I awoke in Scor's arms to an unfamiliar tingling sort of sensation. It wasn't the voice I usually felt rumbling in my mind. This time it quivered, a soft glow like dying embers. As though the gargantuan dragon were gently blowing hot air on me.
"You're watching me sleep now?" I asked groggily, a smile growing on my face when I realized what was happening. I could feel his warm rhythmic breath as if it were a soft caress.
"Hmmmm" The dragon hummed deeply.
"Was that a purr?" I asked cheekily.
"Dragons do not purr Albus."
"Thanks for the gentle wake up… but I'm not sure what I can do for you at this hour Great One." I offered, stretching out my limbs like a cat. Scor protested with a moan in his sleep and merely detached himself to turn away from me.
"The full moon approaches again. It has been a month since I saw you. The witch urged that I remind you of your promise to visit each lunar cycle. She has… lessons for you…"
This time I groaned in protest. I still felt the pain of my aches from the battle with Mor Tork. That could be fortuitous timing though. The kitchens had left me with an enormous section of the boar's braised meat that had gone uneaten at the feast. I sent a picture of it into Ancalagon's mind, sensing him salivating in gratitude. How will I get it to him though?
"I knew there was a reason I chose you. Such a good little friend, my human pet. Bringing me boar meat. Fresh and juicy."
I laughed in my head. "Am I your pet then great one? Do you miss me? Is that it?" I asked warmly.
"I am to remind you of your obligation to the Yaga sorceress." He stated flatly, although I sensed a strange sort of amusement bubbling in his mind. Pet now! I'm his pet am I?!
"Tell Niime I will come tomorrow night. Its the last night of the carnival and once the midnight dance is performed I can disappear and make my way to Baciu Tarn. Although it is very far to fly. I've barely flown from the ground to a tree since learning her magic. I doubt I can sustain such a long travel under my own steam."
Without pause I sensed the mass of the black dragon shift like a mountain as his body snaked to uncoil itself. Merlin I can feel the size of him even through the link of the stone.
"Don't trouble yourself. You will need me to fly you anyway. I will depart now for France while the muggles sleep."
I was genuinely touched by the offer.
"You don't have to do that for me! Great one! You are not a shuttle. I can take a broom or find someone to apparate me."
"Do you never tire of being so polite?" The titan asked, grinning. "You will need me because even if you could fly yourself to the crags… you would not be able to carry I think the whole of your merry band of crusaders too…"
Ancalagon POV
Fear-Surprise smoked from the boys little mind. I knew some who would feel betrayed by my intrusion, but from Albus I sensed only shock and nervousness. The child never ceased to amaze me. His emotions and thoughts are so unlike the rest of those petty ants we call humans.
"You know about them? You told Niime? Why does she want us all there? I'm planning to add many more to my order tomorrow night… I don't know that I can bring them all away from the carnival without drawing suspicion."
"I watch over you. That is true. The intrigue of your life seems a more worthwhile interest than the politics of dragons. I am unchallenged by my kin and so have little else to pass the time. And yes I tell Niime of what I witness because she has also taken an interest in your little games."
Wyrm-sloth I mused, chuckling as I sensed the laziness roiling in him. He worked so hard most of the time but I sensed how much he truly desired to merely curl up and sleep. Dragon like, i thought, remembering how he roared at me during our first encounter. I recalled how he'd breathed in my fire and spat it back at me in a fury. This boy is something special…
"I've got so much to do already. Now I have to convince Scor and the others to come to Baciu Tarn! This is going to terrify them. I only just inducted them into my order."
"She was concerned that you used the blood magic again. She was not happy to learn you had again bound others to your service."
"I would never misuse a friend! I hope you know that!" The boy protested. Finally some outrage. The heat of dragon indignation. He bristled at even the whisper of the insinuation. Loyalty and Honor.
"I know, Mercury has told me much about you."
"Wait. what? You can talk to them?" Surprise, anger, sloth. He's so young to shift emotions the way he does. I nodded at his marvelment as I paced my way to the entrance of the cave. The smell of pine and fresh air filled my lungs as I extended my massive wings to prepare for take off.
"So that's where they've been this whole time… We saw them briefly for the opening ceremony but they teleport so much that we often have no idea where they go or what they're up to. Wait though, hang on. So Niime wants to check the blood spells? Is that why I'm to come with the rest of my order?" He queried suspiciously.
"That is a reason yes. The other reason is that which you found out tonight. I was not happy to sense you depart from this world, even for a brief moment. Something… even greater than myself… had you in its claws today. You… worried me… so I showed Niime my vision. She knows you are the prince of the seventh font now. Although of the books she yet remains ignorant."
True fear gripped him then by his throat. For a moment I felt him wonder if it would be better to never go back to the crag at all. I took flight then, again laughing.
"You have me now Albus. I will not let the witch hurt a single of your friends, of that you can have no doubt."
"But what does she want then?"
"To teach you of course. To guide you. You must smell the blood in the air as I do. Evil is coming to the world again. Steel and metal and blood and death. A great scouring comes for us all. I think you know this."
APOV
I sensed the dragon's irritation with having to speak so much in the human tongue. It was all I could do to agree mentally to the request and retreat inwards.
"Try not to frighten them. You're quite the imposing figure too you know." I added playfully. His pride swelled at the compliment but again amusement bubbled from within. 'No… I guess you don't frighten me though…' I thought, placing a mental hand on the side of his jaw. To my surprise he welcomed the intimate gesture.
"There is one last thing Albus. The Fey creature. Niime's granddaughter. She wants you to bring the one called Vivienne too."
"HA!" I shouted, putting my surprise aside. I was so shocked to feel the lazy complaint in his mind that I couldn't help but laugh. "You're not at all happy about having to carry all of us are you?"
The dragon grumbled and blew more hot air at me, disconnecting our link in the process.
I leaned over to Scor and kissed him on the head as I pulled my slippers and robe on.
I left our chamber and rang for a royal elf to guid me to the correct guest apartment.
"I must speak with Vivienne Le Fey at once. Could you take me to her room? Faster is better, i don't mind taking the servants route." The elf eyed me curiously but nodded and replied in french that he was happy to oblige. He withdrew a lantern and took me through the hidden walls to an entirely different section of the palace. When I arrived I noticed the lights were on beneath her door.
"Come in Albus. Funny, for a moment I thought you might be one of the Valois men. They are quite taken with me it seems."
"I hate how you do that. How do you always know its me?" I asked withdrawing my knuckles from the space in front of the door. I pushed it open not even having had the time to knock.
"You give off a distinct… shall we say smell." My former teacher replied from her position at her desk. She must have also noticed the cologne Scor had made for me. Wait… why was she up and working at this hour? "What can I assist you with majesty?"
"I don't like when you call me that."
"Well you can hardly doubt I have reason to call you that now? After today? You're making quite the spectacle of yourself this weekend. The Valois have a band of the great craftsman working on something all night in your honor. I can only imagine what they plan on gifting you."
I groaned, not pleased by how much notoriety I would have after this. I doubted that this had been what Arcanis had meant when he ordered me to draw attention to myself.
"If you really want to help... You can assist me by accompanying me on a mission tomorrow night. However… you're going to have to swear an unspeakable oath not to repeat what you see or hear."
"I would sooner die than betray you Albus… but if you require it I will obey. I have to be careful the oath does not compete with the ones i've sworn to the department of mysteries however. That could get messy. Where are we going?"
"Well… To see Niime of the Yaga actually." I was flummoxed to see her face then. I'd never witnessed her emote with such uncharacteristic intensity. Her face was a canvas of shock as I'd never seen before. Each line was painted as if in exaggerated alarm. Like a caricature of confusion and fear.
"Thats not… possible. How would you? Where did you? My grandmother…" She tried, failing to compose her thoughts or words. "My mother brought me to her only once when I was a girl. The ministry's experiment was hardly left unsupervised for very long. Still I remember her smiling face and the day we'd spent together. The wisdom she imparted onto me. How can this be that you…"
"Its a long story honestly but I'm to bring you and some of my friends to her tomorrow night during the full moon. After the closing of the carnival of course."
"Is it safe? Niime is a master of the dark arts. One of the Yaga. A full moon is the height of darkness Albus. Are you sure it is safe? Even with me there… I'm not sure I could deny her if she wished to harm you."
"Your concern for me is touching teacher, however that will not be necessary. I already have a protector. Besides I think Niime has a plan for me that requires I be fit and healthy."
"Doesn't everyone have a plan for you? Aren't you tired of this yet? You're still only fifteen. I don't wonder how you've stayed sane all this time." I had to look away at that to hide my true emotions. It took everything I had most days not to scream into my pillow.
"I just wanted to inform you of our travel plans for tomorrow. I really should get back to bed."
"Alright then Majesty. I shall await your instructions."
Just a side note. I will be changing the title of the story to "Albus Potter and the throne of Magic"
