when I stirred from my rest I noted that the Yaga witch now sat directly beside me, staring off into the distance.
"Know that I would not have offered you the secret I am about to offer you now had that creature not showed up." Niime whispered motioning with wide eyes towards the dragon. "You are full of so many surprises master fontling that one can scarcely believe."
I shifted my gaze to behold a beautiful cat like shape sitting on the snout of the great wyrm.
"I believe this one says it knows you, little one." The dragon rumbled through the gem.
"Mercury!" I shouted, watching the cat playfully tap at Ancalagon's nostril. He blew smoke out of his nose but mercury merely leapt back in time, bounding over to me to burry itself in my robes in warm caresses. "Where did you come from you silly goose. How did you even find me out here—"
I froze mid sentence as I felt the silver branch Niime hobbled around on press gently against the back of my skull. 'It was a wand!' I thought grimly, unsure what to expect next. How could I have left my guard so open! Had all of the stories and the dragon gift been to disarm me for this moment! Fear had filled me with doubt until the magic began to blossom. She could have merely attacked me when I slept. Why now—
Fluttering… the sound of wings beating and flapping in my heart… my body tingled and my mind raced as a series of small changes were worked inside me. I bolted upright as knowledge twisted inside me. Suddenly I realized what she had done for me. I knew the secret. I knew how to fly. The same secret she had taught to Voldemort she had yielded to me as well!
"You are full of surprises fontling. A cheshire has chosen you?! How my granddaughter Vivian would have loved to see this."
Too many abrupt shocks had sent me into a dizzy haze. Had Niime said Vivian?
"Vivian Morgan? Viv is your granddaughter?" I asked turning to stare at the haggard woman. She looked exhausted from the spell. Her eyes twinkled though, as though she enjoyed flexing her skills. There was a happiness in her face that belied the toll the magic had taken on her.
"My granddaughter lives? You know her?" She inquired softly. I was so overcome with the events of the day that I grabbed her hand and sat us back down.
"She's the one who taught me Faeric. Niime… may I share some stories of her with you? She has been my teacher for a as long as i can remember." i offered sincerely. She smiled and all the fear of Yaga and bone charms and dragons left me. A witch so powerful that Voldemort had lost to her. A witch who knew blood magic and dark spells beyond my understanding. A witch who made Viv seem like a mere novice. I merely grabbed her hand as though we were old friends.
"You may Albus…" and we sat for hours. I shared with her as many stories of Vivian as possible. I shared much of the history of the wizarding world from the last thirty years. I shared some of my fears for the future and my encounter with her prince in the underground near hells gate. I told her about Scorpius and about my father and about my hopes for a unified world… where all could work magic and all lived in peace. She listened avidly, as captivated by my stories as i had been by her encounter with the dark lord. I was in mid sentence when Niime lifted her hand to silence me. I broke off as she peered suspiciously into the darkness. I turned back and Ancalagon's eyes flit open and he raised his head in the same direction.
"Someone's coming." Niime remarked. It was casual and matter of fact. She feared nothing. Mercury's soft head emerged from its resting place at the sound of something rhythmic tapping in the distance. It was then that i noticed the red charm attached to his collar. Someone was looking for me!
"Al… Al. Al! ALBUS!" the shouts grew louder.
"Raven!?" I answered. How could he have found me? The dark haired boy finally came into view but froze when he realized what the dark figure of Ancalagon really was. There was a roar as the dragon challenged the startled intruder.
"Peace friend." I shot racing over to the dragon to put my hand on his neck. "This is Raven." I offered by way of introduction. "Raven, this is Ancalagon—the great" I added to assuage the creatures ire. The boy looked at me with such perplexed stupor that he merely opened and closed his mouth several times. I moved between him and the dragon to distract him from his fear.
"Charmed..."
"How did you find me? Is that your charm on Mercury." I inquired stepping closer to him. He had come for me? He had been searching for me the entire night... I'm certain they all were but honestly i didn't expect anyone to locate me until tomorrow when i'd emerged from Baciu Tarn.
"I've been so worried. I had to text scorpius and tell him what happened. He couldn't apparate internationally so he explained I could use your cheshire to find you. He was furious that I could let anything happen to you in the first place…" The boy explained, still eyeing the dragon cautiously.
Without warning a dagger appeared at Alex's throat. Niime had yanked my friend backwards by his hair and had him off balance in a moment. "I don't even need magic to dispatch the likes of you. Pureblood." She croaked.
"Niime please, he is my friend. He was merely looking for me after the events at the dragon camp." I shouted in panic. "Why would you do this Niime?"
"I must protect the entrance to the realm. It is my duty! You are a guest by our laws. Not this one!" She shrieked, her power and terrifying visage revealing itself. She was so potent. I could feel the magic emanating from her aged form like a storm. "I am sorry Albus… but i cannot allow him to live. He has discovered one of the thirteen entrances!"
"He is loyal to me! He would die for me! please don't hurt him! I trust him. I trust him with my life." I pleaded, slipping my hand into my pocket, fumbling for excalibur.
"Do not move! Whelp!" She barked, noticing my hand. Ideas raced through her head as she tried to decide what to do.
"If you kill him! I will kill you Niime." I promised as her eyes caught mine momentarily. They had shifted that sickening slytherin red and I could feel hatred bleeding off of me as I grew enraged. For a split second I saw fear in her expression.
"I'll swear to it!" Alex gurgled trying not to cut himself on the blade that was held menacingly taught against his skin. She paused and lessened the pressure on the knife. "I don't know the spell itself… but i am loyal to that boy. You cannot know how much. I would swear a blood oath if I could… i just don't know how yet." Alex begged assessing the situation. "Al! Please tell me you know it?"
"Niime does. Don't you? Yaga. But you shouldn't have to do this Alex. Its not fair. Niime will release you. Won't you?"
"I accept your offer young pureblood." She spat removing the blade and clutching Alex by his hair instead. She dragged him close to me then.
"He shouldn't have to do this Niime. He… he loves me." I pleaded.
"I am bound too Albus… it is this or his death. Learn this spell well for you will need it in the future." With that she drew the blade across alex's palm and motioned for me to extend my hand. To me she merely pricked the tip of the blade gently into the flesh of my thumb.
"PACTUM SANGUIS!" she shouted as our blood pooled together.
"Your name boy! Quickly" She barked at Alex. She was upset by this too. I could tell. Something about a pureblood wizard intruding here had sent her into a fury. It only served to highlight how different I was from everyone els—
"—Alex… Alexander Greengrass" He stuttered dazed.
"Repeat the words then… I Alexander Greengrass."
"I Alexander Greengrass." He parroted with a whimper. He barely knew what was happening to him.
"Swear by this oath to become a loyal vassal. To be a shield in battle. To race to defend the honor and life of this noble lord. Above all else to OBEY his commands."
"Swear by this oath to become a loyal vassal. To be a shield in battle. To race to defend the honor and life of this noble lord. Above all else to OBEY his commands."
"To serve his interests and to protect those he loves." She finished with a sigh.
"To serve his interests and to protect those he loves."
"And to bind myself to him for as long as I shall live." Alex added on his own meeting my eyes with final defiant courage. Niime scowled as it was done and a silver phial formed around the two blood droplets.
"YOU STUPID BOY!" She hissed at him smacking him across the face. "Do you think me so cruel? I worded that contract as safely as possible with no term limit applied! There are ways around a blood pact as long as the language is carefully constructed boy! You have just made a slave of yourself until you die!" Niime cursed, appalled.
"I knew what i was doing." Alex answered clutching his injured palm. Niime waved her hand dismissively and his palm sewed itself shut in an instant.
"You know nothing bot." Niime barked again shoving the phial angrily into my chest. "This was done so that Albus, a guest of my people, could command his vassal to never endanger the secrets of this place. Thus my duty would have been satisfied and i would not have had to kill you. You have taken it farther than that."
"Alex…" I offered to the sad kneeling boy who loved me the way I loved Scor.
"You! Boy who inspires such loyalty! Boy who wins the hearts of dragons and princes and old Yaga crones. Do not ever abuse this bond. DO YOU HEAR ME?! Order him now to protect the secret of Baciu Tarn and leave me! I grow weary of speaking to stupid children."
I did as she commanded and grabbed Alex by the hand.
"You are to return to me once every month when the moon is full… school or not… so that I may teach you what my granddaughter cannot… and so that i may make sure you have not abused this boy in any way. Do you understand!?"
"Yes Niime."
"THEN BEGONE!" She boomed enraged, her face turning white. Her features shifted in the dancing firelight and a dangerous fear seeped into my skin as I beheld the sickening visage. If voldemort's magic had made him appear more snakelike then whatever dark magic she practices had made her look like a bird of prey.
We fled then towards the caves exit using Alex's safety line spell to guide us. I barely had time to spare a backwards glance at the glorious dragon.
We ran and ran, not sure where we were headed until we got to the mouth of the cave. As soon as we emerged into the full moonlit night we bent over gasping for breath. The fear and stress of all that happened was thick like smoke in my mouth and nostrils. I couldn't spare a moment to answer the dragon as his mind probed at mine.
"Al… can you tell me… what did I just fucking do? I only meant to… she was going to kill me… but then I… Why did I do that? I sold myself to you… I can't believe I just—" before he could finish his stammering, I grabbed him and leaned upwards to kiss him on the lips. I continued to kiss him feverishly, letting him have as much of me as he wanted. After a moment he moved away from my mouth and began to kiss down my neck softly. I felt his hand move beneath my shirt after another minute had passed.
"Alex…"
He ignored me, beginning to unbutton my shirt in a haze. I started to feel uncomfortable, the fear of the nights events still fresh in my mind. His hands slipped beneath the fabric and started to trail down my abdomen. He was confused and heady with blood magic.
"Alex maybe we should…"
His fingers reached my waistline and I could feel his fingers playing gently at the rim of my underwear… It wasn't until he reach to undo my belt that clarity finally rang through me.
"Alex stop!"
No sooner had the command left my lips than his whole body froze completely as though it had been hit with a petrification charm. My heart sank at the power I now had over him. "Just… be with me for a minute if that's ok?" I asked holding him. I had to phrase everything as a question from now on.
He started to cry softly as we held each other. "I wanted you to be mine so badly and now it seems i'm the one that belongs to you instead. I didn't want to die Albus… what did I do to myself…"
"Alex… we're ok now… you got out of there…" I whispered trying to reassure him.
"Please don't hurt me… i'm begging you Al…" Alex whined, pleading with me. I felt sick suddenly at how vulnerable he felt. He knew it wasn't like me to use someone recklessly and yet his fear overrode what he should have known about me.
"Let's get you back to Greengrass Manor. I think you need to lay down." I offered, ignoring the incoherent begging.
We still had a long night. We had to take his broom who knew how many miles back to the ridge to then find an adult to apparate us to the romanian ministry to then use an international port key just to return to english soil. From there we needed to fly back to his house and I would need to get a message over to my dad.
"I can fly faster than your silly stick can carry you. If you have need of my wings I can return you to the english coast in a matter of hours." The rumbling voice echoed inside my head from the jewel now tucked firmly in my breast pocket.
"I think Alex has had enough fright for one day… but thank you for the offer Ancalagon." I returned in faeric. I heard him grumble as though he agreed he was being generous.
Alex was crying now. I could only hold him as he sobbed. I couldn't bare it. He had come looking for me. He was the only one to risk himself to come so far. As reward for his loyalty he was now a slave.
"We should leave here, its not safe Alex. We need to let everyone know we're alright. Can you ride properly?" I asked motioning towards his broom. He looked at me stupidly as though he couldn't follow what I was saying.
I kissed him gently again. This time it seemed to work. Each time my lips met his I realized how much I wished it was Scorpius. Even as I knew each time he was just asworried if he would ever get to kiss me again. I loved this boy too… in a way… but things had gotten too complicated for me to understand any longer.
"Mithlonim gallenar… mithlonim" (Peace friend… Peace) I whispered in the faeric tongue. "Thallum anwe, anwe-ith buraz nim-id nin-eth. Nim-id." (Trust me, I will never betray you. Never." He didn't know what I had said but I could feel his sobs slow and his heart return to a normal rhythm.
"I will never betray your loyalty or love for me. Do you understand Alexander Raven Greengrass. Never" I repeated in english shaking him gently as I looked at him. Let's just get you home.
It was four in the morning when Alex and I stumbled tiredly out of the floo of his family property and into his grand foyer. Thankfully they didn't keep a tight leash on him for none of his family, guards or servants had stayed up late worrying. I had to quietly ask one of his groggy house elves to take a letter over to the Minister for Magic so they knew to stop looking for me. Alex merely led me to his bedroom in a sleepy shuffle. He pointed to a few doors mumbling "guest room" and "bathroom" and I nodded in comprehension. He collapsed onto his mattress with a huff, not bothering to close the door or take his shoes off.
I walked back to the grand foyer knowing what was about to happen at any minute. Just as I arrived at the door I heard three distinct but soft popping sounds from right outside. Before they could ring or knock I opened the door to Charlie and Gideon in their respective red dragon and lion masks. A third black skinned figure stood besides them wearing the same telltale red armor and robes worn by members of the red guard. His Ibis mask and cowl completely obscured his face from view but I knew who it was. "Shacklebolt… I'm surprised they sent for all three of you at once." I offered deadpanned. "As you can all see, your charge is perfectly alright."
"Albus! I'm so glad to see you well! We just heard word from one of the Greengrass's elves. How did you escape that bloody dragon?" My uncle asked coming to hug me. The other two guards almost shared a glance but remained stoically unmoved.
"Do you mind if we save the report and the Ibis's oath for tomorrow? I've had enough stories and oaths for one night."
Gideon started to speak but I preempted any objections.
"This family are among our strongest supporters. I'll be safe with you guarding the perimeter. The Greengrass's have security so you can coordinate with them for details. Good night you three."
With that I closed the door in my guards faces and found my way back up to Alex's room. I delicately pulled off his shoes and placed them in a closet before moving him so that we could both slip under the covers.
"Didn't I show you to your guest room?" He asked groggily.
"I'll stay with you tonight if that's ok? I want to make sure you sleep ok." I answered softly as he turned to face me in the moonlit room. His eyes met mine shyly and for a moment before he closed them we were locked together. I watched him breathing softly as he began to drift off to sleep. 'We would fight for you.' i heard the thought echoing in my head as I realized just how critically this day had unfolded. Lily's oath resonated in my head over and over. We would fight for you.
I had barely gotten an ounce of sleep for the rest of the night. I had merely watched over Alex for as long as he slumbered. Hours rolled by as thoughts of his sacrifice filled my mind. Finally when light began to creep over the horizon I slipped from the covers of his bed and rose to walk the still quiet halls of Greengrass manor. My hands took to tracing delicate trails along the fireplace mantles and table tops. Art, portraits and photographs decorated many of the large rooms and gallery surfaces and I spent a great deal of time examining each piece as the strength of the sun waxed ever stronger.
"Al! Thank Merlin you're alright!"
I turned quickly, shocked by the floo traveler who had just arrived behind me. I stared directly into his bright blue eyes before he almost ran at me. It was obvious how relieved he was to see that i was unharmed. He stopped himself as he got closer, curbing his instinct to want to hug me.
"Malfoy…" I answered coldly out of habit. In truth I was kind of touched to note his concern.
He surprised me again by launching full force towards me. As his arms encircled me I found myself struggling for freedom.
"Leave off me Malfoy! I'm not in the mood." I barked as i stabbed at him with the tip of my wand. He made a soft yowl as he released me, trying to keep the volume of his voice low enough so as not to draw the attention of those who had yet to wake.
"No need to be so rough… I was so unbelievably worried about you."
"Do not touch me. I don't wish to converse with the likes of you."
"Is that how you thank me then? I was the one who told Alex how to find you. If it weren't for me—"
"—SLUG! If it weren't for you!" I seethed furiously at him. I was so mad that i had grabbed him by the collar before continuing my scathing rebuke. "Do you know what you cost Alex? Do you know the price he paid to come for me? I had charmed that dragon when i saved its life! I wasn't ever in danger you fool. Ancalagon was trying to protect me from the death eaters when he took off with me in tow…"
The poor boy looked terrified then.
"Alex… he didn't… he's not… dead is he?" Malfoy asked, searching my eyes with worry.
"No he's physically fine… but there was a blood price… I can't tell you the details since it affects him too… anyway just leave me alone for once…" I offered finally, releasing him from my grip. "I don't want you here."
"Hello cousin… Al? You're up already?" Alex inquired curiously as he had observed our exchange from the entrance to the great room.
"You're alright!" Malfoy shot walking over to his cousin this time. We were both a little surprised by the obvious display of concern. It wasn't like the blond to show he cared for others. Until now I was the only exception.
"Yeah, thanks for the advice about Mercury. I wasn't sure when I called that you would even answer. I'm glad you thought of that though. The Cheshire led me right to him." Alex offered to his cousin, choosing to ignore the outcome of last night's rescue. As far as the events of the evening were concerned, it was clear only I had the full picture.
"No… Thank you for going to rescue him. It must have taken guts… to go without Charlie or the other adults. Why did you go it alone anyway?"
"I didn't. Most of the ministry personnel were either injured or chasing down the death eaters. We were only supposed to split up to look for signs of the dragon and report back if we found anything. I didn't want to lead everyone along mercury's trail if for some reason she couldn't find Al. When i stumbled upon him… it was already too late to turn back for help… well… I found him is the main thing."
The spelllwork of the blood oath kept Alex from revealing too much about what transpired in the cave system beneath Baciu Tarn.
"Baciu Tarn… the haunted forest… the dragon had dragged me back to a cave for my protection… I got to know him a little… he speaks faeric actually…" I explained for Alex, while choosing to keep certain details a secret.
"Wow… that sounds like an adventure." Scorpius offered… noting the strange energy between Alex and I. "And you're sure… you're alright cousin?" He asked finally looking back at the Greengrass heir.
"I'll live… I'm just a little dejected… if rushing into a dragon's jaws to save Al didn't get him to fall for me… i guess nothing will… you were right… he's not interested." Alex shot to Malfoy. They had talked about me? What was this bullshit?
"As i mentioned to Malfoy… While i appreciate the gesture Alex… I had charmed the Dragon and his companion… i was free to leave at any time. Sorry to… inconvenience either of you." I chose to Ignore the black haired boy's remarks about winning my affection. Malfoy had remained quiet at the statement as well. Alex looked almost sick at the idea that the price he had paid had been for nothing. He hadn't won me and i hadn't even been in any danger.
"I take It I will be seeing you both at the Carnival of the moon? We're all invited this year I believe." Alex offered finally, changing subjects when the silence had grown too awkward.
"Yes… dreadful business… i'm hosting the welcoming ceremony with the Valois… i was invited as a special guest of Augustin. I will already be in attendance at the Louvre prior to the first day of the festival."
"I didn't know that? Did Cyril invite you?" Malfoy asked curiously.
"None of your business." I spat at the blond. He merely sighed before going to whisper into his cousins ear.
How rude!
"Albus… Would you mind letting your father know you're alright… I think i've recovered sufficiently… so… I might spend the rest of the day with my cousin if that's ok?" Alex asked bashfully. He was embarrassed to dismiss me in favor of his cousin but i could tell they had family matters to discuss. "I will see you in France though. We can save each other if the need arises?"
"Yeah Raven. Sure." I offered going over to Alex to kiss him one last time on the lips. "For saving me." I added before I walked towards the door. Scorpius had made a strange face at the way we seemed to kiss.
SPOV
The moment Albus had stepped outside and the three telltale cracks of apparition had passed, my cousin broke down. I stood there awkwardly as he started to cry. Even I couldn't deny that he had been severely hurt by the nights events.
"Can you tell me anything about what happened?" I asked softly of Alex, moving to sit beside him on the couch where he had deposited himself. He actually began to cry harder at that, his head pressing itself face down into my shoulder. I was so surprised he felt comfortable enough to do it. I merely brought an arm around his shoulder until he finally managed to calm himself.
"Only that this was the result." Alex offered, producing the silver vial of a blood pact. My eyes went wide as thoughts raced through my head at the myriad of scenarios I tried to calculate.
"Did Albus do that to you?" I asked, watching as he shook his head.
"But it is to him you are bound?" He nodded.
"I love him… I have loved him since we were children…now that I have pledged my complete loyalty to him… I find out It still isn't enough" Alex offered as the sobs continued.
I realized then the implication of what he'd said. Albus had not so long ago come to my house to inform me that our memories had been altered. I had heard later it might have been after the two boys met that day in knocturn alley. Albus had left me with a memory vial to review after our departure but I had yet to watch its contents.
"I was informed there were… modifications made by the ministry. I still don't know the crux of our history though" I paused for a second before continuing on the actual subject of discussion. "I did tell you he's straight though didn't I Alex? If you couldn't charm him that's the only explanation. You are rather handsome for a Greengrass. Don't take it to heart." I joked, trying to bring some levity back to our morning.
Alex grimaced cynically at the words. He all but ignored my complement.
"I don't know about that… you sure he isn't merely in love with someone else?" Alex asked looking straight into my eyes as he spoke. I laughed without even considering the implication.
"He doesn't love me… If anything… he hates me Alex… besides… now that you are sworn to him I can risk sharing the reason for our strange… relationship. What you read as love is actually the result of a soul bond…"
Alex did stop sobbing at that, turning to look at me as though I were a lunatic conspiracy theorist.
"Are those even real? I feel like those aren't an actual thing."
"They're real alright… the ministry doesn't know it but the bond they feared about us… that they felt could unhinge magical society… it stems from our soul bond."
"Only you, cousin, could argue that the reason Albus couldn't possibly be in love with you was because your soul bond was reason enough to explain his strange behavior towards you."
My cousin sighed at that, his eyes beginning to dry. "We haven't spoken like this before Scor. Its nice."
I felt a warm regard for his honesty. "Actually… I think its nice too cousin."
"Thanks for comforting me. I'm sorry for the waterworks. I know you detest crying. I just… needed to vent."
I nodded as though I understood. I wasn't sure I actually did but I was happy i could do something for Alex. My esteem for my cousin had gone up ten fold when he had risked his life in an attempt to save Albus.
"Do I sense a rapprochement between us coming along?"
"Why cousin, I do believe that might the case."
