AN: Apparently I had a complete chapter written, edited, and just waiting to be uploaded onto this site before I went on my 'break'. Sorry about that! On the other hand- two updates in a single week? Even if this update doesn't exactly count I shall call it a victory nonetheless!
Godric's courting of Vulchanova did not proceed as smoothly as he had anticipated after their last encounter. It did not even get the chance to blossom and Godric blames it all on two things, the first being Vulchanova herself for she may have forgiven him but she did not with the intention of giving him a second chance, but to maintain a civil relationship that consisted of nothing but the occasional passed greetings. She kept to Munter's company most, and the few times she's actually spoken to Godric she did for a few precious moments and only to enquire about Rowena's whereabouts.
The second culprit was the Forbidden Forest, or whatever the bloody hell was happening within that was driving all kinds of dangerous beasts towards the castle grounds, keeping all three remaining founders too preoccupied to entertain their guests or to teach their students.
To say that Godric was growing increasingly frustrated with all the distractions was most definitely an understatement. What's worse, Rowena was expected to return in the evening and in her last letter she had said that she carried terrible news.
He had finally slayed the last Acromantula. The thing couldn't have been very old, but it was rather strong for its age. Godric's sword was still buried in its belly. Its legs had stopped twitching some time ago, but Godric found himself too exhausted to remove his sword just yet. He gripped the sword's handle with both hands and leaned his forehead against his intertwined fingers, breathing hard.
"Getting old, are we?"
Godric lifted his head to glare at Salazar. "Where have you been?"
Salazar surveyed the clearing around Godric. It could no longer be defined as a clearing, not with all the Acromantula corpses covering every inch of the field. Had it been any other wizard, thought Salazar, most of the swarm would've lived to enjoy the morsel.
"We must retreat," he said, stepping around the corpses to reach Godric.
"There are more of them?"
"Many more to come. I have just been to the nest. It's deserted, in fact has been for quite some time. We have to secure the borders."
Godric pulled his sword from the spider's belly. One of its legs jerked in response, but the beast was long gone and Godric now had greater concerns on his mind. "What of the children?"
"We send them home for the time being. I've already written to my house's guardians, and I took the liberty of doing the same for Lady Rowena's. I expect that arrangements are being made for their safe travel. I suggest you do the same, and Helga..." he shook his head. "I suppose it's best if I speak to Lady Helga."
Godric placed his hand on Salazar's shoulder just as he turned towards the castle, making him stop. "Not all of our students can go home, Salazar."
None of Slytherin's students were permanent residents of the castle. Godric thought it must've been difficult for him to part with them so many times, but now more than anything he envied his friend's ability to protect all of his students at once.
"Then they stay at their own risk," he concluded in length.
"Have mercy, Salazar! They're children— your students, too!"
"And I would rather have my students take their chances outside rather than face whatever it is causing all these disturbances in the forest," he said.
Godric's heart was heavy with grief when they reached the castle. Not even the sight of Vulchanova, the only one standing with the large herd of Thestrals, could lift his spirits.
The castle grounds were full of lost, confused, and mostly nervous creatures that were once living deep in the Dark Forest. Godric suspects that every last Thestral must be present, but there was also another large herd of unicorns, several different tribes of centaurs whose leaders were currently speaking with Helga, trolls cowering at the sight of Gryffindor's sword, rather agitated-looking Hippogriffs, and many more small critters hidden in the grass and between their much larger companions. The grounds simply weren't big enough to shelter creatures that didn't normally reside within each other's range. Godric was beginning to worry that they'll have much bigger problems to deal with than whatever beast was hidden in the forest if its original inhabitants don't return.
"I'd start writing those letters if I were you," said Salazar under his breath.
For once Godric didn't have a response. He marched ahead to where Helga was standing speaking with the centaur tribe leaders. Salazar wasn't too far behind, keen as he had always been to keep his distance from centaurs in most situations. This time Godric thought that that was the wisest choice of action, for the moment the centaurs felt them approaching they all stopped talking and turned towards Salazar with a look that wasn't particularly friendly.
That's not saying that they were ever friendly with Salazar, of course, just that this time one wrong word could potentially put a spear through his heart.
"What seems to be the problem?" asked Salazar coolly, standing with his hands folded at the front. To a casual observer it looked like a sign of submission, to show that he wasn't armed with a wand, but Godric and Helga knew that Salazar was very likely holding a vial of some horrible concoction to use if (when) the situation escalates.
One centaur at the front, grey and strong and menacing, stepped forward. He stared hard at Salazar before extending his large fist. Salazar held out his hand. Eggshells landed at the center of his palm. Eggshells covered in a thin sheet of slime, Godric noticed upon closer inspection.
"In these lands there is only you," said the centaur, his voice trembling with anger. Salazar didn't say anything. He was staring at the eggshells with a deep frown on his face. "You have broken your vow with the Forest. You must pay the price."
"He has done no such thing!" said Helga shrilly; quickly putting herself between the two and making the centaur take an involuntary step back. "How dare you make such accusations on our property that you sought for refuge, and furthermore without proof!"
"He holds the evidence."
"We have students here! Children!"
"He values the lives of only those that can withstand this evil."
"Salazar is not a murderer!"
"He has done it before."
Salazar's eyes flashed, angered not at the accusations but at the harsh reminder that silenced Helga. Godric and Rowena were not made aware of the details of the events that lead to the massacre of the small Welsh village where Helga and her family used to live, but they knew that it was done on Salazar's command and that it continues to haunt Helga to this day.
Salazar stepped around Helga and stood squarely before the tribe leader, who merely responded with a hostile huff. The crunch of the eggshells in his fists echoed in the empty forest behind them.
"I will bring the beast to you," he said slowly, his voice a low growl and his eyes blazing emerald flames against the darkness of the centaur's, "and you will see that I am innocent and you will be indebted to me."
The centaur stomped his hoofs and neighed, as did his tribe in indignation and offense, but by then Salazar was already marching towards the forest.
It was then that Godric finally understood what they were talking about, and he was not as relieved as he thought he'd be. He had too many feelings coming for him at once. He was angry that his friend was being held accountable for something Godric knew he had no hand in, he was worried about Helga and what this encounter would do to her (assuming that she will have to encounter this beast), he was frustrated at his own inability to protect the ones he love, and most importantly for the first time in his life he wasn't so certain about his own future. As the centaur tribe leader had said, there were too many lives in the castle that could not withstand the evil in the forest. Unbeknownst to many, though, Godric's life was one of them.
"Sir Gryffindor."
Godric turned to the voice. Vulchanova, silent as always in her approach, now stood before him. Panic settled deep within his belly, for he was struck with the knowledge that she may not be able to withstand this evil.
"I need answers, Sir Gryffindor," she said, growing quickly impatient with his silence. "What is plaguing the forest? What will be done about all of these creatures?"
Godric had always been persistent in his pursuits of glory, knowledge, and women. Annoyingly so with the third, Salazar would add, but Rowena would always say that he's never once let his pursuits taint his honor. And he had coveted many things in his life, desperately so, but there were times when he had to surrender them for the sake of the greater good and he has never failed to do so when the necessity called for it, because Godric may be thick and slow at times but he never was and he never will be a selfish man, so his answer to Vulchanova was not difficult to utter.
"Forgive me, my lady, but I must ask you to leave."
"I beg your pardon?"
He winced. He will always wonder how her tone sharpens faster than he does his sword. "I don't mean to offend–"
"I do not intend to overstay my welcome, Sir Gryffindor, but I will not leave without answers."
He sighed. The more he argued with her, the less time he'll have to prepare himself for the inevitable, and that is announcing the exact same news to his students. "Hogwarts is not safe at the moment. I… I am unable to protect you."
She sneered. "Rather arrogant of you to assume that I need your protection."
"The children do," he said. "It pains me to admit this, Lady Vulchanova, but it is the truth and it must be said. I am unable to protect myself, let alone my friends, students, and guests."
She suddenly softened and he couldn't tell if it was pity this time or the shock of seeing the great and proud Godric Gryffindor look so openly and unabashedly vulnerable. "What kind of beast is Salazar looking to bring for the centaur tribe leader?"
He swallowed. "That would be a basilisk, my lady. The only beast Salazar cares to study and nurture."
It was also known as the only beast Godric couldn't defeat.