Chapter 15: Reflecting

"Don't you know what this is?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Gods, how did she get it?"

"She borrowed it, I assume."

"No matter, it's Ministry property now."

"You cannot be serious."

"It needs to be examined. Don't you understand that this is one of the most significant artifacts of the world? Hell, man, it might as well be the Grail!"

"But it is not, and it is not yours to take."

"Cornelius, you saw what it did to her, and she is more capable than any of us here."

Mallory regained consciousness to the sound of conversation, or more like an argument. She recognised all three voices, but kept her eyes shut, letting them finish. Actually, she was getting sick of it and realised that she had to put a clinch on it. She opened her eyes, to be assaulted by the glaring, medically white décor of the hospital wing. A few feet from the foot of her bed stood Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Fudge gripped the silver sword in his pudgy hands. Mallory shifted her gaze to her side where Severus sat. He watched the two older men with black venom in his eyes. She made a brief examination of him. His neck was horribly bruised, dark circles encompassed his eyes, and his hair was greasier than it had been in a while. Obviously, he had been with her for some time, not heeding his own needs.

Right, time to settle the discussion. She sat up in bed. The sudden movement drew the attention of the men. Severus immediately grasped her hands his one of his own and brought the other up to place it on her cheek. The look of concern and relief that overwhelmed his face almost made Mallory laugh, but she thought wiser of it. She reached up a hand to cover his. "I'm fine," she whispered.

"Severus," Dumbledore was now standing at the other side of her bed, "go inform Poppy that our patient is awake, but also tell her to give us a few minutes. Then I order you to go get some rest."

Mallory could tell that Severus was about to protest. He didn't want to be parted from her so soon. She patted his hand again, and looked on with sympathy. "Go on," she mouthed.

He nodded, reluctantly, and stood. They watched him go until he was completely out of sight. Mallory sighed. She looked up and smiled at Dumbledore, but frowned when the foot of her bed was shadowed by Fudge. He looked at her imploringly. "You have some questions for me, Mr. Fudge," she stated, smoothing the blankest with her hands.

"Miss O'Kenly," he said hoarsely, "w-where did you get this?" He held up the sword.

"I borrowed it from a relative, and if you do not mind, I would like to return it to her," she said irritably.

"A relative? Surely not! This is nonsense. Miss O'Kenly…"

"Mr. Fudge," Mallory said, getting out of bed, "I will return it to the rightful owner."

"There is no one on earth who this 'rightfully' belongs to."

She shrugged. "Maybe. Now, if you would excuse me gentlemen, I need to get dressed."

"Mally," Dumbledore warned, "if I let you just hop up and go about, Poppy will have my hide."

"I will have to take that chance." She turned to Fudge. "Minister, please do leave that here as you go."

"Surely not!"

"Minister, please." She placed her hand on the sword. It began to glow red and Fudge dropped it as a severe heat threatened to burn his skin. "Thank you." She bent down and picked it up from where he had dropped it.

Fudge marveled at her. "What sort of witch are you?"

"Good bye, Fudge."

"Come Cornelius," Dumbledore said, "She is a hard woman to persuade, best to let her alone."

Fudge looked very indignant as the silver bearded wizard led him out of the infirmary. Finally alone, Mallory sat back on the bed, and let out a pent up sob.

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It took everything short of bribery to convince Madam Pomfrey to let Mallory leave the hospital wing, let alone the castle with a heavy sword in tow. It was a quiet Sunday morning. The past week's storms made the scenery lush and green. The warm spring sun glistened in the lake's still water. Mallory inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent of new life. Birds whistled softly in the trees. She smiled to herself at it all.

She gripped Excalibur with both hands, swung it back, and with great effort, flung it forward and released it. It spun and glinted in the morning light. It sank into the lake without disturbing the glassy surface. No way would Fudge get his hands on it now.

Mallory took off her shoes, sat in the bank of the lake, and placed her feet in the cool water. She watched her reflection as it shimmered and once again showed the white-haired lady. The visage smiled and waved. Mallory smiled back. The Lady vanished as another reflection fell beside Mallory's. "They're wrong, you know," she commented, talking to the image rather than the man.

"Who are?" He asked, sitting next to her, cross-legged.

"The people who say that vengeance doesn't make the pain go away."

He arched an elegant eyebrow at the remark. "Is that so?"

She lay back onto the grass and stared at the small puffs of cloud that floated overhead. "I don't know. I guess actually knowing who he was and making it so that he could never do it again; it just made everything finally…final." She let out a short chuckle at her lack of vocabulary. "I feel like I am able to put the past behind me, and be the person I was always meant to be."

"Oh, really?" Severus asked, standing up and offer her assistance to do the same. "And what kind of person would that be?"

"Well, number one, I think I'll start with being a completely honest person with you."

"Good."

"And I think I have some explanations to give."

"You certainly do."

"Where do you want me start?"

He drew in a contemplative breath. "Oh, I don't know…how about satisfying my curiosity on whether or not you're entirely human."

"Oh that's an easy one: I'm not."

"Ah, do go on."

"My mother, Cerridwen, was what is more commonly known as a Faerie."

"Is that so? I thought Cerridwen was a Celtic goddess."

Mallory laughed. "You've been doing research! Good for you. All members of the magical realm have powers that have awed mortals of ancient times. Why wouldn't they worship them as gods? Hell, they're immortal. You see, every mythological being is connected; a part of a larger family. They are all of Oberon's children or grandchildren. From Norse gods to…to…"

"The Lady of the Lake?" Severus offered.

Mallory glanced at him sideways as they began to stroll the perimeter of the lake. "Yes, even those of Arthurian legend. Well, years ago, Oberon tired of the worship that was offered to his kith and kin. He felt it inflated their egos too much. Therefore, he decreed that their kind were no longer to interfere with mankind. Well, some loved humanity too much to simply detach themselves from it. Accordingly, they disguised themselves and went out to mingle with the mortals, but not affecting lives the way they had before."

Severus could see where the story was going. "So, one day about thirty years ago, the blue-eyed Cerridwen met a young Irish wizard…"

"Yes, well, suffice to say that the elitists were not pleased with the interaction. They thought humans below them, even wizards. When Cerridwen sought permission to wed young Eamon O'Kenly, it was granted, but not without punishment."

Severus stopped her. "How do you know all this?"

"Don't interrupt, dear. So, she was cursed. Her immortality was taken from her, and she was to die after she looked upon her first born child." Mallory turned sullen. "When my father first told me the story, he had to convince me that her death was not my fault. He said that she preferred death than never being able to see her child, if only for a moment. And wherever she is now, she watches me still."

Severus stopped and put his arms around her. "Why didn't you tell me all this before?"

She sniffed. "Och, as if the death of my father and its effects on me weren't enough for you to hear."

He held her tighter. "I would suffer any burden of yours."

"I know, but you have enough of your own."

"I would carry the world on my shoulders for you."

Mallory rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Romantic sentiment doesn't suit you."

"At least I try." He let go of her and led her to the castle. "Are you finally content with the world?"

"Finding him, finding you," she nodded, "it's a far more tolerable place."

He cocked his head questioningly. "Just 'tolerable'?"

"Would you give it a more affable analysis?"

He smiled and bent his head close to her ear. "You know me far too well," he murmured, "perhaps I should silence that mouth of yours before you give away all my secrets, my little dove." With a slight movement, he brought her into a kiss.

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A/N: The little theory on mythological beings all being Oberon's children kinda comes from the wonderful cartoon "Gargoyles." If you people get ToonDisney on your TV, you have to watch it or Mr. Flibble will be very cross.