Cast of players:
Lily played by Michelle (Aka. Amania)
James Potter played by Emma
Sirius Black played by Violet-eyed-devil
Remus Lupin played by Charli
Peter Pettigrew played by Michelle (Aka. Amania)
Lucius Malfoy played by Layne
Brandubh of Breasil played by Tina R. (Aka. Neko or Biliousneko)
Lady Laveda played by Sako Akarui
more to come...
Oracles of Time
Part 1: "Let's do the time warp again…"
(As compiled from posts 1-31)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In those days there were heroes and villains, and darkness walked the earth. There were dragons to be slain, princesses to be saved, and mighty deeds were accomplished by knights in shining armor.
Many tales are told of that time, tales of steadfast bravery and daring-do.
This isn't one of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
ZAP.
CRASH.
THUD.
There was a long series of confused thuds and crashes that echoed through the still night, and as several birds scattered from the trees, and finally, the solitude was restored. Overhead, the waning gibbous moon gleamed down upon a thick forest bordered by a vast meadow, through which wound a long dirt road that vanished onto the horizon. An endless blanket of stars carpeted the night sky, and it would've been a serene, lovely sight had Remus Lupin not been sore, confused, and terrified.
He sat up sharply as he recovered from the sudden crashing sound. He remembered the Gaelic writing...the glowing words on the tablet...then there was screaming and then the chaos had begun. Blinking, he looked around at where he was frantically, running a leather gloved hand through his mussed tawny hair. Before him was a small campfire, and a white stallion was tethered to a tree, looking at him in alarm. There was a brand of a howling wolf on the leather saddle, and Remus' eyes widened. He stumbled to his feet, suddenly aware of the extra weight at his hip, and saw a long, elegant blade at his hip...which also made him aware of the strange attire he wore. A long coat of sorts, made of leather and a collar of some sort of soft fur was worn over a pair of comfortable trousers and a tunic. He wore soft but sturdy leather boots on his feet...a perfect fit.
He made a little sound of fright in the back of his throat and felt quickly around for his wand; he had no idea what was going on, but he'd be damned if he would let it get the best of him. Forget Ministry of Magic precautions!
"Sirius!? James, Lily, Peter!" he called into the gloom, but only his voice answered in an eerie, lonesome echo. He looked slowly around as uncharacteristic fright welled up within him, and he slowly started away from the log where he had been thrown. He stumbled ungracefully over a few rocks, and looked at himself again; at the strange attire, so far removed from his Hogwarts robes and uniform...
He gripped the hilt of his sword; why did he feel like he was in the middle of a really bad Muggle fantasy movie?
"Damn it...where am I?" he muttered as he turned, watching the long overcoat move elegant with him. He surmised somehow that he was wearing attire worn by someone from the Dark Ages; it would explain the armor and crests on the horse, not to mention the banners and the sword. But how had he...
The Gaelic tablet. Remus looked up and his silvery blue eyes widened. The tablet must've been a time portal to this time..! But then...where were the others? Was he the only one here? Was he stuck here forever?
He cursed angrily and kicked at a rock.
If he ever got back home, he was going to kill whoever did this.
A figure had slowly been creeping towards the camp, drawn by the fire and the prospect of finding something... useful. Inching past the trees, and hiding in the shadows he paused, pressing his back against a trunk and listened before peering through the darkness at the dancing light in the clearing. Some traveler had paused there, horse tethered... but back turned. The figure grinned, shaking his head. 'Poor fool' the thought vaguely crossed his mind before rising gently to his feet and creeping through the underbrush, miraculously without a sound.
His fingers reached the harness, and he almost had undone the knot of
the bridle's reins before the pacing figure by the fire shouted, "Sirius!? James, Lily, Peter!" He started and fumbled with the bridle before getting it loose finally, and before he could blink, had mounted and kicked the steed's sides hard. It didn't matter that he
was noticed now... it was too late.
"Hah!" The horse jerked and twisted away from the trees, towards Remus and then out into the clearing towards the road. "Thank you, my good sir!" he shouted over his shoulder, trying to hold in a laugh. The tack alone on this one would give him a decent profit...
* * * * * * * *
"OW! For Merlin's bloody sake! Why am I always the one that lands on the ground head first!"
Sirius winced as he managed to untangle himself from what suddenly seemed left over parts from a cheap Muggle Western. There was a bridle in his hair, a saddle digging in his back and his was sure that was a horseshoe he was sitting on. Not to mention various other pieces of leather. Freeing himself from the tack, he lifted gray eyes to glance around...and promptly felt his jaw drop open in pure shock.
He was face out a window just in time to see two armored men come flying at each other...a long wooden beam smashing into one to send him crashing painfully into the ground. Nearby, some other men sharpened swords, watched the two combatants or went about their business. There was an archery range not far away.
And horses...lots and lots of horses.
"Well the hell am I?" Sirius muttered to himself, instinctively reaching for his wand... But found himself waylaid by the scratchy feel of his clothes that certainly weren't his school robes. Taking a quick moment to get his head screaming at him to a dull roar...Sirius glanced down. A simple, and slightly scratchy tunic was hanging over his chest, loosely un-tucked and open at the neck. Tight...very tight Sirius had time to muse...pants clung to his legs and they seemed to be leather of some description and certainly not in the same league as the shirt he was wearing. Well worn boots covered his
feet, dusty from travel and an overcoat of some indescribable material hung over his shoulders and down to his knees, some tattered fur dusted around its collar.
And it was all in black...minus the dark chocolate color of the pants. Sirius smirked a little. He still had style even if he was in some Medieval nightmare...which he had come to believe he was.
"Remus? James? Peter? Lils?" the call brought no replies and Sirius decided whatever that dumb, godforsaken tablet had done, it had also separated him from his friends. With a shrug, Sirius decided it was probably best if he asked someone... and the sounds from a group of men, drinking looked like the best start.
Wonder how Medieval beer compares to Firewiskey, Sirius pondered as he brushed off as much of the dirt from himself as possible...and wandered on over.
* * * * * * * * *
Confusion.
Utter and intense confusion, Lily felt herself catapulted forward and sent through the air. Landing with a soft thud she sat up and looked around her. She sat in a large bed, in a beautiful bed room. Where was she? She didn't know of any place in Hogwarts like this? Standing up she felt her clothes and looked down quickly at an elegant but simple dress, Crimson with intricate gold trimming and a golden cord around her waist. Her red hair was pulled up for the most part in a bun save for the few curls that fell down her back and neck. Lily's brows furrowed, where was she?! Or better yet the question more suitable, when was she?
Her mind returned to the moment they'd found the tablet... it'd been in Gaelic and Sirius had been reading it aloud. After that all she could recall was confusion, nothing more until she'd ended upon the bed. Moving towards the window she glanced out at the surrounding land. She could make out people walking below her, some dressed regally, and others rather poorly. But no where did she see anyone she knew. Where were Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter? Realizing her quandary she sat down on the bed, a thoughtful look crossing her face. Was she alone in this..... new time?
* * * * * * * * * *
Remus was startled as the horse suddenly sprang into the clearing bearing a rider, and watched for a moment in shock as the thief started off into the night.
Now...Remus was confused about a lot of things, but he knew thievery when he saw it. And he was thankful that, if he really was in the medieval period, there was no Ministry of Magic to fine him!
"Hey....HEY! That's my bloody horse! ...I think..." he replied indignantly, and, forgetting where he was for a moment, pulled his wand to bear and cried, "Immobilus!"
He watched with a bit of satisfaction as the rider, once so gleeful, fell from the saddle and to the dirt ground. Sticking his wand in his belt, he unsheathed the sword as best he could and made his way over logs and rocks towards the would-be thief. Remus grabbed the horse by the reins and used a bit of his calm nature to ease the steed, then turned to the thief, who, by all rights, was very narrowly Remus' own age.
"Indeed, thank you, my good sir," he replied, and tried to look imposing as he pointed the blade, though inexpertly, at the young man. The nearby firelight gleamed in his hair, but it was the moonlight that really set his appearance apart. It alighted in the silver strands that flecked his light brown hair, and his silvery blue eyes were darkened by shadows save for a few flickers of dancing firelight.
"I regret to inform you that this horse belongs to me...I'd gladly appreciate if you'd not take it from me," he replied, hoping that he sounded more imposing than afraid, as he was rather afraid. Who knew what this thief had on him as weapons. All he had was a sword, a wand, a crest of a howling wolf, and lycanthrope reflexes. The only thing he could really count on was the reflexes and possibly his wand.
Quite suddenly, the earth became a close and personal thing as The figure fell from the horse, unable to move and rolled to face the sky. Before he was able to think twice about what had happened, the horse-thief was staring down a length of cold steal into the silvery eyes of Remus. His own eyes widened in pure terror as he managed to
rasp out in a hoarse voice through frozen lips, "Y... you're majesty!" All things forgotten, he stared at the wolf-crest in shock and fear, "Please! I... I beg of you! Don't kill me! I'll.. I'll be your man, you'll see!" He then realized how he couldn't move, and how hard the words where coming from lips and tongue that refused to move, and the fear gripped him again as he whimpered again, "You.. your majesty! I would bow, but I seem incapable of doing anything..." He realized that through unmoving lips, all of this came
out as vowels, but still, you had to try.
* * * * * * * * *
Lucius Malfoy had always enjoyed getting away with his mischief. Tonight was the night he was waiting for. He'd devised a small plan to catch Potter and his every last one of his friends in the act of whatever it is they went off to do. He'd get them expelled from Hogwarts forever and thus gain his father's respect.
He watched from the buses as Potter and company ran a cave. They had Lily with him and he almost turned back but then he remember he has his invisibility cloak and it wouldn't hurt to stick around and get some dirt.
He followed behind striving to stay in the shadows. He saw them looking at some sort of an Oracle. It looked strangely familiar and he almost spoke aloud to warn them of how dangerous playing with such things could be but before he could he found himself spinning out of place and time.
He lost consciousness shortly before slamming into something hard. He was bleeding slightly around his temples and he shrugged.
"Damn, Potter."
He slowly opened his eyes to realize he was in a castle, dimly lit with candles, with servants looking at him as if he were insane. It hit him like a lightening bolt. Potter's oracle had sent him into the past. He was suddenly glad their was no ministry of magic. He might feel the need to use dark magic if he ran across him.
"Where am I?" He asked aloud.
A small girl came forward. "This is Dolbadarn Castle, Mi'Lord."
Lucius' face light up as realization hit him. He was a lord over people. He wasn't sure what his exact social status was but he could certainly figure out who he was without a terrible amount of trouble. He would just have to convince his servants to talk him to town.
" Ay, it is. Prepare the horses, for I will need to journey into the market," he said pausing only to think of a probable excuse, "... I need to pick up some attend some business."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Oor Ajessy!"
Remus blinked and looked down the length of the blade at the frozen thief, who was also unable to talk, and lowered the blade. Curious...but if he wanted to know just what this boy was saying, he'd have to unpetrify him. But Remus felt that somehow, the thief wouldn't run...he seemed genuinely afraid of death or something of the like.
"Er...what?" Remus repeated, and raised an eyebrow as he tried to replay the mumbled words over in his mind. He looked at the thief, then at himself, thought about the words for a moment, and suddenly paled considerably.
Surely not...surely he couldn't mean...
Remus pulled his wand out quickly, forgetting the fact that Muggles of the time were mortified of magic, and flicked his wrist.
"Mobilum!"
He reached down after the spell did its work, pulled the lad to his feet, and looked at him squarely in the eyes, his own gaze piercing and intense.
"What...what were you saying?" he asked, forcing the tremor from his honey-toned voice.
The boy's eyes widened in shock as his body relaxed and he could move once more. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Remus's wand, though, and muttered vaguely, "Y.. you're majesty... I... I didn't know!"
The sentence hung in the air, dripped in horror and aw. Immediately, he dropped to one knee and bowed low, crossing his fist against his chest. His heart was beating hard, "b.. but... but know that if you spare my life, Brandubh of Breasal is your man!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
"OUCH!!!!!!!" Peter exclaimed as he fell against a hard cold floor of stone. He heard a few things clattering around him, and sat up slightly. Shaking his head, he realized he must have tripped over something. But he hadn't been walking a moment ago? He furrowed his brows slightly. He'd been in a cave with James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily, they'd found a tablet......... and Sirius had read it aloud. Then there'd been a confusing amount of noise and light, and he'd flown forward and......... tripped over something. He looked around him and noticed an object on the stairs that he'd apparently fallen from. He rubbed his soar head, and ran a hand through his light brown hair. He looked down to see what the clattering had been about and that was when he noted his clothes. A pair of simple pants, dark tan, with a light tan very itchy shirt. "Where're my robes?" he asked himself, he located his wand next to him on the floor, picking it up he tucked it away.
He heard a couple people moving towards him, one was a young girl by the sound of her voice. Looking over in their direction his brown eyes widened in surprise, "Bloody hell what're you doing here!?" he exclaimed looking at none other then Lucius Malfoy. The servant girl stopped short and gawked at him, as though he'd just said the worst thing possible.
Lucius Malfoy scowled from his throne as he saw Pettigrew's face and then heard his rude comments. He took notice of how his servants behaved as he asked, "Bloody hell what're you doing here!?" This was an opportunity that could not be passed up. He looked down at his clothes and realized he was in a gilded robe and a pair of tight little pants. His shoes looked quite funny but he knew he had hit the alternate universe jackpot.
He gave a condescending glare at Pettigrew.
"Excuse me. Do you realize who you are talking to?!"
One of his servants piped, "You must bow before Baron Malfoy."
Lucius overheard this and smirked gleefully.
"I am Baron Lucius Malfoy and I could very easily throw you away into my dungeons and let you rot like the beast you are." He hoped he actually had a dungeon to back his threat.
Peter gawked at Lucius as though he'd lost every marble in his pathetic brain. He would *not* bow before Lucius! Taking a look at his clothes, the servants and the guards Peter realized though there wasn't much choice. But ohhhhhhhhh he'd get him back later....... that was for bloody darn sure! "Pardon my hasty tongue ...... milord" he stated tightly as he bowed slightly, it was a satisfying bow but with enough flourish to make it just slightly mocking. "If he's the baron.........who am I?" he asked a servant. "Why......... you are his Herald" the servant stated as though he should know this. Peter gave the man a withering look and then looked at Lucius, a sort of evil light in his eyes. He'd get him back, he knew just what Herald's did........ oh........ revenge was sounding very sweet. "Milord....... when is your next tournament?" he asked him arching an eyebrow curiously. The twist of fates........ had been cruel but as a Marauder........ Peter knew just how to cause Mischief...... and so he would, that was for blithering certain! Lucius Malfoy ........ Barron Lucius Malfoy would rue the day he made him bow at his feet.
Lucius was savoring the moment as he watched Pettigrew boy before him. But to hear that scum would be his herald meant bad things. His father had made him read a bit and he knew that this would be war.
He didn't know where his next tournament was so deviously said.
"I've already told you five times where the next tournament is!! Would you like to have it beat out of you?", he said in a pretend anger.
A servant stepped forward.
"That will not be necessary, Milord. I will inform him if that is okay."
Lucius nodded.
"Yorkshire."
Lucius smirked, " Hopefully you can remember it this time, despite your less that worthy intelligence."
Peter bit his tongue as he imagined just how he'd embarrass Malfoy. "Pardon my ill begot memory............ milord......... I've but been busy thinking long and hard over your introduction" he said with a slight note in his voice that would give him something to worry over. He grinned charmingly, "So in Yorkshire.......... you'll defend your manhood" he remarked arching an eyebrow. He moved closer to Lucius, "I am quite serious...... when it comes to my...... introduction of milord Malfoy" he stated making it quite clear that if Lucius pushed he would only regret it more later.
Lucius raised an eyebrow at Pettigrew. He had to act somewhat friendly if this act was to be bought.
"Would you join me for a walk, Peter?", he asked. "We desperately need to discuss my introduction. Perhaps I should tell you about having a manhood worth defending."
He stood up and walked off his throne before turning to his servants.
"Do not follow. I need to speak to Pettigrew on my own. I am well-armed."
With that he walked off and exited the room, waiting not so anxiously for Peter Pettigrew to follow behind.
"I see you are a brave man."
Peter rolled his eyes at Lucius, "Brave" he shook his head, "Not always.....but when it comes to pin heads like you.......... there's no challenge..... nothing to fear" he remarked indignantly. "So just........how did you get back here...... in this time...... you weren't with us" he stated seriously. He wanted answers, payback would come later.
Lucius scowled. "I should be the one asking questions here."
His eyes ran over Peter Pettigrew. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that oracles are not something to be played with?!"
He walked along the hallway looking at the pictures that strangely enough actually looked like his family. He thought bitterly for a second about the fact he should be at Hogwarts in his bed, safe and happy.
"This is all Black and Potter's fault."
He saw some light and walked up to a window looking out upon the trees and large mass of land. He wondered if all of this was his.
" I was going to finally get my revenge on you blokes. I followed you out to the cave and then I saw Lily. I should have just left when I didn't want to see her get caught but it was to late.."
A bleak smirk crossed his face.
"My father will see to it that you are all expelled when we get back to our time."
Peter shook his head, "Why would you care if Lily got caught....... milord" he stated in a highly mocking fashion. "I know she's well liked.......but your a Slytherin...... you don't know how to like anyone" he snickered. "Tell your father when we get back...... lets see how fast before you land yourself in St. Mungo's as.......... all of us will Solemnly swear....... it never happened" he stated with a mischievous grin. "It would at least unburden Hogwarts of one more Slytherin" he stated with a satisfied note. "Besides it's not like I entirely messed with the Oracle......... so don't go off on me..... next problem is how to find the others......because I won't leave without them..... and I doubt we could" he remarked shaking his head. "We're stuck together...... like it or not Malfoy" he stated. Peter wasn't the best looking of boys nor the strongest but he certainly wasn't going to let a bullying git like Malfoy push him around.
Lucius nearly doubled over with laughter. Peter Pettigrew was following himself if he thought it was wise to mess with a Malfoy. "If you want an honest answer, Lily helps me in potions and when she isn't busy following Potter around she's a downright good shag for a mudblood," he said full of sarcasm.
He shrugged, " I don't need my father to destroy you all and I will find a way when I return to my real life.." A gleam crossed his eye, "..and if I don't my children will."
He bit his tongue. "You must learn to hold your thoughts. As long as we are here you are my servant and since my life isn't too horrible here I could just have you killed and live out my life."
A smile crossed his face. " Don't worry. I have a feeling we'll find some of your allies in Yorkshire."
Peter frowned, "You do have that power......... but I still have my ...... you know" he said knowing fully that these people feared magic. "I'm not that easy to catch........ if I didn't know better.... I'd say you gave me to credit at all" he remarked sarcastically. Someday he'd show Malfoy...... he'd really put him in his place. Perhaps at Yorkshire......... he thought with a small grin. "But..... as I have a part to play........ I will do just that" he remarked, "Your grace" he stated with a note of sarcasm again.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Wandering over to the men with little concern for his own well being and full of his usual roguish confidence, Sirius plopped himself down on a upturned log and grinned at the gathered group. A burly looking man with a fiery red beard and a cheerful gleam in his eye looked at Sirius and gave him a wicked grin before turning to his companions.
"Well looky here. It's thar boy with the silver tongue!" The men around him burst in wild laughter while Sirius grinned, pleasantly confused. The Red bearded man shoved a pint into his hands.
"Drink up, Irish. Though I don't need to be telling you that!"
More rounds of laughter and Sirius just shook his head...bewildered at the strange nickname...and downed a gulp of his brew. Mmmmm,not bad for whatever it was.
"So lads," Sirius paused to wonder why he suddenly sounded a lot more like his mam than he usually did. *Hmmm, that explains the nickname*
"What are we drinking to?"
Another man, well boy really...not much older than Sirius himself...grinned. "To good fortune at the tournament! You'll be wanting your lord to win, no doubt!"
*I have a lord?* Sirius took another swig of his drink. "Of course! My lord is the very best of those that even bother to call themselves lords! He is the very epitome of lordliness! Other lords should kiss the very ground his lordly feet walk upon!"
The men burst into fresh rounds of laughter and filled his empty cup...which he didn't remember drinking so quick... "The herald with the silver tongue speaks!" One crowed, spouting off more rounds of laughter.
*Herald* Sirius shrugged, it was as good a job as any...and it seemed he was good at it. *Wonder who my lord is?*
Feeling a little more lightheaded than normal, but pleasantly buzzed, Sirius joined in the ruckus the men were creating and downed more of the pleasant tasting brew until he had the distinct feeling he wasn't going to remember much of what happened when he woke up.
*I am sooooo drunk* he though with a chuckle.
* * * * * * * * *
Remus watched the lad bow at his feet and looked around uncomfortably. Your Majesty? *Your Majesty*?? Surely he was joking! If Sirius and James were nearby snickering gleefully, he'd make sure to maim them later. He looked at his wand and quickly tucked it away, and helped the frightened lad to his feet.
"You didn't know what?" he prompted kindly as he brushed the stranger's shoulders off. "If you mean the wand, then I understand, and apologize. But that was the only way I could prevent you from taking my horse," he replied, still thinking to himself how outlandish this all seemed. "I am sorry for frightening you...and I don't think I'll be killing you."
Brandubh's eyes darted back and forth nervously before slowly looking up through his bangs, and then averting his eyes once more. "Well, didn't know it was *You*, of course... though when I say that, I mean that under no circumstance would I ever DREAM of stealing ANY horse, I assure you...." he paused a moment, "and of course I have no intention of.. of... with your... what with..." he fell silent once again, his brain obviously over heating from the attempts to process what was going on.
Remus looked relieved that he hadn't said anything about the wand, but gave the magical weapon another glance before handily twirling it and sticking it in his belt near the scabbard of the sword. He clumsily sheathed the blade and put a hand on the stranger's shoulder.
He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "But...I do believe you may come of some use. Tell me, what is your name?"
Bran looked up in bewilderment. He thought it best not to mention the wand, nor the strange happenings between the horse, ground and himself. "Well..." he stood, and attempted to look dignified, seeing that the Prince did not seem to want to kill him.. but in fact seemed.. amused... "As I said before, I am none other than Brandubh of Breasal... currently residing in yonder palace as the court task advisor and councilor to those who need my services. And you, my liege, seem like you are in need of assistance. Shine your shoes?" And he did so, hoping to god that what he really was had been lost in the midst of excessive verbosity.
Remus looked at him with amusement in his eyes. "I see..." he replied knowingly. "And quite eloquent with words, it seems." He stepped away from the frantic polishing cloth, noted the immaculate sheen on the leather, and nodded, impressed. "So, I take it that you would not say no to being..."
Remus paused, and tried desperately to recall his history. He recognized that name, Brandubh...he'd seen it in his history books once, when Sirius had made a comment that he had served the prince of England once as a… herald! He glanced at the crest of the howling wolf for a moment as another fact lingered at the edge of his mind, but it wouldn't register all the way.
"To being my herald, would you? You see...I do so love to compete in tournaments, though under a pseudonym, and I am in need of a herald for when I go to compete..."
Waitaminute...WHAT on EARTH was he saying!? He knew not a thing about jousting or sword fighting! He could barely hold the bloody sword! But it was too late to take his words back..
Bran fumbled with the cloth, "What?? Really? What.. REALLY?" he gasped finally after many false starts. Harold... now THAT was something a bit better than sleeping with pigs and mucking stalls... he wondered if Remus had really understood through all the flowering and lace....
Remus chuckled warmly and took the horse by the reins. "Yes, I mean it. Now, come along with me to my campsite. I do believe I'd like to get to know you better, and possibly, once we reach my castle in Yorkshire, I can help you find more appropriate attire," he replied.
He stepped into the firelight and tethered the horse back up, and sat down in the spot here he had landed. He refrained from asking Brandubh any strange questions, like where he was and what year it was and the like. He'd probably be institutionalized...or burned at the stake. At least he knew how to get out of that.
Weakly, Bran followed. "Can you do that? Just... you know... 'oy, you! be my herald!' ?" he managed as they approached the fire.
Chuckling warmly, he offered him a seat beside him and nodded. "Of course I can. Or do you forget with whom you speak?" he said with a kind smile. "Also, as a note to keep in mind, you may dispense with the formalities. Just plain Remus will do," he said, and looked at the fire for a moment, wondering what time it exactly was, and wished suddenly that he had one of his friends around to share this insanity with.
"Also...I would appreciate it if you'd not mention the wand bit… you know, magic and that bit," he said offhandedly.
"Magic? What magic? I just suffered a sudden inability to keep hold of the reins, and then froze from the shear shock of it and then came into your custody. Now, as you might understand, I was merely testing you... that horse certainly wouldn't pass any test. You should really be more careful! A thief or any type of vagabond might come up out of the blue and take it before you could blink, a nice animal like that! Not saying anything disrespectful, mind my L- I mean S- uh, Remus..." he managed lamely. He suddenly became very interested in his feet.
In the firelight, his features could be seen more clearly than in the moonlight before. His hair was dark and straight, cut into a page-boy that ended half past his ears. His face was long, but friendly, though currently still nervous. He was hunched over now, but if he stood up, would be just as tall, or possibly slightly taller than Remus, with bright green eyes. He was wearing a simple brown leather tunic with a long black vest that went almost to his ankles, but sleeveless... as though it had been made for someone much larger than he. On his feet where leather boots, if that's what they could be called... more like bits of hide that had been tied to his feet, and then rolled over at the top in hopes of making them look fashionable. For pants, he wore thick woolen stockings, as was normal for a boy his age, roughly sixteen.
Remus slowly nodded, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
"Too true," he replied. "It would've been most unfortunate if you were to be seen with a horse bearing my crest. Luck must've been on both our sides," he replied slyly. He smiled at the boy, Brandubh, and sat back against the log. He could see now that they were around the same age, which made Remus feel a bit uncomfortable. They were equal by all rights, and yet he was being held as royalty, a social status that Remus had never felt before. But it was not the type of respect he wanted, which was why he insisted being called by his name only.
"Now, Bran, do get some rest. We finish our journey tomorrow," he replied, and silently hoped to God that he was right.
Bran panicked slightly as Remus said this. He then turned to the boy, in all seriousness, and stated in a level voice, "Do you have any idea what you are? What I am? You aren't planning anything, are you? If there's any chance of being beheaded, hung or burned... or anything involving that wossname with the gears and straps, count me out. I'm your man, but at a safe distance."
Remus gave him a confused look, though infinitely amused, and laughed heartily. "You jump to conclusions! I was only being a bit sarcastic," he said with a reassuring smile. "We are merely going to Yorkshire tomorrow to prepare for...er..."
He paused for a moment. What *were* they going to do? And was he even supposed to be going to Yorkshire? Was he on the right road?
"Er...I have a terrible memory. But this is the right road to Yorkshire...isn't it? And...is there anything going on there that I should know about?" Remus smiled sheepishly. "I was ...er...hit too hard on the head with a lance..."
Bran relaxed a little as Remus laughed. "Well... um... last I heard, your mag- I mean, you where supposedly on your way to the great to-do down that way..." he pointed, "Jousting." the world dripped with longing in his voice. "Though it was a rumor.. if you where secretly going that aways or anything, I wouldn't know..." he managed. "We could get there by day break if we left now... or you could sleep and I could keep watch... horse thieves, you know?"
Remus looked blank for a moment.
"...Oh...Oh! Yes! My tournament! The one...I'm hosting...er...right?" he asked hopefully. He had not wish to joust at the moment, at least, not until he learned proper techniques. "And...er..lots of knights and whatnot will be there, correct?" he added. Boy...did he ever feel like a moron at the moment.
"...." Bran put his head to one side, wondering if this was some sort of code. "...Yes...?" he said, hopefully.
"Ah," Remus said, and nodded. "Jolly good. When we get there tomorrow, we'll get you cleaned up, and you can get to know the castle and the ways around...I suppose. Er..." he surmised that the tournament would begin in a few days, which gave him a bit of time to think and get to know the schedule a bit more. Nodding to himself one more time, he looked back at Brandubh and smiled tiredly.
"Well, sleep well. We should be getting an early start tomorrow," he replied, and rested his weary head against the log.
To be continued…