Disclaimer: Everything here (besides the few things you don't know) belongs to JK Rowling, creator of the worlds of Harry Potter.

A/N: Here's another chapter for your enjoyment!

I really feel like I should apologize to all of you who read The Story of Four Friends. I should have updated it before updating this, but I already had most of this chapter written down and nothing of Chapter 16 of Four Friends. So I promise to update Four Friends by Saturday. Deal?

Chapter 3 – Daughter of the Warrior

"It was always presumed that Godric Gryffindor was a rash man. He was best known for his impulsiveness and hot temper. Most records of the time describe him as the one first to attack and last to retreat – a habit that commended him in the eyes of many, yet condemned him in the eyes of others.

"One of those others was Lord Ambrosius, Chief Warlock of the Council of Warlocks, a man considered by many to have doomed the destiny of the Council. Lord Ambrosius recognized Godric as a powerful enemy and made to weaken him as much as he possibly could even before Gryffindor realized the extent of his strengths.

"His first step was to ensure that Gawain Gryffindor's - Godric's father – place at the Council was given to a member of a family holding a grudge against the House of Gryffindor upon the great wizard's death, thus blocking Godric from receiving the full authorities of his House.

"What he did next was so heinous that it is a wonder that no one had protested. Lord Ambrosius made both Godric and his best friend, Salazar Slytherin Servants of the Council.

"Being a Servant of the Council meant two things; the first, the Servant is forever bound to the will of the Council and has to obey to every whim of any member. The second, the Servant can never become a member of the Council – even when a place had opened.

"Lord Ambrosius had sentenced the two young men to a life of servitude without repay. He believed that this way he managed to get himself rid of two nuisances at once.

"He was wrong, and because of his mistake, the Council was soon to lose all its powers..."

- Hogwarts, A History; Author unknown

The girl no longer resembled a haystack, for certain. Godric barely recognized her at first, which he felt weird, because he had a good memory for faces and her face was on his mind ever since they visited Culhwch. Only later on, when her mother sent her to bed did he realize that he did not recognize her because she had changed.

When last he saw her, five years prior, she had a gangly, scratched and neglected sort of look to her. He distinctly remembered a smudge of mud on her face.

Now however, she had her auburn hair severely pulled back, its curls dropping to her shoulders in a bright cascade. Her dress was not ripped as before and she had all skirts and knots in place.

She also held herself differently. Back then she was haughty and even in company of the other girls seemed isolated. When he laid his eyes on her that night, however, the haughtiness turned into simple pride and openness. She knew what she was and no longer felt defensive of it.

Blue certainly complimented her, and the dark shade of her dress looked fantastic in contrast to her coppery locks.

She had a mouth on her.

Never in his life had a woman opened her mouth on him. They were always demure and submissive, letting him have his way. Never had he met a woman who dared retorting to whatever he had to say. It was refreshing – if somewhat irking.

He noticed Salazar sending him pointed glances and realized her was staring and that the girl's mother was in plain sight.

"I do apologize for my daughter, noble lords." The older woman said suddenly. "I tried weaning her from this directness of hers, but nothing seems to work. Now, I would require your names and your mission. It has been a long time since any of the magic community had tried contacting me."

"It is us, who must apologize, Madam!" Godric said with a quick bow. "We are the ones who burst into your house. I am Godric Gryffindor of Wild Moor – and this is my friend and brother, Salazar Slytherin of the Fen. We have come here by the will of the Council of Warlocks to search for one, Rosalind Ravenclaw. Would it be imprudent of me to assume that you are, indeed, Madam Ravenclaw?"

She watched him unblinkingly through her almost golden eyes. Finally she said "Yes, I am Rosalind Ravenclaw, Lord Gryffindor. Now, would you be as kind as to tell me what the Council wants from me?"

Straight to the point. Godric liked that. He hated it when people walked round and round matters for hours, skirting the pressing issues without actually getting there.

"Truth be told, Madam," Salazar said "Is that we are not entirely sure what the Council wants. But it would be a safe assumption to say that it is not the Council that wants your presence as much as it is the Chief Warlock."

"The Chief Warlock?" She asked softly "Is it still old Lord Fenwick?"

"I am afraid not, Madam." Godric said gravely "Lord Fenwick died in mysterious circumstances four years ago. His second in command and might I add – murderer – has taken his place."

"Godric!" Salazar said in outrage "What if someone would have heard you?! Ambrosius could get you executed for this!"

"Who could have heard me here? There are no wizards or witches in miles and that is the truth! We all know very well that Ambrosius murdered Fenwick because the old man just won't die."

"It's a guess! It was never proven!"

"That doesn't mean he didn't!"

"Ambrosius?" Madam Ravenclaw was silent for so long that they almost forgot she was there. "You said Ambrosius is Chief Warlock? Ambrosius of York?"

"You know him?" Salazar asked.

"Know him? As much as someone could get to know that byproduct of filth!" Madam Ravenclaw, who, up to that moment, was sitting calmly in her chair, flared all of a sudden. "I used to consider him one of my greatest friends!"

"Then what happened?" Godric asked in interest. Salazar disliked Ambrosius, that much was true, but he never seemed to hate him with the same fervour as Godric. He was delighted to find someone whose views on the Chief Warlock were as negative as his.

"What happened? Ryan happened." She got up and went to the fireplace. With gentle hands she removed a polished sword from above the mantelpiece. Then she went to the corner of the room and opened an old cabinet with a rusty creak. Godric could not see what it was she pulled out until she returned and laid both objects and the sword on the table in front of them.

The sword was one bearing the signs of extensive use. It had been sharpened constantly, but bore the dents of long years in battle. The leather sleeve covering the sword's hilt was well-worn. So were the scabbard and the belt she pulled from the cabinet.

The second thing she pulled from the cabinet was a shield carrying a crest of a knight – an eagle. Beneath the eagle, were the words Raven Lord.

Godric stared at the shield and sword in awe. Without even looking he could tell that Salazar was doing the self-same thing. It was not every day that you were facing the artefacts of a legend.

"You... you were married to..." He managed to let out.

"Ryan Ravenclaw. Yes, I was."

"Ryan Raven Lord?!"

"Yes."

"Dear Merlin!"

She smiled sadly. "I am sure he would have loved to meet you to – had he lived."

"That was not an end fit for the most celebrated knight of the Wizarding World!" he spluttered. "Why didn't the Council do anything to help?!"

Madam Ravenclaw sighed. Only now did Godric realize that this was no young woman in front of him. Not old, certainly, but someone who had lost so much and aged considerably in the course of years. "The Council – especially under Ambrosius' rule – no longer cares for us. Not since Ryan left it all those years ago."

Ryan Raven Lord was a legend in the ranks of young wizards of the Wizarding World. His adventures were told and retold so many times that he seemed a giant even while alive. He was the leader of the Knights of the Phoenix – an order long since disbanded - warriors who used both magic and Muggle weapons in battles. It was their mission to protect the magic community of enemies. Godric was one of those who walked their path and lived according to their lore.

The most famous story told of Raven Lord was his departure. It was made even more so because of the mysterious reasons which caused him to leave.

The story told was that one day Raven Lord was summoned to face the Chief Warlock and his second-in-command. When they were done, he was furious. He stormed out of Stonehenge and faced his knights. His speech became legendary and almost every one in the country soon knew it by heart, with the slight adjustments of mouth-to-ear telling. Gawain Gryffindor, however, who was one of Raven Lord's most trusted knights and was there, stored his memories in a pensieve and Godric would listen to it again and again since childhood, and knew it word by word, just as the knights had heard it.

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"My brothers-in-arms! My friends! I have grave news for you!" Ryan Raven Lord cried, facing all his knights, his long hair flowing wild in the violent wind, his cheeks tear-stricken and his voice cracking.

"This is the very last you will see of me. I have talked and conferred with the Chief Warlock and his minions for the past few hours. They want to make the Knights of the Phoenix a Guard of Honour to our illustrious Council members. They wish us to become nothing but bodyguards.

"They claim that there is no need to waste the money of the People and continue funding our operations. They claim that the money will be better used in us standing like dumb Muggles in colourful costumes and parade for the enjoyment of all those petty lords.

"They say that the community can protect itself and that their amusement is much more important than the safety of anyone else.

"I have argued with them and refused to receive the position of General if the meaning of this is the degradation of everything we ever stood for.

"For that they had given me an ultimatum: I am to do as they say, or face eternal exile on the pain of death."

Raven Lord paused for breath. There was deathly silence in the air. All the knights knew beyond doubt what their leader's decision was.

He took a deep breath, readying himself and said "I have chosen exile. I was given a day and a night to pack everything I have and leave the Wizarding World. Once I bid you farewell, I will take my Lady Rosalind and remove myself from the reach of the Council.

"In a matter of minutes, Lord Ambrosius will come and speak to you. He will command you to take your new position and leave all your duties. The only thing I can ask of you is that you refuse. This goes against everything we ever believed in. Stand united against him.

"I warn you – this Ambrosius will be the end of the Wizarding World if he is not stopped. Do not listen to him! He poisoned Lord Fenwick's mind – but you are stronger. Stand firm and spit in the face of the false contender! You are the Knights of the Phoenix! You are invincible! Go to your families and protect them! Leave this abomination of a ruler!

"You are all my brothers, and it was an honour beyond measure to lead you and serve alongside you! Farewell!"

And to the sound of a hundred knights hailing him, Ryan Raven Lord mounted his proud steed and thundered into the sunset, never to be seen again.

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Godric almost shivered as he looked at the weapons, craving to touch, but not daring.

Madam Ravenclaw sighed. "Everyone knows that Ryan refused a change of job and that caused the great rift between him and the Council and ended up in his exile – but that's only half-true.

"Ambrosius loved me – in his own twisted way. He was cruel and possessive, but in whatever concerned me, he was the gentlest of men.

"But then Ryan and I fell in love. Merlin, how that cankered his soul! He fashioned himself the greatest of wizards of his time and the most irresistible of men. You have seen him, I'm sure. You can see how impressive and formidable he is, can you not? Even in his old age? And there you have my Ryan – all knees and elbows and scrawniness. And yet he was the one I chose." She wiped a tear that fell on her cheek and Godric's heart clenched inside him. He wanted to say something, but she went on." So Ambrosius tried everything in his power to humiliate and discredit Ryan. But all was in vain," Here she smiled a small, victorious smile "Even his final plan, where he knew Ryan would rather take exile than watch the desecration of everything he held dear, came crashing down on him in the end, making Ryan come out the hero."

"And Raven Lord also got the girl, didn't he?" Godric said with a smile.

"Oh, yes." She laughed. "That, too. Ryan got the girl and Ambrosius remained this bitter old man. I wish Rowena could have known her father for what he really was." There was a note of regret in her voice.

"Then why don't you tell her, Madam?" Salazar asked gently. "She can know now."

She shook her head. "Ryan did not want her to grow up in that shadow. She doesn't know why we live so much apart of anyone magical. She doesn't know that her father was an exile. Ryan made sure of that. He also made me promise to never tell her who he was before she was born. He did not want any reminders of that time. It hurt him till the day he died. We hid his armour and shield – only leaving the sword out. She knows her father was a warrior – that she does know, but we made sure to never say a word on her father's legacy. That was how he wanted it."

They sat in silence for a while. Then she said "So, what does Ambrosius wants from me?"

"All we know, Madam," Salazar said "Is that it has something to do with your Charming abilities and your research on long-distance travel by magic."

"Ah." She said with disapproval. Godric hoped it was not directed at him. She seemed to read his mind. She let out a short, bitter laugh and said "Oh, there is nothing wrong with what you did, Lord Gryffindor – are you Gawain's son? I expected that much – you look just like him. As I was saying, it's not what you did. Or you – for that matter, son of Searlas Slytherin. Yes, I do recognize the name. I grew up knowing both your fathers. Ryan was devastated when he heard of their deaths.

"No, I should have expected this. I have been researching this even before I married Ryan, and Ambrosius knew it. I assume he knows me well enough to guess that I would not abandon my field of interest – even for my dear Ryan."

She paused, and then said "I will not come."

Godric and Salazar stared at her, as if not comprehending her words.

"You... will not...come?" Godric finally uttered.

She shook her head. "Not for all the Galleons in the world."

"But..." Salazar started "It's the Council's will-"

"I don't care if it's the Council's will!" Madam Ravenclaw burst. Suddenly Godric was afraid. This was a woman who suffered a lot. This was a woman who knew very well whom she was facing. And she did not care one bit. "What is the Council to me? Had the Council not exiled my husband many of the magic community would still be amongst us! If it was not for Ambrosius the Knights of the Phoenix would never have disbanded their Order! If it was not for his stiff-necked decision they would have been able to continue and save lives! If it was not for him Ryan would not have died! If it was not for the Council your own father would have lived!"

Her fiery eyes locked on Godric's eyes and he knew the truth of her words. His father was murdered by Muggles. If the Knights of the Phoenix were still doing their job, Gawain Gryffindor would still be alive.

"Enough of this for tonight." She said with finality. "Accio clothes!" She summoned. Dry, clean tunics and trousers flew to her. She handed them to the two men unceremoniously. "They belonged to my husband. Wear them till your own clothes will be fit to be worn again. You may sleep in front of the fire. Goodnight." And she stormed out of the room, taking her husband's shield with her.

Godric looked at Salazar helplessly and said "This is going to be much tougher than we thought."

Salazar shrugged and changed into the dry clothes, then curled in his cloak in front of the fire and fell promptly asleep.

Godric followed his lead almost immediately, falling into a sleep punctured by dreams of his family and how much he missed them all.

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At first Godric was not sure what woke him up. It was only when he heard the front door close that he realized that someone had left the house. It took him a while to get his bearings right. He was not at all sure at first where he was or how he got there.

Once everything came back to him he groaned. That was really not the correct way of handling things. He would have to make amends once Madam Ravenclaw was up.

He pulled himself from the floor, his neck creaking after staying in an unnatural pose all night long. He was used to it – and besides, sleeping on a floor in front of a fireplace was much better than on earth and stone in front of a meager campfire.

The air in the room grew stuffy. He really needed fresh air, but he was also very hungry, eating nothing since the night before, when they left Culhwch. He contemplated what to do.

What am I thinking?! He chided himself. This is not my home. I have no right to go and rummage in Madam Ravenclaw's pantry. What I should do is go for a walk, and hopefully, by the time I'm back, the woman will be awake and offer us some breakfast.

With that settled, he opened the front door cautiously, making as little sound as possible and sneaked outside.

He stood just outside the house and marveled at the great difference between the night before, when he and Salazar cursed every inch of the way and that morning when everything was an unblemished white.

As he watched the snow, he suddenly realized that the snow was not as unblemished as he first thought it was. It was dotted by light prints of small feet going hither and thither.

Curious, he followed the trail of feet as it turned about the area surrounding the house, finally walking towards the small outcrop attached to the house which he recognized as the stable where he put Griffith, his stallion, the previous night.

The door to the stable was slightly opened and he had no trouble to slide inside without disturbing the occupants: two horses and a girl.

The girl, Rowena Ravenclaw, was rolling in the hay, laughing wildly as though she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

Her hair was out of his sever knot and was full of bits and pieces of hay and earth. She was only wearing her gown and nothing more, making her slimmer than he thought and – he felt with a start – much more attractive.

As if she needed me to think her even more attractive. He thought bitterly. This girl could enchant kings. He made a noise of disgust.

It was then that Rowena noticed his presence. She stopped laughing and looked up to him. Their eyes met and he felt his heart climb to his throat. He stared at her for a long time until she started blushing, and he understood in what an embarrassing position he found her. He felt the corners of his mouth twitch, and then without warning, he began laughing.

He laughed and laughed till he had no more air, at which point he fell to the floor and leaned against the stable's wall. "Dear, Merlin, girl! You look so funny!" He chocked.

And instantly knew that this was a mistake.

Rowena got up to her feet, her pink blush of embarrassment turned into the red tinge of anger. She was furious.

"I am not funny, you pompous windbag! If you must know – I've been laughing at the image of you riding that poor horse of yours and him bucking from under you and dropping you to the mud!"

At that moment, a picture appeared in Godric's mind. A picture he did not see himself, but witnessed in his father's pensieve.

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"Have you any idea what you could have done, Gryffindor?" Raven Lord stared hard into Gawain's eyes.

Gawain felt a compulsion to say something to placate his commander, but could think of nothing.

Raven Lord continued staring at him; his cheeks flushed red in anger, his long hair full of dirt from the scuffle he just had had to break. Gawain had never seen him that angry before. Oh, sure, he could cuff a young knight for being foolish or say something harsh when someone was out of place, but angry? Never. Not Ryan Raven Lord.

He had been foolish and rash, attacking Lord Llyr when the man insulted Gawain's choice of a bride – Ceridwen – but he could not let it lay! Raven Lord must realize that.

He tried to explain, but Raven Lord turned his head in disgust. "I need none of this, Gawain. You are a better man than he is – never forget that. Never descend to his level. He is a creature of Ambrosius and therefore an enemy of what we stand for. One day, I may not be here, and I need you to promise that you will go on in my footsteps. Just remember that – and make sure that this never happens again."

And he strode off, living Gawain to ponder the mystery that was his commander.

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Rowena's glare intensified each and every moment until, with an indignant huff, she strode off angrily.

Godric smiled to himself. She was truly the daughter of her father. And who is better to change the destinies of the Wizarding World other than the Warrior's daughter?

A/N: Liked it? It was fun writing... Please go now and review and tell me what you think!

To my reviewers:

Freespirit65: Oh, yeah ((shudders)) homework is the worst thing ever ((is ignoring the glaring pile of homework beside her)) Nope! :D Not telling! You'll have to wait and see ;)

Eratosthenese: Why, thank you :)

Cecilia Orechio: Well, I suppose you're right, but then – what would be written in Hogwarts, A History, if not the tale of Hogwarts from the very beginning? It has to have something on the Founders and it's a pretty heavy, long book, isn't it? The thing about Apparation is that Rosalind has been developing it for the less able wizards and witches – she's one of the few who can actually do it. Rowena's father couldn't do it, unfortunately.

You know? I didn't think of it... There's something in what you say. They are a bit like Lily and James! ((laughs at her own lack of attention)).

Fishie: Hello, there! Long time no see! Glad you like it – get to read the next two chapters already!!! How many times do I have to tell you? And tell Calla to review while you're at it – she didn't do it as yet...And she promised! Want to beta it for me?

Linwe Amandil: Thank you very much! :D

Bb: Thanks! Ah, Godric and Rowena – the greatest mystery which...erm... mystifies all! ((says it very quickly))

Courtney8591: Thank you :) I'm glad people like the bits with Rowena's thoughts and memories. I hope Godric's flashbacks are just as enjoyable.

Oh, no trouble whatsoever with the impatience! I know how it is – trust me! And it makes me happy to see that people are anxious for me to update – it's very rewarding knowing that someone likes your work :)

shadownthedark: Thanks! That'll take a while... but not too long – that I can promise :D

If I have enough time, I'll upload up to two new chapter till next Saturday – I have a school break of four days, starting from Wednesday!

Seeya all!