Chapter 12: A Father's Decision
" . . . And I fought against him and eventually knocked him away long enough to let go of the palantir," Sairina paused to let out a sigh, and Remus gently pulled her into a tender embrace, "The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital wing with Lily and you, and the other Marauders. Then I remembered the prophecy and knew I had to tell my father."
The two teens were seated on a bench in one of the many gardens of the palace, and Sairina spent the past hour and a half telling Remus her life story. The entire time he sat listening quietly and taking everything in. And Sairina told him everything. She told him about the prophecy, the tale of the ring, her family, everything that she could possibly think of that he should know. Remus had sat in silence the entire time, listening to her intently. Now he stood and walked towards a nearby tree and leaned on it for support.
"You're silence is maddening, you know," Sairina huffed from her seat on the bench as she wrung her hands. Remus looked at her from the corner of his eye.
"It's just all so unbelievable, Sai," he groaned rubbing his forehead, "It's a lot to take in all at once." He turned towards her, and noticed she had her eyes shut. He knew she was holding back tears. Sighing he returned to her side and gently stroked her cheek. She opened her eyes, and Remus could see the tears forming in those brilliant blue orbs. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead and held her in a gentle embrace.
"Despite all of it," he murmured into her ear, "I still feel the same way I felt before. I love you." Remus could feel her smile into his shoulder as she let out a light laugh. She pulled away from him, and he wiped the tears from her cheeks. Remus smiled as he leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers.
Before their kiss could deepen, the sound of someone clearing their throat caused the two teens to jump apart. Sairina turned sheepishly towards the direction of the intruder.
"Ada," she said meekly, "Remus and I were just talking . . ." her father held up a hand and Remus grimaced in his seat as the king strode forward towards where they sat. The king towered above them like an oncoming storm before he spoke.
"Sairina," he began tersely, "I must have a few words with your suitor then the both of you will return to Hogwarts." Sairina nodded and cast one last look of hopefulness at Remus before she vanished into the gardens. Remus tensed visibly as the king sat down next to him.
"My Lord," Remus began shakily, "I know that may have . . ." The king once again held up his hand calling for silence. Remus complied, but he was in an internal panic. He hadn't meant for the king, Sairina's father, to see them kissing.
"A daughter is very precious to her father," he began. While Remus had been looking at the king this whole time, the king stared out at some point in the horizon, "Would you not agree Remus Lupin?"
"Yes, sir," Remus replied humbly wringing his hands. The king let out a deep sigh and carried on.
"Has she told you about the prophecy?" The king demanded looking at Remus sharply from the corner of his eye. Remus nodded
"She told me how her great grandmother had predicted that she would be the one to stop it," Remus replied. The king turned suddenly to Remus and eyed him critically.
"Her great grandmother predicted far more than her involvement with this prophecy," the king said curtly, Remus meant to question him, but he continued on, "Lady Galadriel saw that she would be going to another world for schooling, and what lay in store for my daughter. 'In this other world, she will have her heart stolen by a man, a man with two faces. One face is an intelligent, mild-mannered man. The other is a horrible beast with an unquenchable thirst for blood.' What do you make of this, Remus?"
Remus gulped audibly. The king smiled and stood from the bench. Remus opened and closed his mouth trying to come up with a quick lie, but nothing was coming to him.
"So it be true then," the king said with a note of amusement in his voice, "You do not deny it. What is it you hide, child?" Remus was startled by the king's tone of this last question. He wasn't accusing Remus, his tone was gentle and understanding. Remus took a deep breath.
"I am a werewolf, sir," he said casting a dark look at the ground, "I was bitten when I was five years old." King Elessar turned and rested a hand on Remus's shoulder.
"Does my daughter know it yet?" he probed. Remus sighed.
"No, not yet," Remus sighed thinking darkly on what that conversation would entail, "but I intend to as soon as I have your permission to date . . . erm . . . court her." The king nodded.
"May I assume that your intentions are pure?" The king asked as Remus nodded, "Good, for if I hear otherwise, I will hunt you down and make you wish you had never met my daughter." Remus once again gulped audibly and the king chuckled, "You have my permission." With that the king silently stalked away. Remus ran his hands nervously through his shaggy blonde hair. He took a few deep breaths before standing and making his way back to the castle.
A/N: I know that this was short, but I'm pretty much going to gloss over their fourth year, because (unlike Harry's fourth year) nothing really starts happening until the summer after.