Alice

I took Ella out of school for the rest of the week. I saw how miserable she was, and I needed to do something for her. When she got home, though, the first thing she did was run into Jacen's room and slam the door shut.

I raced after her, and twisted the doorknob only to be stopped by the lock. I let out a grunt of frustration, and whipped around, taking deep breaths. I needed to calm down. It wouldn't help me to make her miserable. Right?

Ky approached me. "How's Ella holding up?"

"She hasn't been doing well," I confided in a low voice, moving away from the door. "She shut me out. I don't know what to do about her. They were so close, and I don't know how to help her."

"I might," Ky said. "Rhys and I still communicate on occasion telepathically, and I know what it's like to be the one sending the messages over."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "I forgot about that."

He shrugged. "It's mostly luck of the draw and the way that you're raised. Because of. . . Lily and James, you didn't get the chance to get close enough to really from the bond."

"What if she doesn't recover?" I asked.

"What do you mean? You know grieving doesn't end overnight, better than anyone I know, actually."

"I know," I retorted hastily. "But I was coping. What if she continues to shut herself down, rather than play the part she has to?"

"I'll talk to my co-workers," he assured me. "But let's see what I can do about this." He strode past me, and rapped on the door. "Ella? Sweet? Can you please let us in?"

I heard her spring to her feet, and she opened the door, a face that had just been wiped free of tears but red from crying appeared in the crack. "Only you," she said, scowling in my direction.

Ky glanced at me, shocked by the sudden animosity, and obliged her.

Ella

I shut the door behind Daddy. I didn't care anymore if I seemed rude to Mum. I didn't trust her, and didn't want to see her face, not after the tragedy.

"Come on, let's sit," he said, sitting on his bed. I obliged, pulling my knees up against my chest and rocking slightly. I had never felt so alone before. I missed that voice in my head that had been there for as long as I could remember, I missed feeling his presence, his aura every step I went, I missed having someone who truly understood what I was feeling.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Jacen cut me off," I found myself sobbing. "I think he doesn't want me to worry, doesn't want me to get hurt."

"What do you mean, get hurt?" Daddy asked.

I looked up at him into the eyes I inherited. "He's being tortured. I don't know any particular reason, but I can feel what he feels."

"Oh, Ella..." He hugged me close. "I didn't know your bond went that far."

"Neither did I," I admitted.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair, repeating the words over and over as began to cry. "I'm sorry."

Jacen, please come back, I begged, but I knew my thoughts couldn't reach him now.

"When are we going to get him back?" I finally asked tremblingly.

Daddy stared at me, and I knew in the hesitation, in his expression, that there was no plan to bring back Jacen, Tip and all the others lost in action that night.

"You're just going to leave him there?" I demanded, ripping away. "After all he's gone through, you're just going to let him suffer?"

Infuriating silence was the reply. I got to my feet angrily. "They say you're the most powerful wizard in the world, but you can't go and get your own son from wherever they're holding him?"

"Ella, you know it doesn't work like that-"

"You know what I think?" I interrupted. "I think you're too afraid of what you can do, too afraid to use your powers when you're needed! I never thought my father was that much of a coward."

I turned away, and thrust open the door.

Alice

I was surprised when the angry shouts came from within and the door opened with Ella storming out.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"I don't want to talk to either of you!" She yelled, trying to move past me. I grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, trying to understand what made her so angry.

"While you sit here and whimper and fear of the Minister, Jacen is suffering!" She shouted. "I'm tired of going on missions, fighting a war that I was dragged into on accident! One that you let me get dragged into!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You're the one who signed the agreement that allowed Darklight to recruit us in Hogwarts in the first place! You let it happen! You didn't have the guts to stand up for what you knew was right, and honestly? I don't think you care anymore! I think we're just your pawns on your chessboard right now, and you know what? I'm a person, and I'm tired of playing your games! I will choose my own path, not the one of war and destruction that you've brought to our doorstep!"

I then felt a push back from magic, and she ran down the steps. I started after her, when Ky placed a hand on my shoulder. "Let her go. Let her cool off. She needs it."

I sighed and nodded, turning around. "What happened?"

"She wants him back, and she doesn't understand," he said, but he looked bothered by it. "Maybe she's right though. Everyone knows I am a coward."

"I wouldn't say that necessarily. You do brave things every day. You spied during the war-"

"Yet I won't do what it takes to save my own son," he finished. "I honestly don't know anymore, Princess, who's right or wrong."

Ella

I grabbed my cloak off the hook, a starry one Rowan gave me for Christmas, matching the one I'd given him for his birthday. I stormed out into the snow-covered hills, and I stood in the snow, chest heaving, my breath fogging up the clearing in the afternoon sun.

I looked left, then right, and then pulled my wand out, and thought of my times with Jacen, Rowan and Gavin in the Room of Requirement, Mara-Jade and Kieran as my sisters, in Potions with Tip.

"Expecto Patronum!" A silvery dolphin swirled about.

"Come here," I said in a commanding voice. "I want you to go find Rowan Skywalker, Mara-Jade Evans, Gavin Bueller, Kieran Holly, and..." I realized that Tip was gone. "I have a message for them."

It waited patiently.

"I have a plan to get Jacen and Tip back. When I get back, meet me in the Room of Requirement. Mara-Jade, Kieran, have Gavin and Rowan tell you where it is. We'll form our plan there."

The dolphin was sent off. I watched it for a moment, and then I whipped around. I didn't want to go back home, after all of the things I'd said, mostly because I meant them. I believed them. I was done listening to them.