Chapter Fourteen

Night in Hand

Reign sat huddled on her chest by one of the large windows that dominated her rooms, and her head lay softly against the glass.  The cold shot through her forehead like a swift blow from the butt of a sword, and she snapped her head away from the pane.  Outside the night crept onto the grounds, spreading its fingers and draping a devious ebony blanket over the sleeping world.  Reign lowered her head again onto the glass and—after the initial shock—welcomed the cool against her temples.  She wrapped her blanket tighter around her body as the shivers spread throughout her insides, but she did not move her weary head.  A sigh escaped her lips, and the window fogged at contact with her warm breath.  With a solitary finger she traced her tribe's symbol in the frosted glass.  After re-creating the crescent and stars she looked up to the luminous moon shining high above the blackened earth.  She could feel the warmth emanating from her emerald, which rested against her upper arm under the folds of her blanket and robes.  Between the warmth from the jewel and the ice of the window, an imbalance was created deep within her body.  Her fingers were icicles, she could no longer feel her toes, and her nose was dull with cold.  But her chest was warm; her heart was still warm.  She wiped the symbol from the window and continued to breath against it as the night passed.  The stars shined brightly as in a brilliant magical orchestra, with the moon acting as their conductor.  Her eyes passed over the night sky that she so loved to watch, but her trance was broken with a knock.

The elf peeled herself from the trunk and glided across the room after dropping her cover on the bed.  When she pulled open the door her breath caught in her throat.  A dark figure stood looming over her, watching her silently from where he stood.  She stood fixated in her spot, waiting for him to make the first move. 

            "Reign," he said, looking deep into her eyes.  His tone was soothing and concerned.  He lifted a hand to her cheek and she immediately recoiled at his touch.

            "It's late, Lucius."  He ignored her and pushed the door further open to allow himself into the room.  As he swept passed the elf he scanned the space, and when he turned to her she noticed a slight scowl on his face.  It was soon replaced with a gracious smile.

            "Charming rooms you have."

            "Glad you think so," Reign said as she walked to the end of the bed and sat with her feet propped up on a second trunk.  The man watched her go—scanning her as well—and walked toward her when she rested.

            "You look," he paused as she arched an eyebrow, "tired."  She rolled her eyes.

            "Like I said, it's late.  Why are you still in the castle?"

            "I've just finished up a private meeting with Albus."  He stepped even closer to her, and Reign's heartbeat quickened.  She looked to the floor and traced the patterns of the rug with her eyes, waiting for him to state his business.  When he failed to do so, she asked blatantly,

            "Why are you here, Lucius?"  He was inches from her now.  She could feel the heat radiating from his body and see his powerful chest rising calmly in front of her.  He spoke in a very serene voice.

            "I've merely come to pass the time with you."  He lifted her chin to look into her eyes.  "And to make sure you're all right."  She was still confused as to how he would know that she wasn't.  "I saw the way you reacted toward Severus today.  If you don't wish to tell me what happened between you two, that's all right."  He traced her cheek with a gentle finger.  "I just want to make sure that you won't let him get to you."

            "No one's ever been able to do that," she snapped, "I doubt Severus will be the first."  Malfoy pulled back, but only to retrieve a small box from his cloak.  A thin silver ribbon circled the black object.  Lucius placed it into Reign's open palms.

            "I want you to have this."  Reign's heart was still beating faster than normal as she unwrapped the package.  Inside was a small velvet cloth, which kept an even smaller object within its folds.  She removed the item and uncovered its secret.  It was a jewel.  Blacker than the blackest night.  Her breathing ceased as she held the precious stone in her hands, her green eyes staring wide at the pools of ebony.  A thin leather string hung from the top of the pyramid shaped jewel; she let it drape over her fingers as Lucius spoke.  "It's a Black Diamond.  They are extremely rare."  She looked up to him.  "Like you."

            "Why have you given this to me?" she whispered.  The man looked to the window and out into the night, then back to Reign.

            "It is said to reflect the strength that resides deep within our souls, and I felt it might be of use to you."  He took it from her hands and let the diamond dangle in front of Reign's eyes.  "I thought you could wear it on that arm band of yours."  The elf was taken back by his statement.  She looked at him curiously and asked,

            "How did you know about my saphie?"  Lucius dropped the jewel into his hand.

            "Reign," he said calmly, "don't think that I am that naïve to not know a few things about your people."  The woman dropped her head as two hands grasped her shoulders and pulled her robes from her body.  Her numerous charms and jewels acted as chimes, spreading a pleasant song through the stiff air of the bedroom as the cloth that hid them was removed.  Lucius traced his hands back up her arms and across her shoulders.  His touch was soft and tender.  The eyes of the elf closed as she inhaled his scent.  It was seeping with power and strength; both things that she had none of at that moment.  He was even closer to her now, and she could she her hands shaking as they rested nervously in her lap.  She sat silently watching his every move, but as he lifted the jewel to her arm she stopped him.

            "What is it?" he asked in an anxious but slightly annoyed manner.

            "It's just that," she sighed, "when an elf is born, a saphie is given to them in honor of the occasion.  No one has ever added to one."  She looked pleadingly at him.  "It's sort of a tradition."  Malfoy's stern face softened into an understanding smile.  His hand continued its journey.  As he spoke he leaned in closer to Reign, so that their noses almost touched.

            "You don't strike me as one to follow tradition."  His breath was hot on her face.  When he finished tying the jewel to her band, he found her hands and clasped them with his own.  "Besides," he whispered, "one small token of my affection won't hurt."  Reign's inhalation accelerated as his hands left hers and cupped her face.  Her whole body was on the verge of violent convulsions.  Her palms were sweating and her throat was dry.  Lucius, however, remained calm and cool as he dipped his head down to kiss her.

            "Lucius," she gasped, pulling back before his lips met hers, "I can't.  No.  I don't even know you."  She started shifting uneasily against his body. 

            "That's fine, that's all right," he reassured Reign as he steadied her.  "Forgive me."  She nodded her head and he leaned in once more.  But Reign did not pull back.  She let Lucius rest his cheek against hers.  His hand left her shoulder and moved to her hair.

            "I just need time," she whispered against his skin. 

            "Then time you shall have," he whispered back.  Reign gave a weak smile that he could not see, for his head still rested against hers.  The Elvin ears picked up a small ticking against the window as raindrops tapped steadily against the pane.  There was a brilliant streak of lightning that lit up the room and the two figures resting within its walls.

And then there was another knock on the door.  But whoever was on the other side did not wait for Reign.  The dark figure stood with a gaping mouth at the two figures intimately entwined on the edge of the bed.  They had no warning of his coming, and therefore could not pull back in time to avoid the predicament they were now in.  Reign's head dropped to her chest as Lucius pulled away and faced Severus Snape.