Chapter 13: Coronation
The tension in the school had been mounting for two years, but only now could the students and staff begin to feel the effects of it. With the constant hushed whispers of you-know-who, and his use of dark magic, a divide began to form between the students that had been apparent in their parents for a few years now.
The leering looks were more than Sairina could stand. The Slytherins were making it know that they did not appreciate the "mudblood" populous of the school. It wasn't just leering looks; there were skirmishes in the halls where several Slytherins would gang up on one other student. Muggle born wizards were beginning to move in packs. Lily and Sairina, however, only kept each other's company.
Sairina was still in heavy training for her impending, approaching coronation ceremony. Her stress level was reaching an all time high, but her sparring practice with Legolas and her brother helped to relieve a majority of the tension. Legolas had been hinting that she should be prepared for any type of attack, at any time. Sairina was now in the habit of constantly having her twin daggers concealed beneath the outer black robes of her uniform. It was like Legolas had said; she always needed to be prepared.
"Sairina," Lily said snapping Sairina out of a trance, "Elfwine wants to know if I can visit this summer." Sairina smiled at her friend's interesting plight.
"Can you?" Sairina asked with a slight cocky air. Lily growled at her friend. It was a Saturday morning and the girls were seated enjoying a lovely breakfast. The days had begun to loose their summer's warmth as it got closer to Halloween, but the sun still shone casting an amber glow in the Great Hall.
"This is serious," Lily sighed and Sairina only laughed. Her laughter subsided when she felt some one place their hand on the small of her back, dangerously close to where the dagger Legolas had given her was concealed. Sairina smiled as Remus sat down next to her and placed a soft kiss on her temple.
"How are you ladies doing this morning?" Remus asked politely. Lily let out a half laugh.
"Frustrated beyond belief," Lily scoffed as she looked around, "Where are the rest of them?" She was of course referring to the other Marauders who were absent. Remus only smiled.
"They are sleeping in late because they were up well into the wee hours of the morning," Remus explained as he buttered some toast, "We were setting things up for the Slytherins for what they did to Marcus." Marcus was a third year Hufflepuff who had been the most recent victim in the Slytherin attacks.
"My knight in shining armor," Sairina sighed dramatically. Remus smirked darkly as he bit into his toast.
"Not quite," He replied after swallowing, "Sairina would you care to go for a walk this morning?" Sairina cast a look at Lily who smiled back and murmured something about having to do an essay and vanished from sight. Remus stood and offered Sairina a hand. "Come, there actually something I need to talk to you about."
The two teens walked out of the Great Hall hand in hand, however, only one of them noticed the shadow that stalked behind them. Sairina took a deep breath that alarmed Remus.
"Wh–" he began but Sairina cut him off.
"It's so beautiful how everything around the castle is so natural?" Sairina asked gently squeezing Remus's arm. Remus took the hint, and acted as if nothing was wrong. It was at this juncture that he noticed they were being followed as well. Trusting Sairina completely he began to follow her as she led him away from the more populated areas of the courtyard. Suddenly, her grip tensed, and she pushed Remus away and flung her outer black cloak off. She spun on her heel and drew out two short blades, just as a person concealed in a cloak and hood swung down hard with a broadsword.
The clang rang clear and loud in the crisp air, and everyone in the courtyard stared at the source. Sairina and her attacker were locked into battle stances with both participants lashing out with incredible agility. The two continued to duel and shift from attacking to defending; the students looked on, enthralled with the fight. Remus drew his wand and pointed it at the attacker, but a firm hand grabbed his wrist and lowered his wand.
"If you want to continue courting my sister," a voice said gruffly, "I would highly suggest not doing that." Remus turned and glared at the speaker, but gasped when he saw who was speaking. The person looked no older than fifteen and had a dangerous glint in his eyes. Remus could have sworn that he was looking at a younger version of Sairina's father.
"Who are you?" Remus demanded. The other teen smiled cockily.
"Prince Eldarion," he replied haughtily, "Sairina's older brother." He spoke with great emphasis while giving Remus a cruel stare, "I can only assume that you are Remus Lupin."
"The one and only," Remus replied in the same tone. The two boys continued to glare at each other, paying no heed to the fight, until someone knocked into Remus and out of the staring contest.
"What the bloody hell is going on, mate?" someone asked before becoming totally enthralled with the fight. The students watched on as the two fighters parried, spun, blocked, and jabbed, Sairina with her two blades, the unknown attacker with his one. Sairina gained the upper hand, knocking the figure off balance. While he regained it, Sairina yanked off the cloak. She was ready to strike, but faltered when she saw who it was.
"Father?" she asked, dropping her guard momentarily. Her father took the opportunity to attack and knocked her blades far from her. She conceded, still bewildered at her father's presence. "Why, father?"
"You must be prepared for anything," he explained helping her retrieve her blades, "Always remember that." He handed her twin daggers back to her. Sairina took them, silently nodding her head. It was at this juncture that Dumbledore had entered the circle that surrounded the father and daughter pair. Aragorn apologized quietly, and Dumbledore merely smiled. He muttered and incantation and there was a bright flash of white light.
Sairina and Remus were seated by the shore of the lake, and Remus had no clue how they had gotten there.
"Weren't you and your . . ." he began confused as Sairina skipped a stone across the glassy surface of the lake, leaving a series of ripples in its wake.
"Yes," Sairina replied pitching another stone, "But Dumbledore did some sort of spell, or memory charm, and the only ones who remember what happened are the ones who know my secret." Remus nodded and stared out at the horizon.
Silence hung between the two teens comfortably. Remus draped and arm lazily around Sairina's shoulders. Sairina stared at him affectionately.
"I believe there was something you wanted to talk to me about?" Sairina asked playfully as she lightly traced her fingers over his chest, "That was the whole reason we came outside in the first place." Remus grimaced inwardly. He couldn't tell her, not yet. He knew he had made a promise to her father to tell her, but he wasn't emotionally ready to handle her reaction yet.
"I can't recall what it was now," Remus lied as Sairina rested her head on his shoulder. She sighed softly.
"I could really stay like this forever," she murmured, Remus held her tighter.
"Me too," he murmured back into her raven locks. The two young lovers jumped when they heard someone clearing their throat loudly behind them. They turned and Remus groaned as he noticed his friends standing just a ways off. Kissing Sairina gently on the temple he said he'd be right back and got up brushing the grass and leaves off of his pants.
Sairina sighed as she pulled her knees up to her chest. The wind whipped across the grounds with a definite winter bite. Sairina skipped one last stone across the lake; it sounded with a splish, splish, splop. Blankly Sairina stared out at the horizon; everything was so pure and perfect in a natural balance. Without fully realizing it, Sairina began to sing.
Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lissë-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.
Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë,
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar!
Nai elyë hiruva! Namárië!
The melody was somber and the tempo slow. Sairina's voice was filled with wavering bittersweet emotion. As Sairina sung her eyes glazed over as she stared out at the horizon; her voice rung clear as it bounced off the surface of the lake. Nature seemed to stop and listen to her soft voice and the gentle words that poured out of her mouth like water pours from a pitcher. It hung on every syllable with a bated breath, anticipating what would come next. When she concluded the song, the world seemed to move once more.
"That was astounding," she felt someone murmur into her ear. Sairina jumped at Remus's closeness and turned to face him.
"I didn't hear you sneak up on me," she said softly, flustered. Remus smiled.
"What were you singing about?" Remus asked softly, "It seemed so sad, and the world seemed to weep upon hearing you sing." Sairina smiled bitterly.
"It is a song my mother sings whenever my father has to leave Gondor," Sairina explained softly, "Namárië means farewell in one of the Elvin tongues. It was a lament sung by my great grandmother years ago. It tells of the fading of the autumn into winter, life into death, and light into darkness." Silence hung between the two teens for a moment.
"It was beautiful," Remus said after a few minutes, "no matter what it was about. Anything you say is music to me." Sairina smiled warmly as Remus held her close.
"What did the boys want?" she asked. She could feel Remus shake with silent laughter.
"They told me the outcome of our prank on the Slytherins," Remus explained, "It sounded quite amusing."
"I'm sorry you missed it," Sairina said apologetically. Remus squeezed her gently.
"Don't be," he murmured almost seductively, "I'd rather spend my time with you than playing pranks." Sairina shivered and Remus kissed the nape of her neck.
"Is that all they wanted?" she asked trying to maintain control of the storm of emotions that was raging within her. Sensing her purpose for a topic change, Remus gave her a bit of room to breath.
"Yes," he replied. The two savored that silence around them.
The year had passed far to quickly for her liking. It had seemed to be only yesterday that Sairina had been sitting on the shore of the lake with Remus savoring the silence that surrounded them. Her head remained in the clouds as she pulled her trunk up to the eighth corridor.
In all sincerity, Sairina's head was spinning. She had gone through her first year of preparation for the O.W.L. tests at the end of next year, plus all of her training for her coronation (which was now only a week away). The good from all of this was that Sairina actually felt prepared.
As she approached the mirror, she smiled to see two other people waiting for her. Remus and Lily turned as soon as they heard Sairina's footsteps echo down the corridor. Sairina smiled at her friend and boyfriend as she set her trunk down.
"You know you could have gone ahead without me," Sairina said honestly as she smiled between the two, "curuni." The portal opened up and the three teens stepped through. They were greeted by the trastahil who were lounging about Sairina's room. The four boys quickly pounced upon Remus and drug him away to his appointed chambers. Much to the dismay of Sairina, he would be shacking up with Elfwine and Elboron.
"You do have your wand right," she called down the hall as the boys bore him away. Sairina smiled as she saw Remus reach his arm over his head and wave his wand around. Sairina went back into her room. Sairina sighed and collapsed down onto her bed and closed her eyes. It was going to be an interesting week . . .
Luckily the week went by quite quickly with only little harassment towards Remus by the trastahil. For the most part, they accepted them as one of their own, but were shocked to discover that he had never fought with a sword before.
"How do you survive without a blade?" Alphros asked astonished. Remus merely smiled and drew his wand.
"This is how, mate," he replied. Eldarion scoffed.
"How can that save you if some one were to attack with an actual weapon?" he asked snidely. Remus stood from where he was seated and assumed a duel stance.
"Care to see, my lord," his voice was sharp and dripping with sarcasm. Eldarion stood and drew his own blade.
"Suits me fine," The two boys began to circle each other when Eldarion lashed out. Remus had trouble dodging the blows, but managed nonetheless. Remus's stamina was beginning to wear down when Eldarion began taunting him.
"What's the matter, wizard," he jeered, "Can't use your stick?" Remus glared at the older boy.
"Expeliarmus!" Remus yelled and Eldarion's sword went flying. From this point, Remus used and interesting combination of jinxes and hexes to batter his opponent before shouting: "Petrificus totalis!" Eldarion then froze and fell to the ground as stiff as a board. Remus casually sauntered over and stood over the prince.
"I can use my wand just fine," Remus smirked before saying the counter spell. When the prince was able to move once more, Remus offered a hand to help him up. Eldarion took it readily.
"I suppose you'll do for my sister," he said giving Remus a once over, "You seem able to fight and protect her."
"Thanks," Remus said with a genuine smile. The boys then began to discuss other topics as boys are apt to do.
The day of the coronation finally arrived, and the whole city was abuzz with excitement. Sairina, however was just simply nervous. She was currently seated in her room wearing a plain, simple linen dress. She only had one of her long daggers strapped to her waist, and she idly sat bouncing her staff from one hand to the other. She just had to sit and wait until the guards retrieved her.
After an eternity of waiting, the door opened and the guard beckoned her forth. She walked in silence through the halls clutching her staff as though it were her only life line. Eventually she stood outside the large wooden doors that led to the main hall. She only had to wait for a moment before the doors opened before her. Sairina stepped confidently into the hall.
She smiled as she saw Denean, the captain of the guard standing in the hall awaiting her approach. The two had sparred several times, mainly with the soldier triumphing, but lately he had been getting a run for his money . . .
Sairina approached him, and, pausing momentarily, gave a slight bow with her head, and he returned the gesture while drawing his sword. Sairina, however, did not draw her blade immediately. Rather, she leaned heavily on her staff eyeing the elder man with an amused glimmer in her eyes.
Denean was the first to strike. He lashed out suddenly, but Sairina blocked him using her staff. The magic-enforced wood did not yield in the slightest to the blow. Denean continued to strike, and Sairina continued to block, but every once in a while she managed to plant a blow with her staff to his stomach or the back of his knees. This carried of for several minutes before Sairina drew her blade.
Denean could barely withstand the full frontal attack of her blade, for her skill was now deadly, but the insulting blows she placed with her staff were more than the skilled commander could handle. He yielded a few minutes later once Sairina had disarmed him.
Taking a deep breath, Sairina sheathed her blade and continued forward, leaning heavily on her staff. She was intercepted by Faramir.
"My lady," he said graciously, "I fear I need your opinion on a matter of state that is most important." Sairina nodded to acknowledge she was listening, "Lord Eomer had expressed growing concern with Rohan's current ties with Dunland. They had come to an agreement over land rights after Sauron fell, but now Dunlanders are steadily creeping back into Rohan. Eomer seeks you council." Sairina closed her eyes in concentration for a moment.
"Send word to Eomer that he should offer land to the Dunlanders," Sairina said eventually, "However it must come at a price. Advise Eomer to consider bargaining with those of Dunland, but attaching stipulations to various amounts of land he is to offer."
"Explain," Faramir inquired. Sairina opened her eyes.
"For every acre of land he offers," Sairina continued, "there should be some price attached to it, something that is not outrageous, but keeps them from being too greedy. Or perhaps some type of stipulation that comes with the land, such as giving the land with no cost, but giving up a portion of the harvest of the land for a period of several years to cover the debt." Faramir inclined his head.
"Very well said, my lady," he replied moving out of the princess's way. The young woman approached her father and bent down on one knee with her silvery staff towering above her.
"My father and king," she said softly bowing her head, "Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor as its future queen. Upon my life, I swear to uphold what is right and fair, and condemn the wicked and impure, but I shall never forget that within each living person there is a beating heart and that the light of life is easily extinguished by actions or words. I will hold to this oath in peace and war, in the warmth of life or at the brink of death, until my very last breath leaves my chest."
Smiling, King Elessar drew his sword and gently tapped his daughter on each shoulder. The young woman raised her head and looked anxiously at her father.
"Arise," the king said extending a hand to aid her, "People of Gondor, I am proud to present to you my daughter, Princess Sairina, crowned as second in succession for this land's throne." Cheers arose from the people in the hall as father and daughter stood beaming on the steps before the throne.
Once the cheers died down, Sairina quickly went over to her friends who stood beaming in their formal attire. Seeing them in something other than the black Hogwarts robes caused Sairina to smile. Lily rushed forward to embrace her friend.
"You were brilliant!" she said hugging Sairina tightly, "And here you were, worried senseless." Sairina smiled sheepishly to her friend.
"It's just all very nerve wracking," she attempted to defend herself. Lily opened her mouth to berate her friend more, but Remus stepped in.
"Lily's right though," he said smiling at his girlfriend, "You were bloody brilliant," he stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her slim waist, "I am so proud of you," her murmured in her ear. Sairina blushed accordingly and gave Remus and affectionate kiss on the cheek.
"Come along then," Sairina said pulling out of her embrace with Remus, "There is a feast waiting for us." The three teens followed the few people moving into the dining room for the feast laughing and talking. Sairina was definitely ready to celebrate putting this whole ordeal behind her.
There were other people celebrating her coronation as well, but in a very different manner.
Lord Gange sat quietly in his study sipping some of the finest wine in the kingdom. As he sat her turned the pages of a book idly, waiting fir his servant to arrive. The door slowly swung open.
"Well?" he demanded to the sickly looking man.
"She went through the ceremony," he mumbled, "She successfully accomplished all of her tasks."
"As if there were any doubt," Lord Gange scoffed snapping the book shut, "Very well. This is what I have been waiting for. The board is set and it is time to move the pieces."
"Sir?" the servant asked, confused as always. Lord Gange moved silently to the window and stared out harshly at the horizon.
Send word to out man in Rohan that he can carry out his part," Lord Gange commanded as he clenched his hands behind his back, "Send word to Amrhad and Gohlrop that they need to come to Gondor at once, and I will send word once they arrive to the city where we should meet." The servant nodded and bowed out of the room. A rare smile spread across the Lord's face.
Soon, Sauron will rise and reign once more.