing you can say is going to change my mind this time. You're the only girl I want to be with, nobody else is ever going to come close, and despite what my father might think, I'm not going to grow out how I feel about you. And part of that is because that whether you want to admit it or not, past that wall of anger and fear and aggression of yours, I know that you care about me too. And before you start laying into me and insulting me or threatening me to try to back me away from you, it's not going to work, so don't bother to try. You may not be my girl, Lucky, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm taken. I'll wait." Lucky met his serious expression evenly.
"I think you're making a mistake," Lucky said at last.
"You can think that if you like," Dale said with a nod. "But I think I'll take my chances," he added, a thin smile creeping across his face. Lucky rolled her eyes.
"I think I'm gonna get Ambrose," Lucky said.
"That's fine, I'll wait," Dale said in a casual tone, and Lucky turned and walked further down the path, wondering if she was ever going to hear those two words the same way again.
Lucky walked over to see a slew of women, many of which she didn't know, all of which seemed to be standing to either side of the path while Ashley paced up and down the path worriedly.
"Don't worry, Ashley, I'm sure they'll be along any minute," said a lovely woman with brown hair. Essie looked off in the distance with a frown.
"I don't like it. It's not like him to be late, not for something like this," Ashley said.
"I still say we ought to just start without him, dear. It isn't like it's the groom is missing," an older woman said with amusement.
"I have no intention of getting married without him here, Virginia! I hope there wasn't an emergency," Ashley said worriedly, but as she turned to pace the other direction, Rose caught sight of Lucky standing there, watching the exchange curiously.
"Oh, hello there, Lucky! Goodness, you look flushed, almost as much as my Mum does," Rose teased, Ashley pausing and looking over at the girl.
"The Professor sent me to fetch Ambrose," Lucky explained.
"I just sent him to fetch Mr. Toby a few minutes ago, Lucky. Mr. Toby is very late. Damn the man for not being here on time!" Ashley said, her frustration instantly renewed.
"Eh, it's prolly nuthin,' Lucky shrugged. "He's older than the hills, maybe he just forgot or something." Ashley suddenly gasped, her eyes widening.
"Oh no! Oh no, he couldn't have! Not now!" she said frantically, and started running down the path, despite everyone calling after her. Lucky groaned, glancing back down the path the other way and managing to get Dale's attention before running after her. Almost immediately she tripped, having forgotten she too was in a dress, and out of frustration kicked off her heels and hoisted her skirts, Dale tripping over her shoes on his attempt to catch up.
"Where are we going?" Dale asked in a huff when he got to her side.
"Ashley thinks something happened to Toby," Lucky explained. "Damn, I lost sight of her! She musta taken a shortcut!"
"What could possibly happen to him?" Dale asked, following behind her as Lucky looked for footprints.
"I don't know, all I know is Ambrose had just left to find him so I'm a helluva lot more worried about him at the moment," Lucky said. "Looks like she cut through this way."
"Wait, Lucky, look! There's a second set of prints on this side path," Dale said after a few moments. "But look, they're not staying on it!"
"How weird is that?" Lucky said, pushing past him and following the second set of prints, seeing that it was a much smaller foot.
"It seems to go towards that copse of trees over there," Dale said, glancing around with a frown. "Are you sure we're even in the grove anymore? Everything seems dark all of the sudden."
"Ambrose ain't stupid enough to go in that forest alone. Especially not after what happened last year," Lucky said firmly, but then stopped short so suddenly that Dale bumped into her, getting an elbow in the gut for it.
"Ow, cut it out, Lucky!"
"Look! The trail stopped," Lucky said. Dale frowned and looked down at the pair of footprints in the snow ahead of them, but nowhere did he see any marks of him turning around. "Maybe he remembered the footprint spell for a change?"
"Or maybe he flew away," Dale suggested. "In falcon form."
"I forgot he could do that," Lucky frowned, glancing up at the tall trees, crowding each other in attempts to preserve their sunlight.
"Or perhaps neither are correct," said a silky smooth voice from right behind them, and they turned and let out a cry of surprise to see Viviane standing there, blocking their path. "Perhaps he was waylaid for some reason."
"Lady Viviane," Dale said with a wary nod.
"Where's Ambrose?" Lucky demanded angrily.
"Safe, for now," Viviane said with a reassuring smile that wasn't all that reassuring to the two standing before her. "In fact, I decided to take him home with me for a little chat, but I assure you I have no intention of harming him. He is but a boy, after all, and not responsible for the deeds of his parents. But I was wondering if you could deliver a message?"
"What sort of a message?" Dale asked.
"Simply ask Mr. Toby to drop by my home if he ever wants to see young Ambrose again," Viviane said. "I'm sure the two of you can handle that."
"I thought you said you weren't gonna harm him!" Lucky snapped.
"I doubt I would ever have to," Viviane said unconcernedly. "I expect you had better hurry."
"Come on, Lucky," Dale said, not turning his back to her until the last possible moment as they ran to meet back up with the path. Viviane smiled softly to herself, keeping an eye on them until they were safely out of the Grove, watching them run towards town before she finally faded away.
"Ambrose!"
Merlin glanced up from his current note to see a lovely older woman with a full, pleasant figure and rosy complexion. Her hair was a mix of blonde and white but not becomingly so; and she had cloudy grey eyes that for some reason were filled with anxiety.
"Yes, my dear?" Merlin inquired.
"Are you alright?" Ashley asked with concern.
"Oh um, well, I seem to be at the moment, I suppose…" Merlin said noncommittally.
"Where is Ambrose?" she asked. Merlin blinked at her.
"Am I not Ambrose?" he asked.
"I meant the other Ambrose! Your son!" Ashley said with exasperation. "I sent him here to fetch you because you were late. Didn't he make it here?"
"I have a son named Ambrose?" Merlin asked in surprise, and then shuffled the notes he had gathered. "Oh, then these make much more sense."
"You have lost your memory! Oh, no! What horrendous timing!" Ashley said. "We were afraid this was going to happen! But I certainly wasn't expecting it to happen today!"
"We, my dear?" Merlin inquired thoughtfully.
"Yes, as in you and I. You knew you were going to lose your memory, you just didn't know when it was going to hit, because you didn't remember it…"
"That would explain all the notes," Merlin agreed. "And who are you again?"
"I'm Ashley!" Ashley said, feeling her throat tighten up. "I'm Ambrose's mother."
"Oh!" Merlin said, blinking several times in complete surprise. "Well! At least I see I still have good taste."
"Ugh! I am not going to play this game right now!" Ashley said, rolling her eyes with frustration and then calmed herself a moment. Carefully she went over a verse in her head, and finally reassured that she had it right, began to recite it.
"'Many wait for him, but he is forever dead, for a man who has willingly taken innocent lives cannot rise again. But although his bones feed but the sea and his soul drifts along its waves, his heart will live on; in the deeds of others, inspired by his legend, in the land and country he fought and struggled for, and in the legacy of mankind who will forever be indebted to the man who challenged us to be better than who we are today, despite personal hardship.'"
"God bless Arthur," Merlin finished quietly, gazing steadily at her and a glassy look coming to his eyes. "My eulogy. I remember it well. I think I would remember it if the entire universe crumbled around me, for it would probably be my final thought."
"You taught it to me," Ashley said.
"Then I must trust you with my life," Merlin said solemnly.
Just then, Halcyon let out a trill as two teenagers, a tall handsome boy in dress robes and an unkempt girl in stockings and a slightly torn dress ran into the shop.
"She's got Ambrose!" Lucky shouted, and then had to stop and catch her breath.
"Who, Lucky?" Ashley asked.
"Lady Viviane," Dale got out, glancing over at Merlin whose bewildered expression suddenly sharpened, a strange dark look in his blue eyes. "We followed his footsteps in the snow and ran into her instead. And she told us to tell Toby that he needed to meet her at her home if he ever wanted to see Ambrose again."
"Oh no!" Ashley said with obvious terror in her eyes.
"How old is the boy?" Merlin asked, scanning the wall quickly and picking up a couple of notes. When he turned back around, Dale and Lucky both had to blink, for his appearance had changed dramatically into the same image they had seen in Corey's painting, beard and all.
"He's only ten," Ashley sobbed.
"And who is this Severus I keep mentioning in my notes?"
"What do you mean who is he?" Lucky asked indignantly.
"He's your apprentice, and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Ashley explained quickly.
"Then you had best inform him of the situation, and tell him that I am going after them," Merlin said, sticking a wand up his sleeve.
"What? In your condition?" Ashley said worriedly.
"My dear, I have little choice, have I?" Merlin said. "I will send Ambrose back as soon as I can."
"Send him? Aren't you coming back?" Ashley asked.
"That might not be possible," Merlin admitted. "It will depend on what she wants in the exchange. Come; let me try to figure out how to hide this place since it seems to be mine. Everyone out. Oh and as for you, Mr. Kingfisher…"
"Halcyon," Dale offered.
"Oh, I should have known," Merlin chuckled. "Best you come with me."
Halcyon, who seemed in favor of the idea, flew over to Merlin's shoulder as they walked out.
"I trust you can get these children back, Ashley?" Merlin added.
"Yes let's get back to the… good heavens, the wedding!" Ashley said, stopping in our tracks again.
"Come on," Dale said, coaxing Ashley forward again. "The Professor is going to want to hear about it."
"I just hope Ambrose is gonna be all right," Lucky sighed worriedly as the three of them hurried back to the waiting crowd.
When Ambrose opened his eyes, everything was pitch black. How exactly Viviane had gotten him there, he wasn't quite sure. But he knew from the moment he saw her that he was in trouble. He also couldn't help but wonder if he was the only one in danger.
"Hullo?" Ambrose said timidly, hearing a very odd echo. Tentatively, he sat up, feeling around with his hands. The floor beneath him was smooth and very cold. But somehow the wall next to him was even smoother, and even colder. He looked for his wand and couldn't find it, but was quite sure he could get a wisplight going without one and cautiously put cast one up. As his eyes adjusted, he was startled to see another figure in front of him, but then quickly realized it was nothing but his own image staring back at him.
"Do you happen to know what the difference between us is?" the image spoke. Ambrose stared at the image in surprise, for he had never been spoken to by a reflection before. "I know what I'm capable of, and I'm not afraid to do what I please. If you could have anything you wanted right now, what would you wish for?"
"I just want to go home," Ambrose said, getting up.
"Is that all? When you could have the world at your feet?" the image said. "That's why they never told you, you know. They're afraid of what you might be capable of someday."
Ambrose backed warily away from the image, holding the light up to see he was surrounding by images, and scattered prism lights that floated on the wall as his spell penetrated through crystals jetting out of the walls like stalactites.
"I think I know where I am now," Ambrose said, raising his light further to see the ripple of water above him. An escape route! Ambrose concentrated to try and change his shape. Surely he could fly up there and through to the outside. But for some reason, he couldn't seem to manage it. As hard as he tried, he couldn't seem to change forms. "How am I going to get out of here?"
"What makes you so sure you're ever going to get out?" asked the persistent image, but Ambrose was doing his best to ignore him. Instead, Ambrose decided to try one of the corridors leading out of the cavern, keeping a hand on the wall to keep himself from getting turned around in the dim light.
The caverns seemed quite rough, filled with the sharp jagged crystals reminding Ambrose of the sort that they had occasionally grown in the potion lab, despite the fact that he knew it was much more. He could feel the tingle of magic penetrating him from the hand on the wall, a constant reminder that he was not in a safe place, nor was he where he was supposed to be.
It was then that he saw something strange in the ceiling ahead that didn't appear to be made out of crystal at all, for it didn't seem to reflect the light as the rest of the corridor did. Curiously, Ambrose walked over and stood underneath it, staring at it for a bit before he realized he was looking at the hilt of a sword embedded in the crystal cave itself.
"Wow," Ambrose said softly, itching to reach for it, despite the fact that a huge part of him was screaming about just how bad of an idea that would be. Cautiously he forced himself to back away from it, following the corridor on until at last he saw he corridor widen. But when he stepped into it and held his light up, he immediately realized he was back in the in the cavern under the lake. "Oh, no," Ambrose groaned, realizing with as many other corridors as there had been that it would take him hours to work his way out.
"Having fun exploring?" Viviane asked, stepping out of the shadows. "Would you care for something to eat or drink?"
"I just want to go home," Ambrose said evenly.
"I'm certain that will happen soon enough. It is only a matter of time before he'll be coming to fetch you, you know," Viviane said, glancing sideways at a mirror and then gazing at the water.
"Professor Snape?" Ambrose asked. Viviane paused in bewilderment as to why he was mentioned, but then realized that Ambrose was referring to her last statement.
"It will be your father that will be coming. I have no interest in Severus at the moment," Viviane said.
"My father!" Ambrose repeated with amazement, but then suddenly became afraid. "What are you going to do to him?"
"Nothing you can stop, so there is no point in worrying, is there?" Viviane said calmly. Ambrose glared at her angrily. "Besides, you would be better off if you didn't trust your godfather so much to get your out of trouble. His own wife doesn't trust him, and neither should you."
"He's never given me a reason not to trust him," Ambrose said firmly, refusing to look in the direction of the dislikable mirror who he was certain was probably rolling his eyes or shaking his head at him. Viviane did neither. She simply turned and studied him carefully for a moment.
"Ambrose, he has given you a reason to distrust him from the moment you were born," Viviane said gently. "Have you ever wondered why Severus has been so adamant about keeping your heritage away from you?"
"Oh, well, that's obvious now, isn't it?" Ambrose said, but Viviane simply gazed at him steadily. "He didn't want me to know until I was old enough to accept it, and old enough to keep it a secret." Viviane said nothing. She simply looked at him. "The painting of my father said it was also because he was afraid of how others might react if it got out that I was his son."
"And why would they be afraid of you?" Viviane asked. Ambrose frowned.
"I don't know," Ambrose admitted. "Fear of the unknown, I suppose."
"Is that why you believe Severus is afraid of you as well?" she asked.
"The Professor isn't afraid of me," Ambrose said evenly.
"He is," Viviane said softly. "He is afraid of what you might become if everyone around you isn't careful. In fact, it was that fear that drove him to take such an active roll as your godfather since you were born, and that is why I believe it is unwise for you to trust him. See for yourself, if you do not believe me."
There was a flash of light from beside Ambrose, and her turned in surprise to see one of the crystals sparkling until the image of a girl about his age appeared, pale and beautiful, with hair so light blonde it was nearly white. She opened her eyes and they were cool, icy, and strangely familiar. A smile crept across her face, and she suddenly ran across the fields playing.
"Do you know what I remember?" a voice echoed through the caves… a young girl's voice.
"What?" said a soft voice, barely audible.
"Everything, of course!" the girl laughed. "I remember that I'm going to meet my mother and father someday, but I do not think they'll like me," she said, her bright smile suddenly fading and becoming serious.
"Of course they will, Ciara! Why wouldn't they?" asked the faded voice.
"I suppose it's because they know I'm going to kill them," Ciara said thoughtfully.
"Really, Ciara, I don't think you're capable of that," said the faded voice.
"I am too capable, I can do anything! Anything at all! Because I can remember!" Ciara said with elation, throwing her hands up to the sky and then falling back in a field of heather.
"Do you know what else I remember?" Ciara said.
"Everything?" said the soft voice.
"Yes," Ciara chuckled, "but I didn't meant that! I meant something specific!"
"And what is that?" the voice said tolerantly.
"I just remembered exactly how you learn how capable I am!" Ciara said proudly, gazing up at the sky.
Ambrose frowned at the fading vision, finding himself glancing back at the disturbing image he had seen of himself when he had first come in, realizing how similar it had been to the girl he saw.
"Aeris was her fae guardian," Viviane said evenly. "I'm afraid they found her dead the next morning. Do you know who the girl that you just saw was?"
"I suppose from the name… it might have been Ciardoth," Ambrose said cautiously.
"Yes," Viviane said softly. "Yes, and because of Severus' efforts, she no longer exists. However, despite her boasts, she did not succeed in killing her parents. As you can plainly see, I am still here," she said with a thin smile, nodding when she saw the stunned expression on Ambrose's face. "As is your father, obviously," she said, a bit more put out about that fact. "Ciara was Merlin's child as well, Ambrose, and that is why your godfather is afraid of you, and has been since the day you were born. And that is why you should also not trust him. If you were to go astray, he would not hesitate to destroy you either, you know."
Ambrose found himself off balance and sat down on one of the crystals lying on the floor, his head swimming as it tried to sink in. Ciardoth had been his half-sister? And Severus was afraid he would turn out the same way? It never occurred to him that Viviane might have been lying. Somehow, he knew she wasn't. In fact, despite the fact he was having trouble digesting it, in some ways, things seemed even clearer to him than ever before.
"If I ever got as mental as Ciardoth got," Ambrose said after such a long pause that Viviane had nearly forgotten what they were talking about. "I think… I think I'd still trust the Professor to do the right thing, even if it meant he had to kill me to make things right again." Viviane blinked at him in complete surprise.
"Yes, well, suit yourself, I suppose. I simply meant it as a warning," Viviane said, stepping to the center of the room. Her dress changed then to one of silver; long, sparkling, and timeless, her hair lose and curling down to her shoulders. "I must go and meet out visitor."
"Father, don't! It's a trap!" Ambrose shouted frantically.
"He can't hear you, silly boy," Viviane said, as spout of water propelled her upwards. "Now stay here, Ambrose, and no looking and no touching. I'm sure we can negotiate a release soon enough."
"At least let me see him!" Ambrose begged, but she had already ascended to the top.
"Do you want me to tell you how to get out of here?" asked the image of himself, which had suddenly returned upon her disappearance. "I can help you save your father, if that's what you really want to do."
"I don't want your help," Ambrose said evenly. "I know what you're really like. You act too much like Ciara was acting."
"If I can get you out of here, does that really matter?" the image asked.
"It does to me," Ambrose said. "I can get out of here on my own!"
"By the time you figure out how to get out of here, your father will probably be dead," the image snorted. "Care to see how your father dies?"
"No!" Ambrose shouted firmly. "He isn't going to die. You're a liar! And I do know a way to get out by myself!"
"Fine, prove it then, so I can heckle you when you come up short because of your stupid moral values," he said.
There had been a change in his tone that time, and had Ambrose thought very long about it, he would have realized that the image now sounded a great deal like Don when he was tempting to goad Ambrose into doing something he would regret. But frantic with wanting to get out, and filled with fear over what Viviane might be capable of, Ambrose raced down the hall, stumbling several times and cutting his shins on the rocks as he did so, doing his best to ignore the images of Ciardoth that kept peeking through the glass. Eerie whispering voices called his name, echoing through the tunnels, reminding him that his mother was out there somewhere, worried and wondering where he was.
The whispers grew louder and more persistent rather than softer, and the tingle that he had felt when he had first entered those caverns seemed to be surging through all of him instead of just his hand.
This time when the urge came to reach up, he could no longer resist.
Merlin stood on the shore with furrowed bushy brows and a fixed expression as the lake began to bubble. Viviane emerged in her full splendor, despite the fact that she knew that Merlin would be anything but impressed.
"I see you have decided to come," Viviane said with a smile.
"Decided?" Merlin repeated hotly.
"I have been having a heartfelt discussion with your son. Have you come to fetch him?" Viviane inquired politely.
"He should never have been taken at all!"
"He should never have been born at all," Viviane said primly.
"You mind your own business! That is not for you to decide!" Merlin snapped.
"You are intentionally undermining the balance of this world, Merlin."
"Oh poppycock! I'm doing nothing of the sort! If anyone has been interfering, it's you!" Merlin said, and Viviane suddenly laughed.
"My interference is nothing compared to what someone else has done recently," she said with a triumphant smile. Merlin took a deep breath, but since he didn't have a clue who or what she was talking about, he was having trouble coming up with a suitable argument.
"That is neither here nor there! The only thing that matters at the moment is having the boy back where he belongs, and I demand that some sort of settlement be worked out at once!" Merlin said.
"A settlement?" Viviane repeated, rather liking the sound of that. "The settlement is quite simple. You simply have to take his place. He's in that oak tree. Up there on the cliff."
"Oh, not the oak tree again! Can't you pick something more original? You have no idea what it's like to get stuck having birds make homes on your head for years, not to mention squirrels…chipmunks, and I won't even get into what the dogs do…."
"And just think! Soon that'll be an experience shared by both father and son!" Viviane said with a laugh. "Of course, there is a good side to that, considering he won't have to go through puberty while he's a tree. Might get rather dull, though…"
"All right, all right! After all, I did promise his mother I would get him back. But I will only agree if I get your assurances that you will not harm him and you will send him right back!"
"You have my word that I will not harm him so long as you are in that tree," Viviane said.
"And you will mind your own business and not interfere in his decisions again!"" Merlin added, pointing an accusing finger at her. Viviane stopped and thought it over.
"Well, I shouldn't, considering it isn't part of your original bargain, but very well, I shall agree to it."
"Shall we shake on it?" Merlin asked. Viviane wrinkled her nose at the offer with distaste. "Fine!" he said, marching up the bank and over to the ledge, pausing in front of a large oak tree thoughtfully. "You did say we have an agreement?"
"You know I don't go against my word," Viviane said evenly.
"Do you get much lightning up here?" Merlin mused, looking up at the sky.
"Not since our daughter died, no," Viviane said primly. "Let's just hope your son doesn't pick up the same habits."
"My son has an advantage that our daughter never did, Viviane," Merlin said crisply. "He has a kind, loving and understanding mother. And that is something you most decidedly are not!" he said, putting his back to the tree and daring her to try to get the last word in.
"True," Viviane said simply, and with a set of motions, the bark of the tree seemed to moving around him until Merlin was absorbed into the tree itself.
I am here, said a moan, very much like a low, lonely wind. But where is the boy?
"Oh, that, well I didn't really put him in the tree, Merlin, I would have had to get him to agree to that for the spell to work, as you well know."
What? You tricked me again?
"See what your human blood get you?" Viviane said mischievously but then paused as the ground trembled and a sound much like thunder rumbled through the air.
Is that a storm coming?
"No," Viviane said evenly. "That was your son pulling the Sword from the crystal."
No! What have you done? It can't possibly be time for that! Viviane, you must stop him!
"Oh, but I can't," Viviane said innocently. "I gave my word that I wouldn't interfere in his decisions. He pulled the Sword to release himself from the cave, so I dare say he is going home on his own. But don't worry, Merlin, I won't harm him. Now that you are safely tucked away, there is one other thorn in my side that needs plucked."
You won't get away with this, Viviane. You have gone too far this time!
"No, your son has gone too far," Viviane said primly. "Unfortunately, you have no choice but to sit there, gather moss, and watch everything self destruct. Funny, I have an odd feeling of deja vu just now. Have we done this before?"
It won't be the same result this time, Viviane! This time it is going to backfire on you, my apprentice will see to that!
"I rather think he'll have his hands tied if he even tries," Viviane said unworriedly. "I had better check and see what that foul urchin of yours did to my back door. Have a nice winter slumber, Merlin dear," she added happily before water shot out of the lake and enveloped her, pulling her back under.
Well drat, moaned the tree.
