Late again, I know. But RL really is a mess at times. I had my graduation ceremony yesterday, and since I studied far from where I actually live, that meant traveling for quite a while before getting there, and then back home. And while my nook is great for reading and even browsing the web, for some reason it wouldn't allow me to edit this, so I had to wait until now.
Anyway, here it is. Enjoy the chapter! (Please enjoy it, as the bombshells keep falling!)
Chapter 29. Connections
The group had once again met in the Sorcerers' Common Room, in that moment Hermione's newest book laid in the table in the middle of the room, with everyone in a circle around her, the book opened in the page Hermione found to be the most important.
"So, this is them." Harry declared, signaling to the list of names. "The ones whose heirs we have to find if we want to put The Plan into action."
"Pretty much, yes." Hermione nodded, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"There's eight of them." Ron pointed out with his arms crossed. "We were told the pillars would be seven, not eight."
"That's because Morgana isn't a pillar." Hermione clarified. "I read the book a few times in the last few days, Morgana was present in the room, yes, and she actually guided the meeting as the most magical person among those present, but she wasn't one of the pillars of the Western Council itself."
"The most magical person?" Sakura was confused at that. "But shouldn't that have been Clow Reed? I mean, I've always read he was the most powerful Sorcerer…"
"What has me confused is that I had read that Morgana was a Dark Witch, and in fact, the Dark Lady during that era…" Long pointed out uncomfortably.
"That is a common misconception." Tomoyo declared. "Morgana, as most probably already know, was Arthur's half-sister, and yes, I'm talking about the King Arthur of Legend. Corrupted magical beings found her when she was still a child and worked on corrupting her to use her, to turn her into a Dark Lady, it's why she ended up seducing her own brother and having Mordred. However, once Mordred was born, the Darkness had no further need of her, they tried to kill her but she managed to escape, she was found by Myrddin Emrys, who we all know as Merlin. He saved her, helped her recover. It was then that Morgana's true power manifested, she was an Enchantress, and the last Child of the Fae, of the True Fairies, hence her name. So, yes, she may have done some bad things in her youth, and her son worse; but she wasn't really evil…"
They all nodded, Hermione wanted to ask how Tomoyo knew so much about Morgana, she was quite sure that kind of information wasn't in any book, she'd searched; but right then Eriol diverted her attention.
"Clow Reed was a very powerful Sorcerer, Sakura-san, that is true, the most powerful of the time." Eriol stated seriously. "But, in a sense, Morgana was a magical creature, or at least the blood of the Fae ran in her veins even with her being human, this allowed her access to a level magic not even Clow could reach. Also, by being an Enchantress, she was connected to the Earth, and to the very essence of magic in a way no wizard, witch, mage, or even sorcerer could ever hope to be."
There were several awes all around at the fact that Morgana had been so powerful…
"Anyway, Morgana aside." Shaoran declared after what seemed like forever. "If this book is correct, and knowing Hermione-san I'm sure she wouldn't have brought this to our attention if she weren't absolutely sure…we need to find the heirs of Reed, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Pendragon and Wylt." He sighed. "The first is fairly easy, since Eriol is not only Clow's reincarnation but also his descendant, I'm another but since I'm Chinese, already Head of the Li Clan and Leader of the Eastern Council it would be a conflict of interests were I to try and take that place. The next four we've been told still exist but with different names, which means we'll have to uncover those, somehow; the last two…"
"They would have different names by now as well." Eriol pointed out. "It's been a thousand years after all…"
It looked like he was going to say something else but was holding back.
"Spit it out Eriol." Shaoran practically ordered.
They were all surprised by the abruptness of the statement, until they too noticed the expression in Eriol's face; whatever was going through his mind was important, very much so. And it was until that very moment when they all remembered something, which Shaoran had just reminded them of, in fact: Eriol was Clow's reincarnation…which meant that for all intents and purposes he was in that meeting…
"What do you remember of that event?" Sonomi asked, being the first to form a coherent question after the thought assaulted her.
"Very little." Eriol said seriously. "Which is why I hadn't mentioned anything before. I guided Hermione-san to the right material, but I couldn't be sure myself of what I knew, or thought I knew. Contrary to what most probably expect, with me being Clow's reincarnation, I'm not him, in fact, I've been told on more than one occasion that aside from some particular quirks and some physical likeness, I'm nothing like him. It's not like Clow died, I was born and I went on as if the thousand years between one death and one birth didn't happen. I AM NOT CLOW REED. My souls is his own, his magic is now my own, but my mind is my own, as are my memories, my character and everything else. I remember some things, but even the clearest memories I have, I do because it was Clow's decision while he still lived, because there were some things he knew his reincarnation would need to know for his plan to work. I needed to know about the Clow Cards, about their powers, about my own magic, my lineage, I needed to be able to create Guardians, and especially, I needed to know I was a reincarnation, not a successor, Clow had already chosen someone to inherit the Cards: Sakura-san." He sighed. "Since Tomoyo-chan's awakening as one of the Roses, our connection might have pushed forward several more memories, but still, I am my own person."
They nodded, they had heard Eriol saying things like that before, but never imagined it could be so complicated.
"Now, back to what Sonomi-san just asked." Eriol went back to the main topic. "I remember very little of that meeting. Though I know the Western Council was, at least in part, Clow's suggestion, as he'd grown up seeing the Eastern Council and believed the newly organized Wizarding Society in Britain would benefit of such a body of law and tradition. It was at his insistence that Morgana even participated in such a thing, as she'd departed the main area of Britain, far to the north, years before. Not sure how he managed to convince her to give a helping hand, and particularly to be there in person that day…in any case, I'm quite sure it was the last time Clow ever saw her…" Eriol's eyes seemed to take a haunted quality which he pushed away with some effort before continuing his explanation. "Rowena, Helga, Godric and Salazar were the most powerful among Wizards and Witches at the time, I believe they were in fact Mages of the Highest Caliber, and the closest Mages have ever been to being Sorcerers. They had also just begun putting in practice their plan to create a Magical School in Britain, an idea that was received with much interest by the whole Society. The last two…I actually didn't remember their names until I saw them written in that book, but on hindsight their presence there is only natural."
"Who are they? Or were they?" Severus demanded, beginning to tire of Eriol's twisted way of speaking without actually revealing anything. "Ariadna was one very beautiful woman, probably the most beautiful witch on the Chambers that day…she was a Mage, though not as powerful as the Founders, she was still quite amazing in her own right, particularly if we consider the fact that she was a halfblood, her father being a muggle, her mother a witch of renown in the ancient Tribes, she was the only magical child to be born from that pair…the youngest child and only daughter of King Arthur Pendragon and his Queen Ginebra…"
The murmurs that rose throughout the room quickly became shouts, as everyone began demanding more-or-less the same: to know how it was possible.
"How do you expect me to know that?" Eriol asked half-annoyed half-amused. "I barely even remember that she was, truly, their daughter, and somewhat the other details I've given you. And it's not like Clow was ever in friendly terms with either Princess Ariadna, or her parents. Clow knew about Queen Ginebra, it was impossible not to know, since she was the heiress of the most powerful magical clan in the Isles in those old times, and then she married the 'King of the Britons'. Those two did so much for Britain, yet their story has been incredibly twisted through the years…to think that Lancelot would ever betray Arthur, and then bed Ginebra… when it was well known that he considered the first as good as his brother and the second… well I guess he never had that much time to truly get to know her. Princess Ariadna was said to be the best of both of them. Back then, muggle Britain wasn't really the best place to live in, and it didn't have much to offer to the youngest child of any union, even a royal one, which is why she chose to live as a witch. She never tried to ascertain her titles, though most still referred to her as Princess, or Her Grace."
This time silence was almost absolute as the circle of family and friends did their best to process everything that had just been revealed. While it was well known among the magical community that people like King Arthur, Queen Ginebra, Merlin, etc. had, in fact, existed, most of their history had still been lost in legends, myths and lies. And yet there Eriol was, telling them unshakable facts about legendary individuals, and knowing he'd known at least two of them (including Morgana) personally…
It was a while before everyone calmed down enough to continue the discussion they had reunited for, but eventually it happened.
"What about the last name?" Minerva asked. "Ambrosius Wylt."
Eriol face-faulted and then looked straight at the Headmaster and Deputy-Headmistress carefully, as if looking for something.
"Do you really not know?" Eriol asked, not quite believing it.
"I know the name sounds incredibly familiar, the family name at least." Albus commented. "But, for the life of me, I cannot pin-point where I've read it, or heard it, before."
"Maese Ambrosius was another highly important individual, on many levels." Eriol explained. "A Mage in his own right. I believe he wasn't the son, but the grandson of a quite famous man, however, it was his grandfather who raised him as the boy was orphaned during the constant wars against the Saxons…a really terrible time that was…in any case, his grandfather raised him, taught him everything he knew, and then made him his heir…Clow actually got the chance to meet him, Maese Ambrosius's grandfather I mean, he was a very old man, of with great power and wisdom; the one I can say Clow ever respected among all others, even if the old man never taught Clow anything." He chuckled. "He told me once that his name was Myrddin Wylt, though Britain as a whole knew him as Myrddin Emrys…"
"Merlin!" Hermione cried out in absolute shock.
"Exactly." Eriol nodded.
Most of those present, who at first had believed Hermione's cry to have been an expression of shock, did a double-take as they realized it wasn't so. Eriol was talking about Merlin; the last name on the list: Ambrosius Wylt had been Merlin's grandson and heir!
It was absolute pandemonium. Everyone trying to speak over the others, expressing their shock, their disbelief, or even their denial at what they had just heard. Eriol just shook his head, wondering if the kind of disaster he was witnessing was the reason why Myrddin had chosen to keep his family name a secret at the time… Hermione for her part couldn't understand how she hadn't seen the truth before, it was so obvious in retrospect. The rest were just general chaos.
It seemed to go like forever, until Shaoran used a spell that sounded a bang loud enough to quite everyone instantly.
"Thank you…" Sakura whispered, giving him a quick peck on the lips as she took her hands away from ears, they were still ringing.
"I was beginning to get a headache." Shaoran commented as he pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
The Leaders of the Eastern Council then turned to nod at Eriol and waved his hand, signaling for him to continue with what he was saying.
"Listen to me." Eriol said seriously. "I know many, if not all of you, may be feeling a lot of things right now: surprise, disbelief, denial, etc. It doesn't matter, it doesn't change the truth: the truth is that those eight people were the most important ones when the Western Council was formed; and the truth is also that we need the heirs of seven of those eight people if we hope to put The Plan in practice and recreate the Council. That's what we need to focus on, not in men that lived and died over a millennia ago."
Everyone recognized he was right, and things got back in order, mostly.
"What if one, or even more than one of those," Minerva signaled to the list. "have no surviving heirs right now?"
"Then The Plan is ruined." Tomoyo said with brutal honesty. "Our only other option would be a straight-out coup d' tat; and the civil war that would come as a consequence would make our attempts to stop Riddle right now pretty much pointless."
"Isn't what we're planning already a coup?" Long inquired, confused.
He didn't understand why Tomoyo seemed to be trying to separate The Plan, from an actual coup, it didn't seem to fit.
"Technically, yes." Ron commented thoughtfully. "However, since we would be doing it by the law…it's not really a crime."
"A coup should be a coup, regardless of the methods used." Long said, not liking how confused the apparent double-standard was making him.
"Hey!" Ron raised his hands in mock surrender. "I know that man, don't take it out on me. I didn't make the rules, I just follow them…" he chuckled. "Either that or I find the best loopholes to exploit when necessary. Though, in this particular instance, the plan was all Hermione's, I just helped polish some details, and thought of bringing the DA into it, with so many of our own generation as a part of it, I'm sure it'll be worth it at some point…"
"The purebloods like to talk about the Ancient Laws so much, no?" Hermione said with a smirk. "Lets see how they feel when we use their own laws against them."
Long reinforced a thought he'd had many times in the last few months: never, never, make Hermione Granger angry at you. He'd thought it was bad when she'd punched him on the face, yet what he was seeing in that moment spoke of something much, much worse… Whoever began the belief that muggleborns were weak and useless never met anyone like the young first-generation witch sitting across from him…
"The way you phrased things just now…" Sonomi commented to Eriol unexpectedly. "We need the heirs of seven of those eight people…could we, in theory, find an heir or heiress of Morgana instead of one of the others? I mean, in case one of the other lines has truly been extinguished in the last millennia…"
"It's not possible." Eriol shook his head.
"But if the eight names are there…" Severus began, supporting his wife's idea.
"It's still not possible." Eriol insisted, more coldly this time.
"Why not?" Minerva asked, curious at Eriol's cold insistence.
There was no answer coming from the raven-haired sorcerer, instead, it came from the most unexpected person: Naoko.
"If there is one line that has been extinguished for over a thousand years, that is the Lady Morgana's Line." The sprite informed everyone quietly.
"How do you know that?" Minerva asked, very confused.
"I have a past life too." Naoko pointed out. "The name was Noelle. And even if I have even less memories of it than Eriol, I remember enough to know this."
"If you have so few memories, both of you, then couldn't you possibly be wrong about this?" Albus suggested. "I mean, even if you don't remember Morgana having a child, maybe she still did, you just don't know…"
"That's not it…" Naoko commented, but refused to say anymore.
"Then what is it?" Albus wanted to know.
For the longest time, there was no answer, though a select few noticed the deep look Eriol directed at his fiancée; it was likely they were having a 'private chat' though not even the other members of the Circle had the slightest inkling what it was about. Eventually Tomoyo nodded slightly before lowering her head and closing her eyes.
"Lady Morgana Le Fey did have children." Eriol informed everyone.
The shock was so great no one even gasped at this new revelation, they just waited in silence for Eriol to finish the explanation.
"She did have children, two, both of them girls, twins in fact." Eriol commented in a low, almost unemotional voice.
While most believed that meant he didn't care in the slightest about what he was talking about, those closest to him realized the truth: he cared, maybe too much.
"That's how I…Clow knew the Lady in the first place, he knew her daughters." Eriol went on in the same tone. "He was the one who convinced her to be present for the creation of the Western Council, even though the last thing she wanted was to have any contact with the Magical Society after…after what happened…"
Silence continued, everyone wanted Eriol to finish his story to tell them what had happened and be done with it, everyone but those who somehow seemed to know already, yet no one dared say a word; the atmosphere Eriol seemed to have created with his solemnity was just too strong. Even the adults kept their silence, as they waited to hear what had happened with those daughters, what made Eriol say Morgana's line did not exist anymore…
"Morgana's daughters died." Eriol finally stated, blankly. "They were still young, unwed and with no children of their own." He took a deep breath to keep himself expressionless before continuing. "Their deaths were terrible tragedies that shook the Magical Society as a whole to its core, and Clow always believed that it was, at least in part, what gave the final push to all the Heads of the Clans to agree to the creation of the Council…I know for sure that belief was the whole reason Clow was a part of it instead of remaining a recluse…"
"How do you know for sure they really died, or that they had no children?" Albus asked, he wanted a hope, any hope.
"I know, I…Clow was there when it happened." Eriol qualified hesitantly. "He and the sisters, or at least one of them were pretty close…"
That was enough to make all the Sorcerers in the room realize where he was going with it all, or at least strongly suspect it; however, the adults still didn't seem to get it.
"Are you really sure?" Minerva insisted.
Eriol looked away, refusing to answer, he'd no strength to remain emotionless anymore, and he wasn't about to show any weakness, he was too proud for that.
"Who were these sisters?" Severus demanded at the same time.
"They were the Eclissi sisters…"
No one really knew what surprised them more: the fact that it had been Tomoyo to answer, the terrifyingly empty look on her usually sparkling eyes, or the soul-shattering grief that seemed to be drowning her voice…
"Morgana's daughters, were the Eclissi sisters: Rose Tsubame and Rose Midori." Tomoyo finished. "They died within a day of each other; the first of them in particular, Tsubame, died in her lovers' arms: Clow Reed. That's how he knows."
All the Sorcerers' heads were bowed, sad for the grief they had unwittingly caused two of their dearest friends.
"How do you know that?" Minerva asked quietly.
She knew the girl was hurting, but she couldn't help herself, something inside her insisted she had to know, had to understand.
Tomoyo's answer was no news for most of those present, except for three particular people: Severus, Albus, and Minerva:
"I am the reincarnation of Rose Tsubame."
.-.
Neville was guided out of the room by a sighing Naoko as, inside, a loud argument began in a mix of English, Japanese, and even some Chinese through in for good measure (regardless that barely anyone understood the last one).
"Is…are things going to be alright?" Neville asked at the portrait, right before it was closed.
For a moment Naoko considered saying: 'just fine' and leaving it at that; but Neville was an intelligent young man, she'd felt a certain companionship with him, with their love of Herbology, and since learning that her mom had been Neville's best friend, that feeling had just grown; Naoko just didn't feel right downright lying to the young man now…
"I don't know." She answered honestly. "The information you've brought to us is shocking, in so many levels…it will take a while for us to get used to it all, and to deal with it. But it is a good thing we know, that way we won't be caught off-guard."
"I know." Neville nodded empathically. "It's why I immediately went looking for you. What some people are planning…?"
"I think that, on a certain level, we already knew things were going to get pretty complicated." Naoko commented. "It's why we began with The Plan in the first place. We just didn't think the complications would emerge so soon, or in such a way."
"I honestly don't know what surprises me more, that we have spies in all the houses, or that it was a Slytherin that came to our side, that warned us." Neville commented honestly.
"Yes well, not all Slytherins are evil, you know?" Naoko commented calmly.
Neville shrugged. He knew Shaoran Li wasn't dark at all, while he definitely had a temper, he really wasn't evil; he'd seen Professor Snape acting strangely every so often, which only served to confuse him; and the whole thing with Draco-now-Long was too complicated for the Longbottom to even try and understand.
"Thank you again Neville." Naoko said, beginning to close the door.
"It was nothing." Neville assured her. "You'll let us know when a decision is made, right?"
She knew he was talking about the D.A., or at least the few of them that knew about The Plan.
"Yes, of course." Naoko assured him immediately.
Neville nodded and with a last wave of his hand walked down the hallway, and away from Clow Reed's closing portrait.
The news that Neville had bared, while not unexpected, really couldn't have come at a worse time, as far as most of the Sorcerers were concerned. As it turned out, quite a few people had noticed Hermione's particular reaction upon receiving her newest book during breakfast a few days before. While there was nothing unusual about that, exactly (Hermione receiving a book or delighted by it), some of those same people had also noticed it when she'd still been researching in the library weeks before. Some people had managed to connect both events together; and from them some had somehow known the situation with the ministry, and at least a handful had gone as far as reporting the whole things to people outside the school.
According to Neville at least a few people in the Ministry, and other places knew by then that a group in Hogwarts were planning something against the 'figures of rightful authority'; all the purebloods, and even Fudge, would be finding out soon, if they didn't know already. This complicated things because if the Ministry somehow found out what The Plan actually was, they could try and do something to stop it, to stop them; they were most likely going to do anything and everything to make things harder for the teens, obviously.
The most surprising part of everything was exactly who had brought the news to them: none other than Slytherin 7th year pureblood: Blaise Zabini.
With another heavy sigh Naoko decided it was time to return to the Sorcerers' Common Room, where the argument was still going strong and loud, and it didn't seem like it would be ending any time soon.
.-.
Elsewhere, a figure covered by a black and red cloak was standing in a room that seemed almost completely empty, the only exception being the strange creepy archway erected on a dais in the very middle of the room, a structure that seemed to have her complete attention in that moment; that, or maybe she was one of the very few people who could actually hear the whispering, grieving voices that came from behind the dark and half-torn veil that hung from the archway.
Silently and swiftly the figure settled in a kneeling position, with a cup of water, a bowl of salt, a piece of incense and a candle in a half arch opposite from that of the dais but a couple of feet away.
"This is for you, Dryad…" The figure whispered.
With a flick of her hand the candle and the incense lit up, while an aura of power surged.
"By Earth and Fire, by Water and Air…Spirits hear my prayers." She chanted with hands clasped together. "By Heaven and Earth, by Land and Sea…I Summon thee…"
The aura of power began rising, and as it did, the voices behind the veil shut down for the first time ever; a cry follow, this time one sole voice.
And then the magic reached its zenith…
.-.
Back in Hogwarts, Tomoyo was sitting in hers and Eriol's private sitting room, drinking some tea to try and calm the headache the rather fruitless argument of earlier had caused. The argument had gone on for hours, with no result whatsoever. And really, they were already doing, or at least trying to do, the best that could be done. All that was left was to hope they found all the heirs before Fudge and the pureblood supremacists managed to do something the teens wouldn't be able to undo…
In regards to the room, she and Eriol had definitely moved together after he'd proposed. They'd stopped trying so hard to hide, and while no one seemed to have noticed yet, aside from those who already knew, they were both sure it was only a matter of time.
Eriol stepped into the room after taking a shower, to the sound of porcelain breaking as the cup slipped from Tomoyo's frozen fingers. An expression of sudden panic in her face.
"Tomoyo-chan…?" Eriol called, rushing to her side instantly.
There was no answer, Tomoyo's eyes seemed to be glazed over and her mind lost in something Eriol did not know…
"Koiishi, are you alright?" Eriol kept asking, over and over again, hoping to get an answer.
Eventually Tomoyo did react, only to jump to her feet, totally ignoring the broken cup, the spilled tea, and even her fiancé, she was already almost at the door when she finally turned back to talk to him.
"It's Midori!" She said in a rush, full of emotion. "Something's happening. She needs me. I need to get to her."
And without further explanation, she rushed out of the room.
It took Eriol just half a second to realize that, regardless of how insane the whole thing seemed, it had to be the truth, the Two Roses had been known for having a remarkable psychic connection between them, and it was really that strange that they might still have it even in a different life. Also, if Midori, or her reincarnation, had really gotten herself into some trouble, considering the situation in Britain, she was going to need more help than just Tsubame's reincarnation…
With a wave of his hand Eriol was suddenly dressed in his sorcerer attire; then he rushed after his fiancée, all the while calling to the others in his mind.
*Minna!* He called loudly. *Something's happened. Quickly.* then he shifted to verbal speech and added. "Koiishi wait for me!"
He really had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, Tomoyo considered it important enough to get involved; which meant they all would. Eriol just hoped they wouldn't somehow end up making their situation with the Ministry even worse…
So here it iis! Yet another bombshell. And I must warn you won't know what exactly is going on until two weeks from now! Hope you liked this chapter anyway. Revelations about the people from that list have begun but they're far from over, you have no idea everything I've planned.
Oh, and someone commented at one point they didn't know Clow, the Founders and Morgana (and those from her time) were all from a thousand years ago. They aren't. Some fans believe Clow lived five hundred years before canon CCS, others tat a thousand, I go down the second path. The founders we know actually live in that time. Arthur and company are only legend, though in any case, they're said to have lived in the sixth century, so long before the thousand year mark. Still, I'm taking literary liberties for this. And in the end, Arthur is a legend, and this is fanfiction!
Hope you liked it, and will like what's to come.
Please don't forget to review!
