Chapter 6: Fate
Lessien felt the sun on her skin and basked in its glorious rays. They had been traveling since early morning, and only now did the light break through the dark abyss of the forests canopy. Lessien felt refreshed. The spirit fish had restored her to her former glory-her newfound emotions made her feel more alive then ever before. And yet in the darkest crypts of her mind she knew that what she felt was some how wrong-despite what her heart told her. The cool wind rustled through the lush foliage of the trees, the scent of the dew-covered moss and the earthy tones of the forest danced in its wake. The way-ward wind meandered through the trees before drifting lightly past the small traveling party; sending a shiver down Lessiens spine-her skin now laced with goose bumps. Lessien turned in the direction of the wind as if to glare at the passing invisible assailant, and as she did she caught Dracos eye-he had been watching her.
Oh God! She's looking right at me! What if she saw me staring at her? What if she's known all along? Dear Lord, she is beautiful! Those gorgeous lips, those silky tresses, those mystical eyes of hers…
"Pray tell, Draco, what has caught your eye?"
"Why you of course, your beauty ensnares my eyes and binds my heart…"
Lessien blushed, "your eyes would not be so easily snared if they kept to themselves and leave the bait be." And with that she turned her face away, tossing her tresses in mock-anger. A smile flickered on his lips-he loved the chase.
"We should stop here and rest. You must be exhausted" Draco dismounted and trotted over to Shadow Bane; his hands rose up in an attempt to help Lessien dismount.
"No, Draco, I shan't be stopping with you-Shadow Bane grows restless, she needs a good run. Rest, by the time you awake I will have returned." And with that she departed.
Draco watched her vanish into the horizon, before he lay his head down onto his folded cloak. "Ah…sweet glorious sleep…" He sighed, as his body and mind melted into a silent, numbing bliss. His mind teetered on consciousness and slumber; suddenly he heard the rustling of leaves. He sat up like a bolt and scanned the area surrounding him.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" He drew his sword and waited.
"Master Malfoy, do not be frightened it is only I, Peter, Peter Pettigew. I bring you a message from the Dark Lord…"
"Wormtail. I might have known-only you would skulk in the bushes rather then face your superiors!"
"Master Malfoy, the Dark Lord…. the Dark Lord wishes for you to…to…"
"Out with it, Wormtail! I haven't got all day! Lessien will return shortly and she can't see me associating with such scum!"
"So it's true! You have found her," Wormtail whispered under his breath
"What are you mumbling about, you fool?!"
"Many pardons, sir. It is just that…since you have not been reporting back to the Dark Lord, it was believed by many-but not I sir, not by me; that you had failed the Dark Lord and had let the Atlantian maiden slip through your grasp. Not true of course! The Dark Lord will be most pleased to know of your victory"
Draco stared at Wormtail as if it were the first time his eyes laid upon him.
Lessien? She is the one? The one I am searching for? The Battlefield. Her speed. Her Strength. Her Beauty. It all fits together. How could I be so blind?!
Wormtail stood there, in the awkward silence awaiting Dracos wrath, for he thought that he had angered Draco. "The Dark Lord will reward you most handsomely, sir. Yes, most handsomely indeed…"
Silence lingered in the air, as Dracos mind fought to come to acceptance with he had just learned.
"He needs the blood, sir. He needs her blood. He needs it to become stronger…to become greater and more fearsome then ever before. He needs her magical blood…. even the blood of the unicorn pales in comparison. Her blood is pure magic-the result of generations of magic…her lineage is superb…yes, the Dark Lord will be most pleased…But sir…I wonder, is it true that the assassin killed your father? Is that why your mother became mad? Is it sir?"
Draco looked at the pale, nervous excuse for a man-desperate to maintain composure.
"Yes…it's true."
"That wench! The harlot! She shall pay, sir, pay most dearly…" Wormtail snickered and laughed as though it were all a joke, a sick, grotesque joke.
Malfoy lunged at the pudgy man, his hand wrapped around Wormtails soft fat throat. "Speak ill of her again and you will truly feel my wrath."
Wormtail struggled against Malfoys iron grip, spluttering in a most pathetic manner, "Please, sir, I meant no disrespect…please sir, don't kill me…"
Malfoy released his grip. He had made his point. Desperate to win back Malfoys favor, Wormtail spoke in a sniveling voice, "He will reward you, sir. Has he not promised you a most handsome reward?"
"He has. He has promised me power. He will give me the highest rank there is. I shall be his second-a power unparalleled to any the magic world has seen (other then his own of course)…. yes, he has…most handsome indeed."
Wormtails face contorted, as if he had felt a burning pain in his depths. He looked at Malfoy as if perhaps he had been sorely mistaken. "But, but master…I thought he promised you your parents? To restore them…to bring them back?"
"He did. But they are mere trifles to me. An empty gesture of good will."
"What is your plan, Master Malfoy?" Wormtails words dripped with jealousy.
"Don't be a fool, Wormtail! We shall discuss this later, least there be others listening," Malfoy doing his best to mask the uncertainty in his voice, with anger and distain. In a hushed whisper that was so low it was a mere hiss, "We shall meet two days hence. There is a cave not far from here. Bring Crabbe and Goyle. Show them this," Malfoy handed a pewter serpentine ring to him, "they will know to follow you. Speak to know one about this."
"Yes, Master…" Wormtail bowed and receded back into the depths of the forest, words a buzz in his mind like angry hornets stinging his ego and pride.
This isn't possible! The Dark Lord promised me power! I gave him my hand…my loyalty! This can't be…I am the one that must come to power not him! I have wasted away years serving the Dark Lord! No…this cannot be…it will not be!
Malfoy stood there, lost in a fog of thoughts. "Why? Why must she be you, Lessien?"
What does it matter? She is the key to it all. With her you can achieve ultimate power! Love is an expendable emotion-another woman will come along and you will soon forget her. You mustn't pass up this opportunity to have it all…what is love other then an illness? It is fleeting and fickle…and yet…I love her…
"Draco? Where are you?" Her voice rang clear and sweet like a silver bell. The thick green walls of the forest unfurled, she stood there, a smile on her lips. "Why didn't you answer? Is anything the matter?" A look of concern creped across her perfect face; Draco turned away from her. Lessien stretched out her hand, her fingers trembled as she cupped his cheek. Gently she guided his face, their eyes met. Dracos mind raced.
I could live forever in your eyes.
Her ebony hair framed her luminous face. He brushed a stray strand of hair. He ran the tips of his fingers down the line of her jaw, resting them on her chin. He tilted her head towards him ever so slightly. He longed to touch her lips, to caresses her-he looked deeply into her eyes.
Stop you fool! Kiss her and you will lose all hope of ever being able to part with her. Do not fall any deeper! She is a temptress! Do not give in to her deception! Stop now! Think of all you have to lose! Do not be her fool. Do not let her toy with you any longer; you have dwelled in this game for far too long. It must end here…it must end now!
Lessien stared up into his beautiful face. Suddenly Malfoys hand dropped away from her. She stood there; still with confusion-so still as though she were made of stone. He had turned his back on her and was retreating into the silence of the forest. The awkward moment of realization seemed to stretch forever, lasting an eternity in her mind-he did not love her.
You are a fool! A fool to ever think that he could love you; that he did love you. You are destined to be alone; such is the fate of an assassin. Bury away your love for him, for it is unrequited. This is your fate …
