26, April, 2010
Two Queens and Dice
Writer: Hand Steroids
Number of Words: 1,288
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Firekeeper Saga. (Although it would be amazing if I did.)
A/N:The Firekeeper Saga is an amazing series that everyone who enjoys magic, politics and romance along with intelligent animals should read. You can view the books at janelindskold. com where you should look for the first in the series; Through Wolf's Eyes. If you have any questions about some of the Hawk Haven settings please feel free to send a message, and I will do my best to clarify it to you and make my stories better using what you have pointed out.
Summary:Although Harry Potter was taken to the Dursleys, he did not stay there. In fact, the Dursleys never even saw the boy. When Harry, now Damien, is raised by a society that treats magic with fearful disdain returns to England, how will the wizarding world take to this new adult Harry?
Chapter 5.
"Most gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you don't find out til too late that he's been playing with two queens all along."
-Terry Pratchett
Damien scowled as he tied up Firekeeper's laces. How a being so skilled in wood lore and hunting could not even tie a bodice was beside him. Firekeeper could hunt with a knife, out run a horse and scale walls without a worry, but when it came to formal attire and dinner etiquette, she failed miserably. About the only thing she was truly good at for court was dancing, which she seemed to find as one of the only good contributes to society.
Currently Damien was preparing Firekeeper to be presented before King Tedric. Lord Kestrel had sent a message stating to have Lady Blysse attired and appropriate for an audience with the king and queen. Damien snorted at that. Firekeeper would need months, if not years before she would be ready to come before anyone of the higher class. Six weeks was not hardly enough to break a colt to saddle, never the less a wild woman who thought she was a wolf for the past ten to twelve years.
Damien dressed Firekeeper up in a white silk dress with tied with ribbons of House Kestrel. Around her waist was her Fang, the garnet encrusted knife she never parted from. She was also barefoot. It was near impossible to get the wolf-woman into shoes or slippers of any kind. She claims that it made her clumsy, but Damien and Derian thought that she just didn't like not being able to feel the ground beneath her toes.
Blind Seer was also preparing for an audience. He had been given a bath, but his gray fur kept shedding over everything. Blind Seer was Firekeeper's companion, a massive wolf that stood as large as a pony, coming up to about mid-waist. He had a traditional gray coat with a spattering of black and silver, pulling him into a handsome young wolf. He also had sharp blue eyes. Firekeeper had explained his name when she learned enough words to convey what she meant.
Apparently his eyes had not changed from the standard new-born pup blue to a brown hue. Instead they had claimed him blind, not expected to live through the winter. But to the pack's amazement, he was found to be able to see. Thus he was named Blind Seer. He seemed to see more. He could find the slightest tracks left by prey that a normal hunter couldn't find.
Firekeeper had described the difference between those of her pack and the normal wolves that most people came across. Blind Seer as most of the animals across the Iron Mountains, were larger than their counterparts east of the mountain range. They were larger, more intelligent, used language, and could use reason. Firekeeper couldn't understand why the people across the mountains could not grasp the concept of Royal beasts, which she referred to as those like Blind Seer. Damien explained to her that an animal like Blind Seer was near unbelievable, if not for his size, for the way he acted. Most people couldn't fathom the idea of beasts as intelligent as themselves, and it scared them.
Firekeeper laughed at this, Blind Seer also. They seemed to brag about the nature of humans and how stupid it was to fear such a thing. Although Firekeeper's laugh seemed more feral than it should have been; she barred her teeth and her eyes were lit with an inhuman glint. Blind Seer had his lips pulled over his fangs, his mouth open as he panted his laughter.
The grey wolf was probably the reason why the horses on the way from Bardenville were so restless, or so Derian thought. Wolves were a natural predator to creatures such as horses and mules, and even the most level headed horse would shy away at the first notion of a wolf. But surprisingly, the horses settled into a content acceptance, not pleased but not completely adverse to the wolf's presence.
Damien's mare settled quite well to the presence of the massive wolf; the mare even approached the wolf and seemed to have a conversation with the wolf. The wolf and Firekeeper seemed well put off at this, and Damien had the feeling that something was discussed between the horse and the wolves and the wolves did not seem to like it.
Damien played with some pins, arranging them in Firekeeper's hair so that the ratty locks were seemingly acceptable. He had to trim it just to manage something with her hair, for she sheered it short to keep it from her face. When she had discovered hair thongs, she became enthused, tying the abused hair back with the leather strand.
Firekeeper sighed heavily, which to Damien was a clear sign she was tired of the grooming. Blind Seer seemed to laugh at the wolf-woman, which made Firekeeper kick the wolf in the ribs. The wolf growled in response, but settled down to lie far enough away that she could not reach him easily. Derian smiled at the exchange while Damien put the final touches to her dress.
When the servant called for Lady Blysse, Damien turned to Firekeeper and reminded her of her lessons. Things like 'remember to use all you words. You do not want to sound like a sick deer when you are trying to attract a handsome male' or 'don't forget your manners at the table, its impolite to growl at those around you. There will be plenty of food for you to eat.' Derian put his hand on Damien's shoulder before giving reassurances that he would look out for Firekeeper.
Derian was to be attending as Lady Blysse's attendant and minder. He would advise her when she was about to make a fatal error, or help translate her words for her when she could not find the necessary words. Derian was the one person that Firekeeper trusted, and Damien felt she needed the support of a constant figure in the face of the court.
Damien watched as Derian, Firekeeper and Blind Seer left with the servant. Hopefully she would remember everything, or at least as much as she could, that he taught her. Sighing he brushed off his coat and made his way to the gardens, in which one had to travel through to arrive at the stables.
While Damien made his way to the stables, Derian had his hands full with Firekeeper. Derian had driven the carriage, pulled by two matched rose-gray horses to the castle. He was approached by a rider of the King's Own Guard on a flashy Liver Chestnut. Derian figured that the horse was one of the guard's stables or if it was the man's personal mount, Derian decided he should consider going for a soldier if the pay was so good.
The guard ordered them to follow him, and he led them into a walled, private courtyard, where Derian pulled up the team and swung gracefully down from the box. He tossed the reins to a bored-looking guard who looked at Derian in shock and anger, as if not expecting a coachman to be treating him as such. Derian tossed in a few words about Earl Kestrel needing him, and when the Earl called, the guard's eyes widened, shattering the man's trained indifference.
Derian turned away from the guard as Earl Kestrel called for him and helped Firekeeper out of the carriage. She began crouching, her traveling cloak pulled around her face, her nose wrinkled as she took in the unfamiliar scents. Derian had to explain to Firekeeper that there would be time enough to do that later, it wasn't wise to keep the king waiting. As Firekeeper glared at him, Derian sighed, thinking to himself that tonight was going to be a long night.
A/N: Another chapter! Yes I am on a role! My AP art portfolio is almost complete, so hopefully I will have more time to complete chapters. Thank you my reviewers and my subscribers who continually read my story.
