Search Party

Godric entered the castle and unbuckled his cloak which he shook. Small flecks of water sprayed the stone floor. It did not take him long to clear the mess with just a careless flick of his wand — though the mess had been the least of his worries.

"Godric?"

He looked up to see Helga hurrying down the steps to the Entrance Hall. She looked at him, then around him as though expecting to see someone step out from behind his back.

"She was not there," he said before his wife could ask.

Helga seemed to deflate. "Nothing? Was there anybody—did you ask anyone if they had seen her?"

Godric nodded. "I asked everyone I could," he said. "No one there has seen Helena."

"But Rowena—"

"Rowena is upset, Helga, and in great distress," Godric cut in gently. He put one hand on Helga's shoulder, and the other on her cheek. "What she says she Saw, may have just been..." he trailed away as though he did not want to say what was truly on his mind. "It may have just been wishful thinking."

Helga looked down and Godric pulled her in for a hug. He kissed the top of her head.

"I am sorry, Helga," he murmured into her hair. "Is Rowena still upstairs?"

Helga gently pulled away. "She has not left her rooms for days, Godric. She does not sleep, she barely eats... I fear—I fear she is going to make herself terribly unwell."

"Could we not give her something to help her?"

Helga became sad. "She will refuse, you know that."

Godric sighed. "We will find her, eventually. Helena is still young and inexperienced. She cannot have gone far."

"I do hope you are right, darling."


Distress

Helga urgently patted Godric's hand. "Where did you say you saw her?" she asked.

"She left her chambers. I think she was heading for the Entrance Hall"

Helga immediately began to move but Godric reached out to hold her wrist.

"Helga," he began, "It cannot go on like this anymore. The students—"

"Are unaware that anything is amiss," Helga interrupted. "Besides they will all be returning home in the morning."

Godric seemed to hesitate, as though he wanted to argue.

"I know you mean well," Helga added more softly, reaching out of place her hand delicately on Godric's cheek. "But Rowena needs us now more than ever." She leaned forwards and gently kissed him. "See that everything is taken care of for tomorrow."

Godric nodded and Helga hurried away to the Entrance Hall. It did not take long for her to arrive, just in time to stop Rowena from exiting the building.

"Do not try to stop me, Helga," Rowena said, holding up her hand to stop Helga in her tracks.

Helga hesitated at the top of the staircase. "Where are you going in the middle of the night, Rowena?"

"Helena—I think, I think—" Rowena stopped and put a hand to her forehead as though she were trying to slow down her racing thoughts, or trying to remember what it was that she thought. She breathed out suddenly, her shoulders sinking, and opened her eyes again looking sadder and more defeated than Helga thought possible. "She cannot be far, Helga. I would know, would I not?"

Helga tried not to let her true emotions show as she hurried to her friend who looked distraught and on the cusp of hysteria. She took hold of Rowena's cold and much too thin hands. "Of course, you would, dear," she said in an attempt to sound convincing. "But you will not be of any use to Helena in this state. You are tired, Rowena, and you are still recovering from that terrible cold that had you in bed for weeks."

"It was nothing."

Helga shook her head. "You and I both know that that is not true." She raised her hand and pressed it against Rowena's forehead. "Please Rowena, you are burning up. Let Godric go, he will be able to travel much farther than you could in this state."

Rowena's face seemed to crumple such was her distress and pain at having been separated from her daughter for so long. "It has been months, Helga. My child..." Rowena trailed away and began to cry.

"I know, dear," Helga said, pulling Rowena in for a hug and rubbing her back soothingly. "I know. We will find her, Rowena."