11 E L E V E N
Remus laughed as Caradoc shoved Benjy off the stump he'd been using as a seat while they broke for lunch. "Shut your mouth."
Benjy grinned at him wickedly, "When have I ever done that?"
"The only reply to that one is crude, and I won't lower myself in front of our Champion."
Remus laughed harder at the blush that rose to Benjy's cheeks as his gaze fell immediately down to his food.
"Former whore, remember?" Remus said them with a teasing lint in his voice. Benjy glanced up at him, his flush deepening further. Despite the past several weeks together with the two guards, Benjy still managed to get embarrassed at every little thing in front of Remus. Remus found it flattering, and Caradoc made a game of pointing out the younger boy's crush at every opportunity over their long journey.
"Finish your food so we can get home already." Caradoc continued. "I'm ready for a bath, my own bed, and to not have to look at your ugly face for a few days."
Benjy snickered as he resumed his seat. "Please, who do you think is going to be put on watch together not two hours after we get back?"
Caradoc groaned. "Stuff it, Benj. If we get stuck on watch, I will throw you in the harbor."
That didn't halt Benjy's snickering, but the hunk of bread tossed at him did.
Remus shook his head, smiling around the bread and jerky he was eating. He couldn't wait to be home, back to where everything was familiar, but he would miss Caradoc and Benjy as fiercely as he'd been missing home. Was there any chance he could see them again? But every time he tried to ask, nerves got the better of him, and he bit the question back.
"You don't look very excited, Champion." Caradoc said. "Thought we'd have to take away your horse so you didn't go galloping off."
"Har har," Remus replied. "We all know me and galloping is a bad idea." He'd gotten used to horses over the past weeks, for the most part, but he still wasn't in a hurry to make a habit of them. "I can't wait to be home, but this was fun, too."
They beamed, and Benjy said, "I'll drink to that, and you can buy them, seeing as you're going to be a fancy, smancy prince soon."
Remus rolled his eyes. "The Tournament isn't over yet, and there's two challenges to go. I'm not sure I really want to know what they are. What could be more difficult than traveling around the country for several weeks?"
"Beats us," Caradoc said as he and Benjy shrugged in unison. "I mean, we couldn't tell you if we did know, but they only told us what we absolutely needed to know to do our job for this challenge. Once you hand over your tokens, we go back to the castle." He grinned. "Though obviously, we'll be at the fairgrounds to see you win."
"Your absurd optimism still is inspiring, truly." Remus replied flatly. "I can't even tell if I've passed this challenge. Hopefully we're not the last to return." They shrugged again, but their smiles were reassuring and Remus dared to hope he hadn't failed.
He still refused to think about why he had gone from wanting to quit to wanting to win. He'd been drawn into the foolish spell of the Tournament, and he had every faith he'd come out a loser. But he was still secretly hoping otherwise, and had no idea what to do about it. The sooner he lost, the better.
"Come on, you lazy things," Caradoc said, first to finish as always. He threw the end of his bread at Benjy again, but this time Benjy caught it and shoved it into his mouth as he walked over to his horse.
Remus went to his own and swung up into the saddle, patting her neck fondly before turning her toward the city. "Home, sweet home, here we come."
The lsat few hours seemed to last forever, where all the rest of the past leg of their trip had gone by too fast. By the time they reached the city gates, Remus was ready to scream. Instead, he tamped down firmly on his fraying patience. "I assume I give the Lady Hooch my tokens tomorrow, given its past dark? Should I leave Thief with you or follow you somewhere to leave her?" He hoped it was the latter; he wasn't in a hurry to say goodbye to them.
Caradoc nodded. "Yes, to the tokens. We'll tell Lady Minerva what time you actually returned and the city guards will confirm it for her. As to the horse, don't be ridiculous, Champion. We'll escort you home and be sure the guard assigned to watch your landlords knows you've returned in case they want to summon additional help."
"That's not necessary," Remus said, wincing inwardly at all the attention and ribbing he would get for showing up riding a horse and escorted by soldiers. "We haven't had any trouble since that one attack. I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Stuff it," Benjy said cheerfully. "Our duty is to protect the competitors, and it's our decision what that entails, not yours."
Remus made a face, but surrendered with a nod, giving his address when Caradoc asked.
Caradoc rode alongside him, occasionally calling out for people to clear a path where the streets were congested. Remus hunched slightly and prayed silently that nobody recognized him. Benjy rode a short distance behind him, whistling as they rode.
The whistling cut off as they turned onto Butcher Street and saw a crowd of people gathered around something. Remus' heart jumped into his throat when he realized the crowd was clustered right in front of the sausage shop. He urged Thief to a faster pace, ignoring Caradoc's cry to stop. He bellowed for people to get out of his way, finally dismounted, and shoved his way through the crush.
He stopped short as he finally broke through the crowd. The first thing registered was all the blood, bright and fresh and lurid against the dark, brown cobblestones. The second thing was that it was coming from his father's slit throat. Remus stared, mind blank, heart pounding. He barely noticed the pain of his knees hitting the cobblestones. His vision blurred, and he angrily wiped the tears away.
Someone grabbed his shoulder and Remus jerked away, turned, fell, and barley caught himself on one hand. He stared up at Peter, who had been there the entire time. "They did it moments before you arrived. It was like they knew you were coming and wanted you to see it."
"Who?" Remus asked. Greyback? No, this wasn't Greyback's—
The Tournament. This had to do with the fucking Tournament, of course it did. He was stupid. They'd warned him he'd be sorry if he didn't lose. He'd taken it to mean they'd kill him.
Fuck. His mother.
Remus pushed to his feet, shoving people roughly out of the way as he took off running.
"Remus, stop! Damn it!"
Ignoring the cries, Remus kept going.
He heard the pounding of hooves on cobblestones, but didn't slow, driven by the fear that he'd find his mother dead, too. Everything else in his head was an irritating buzz to be ignored until he knew she was safe.
The noise moved past him, and Remus barley stopped in time to avoid slamming into Caradoc's horse. "Get out of my way!"
Caradoc dismounted, grabbed Remus by the front of his shirt, and gave him a shake. "Remus! Calm down! You'll get to your mother faster if you get back on your damned horse!"
Remus stared at him blankly a moment, but then the words pierced the terror, and he shuddered, swallowed. "S-sorry. You're right."
"Stop saying sorry when you shouldn't idiot. I left Benjy behind to see to take care of the body and the poor guard they knocked out. I brought your horse, which was no easy feat in these streets, let me tell you. Mount up and stay with me. I can't keep you safe if you run off like that."
Remus nodded jerkily and swung into the saddle, hands trembling as he gripped the reins and fell in alongside Caradoc. He cried out for people to move as they rode, bellowing much louder and hasher then before when they'd just been taking him home. People scattered like birds, and the few stragglers were hastened away by city guards that had seemed to come from nowhere.
When they reached the top of Low City, Remus headed for the common bridge.
"Not that way," Caradoc said, stopping him. "Follow me." He let the way across the massive pavilion, all the way to the West End, where the guard bridge was located. Two guards lifted hands in greeting as they rode onto the bridge, but otherwise no one reacted to Remus' presence.
Which made sense, since he was with a guard, but he still waited the entire length of the ride for someone to shout at him, stop him, demand to know what he thought he was doing and how dare he.
As they reached the far end of the bridge, however, all his thoughts turned back to his mother, terror climbing right back up to blinding.
"Breathe, Remus." Caradoc said. "You won't be able to help anyone if you don't calm down."
"She could be dead!" Remus bellowed, making a cluster of nearby people jump.
Caradoc reached out, grabbed his reins, and forced his horse to a halt. "Remus, you need to calm down. I understand why you don't think you can, believe me. I'm sorry about your father, so very damned sorry. I don't know why they were able to get to him, but if you keep acting like this, then they will be able to get to you and your mother more easily, all right? Now, then, this time of day she's probably still working, right?"
Remus wiped at the fresh tears on his face. "So—"
"If you say sorry again, I will knock you upside the head," Caradoc cut in. "Let's go." He let go of his reins and heeled his own horse to resume moving, once more bellowing out clear as a bell for people to move, or else implicit in the tone.
By the time he reached the teashop, Remus could barely breathe. He dismounted and headed right inside, refusing to waste more time by going down the hallway like usual. Caradoc fell into step beside him, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Inside, Remus looked around but didn't see Alia, and he could feel the panic crawling back over him. The crabby old man who usually came to the gate when he knocked came striding up, a pinched expression on his face. "What do you think—?"
"Where is she?" Remus asked. "Get her now!"
The man just glared. "You have some nerve stomping in here. You know the rules. Go to the back gate! We can't have the likes of you bothering customers!"
Caradoc stepped forward, and the man startled, as if he somehow had completely failed to notice the presence of a royal guard. "Do as he asks, by the King's command."
Blanching, the man turned and all but bolted across the shop to the door in the back.
A few seconds later Alia came hurrying out, eyes wide. "Remus, what in—?"
Remus cut her off with a tight hug, sobbing against her shoulder, shaking in her arms. Her questions and dismayed reassurances washed over him like a balm. He didn't care what she said, as long as she kept speaking.
Finally drawing back slightly, she said, "Remus, my heart of hears, what's wrong? I don't see you for months, everyone who knows us comes up here to talk about the house you asked for, and only then did I learn you were in the Tournament. Then a guard shows up and introduces himself, says he looking after me because some people were threatening you, and you show up like this? What happened?"
Drawing back, Remus haltingly explained finding his father and what it had to do with the Tournament. When he was done, she hugged him tightly again, until he was able to stop shuddering. "Come home with me, Remus. You haven't even seen the pretty house they gave me. You silly boy, granted a request from the King and you get your old mother a house!" But she smiled, brushed a strange of his curls from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, love. Come along with me and I'll fix you a cup of good tea. There's some soup left over, too. You can meet the nice guard who's been looking out for me, too. "Her gaze flicked to Caradoc. "You're protecting my son, I presume?"
"Yes Ma'am." Caradoc said with a respectful bow that had his mother blushing. "There's two of us, but I left Benjy behind to attend to your late husband. I'm sorry for your loss."
Alia sighed, looked back up at Remus, and brushed another stray curl away. "Thank you. But we never married, actually and to be honest, I've been waiting to hear such news for a long time. I am sorry it's part of this whole Tournament business. Remus, I'm serious, I can head out early. They won't mind here. Come home with me and rest."
Remus shook his head. "I need to go to the castle first." Remus accepted the kerchief she pressed into his fingers and wiped his eyes and nose. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to come in such a panic—"
"Oh, nonsense," she said quietly, reached up to stroke his cheek. "If our positions were reversed, I'd show you panic." She stared into his eyes, a frown on her face. "Are you going to withdraw from the Tournament?"
Remus nodded. "Yes."
"Remus, no!" Caradoc said, stepping forward, his hands curling into fists. "You can't!"
Alia looked at Remus, face set in that pensive way of hers that said he probably wasn't going to like what she said, but he should listen and obey anyway. "I understand why you'd want to, of course, but I think you should stay your course, darling."
"Why?" Remus asked, looking at both of them, then way, eyes moving restlessly over the teashop. "I should have quit when I had the chance. It's not like I ever wanted to do this stupid thing anyway."
"That's not true," Alia said quietly, a bit sadly. "You might have forgotten the boy who dreamed of bigger things, but I haven't. He got lost along the way somewhere, no thanks to your father or me— shush!" She held up a hand to emphasize he should keep his mouth shut while she was talking. "I am to blame, at least in part. Children don't stay dreamers long when they're sleeping in the streets, though I always tried my best to take care of us. Now I keep hearing how you're outdoing everyone and stand a real chance at becoming a prince, and maybe I'm biased, but this Realm could do a whole lot worse."
Remus drew a breath, let it out slowly, and shook his head. "I'd rather we both live. There are plenty of people who could be a prince, but there's only one of you." He kissed her cheek, hugging her rightly one last time. "Be careful. I'll come see you again tomorrow."
She sighed again but kissed his cheek, patted it. "Get on, then. But don't do anything tonight, Remus. At least promise me that much. If you must do it, wait until tomorrow."
"I'll think about it," Remus agreed, and reluctantly left, Caradoc falling into step beside him after bidding his mother a farewell with a chaste kiss to the back of her hand. Remus only barely caught the startled laugh from his mother before they were out of the shop.
Now that he was moderately calmed down, everything came crashing down over him like waves slamming against the warehouse during a storm. He was tired. Wrung out. Distraught. He hadn't loved his father, hadn't even liked him, perhaps once, when he was younger and his father had given a fair effort at being a father for a month or two, but failed miserably— despite it all, he had never actually wanted the man dead.
And it wasn't just his mother he was worried about. What if they hurt Frank and the others? What if they saw Remus with Ori and went after him? Nobody deserved to die over a stupid fucking crown he'd never wanted in the first place.
"Come on," Caradoc said quietly. "You said you wanted to go to the castle, right?"
Remus nodded, pushing his exhaustion away and letting anger take it's place. "I want to know how this happened. Lady Hooch said my family would be protected."
"I am really sorry."
"It's not your fault," Remus replied. "I'm sorry you're still stuck with me, though. I know you and Benjy were looking forward for a night off."
Caradoc gave him a look. "What have I told you about apologizing when you shouldn't? You're our friend. Of course we want to help. No one should ever have to suffer something like that, and we did promise to protect him. Something must have gone wrong. We'll sort it out."
Remus nodded again, mounted his horse, and followed him as they rose through the streets all the way to the top.
When they reached the castle, Caradoc led the way around to a smaller set of gates, where a guard stepped forward and held out a hand. "Castle is closed for the night. Oh, hello there, Caradoc. Benjy just came through— you looking for him?"
"Yes, but first we need to speak with Lady Minerva. Is she around?"
The guard frowned. "I think so. Told Benjy the same thing. Something going on?"
Caradoc nodded. "Explain later."
Nodding, the guard unlocked the gate and let them through. "Leave your horses. I'll ring for someone to come take care of them."
"Thanks," Caradoc said, dismounting. Once Remus joined him, he strode off briskly across the vast courtyard, bound for a small door at the far east end of the castle.
Remus had been so distraught upon arrival, he hadn't really paid the castle itself any mind. Normally, he would have been excited to be within the castle walls. It was rather luxurious and far more grand than any other part of the Realm he had ever seen. Colorful banners hung from the walls, representing both royal houses, three black ravens for the House of Black and a Stag on wine legs for the House of Potters, and torches blazed, even in the late hour, casting light across an indoor moat that kept the most colorful fish Remus had ever seen. He hardly had time to be upset with the fact that the royals were absurdly wealthy enough to keep fish as pets while they continued deeper into the daunting castle. The stones even, were well cared for, not the broken, uneven mess of Low City streets. People milled about in small clusters, most of them in guard uniforms, but others were dressed in livery or other working clothes. Some nobles, obvious by their state of absurdly wild attire, eyed him and Caradoc with interest as they passed.
The more Remus allowed himself to take in everything he found it hard to look away. It was breathtaking. There was stuff everywhere. Mirrors, tapestries, paintings, the floor covered by rugs as beautiful as the tapestries. Fancy candles stands, gleaming wood, flames dancing inside colored glass. The smell of wax, flowers, and herbs permeated the place, underscored by fancy perfumes and expensive fabric. Remus felt a jolt of a familiar pang at the smell. It was so familiar, but he couldn't place why exactly. He certainly had never been anywhere near the castle.
Before he could try and riddle the familiarity of the smell they were turning down a short hall onto a long one, and a figure sitting in a chair at the end, next to a set of austere-looking double doors, leapt to his feet. "Remus! Caradoc!" Benjy said and strode down the hall toward them. When he reached Remus, Benjy hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, Remus. That should have never happened."
"It's not your fault. I'm sure the guard watching him did everything they could." Remus had no doubt his father had been offended by the whole idea of being watched by a guard, if not terrified, given how little of what he did was legal. He'd probably slipped the guard's watch the moment he could.
"Come on," Benjy said, squeezing his shoulder. "Lady Minerva is waiting. Caradoc, she said you and I should go find out what happened to the guard that was watching him, since she'd like to keep this to as few people as possible until we have a better idea of the situation."
Caradoc nodded. "All right. Come on, Remus, we'll drop you off first." They led him down the hall to the doors Benjy had been sitting beside. Benjy knocked, and Remus heard a muffled voice bid them enter.
They stepped into a large room bearing a table covered in papers and books and an entire wall of shelves filled with more books. Remus had never seen so many outside a bookshop or the run down library in Low City. Sitting behind the table was Lady Minerva, and she had the ruffled look of someone who's just spent several minutes yelling at people. The anger turned to sadness as she looked at Remus. "Telling you I'm sorry isn't close to enough. This never should have happened, and I will find out why it did, as little good as that does in the end."
She jerked her head at Caradoc and Benjy. "I know you two are probably tired, but I'd appreciate you handling this, and once you're done and rested, I'm putting you in charge of safeguarding his family and friends. Don't hesitate to remove and add people as you see fit. If you need help tracking down answers come see me. Get to it."
"Greyback." Remus blurted as the idea occurred to him. "Do you know Fenrir Greyback of East End?"
Benjy snorted. "Oh, we know him."
"A day or two before I was first attacked and warned to drop out of the Tournament, he told me to quit before I got into trouble. He might know something."
Minerva grimaced. "Drag some of our more ominous guars from bed and go pay the Collector a visit."
"Yes, Lady Minerva," they chorused and with a last though to Remus' shoulders, departed.
Moving around the table, Minerva pulled a glass and a decanter from a shelf, and filled a glass with a generous measure of amber-colored liquor. She held it out to him. "Brandy. You look like you could use it." She reached behind her and then extended a plate of something to him. "Biscuit?"
"Thank you," Remus said quietly, taking both gratefully, downing the brandy, perhaps, a little too quickly though Minerva said nothing as she topped off his glass again. "I'm sorry to trouble you so late. I probably should have waited until morning."
"Nonsense," Minerva replied with a scowl. "I'd be breaking down doors and busting in heads if I was in your position. I truly am sorry for your loss. I set guards to watch your mother, father, the shop where you live, and a few friends that seemed to be at risk. I even tried to find the lover your landlady mentioned you had been spending time with, but we could not locate enough information to figure out the lover's identity. I'm sorry for that, too."
If Remus told Minerva about Ori, he would definitely be out of the Tournament. But he was planning to withdraw, anyway, and he'd be damned if he left someone at risk for a selfish reason— especially Ori. Drawing a deep breath, he let it out slowly and said, "He's a noble, so he's probably safe. I hope he's safe. If you couldn't figure out who he is, then hopefully no one else can, either. His name is Ori, and that's all I really know about him. I can describe him if it would help."
"Ori," Minerva repeated slowly. "I know the name. Quite well, actually." Remus noticed the woman's gaze travel to the door as her scowl deepened and wondered how it was she knew him, and why it seemed to upset her to find that he was Remus' lover. Before he could voice his interest she was already speaking, "I am deeply troubled your father was removed while under the protection of two experienced guards."
Remus shook his head. "My father had no love for authority. I wouldn't be surprised if he shook looks of them and was grabbed soon after that."
"The royal guard is supposed to be good enough not to be shaken loose, and they will be reprimanded heavily for their failure."
"I didn't come here to see that people were punished. I only came to find out what happened and to withdraw from the Tournament."
Minerva's mouth snapped shut, and the unhappiness on her face cut even deeper into it. "With greater respect, Master Remus, I think that would be not just a mistake, but a tragedy."
"A tragedy is a man being dead, not losing a stupid crown I never wanted and probably wasn't going to get anyway," Remus replied. "What does it matter if I quit now rather than lose later?"
"What makes you so certain you would have lost?" Minerva asked. "You're in the lead, you know. All the illegal bets people are making favor you. They royal family, well at least the Potters, insofar as they are allowed to have favorites, favor you. If whoever is responsible for this thought you were going to lose, they would not have murdered your father to force you out. All you gain by quitting is their victory."
Remus said nothing, hiding in several sips of brandy, then staring at the glass as he rolled it back and forth in his palms.
"Why did you join the Tournament, Master Remus?" Minerva's voice was gentle now as she spoke into Remus' onslaught of thoughts. "I've watched the Tournament practically from the start and have been given detailed reports of everything that's happened since it started. All of them say you constantly show a reluctance and bafflement, until very recently. Why are you doing this if you don't want to?"
"I don't know what I want," Remus said, and as stupid as he felt saying the words, it also unknotted something in his gut, let him breath a little easier, despite the fear and grief still twisting through him. It was a rather large shift in his opinion of himself to say the least, and perhaps his father's death was the way up call he needed to realize this. Before, he felt he couldn't obtain anything close to what he was currently being given the chance to win— or rather, he didn't deserve it. Someone like him— something like him.
He thought of the healer's husband, the healer who loved him fiercely, who was able to have a full life with her husband who was a just like Remus. He thought of his mother, who believed she was responsible for him loosing grasp on his dreams, and if he gave up now, wasn't he just confirming that thought, that he was letting her down? Then he thought of Ori— of the man who knew who and what he was, and still… Remus shut his eyes and shook his head. He didn't know. He didn't know. And it was terrifying to hope for something when he never let himself do that before.
"I joined the Tournament to pay a debt," he explained slowly to Minerva, lifting his head to focus on her, hoping it would help to sort out the mess in his head. Something about her always screamed 'dependable, stable' to Remus and he found it comforting. "—and then was never able to get out of it." He took another sip of Brandy, and then told the whole story, beginning with being dragged out of bed by Greyback.
Then only time Minerva interrupted was to make an indecipherable noise when Remus mentioned Ori. Remus almost asked why she seemed less than amused by Ori, but right then, he didn't want to know why someone might dislike Ori. He couldn't take on more bad thing happening, especially when he'd give anything to curl up in bed with ORi right then and pretend everything would be better in the morning.
"I maintain what I said initially: it would be a tragedy if you withdrew," Minerva said when he was finished. She took his glass and refilled it. "You've worked far too hard at this latest challenge, from what I've already heard from Benjy, for someone who wants to lose and have done. You care about more than winning, which while a laughable goal, is not the only thing that's looked for. I would never begrudge you wanting to withdraw, but I think you should reconsider. At least give it until tomorrow. We are still waiting for one more person to return and expect them in the next few days. If by the end of day tomorrow, you still want to withdraw, return to me and I will accept your Tournament ring, but not until then. All right?"
Remus nodded. He'd rather hand the ring over and be done, but now that he'd calmed down, he respected he wasn't in the best state of mind for making a decision. "As you wish, then."
"Thank you," Minerva replied. "Come, I'll escort you home, or wherever you wish to go."
"That's not necessary," Remus said. "Surely, nothing else will happen tonight."
"That is not a risk I'm willing to take, and after all that's happened, I will sleep easier having attended the matter personally."
Remus nodded, to tired to argue. He didn't really want to go home— he'd never be able to sleep— but where else was he to go? His only options were the street or the temple. Boarding houses would be closed for the night, and he couldn't afford an inn.
Minerva led him out of the room, murmuring to one of the guards in the hall before guiding Remus back through the castle and outside, where horses were already being brought over. One of them had belongings Remus had left on Thief earlier. They were led by a tall, shadowy-looking guard who exchanged a brief look with Minerva as he handed over their horses and mounted his own. "Come on," Minerva said as she swung up into the saddle, watched as Remus did the same. She gave an amused laugh. "You've come a long way from the man who had to be coaxed onto a horse at all."
"Travel and excessive snow change a mind fast," Remus conceded, managing another bare smile when Minerva laughed. He followed along beside her, the guard behind them, the sound of the horses' clopping hooves echoing across the quiet streets.
It seemed to take hours to reach the sausage shop. Remus dismounted, stumbling a bit as he landed, but managing not to completely topple over. "Thank you."
"Oh, no," Minerva said as she dismounted. "I'm going to examine your room, and the whole house, if permitted, and assure myself all is well." She motioned the guard to follow them. "Check in with the guards watching this place, get me a report."
"Yes, Lady Minerva." The guard dismounted, secured all three of their horses, and slipped off into the shadows across the street.
Remus went to his horse to remove his belongings.
"Leave that for now," Minerva said. "We can fetch them after I'm certain it's safe for you to stay here."
Remus nodded and led the way around the back of the shop, using the key Lucinda had given him to unlock the door.
He stopped short as they entered the kitchen, stomach clenching as he stared at Lucinda siting at the table, in her nightclothes, with a cup of tea and an expression remus was all too acquainted with. Bitterness curled through him, but he quashed it. People had the right to be afraid, to want to not be afraid. She started to speak, but he cut her off. "Let me pack my belongings, and I'll go." He walked stiffly toward and up the stairs, stopping twice on the way to rest. He could hear Minerva and Lucinda talking, but not the words. Hadn't Minerva wanted to check his room? Well, it hardly mattered now, and Remus didn't feel like waiting. He just wanted to get his stuff and go.
When he reached the top, he quickly packed up his few belongings, shoving his hidden money into the inner pocket of his jacket. He looked around the room one last time, eyes stinging. It had been his home longer than any other place he'd lived his entire life. But he knew better than most that no home lasted forever.
Downstairs, Lucinda and Minerva stood in front of the table, Lucinda looking down, Minerva's face like a thundercloud. Remus strode up to Lucinda and said, "I paid you six month's rent in advance. You can keep what you need to cover the cost of removing my father's body—" she flinched, but Remus didn't feel much satisfaction. "But I'll need the rest back."
Her mouth tightened, but she finally gave a stiff nod. "You have to know—"
"I know," Remus cut in, not in the mood. He understood where she came from— where they all came from. But it never made it easier, never made it hurt less, when he was thrown out because of things that weren't his fault. He'd been a good tenant, and his father was dead, but out he went. She wouldn't even let him stay the night and leave in the morning.
She held out his pennies, and he tucked them into another pocket. "Thank you. Goodbye, Luce." He strode to the door and yanked it open, stepping back into the dark, cool night.
Lucinda called after him, but Remus let the door slam shut and walked off. Every step hurt, and his eyes were so raw and sore from crying that he could barely keep them open. All he wanted was a hot dinner and a warm bed. The tolling of the bells, marking the start of night work, seemed to mock him.
"Come on," Minerva said softly. Remus jumped, turned. He hadn't even heard Minerva approach. "I'm sorry that happened. For what it's worth, I blistered her hears fit to leave Morgana herself blushing. I know a place you can stay for the night."
"I'll be perfectly fine at the temple," Remus said. "You don't have—"
"None of your arguing," Minerva cut in. "You've just returned from a long journey, and the first thing you encountered was your father's murder. It's the lowest sort of reprehensible to toss you out on the street on the same blasted night. I won't allow you to sleep in the temple; that's barely better than sleeping in the street."
"Wouldn't be the first time I've done either," Remus muttered, but he was too tired to keep arguing.
They rode all the way back through Low City and into High City, where Minerva stopped at an inn Remus recognized from nights he'd spent with Ori. He dismounted at Minerva's urging and followed him inside, while the guard that had been shadowing them was set to tend the horses and bring in Remus' belongings.
A few minutes later, remus was ushered into a room that had a warm fire burning and food set on the table. How so much was managed so quickly, he couldn't guess, but he didn't much care.
"Sit and eat," Minerva ordered, and went to answer the door when someone knocked on it. The guard came in with Remus' things, and they spoke briefly before he slipped away again. Returning to Remus, Minerva said, "I'm sure you'd like rest and to be left alone, so I will leave you in peace. There is a guard stationed at your door, and I'm leaving the horse for you to use— and you will use it. I don't want you walking. It's too dangerous. Promise me."
"I promise." Remus replied with a sigh.
"I hope you're able to get some sleep," Minerva said quietly, and she squeeze his shoulder in parting before slipping away, the door closing quietly behind her. Remus could hear the murmur of her speaking to the guard again, but he was more interested in eating the bowl of stew and hunk of bread that had been left. He wasn't particularly hungry, but he was homeless and still had to find money to properly burn his father's body. Free food wasn't to be snubbed.
When the food was finally gone, he stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed. He lay there, feeling the weight of everything and the nothing all at once. He wasn't sure when it happened, but he finally managed to drift off to sleep, only to be woken gently sometime later by someone softly shaking him, whispering his name. Only as he forced his eyes open did Remus register the voice. He stared at Ori's face, familiar even in the dark, voice cracking as he said, "Ori—"
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you." He stripped off his clothes and slid into bed, bundled Remus close. "I'm so sorry about what happened." His hands were soothing as they stroked and petted, comforted Remus in a way nothing else had that day, except perhaps his mother. Remus was too exhausted to cry anymore, but he trembled for several minutes, clung tightly and soaked int Ori's warmth and steadying presence.
Eventually, when he'd calmed, he drew back and looked up at Ori. "Thank you for coming. How did you find me? How did you even know something had happened?"
"I overheard some of the guards talking," Ori replied. "As to finding you, I've always had a knack for that. I just wish I'd done it faster. I'm so fucking sorry, Remus."
Remus laughed, bitter and worn. "I didn't even like him. I hated my father. He was a cruel, selfish fool who made life ten thousand times more difficult for my mother and me. But he didn't deserve that. No one does. No Tournament is worth murdering people, even if the prize is marrying into the royal family."
Ori's arms tightened around him again. "No, and they're fools for doing it— fools who will pay. Did you eat?"
"Yes." Remus' eye's abruptly stung. Maybe he wasn't too tired for more tears after all. He knew he already said it once, but, "Thank you for coming. You didn't have—"
"Of course I did," Ori cut in, voice sounding slightly baffled. "How could I not?"
Most people would find it strange a man did so much for someone he was merely having an affair with. Remus had known Lucinda for years, had considered her something of a friend, and she'd thrown him out without hesistation. "I just don't understand— It's appreciated, but… you're always so kind."
"You're kinder by far. Now go back to sleep." Ori said and kissed him softly before drawing him in close again, settling them both comfortably, and Remus finally fell asleep listening to the soft, sweet sound of Ori humming a lullaby that Remus was sure he'd remember forever.
