Rhyann looked at herself in the mirror again and nervously smoothed out her robes. Her hands were trembling still and she could not make them stop. Why did it have to be today? It was Christmas Eve and it was suppose to be a happy day spent with her family. Now she could not enjoy any special holiday foods for her stomach would not hold anything down and she was too distracted to want to go on a sleigh ride or even bother with her cousins when they started acting up.
Everyone had been in high spirits this holiday season. When her uncles had come to tell her that she had been summoned to the Dark Lord, they had done so happily and proudly. She had never met Voldemort face-to-face. Seeing him in her dreams was bad enough. The Dreamer could not even think of a reason why he would want to meet her when he could just contact her through the dreaming realm. She was feeling queasier by the minute. Yet she had taken more care with the barriers around her mind than her wardrobe and that was the only reason she was not falling to the floor with her fear.
There was a knock at the door and Darcy poke in his head. "Are you ready, my dear?"
"Yes, uncle. Do I look presentable?" She motioned to her black robes with the family crest over the heart.
He smiled, nodding. "You look lovely as always." Coming in, Darcy kissed her forehead and put a comforting arm across her shoulders. "There's no need to be nervous, my dear. It is an honor to be summoned to see our Lord like this. This is a good time for him and all of us."
Rhyann gave him a little fae smile. "I know. I still can't help being nervous though."
"A little nerves never hurt anyone." Darcy assured her and led her out of the room. Christmas decorations sparkled in the hall and the top of their tree poked up above the railing of the main staircase from where it sat in their central hall. "We will get Tristian and then apparate over to the Malfoys. From there, we will take you to the Dark Lord's."
She stopped in her tracks, pulling him to come to a halt as well. "The Malfoys? Why do we have to go there first?"
"Both you and the boy have been called to our Lord's. It is proper we all arrive together." Darcy replied simply and tugged her to continue along. She did not resist and he gave her hand a pat. "I am hoping that you can stay at Rookwood Manor longer after this evening. I am not yet ready to give you back up to Lucius and his family."
Her free hand ran along the bannister as they descended the stairs. She leaned in and on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. "I am not ready to go either. Maybe something good will come out of this then."
Tristian was waiting for them at the foot of the stairs and took his niece by the other arm. The three of them then apparated to the front hall of Malfoy Manor. Rhyann was not surprised that Draco and his family were waiting for them to arrive. The handsome young wizard came over and took her from her uncles, kissing her tenderly. She thought she could feel a bit of shaking in his hands as well.
"Rhyann, it's so good to see you again. Even just a few days away from you is such torture." Draco lay a few more kisses upon her face and then held her to him tightly, his strong arms engulfing her.
She was not so surprised by how he greeted, but she was in the fact that she sensed he was nervous about going to meet the Dark Lord as well and was looking to her to comfort him. Rhyann would like to see him squirm for a while about it, but she needed the solace as well. It was the two of them that Voldemort had summoned after all. They would have to face him together. Since his betrayal, she could not rely on him being there for her, but right now, for this night, she knew that she could look to him for strength as he looked to her. "It is good to see you too."
Narcissa came over next and took the smaller witch into her arms. "Rhyann, I miss you around here so much. You look so pretty this evening."
"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy. It's lovely to see you too." Rhyann gave her a small smile but it faded when she looked towards Lucius. She gave him a polite dip of her head. "Good evening, Mr. Malfoy."
"Rhyann, a pleasure." Lucius replied coolly but he did not seem so cold this night. Things had to be going well for the Dark Lord if it could put the elder Malfoy in a decent mood. He turned to the Rookwood brothers and shook their hands in turn. "Darcy, Tristian. A great night for all of us."
"Lucius." Darcy smiled his agreement. "It certainly is." He then took Narcissa's hands and kissed both her cheeks softly. "Narcissa, you must be so proud."
Tristian took his turn and greeted the Malfoys. "We definitely must celebrate afterwards!"
"We have some wine bottled the day Draco was born. We will have a glass later tonight." Narcissa beamed and reached out to stroke her son's pale blond hair.
Draco stood there, accepting the attention passively, but reached out to take Rhyann's hand in his own. Their fingers intertwined, his larger hand enveloping her tiny one as he had done before to her with their embrace. The hold was only brief for they had to let go so that their families could use Side-Along-Apparition to transport them to Voldemort's lair. Lucius took Draco as Narcissa was to stay behind, and Rhyann's uncles took her, protected in between them.
She gripped their arms tightly as they appeared at the end of a long dark room. Cast iron torcheres were lined up along the walls, and though she could not rightly tell, she thought that the walls themselves were covered in thick black drapes. The scent of melted wax was strong, but there was also something bitter sweet underlying it. A red carpet with gold trim marked the path towards the front of the room and a slight chill came from that direction causing her to shiver. None of their escorts moved, but bowed deeply and awaited something. Both Rhyann and Draco followed suit, eyes slowly adjusting to the near darkness.
"Come forward, my loyal servants."
Her stomach did flips. The Dreamer knew the voice belonged to Voldemort. It echoed off the walls and seemed to slithered into her ears. She walked forward between her uncles, feeling the need to flee. She felt for her mirrored protective barriers and assured herself they were in place. As always, he would only see her fear and she knew that would be enough for him.
Glancing sideways, Rhyann saw that Draco was walking stiffly beside his father. His head was held up and high, like Lucius' but she could see he was more pale than usual. He was adept at hiding how he felt, she knew, but she worried what was on his mind. Draco knew of her barriers as she had erected them last spring. She prayed that his fear, too, would be enough for the Dark Lord.
They stopped about twelve feet away from the front of the room. Rhyann could see a few steps that rose to a square platform. A great chair, carved with many things she could not pick out within the shadows, adorned it and held within it the Dark Lord. He remained leaning back, his black robes covering his form and the hood hiding his fearsome serpentine features. She did not need any more light to know what he looked like. She had peered into that face too many times before in the dreaming realm and just like it had been then, she felt her knees weakening.
"Draco Malfoy. Rhyann Rookwood. Step forward and kneel before me."
The two teens left their families and slowly approached the dias. Consciously or unconsciously, they drifted closer together until their arms touched as they knelt before He Who Must Not Be Named. She had always been on her knees alone in front of her master before. During those times, she felt as though she might topple over with her fear. Now, though she was still terrified, there was Draco beside her and the warmth of his presence made her feel as though she could get through this without fainting.
The rustle of robes indicated that Voldemort had risen from his throne and moved forward to the young couple before him. "Tonight is a special night for both of you." There seemed to almost be cheer in that raspy voice. His cold fingers reached out to lift both their heads to look up at him. "Tonight you will officially join my ranks. You have proven worthy of my mark." His slitted eyes searched both their faces and then settled on the blond first. "Draco Malfoy. Your father is one of my most loyal and valuable servants. You are already on the path to becoming as great as he. Will you serve me with unswerving fervor as he?"
"I will, my Lord." Draco seemed louder than usual in the room of shadows. He was aware of it as well and toned down his voice. "I am yours to command as you wish."
"Rhyann Rookwood, my precious dreamer." Voldemort's cold gaze turned upon her. "Your family serves me faithfully and they have brought you with your unique talents to me. You have done my bidding as I have asked and you will be rewarded with my mark. Will you continue to serve me within the realm of dreams?"
"I-I will, my Lord." The little witch's voice trembled, adding to her already pale frightened expression.
The Dark Lord's thin lips stretched into a smile and made a motion with his fingers. "Bare your left forearms to me."
Shakily, Rhyann rolled up her sleeve. She knew what this meant now. She had seen the Dark Mark upon her uncles' flesh. The hideous tattoo that labeled them as Death Eaters. It was not that title or rank that made her eyes watery with tears at the moment, but the fact that the mark would brand her as being owned. Not only did Voldemort have a hold over her but now he would have his mark upon her to let everyone else know that she was his as well. Not just a tool now, but a tool with her owner's name branded upon her.
Draco held out his muscled forearm first, rising it up towards the Dark Lord. Rhyann was a little slower and her hand did visibly tremble when she held out her arm. Two pales hands floated forth looking as if they were unattached since his robes blended so well with the deep shadows. Voldemort took their arms at the same time, holding them tightly. She tried not to whimper as his sharp nails bit into her skin. Yet that was not anything compared to what she felt next.
"My servants, you have pleased me. Now you shall be granted the rank of Death Eater." Invisible fire seemed to erupt from his hands and cover not only their forearms, but their whole bodies as well.
Beside her, she could hear Draco grunt with the pain but he bore it well. Rhyann did not deal so well with such agony. She let out a little scream and arched her back, eyes rolling back as the searing surged through her. It felt like every inch of her body was being burned and the place where his hand held her was a fire beyond heat. It was so hot that it was a burning cold. She never imagined there could be anything that could feel like that.
It was as if he held them for a hundred years, but almost just as soon as it started, it was over. The Dark Lord released them and Rhyann fell forward whimpering, cradling her arm against her. Tears streamed down her face into her hair that draped around it. Her left fingers twitched, spasming from the pain she still felt in her arm. Draco was breathing heavily but he uttered not a groan. In the dreaming world, she had tremendous power, but in this one, she felt more helpless than a babe.
"Draco Malfoy. Rhyann Rookwood. Rise and stand proud. You are one of my few chosen."
There was no way she could find the strength to stand. She did not want to look at him. She did not want to even look at her family who had brought her here tonight. A steady arm reached around her and carefully helped her to her feet. She could feel Draco quivering but he was strong enough to support both of them.
"The pain will ease with time." The Dark Lord stated in a more gentle voice. "Soon I will call on you to do some work. I know you will not disappoint me. Your families may come forward now and take you to your homes to celebrate this great night."
Quickly, Lucius and the Rookwood brothers were up at the front of the room, bowing before their master and gathering the younger ones. Draco bowed as well. "Thank you, my Lord."
With a slight pat from Darcy, Rhyann dipped forward to show her respect too. "My Lord..." She could not find it in her to say thank you for this was not a gift that she had ever wanted.