The Eye Of The Gazer
Chapter 13
Gabrielle felt herself falling. She knew she had lost her footing on the very edge of the abyss, and intuitively also knew that should she ever reach the bottom, she would never return to the world of light again. As she tumbled, she seemed to be falling into darkening shadow. She had time to regret the loss of her future and her marriage to Draco; to wish she had at least been able to bid him farewell.
Then she saw another bird soaring high above her: it had a long neck and long legs, powerful white wings, and a black head with a long, elegantly curved beak. The bird seemed to be searching; and it must have been seeking her, for suddenly the keen eyes spotted her diminutive figure against the vastness of the chasm, and the ibis swooped downwards in a flash of snowy feathers, bright against the gathering gloom. As it descended, beating its strong wings rapidly to reach her, Gabrielle saw that around its neck, suspended on a leather thong, hung a silver ankh: the symbol of life. Her heart lifted a little, for surely this was a good sign? But what could a mere bird do to prevent her from falling?
The ibis came nearer and nearer, and finally a slender black beak touched her shoulder, and the eyes looked sharply at her. Gabrielle turned her head to return the persistent gaze, and saw that they were not after all the eyes of a bird, but a pair of familiar cool grey eyes. As she stared in wonder, the body of the ibis melted into the body of a man, clad only in the short linen kilt of ancient Egypt, with bracelets on his wrists and upper arms, and the ankh shining against his strong chest. The face however remained that of an ibis, and in place of an Egyptian wig, the man had long, silver hair falling over his wide shoulders. Now that he possessed a pair of muscular arms, this approximate vision of Thoth, god of wisdom, justice and secret knowledge, lifted up Gabrielle and held her to him, and she knew that she was no longer plunging downwards, but instead, for a moment, she hung suspended in space.
A great peace descended on her, and she did not resist when her eyes drooped from exhaustion, for Gabrielle knew now that she had been saved after all; that Narcissa had been right to permit Lucius' presence; that, in the guise of Thoth, who had the power to bring the dead to life, Lucius had restored her to the light.
It was almost morning. Bryony was sleeping, and breathing normally once again. When she had awoken from her coma in the middle of the night, she had not understood why her Daddy held her so close, or the tears that rolled down his cheeks. Then Mummy had done the same. A Mediwitch had finally managed gently to prise Cho and Bryony apart, saying that Madam Luxor needed to examine the child to see that all was well. This examination had shown that Bryony was now on the road to recovery, and the crisis was over.
Lucius' attention had next turned to Gabrielle, who, following his cry for assistance, had immediately been whisked off to the Spell Damage Ward on the Fourth Floor by hospital staff. Once he was assured that Bryony would live, Lucius had borrowed three fast-flying owls from the hospital's high speed message service. He sent one to Draco, to inform him both of Gabrielle's whereabouts and to reassure him that his sister was alive; a second to Jane Currer at Gildenford Hall to let her and the Chang family know of Bryony's recovery; and he also remembered to send a third owl to Alan Forbes, Cho's business partner, best friend and confidant, and Bryony's doting godfather.
Lucius had then gone to check on Gabrielle's condition. In the Spell Damage Ward, he was relieved to see that the young French witch was awake, although she was lying in her bed looking very wan. When she saw him coming, she made as if to sit up, but he gestured her to stay as she was. Lucius took a seat by her side, and looked down into her pale, beautiful face. "How are you, my dear?" he asked her concernedly.
Gabrielle inclined her head slightly. "I am well, I sink. Ze 'ealers 'ere are good, it did not take zem very long to revive me. I sink it is much easier for zem to deal wiz spell damage zan strong poison." She glanced around the ward to make sure there were no staff nearby, and murmured to Lucius, "You 'ave ze Knife safe, I 'ope?"
"Yes, it is safe. I will take it back to Narcissa when I return home. Gabrielle, how can I ever thank you enough? Bryony is back with us once more, and recovering rapidly. Now she is sleeping naturally. How can I possibly repay you for my daughter's life?"
"You cannot, of course," replied Gabrielle simply, with the same French arrogance her sister Fleur had so often displayed. She smiled weakly, adding, "But of course, you 'ave partly repaid me already. You saved me from falling into ze dark."
Lucius looked puzzled. "I am sorry, my dear, but I do not understand you. I saved you from the dark?"
"Yes. I would 'ave died, but you caught me. You were ze god Tot, you 'eld me in your arms. You do not understand, I cannot explain it to you, I do not understand very well myself. But I am very glad you were zere."
Lucius took her hand and kissed it. "But you would never have been in danger if you had not agreed to try and save Bryony. If there is ever anything, Gabrielle, you only have to ask. Draco will be here soon. What shall you tell him?"
"Do not worry. I will sink of somesing. We Veela can make a man forget what he sought he wanted to know. It is useful sometimes." She smiled once more, and Lucius felt the unconscious pull of her attraction. He rose to leave her.
Back in Bryony's side ward, he sat beside Cho for a long time. They held hands, and at first they merely watched their sleeping child, unable to believe that she was still with them. As morning approached, they both began to droop, especially Cho, who was close to sleep with her head on Lucius' shoulder. Madam Luxor, returning to check over Bryony again, spoke to them. "Go home now," she said gently, "Bryony will be fine. Go and sleep. Come back when you feel rested."
"A good idea," said Lucius, "Come Cho, I will see you home. You are far too exhausted to make the journey alone."
As the couple apparated into Cho's suite of rooms, Lucius was ready to leave immediately, but then he saw how tired Cho really was. She swayed slightly, and almost fell. Lucius put his arm around her, and steered her towards the bedroom. Once in the room, he divested her of her shoes and outer garments, and helped her into the large bed, tucking the covers cosily around her shoulders. He was about to take his leave of her, when some instinct made him bend over and kiss her goodnight.
Lucius had intended this kiss to be a mere brush of the lips, and was surprised when Cho suddenly responded by kissing him back fiercely, and throwing her arms around his neck, forcing Lucius to sit on the edge of her bed. When she released him from the embrace, he looked at her in surprise. Cho seemed to have rallied more than a little, and was looking at him intensely with her dark eyes.
"Stay with me, Lucius," she said, so quietly that he almost missed her words.
"Stay with you in what manner?" he asked cautiously. "Do you want me to sit beside you?"
"Lucius, I would like you to get into bed with me and just hold me, if you can bear to do it. If not, then I would appreciate you sitting by me. I just don't want to be alone now. I felt Bryony's death was so near tonight, it made me realise how much I love her. And it made me realise how alone I've been feeling lying here every night."
"Are you sure this is what you want, Cho?"
"Yes, Lucius. Please."
Lucius undressed partially, keeping on his shirt to hide the scars, and climbed into bed beside Cho. The sheets were chilly against his skin, and the couple drew together instinctively for warmth. Lucius held Cho closely, remembering how it had been between them. He felt her gradually relax, and then she fell asleep in his arms. Lucius listened to her steady breathing, and felt a great pain in his chest at what he had lost: this beautiful woman, mother of his daughter, whom he had never ceased to love in spite of his cruel rejection of her. Was it true, as Jane had said, that Cho still loved him too? He thought he had seen it in her eyes tonight; but Lucius did not trust his feelings as he once had. Perhaps he was wrong, and she had merely wished for a companion to stave off the loneliness.
As dawn's rosy light peeped around the edge of the curtains, Lucius too fell asleep, Cho cradled protectively against his chest.
Cho awoke later that morning from a peaceful and dreamless sleep. She felt rested in a way that she had not for many months; and this in spite of the fact that her daughter was still in St Mungo's. At first, she felt disoriented, feeling a pair of strong, warm arms around her, and wondered if she was dreaming after all. But then she realised it was Lucius, and remembered asking him to stay with her. Cho felt so at home, wrapped safely against the world, Lucius' silky silver hair brushing her cheek, and the feel of his masculine body touching her. She sighed a little in regret at what she had lost, and as she did so, he awoke, and his cool grey eyes looked into hers. He did not seem at all confused. "Good morning, Lucius," she said softly, trying to read the expression in those clear orbs, which when examined close to, were flecked with traces of dark blue.
"Good morning, Cho," he replied in kind, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thanks to you. Thank you for staying."
"It was no hardship, I assure you," he replied. She saw his eyes move over her face. "You are still as beautiful as when we first met at Cho's Chic," he said. Then, bitterly he added, "At least one of us has worn the years well."
"Oh, Lucius!" Cho said, "Don't spoil everything. It's so nice to have you here. I feel so safe with you." Cho then looked at him carefully. "I think I understand – you don't want me to feel 'safe', do you? You want me to want you just the way I used to. You never understood, did you? I never stopped wanting you. It was you that drove me away. Even when I hated your attitude to Muggles or the house elves, I always loved you."
Cho put her arms around Lucius and kissed him full on the mouth. After a moment's hesitation, Lucius responded. It was as if all the intervening years had fallen away. The embrace lasted a long time. Cho pressed herself closely against him. She felt her nipples hardening in response to Lucius' tongue exploring her mouth. Through the fabric of their meagre clothing, she realised that Lucius' own desire was also evident. When the two broke apart, he looked at her seriously, his pupils enlarged. "Cho, are you sure this is what you want?"
In reply, Cho raised herself slightly, took Lucius' hands in her own, and guided them behind her until they were resting on the fastenings of her bra. "This is what I want," she assured him. She placed one of her own hands on his bulging crotch, and looked deeply into his eyes, gratified to hear a small gasp escape from his mouth as she touched him. "And this," she whispered.
It did not take them long to strip off their remaining clothing, except for the shirt that Lucius made no attempt to remove. Cho understood: she said nothing, and made no effort to disrobe him completely.
It was like coming home, this languid lovemaking: these two knew each other's bodies so well of old; knew how to please the other; knew the unexpected places that gave the most pleasure; knew how to make the moment last a lifetime. They were on fire with it: the pent-up lust, the mutual desire, the desperation for the closeness of another human, felt during many a long, lonely night. Finally, here was the object of love come willingly to consummate this yearning. Each wished to pleasure the other, each held back and forced their lover to reach a level of desperation before satisfying their longing; and finally they achieved their peak together, their bodies bucking and throbbing, their sexual organs both sore and ecstatically sensitive, each crying aloud without inhibition. Their physical union might as well have been advertised with a bloody bedsheet in the manner of the weddings of old, so aware were the nearby occupants of Gildenford Hall of Cho and her lover's rapturous orgasm.
Cho and Lucius lay exhausted in each others arms, covered with a film of rapidly evaporating sweat. The covers that had been thrown back as their bodies generated their own fiery heat were pulled over them once more. They fell asleep awhile, flushed with happiness and satiated desire; then woke again, feeling guilty: for here they lay, glowing from their joyous coupling, while their daughter, the fruit of their lustful loins, still lay in a large, white hospital bed recovering from a near fatal poisoning.
No words were needed. They rose, washed and dressed. To avoid embarrassment in the public rooms, Cho rang for a house elf, and ordered a light lunch to be brought to her sitting room. Briefly, she visited her grandmother to convey first hand her latest news about Bryony. Neither mentioned Cho's visitor, although Madam Chang had eyes and ears everywhere in Gildenford Hall, and no doubt knew well what had just occurred. Cho returned to her own suite. She and Lucius ate swiftly, and then they disapparated to St Mungo's to see Bryony once more.
Jane Currer sat in her room: here at Gildenford Hall, she had been given a bedroom and her own sitting room next to Bryony's bedroom. This arrangement had suited everyone very well, for should Bryony wake in the middle of the night, here were two possible females to attend to her, Cho on one side and Jane on the other. But now Bryony was in hospital, and Jane had no pupil, so she had spent much of the intervening time alone in her quarters, attempting to read, write letters or prepare future lessons; but in reality all the while thinking of Bryony or Lucius.
Jane had heard Cho and Lucius.
She had firstly heard voices in Cho's sitting room very early in the morning, when quite by chance, on her way back from the bathroom, she had passed the door at the time the couple had returned from St Mungo's. She had recognised Lucius' tones even through the closed door, so attuned was she to his voice. She had thought nothing of it, she knew Lucius was a perfect gentlewizard, and assumed he was merely escorting Miss Chang home, for Jane knew how distressed she was about Bryony. Even so, Jane had felt a twinge of jealousy, followed swiftly by a feeling of guilt: for how dare she begrudge Miss Chang a strong shoulder to lean on when her only child was ill as a result of an incident that had occurred while she was in Jane's care?
But then, much later, Jane had heard the cries. They were so loud that everyone in that wing of the house must have heard. Following her education at the sensitive hands and mouth of Lucius Malfoy, she knew quite well what those sounds meant.
Jane had not realised until that moment how much she had fallen in love with Lucius.
But now she might lose him altogether, for she knew that Miss Chang still loved Lucius: for had she not remained alone these three years since their parting? Miss Chang was Bryony's mother; was beautiful; was Lucius' one true love.
Jane sat, staring out of her window at the park, unseeing. As the leaves of early autumn turned to flame and gold, tears fell silently down her cheeks.