Thanks to www.mystical-www.co.uk for the historical references.
Taranis stayed up late terrified that she'd never see Severus again. She realized that his crimes must have been terrible indeed for him to risk paying for them with his life. Hasn't he done enough to atone? Angry and frustrated she lay in her bed and cried, 'lords above, please, he's a good man. I've never asked for anything to ease my pain and suffering but please look after Severus. Please make sure he's safe.'
As she awoke the next morning, she stretched lazily recalling a dream of soft lips upon hers, a delicious tongue sliding inside her mouth, ah Severus. Suddenly she sat straight up in bed, Severus, ye gods, was that a dream? You'd better be ok, she thought as she rushed to get dressed and ran to the great hall, slowing her pace only when she saw his dark form at the table. Releasing a sigh of relief she acknowledged him by only raising her eyebrows and giving him a brief nod.
Her knees trembled all day long, she wanted to make sure he was really ok, she had to see for herself. They were due to meet the headmaster for an update this evening and her heart fluttered in anticipation.
Severus stood pacing with his arms crossed, the death and despair that surrounded Voldemort always left him in a grim mood.
"Dumbledore I tell you her arm held the mark, faintly yes, but it was there."
"Yes my friend that is an interesting dilemma indeed," said the old man thoughtfully.
The Potions Master noticed a slight movement in the air as a few small lights filtered in and began swirling about the room. There were small crackles of energy as more of the lights began to infiltrate the room, forming a swirling mass in the center, where they started to shape into a human form.
She looked to be of middle age, long white blond hair cascading down her back, but pulled away from her face enough that the slight point on the tip of her ear was visible. Her skin was so pale, with only a blush of color on her cheeks and lips. Garbed in a flowing white gown made of some iridescent material, she stood erect with her head held high and a look in her eye that showed a wisdom and grace few humans could capture.
"Dumbledore, how good it is to see you," she said, setting down a large box before reaching out to take his hands.
"It has been entirely too long, my dear, and might I say you are looking lovely as always."
"Of course you may Albus."
"A ha hem."
"Oh, do forgive me, Maeve this is Professor Severus Snape."
"Maeve is it? I would have thought Vivienne more appropriate?"
"I have many names," the woman spoke as she began to appraise the dark man.
"Severus is working with Taranis to reanimate Merlin."
"Really, this is interesting," she spoke as she slowly walked around the man who stood stiffly in front of her. "That girl never did like the nice little boys, just like her mom that one. Tell me do you care for her?"
"I can assure you that if I did it would be more than you could say." He looked down at her small form in disgust, "Taranis has shown me the suffering she was forced to endure at your behest. Years of torture and pain that you could have prevented."
"And you are an expert when it comes to the sidhe? I thought not. Professor, I am not omnipotent. I can't see into the future but I can sense it, feel it reverberate as you will. I could compare it to thunder and lightning, once you hear the thunder it's too late to see the lightning. At the time my only thought was to find a place and a time that would best suit my goal of bringing Merlin back. I didn't realize the consequence to Taranis until much much later and then I did all I could to help her."
"Help her?" He raged, "how many times did she suffer the Cruciatus?"
"Eight hundred and eight two," she said stoically.
Severus gasp, "ye gods, how could you do that to a child?"
"It was our only choice, she would have died at Barl's hands if she had not strengthened her self. Do you think I enjoyed hurting my own granddaughter? I love Taranis deeply, but it was the only thing we could do."
"Why could you not just kill Barl?"
"I didn't know who her captor would be Professor, just what he would do."
"Did she know she would be raped as well? Beaten?" Severus thought the woman looked older now than she had a few minutes ago as sadness filled her eyes.
"Yes, she knew. I believe that's partly why she alienated herself from the other students for so long. She didn't want anyone to touch her, lest it be him. Thank goodness she's such a strong girl."
"Did you know she considered committing suicide?" At the look of astonishment he continued, " I can see not. A note she'd written fell out of a book I had borrowed. Very touching indeed. She is not as strong as you believer her to be."
"She will have to be, and you will help her," the door swung open and Taranis hurried in.
"Grammy, what are you doing here," she rushed in and took the woman in her arms, kissing her on the cheek.
"I just came by to check on things honey, offer a bit of help."
"Lords know we can use some help, I'm at my wits end."
"We don't need the kind of help 'she' has to offer Taranis, we'll be better off on our own," he said scowling still but not as deeply.
"Don't be ridiculous Severus," she said eying him. What's his deal, she wondered, turning back to the elder woman, "what have you got for us?"
The white lady strode over to the box and opened the lid to pull out a cauldron, it was a grey-black in color with a ring of pearls around the ridge, she handed this to an astonished looking Professor Snape.
"Ye Gods," he whispered.
"Merlin was using this on the grail, I trust you know what it is Professor Snape?"
"The Cauldron of Pwyll, the 'Fisher King'," Severus said taking the cauldron in shaky hands and looking wide eyed first at Taranis and then back to Vivienne.
"I don't understand, who is Pwyll and why is the cauldron so special?" Asked Taranis.
The elder woman looked at her, "Pwyll was a demon-man honey, he was Merlin's father."
"Much he knew of black art, more than a hundred times changed in his semblance." (Robert de Borron). "This cauldron comes from the underworld, hades, born out of sacrifice and death. It is said Arthur retrieved the vessel from Annwy, hell."
"Well done Professor Snape. Granddaughter, while the chalice represents light, the cauldron is the darkness."
"Why haven't you told me of this before? I worked for years Gram, that cauldron would have helped."
"I had hoped it wouldn't be needed, having it in your possession will be very dangerous indeed as its powers are as great as that of the grail."
"Harumph, my powers far succeed that of that stupid grail. Are you really Vivienne's granddaughter? Hubba hubba, and who's the scary dark guy?"
Snape stared at the cauldron in his hands in shock, "it speaks?" he said amazed.
"Unfortunately yes it does, and way too much at that. I recommend a firm hand, Professor, something you'll have no problem with I'm sure. The box is soundproof," she picked up the wooden box which was covered in runes with a large lock on the front. "I have warded it heavily so should it somehow be stolen, I doubt they'll ever be able to open it."
Maeve waved her hand over the latch and murmured some words that they could not comprehend, "now it will only open for the two of you, speak your name," she held the box up to Snape to speak his name and then to Taranis. "It will recognize your voices and you will only need to ask it to open. Oh and I wouldn't bother to ask it for information, he tries to be helpful, but it has been a long time."
"My memory is fine woman, why I bet I could relate the whole story. I remember a thing or two about you Viv-."
"Pot! Shut up! As I was saying I would recommend you two go and speak to Merlin, something tells me he could be of some assistance."
"Merlin is a puddle just now, I don't possibly see how he could be of any use madam," the Potions Master rumbled.
Dumbledore who had stood silent through the conversation stepped forward, "ah, Severus, I believe Maeve is speaking of the portrait of Merlin, I believe you brought it with you did you not?"
Taranis nodded and Maeve stepped up to her, "I must be going now child, do say hello to Firenze for me," pulling the girl over to the side she glanced over to Severus, "are you sure you know what you're doing with this one? I don't know what it is with you and your mom, just be careful love."
"Don't worry about me grams, I'm tough remember, I can take care of myself. Oh I almost forgot, there's been a time or two where we, Professor Snape and I have, well, felt each other's ah, pain. Is there any way to stop it that you know of?"
The small woman stood up straight and looked intently and Taranis and then slowly her gaze moved onto Snape where it lingered, the man not backing down from the intense eyes upon him. "Indeed there is granddaughter, take a new lover."