Chapter 11

Tuesday August 23rd, 1999
Camelot
Josephine's private study
3:42 p.m.

The months following the coronation and marriage of Josephine and Thomas, things settled into a bit of a routine. Lucius and Josephine set to work making the changes for the best, very few people disagreeing with the things they implemented as they were determined to do things for the better of everyone, not just the nobility, truly following the ideals of their ancestors. Josephine as well was busy with her guardianship of Avalon, attending the ceremonies and watching as new Priestesses and Druids were brought into the fold, instead of as years before they were only the children and descendants of those who had been on the island when it truly disappeared into the mists.

Thomas and the Death Eaters turned their attention away from their original plans, no longer attacking Muggles and Muggleborns. He had sat down with Lucius and Josephine one day, discussed the issues regarding Muggleborns, Josephine quietly reminding him that he himself was one. And it wasn't so bad really, the new blood was a good thing, and some were indeed very powerful, look at Hermione Granger, while she might be an annoyance, they couldn't deny that she was extremely knowledgeable, one of the smartest of her generation. And things were different now; the Muggleborns weren't being influenced by Dumbledore and his beliefs, instead being taught the old ways, as were all of the children today. So, the Death Eaters turned their attention to providing protection for the royals, and focusing on tracking down the members of the resistance.

The Order of Phoenix and Dumbledore especially had become a major issue after the coronation, forming a resistance and wanting to take down the monarchy, none really understood why, but it was becoming a major issue, a few of the lower nobles even having gone missing over the year, which led to Death Eaters being assigned to keeping an eye on all of the nobility throughout the world, helping with the security many already had. Even more being assigned to protecting Josephine, Lucius, and members of the Royal Family as Draco, Gabrielle, Eva, Horacio, Eva's family, and Aleksey since his involvement with Gabrielle began; were referred.

Outside the matters of security and safety and the battle with the resistance, there were other things that took the attention of Josephine and Lucius, they arranged for all of the Wizarding schools to have classes that taught etiquette, taught the history of Arthur and Guinevere, Avalon and Narnia, and the nobility; the subjects denied at Hogwarts more than anywhere else. When Dumbledore refused, they simply saw him removed from his position, something which honestly brought the two kings and queen a bit of private enjoyment, he had been a pain in their lives for far too long and denying the children far too many things they should have been taught. McGonagall had become Headmistress, in part because they wanted a familiar face for the students and in part because she agreed to allow the new classes and not fight it, it was no secret to those in the know that she was still a member of the Order but for now she was abiding by the rules and that was enough.

Then there were the changes in their personal lives, outside the public personas and political aspects of life. Over the eighteen months since the coronation, life had been happy for the group all in all. Josephine and the other 'girls' had been to visit Ginny, Josephine and Eva going once a month at least while the others made the trip at least once every other month. A few weeks after the coronation, Josephine had made the trip with Ginny's brothers, she and Blaise going on a tour of Cair Paravel after seeing that Ginny was doing okay with her brothers there, to give them time alone, though Kiya stayed to watch over her Queen while Rickon went with the two.

By the time the two had returned, the four were quite happily listening to Ginny give some of the happier stories of her training to compare with theirs, and telling stories about her time in Narnia. She had asked Bill to become guardian of Rosewood, and extended an offer to Charlie to come and stay at Cair Paravel with his obvious interest in Narnia. The others were amazed at the country their sister ruled, but Fred and George had their business to run and Bill had promised to take care of Rosewood so it was only Charlie who could stay full time in Narnia, and he immediately agreed, only returning to England long enough to make arrangements before returning to Narnia, though the other three brothers visited whenever they could.

Life in Narnia was good for Ginny and Blaise, peaceful, and Ginny made her peace with the girls who had embraced her with open arms when Josephine first found her, their friendships weren't immediately as good as they had been before everything that happened at the Winter Ball and the weeks after, but they were growing and returning if not to the level they had been, something near it. Ginny hadn't left Narnia since she returned after the Coronation, whenever a representative of Narnia was needed, Blaise and Charlie would come as King and Prince of the land, Ginny staying behind to lead her people was the story told, though those closest knew that it was because she didn't want to deal with Lucius, nor could they blame her, least of all Draco. He and Ginny had become good friends since he apologized the night of the Coronation, having been made the official liaison with the Queen and King of Narnia, and was there many times a month.

There were changes in the lives of Josephine's companions as they were still known to many. Eva and Horacio were given the title of Princess and Prince de León, as the 'sister' of the High Queen. Elena and Diego as well were considered royalty, though they didn't have an official title, the rest of their children weren't given titles or even the technical rights that belonged to royalty, but they were respected as high nobility, the same respect that belonged to Fleur and Gabrielle's parents, and Fleur even, though like the Álvarez sons Fleur never received a royal title in Camelot, instead she was a Princess of Narnia due to her marriage to Bill, who like Fred, George and Charlie received the title, Prince of Narnia. And like the rest of the 'royalty' they were protected by Death Eaters, a bit of a strange thing for the three men who had been such strong members of the Order before they turned their backs on their parents and two brothers and the rest of the Order. They actually got to know the Death Eaters assigned to them, men near their ages and became friends.

Eva and Horacio had their first child just after Christmas, a little girl they named Francesca after her Madrina, who Josephine spoiled as much as possible. Pansy had been promised to Joaquin, Eva's youngest brother, and their wedding was planned for just before Christmas in a few months. Millicent meanwhile, with Josephine's input had been betrothed to Luciano, now a baron but one day would inherit his cousin's title, Isadora, the Contessa di Siena, has chosen him as his heir years before but didn't tell him until after his betrothal was made, until then only Josephine had known, they had another year until their wedding. Not long after the coronation, Josephine had approached Aleksey and asked him if he had anyone he desired to wed, not quite surprised when he asked about Gabrielle; he didn't love her, but he admired her and knew she would make a good Princess for him. She had given her approval and he began courting Gabrielle soon after, both falling in love with the other and their engagement had been announced just the week before, the wedding planned for the one year anniversary of their first date. Then there was Draco, Lucius and Josephine had been discussing options for who would be a good Princess and future Queen, and had settled on Daria Koonstantinov, the Markiza of Anatevka. Josephine introduced the two, leaving things in their hands and hoping for the best, so far things seemed to be going well, they would spend time together at balls and Draco had spent time in Russia with her.

Amidst all the plotting of marriages, and her royal duties, Josephine found herself with another thing to plan for when she discovered her pregnancy two months after her first anniversary. Tom had been ecstatic, as was the entire world when it was announced. Her pregnancy had been an easy one, thankfully considering everything else that drew her attention, even more so when they discovered she was carrying twins, and on Sunday, August the twenty-first, Arthur Marius Abraxas and Adálaide Guinevere Evita were born. Both had their father's black hair, Artie had his brother, nephew and father's ice blue eyes, while Addie had her own violet eyes.

A grand ball celebrating their birth was planned for the night of their one month birthday, when the nobles and leaders from around the world would come to give gifts, until then though things were mostly quiet around the castle, only close friends and family coming to see the new mother and the new Prince and Princess. Josephine was in her study, the babies asleep in cribs not far from her side when her chamberlain, Alexander entered to tell her the Queen and King of Narnia were there to see her.

She told him to let them in, and a moment later Ginny and Blaise entered the room as she stood up and smiled. "Ginny, Blaise, I didn't expect you to come to Camelot... I was planning to come see you as soon as the twins were old enough to travel."

"Well you can blame Charlie since he's the one that insisted we come visit," Ginny said.

"Well then I might thank your brother," she laughed as she walked over, hugging first Ginny then Blaise, "Don't worry, my brother is away in America right now meeting with the nobility and the Ministry there, he's not due back until tomorrow," she spoke softly as she stepped away.

"That's good to know. I know Aslan promised that the bond between us has been silenced but I still have this lingering fear that he'll do something," Ginny said.

"Understandable little one," she nodded, "He has sworn to never have a repeat of what happened at the coronation ball, and it has been over a year so I hope that it will indeed never happen..." she smiled slightly, "But come, no talk of the past today, you have to meet your cousins."

"We come bearing a gift," Blaise said. "When Narnia heard of the birth of your children, the people felt it necessary to create this for you," he said, placing an ornately carved box on the table.

"It's a music box. Each time you open it a different Narnian lullaby will play," Ginny said.

"How beautiful," Josephine smiled as she knelt down to brush her fingers along the surface, "I'll use it every night with them," she smiled up at them before she stood, then made her way over to the first of the cradles, carefully lifting up her daughter before moving to them, "I'd like you to meet Adálaide Guinevere Evita, or Addie as we're calling her," she smiled. "Named after my mother, her ancestor, her cousin and her marraine (godmother)."

"Her cousin?" asked Ginny as she took the little girl in her arms.

"Last I checked little one, Ginevra was a variant of Guinevere," Josephine smiled over her shoulder as she went to pick up her son.

"Sorry, I have a tendency to forget we're cousins by marriage," Ginny laughed.

"It's alright, the Goddess knows I have enough family by marriage now that I never had growing up, it's taking some getting used to myself," she shrugged as best as possible, "And this is Arthur Marius Abraxas."

"They're adorable," Ginny said.

"They look like their father," she smiled as Blaise took Arthur.

"Well from what I hear Addie has your eyes, so they didn't get everything from their father, and both definitely have your curls cousin," Blaise countered, "You named him after your father and great-uncle Marius," he smiled, "Did Thomas get any input in their names?"

"Not a bit, well he got to say they were okay. I went through twenty-three hours of labour, I got to pick their names," she chuckled before moving to sit down as they followed and took their own seats.

"Must have your hands full with these two plus all your duties," Ginny commented.

"Gods yes," Josephine nodded, "Right now Jozséf is taking care of most things while I take two weeks off that everyone insisted on. I also have two nannies who are helping and will continue to do so whenever I absolutely have to be away from them in the future."

"Are you at least enjoying your forced vacation cousin?" asked Blaise.

"Yes," she smiled, "It's nice to have nothing to do related to my duties, I haven't had that luxury since I was six with my training for how to handle my duties beginning a few months after as you know from your own training," she shrugged, "But it is strange, I'm used to having so many things to do and the fact I get to sleep in as long as those two don't wake up early... and right now I'm insisting on waking up with them during the night instead of letting Amanda and Juliet tend to them, enjoying the traditional night feedings before I have to get back to being Queen and the two of them get to deal with it since I'll need my sleep. I'm even dragging Thomas up in the middle of the night half the time, and he is most definitely not a morning person so I get to laugh while watching him walk around in a sort of daze."

"Oh the joys of motherhood," Ginny giggled.

"The joys of torturing my husband," Josephine countered as she laughed. "But how are you two? How are things in Narnia, I can't believe I haven't been there in two months, I miss Cair Paravel and I know Seraphine misses spending time with Kiya and Rickon," she glanced over at where her jaguar lounged with the two cheetah bodyguards, she wasn't quite sure how they managed to communicate since Seraphine couldn't talk like them but somehow they did...

"Things are good. I think our people are wanting to see a true heir to Cair Paravel join the world soon seeing as Blaise and I have been together there for so long. I think it's part of why Charlie was so insistent. I think he thinks a change of scenery will help with the conception part since according to him we've gotten the trying part down quite well," Ginny said.

Josephine couldn't help but laugh, "Oh the evils of plotting relatives. Elena and Diego were on Eva's case for years and as soon as I got married they were bugging me for a surrogate grandchild. I can relate on the people wanting an heir, I swear they were having a pool amongst the Royal Council about how long it would take. I think Ichiro won actually…"

"Well we don't have a betting pool, I don't think anyway but knowing my brothers…" Ginny said shaking her head.

"I think we're just trying too hard," Blaise admitted. "Although we are having a lot of fun with the trying part," he laughed. "Much to the amusement or was it annoyance of your brother."

"Trying is the best part," Josephine giggled, "But really I say it will happen when the Goddess sees fit. Eva and Horacio had to wait five years; my Mére and Pére were married only nine months when I was born while Pére and his first wife waited seven years for a child. It's all in Her hands."

"It's already been almost five years for us, although I have to admit we didn't really start actually trying for a baby until we were married," Ginny said.

"Then it seems to me you guys are about due to be blessed," Josephine smiled, "And it looks like you've got a little one waking up," she nodded towards her daughter.

"Then it's probably time she went back to her mommy," Ginny said handing the baby back to Josephine.

"Are you hungry little one?" Josephine smiled down at her daughter before the door opened.

"Did I just hear that someone is hungry?" Thomas asked. Walking into the room he headed straight for Josephine, "Good afternoon my love," he whispered. He bent to place a kiss on her brow, reaching down to brush his daughter's cheek with his finger, before he turned to the others, "Good afternoon your Majesties," he smiled.

"Good afternoon," Blaise replied.

"If you three will excuse me for a few minutes," Josephine smiled as she rose.

"Of course my love," Thomas nodded.

"Of course," replied Ginny quietly.

"I'll be back soon then and don't worry, that one sleeps like the dead and only eats at specific times of the day, so far at least, where he gets it from I have no idea," she chuckled as she made her way out of the room.

"How are the two of you?" Thomas asked once she was gone.

"We're fine Thomas," Blaise said.

He nodded, "I was surprised to hear you were here actually, she's been pestering the medi-wizards as to how soon the three of them could travel. I know she is thrilled to see you. But how are you handling being out of Narnia my dear?" he focused on Ginny.

"It's not easy. I feel as though I must constantly look over my shoulder when I'm outside Narnia's borders. I've grown accustomed to the rules and magicks that protect our borders," Ginny said.

Thomas nodded, "Understandable my lady, there are times I wish I could get Josephine to move to Narnia, especially now with Addie and Artie as she insists on calling him," he rolled his eyes over his son's nickname, "But as I was saying, I wish I could get them there so I wouldn't have to worry as much about those out to harm the royal family. She refuses of course, insists she has to stay at Camelot so the people won't worry and so she can tend to her duties," he sighed before shaking his head. "There are times I want to strangle that woman for being so stubborn, but then again it's one of the things I love about her so," he smiled and sort of half shrugged.

"So they're still out to harm all of us then?" asked Ginny worriedly.

"There haven't been any attacks in the recent months but... I worry. We still keep an eye out and make sure everything is safe to the best of our abilities, and the teams are still out looking for members of the resistance, but there have been no sign of them recently. I think Dumbledore and his are staying quiet, perhaps they've realized that they're not winning over people to their cause, I'm not really sure." he explained. "We're just enjoying the quiet and hope it stays this way for a while to come."

"Don't worry Ginny," Blaise said as he took Ginny's hand in his. "We're safe here in Camelot. They'd never think of attacking the castle and we'll be back in Narnia before long and you know that no one who intends to do harm may enter our borders and their magic is useless to them. That Aslan saw to that when you great-grandfather Peter took the throne after defeating Jadis."

"I know Blaise," Ginny said quietly. "I'm just not used to being outside those protective borders and you have no idea how much I wanted to hit Charlie for being so bloody insistent."

"I'm sure Josephine will help," Thomas smiled gently.

"What am I helping with?"

"Hitting Charlie," Tom replied as she brought Adélaide over to him.

"Ahh, tell me when and where and I'll be there," she smiled at Ginny and Blaise.

"I think you'll have to get in line," Blaise laughed.

"Fair enough," she smiled, "Want me to take the sleeper off your hands or are you good?"

"He's getting a little heavy," Blaise admitted.

"For only weighing six pounds, he does that," she chuckled as she moved over to take her son, laying him down in his cradle. "So, when do you guys plan to go back to Cair Paravel?"

"Charlie's banned me from the castle for at least three days," Ginny pouted.

"Wow, I can't believe he did that actually," she mused, "What are you going to do for three days? Were you banned from the castle or from all of Narnia, if it's the first, if things get too much here could you return to Narnia and just not the castle?" Josephine asked concerned.

"We were hoping we could stay here but if not we were going to go and visit Bill and Fleur in Ireland and see how they're managing with Rosewood," Ginny said.

"You're more than welcome to stay here," Josephine smiled, "I was just being the worrier that I can be."

"The Goddess knows you drive Draco crazy being a worrier."

"It's not my fault, the boy needs to actually attempt to find love before my children are old enough to marry," Josephine countered as he looked at her husband.

"Thanks. Would there be somewhere I could set up a target to practice with?"

"Sure, my private gardens have a good deal of open space, that's where I ride when I don't want to go out among others, or when I want to practice myself."

"Thanks," Ginny smiled. "I hate to seem rude but would it be possible to have someone show me where we'll be staying? I need to lie down for a while."

"Of course not," Josephine nodded before looking at Thomas.

"In other words, let me give my daughter to her mother and I'll take you down to the rooms that will be yours from now on, everyone's got a specific suite assigned by my dear wife."

"Exactly, and theirs is the room at the end of the hall on the left, looking out over the private gardens." Josephine smiled as she took her daughter, "And I have a diaper to change so... Get some rest Ginny; I'll see you two later."

"Thanks," Ginny said.

"Come on Ginny, let's get you settled," Blaise said as he helped Ginny to her feet.

"I'll be back soon my love," Thomas smiled at Josephine before making his way out of the room with Ginny and Blaise, leading them down to the suite Josephine had done to resemble the same styles as Narnia so they would have a place that felt like home.

Wednesday August 24th, 1999
On the road between Camelot and Avalon
1:27 p.m.

Thomas had been far from happy when Josephine had announced she was going to Avalon. But she hadn't been out of the castle in over a month and she was desperate for some time in the fresh air and needed to see how things were in Avalon, thus she had decided that she was going to travel to Avalon in a carriage instead of by magic. If Thomas wasn't upset enough by the first bit of news, he had nearly gone through the roof when she informed him that she was leaving the majority of her Death Eater bodyguards behind, only taking Walden MacNair and having Regulus Black come with her as she checked on things in Avalon, leaving Jozséf in charge of things in Camelot.

Regulus had been a surprise of sorts, one of the men assigned to protect Josephine after the coronation, she had been watching him for a few weeks trying to figure out what was so familiar about him, and getting to know the man a few years older than her, before it finally hit her. She had asked him then if he was related to the Blacks and the truth that he was the younger brother of Sirius Black believed dead, and the whole story of how he had faked his death after the mess with Sirius being arrested, came out. Following that revelation, she raised him to a position of advisor, and unofficially he was in charge of the rest of her bodyguards, consisting of among others, his cousin Bellatrix, her husband and brother-in-law. Soon after, Draco had approached her when he and the other Royals were informed of who Regulus was, the knowledge though for the time being kept quiet to the High Council and the Royal family, as the last thing Regulus wanted was his brother to find out he was alive. Draco had approached his cousin, and offered him the Earldom that had belonged to Regulus' uncle, insisting when Regulus protested, and soon after he became the Earl of Harrington, and officially became one of Josephine's two advisors and regents.

It was him she chose to accompany her to Avalon that morning, and so after finally calming Thomas down, she and the two men made their way towards the stables where the carriage waited, coming across Ginny as they did. Josephine stopped and asked if Ginny might want to come with them, a chance to get out of the castle and go see Avalon, Ginny jumped at the chance and Blaise was happy to see her go, Kiya coming along and Rickon staying at Camelot with Blaise.

"I've missed riding through the countryside," Josephine smiled as she looked out the window, next to her was Ginny and across from them was Regulus while Walden rode with the driver. Kiya and Seraphine were stretched out on the floor of the carriage, resting for the moment, the carriage large enough that they weren't cramped in any way; none of the occupants were really.

"It's the only way Blaise and I travel these days," Ginny smiled. "As you know magic doesn't work in Narnia like it does here so we can't appparate and portkeys are out of the question so we tend to ride everywhere."

"Jealous," she smiled, "I love to ride, but it's not as safe as magic so... that's the normal route," she shrugged, "But with things being so quiet lately Thomas really didn't have much room to argue."

"Not that he didn't try," Regulus chuckled.

"Shh, I'm trying to let my husband think we don't all know how to get him to agree to things he doesn't want to agree to, if he realizes you and Jozséf know my secret, I'll lose all the progress I've made," she teased.

"I don't think I'd know what to do with a wand anymore. I never did finish sixth year after all," Ginny shrugged.

"Magic isn't all it's cracked up to be," Regulus smiled, "Entirely too much work to remember spells when if we were living back in the time before everyone was taught how to control magic a sword was so much easier to use for protection for example."

"You should talk to Blaise, Regulus. He's more proficient with a sword than a wand these days. He was beside himself with shock when Aslan bestowed him with my great-grandfather's sword and shield. Course I was just as shocked when I got my great-grand aunt Susan's bow and arrows."

"True true," Josephine nodded before the carriage suddenly swerved and began to roll onto its side.

"My ladies!" Regulus lunged towards them to try and protect them as the carriage continued to roll.

"What in the Goddess' name?" Josephine looked up at what had been the floor and was now the roof when they stopped, the three humans and two cats a pile of limbs and bodies at the moment.

"I don't know," Regulus began as he grabbed his wand, Seraphine's ears pressing back to her skull as she began to growl low in her throat.

"Are you alright my ladies?" Regulus whispered as they shifted to separate themselves, his wand still at the ready.

"I'm fine, a bit sore but fine, are you okay Gin?"

"A little bruised I think but alright other than that. It happened so fast I didn't have time to brace against anything."

"We need to see how Walden and the driver are," Josephine looked at the window that was open as the curtains were against the roof, before they all recognized the flash of green. "Merciful Goddess..."

"Both of you stay here, Kiya, Seraphine watch over them," Regulus ordered before going out the door to their backs.

"Remind me to never, ever, travel by carriage again without a larger detail," Josephine whispered to Ginny as they moved to sit close together, Kiya watching one door as Seraphine watched the other, Josephine having found her wand and was holding it at the ready as they listened to the fight that was going on outside, Walden and Regulus' voices echoing as they threw spells at their attackers, before another flash of green light was just caught by them through the window.

Suddenly the carriage itself seemed to shake before the former floor turned roof was ripped off, "Run," Josephine hissed at Ginny, pushing her lightly towards the back door as Kiya shot up to move with her, Seraphine joining Josephine as she followed Ginny out the back.

"There she is!" someone yelled as Josephine and Ginny ran from the carriage towards the trees some thirty feet away, Josephine throwing spells back over her shoulder when she could. Both stumbled to a halt when a few figures in hooded capes appeared out of thin air in front of them. "Left," Josephine ordered before turning to go right so they could hopefully have a chance splitting up while Seraphine and Kiya leaped at the figures moving towards them, male screams echoing amidst the angry 'yells' the cats were giving.

Josephine apparated to Ginny's side as the cats took out the people who had been after them, as their companions continued to race towards both their fallen members and after the two, "Come on, we can apparate long enough to get help then come back for Kiya, Seraphine and the others..." she began as she caught Ginny's hand while they ran.

"You realize what this means right?" asked Ginny as they ran.

"That Thomas and Blaise are never going to let us out of their sight again?" she offered, "Go for that tree, we'll hide behind it long enough that I can apparate us," she nodded towards one of the first trees before she and Ginny ducked a spell that flew over their heads. "Never mind that they're never going to let us leave our castles again."

"Besides that," snapped Ginny. "It means that someone tipped them off. You have a spy in your ranks Josette."

"I was for the moment avoiding that thought," Josephine groaned before they both heard one of the cats' 'yells' cut off mid scream. "Oh God," she automatically stopped to look over her shoulder, seeing Seraphine lying about twenty feet from where Kiya still fought with those around them, someone took the second she was watching them to throw a curse and send her flying away from Ginny.

"Bloody hell," Ginny cursed as she watched Josette crash to the ground. Quickly changing direction she ran straight back towards the carriage, ducking curses as she went. "Where is it," she cried desperately as she dug around the carriage roof for a few seconds before her hand came to rest on something familiar. "Got it," she said as she climbed back out of the carriage, staying crouched as she looked around, noticing someone drawing a wand and pointing it at Regulus' back. In the span of a few seconds, Ginny had knocked an arrow into position and let it fly, her aim true as the arrow impaled itself in the attackers wand hand, forcing him to drop his wand as he cried out in pain.

"Put it down girl," someone spoke from behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder to see a man pointing his wand at her. "You're not the one we're after, don't make us hurt you."

"Don't worry, you won't," Ginny smirked as she stood up, having seen Kiya sneaking up behind the guy.

"What's that suppose to mean?" he frowned before being pounced on. Before Ginny even had a chance to smile at the fact her companion and friend had got the guy, Kiya went flying across the ground from a spell.

"Kiya!" Ginny cried as she ran after her long-time friend, companion and bodyguard. Finding the cheetah alive but unconscious, she spun to find the one who had fired the spell. "You bastard," Ginny snarled when she saw the man approaching her, quickly knocking another arrow into position and letting it fly, straight into the heart of the man, dropping him to the ground immediately.

"Knock her out!" someone yelled, moments later half a dozen spells flew towards Ginny before she fell to the ground unconscious.

"Milady? Ginevra? Please wake up..."

Ginny groaned as she rolled over. "What happened?" she asked quietly, wincing in pain.

"We were attacked," Regulus explained as he helped her sit up. "We need to get back to Camelot, Kiya and Seraphine are hiding in the woods until we return. Do you think you can handle apparating with me or do you need another second or two? I wish I didn't have to rush you but..." he trailed off.

"The sooner the better I think," Ginny said. "That way Blaise can kill me sooner and put me out of my misery."

"He will not hurt you Milady," Regulus countered quietly as he pulled her into his arms and carefully rose, before apparating them back to Camelot, setting her down on the chaise in the lounge they appeared in. "I'll be right back," he promised before rushing out of the room to send for help to return to the site of the attack and get help for Ginny, and tell them the news.

"Ginny!" Blaise called running into the room a few minutes later, Rickon hot on his heels. "Thank the goddess you're alright," he said as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.

"I'm sorry," Ginny cried as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Ginny no," he said as he pulled back and took her head in his hands. "You have nothing to be sorry for Ginny you hear me. This wasn't your fault and I'm not mad at you," he said as he pulled her back into his arms.

"It hurts," Ginny wept quietly into his shoulder.

"I know baby. We'll get you checked out as soon as possible," Blaise soothed.

"Your Majesties?" a medi-wizard spoke from the doorway a few minutes later.

"Are you the medi-wizard?" asked Blaise.

"Yes your Majesty, King Thomas sent me and asks that you meet him in the hallway for a few minutes while I begin treating her Majesty."

"Will you be okay?" asked Blaise quietly. When Ginny nodded he rose from where he sat next to her. "I'll be just outside the door if you need me," he said kissing her forehead before leaving the room.

"Blaise how is she?" Thomas asked once Blaise appeared in the hallway.

"She's shaken. She looks unhurt but she tensed when I held her which tells me she's hurting," Blaise told him.

Thomas sighed, "I hope she is not too injured beyond being bruised. I thought it might be best if you told her, you left before the meeting was finished. Josephine is missing, the last time Regulus saw her, she was with Ginny. We think the entire point of the attack was to get Josephine... please if she even thinks it, make sure that she knows it wasn't her fault..." he asked softly.

"I will," Blaise sighed, knowing this was going to hit Ginny hard.