Summary: A darker chapter where Tonks and Remus must decide about their actions in the tapestry.
Into The Web
The Tapestry
4th Night
The horses moved at a steady pace through the snow that gleamed in the light of the waxing moon. Mallus had been agitated all day, but that wasn't surprising considering the news last night of Brina and the son she carried. There was a lot at stake for Mallus, but the stubborn man had refused to speak to Oriana about wooing her sister.
Opis scanned the countryside as he rode beside Mallus, but his gaze was drawn to the gleaming white ovals that lay on the joints of some tree branches. The snow glistened like moonstones caught in a web.
"The moonstones weave the future."
Opis shook his head as Oriana's words haunted him. Perhaps she just meant the snow? She had not objected when he had resolved to join Mallus on the wolf hunt tonight. Instead, her eyes had become glazed and she struggled to speak. Finally she had delivered her cryptic message before retiring behind the curtain in their quarters.
"The moonstones weave the future..."
"So you've finally decided to abandon your trophy?" The wry tone of the Centurion interrupted Opis in his train of thought.
"Oriana is not a trophy, Mallus, but I'd rather not discuss it."
Mallus quirked an eyebrow. Drunken soldier, beautiful girl, a warm bed. Had Opis lost his restraint? He gave his wolfish grin, "Trying to avoid Oriana? Just how drunk were you last night, Opis?"
"I was sober enough to leave her alone," said Opis in defense, but then his honesty forced him to add, "Although I did manage to stumble into bed."
The laughter burst quickly from Mallus and filled the night. "I'm glad we're only foster brothers. No Lupinus would share a bed with a woman and not take his pleasure."
"The honor is all mine," said Opis dryly. "Now let's get these wolves."
Opis urged his mount forward. A hunt was just what Mallus needed. That or a knock on the head and Opis was increasingly tempted toward the latter.
"I hear the wolves ahead." Mallus swept his arm over the hunting party and their pace magically increased. Then he extended his senses to close in on their prey, but instead reined his horse in surprise.
"Brina!"
"What? Wait, Mallus! Don't do anything stupid!"
The other soldiers stared in surprise as their Centurion veered from the wolves toward a more direct path to the caves.
"Damn, he's going to do something stupid," Opis cursed before taking control of the men. He turned to the three other riders and said, "Get back to the garrison. The wolf hunt is over tonight."
- - - - - - - -
Remus and Tonks watched the lead horse turn toward them as they rose from the ground.
"Tonks, however you got here, you need to leave now," said Remus urgently.
"Flitwick sent me through with a Heartstring charm. He can help Moody pull me back anytime I give the signal--"
"What are you waiting for? Go back now!"
"No, I'm not going back without you. The charm can't be used again once it's broken and Flitwick's says you have to stay for one week before it's safe to pull you out."
"The night of the full moon," said Remus in resignation. He looked up to gauge the approaching Roman. "I can't attack my own ancestor, Tonks. That would serve the purpose of the Dark Arts woven into the tapestry."
Tonks pulled her wand out and chanted immobilus at Mallus, but nothing happened other than a little flare from the tip.
"What the hell?" she asked.
"The tapestry dampened my magic for about a day. I was hoping you'd have better luck."
"Looks like I have no luck at all." They turned to each other and said, "Run."
They clasped hands, but abruptly stopped when they turned in opposite directions.
"We can hide in the cave, Remus."
"No, he knows it's here now. We have to--" Remus' words were lost when a tree fell on either side of them. They felt the ground shudder at the cave-in behind them. They were corralled to the spot.
"Disapparate now, Remus," hissed Tonks.
"Not without you," he insisted. Such a maneuver could be dangerous until her magic was working again.
"BRINA!"
The name was practically growled as Mallus jumped off his horse about ten paces from them, a standard dueling distance. A ball of light flared from his fingers that served to illuminate Tonks clearly, but Remus stepped back so that his face remained in shadow as he whispered, "Expedia latini."
His voice was calm, but louder when Remus spoke. "This is not the woman you seek."
The Roman ignored the man's voice. Instead he faced Tonks and snarled, "Found another man when you're carrying MY SON!"
"This is not Brina, Mallus Lupinus!" Remus moved forward so that the light fell on his face.
Mallus stepped back as he confronted the man emerging from the shadows. "You? No, no, I killed you myself!"
His hand flared with power as Mallus aimed at Remus. Tonks gasped as she watched the orb pulsing with energy flow on a direct trajectory toward her companion. She shoved at Remus' shoulder, but felt him already sidestepping the attack.
Remus captured the power with his left hand as he dodged and flung it away. It fell into the sea several miles away like a missile. The loud crack at impact attested to the power he had deflected.
In the meantime, Tonks ran at Mallus, but then slid on the snow. Although not what she intended, she recovered sufficiently to kick out his knee. Mallus stumbled before he could aim again.
Tonks scrambled across the snow back to Remus. He winced as he cradled his left hand and she could see the burn mark. Remus wouldn't be able to withstand another attack. Even now Mallus was down on one knee and about to raise his arm again.
Tonks stepped in front of Remus, but the attack ended abruptly.
Clunk!
The Centurion slumped into the snow. Opis stood behind his fallen comrade holding his shield and inspecting the dent it now bore. He had leapt off his horse to strike Mallus on the back of the head.
Opis was breathing hard as he surveyed the man and woman who stood in front of him. Unlike Mallus, the first thing he had noticed was the moonstone amulet at their neck and Oriana's words had echoed in his mind. "The moonstones weave the future."
"Who are you?" asked Opis. His voice was not threatening, but carried the authority of someone who expected to be answered.
"Lumos." Remus held his wand with his right hand. Opis now looked closely at the two who stood illuminated in the snow.
Opis understood why Mallus would mistake the woman for Brina. She had the same features, although softer, as if laughter were a regular part of her emotions. The stubble on the man's face left a light beard. He looked just like Sejanus Lupinus before his death, even to the scars across his face.
He wasn't surprised when Remus claimed, "We're distant relatives. My name is Remus and this is--"
"Tonks." Tonks took a step toward Opis.
Opis took a quick step back and asked warily, "Maledictio?"
"He thinks you cursed him," murmured Remus to his companion.
"You should hear my first name," muttered Tonks under her breath. Then she tried again, "Weemee, uh, expedia latini. We mean no harm. There was no curse. My name is Tonks."
Opis' glance flicked to the wands in their hands. He had seen the man use his bare hand to deflect the attack earlier. Was he a Roman or a Celtic wizard? "But both of you use magic?"
Remus merely inclined his head. "Yes, but harming you will serve no purpose. I know you are Opis Novius, the Optio at the garrison and that this is Mallus Lupinus, the Centurion. Is he badly injured?"
"Head's the best place to hit him. It's too thick to let much harm come to him," muttered Opis as he moved to check Mallus. Opis released a long breath and tried to move the man. "He'll be out for the ride, but he'll recover his usual ill-temper. You two had better come with me."
"You're willing to trust us, just like that?" asked Tonks.
"I'm not willing to let you out of my sight," replied Opis with another grunt as he tried to move Mallus. "Besides, I've seen Mallus duel other wizards. If you had intended to kill him, you would have sent his force back at him."
He looked up as Remus handed his wand to Tonks and came to help, though he still treated his left hand gingerly. They dragged Mallus to his black horse and heaved him over the saddle.
Opis secured the man for the ride home and hoped Oriana was right about the moonstones. Even now Opis could see them catching the moonlight as the man approached the woman.
"Should you have told him anything?" whispered Tonks to Remus.
"Mallus would be hunting me," said Remus. "At least this way we both know where we are."
Opis then took the reins of his brown horse and said, "Lady, if you would ride, I'll walk."
Tonks nodded, but was relieved when Remus took the reins to lead her horse while Opis took Mallus. The Optio then turned to Remus and queried, "I assume you can reduce our discomfort?"
Remus waved his arm in an arc before they set off and his companions felt the effects of the impervious charm immediately.
"You're almost as good as Mallus," said Opis. The snow crunched lightly under their feet as the long walk to the Roman garrison began.
- - - - - - -
"I would like to know more about Mallus," said Remus plainly once they were on their way. Gathering information should be safe, he thought. "As I said, I am a distant relation and have just discovered our blood tie."
After taking several furtive glances at Remus, Opis finally spoke. "You have the features of a Lupinus, but you shouldn't be alive. Mallus is the last of his line."
"How can you be certain?" asked Remus. His knowledge of the Lupins began with this ancestor. The family history before Mallus was blank.
"Because Lupinus were literally fed to the wolves for countless generations. It's their fate so hence, their name." Opis' reply was simple, but chilling.
"That's barbaric," interjected Tonks.
"That's control. The Senators would hold the mother and children hostages while the wizards served their whims. The threat of the wolf pits was always upon them. One of his forbears lost three families before he learned his lesson."
"But can't a powerful wizard protect his blood?" asked Tonks.
"Not when you're based in Rome, it's easier to comply. No man can be everywhere at once. No man can be constantly vigilant. And every man can be betrayed, even by your own kind."
"Venificus venator," uttered Remus. To Tonks he said, "Wizards hunting other wizards, like Aurors only--"
"More like Death Eaters." Tonks turned to Opis with another observation. "Mallus must hate wolves with a passion."
"Mallus does everything with passion." Opis seemed to miss a step before he continued both with his pace and with the story. "He was ten years old when he saw his family ripped apart by his father."
Remus swallowed as a familiar nightmare was evoked. "Ripped?" Remus didn't want to ask the question, but it tumbled from him. "The father killed his own family?"
Tonks shivered at the horrible tale. Like Remus, she could well imagine what had happened to Mallus' family
"Sejanus Lupinus was becoming a problem to the Senate and kept defying them. He had lost his two brothers in the Roman Legion. Some say that he--that he was willing to sacrifice his family to escape the Senate. He could always find another woman, father more children. His actions would indicate that he had a change of heart on the matter."
Opis stopped the horses and looked up at the waxing moon in the sky. "They threw Sejanus' family into a pit with a special creature, a wolf who walked like a man."
"Werewolf."
Opis merely nodded. "Sejanus was able to save them, his wife, his three sons, his daughter, but he was bitten." Opis turned to look at Remus and said, "On the next full moon, he was the one in the pit with his family, all except one, the eldest son."
"Mallus."
"Yes, they made Mallus watch to teach him a lesson about defying the Senators. He stayed the long night and watched the monster who had killed his family one by one transform into his father."
"What happened to Sejanus?" asked Remus. He couldn't bear to look at Tonks now, although he could feel her turn her eyes his way.
"They put a spear into the hand of the ten year old boy and told him to make the decision about whether his father should live or die. They were laughing and taking wagers, saying he would be too weak to kill him."
Opis threw a sympathetic glance at the prone body of his friend. "His father was the first man Mallus killed, but to hear him tell it, he could see by his father's eyes that he was dead already."
Opis walked on and only added one more detail to the story. "That was the last time I ever saw Mallus cry."
- - - - - - - -
As soon as they reached Mallus' quarters, Opis left Remus and Tonks to see to get him settled while he sought Oriana to tend to his injury.
Tonks looked down at the man who was a younger version of Remus by about ten years. His face was unmarred and his body was hard from the demanding life he led. Strong, virile, predatory. Her thoughts trailed off as she caught Remus throwing a speculative glance her way.
She stammered, "Uh, ahem, Remus, can't you ease his pain?"
"No, I won't risk touching him with magic." Remus moved out of the room saying, "But I will get some water for him."
Tonks sat on the bed and checked his pulse. Mallus responded to the touch and his eyes fluttered opened.
"Brina?" This time his voice was soft and almost pleading.
Tonks leaned over Mallus and said, "Stay down and I'll explain."
"You came back," said Mallus as he completely ignored her words and reached up to pull her down to him. "Brina, you came back."
"What? No, umm." Tonks could say no more because Mallus had her firmly pressed against him as he kissed her deeply.
"Here's the water." Remus' voice was hoarse.
Mallus released Tonks at the sound of his voice, so she used the opportunity to pull away and scurried to Remus.
"I am NOT Brina!" insisted Tonks as she raked her fingers through her hair in frustration and embarrassment.
Mallus squinted at her and said, "You sound like her. You look like her." Then his hand went to his lips. "But you don't kiss like her." Turning to Remus he added, "And who the hell are you?"
"A lost relative," said Remus simply. "You can call me Remus."
"And is this your woman?" asked Mallus as his eyes raked over Tonks.
"I'm Tonks."
"That can't be a name," muttered Mallus as he rose on his elbows. "I know what's happened. Brina sent me some strange dream, didn't she? My fondest wish," said Mallus as he pointed to Tonks, "and my worst nightmare."
His finger now pointed to Remus, the man who looked so much like his father. Luckily Opis and Oriana arrived before Mallus acted further.
"No, it isn't a dream, Mallus," said Opis.
Mallus' eyes narrowed and he sat up to rub the back of his head. "You traitorous bastard."
"Watch your language," admonished Oriana as she moved forward. She seemed to lightly whack Mallus on the back of the head with a wooden spoon.
Everyone gasped at her action, but Mallus merely rolled his head afterward and said, "Ah, so you can be useful. You nullified the pain."
"I should have left you with the headache," chided Oriana, "especially after making Opis drink so much last night."
"Perhaps I should have made sure he was a bit drunker before sending him back to you?" taunted Mallus. He was rewarded by matching blushes on the couple. He waved his hand absently to indicate the strangers and said, "Oriana, Opis, they say to call them Remus and Tonks."
Oriana whispered to Opis, "Tonks? Is that a name?"
Tonks rolled her eyes and said, "Would you rather say Nymphadora?"
Mallus openly cringed and put his hands over his face. "It is a nightmare, I knew it."
"No, this is no dream, Mallus, but the moonstones they wear are just like the ones in my vision," said Oriana as she peered at Remus. She noticed how he held his hand and added, "Oh, you're injured, too. Here, let me see it."
Remus and Tonks exchanged a glance when Oriana mentioned the moonstones. While she tended to his burn, Remus quietly asked, "Please, tell me this vision you had about the moonstones."
"I saw two moonstones gleaming in front of a loom."
"Like these?" asked Tonks as she fingered the one she wore.
"The same shape and size as those you wear. The loom held the image of Mallus, Brina, and their baby. The thread on the loom began to unravel until the moonstones started moving through them. I heard voices from the moonstones saying that they were weaving the future and when they were done, I could see the three of them again."
"What does it mean, Oriana?" asked Opis.
Oriana dropped Remus' hand and turned a smiling face to Mallus. "They are friends, Mallus, here to help you secure your future with Brina."
Mallus rubbed his face. He pointed his finger at the strangers, but then plopped back onto his bed in resignation. "Fine, if they're still here when I wake up from this nightmare, I won't kill them."
"Well, I suppose it's good to find you so agreeable. Oh, and sorry about the clunk on the head," said Opis as he took Oriana's arm.
"Go away before I retaliate," grumbled Mallus. "You've been wanting to bash my head in since we abducted Oriana in the woods."
"You're right, it was a rather satisfying," said Opis with his usual honesty. He turned to the others and said, "I'll show you where you can stay. Here, take these cloaks and keep the hoods up when you're walking outside."
Mallus heard them shuffle out the door although he had already turned his back on his company and closed his eyes. The timing of events could not be worse. He had discovered the only woman he wanted carried his son, but his joy was short-lived. This morning he had received word that Senator Dacien was coming. If the Senator discovered Brina before Mallus could get to her, another generation would face the wolves.
- - - - - - - - -
The company walked as Opis assured them, "We'll discuss the situation in the morning. You can sleep in here tonight."
The Roman opened a door to a small room that held blankets and some furs, wolf pelts from last season. They bade each other good night and Tonks quickly began arranging the bedding on their pallet. Remus, however, seemed lost in thought.
"Remus? Come on, let's rest while we can," coaxed Tonks as she slipped off the brown pack at her back. She looked up at him from where she knelt on the pallet.
"You brought supplies?" Remus didn't approach her, but remained standing.
"The most important thing is the wolfsbane, but there's only enough for the full moon."
"I see," said Remus. Still, he didn't move.
Tonks reached for his hand and looked up. She could think of any number of things that were bothering him. She decided to start with the most trivial. "Remus, that kiss with Mallus--"
"You wondered what it would be like, didn't you? Before he kissed you?" There was no accusation in his tone, just cold observation.
"Yes, I did wonder, but he is your shadow, Remus, not the other way around." She tugged gently at his hand and he allowed himself to be drawn to the pallet. "I know where I belong, Remus, and that's with you."
Remus hesitated again, but moved to lie beside her when she leaned back. Instead of taking her in his arms, however, he turned his back to her. Tonks could feel his mental withdrawal from her as well. Still, she moved closer to him and spoke quietly at his back.
"You're not Mallus; you're not Sejanus. We won't let those things happen to us, Remus."
"You can't be certain of that," said Remus as he turned onto his back and stared upwards. "If Voldemort wins this war, I could be used against the very people I want to protect. I'd rather die in the early battles than face hurting anyone in the Order, especially you."
Tonks took his right hand in hers and pressed her cheek against his shoulder, surreptitiously wiping the tears that loomed in her eyes. Instead she made her voice stern as she said, "Don't let fear rule your life again, Remus. You've told me often enough that the Order is more prepared this time. Were you lying to me?"
"No, no, I wasn't lying; things are better than in the first war." Remus was quiet for a moment before adding, "This time everyone knows I'm a werewolf, a Dark Creature. This time Sirius and I can trust each other. And this time, I have you fighting by my side as well."
She felt his hand tighten around hers and was satisfied for the moment. Tonks could still feel the distance between them, but at least they had recovered the common ground they held as members of the Order of the Phoenix. She broached the last topic.
"Remus? I believe Oriana's vision. I think we're supposed to intervene somehow for Mallus."
"No, it has to be a trick. I can't interfere or I'll change everything that's to come."
Tonks then began shaking her head and propped on her elbow as she remembered the message woven into the tapestry.
"No, Remus, I understand now. There was Ogham writing woven into the tapestry. It held the weaver's name, but also gave a message. Tomorrow weaves the past. Flitwick thought the weaver had left out the phrase that would have made the word unravels. That would have been the standard spell."
Remus turned his head to face Tonks. "But the weaver expected the Lupin who became trapped to be passive and do nothing to interfere."
"And that very inaction unravels the past." Tonks said it with such confidence that Remus felt compelled to believe her.
"But what if we're wrong?"
Tonks touched his face gently. "Then we'll face the consequences together."
She kissed him softly but still Remus held himself in check. He turned his back to her again and said, "Good night."
Tonks held back her sigh, but still she wrapped her arm around his waist. He belonged to her and she would make sure nothing unraveled that bond.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Opis, aren't you cold?" asked Oriana as she was lying in bed. The curtain blocked her from Opis, but her voice was clear in the darkened room.
"I'm a soldier, Oriana. I'll be fine." Opis clenched his eyes shut from his pallet on the floor and willed her to just go to sleep. He kept remembering the warm body he had woken to in the morning and the soft lips he had tasted in his drowsy, hung-over state.
"Oh."
Silence. Opis sighed in relief, then realized his mistake when Oriana spoke again.
"But I'm not a soldier and I am cold."
The invitation in her words cut through his gut like a dagger. He knew his fate was decided when she added, "Can't you keep me warm, like last night, Opis?"
He groaned in clear pain.
"Please?"
Shhrk, snap.
"Eek!"
Opis had pulled down the curtain that separated them with a quick tug. He knelt by the bed and said sternly, "Oriana, don't you play these games with me."
"Games?" whispered Oriana in innocent confusion.
"My heart can't bear your making a mockery of my love, whether you intend it or not."
"Your love?" she asked in wonder. But Opis had gone to great lengths to avoid touching her, she thought. Wasn't Mallus taunting him about her for spite? "But you haven't touched me that way unless you're drunk, no matter what I did to get your attention. I thought you found me ugly."
Oriana turned her face away at her confession.
"Ugly? Oriana, I've wanted you since I first saw you in the fall gathering berries," admitted Opis in resignation.
Oriana sat up and said in surprise. "You were the messenger? It was you who'd hide in the bushes to tell me that Brina was all right."
Opis rubbed his hand though his hair. "I got so many scratches from the damn bushes, but it was worth the trouble. I didn't want you worried about your sister at first and then, and then I just wanted to see you."
"Why didn't you reveal yourself to me?" asked Oriana.
"I intended to, but then Brina ran away from Mallus and the snows came, and so I thought that in the spring--" Opis stopped before continuing in a gentler voice. "In the spring I would find you when the flowers would be blooming, though none would match your softness or your beauty."
Opis leaned forward to kiss Oriana, only this time he had full control of his faculties. And this time he was certain that her response was just as enthusiastic as his. They broke apart, but Opis was troubled when he saw her smile fall.
"But if you waited until spring, you'd find me wed to a cruel, cold man." Oriana felt his arms go around her and made her decision to take control of her future.
His voice was soft when Opis asked, "Tell me, Oriana. Would you accept a life with a Roman soldier?"
Oriana then did something that surprised him. She clasped his hand and quickly wrapped the ribbon she used to tie back her hair around their wrists. Her voice was hesitant as she offered, "For a year and a day?"
Opis blinked, but thought carefully before he spoke. "No, Oriana, that won't do at all. Forever and a day it must be."
He could feel her smile as she brushed his knuckles with a kiss. "Forever and a day, I accept the life of this Roman soldier, Opis Novius."
Later as Opis held his sleeping bride in his arms, he finally understood Mallus' need to get Brina back. He swore he would do everything to help Mallus find some happiness in his life.
TBC
Author Notes:
Sorry for the delay in posting, but the week has been too busy. Thanks for being patient.
Thank you for your comments. I'll take care of Flitwick's name later (I knew it looked wrong). I actually see Oriana and Opis as ancestors of a mighty wizard, Albus Dumbledore. I'm sure I have some practical details wrong, but the elements of the story work out.
Now I have time to write, so the next update should be here in a few days.