Main Prompt: Paladin - Write about a character who has made a sacred (blood) oath
Secondary Prompts: 6.[Dialogue] "Why did that have to be from you?" and 11.[Object] Sword
Word Count: 2695
Medieval AU: Each house (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) is a kingdom. Will they coexist as tensions grow between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or will all order in the land fall.
TW: slight blood, knife and stabbing
~wWw~
"Draco, I need you to promise me that you will help me do this," Daphne said carefully, watching his face.
"Why in the world do you want to do this?" Draco asked.
"To make my father proud? I heard my parents arguing, he wants to disown me. I'll have nothing then. I need to prove myself," Daphne said, her eyes darting to the ground.
"Daphne, this isn't just something you can do with no planning."
"I know, that's why I want your help. How many times have I helped you with some plan of yours?"
"Okay, that's true. I'll help you," Draco conceded, but his lack of enthusiasm for the idea was clear in his voice.
"No, I need you to swear, Draco," Daphne insisted. "Nothing can be more important than this. Swear it to me."
"A blood oath then?" he asked, all seriousness as he held his hand out. Daphne nodded.
Draco carefully drew his sword and ran the sharp edge across his hand. He barely felt the pain. Daphne took the sword from him, repeating his motion on her own hand. Together they clasped hands.
"I, Draco Malfoy, vow on my bloodline to help you, Daphne Greengrass, kill the Gryffindor Princess."
"So may it be," Daphne said.
~wWw~
This was a terrible idea, and Draco knew it. He should never have made that oath to Daphne. They were both idiots. They were going against every rule in the kingdom just so Daphne could make her father proud. Her father had been planning a mission to assassinate the Gryffindor Princess for years, it was one of his work assignments but he hadn't figured out how to do it right yet. Salazar Slytherin had strict laws, the most important one being antagonization of another kingdom is punishable by banishment. Yet now they were planning to do just that. The pair had gotten into plenty of trouble in their childhood, but he had thought they had put that behind them. Obviously not. He should have said no, but for some reason, he couldn't.
So Draco packed his horse alongside Daphne, neatly storing food, medical supplies, weapons, bedding, everything they could possibly need. It wasn't the first time they had packed like this, but he hoped it would be the last.
Draco was getting a little tired of their troublemaking. He still enjoyed it. It was fun, something new and out of the ordinary. But he could no longer ignore the consequences of their actions. He struggled to find work, employers didn't trust him.
Draco ran his hands along the flank of his white mare, feeling her strong muscles under his hands. It was time. He swung up onto his horse, and lightly tapped her sides, urging her out of the stable. Daphne followed behind him. Neither could see very well in the dark, but they trusted their horses to lead them to their destination.
They left just as the moon was beginning to crest. No one could know where they were going. So they snuck out, just like they had when they were children. They left notes behind for their parents telling them they were going on a hunting trip together. The air was cold, and clouds scattered across the sky, occasionally blocking the moon. They travelled as fast as they dared, taking hidden trails over the more common ones and keeping their hoods up. Neither talked as they rode, each trapped within their own thoughts.
The Kingdom of Slytherin was kitty-corner to the Gryffindor Kingdom, and though, they could also go through Hogwarts, a small plot of land connecting each kingdom, it was heavily guarded, and they didn't want to be seen. Hogwarts was the site of the negotiations between the Kingdoms of Gryffindor and Slytherin making it much more likely that they would be recognized. Instead, they decided to travel through the Kingdom of Hufflepuff, staying about 15 leagues out from Hogwarts.
They travelled through the night, watching as the scenery gradually began to change. The Kingdom of Slytherin was filled with lush forests and greenery. However, the Kingdom of Hufflepuff was mostly farming land with giant lakes, which some of the people lived on. Draco let out a large yawn and his eyes began to drift shut, but the howls of wolves quickly dismissed any thoughts of sleep from his head.
As the sun began to rise over the horizon, they saw the edge of the forest. This was one of the most uncertain parts of their journey, crossing the border to the Kingdom of Hufflepuff. It was still slightly dark outside. The horses began to slow. Daphne pulled up beside Draco.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked.
"You don't have one?" he asked incredulously.
"Well, I do, but you won't like it," Daphne said with a grin.
"I have one too," Draco said, glancing at her. "My plan is simple, really. We act like we belong there. Also, take that damn green thing off." He gestured to Daphne's scarf before turning his gaze back to the path ahead. The garment was a dark green, similar to the colour of the forests, with a lighter snake winding through it. An obvious token of the Slytherin kingdom.
"But it's cute," Daphne said with a pout as she pulled it off.
"And it will get us killed," Draco pointed out. "Only we wear green in the winding snake pattern, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to advertise where we have come from."
Sighing, Daphne packed the scarf under several shirts, hiding it. He swiftly dismounted, indicating for Daphne to do the same. They wanted to leave as little a trail as possible and being down on the ground allowed them to pick the exact path they took.
The pair walked out of the treeline and into the fields, keeping their hoods up and their heads down as they walked. It didn't take them long to reach the main riding path. Upon reaching it, they remounted their horses and continued riding.
Draco felt a little more nervous as they approached the main city in the Kingdom of Hufflepuff. He hoped his plan would work. They dismounted once in the city and allowed their horses to drink. Daphne watched them while Draco went to the bar to see if there was anything important that they should know about. He wanted to make sure that no one was looking for them. It didn't take long for him to return. They camped out just outside the city allowing themselves and their horses to rest before they continued on their travels. They departed the next morning travelling until the following evening, where they camped out in a lightly forested area they found just off the main path.
Draco and Daphne continued travelling until they crossed the next border into the Kingdom of Gryffindor. This kingdom held more similarities to their home than it did to the Kingdom of Hufflepuff. The land was covered in trees and thick bushes. They travelled through the night until they reached the perimeter of the central city. Together they set up camp just off the path so they could plan out their attack.
~wWw~
"Hey, pretty lady," a man said as he lumbered out of a bar in the central area of the Kingdom of Gryffindor, obviously intoxicated.
"Hello," Daphne said politely, gripping her knife in her hand, hidden within her pocket. The man took a step towards her. She was supposed to be gathering information while Draco found supplies and planned to meet back at their camp.
"What's a little thing like you doing here all by yourself?" the man slurred, taking another step towards her.
"I'm visiting a family friend," Daphne said politely, her mind racing as she tried to think her way out of the situation. She couldn't come up with anything. Everything seemed too dangerous and too far-fetched.
"A lucky family friend," the man said, stepping into Daphne's personal space. He ran a finger across her face, his nail leaving behind a thin red mark.
"Please step back," she said firmly. The man ignored her, pushing her back against the wall. Her head bumped against it, causing her knife to clatter to the ground. Keeping a hand on her chest, he picked up the knife.
"Ohh, what's this? Did you plan to stab me?" the man asked. He became progressively more agitated with each moment that Daphne refused to respond. He dragged the tip of the knife across her arm, watching as the blood flowed from the wound. She let out a scream and attempted to kick at his legs to knock him over, but to no avail. He cut her again and again, visibly enthralled by the blood freely flowing down her skin.
"Hey! Get away from her! By order of the crown, I order you to remove yourself from the girl," a woman shouted out.
Daphne almost sighed from relief, glad that her scream had caught somebody's attention. Someone was going to stop this maniac! The man sliced her skin once again before taking off into the street.
"Guards, go after that man! I want him captured and brought before me!" the woman demanded, rushing towards Daphne, who had crumpled into a ball on the ground, the pain overwhelming her. The woman gently lifted Daphne's head into her lap and attempted to apply pressure to the wounds, but there were too many for her to be much help.
"Princess, come back to the castle. Your father will be upset to see you out here," a royal guard said, attempting to get the woman to follow him.
"Not without her," the princess insisted. The guard sighed but gently picked Daphne up.
"Okay, now let's go." The princess nodded her assent and led the way back to the castle.
~wWw~
The guard carefully set the woman on top of the princess's bed, he had offered to bring her to the infirmary, but the princess had insisted.
"I'll go get a physician," the guard said. The princess nodded at him, dismissing him. She stared down at the woman in front of her. She was beautiful. The woman had dark thick hair. Her face was thin, and her frame was slender. She was covered in blood, but it seemed like most of the bleeding had stopped.
"Princess Hermione," the physician, Minerva, said as she entered the room.
"Minerva," Hermione said with a slight smile.
"Princess Hermione, I have the water you requested," her handmaiden said as she entered the room behind Minerva.
"Thank you," Hermione said, gently taking the bucket and cloth from the young woman. Hermione turned her attention to the unconscious woman. She gently began to wash the blood from her pale skin. Her handmaiden silently left the room to retrieve something for Minerva. Minerva worked behind Hermione, gently bandaging the areas she washed and applying a salve to aid in the healing. Hermione worked with a tenderness that Minerva had never seen before.
"Hermione, you care about her," Minerva said, hoping that she wasn't overstepping.
"I don't even know her name," Hermione whispered as she gently rubbed at a stubborn spot of blood. "Something about her… I feel drawn to her in a way I have never felt before."
~wWw~
Something was burning against Daphne's skin. Her eyes shot open. The woman from before was leaning over her, gently rubbing a rag over her forehead. Her arm burned.
"Shhh, it's okay," the woman said, "I'm Princess Hermione." Daphne's eyes widened in recognition. The princess was helping to tend to her wounds. Her a random girl from off the streets. Everything she knew about the princess indicated that she was a bad person, a cold-hearted royal. But here she was treating Daphne with kindness, not even her own family showed her. Maybe the princess was a good person.
"I'm Daphne," she whispered, unsure of what else to tell the woman.
"Minerva, the court's physician, is taking care of your wounds," Hermione said with a wide smile.
"Where am I?" Daphne asked, attempting to look around the room.
"You are in the castle," Hermione said.
"I need to go," Daphne murmured, her mind drifting to Draco, who was likely very worried about her.
"I'm sorry, but you are not well enough to go yet. You will have to stay until at least tomorrow," Minerva said. "We can move her to my quarters, so we don't disturb you."
"No, she will stay here," Hermione said, "I don't mind."
~wWw~
Minerva left, and Daphne fell back asleep. Hermione sat in her chair, reading over some reports, when there was a sharp knock on her door. She stood from her chair quickly walking over to the door. With a little effort, she opened the heavy door.
"The man from earlier today has been apprehended and is in the cells beneath the castle. He was found with this knife," the guard said, holding out the blade to Hermione. She carefully took the dagger from him, setting it on her desk.
"Thank you, I will deal with this tonight. Please tell your men that they did a good job," Hermione said, turning her attention to the blade. It was pretty standard except for the green emerald embedded in the hilt.
~wWw~
A little later Daphne stirred, her eyes slowly opening to the soft glow of torches lining the walls.
"Princess Hermione?" she whispered. Daphne listened as Hermione's footsteps grew closer.
"Yes?" Hermione asked, rushing over to her.
"I need to go. My friend Draco... he's likely worried about me," Daphne said with a whisper.
"Minerva said you needed to stay until at least tomorrow," Hermione said.
"He's like my brother; he's going to be scared that something's happened to me. I appreciate the help, I really do, but I need to go see him," Daphne said.
"Okay, let me help you get up," Hermione offered.
~wWw~
Daphne carefully led Hermione to their campsite. It wasn't the first place she wanted to bring the other girl, however, it was where she was supposed to meet Draco. They found Draco sitting on his bedroll with his sword on his lap. His eyes were darting around the forest, likely looking for Daphne.
"Daphne! You're okay!" Draco exclaimed in relief as he saw Daphne. He stood from the ground, rushing towards her, Daphne stumbled forward. Hermione's hand around her waist kept her from falling as she moved forward. As they drew closer, Draco's eyes slid from Daphne to the woman at her side, focusing on the narrow gold diadem nestled in her hair. As Daphne reached out for her friend, she didn't see recognition dawn on his face. She missed the glint in his eye. The indication he was going to strike.
If she had known she would have stopped it, taken his sword, she would have done something. But she missed it, so all she could do was watch in horror as Draco moved around her, and plunged his sword straight into Hermione's heart. The sword that matched Daphne's dagger with an emerald in the hilt. Daphne crawled to the woman who had shown her so much care.
She tried to cover the hole in her chest. Tried to stop the blood from flowing out of the hole. It didn't work. There was nothing she could do. The life was fading from Hermione's eyes. One of the few people who had shown her unconditional care was dead because of her actions.
"Why did that have to be from you? Why did you have to kill her? She saved my life!" Daphne yelled. She knew it was unfair to take her anger out on Draco, but she didn't know what else to do. Guards raced across the open space, having seen the entire thing unfold in front of them.
"You made me take a blood oath," Draco whispered, the weight of his actions finally settling on his shoulders. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."
As guards grabbed the pair, Daphne could only think of how this was her fault. It was her fault that Princess Hermione, someone so kind, was dead. Her fault that Draco, her best friend, was going to be killed. Her fault.