Alright. I know it's been longer than a week. Sorry. Virus. Anyway, here is chapter three. I'm not sure I already told you but this the chappie when the LOTR world comes into play. Just a little though.

Thanks for the lovely reviews. They keep me goin.
Chapter Three- Castle and Dreams

Before Shawna could fall flat on her face strong arms pulled her upright. She found herself buried, once again, in black robes. Shay squeezed her eyes shut, trying her hardest to quell the spinning nausea.

Severus continued to hold his daughter, rubbing her back to help with the sickness. It always comforted her as a babe, so why not now? Suddenly, the girl jumped back.

"That was great! With the belly-button pull and the whoosh! It's like a roller coaster! Dude, can we do it again?"

Snape repocketed the portkey and took the girl's hand, leading her as one would a child. All the while she rambled about the "fun ness" of traveling by portkey. It proved to be highly entertaining. The last person he knew that got so excited was Christina. Though the Wicca wasn't quite as vocal as her daughter, she would nevertheless make it known how much she enjoyed it. It must be an American thing. Crazy Yanks.

"Again! Again! That is so..."

Shawna stopped mid sentence and gapped. It was amazing.

"That... is one big ass castle."

Not even in movies had she seen something so spectacular. Tall towers illuminated by moonlight, banners flying high in the breeze. Breeze...

"It's cold."

"We are halfway across the world and it is night here. In case you haven't noticed."

She turned to him with a black face.

"Are you trying to make fun of me?"

The wizard's face was just as expressionless.

"Yes."

"Okay. Just makin' sure."

Shay continued to stare at the sight before her while her father stepped behind her and cupped her shoulders after a moment's hesitation. It seems he was going to have to readjust himself to touching again. Shawna seemed to thrive on physical contact. It made him wonder. Had she been denied even the simplest affections growing up?

It was amazing. Years of solitary, dull existence just disappeared while in her presence. Shawna was a darker version of his wife and he found that fact didn't pain him as much as he thought it would.

"Let's go in. I'm sure Albus is waiting anxiously for our return."

The girl turned to face him with a mock glare.

"You have a sarcasm problem, you know that?"

"It is one of my greatest flaws," Severus agreed with a solemn nod.

'One of?'

"So what's number one?"

Shay turned around in bafflement when the wizard next her stopped abruptly, a hand coming to encircle his left forearm. His grip was harsh and he appeared terrified over... something.

'What is he hiding?'

She was determined to find out.

'She can't know. I won't let her.'

Fool. She's going to find out one way or another and how do you think she'd feel if it wasn't you who told her?

'She'll despise me for it.'

Did her mother?

'She's my daughter as well. Like me she could...'

She's too much like Christina to condemn you over something done in the stupidity of your youth!

'But how do I know that?!'

Snape was so caught up in arguing with himself he didn't notice as Shay gently pried his fingers away from his arm. So softly she worked. He did notice when she started to roll up the sleeve, but he was powerless to stop her.

Shawna stared down at the human skull and snake. She'd seen such designs before. It was hardly unusual, but the aura the mark gave off was unnatural. It was...

"Evil."

Severus hung his head in shame. He didn't see as the young witch reached out to touch it.

Her fingers barely skimmed the tattoo but she was bombarded with feelings of despair, terror, pain, and guilt. All linked to the mark. She jerked her hand back with a gasp.

'His feelings. They're all his feelings.'

Tears pooled in her eyes before spilling down her cheeks even paler than normal. Soundlessly she fell to the ground, the soft grass cushioning her fall. With her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, she rocked.

What happened? Why was she feeling this way? So helpless and lonely? So... guilty? It was how he felt, that much she knew, and it was because of that mark. It was all the mark's fault.

It was consuming, this darkness. It was closing in... She couldn't fight it... She was... lost...

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Panicking, Severus gathered the unresisting girl in his arms and ran as fast as he could to the castle.

Madame Pomphey was currently reorganizing her cupboards before she retired for the night. It was quiet without the students.

SLAM

"Poppy?!'

At least it was.

The mediwitch spun around, prepared to give the Potions Master a stern lecture. For Merlin's sake he was a grown wizard. Must he always cause a ruckus.

Before the words tumbled from her mouth she caught sight of the muggle looking girl held protectively against his chest. Immediately she started firing out orders.

"Take her to a bed, Severus, and get her comfortable."

Though she quickly gathered supplies she didn't miss the worry in his normally cold eyes as he gently situated her on the bed. Who was this girl to make one of the coldest men she knew to pace frantically?

Setting everything on a nearby stand she took out her wand. One after another she muttered spells and incantations, ignoring Severus rumblings. In confusion she stepped back.

"What is it?" Snape asked, appearing by her side. "What's wrong with her?"

"There's nothing wrong with her. Physically, at least. But, it's like her mind isn't here. She's trapped within herself," the witch whispered, gazing at the still girl. "What happened?"

He hesitated for only a second. He couldn't lose her now.

"She touched the dark mark."

Poppy's head snapped up.

"What does touching the mark have to..."

"She has wiccan blood."

"Albus!"

Severus spun around to face the new voice. The Headmaster was as calm as ever as he walked further into the Infirmary.

"Wiccan?"

Pomphrey's silent wonder went unnoticed.

"Has this happened before?" Dumbledore asked the frantic father. "With Christina?"

"It wasn't this intense."

"Then it must be her wizarding side enhancing her natural perception."

The old man looked down at her girl as well, lost in thought.

"Severus. Find something of Christina's. If Shawna comes in contact with something pure it may be enough to pull her mind back to the surface."

In an instant the man was out the doors.

Silence reigned for a few mintues before Poppy's questioning voice broke it.

"Albus?"

"Yes, Poppy."

"Who is she? And what is she to Severus?"

Blue eyes twinkled.

"Simple. Her name is Shawna and she is his daughter."

"Daughter?!" the witch sputtered. "But... You said she has wiccan blood!"

"And she does. Her mother was a Wicca. Christina Arwen Elessar. Excuse me, Snape."

Pomphrey landed heavily in the chair Dumbledore managed to conjure just in time.

Silence once again ruled in the Infirmary.

"A hybrid of wizarding and wiccan blood. Has there ever been such a joining before?" the mediwitch wondered aloud.

"No, or we would have heard about it. Wicca's are few and live as muggles, and wizards tend to stay in our own world. Each side knows about the other but rarely meet."

"Then how..."

"You must wait for the staff and then Severus will explain. As much as he is capable anyway."

Just then the door slammed open and the Potions Master hurried in, clutching a white cloth to his chest, breathing heavily.

"This should work."

Dumbledore and Pomphrey surrounded the black haired man as he opened the cloth to reveal a sparkling necklace. The pendent was bright, resembling a star, and seemed to shine with a glow all it's own.

"The Evenstar Pendent has been passed through Christina's family for generations," Snape explained. "It is a wiccan symbol of strength and purity."

Quickly, he gently set the pendent in the hollow of Shay's throat and stepped back when it began to glow brighter.

The glow increased, growing to encompass its newest owner.

---------------

It was dark and it hurt so, so much. She had never felt so... patheticly hopeless in all her life. It was too much. Why couldn't she wake up? She knew she was dreaming, so why wasn't she in control? Why was she here?

"Help! Somebody! Make it go away! Please."

The pleading word was barely a whisper as she bowed her head in despair. Would she be trapped in her own mind forever? What about her father? They were getting along like a real family should. What would happen to him if he lost her for real this time?

"Focus not on the dark, but on the light instead."

Shay jumped to her feet, spining towards the direction of the melodious voice. Nothing but darkness.

"Though we are separated by great distance, we are forever bound by blood."

The loving voice was closer now. A small dot of light appeared in the distance and slowly grew closer. Shawna shielded her senative eyes as it neared.

"You have nothing to fear from me, child."

The voice was next to her. Cautiously she lowered her arms and allowed her eyes to adjust.

The woman in the shimmering white dress was the most beautiful Shawna had ever seen. Her long golden hair fell to her waist in glossy, silky waves; held from her flawless face by a shining circlet. Her eyes were a deep, pure blue that sparkled with wisdom, power, and age. Yes... age. Though the woman with the funny ears looked young, she felt old.

"Who are you?" Shay questioned. She knew she should have felt something like fear or intimidation, but she didn't. She felt connected to the glowing woman, who situated herself next to her, instead.

The woman smiled gently and Shawna was carressed by a loving hand. Such a strange feeling it was, but one she liked.

"I am a mother of your line."

"Mother of my line?" Shay shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand."

The smile turned sad, but the hand now over her head didn't cease in its carress.

"I know. Had your mother lived she would have told you our stories. Taught you our language and ways."

"What do you mean 'our'? You mean Wicca?"

Amusement flashed in blue eyes.

"Every Wicca, as they are now know, is a decendent of my people. They posses elvish blood and no matter how diluted it gives them abilities different than all others. Abilities that are neither elf nor human."

"Elvish? You tellin' me your're an elf?"

"I am."

"Alright, let me get this straight." The young witch stood and stated pacing, ignorant of the surrounding nothingness. "So when you say 'mother of my line' you mean I'm a decendent of yours as was my mother?'

The she-elf nodded in affirmination.

"Earlier you said separated by distance, not time, and if any mythology is right you're immortal and still alive, but hidden someplace I'm guessin' no one knows about or how to get to."

The golden woman... err.. elf, laughed softly in delight.

"You have your father's decisive mind."

"You know my father?"

"Of course. Though he is not of my blood. He is nonetheless my child and over the years I watched over them and comforted them in some way."

She stood then, gracefully pulling herself to her rather impressive height.

"Tell him something for me, would you? Tell him he has never been alone. No matter his thoughts to the contarary."

"Where ya goin'?" Shawna asked, bewildered as the elf started to back away.

"It is time for you to wake. Your father is very worried."

"But... Questions."

"Do not distress, child. I will come in your dreams. There is much to be done."

As she slowly to disappear the inky blackness grew.

As Shawna began to wake a whisper caused her to smile happily.

"Between us, Severus is one of my favorites."