Summary: How does a quarrelsome wizard find a reluctant witch? Brina now enters the picture.

Weaving the Threads

Tapestry
Day 5, morning

After a late breakfast, Remus was sitting quietly at the table of the meeting room of the garrison. His attitude was pensive as he considered how to gauge his actions. He had left Tonks speaking with Oriana over breakfast to have a few minutes alone before his next encounter with his past.

Mallus soon walked into the room beside Opis and mumbled, "Damn, I was hoping it was all a dream."

"You did promise not to kill them, though." Opis patted Mallus on the shoulder.

Mallus merely grunted as he looked suspiciously at Remus, but then Tonks and Oriana entered the room from the opposite door and lowered their hoods.

"Augh, my eyes! What the hell is that on your head?" Mallus squinted, then raised his hand and twitched his fingers. "Stay still, I think I can singe it off."

Tonks jumped back with a squeal, "Back off, you moron, it's my hair."

Tonks had been in a chipper mood this morning since she had discovered that her magic was back. She had changed her hair on their walk from the Optio's quarters to the meeting room. The color was a hot pink and even Remus had to admit that it was practically glowing.

"It burns my eyes. Make her stop," he said to Remus.

"Tonks, we're here to help," reminded Remus as he noticed she was raising her wand at Mallus. "Perhaps you could dampen the fluorescence?"

"Fine," she replied. The pink was now pastel as she moved toward Remus. "I just got tired of being mistaken for Brina."

"Brina can change herself, too," said Oriana. "But I don't think I've ever seen her use that color."

"It's a rare ability where we come from," said Tonks as she exchanged a speculative glance with Remus before sitting by him on the bench.

"And so it is here," assured Opis as they all took a seat.

"Brina could change lots of aspects of her body," said Mallus with a leering glance at Tonks. "But regardless of her appearance, she still holds fire in her heart, unlike other women I could mention."

He threw the last like an accusation, so Tonks spit back, "You just don't have what it takes to light the flame, Mallus."

"I'm sorry to reject your challenge, Tonks," said Mallus as he made her name sound like an insult, "but I have to devote my attention to my bride."

"Challenge? Why you pompous, obstreperous, overbearing, self-centered--"

"I've been telling him that for years, Lady; I can assure you it does no good," murmured Opis as Mallus nodded in confirmation and grinned at her.

"Tonks, I appreciate your restraint." Remus spoke into her ear and put his arm lightly around her shoulders.

"Just remember you owe me big for not blasting that grin off his face," she hissed, but she used the opportunity to lean into Remus and moved his arm around her waist.

"Now that we're all here, we can make our plans," began Opis. "Oriana, why don't you start?"

Oriana seemed to be bubbling over with joy this morning. "I sent an owl early this morning and I've arranged a meeting with Brina."

"What? You mean you could have done this all along?" asked Mallus in disbelief.

"You never asked," responded Oriana blithely.

"Well, why are we wasting our time? Take me to her," said Mallus.

"Oh, no, I didn't say Brina would talk to you, Mallus. I said I've arranged to meet with my sister," explained Oriana patiently.

Tonks couldn't prevent the smirk she cast at Mallus, especially given the way his left eye was twitching.

Mallus finally exploded. "This is no time for games, Oriana! Senator Dacien is on his way to this garrison--"

"What? But he wasn't supposed to show up until Spring. Why wasn't I informed? I am his son, after all," said Opis with a frown.

"Wait. Who is Senator Dacien and why is his arrival a matter of urgency?" asked Remus. His quiet, sober tones had the effect of calming the group.

Opis was the one to explain. "Senator Dacien Novius is my father." He raked his hand through his hair as if the next words galled him. "Technically he's the--the custodian of the Lupinus wizards."

Remus looked at Mallus and Opis. It was obvious from their interactions that despite their different personalities, they were as much brothers as he was with Sirius. "What is your role in this, Opis?"

Opis opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't seem able to vocalize the words.

"He's been my watchdog since we were boys," said Mallus with his usual wry tone. "We made sure Dacien only saw animosity between us and fostered the idea that I'm a weak wizard."

"We volunteered for this garrison as part of our plan to get away from him, to give Mallus a chance to live freely," said Opis. "But we weren't expecting Father until spring."

"Dacien could have become suspicious of you," offered Remus.

Tonks chimed in, "Are you certain this Senator is in Briton?"

"I sent a scout out yesterday after I got wind of the gossip. He confirmed the Senator's banner." Mallus looked at Opis. "A wolf on a chain. We need to get to Brina before Dacien finds out about her."

Opis turned to Oriana. "He won't ignore her. Mallus kept her with him for two months before she ran off."

Tonks sighed, "Every man in this garrison knows they were lovers then. And that she's a witch?"

"Enough that Father will want to meet her," confirmed Opis with a shake his head. "I warned you about this, Mallus."

"And I'd take the risk again," said Mallus firmly.

"Our only advantage is that no one but us knows she's pregnant," said Opis.

"But Brina has hidden from you for two months, Mallus. Surely no ordinary man could find her?" Oriana began. Wasn't her sister safer if she kept her distance from Mallus now?

"Dacien would like nothing better than to have a hostage he could use against me." Mallus responded with an ominous tone. "He'd send for a wizard hunter to track her down."

"But that means you can't hide from him either," said Remus. "Wouldn't he send a wizard hunter after you if you vanished?"

"Not if we can fake Mallus' death successfully with my father as an eye witness," assured Opis. "And I've been working on a plan." He frowned and added, "It looks like the plan just got more complicated."

- - - - - - - - - - -

An hour later the company approached a hut at the center of a forest. Opis drove the horse carriage with Oriana seated at his side. The rest of the company sat quietly in the carriage, each keeping to their own thoughts.

The carriage stopped and Remus could see that Mallus wasn't going to follow the plan. Instead, as soon as he heard Brina's voice greet Oriana, he slammed the door of the carriage open and jumped out.

Tonks finally got a good look at Brina. Her hair was midnight black and framed a heart-shaped face. Although she could justify a similarity in visage, Brina's features were much sharper than her own.

Opis quickly put an arm across Oriana so she wouldn't jump off. Tonks and Remus cautiously stepped out of the carriage, but kept their heads covered with the hood of their cloaks. They chanted protego to keep Opis and Oriana clear of the fallout as they watched the lover's reunion.

"Brina!"

Brina opted for violence rather than voice. Tonks and Remus both heard the hiss as darts of fire struck the carriage when Mallus deflected them.

"Put down your little stick, Brina. You know it won't work against me," taunted Mallus as he took a step closer to his intended bride.

"Go chase your wolves, Mallus." Brina had a feral smile on her face as she sent needles of flaming power at him.

"But I like this chase much better," Mallus captured her energy and sent it into a flower of flames above them. He took another step closer. "You're mine, Brina."

"No! You're nothing to me now." Brina made a swirling motion with her wand and a net captured Mallus.

"I'm the father of your son," he said as he thrust his arms to break the net.

"Son?" Brina seemed stunned and threw a glance at Oriana who nodded. This time Brina managed to surprise Mallus by pelting him with snowballs. "You'd imprison me until he's born."

"I will have you and I will have my son," said Mallus as he recovered his wits sufficiently to flick away the snowballs.

"This is my baby and we don't need you." Brina's wand flashed with power.

"Still full of fire, I see," responded Mallus as he dodged the fireball and lunged forward quickly to grab her wrists. He pulled Brina against his body and said, "You need to put your energies to better use."

With that Mallus tossed Brina over his shoulder and carried her into the hut.

"He'd force himself on her?" asked Tonks in disbelief. Remus could do nothing to his ancestor, so she raised her wand, but Opis stopped her with a light touch as he jumped off the wagon.

"They're made for each other, Lady. Just wait," he said as he helped Oriana off the driver's seat.

Although they couldn't see what was going on, the company outside the hut could well imagine the scene inside from the sounds.

Crack! Crockery being broken on a thick head.

Ptew! Brina spitting because Mallus managed to get a kiss in.

"Yoummmf!" Another score for Mallus with a deeper kiss.

"Ow!" A swift kick to his shin!

"Eek!" Mallus restraining Brina.

Silence, some muffled noises, the sound of cloth ripping. Definite moaning.

The laughter of a woman who taunted, "Are you up to a long, hard ride?"

"Try me if you dare," replied the man.

The sounds now were unmistakable. The company shifted uncomfortably until Tonks drew out her wand and cried, "Silencio."

"Oh, thank you," said Opis with sincere appreciation. She'd managed to stop the sounds before the real show started.

- - - - - - - - - -

The four of them waited in the carriage. Tonks occasionally lifted her silencing spell, only to hastily reapply it. After about a half hour, there was silence in the hut.

"Well this should be a good sign, right?" ventured Tonks.

"More like the calm before the storm," predicted Opis, but he seemed content to sit in the carriage with Oriana leaning against him.

"He's coming out," said Remus, who had been diligently watching the hut. The company stepped out of the carriage without their hoods, but Tonks had made her hair a mousy brown again. They caught the newest point of contention between the blissful couple.

"That's preposterous! We don't have time to go cavorting around the countryside," insisted Mallus as he stalked out of the hut. "I've already told you that I wouldn't kill my own child, son or daughter."

"I want proof of your devotion, Mallus," said Brina as she followed him out. Brina stopped abruptly and said, "And who are these people? They look familiar somehow."

"Remus, a very distant relation, and his, uh, Tonks," said Mallus off-handedly. "Oriana, talk some sense into your sister."

"Oh, but I have a different announcement--"

"Don't you avoid the issue, Mallus. How do I know you won't take my son away after he's born? I won't be used as a brood mare. What have you ever done to show that you care for me?"

Mallus turned to Opis for some help, but he merely shrugged. Mallus snapped his fingers quickly and said, "I didn't kill you when we first met. And I gave you the baby."

"It was such a sacrifice for you to have me in your bed and to be a vessel to your son," Brina said sarcastically with a hand on her hip. Tonks was beginning to like her.

"What do you want of me, then?" said Mallus as he threw his hands up in the air.

"I want you to bring me dragon heartstrings, a unicorn hair and a phoenix feather," said Brina. "And I'll know if you try to substitute because I'm going with you."

"She must be working on developing wands," murmured Remus to Tonks who nodded in agreement.

Mallus waved his hands in agitation, then scornfully asked, "And how does eviscerating a lizard, snatching a horse hair and plucking a chicken show my devotion to you?"

Brina's voice softened as she approached Mallus. "Because there's nothing in it for you except for my happiness."

"We've had reports of a dragon rampaging around the northwest coast of the island, Mallus. It would be good to stop it before it moves south," said Opis.

Brina added in challenge, "What's wrong, Mallus? Aren't you strong enough to face one of our little green dragons?"

"Fine, I'll get the dragon," said Mallus with his arms crossed over his chest.

"And the unicorn hair," said Brina.

"You can't expect me to get close to a unicorn. I'm no virgin!"

"There's an understatement," muttered Tonks to Remus.

"I want the unicorn hair, Mallus," insisted Brina. "They've been spotted roaming in the grasslands near the sea by my little sisteres."

"How do you expect me to--" Mallus turned abruptly and pointed a finger at Oriana. "Ha! You can be useful to me again. You'll be the lure."

"Oh, but well, I can't you see because..."

Oriana's voice drifted away in a blush as Opis clasped her hand and turned to Mallus. Before he could say anything, Mallus spoke with a definite tone of exasperation.

"Oh, no, don't tell me that after all these days you finally did it? How could you?"

Opis held their entwined hands up to plain view and his message was clear before his explanation. "Mallus, Brina, I'd like to present my wife, Oriana."

"Handfast," murmured Tonks to Remus. She resisted the temptation of taking his hand in hers at the moment.

"Even under Roman law they're considered married now," said Remus. "Opis just declared Oriana his wife in front of witnesses."

There was a moment of cheerful greetings at that point between the sisters and Opis while Mallus continued to grumble about the inconvenience of it all. Thus, it came as a surprise when Remus spoke in his quiet tone.

"I'll lure the unicorn."

Everyone stopped to look at him, but Mallus was the one most surprised. "Oh, surely you don't mean that at your age?"

Remus merely inclined his head and said, "I can serve as your lure. My reasons are not at issue."

"It's your fault, isn't it?" asked Mallus as he pointed a finger at Tonks. "You really are frigid."

"What? Why you--" Tonks began to draw her wand, but felt Remus literally holding her arms at her sides to prevent her movement. He lifted her off the ground when she began kicking and calling, "Oh, come on, Remus, just a furnuculus hex! Let's see how Mallus likes boils all over his body."

"What did you say she was?" asked Brina of Mallus. She had just realized how much the other woman resembled her younger sisters.

"That is a Tonks," said Mallus a shake of his head. "Some men just can't control their women."

Brina was nodding in agreement when a thought occurred to her. "Wait. Just how would you know that Tonks is frigid?"

"Ah, well, I was hit over the head--"

"He kissed me," yelled Tonks as she still struggled against Remus to get at her wand.

"You lecherous beast," accused Brina.

"It was only because my addled brain mistook her for you," said Mallus in defense. "I mean, look at her? She's a pale version of you, Brina."

"Remus let me hex him now!" cried Tonks one last time, but stopped all struggling when Brina slapped Mallus.

Whack!

"I won't have you touching other women, Mallus," said Brina as Mallus grabbed her hand before she could slap him again.

"I don't want any other woman, Brina, and I'll get you every single item on your damned list if that's what it takes to prove it to you."

Remus kept his arms around Tonks who seemed satisfied to lean against him quietly now instead of venting her temper. He used the silence to relay his biggest concern. "We've got the dragon and unicorn targeted, but a phoenix isn't just going to be flying around."

"I spotted one yesterday afternoon on the high ridge two miles from here," Brina explained. "I left some fragrant twigs out for it and it's built a nest with them. I think it's waiting to be reborn."

"Tonks might be the only one who can help you lure the phoenix, Mallus," said Remus.

"I can?" asked Tonks with a bit of surprise. She wasn't even aware one could lure a phoenix.

"The phoenix can be attracted to anything that resembles the gold and red plumage. You should be able to change your hair to the right color so that we can approach it safely," said Remus.

"All right, the Tonks woman can lure the phoenix," said Mallus in resignation.

"Not so fast, Mallus. You didn't say the magic word," said Tonks a bit smugly.

"What magic word?"

"I think the Lady wants you to use your manners, Mallus," prodded Opis. "Go on, I know I've heard you actually say it once or twice."

Mallus narrowed his eyes at his friend in clear displeasure. In a very irritated tone, he asked, "Please?"

"Since it's so obvious that you need help, I will," said Tonks generously. She was proud of herself for not sticking her tongue out at Mallus.

"Good, it sounds like we have a plan," said Opis. "I recommend the phoenix first, then the unicorn, but getting to the dragon will require at least an overnight sojourn. We both can't be gone from the garrison that long unless we're patrolling."

"I think I have something that will work," said Tonks. She walked to the carriage and pulled a bottle out of the pack she was carrying with her.

Remus followed her and asked, "Polyjuice potion?"

"Flitwick managed to convince Snape it could come in handy on this mission. All we need is a hair."

"Good thinking," said Remus. "Oriana, would you be willing to pose as Mallus while we're on this errand? Opis, I assume you can coach her on how to act?"

"Arrogant and ill tempered? Certainly," said Opis, "but thankfully Oriana doesn't look at all like him."

"We can take care of that. Don't worry, it'll only be temporary, just long enough to get you back to the garrison as Mallus," assured Tonks as she walked to Oriana whose eyes popped wide open.

"Oh, I want to help, but how far does this change extend? I mean I wouldn't want Mallus' manly parts."

"We can adjust the dose of the potion so that it mostly affects the shape of the legs and face," assured Tonks. Moody had taught her how to sculpt the effects of the potion, although she never needed it. "Trust me, I wouldn't suggest this to a new bride if I wasn't sure it would wear off by evening."

Oriana looked at Opis who nodded at her. "I'll tell the men that Mallus is still recovering from his head injury last night, so it won't be difficult to stay in close quarters."

"All we need is a bit of specimen," said Remus with a slight smile as he noticed the gleam in Tonks eyes as she began to quietly move.

"What sort of specimen?" asked Mallus. He took two steps back from Remus and right into the hands of Tonks.

She yanked on the hair of Mallus' head and he emitted a mighty yelp.

"Perfect," said Tonks with a smirk as she dropped the hair into the potion.

And so at noon, Mallus and Opis returned the carriage to the Roman Garrison. Mallus was his usual garrulous self. None of the soldiers found it odd that they walked so closely and none of them could see the light touch of their hands as Opis told Mallus to get some rest.

Meanwhile, two wizards and two witches made their plans for teasing a feather from a phoenix, snipping a unicorn hair and facing a deadly dragon.

TBC

Author Notes:

Um, it looks like this is going to be six chapters and that I won't be finished as soon as I expected. I could rush the story and not like it or follow the line it's leading me in, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

Handfast marriages were seen among some Celts and apparently Romans had three different levels of marriages, one being similar to a handfast.

JKR has mentioned Celtic wands, I believe, as a source for the ones she describes in the books and said most cores were dragon heartstrings, unicorn hair and phoenix feathers.

Next chapter will relay the labors of Lupin. Thanks for reading. Hope the holiday breaks are going well for everyone.

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