Shadows of Light

He'd arrived together at Grimauld Place with Albus and Black, and since then he hadn't been able to move without someone asking after his welfare, or offering him food and drink. Upon arrival, Molly had hugged him again, and everyone had greeted him cheerfully for the first time in memory. He had to admit that, regardless of their current situation, the meeting was far less tense than any other he had been to, but he wasn't sure if he didn't prefer being ignored to being coddled in this way.

At least Black was enjoying it. He'd caught glimpses of him sitting in one of the chairs, but every time he made a move to join him someone would decide to include him in conversation.

Finally, when everyone had arrived and begun taking their seats he glided over to his usual chair. He pointedly ignored Black's amused gaze and instead focused his attention solely on Albus.

"We have a lot to discuss tonight. Voldemort is getting anxious and the final battle appears to be not far on the Horizon. We need everyone we can to succeed in this fight, and we will succeed. While Voldemort has Dark and number on his side, we have power, strength, intelligence and Light and those are most important of all." There were lots of nods at this and

Albus indicated that the stage be taken by the first of the members to tell of their progress. The meeting continued like this, by the time the 'spot light' was on him; he had a good idea of the number they would be fighting with. Moody, Shacklebolt and Tonks had gathered alliance with as many Aurors and Ministry members as they knew to be trustworthy, and the Weasleys, using Bill and Charlie, had the assistance of those working in Gringotts and several Dragon Trainers. Putting that together with all the Professors, the Order members and their families and many of Albus's other contacts; they would make a formidable army.

Albus spoke again, introducing the topic that many were apprehensive about, none more so than Sirius and Severus himself.

"We don't know the exact time of the attack, but we know it will be soon, and we will have 2 days prior warning." Several people sent glances his way, and he wished he could just blend into the wallpaper. Unfortunately that was his cue and so he stood and addressed the group of people, adopting his lecturing tone so as not to let his own feelings slip through.

"The Dark Lord will summon me away exactly 2 days before the attack is scheduled. While I will not be at Hogwarts until He and the Death Eaters swarm the castle, I have no intention of staying with them longer than that." Before he could continue he saw two people rise to interrupt. It was Albus that spoke.

"You will stay with them until there is a safe time for you to leave. I will not have you risking yourself unnecessarily."

"This is a war Albus. There will be no safe time. I refuse to play the Death Eater any longer than to arrive at Hogwarts. The Dark Lord trusts me too much Albus, he wishes for me to be at the front of the attack with Malfoy. If I stay with him that long, I will have to fight, and I refuse to fight against my own side."

It was Black that interrupted this time, all three of them seemingly oblivious to the rest of the Order, who watched them intently.

"And if you turn against him too early he'll kill you before you can say Merlin, not to mention that he'll most likely pull back knowing we expect him."

"What do you expect me to do Black? I can't fight against you. It'll be bad enough fighting the people who believe me to be their friend. I don't particularly wish to face betrayal on both sides and I wasn't about to point out that I'd been spying. For Merlin's sake I'm not a damn Gryffindor. I don't have a death wish, I just don't see any other way out of this." There was silence for a moment as thoughts ran through everyone's mind, until a gruff voice spoke from the back.

Moody walked to stand closer to the front of the room as he spoke.

"You're all right." He said, emphasizing 'all' by looking at Severus. "Even I can admit that we need you on our side during the battle, but that means that you don't get yourself killed before it even begins. If we had a spell that would allow us to identify you in battle, without You-Know-Who's lot knowing, you could disable them from within their ranks. If we knew who you were, then anytime we came up against you the fight could be faked."

Noticing the pale man's reluctance to agree he added more. "When it becomes necessary, then you will reveal yourself completely, but by then we should have taken down many of them. It's not a perfect plan, but it's far better than revealing yourself early, or dying by one of our hands because we don't know who you are. All we need is the spell."

"I think I can aid you with that." Severus spoke up finally, his offer being his agreement to the plan.

"It's an old spell that allows the caster to be identifiable to only those they wish, anything covering their face from view is removed in the eyes of these people so they can be clearly seen." He paused and again was interrupted by Black.

"Why do I hear a but coming up?"

"Perhaps because your child's mind is still stuck on first year maturity." He sneered back, before continuing, smirking at his next word. "However, though not Dark Arts by any sense, it is not entirely Light. It is one of only a few spells that require the caster to speak or more accurately hiss the words to the spell." The moment of understanding was evident by a series of groans and sighs of defeat.

"But Snape, here, can help us with that too can't you?" He met Sirius's piercing gaze with his own before turning once more to the expectant crowd of people.

"Yes I can." He forced out between tightly gritted teeth. By the end of this meeting they'd know every secret he'd ever had.

"But Harry's the only one who can speak Parseltongue besides You-Know-Who." Someone spoke from the middle of the gathering. They had gotten bigger since the first meeting, and while it was good that they had more on their side, it made it near impossible to remember names by voice only.

"While Potter is the only other known speaker of Parseltongue, I think you'll find that I can speak it to an acceptable level." Seeing the rows of disbelieving, yet hopeful faces he added in a resigned voice. "You can test me if you wish. But if any of you throw a snake at me you'll find it coming right back towards you." He warned. He couldn't believe that after all these years, he was being tested like a school boy, if it wasn't so important he would have stormed off in indignation.

"Right, but how will we know you're not just hissing at us?" Another nameless member, he bit back a groan.

"Why I would just hiss for no reason, I don't know. Just conjure the snake and we'll go from there." He was quite amused at how close to a hiss his voice came out and he could hear Sirius chuckling beside him.

"Fine. Serpensortia." Moody pointed his wand at a spot a few feet away from Snape's feet, and everyone else took a collective step back as a large black cobra appeared before them. It started towards Sirius with an angry hiss, and Snape almost smiled at the look of shock that passed over his face when he realised Snape wasn't going to do anything. When Sirius had successfully backed himself into a corner of the room, Snape took pity on him.

"Leave him alone." He hissed, and the snake instantly turned towards him, but didn't back off.

"I can understand you. You can speak to me in my tongue, there is not many today who can and who are worthy of the gift. How can I aid you?"

"Please leave that man alone, he is...a friend and will not harm you if left alone." A smirk settled over his features as the snake moved away from Sirius and came to stop once again in front of his feet.

"Is there nothing else I can do to aid you, it is an honour to speak to one such as yourself." Everyone in the room could have sworn that the snake bowed then.

"Indeed, the honour is mine also and I would much desire your assistance in demonstrating my ability to communicate with you and your kind. It is vital that these wizards believe me and I am afraid that they require some visual evidence, if you would be so kind as to assist in this." He always found that being overly polite when talking to serpents guaranteed their agreement to anything.

"I will of course assist you in this, just give the command." Snape inclined his head in gratitude and then turned his attention to Moody.

"What do you want him to do?"

The ex-Auror didn't turn his normal eye away from the snake, but the other swung around to latch onto Snape.

"Instruct it to lie across my shoulders, but not to strangle or bite me."

Snape was almost as speechless as the others.

"Are you sure you trust me that much?" Both his tone and expression was incredulous.

"Snape, most of the wizarding world have, unknowingly, trusted you with their own and their families' lives for years. Besides if it goes to strike me I will have the perfect excuse to turn you over to the Aurors." He smiled in a strange, mock-evil way and Snape smirked back before once again turning to the snake and making his requests.

The snake carried them out fluidly and even went so far as to fall asleep in its wrapped position. Now with evidence of Snape's skill they accepted the ancient spell into their plan, to be preformed the next day to ensure it was done before Voldemort summoned him.

Once again Sirius found himself walking back to Hogwarts with Albus and Snape, only this time he had remained at the Potions Master's side since leaving the meeting.

After Snape's little 'show', and the subsequent more in-depth detailing of the spell, which Sirius was surprised to find the library in his house held books on, each of which Snape found with relative ease, they had finalised battle plans and everything was prepared for the battle, everyone ready to leave the instant they were called. He was in two minds about the battle.

Part of him, led mainly by his head, wanted it to be soon. He wanted it to be over, he wanted Voldemort dead, the war over and no more living in fear for the future, he wanted to be free to take Harry anywhere in the world without worrying that they'd be captured and killed, but mostly he wanted Severus to be free.

He wanted him to be able to go where he wanted without the risk of being summoned at someone's will.

But then the other part of him, the part lead by his heart, didn't want the battle to ever occur. He didn't want to lose anymore people to Voldemort's wars; he didn't want Harry to be put in the situation where he could end up with his parents, where the fate of the wizarding world rested on his young shoulders. He couldn't bring himself to think of the dangers the battle would hold for them all.

Harry would be protected by all those on their side. He wasn't to fight until they had diminished Voldemort's numbers, they would all be looking out for him throughout the entire battle until they were victorious, he knew that they would win; the other option was too horrible to think about. But what about everyone else. They would all lose someone, it was inevitable, but it didn't make it any easier and then there were those more at risk than others.

Severus Snape for example.

He was dangerously walking a thin line between the two sides. His loyalties may lie with the light but his body would be with the dark. Although they had persuaded Snape to stay with the Death Eaters for as long as possible it was still too risky for his liking. Snape would have to fight both sides while keeping the pretence of the loyal servant to his master.

Sirius couldn't even begin to imagine how hard that would be, pretending to be so many things at the same time, being right in the centre of the action, being so far into the centre that he was mixed with both sides and he had no one to watch him.

He wasn't being kept out of the battle until they felt it would be easier for him. If he had his way, Sirius would have taken both Harry and Severus so far away from the battle that they wouldn't even know it was happening.

But it wasn't up to him, and so Severus would fight with both sides until he revealed himself, and Harry would defeat the Dark Lord when his followers had fallen. He supposed he should be somewhat relieved that some precautions were being taken. Keeping Harry away for a while, and the spell that revealed Snape would at least make it a little safer for the two, but Sirius wasn't relieved.

He was certain that no one would let Harry die, if for no reason than his importance to the safety of the world, but once Snape's loyalties were revealed he would be in even more danger than Harry, for revenge and betrayal are far stronger than the need to defeat a foe, or rise above the rest, and for Voldemort and his army they would be far more important. He wondered at why he felt so strongly about keeping Snape safe, he still wasn't sure what there was between them, but after that kiss he knew without a doubt that there was something and he was incredibly worried that they would never have the chance to explore it.

He didn't realise where his body had taken him until he was torn abruptly from his musings by the sound of his name.

"...Sirius!" He turned to find a confused and slightly amused Snape standing in front of him.

"Wow I didn't realise we were on first name terms Sev." His tone held only amusement not anger and no hidden meaning, it was simply a joke that gave his mind time to spin back to reality.

"Yes, well I tried every other name I could think of first, but once that didn't get through to you I implored desperate measures." He grouched out, making no mention of the shortened use of his name. Sirius just smiled back at him, wondering if perhaps he just hadn't noticed, or actually didn't mind it.

"I bet you did." He looked around only now realising that he had walked with Snape all the way down to the dungeons and into his chambers.

He took the time to look around the room. He'd only been here once and he'd been a little too preoccupied that time to actually take in the room. He assumed that he was standing in the living room and it amazed him. He didn't know what he had expected the infamous wizard's rooms to look like, in fact Snape's décor was one of the most common speculations of the castle, but this wasn't it. It seemed that the man's cold and empty persona didn't stretch to his living space.

The walls were covered with one mahogany bookcase after another, barely any of the grey stone showed through. The bookcases were covered, floor to ceiling with more books than Sirius had ever seen in one place before, old and new sat side by side in what Sirius's quick glance suggested was an order subject by subject.

Moving from the walls his gaze moved to the two large arm chairs that sat just off centre, facing slightly into each other, but not straight on. He expected the bottle green colour, but the chairs looked both comfortable and elegant all at once, folded across the back of the chair closest him he found the blanket that had covered him in the Headmaster's office. Between them was a low coffee table, in the same wood as the bookcases, the legs carved in an intricate design of snakes twisting around themselves, with a frosted glass top that swirled as you watched it. While most of the floor was light grey floor stones matching those of the rest of the dungeons, sunk into them underneath the chairs and table and going to about 3 feet from each wall was a thick green carpet, the look of which made Sirius want to revert to his animagus form and curl down for the night.

Resisting the urge with effort he moved to the greatest feature in the room. The fire place had to be the best in the castle, he thought. In contrast to the pale stone walls and floor, the fireplace was made from Obsidian glass. Taking up more than half of the wall, the centre feature was once again roaring with flames and he watched as they leaped up toward the black glass, reflecting perfectly in its surface, the effect was amazing and he knew why the chairs both faced more towards it.

He already felt his body relaxing as he watched the light create hypnotising patterns across the floor as it reflected back from the glass, and he blindly allowed the hand on the small of his back to push him towards one of the chairs and sit him down in it.

All his earlier thoughts came back to him as he sat in silence watching the flames, unconsciously sipping the scotch that had been placed in his hand. He didn't want to lose anymore. Not now that he was finally free. Now that he had his life back, he didn't want to lose it again, and losing any of the people he cared for would mean just that.

He didn't realise he'd been crying until a pale hand came up to brush away the tears from his cheek with a gentleness he didn't expect from the feared man. Finally drawing his eyes away from the fire he moved from one Obsidian to another. Severus's eyes reflected the flame light just as the fireplace had only there was more than just light reflected there. He found concern in his eyes and something even more valuable to him; understanding.

He understood what was going through Sirius's mind and he felt the same way. For years it had never mattered to him if he lived through the battles. He'd had nothing but students to come back to and he'd felt that as long as his tasks for the Order were completed it didn't matter whether he returned or not, but now it was different.

Right now he had something to come back to.

What ever was happening between himself and Black it was enough for him to wish for the first time that he would get through this alive. Cautiously he pulled the other man from the chair and into his arms on the floor. He usually wasn't good at comforting people, but being a Head of House he had had to develop some skills at it, for even in Slytherin there were first-year students who would seek comfort from feelings of homesickness and the heartbreak of losing parents, sadly the latter had become increasingly common the last few years in his house. It didn't matter what the wizards and witches had done in life, or the choices they had made, as wrong as they may have been, they were their children's parents and it hurt just as much to lose Death Eater parents as it did to lose Auror parents.

Something many of his colleagues had seemed to forget as of late.

The feel of being surrounded by Severus's arms tipped Sirius over the top and the silent tears became sobs that wracked both their bodies. Everything he had never had a chance to release before was let out now, and he found himself holding onto Snape as though his life depended on it.

They weren't all tears of sadness. He didn't feel that bad, but he felt so much and so many different feelings at the same time that this was the only way to let them all out before he drowned in them. Instead of feeling embarrassed about showing this weakness in front of Snape, he had never felt more grateful for the wizard's presence and he realised with shocking clarity that, though they had only been on speaking terms for a few days, losing Severus in the battle would hurt just as much as losing Harry or Remus.

Severus held Sirius close as he cried, silent tears slipping from his own eyes even as he fought against them. He rubbed one hand in soothing circles across the crying man's back while the other stroked the unkempt black hair. Even as he tried to ignore it he could fell the Dark Mark on his arm begin to tingle. He wouldn't be summoned now, but very soon, probably before dawn. He wanted to know where all his servants were before he began to summon them.

Finally Sirius's breathing evened out, the sobs subsided and the tears stopped falling, but he didn't fall asleep. The warmth of Snape's arms filled him, but he began to notice that a small area was warmer than the rest. Suddenly he pulled his head away from Snape's chest, losing the comforting sound of his heart beating.

"Is he summoning you?" His voice was hoarse from his tears and filled with fear. They weren't ready! The spell hadn't been performed. If Snape was summoned now their plans would be for nothing. They needed more time. He needed more time.

"No. It's just a locator charm. Through his connection with the Mark he uses it to find us." Relief flooded him at Severus's straight answer and without even realising he pulled Snape to him and their lips locked. There was more passion than before as both men sought the comfort and safety the other provided. When they pulled away for breath they just sat looking at each other for a few moments before Severus broke the silence. Sirius realised then that in his mind he referred to Snape as both 'Snape' and 'Severus' although 'Severus' was winning these days.

"He's not calling me now, but he will soon. I think it prudent that I perform the spell tonight, we cannot risk waiting until tomorrow." As he spoke he rose from the floor and held out a hand to Sirius.

"Do you want me to get the Headmaster?" He couldn't help noticing Snape's swollen lips as he accepted the offered hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet, and it made him want to make them swell even more.

"No. That won't be necessary. Though the spell is Light because of its power it will trigger several of his alarms, so if he wants to be here, he'll know when to come." Something about that worried Sirius so he asked.

"If it's that powerful won't Voldemort know your using it, especially if he is still connected to you?" He loosely indicated the robed left forearm.

"If we were anywhere else the answer to that would be yes, he'd know in an instant that I had performed it, but we're in Hogwarts and the charms and spells surrounding the castle are just as powerful. They only let in the Dark Lord's summoning charm because Albus allows them to. Of course the Dark Lord believes the charm to slow down as it goes through the spells on the castle and so I cannot be blamed for arriving a few moments later than he wishes, which gives me enough time to warn Albus of my departure." He looked quite amused as he spoke the last sentences, but there was deep worry etched across his face.

"Well then, what can I do to help?" Sirius asked, wiping the drying lines of tears from his face.

"Just stay over there," he pointed to a far corner of the room, several metres away from himself. "And no matter what happens don't come over here until the spell is finished." He looked deadly serious now and Sirius wondered just what was going to happen if Snape felt he had to order him not to come near.

When he was in his position in the corner he watched as Severus raised his hands above his head, his wand remaining in his robe pocket. At the first hisses that came from the wizard, Sirius felt a distinct drop in the temperature of the room, he shivered and watched as a great wind erupted from nowhere and surrounded Snape.

His hair and robes flew around him but the hissing didn't stop and soon the wind grew stronger, spreading across the room. Sirius felt it whip against him at the same time as he saw it pick up the first books from the shelves. Soon, books, parchment, quills and every other small object in the room were swirling around the hissing man.

And then it stopped.

The wind died and the objects floated to the floor with an unbelievable slowness. He made a move towards Snape when the hissing began again freezing him in place. Just how much of this spell was there?

No winds rose this time but Severus became surrounded by a strange silver glow, starting from his head and ending at his boots. It moved closer to him until it was touching his skin and clothes.

On the visible skin, the silver began to diffuse itself into Snape, disappearing into the pale flesh. He was so entranced by the mixing of magic and skin that he didn't see the agony that washed over Severus's face, but he heard it in the anguished cry that escaped him as the hissing ceased and the last trace of silver disappeared.

Finally able to move again he ran across to the centre of the room to the panting man and enveloped him, his arms encircling Severus's waist from behind and to his surprise, Severus leant back into him. He rested his chin on Snape's shoulder and they stood that way until Severus's breathing was even again and Sirius found himself beginning to fall asleep on his feet.

He was jarred awake when Snape stepped out of the embrace and turned to face him. There didn't appear to be anything different about him at first, but then Snape raised his hands up to cover his face and he saw straight through them to Snape's smirking face behind. He had obviously been predicting Sirius's reaction because when he lowered his hands his smirk grew.

"I think by the look on your face, I can conclude that it was successful." He didn't sound tired, as Sirius had expected, and all he could do was nod in response, his own exhaustion creeping upon him again.

Severus noticed the lines of fatigue on Sirius's face, and although the spell had left him refreshed and with more energy than he could ever remember having since joining the Death Eater ranks, he felt that some sleep wouldn't be a bad idea, he wouldn't be getting any for sometime in the near future so he'd enjoy it while he could.

Sirius appeared to be having similar thoughts as he had moved away from Severus and was heading for the door with slow, sluggish movements, even though it was barely 11 o'clock.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, thankful that the man stopped and turned around at the question.

"I'm going to bed. Unless there is something else you need my help with." He seemed reluctant to add that.

"You can't walk through the dungeons like that. I told you before that the Slytherins are looking to kill you, and many of them have nothing to lose now if they do, expulsion won't bother them; they'll be leaving soon enough anyway." He didn't need to explain why. "Besides, wandering around the castle like that you'd be easy prey for a Hufflepuff." He smiled inwardly when he realised that, though he was listening, Sirius had begun to fall asleep on his feet again.

Abandoning words, Severus walked over to him and cautiously taking his hand he supported Sirius's weight against himself and led him through a door into his bedroom. Had Sirius been awake enough to notice he would have been just as shocked by the interior of this room as he had been of the living room.

As it was, he didn't see the mahogany wardrobes and draws, or the warm, welcoming air the room had regardless of the bare stone walls and barely covered stone floors. He did notice, however, how soft the bed was as he fell on it, his skin still tingling from the feel of Snape removing his outer robes, shirt and trousers, leaving him in only his boxers. He also noticed the bed dip slightly as Snape slid in between the covers beside him.

Throwing caution to the wind and blaming his wariness for the action he turned on his side and slid himself across the bed until his back came in contact with Snape's chest. Even in his almost unconscious state he felt the electricity shoot through him, and Severus's muscles ripple against him.

Sirius was almost asleep when he felt the Potions master finally relax against him, wrapping one arm possessively across his waist and lazily stroking his hair with the other. He drifted off to sleep like that, pressed comfortably against Severus's warm body.

Severus woke hours later with a sharp intake of breath. Pain lanced up his arm at regular intervals and immense fear gripped him. He couldn't remember how many times this had happened.

Being summoned in the night was a very common affair but this time it was different. This time when he returned it would be to fight and he wouldn't be able to shed his Death Eater attire straight away.

This time he would be stepping out into the known and returning to the unknown; the complete opposite to all other times and he didn't like it.

He always went to the meetings knowing it could be the one where his espionage was revealed and he'd be tortured and killed, it was one of the risks of his job, and he would always know that whatever happened he was endangering no one but himself. So the Order would lose their spy; there'd be others when they realised that it was possible to change sides.

But this time he would be returning, that was certain but as something he had never truly been. Whether he would ever enter into the dungeons again, curl up in one of his chairs to read, or brew potions in his private labs, that was more uncertain and unlikely than it had ever been before.

And what of laying in his bed with Sirius again. Yes, he may be returning as a Death Eater, but would he ever have the chance to return to Hogwarts as Severus Snape?

A more powerful surge of pain broke him from his thoughts and he released a soft growl, intentionally keeping the sound low so as not to wake the sleeping man in his arms. Sirius needed the sleep he was currently getting if he was to survive the fight, and that was what Severus intended to ensure.

He wouldn't allow them to be lost.

He'd blow his cover without hesitation if it would save the lives of his students, colleagues and those he cared about.

They had all been training, the last days especially hard, and though they were on the defensive, it had not stopped them from brushing up on their attack. He knew without a doubt that after all that training every student in the 5th through 7th years would be able to pass their NEWT in Defence Against the Dark Arts with no trouble, but he worried about the practical use of their knowledge.

He shook himself from his thoughts, he had enough to worry about, the other Professors would be worrying enough about the children, he needed to concentrate on unentangling himself from Sirius, informing Albus that the time had come and getting to the meeting before the Dark Lord's anger grew too much, he needed to be at his peak condition if he had any hope of ever again feeling the peace he had felt for the last few hours.

He shifted smoothly out of the bed from behind Sirius, who shifted slightly in sleep, but a carefully positioned cushion kept him from discovering Severus's absence. He dressed in his black Death Eater robes, and stuffed the mask into his pocket. His eyes never left the sleeping figure in his bed and when he realised that it was time for him to leave he moved closer to the bed and placed a gentle kiss on Sirius's forehead. Sirius attempted to awaken but Snape's whispers calmed him once more into a deep sleep.

"Sleep now, I'll not be far away as long as you are here."

And then he swept silently from the room. Walking over to his desk he was glad the Dark Lord's attentions where divided tonight for the pain in his arm would be unbearable now if not. He placed a quill and parchment on the desk and with a flick of his wand and a mouthed incantation the quill rose above the parchment, hovering, ready for the command.

Snape took one final look around his rooms and then headed towards the door. From the other side of the door he carefully replaced and added to the wards around the portrait entrance, they would allow no one but Sirius and Albus entrance and exit until he himself removed them, or his death did the job for him. With a hiss good luck from the snake and a few extra instructions he was on his way to the Headmaster's office for what he hoped was not the last time.

He stopped only once on his journey to look into the Slytherin dormitories. He was saddened by the number of empty beds, but it was relieved somewhat by the more than 2 thirds of the beds that were still occupied.

These Slytherins had seen the lies behind the Dark Lord's words, they had seen the flaws and these students he had been able to help know how to look. Many wouldn't believe it, but he truly cared for the students. They saw the favouritism for Slytherin, but they didn't expect him to show any true feelings for any of them. In truth he did favour the Slytherins, not because they were his own house, but because no one else would. He victimised the Gryffindors for similar reasons, no one else did.

There had to be someone to balance the scales after all.

Leaving the common room and taking the stairs up to the Entrance Hall he cleared his mind of all but the parchment and quill sitting upon his desk. He spoke the activation and allowed his mind to say all the things he might never get to say aloud.

In the dungeons below him, the quill scratched its owner's letter in an imitation of his elegant script, oblivious to the soft snores of the letter's intended recipient coming from the next room.

End of Part Four