There's a Place
By Phoenix's Melody
Chapter Two: Adeste Fideles (Part One)
July 31st, 1981
Isle of Avalon
"Who goes there?"
A calm female voice rang out into the deathly still night air, following an ancient ritual established long before she was born.
"Here are only Children of Avalon and a guest who comes at the High Lord's bidding, Lady of the Watch."
"Then enter, my Siblings, with your guest."
The barge bumped hard against land and one of the figures onboard pitched forward, evidently still not used to the landing that his companions were prepared for. Before the man could lose his dignity by falling facedown into the marshy shore, two of his companions quietly steadied him while the other passengers pretended that they were occupied with other matters and had seen nothing.
"Please, this way sir," one of the male passengers said politely to the tall headmaster, who nodded. His face was unreadable as he was led off the barge onto the island into a sinister-looking forest which pierced the clear starry sky. A light breeze came off of the water, making his companions' cloaks flare-out like butterfly wings as they parted company: some headed towards a tall white building in the distance; others disappeared into the clusters of homes nestled among the hills; and a few followed the same path into the forest.
Flora Williams shivered slightly in the fog. Her sister stood next to her on the barge as they drifted through the gray mist. Both women were dressed in long white robes reminiscent of Roman tunics. Both had also wisely thrown warm cloaks over their uniforms to ward off the cool summer night air.
"I have to say, the High Lady certainly chose a strange time for this Council," murmured Angela Defleur.
"Don't complain, Angela; it could be worse," her younger sister replied. "At least she didn't call you out of a Ministry of Magic meeting. That would raise questions, and we can't afford questions about your loyalty right now."
"I know, Flora." Angela sighed quietly, her face clearly troubled by the dangers that faced her Auror colleagues at the Ministry. "Still, a sudden call in the middle of night, especially now, is just not safe. If Albert hadn't been so involved with the Cooper murders, I wouldn't have been able to get away. It will be a pain getting away from him when we get married. And I still haven't traced his bloodlines. What did you say to James?" Angela inquired after Flora's wizard husband.
"Nothing," Flora frowned. "I couldn't find him at all. He has been disappearing a lot lately."
"You couldn't find him in the middle of the night? Your devoted husband who usually trails you night and day and makes it nearly impossible for you to answer the High Lady's summons could not be found by your bedside tonight?" Angela turned to look disbelievingly at her sister.
"No, he said he had a late night at work…though I can't imagine what business could possibly keep him until three in the morning." Flora shook her head. "I mean, if he was an Auror I could understand, but he's off-duty from St. Margo's this week…"
"Has he been acting strangely lately…?" Angela trailed off.
"Watch your step," Flora said sharply, "before it becomes your undoing. You've spent too much time at the Ministry. You're getting cynical. No, he wouldn't be unfaithful. He's not that kind of man. And don't even think about him being a Death Eater!"
"I'm sorry. I know James is the faithful type, but you see things in my line of work…betrayals of the worst kind….and you did say he was a bit elusive about his past."
"As if I wasn't myself!" Flora replied. "For Lady's sake, there are just some things you don't abruptly tell your mortal spouse without preamble if you don't want your marriage to fall apart. The Isle is one of them; could you imagine his reaction if he found out that I am a Daughter of Avalon? And besides, his bloodlines don't matter! You know that we marry for love, not for blood! Not like them!"
"You do know that you were supposed to tell him before you married?" Angela shot her sister a disgruntled look.
"I was not expecting him to elope with me!"
"You could have told him afterwards! There's no excuse for not telling him Flora!"
"There is if you're too caught up in the moment!"
"And what about after the moment has passed?" retorted Angela.
"When did that ever happen? I believe that we are in the middle of a war!" snapped Flora.
"How about when you two are alone together," came the sarcastic reply, "That might be an opportune time!"
"Oh, so I am supposed to roll over in bed and say 'Dear, there is something that I need to tell you.' And then proceed to dump the news on him abruptly. Would that work for you?" asked Flora, exasperated.
"Yes!"
Flora was wordless at her sister's reprimand. Angela rarely let her fiery tempter get the better of her. But Angela was unusually upset and angry that night. She had ample reason to be. She was an Auror and her coworkers were dying around her every day. Someone close to her had Walked that night; someone dear to her heart. The sisters looked away from each other, each gathering her thoughts. There was an uneasy silence on the barge.
"I'm sorry Flora," Angela said finally.
"It's okay. I think I'm glad you're still here to yell at me," said Flora, turning towards Angela and putting a hand on her shoulder. "I was scared out of my wits yesterday when Albert owled to tell me that you nearly got yourself killed arresting Rabastan Lestrange."
"I'll be more careful next time we go on a raid," Angela replied grimly as she thought of her coworker, John McKinnon, who had been killed a few hours earlier. She looked out into the mist, wondering if John had passed by Avalon already and who had guided, or was guiding, him to the Lands of the Dead.
"I'm sorry about John." Flora knew that his death would hit Angela hard. After all, the two had been romantically involved during their teenage years and had remained close friends after they parted ways. All Flora could do was to offer her support and a shoulder to cry on.
Flora shifted her weight as if she was smoothing some ruffled feathers back into place. She sighed, "Angela, how am I going to tell James, especially now? What if he doubts me?"
"You don't have a choice," Angela murmured heavily. "If he comes, James needs that protection we offer. You have to tell him a little bit at a time I suppose. I have to tell Albert soon…somehow."
"Well, at least James isn't an Auror… He's not that cynical." Flora's voice was just slightly hopeful.
"We are cynical of others because of what we see when we go to work every day."
"Don't think the hospital staff doesn't get cynical and jaded by the bodies that come every day."
"When will this end?"
"I haven't a clue. But soon, I pray, soon."
The sisters fell silent as the faintest outlines of a massive island appeared out of the thick fog. As they approached, the sisters could see the hills and valleys that dotted the ancient land and towering over it all, the white temple in which celebrations were held. Both women had accepted their vows there: swearing loyalty and faithfulness to the High Rulers. And when both women finally revealed Avalon's existence to their spouses, they would celebrate a wedding beneath the domed roof of the temple, having their marriage officially recognized and protected.
Funerals were also held in the glowing building. There had been only seven funerals of Children in the history of Avalon; one had been held only a few months ago as Voldemort began to attack Avalonian families. Flora and Angela had not known the Lord Druid well, but they mourned his death just the same. It was another reason for Avalon to fight the Dark One: to gain revenge.
"Who goes there?" a woman's voice demanded from the swirls of mist.
"Two Daughters of Avalon return at the High Lady's summons, Lady of the Watch," Angela called out into the darkness. The sisters waited for a reply.
"Then welcome to the Isle, my Sisters," the Lady of the Watch said. The barge, which had been halted in its progress towards the island when the Lady of the Watch had demanded its passengers identify themselves, moved forward once more. With a gentle lurch, the barge bumped against the sacred land that few outside those of Avalon's blood dared tread.
A young woman, no older than twenty-five, stood at the water's edge with a silver bell in hand. In the moonless night, she could only be distinguished from the hillside by light blue dress she wore, outlined by the silver cloak draped around her. A small watch fire burned in a ring of stones next to her. The woman pushed back a stray blond curl as she smiled weakly in greeting as Angela and Flora stepped off the bobbing barge.
"Sister Hannah, how goes the Watch?" Flora inquired.
"Fine, fine for a busy night," Hannah Durningham replied a little too quickly and sounding distant as she laid the silver bell on the grass. "The High Lady would speak to you about a matter of importance," she added more formally.
"Hannah, why is your daughter Alice out here with you on the Watch?" Angela asked, concerned. Flora heard a quiet sigh and saw the pile of blankets that was at Hannah's feet. She also noted Hannah's forced cheerfulness. Hannah's face was white. Flora had presumed it was from the cool breeze that seemed chilly after the summer's sun, but upon closer scrutiny, she saw that Hannah had been crying.
"Hannah, what's wrong?" Flora asked quietly, dropping all formality as she put a comforting hand on Hannah's silver-cloaked shoulder. Hannah sank down onto a stone and buried her face in her hands as she began to shake with sobs. The sisters exchanged worried looks and knelt down on the ground next to her.
"I — The High Lady — I am to give Alice — I am to give her to the Outer World," Hannah gasped between sobs.
"What?" Flora exclaimed quietly as Angela asked, "When?"
Hannah took a few calming breaths before replying, "The High Lady has asked me to give Alice into the care of a Descendent who will raise my daughter in the Outer World."
"I cannot believe that she would do such a thing to you, not after Aga — ," Flora murmured. Hannah held up a shaking hand, and stopped Flora from speaking any further.
"No, please, don't speak of him," pleaded Hannah with pain in her voice.
"I'm sorry," Flora said, apologetic. Angela looked away from Hannah, who did not miss the guilt written on Angela's features. Hannah laid a gentle hand on Angela's arm.
"Don't burden yourself, Sister," Hannah said quietly. "You chose your path and follow it faithfully. When you arrested him, it was your duty to do so. Agathocles chose his own path. The Source gave him a chance to escape; one he didn't take—not for me, and not for Alice. He has been dead to me since that night; I must learn to move on. It's not your fault that I mourn still."
The three friends shared a moment of silence after Hannah's words. Six years ago, Angela, being an Auror, had arrested Hannah's Death Eater husband for treason to Avalon and turned him over to the High Rulers for punishment. It had devastated Hannah, but she held no grudge against her old friend. Then Angela asked, "Did the High Lady say why?"
"No, she was upset when she talked to me, which makes me think that the Source forced her to order this separation. But I also think it has something to do with why she wants to talk to you tonight."
Angela immediately looked at her sister. Unconsciously, Flora's hand had gone to her stomach. Hannah did not need to ask to know that Flora was expecting her first child.
"I could hardly think she will ask the same thing of you that she has asked of me…" Hannah's voice trailed off. She suddenly grasped the sisters' hands.
"Promise me, if I let Alice go, promise me that both of you will watch over her," she said with the fierceness and desperation of a protective mother.
"I promise, Hannah," Angela said, "with all that Fate allows me to wield, I will watch over Alice."
"I too pledge this, my Sister," Flora said, squeezing Hannah's hand gently. Tears ran down Hannah's face again and she embraced the sisters in turn.
"Thank you, thank you," whispered Hannah. She wiped away her tears as Angela asked, "Do you know who Alice's guardian will be?"
Hannah did not answer; instead, her attention was focused out on the water. She stood up, hearing something in the mist. The faint birdcall of the blue jay signaled that a barge was approaching. Flora and Angela fell silent. The soft creaking of wood drifted across the water.
"Who goes there?" Hannah called.
"Only Sons of Avalon who return to the Isle at the summons of Merlin, the High Lord, Lady of the Watch. May we enter?" a familiar voice called across the water. Flora turned white and grasped her sister's arm for support.
"Well, I think James' late night business just got explained," said Angela matter-of-factly to Flora who had been shocked wordless. "You're also saved the trouble of telling him," continued Angela who sounded almost cheerful at the fact. If she wasn't so shaken, Flora might have playfully slapped her sister for that comment.
Hannah shot a puzzled look at her friends before replying into the mist, "Then welcome to the Isle, my Druid Brothers."
The barge, full of men, soon touched against the Isle and the Druids disembarked. The men passed the three hooded Priestesses without a word. Flora reached out a hand and, by luck or by intuition, caught her husband's arm as he passed by. He stopped, turning to face the Priestess with words of greeting on his lips. But the words never left his lips as he looked into his wife's steady hazel eyes. Shock crossed his robust features.
"Flora, what are you doing here?" James demanded.
"Might I ask the same of you?" Flora replied, trying to subdue her shaken mind.
"I-I — you're not supposed to be here my dearest," James said with forced calm. His eyes widened as he took in his wife's dress. Flora surveyed his Druid clothing and a slight smile graced her lips as she appreciated how handsome he looked in them.
James's eyes returned to meet his wife's. "You serve Nimuë?" he asked slowly.
"As you serve Merlin," Flora said pointed out, while marveling at the same time how things worked themselves out.
"If we had told each other before we married…" James trailed off.
"It would have saved us a lot of needless worry. Tell me Fate doesn't have a sense of humor."
"Apparently Fate saw it fit for us to be husband and wife forever."
Hannah cleared her throat quietly, "Sisters, the High Lady has patience. Brother James, the High Lord awaits your presence."
"We'll talk later," Flora said quietly as James took her hand.
"And we will tell each other everything," James said, giving Flora a swift kiss on the lips before he strode away up the hill towards the clearing where his Siblings were gathering. Angela and Flora exchanged quick good-byes and reassurances with Hannah before hurrying up to the temple to meet the High Lady.
Author's Note/Disclaimer: The title of this chapter translates from Latin into "Be present, faithful ones." Thanks to Ruth and Beth for all of their help and advice. Anything that seems familiar does not belong to me.
Further Note: I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll try to update as often as I can, but things are beginning to deteriorate into chaos. I'm beginning to suffer from what a lot of other student-writers suffer: school, stress, homework, exams, and sleep deprivation.