Severus Snape lay his head on his beloved's chest, anguish racking his body at the loss. For several minutes he was to overcome at her loss to notice that her chest did not lie still. Thank the gods, he sighed with relief, she's not dead. Quickly sitting straight he wiped the moistness off his face, lest anyone observe it, and then, the ridicule would never end.
"Professor?"
Great, just what I need, Harry Potter to add to my misery, "what do you want Potter."
"You care about her a lot don't you?" was the quiet response.
"I hardly think that's any of your business boy."
"It's just, well, I care about her too. I would have come sooner except I didn't think she'd be here. She said the last time she suffered the Killing Curse they."-
"What?! What are you talking about?" Snape demanded stepping towards the child.
"It's something we have in common, we've both suffered the Avada Kedavra and lived. She told me that they put her to ground, that the earth has healing powers that the faerie people draw on and that it healed her. I thought she'd be in the forest or with Firenze or something."
Snape quickly gathered the woman in his arms. "You may have just saved her life Potter," he said as he carried her out the room. That bare spot of ground in her room, he had wondered what it was for, ye gods this must work. Fumbling into her room he laid her body on the open patch of earth, watching ass it slowly sank into the soil, the grass covering her like a blanket. Kneeling beside her he could barely make out the hum of energy as her small form heaved under it's touch.
Through the day he lay next to her, snapping at Dumbledore as the man offered to take watch, and only nibbling at the food that was left behind. Weary eyes looked upon the small lights as they began to waft in and swirl about. So, the lady finally comes does she?
The older woman stood beside Severus, looking down at her granddaughter in sorrow, Merlin at her side, their hands clasp.
" I wish you could have healed her," he spoke with soft dejection.
"You've not left her side, that says a lot from a man such as yourself. You must love her very much"
He did not respond, but the pained look in his eyes answered her question, "Taranis is no longer in danger from Barl." The woman paused as in thought before continuing, "if you were freed from your obligations to the Dark Lord, if that mark upon your arm vanished forever, would you marry her?"
"That is not a possibility, once that Dark Mark is placed only death can remove it. I have certain obligations to Dumbledore as well that would prevent me from distancing myself from Lord Voldemort."
"Has Taranis not explained to you what happens when she marries? No, I don't suppose you two got to discussing marriage did you?" Maeve sighed as she gathered her skirts and sat in one of the chairs next to the bed. "I, the sidhe, have been around as long as time my child, ancient powers of control over all of the elements of nature. Premonition is something all purebloods have in one degree or another but is not necessarily passed on otherwise. One of my strongest abilities is one that Taranis already shows a certain amount of ability, is communing with nature. I have no doubt Taranis will come into that power fully. The trees, the plants, the land Severus they speak, and they listen. You would come into that power as well and aimed in the right direction it would be a very resourceful and much less dangerous way of gathering information."
"Why don't you just kill him and solve all our problems?"
"Good grief," said Maeve as she placed her fingers to her forehead in mock distress, "the Tuatha de Danann are here to set the balances of good and evil, I cannot sway the scales in that way. Some things you humans have to work out for yourselves my boy. Now as I was saying, were you to marry Taranis, you would become a member of the faerie clan, not that you even slightly resemble any fey I've ever seen, you would not be allowed to give severance to 'any' lord, good or evil. In other words, you wouldn't have a choice."
As Merlin quietly stood behind him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, Snape stared at the floor as trying to absorb the information she was telling him, could he really be free of the Dark Lord and his mark? Taranis had showed him the memories of her parents sundering that mountain, would such a thing happen to them? If what Maeve said is true, he would be able to provide the order with all the information they wanted and not have to worry for his life, or that of his wife. My wife? Ye gods I never thought I would ever marry, and here I am, negotiating with a faerie grandmother.
"Professor, I must admit that I admire your tenacity and your strength of character, you would make me a fine grandson, yes I approve wholeheartedly. Removing the Dark Mark 'is' within my power Severus, so is getting that Voldemort off your back I assure you. The choice is yours, but only if you chose to marry her and take the gift of the offering."
Merlin leaned forward and whispered in Snape's ear, "Viv and I are getting married, she doesn't know about it yet and I'm nervous as can be. I wish I hadn't waited, but you know how it is, there were other more important things going on, my point is, Viv is right, we, er she can work things out for you. If you love my granddaughter, you've got nothing to lose but many happy years."
Words rang clear in his mind, his heart set, "there is nothing that would please me more. . . grandmother, grandfather, " and it was true. For the first time in many, many years hope surged through his heart.
Severus though he'd never seen anyone smile bigger in his life, he was utterly shocked that such a lady would be happy to have him as part of the family. I will have a family, it was like a dream, and Merlin will be my grandfather, if Taranis lives.
Maeve and Merlin sat in the glade just outside their cozy hideaway while she gathered information about Lord Voldemort. She had heard much about this man in the past and he was capable of great evil, his heart darker than that of Hitler, Stalin or Mao who had each sent perhaps fifty million to their deaths.
"Well my love," she said getting to her feet, "I've found him, shall we go?"
"Not much I can do, but I'm sure it'll be a splendid show my dear," said Merlin, grasping her arm as they vanished only to reappear in an elaborately furnished chamber. Several men started yelling and running toward them only to freeze when Maeve held up her hand. Slowly they waked up to the dias at the front of the room where a figure sat on the throne.
"How dare you come in here!" Yelled the man, the skin on his thin face pulled taunt, eyes flashing of red, "you will die for your insubordination!"
Maeve appraised this Dark Lord as she listened to his threats, felt the power emanating from him before she began, "and just how are you going to do that? All of your lackeys seem to be. . .indisposed at the moment." Stepping closer the woman in white continued, "allow me to introduce myself, I am Maeve or Vivienne as you may know me, high priestess of the Tuatha de Danann, and this," she motioned to the man beside her, "is the Prince of Enchantment himself, Merlin the Great."
"What!" Snarled the beast.
"I see you realize that we have the grail back, and I guarantee it is in a place you will never reach it. Getting on to the reason I'm here, Severus Snape will be released from your following."
"Never! I don't care who you think you are, no Death Eater leaves me before his death, and I would advise you to leave, or perhaps stay. I have called my minions and they should be here shortly to dispose of you."
Maeve tapped her lips, 'minions' gave her an idea, she turned away as her body began to shift and reform. As a polymorph, she had learned to use her gifts to her advantage, which in this case was intimidation. Turning back, the dark lord saw a creature of more than eight feet towering over him. The red-skinned creature was bald, with pointy ears, square features and a massive jaw full of sharp, crooked teeth. The massive chest muscles rippled above well formed thighs and huge hoofed feet.
The room shook as the creature made it's way to the dias, leaning over until his reflection shone in the black eyes. Maeve gathered energy and fear inside of her and pushed it through Voldemort. As she did so the creature's terrible jaws opened so wide as to be unhinged, screaming in rage, insects flying out to cover the lord as he swatted at them with his hands. Shoving as much fear at him as she could gather, making sure he understood the extent of her powers.
"Insult me again and you will die! Remember this you live on my whim Riddle, and you will do as I say! Severus Snape is under your control no more! You will never attempt to contact him again, you will never order any sort of movement nor harm against him or his future wife! As far as you are concerned he doesn't even exist. Do I make myself clear?," Maeve tried not to laugh at the cowering form in front of her, doesn't seem like he'll call my bluff thank the gods, "do you understand?"
"Yes," was the feeble reply from the Dark Lord.
Giving the man a good stare, legs curled against his chest, the big baby was trembling in fear. Changing back into her natural form she took Merlin's hands in her own.
"That was quite a trick with the bugs my dear, is it new?"
"I borrowed if from a new creation called a motion picture, that one I got from The Mummy, we'll watch it later, you'll love it."
Taranis awoke to find herself in her room, when she tried to lift herself from the earth, weakness overcame her. Severus came from no where, grabbing her arm he helped her to the bed."What are you doing here Snape, Dumbledore make you come?"
"He did not, I am here of my own free will."
"Hmpf, why did you bring me here? I should have died, I wanted to die."
"Purely out of my own selfish reasons I assure you. Taranis do you remember our conversation in the hospital wing?" She nodded, "you said you loved me, did you mean it?"
She heaved a sigh and looked up to meet his eyes, "yes , of course I meant it. I'm absolutely, totally, completely one hundred percent in love with Severus Snape," tears started to fall down pale cheeks, "are you happy now? Do you enjoy my misery?"
The Potions Master wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, resting her cheek on his shoulder, hand brushing the pale hair from her face, "I've no wish to hurt you, I never have. I did what I thought was best for both of us under the circumstances. I was wrong and believe me I have suffered as well. Taranis I did not tell you I loved you out of chivalry or compassion, it was said out of truth. Never did I think that I would be capable of returning your feelings, you deserved someone who would return your love and I didn't think myself able to do that. Once again I was wrong, I do have a heart in my chest and it does beat, and it is filled with love, love for you Taranis." pausing as she pulled back to look at him, judge him, "your grandmother has done me the great favor of removing my Dark Mark. She has done something, what exactly she didn't say, but I find I am no longer in the service of the Dark Lord. Taranis, I am free. We are free. Free to be together."
Wide eyes watched the man in silence as he slid off the bed, to his knees on the floor. "Somehow Maeve procured this from my vault at Gringotts," opening a small box, he removed a ring. One larger emerald, surrounded by smaller diamonds, "Taranis Aislin, you alone hold my heart, my soul and my salvation in your hands. If you could find it inside of you to forgive me the pain I've caused you, I would be honored if you would become my wife?"
Tears once more slid down her cheeks as she reached over to run her hand over his handsome face, "I had given up all hope that we could ever be together. Severus Snape, you are the man of my dreams and I love you with all of my heart. I would be proud to be your wife. Yes, I'll marry you.