Chapter Sixty-Nine
Spring Equinox
Before Jennifer knew it, the spring Equinox was upon them and Jennifer and Severus were double-checking her Chest Cloak in case there was an emergency while she was in the Dark Forest.
"Are you certain you don't want me to go with you? After all, I can stay in my Raven form without being detected," Severus offered.
"And what if they did find out, Severus? The instructions were perfectly clear; they only want to talk to me," Jennifer replied.
"In which case, you really should let me at least summarize some of current Astrology events..."
"No, Severus," Jennifer said firmly. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. I'm not going to need them tonight. Besides, you know as well as I do that the current star pattern can be read in two different ways right now, and they're likely to interpret it in a way that benefits them, just like they did when it showed Sagittari taking a new mate. I'm not going to be able to win them over by attempting to beat them at their own game. I'm not capable of it even if I wanted to, you know that."
"Planning to cheat again, are we?" Severus inquired.
"If necessary," Jennifer replied.
"Then let me offer this piece of advice instead," Severus said, Jennifer glancing up from her Cloak Chest. "Even if the majority of Dark Forest Constellation agree that it is time to open up diplomacy again, that doesn't mean all of them are ready for it. I expect members of Sagittari's severed family in particular are going to offer a great deal of resistance to this. Be careful."
"I will, Severus," Jennifer replied, kissing him. "Don't worry. I'm sure the Herd won't be too far away either; they really do want the Grove open to visitors. If I don't accomplish anything else tonight, I have every intention of at least negotiating that much."
"That would be an improvement," Severus agreed, walking her through the study and over to where as she stepped through the Doorlift.
Severus settled down to the desk to get some work done, just as much to ease his mind as it was to take advantage of the time alone. But it hadn't been more than an hour before a Robin flew in with a small note in his beak, landing on his desk.
"What are you doing in the castle?" Severus said with exasperation. But the Robin unabashedly spit out the note and then flew back out the window. Shaking his head, Severus took the note and opened it. He stared at it for a moment before he got out his Chronolog and checked the time.
Jennifer made her way through to the Grove, walking quickly to make certain she would make it to the camp before the sunset ceremony. For a moment or two, she almost wondered if she would lose her way considering how much had happened since she tried walking to the centaur camp from that particular direction. But once she got on the path again it came back to her, and the fact that the majority of trees had yet to bud made it easy to look into the distance to make sure she hadn't strayed. Soon she felt the presence of Unicorns nearby, feeling safer just knowing they were accompanying her.
At last she stepped out and looked over the camp, smiling at the young filly and foal that was playing by where the mares had gathered. It was a great deal smaller than she remembered, and not as many young centaurs peered curiously around the hide-covered huts as they often had in years past. Before she could come closer, Vega stepped out from the huts, gazing out her coldly.
"You are not welcome over here," she informed Jennifer. "This is the council's idea, not mine. The Stargazers are meeting over there."
"Yes, I remember. Thank you, Vega," Jennifer replied and walked over, feeling a prickle on her neck when she turned her back to the centaur.
Even if she typically had trouble reading their thoughts because of the constant comparing of their lives to the stars, Vega's fury that Jennifer had even been allowed to speak was quite clear. She had fiercely protested Jennifer's invitation and would have stopped this meeting if she could have. That the council would even consider it after Sagittari's blasphemy taking on another mate when he had one living was nothing short of abominable.
Jennifer couldn't help but be worried about how strong Vega's feelings were at the moment. It was almost as if she felt betrayed all over again; that even a tentative step towards peace, even after so much time had past, was a personal affront to her. Jennifer saw one of the centaurs break away and Firenze came over to her.
"I will be your escort this evening during the Constellation," he informed her. She smiled.
"Thank you, Firenze. I know this is... an uncomfortable meeting for some," Jennifer said, glancing behind her at where Vega still watched angrily from a distance.
"She does not see the stars as the council sees them," Firenze informed Jennifer quietly. "She refuses to read the stars or hear the council of our elders. She has decided it is the rest of us who are on the wrong path, and blame us for not listening to her council in return."
"It's understandable, under the circumstances..." Jennifer sighed. Firenze stopped walking for a moment and turned to her.
"No, Jennifer, it is not," Firenze said. "I understand the wizard ways better than most, and I understand why you may want to sympathize with her. But centaurs are taught to look to the stars and accept our fates. Even when it's unfavorable, we are taught to accept it with respect and dignity. Amphion still chooses to pay homage to his father on his Name Day, and he has seen, along with those of us who have chosen to do the same, that his father's fate shines brightly now."
"Yes," Jennifer said with a smile.
"It took more than one Name Day for most of the elders to accept it," Firenze admitted. "But his fate persists, and now it is only Vega who refuses to see it, just as she refuses to see the path now before Amphion."
"Why? Has something changed in his fate?" Jennifer asked with a frown.
"No, it has not changed. It has simply become clearer," Firenze explained. "Come, Star Peregrine awaits."
"Star Peregrine! She is over here?" Jennifer asked brightly, and then saw her waiting just outside the ring of gathering centaurs. Jennifer went over, smiling warmly. The matron of the centaur's long hair had gone from grey to white, but otherwise she had aged well, and still looked healthy and strong. But her eyes had softened and it had betrayed some of the harder times she had faced in recent years.
"It is so good to see you again, Star Peregrine. It has been quite some time," Jennifer said with a smile.
"Yes, it has, sister of Leo," Star Peregrine agreed. "Well met. Your arrival has been noted among the stars."
"To be truthful, Star Peregrine, I did not look to them. I am here on behalf of the Unicorns tonight, and in concern for the health of the forest. I see a lot has changed here since I was here last," she added, glancing at the camp.
"Yes, our numbers began to dwindle after Ronan walked the sky," Peregrine said quietly. "Fewer fillies and foals are born with mates who are clear to us. Many remain clouded in the stars, or they have lost their mates early, such as my grandson's mate, as well as Hermius' mate," she added for good measure. "I was chosen as an advisor to young Amphion in my husband's place. It was cause for much concern among some of the elders, but since Amphion willed it and the stars allowed it, it was accepted in the end."
"So... even here within a Constellation striving to keep the old ways alive, things still change," Jennifer said.
"Yes, although some blame the wizards for the recent change," she said under the breath.
"What? How can they? When neither of our peoples have spoken for well over a year now," Jennifer protested.
"Indeed, it does make things hard when you are not there to blame," Peregrine said with amusement. "Even Rigel hears me now, and admits that perhaps our problems are of our own making."
"That is a change indeed," Jennifer chuckled. "But while I'm glad we're not being blamed, your people also can't be blamed either. The nature of the Dark Forest itself is changing, as is the rest of its inhabitants. If we are to help the forest to thrive, those changes need to be acknowledged and respected. As the forest adapts, so must we. One cannot adapt to the needs of a changing forest if one refuses to change themselves."
"Wise words indeed, and words that the others must hear! Amphion often struggles with his fate and the fate of our Constellation, but change we must, or it will lead to our ruin, as the stars have forseen," Peregrine said.
"Is that how the centaurs have been reading that?" Jennifer said thoughtfully, finding herself glancing at the violet sky as the sun began to dip towards the horizon. "I wonder if we've been interpreting it wrong this whole time ourselves? It's just like the game, Trial or Error, isn't it? Even when you're following your fate, there are times one must face a challenge to continue on the intended path."
"I do not know what you mean by game, but yes, there are times when our fate warns us of a hardship on our path and gives us guidance on how best to follow it," Peregrine replied. "If there were no such trials, there would be no need for wisdom," she added with amusement.
"But there are also some things you can't change... things that you must simply endure..." Jennifer murmured.
"Is that true for wizards as well?" Peregrine asked curiously.
"Yes," Jennifer admitted with a smile. "You know, Peregrine, I've often tried to understand how your people think and have failed with frustration. But speaking to you about it now, things don't seem so distant to me. We have a lot more in common than I once believed we did... even taking into account this estrangement over your son's decision to remarry."
"We do have a lot in common. We are both headstrong daughters of Leo with the courage to change, especially when it is best for our families," Peregrine pointed out.
"Yes, that is quite true," Jennifer agreed with a smile.
"I think I would like to meet my son's new mate and their children," Peregrine declared. Firenze glanced back at her with surprise.
"Oh, well. Right now they're on the island on Crete, where Sagittari's constellation is," Jennifer explained.
"Then perhaps I'll travel there," Peregrine decided.
"Wait. What?" Jennifer said in complete surprise, Firenze looked just as stunned, as did several other centaurs who had gathered nearby. "But it's... far... very far... perhaps you'll meet them when they come to Hogwarts in a few years..."
"I shall do no such thing. I will go," Peregrine said in a voice that breached little argument as she walked through the ring to stand on the opposite side near Amphion. A hand from Firenze reminded Jennifer it was not polite to follow and invited her to stand with him and his sons, while Jennifer still tried to wrap her head around how bizarre the world would be to Peregrine when she'd never left the Dark Forest before.
"Come! The sun sets!" Amphion said, raising the circle in the air to catch the last of the light. Jennifer smiled softly, thinking of how much he looked like his father. "Now comes the time of Beginnings. The night descends as the days grow longer, bringing much needed hope and light to all who are weary of a dark winter. It is a time of rebirth and change as the forest awakens. And just as the Forest changes, so must we," he said, pausing to look solemnly over at Jennifer, who smiled in approval. "Our numbers stagnate as we refuse to adapt to the needs of the Forest that we protect, and the needs of our constellation. Just as we must forge a new path when one is blocked by a tree in the Forest, we must forge a new path for ourselves when our way is blocked. The stars warn us of our pending doom if we do not change, and it is time we heed them. Let us heed also the wishes of the Great Herd, who have asked for the return of the Riders and their families. Let us listen to the words of our once Allies, the Wizards of Hogwarts, in an effort to hear each others words again, and work together for the good of the Forest as we once did. It is for that reason that Firenze, on my behalf, asked Keki's Rider, daughter of Leo with the Rising of Mars, to join us on this important day. Please, let us listen to see if we are ready to hear their words," he said, gesturing his whole arm towards her and coaxing her to take a couple of steps into the circle so that she can speak.
"I am honored to be here, and I am so grateful that you asked me to come," Jennifer began. "And since I have come on behalf of the Unicorn Herd, I should probably start by explaining what occurred on my first encounter with the Herd in some time. It started when I came to the Grove to -"
A loud whinny of warning came from out of the trees along the clearing, filled with such dismay that Jennifer turned to see what was wrong with Kesa.
Suddenly Jennifer felt a jolt of intense pain in her chest as an arrow pierced her and dropped her to the ground, causing her to cry out involuntarily in intense pain and surprise. Unicorns charged out of the forest, moving with enough speed that Kesa was able to put herself between Jennifer and Vega, who was pulling back her bow a second time as the centaurs spread out to attempt to figure out what happened.
"I forbid you to hear her!" Vega shouted even as the Unicorns surrounded her to keep her from doing it again. "We must not abandon our sacred duties in favor of the lies of the wizards! Change is not our salvation, it is our doom!"
"Contain my mother and silence her!" Amphion snapped angrily. He joined Peregrine, Firenze, and even Rigel, who were kneeling around Jennifer's the fallen form. Jennifer, shaking and barely conscious, drank down a phial she was grasping, but it was obvious she was in pain and losing blood.
"I do not know much of humans, but I believe the arrow missed the heart... only just," Peregrine said.
"If she had not turned just then, she would have already been dead," Amphion realized angrily. "Hand her up to me, Grandmother. I will race her to Father, for among us only he knows how to save her," Amphion said.
"I will go, Amphion. I know the way to the hut very well and will go speedily," Firenze offered.
"Then come with me, but I will carry her myself. I must remove some of the stain of dishonor that is now upon us," Amphion said, and Peregrine slowly got up with Jennifer in her arms and placed them in Amphion's. "Come, we must go quickly!"
As Firenze and Amphion raced through the Dark Forest, several Unicorns accompanied them, traveling just ahead of them and close enough that Jennifer could feel their breath, helping to give her the strength of spirit to keep fighting the pain she was in. Later, she would come to remember very little of it, often falling unconscious with fitful dreams of Unicorns, and memories of the time she rode Keki and led the Herd to defeat Voldemort and the Dementors. And then, strangely enough... it went back to the night that Voldemort had the Death Eater's torture her... and to the night she fought Malfoy... the pain, it seemed, was invading her dreams, and even among the Unicorns, she was having trouble fighting off the darkness.
Severus stood beside Sagittari's Hut after just having used his wand to break up the wooden barriers the centaurs had constructed along the edge of the Dark Forest. They were more reinforced there than anywhere else along the border; a sign of just how unwelcome Sagittari was to any sort of contact.
"What are you doing?" Sagittari asked after opening the door of his hut to see what the commotion was about. "Have you gone mad? You know what they'll do if they find their barriers like that."
"Something is wrong. Jennifer's hand is on Mortal Peril," Severus snapped. "She will be coming through this way."
"How do you know she's coming through here? Did you have a premonition?" Sagittari asked.
"Of a sort," Severus said briskly, then paused. "I hear something coming... hoofbeats."
"They do indeed sound like centaurs," Sagittari said. But despite their expectations, it was the Unicorns who arrived first, causing Severus to have to quickly back away from the edge of the Dark Forest. They were agitated to an extreme that Severus hadn't seen since the night that of the Azkaban Revolt, filling him with even more dread that something terrible had happened to Jennifer.
Just then, Firenze came crashing into view and just behind him came Amphion, carrying a bleeding Jennifer in his arms with an arrow through her chest.
"Jennifer!" Severus called out in dismay.
"What has happened? This is a centaur's arrow!" Sagittari demanded.
"Her life is more important than explanations at the moment," Severus snapped.
"Yes, come inside. Firenze, show Amphion inside," Sagittari said.
Sagittari and Severus rushed into his surgery. A moment or two later, Severus was ushered back out again. He glared at the door that had been slammed at his face. Then he turned to the two centaurs, Firenze standing calmly by the table while Amphion looked around quite mystified at the strange surroundings.
"Stargazer Amphion. What happened to my wife?" Severus demanded.
"It was Vega... my mother," Amphion admitted reluctantly. "When the Rider stepped within the circle to speak, she attempted to pierce her heart. Only the Unicorn Herd's warning kept her from dying at our feet."
Severus gazed at him steadily for a moment, absorbing that before gazing out at the shadows along the tree line.
"After all of these years, after all she's been through... they still look after her," Severus murmured. "Even after regaining that part she had once lost in the Horn, they still revere her."
"Whether she has regained it or not, it does not stop the fact that she was Keki's Rider," Amphion said. "They pass down those experiences to their fillies and foals, no matter how many generations pass, they will remember her and all of the other Riders who came before and after."
Severus glanced at his watch again, seeing that his had slid off "Mortal Peril" and was back on Sagittari's Hut. His ring was pale, and her emotions drifted as if in a deep sleep.
"The worst of the danger seems to have passed... for now," Severus informed them, stepping outside and over to the Forest boundary. "Keki's Rider should recover, because of your efforts. Thank you for keeping her safe," Severus said in a loud clear voice. He paused a moment and then heard a soft nicker, nodding to himself that his message had been received. He stepped back in to see that Firenze had managed to put the tea kettle on, having learned at least that much from his countless visits there.
"I do not know what is stranger. To keep a fire in a box, or to keep a fire in the hut," Amphion commented. There was a soft muffled chuckle at that, and Amphion turned to see Severus closing the door. "Why did you make that sound?" he asked with a frown.
"Sorry," Severus said, sitting on one of the stools. "It is simply that I recall a time when your sister had asked very similar questions as that. She was always asking questions, really."
"Yes," Amphion agreed. "My sister Lyra was bold and curious."
"Yes, she was," Severus replied, watching as Firenze attempted to instruct Amphion on placings saucers under cups and how to make tea. But not long after they each had a cup, the door opened and Sagittari stepped back out.
"She is resting comfortably in the back room of the Hospital Wing now, but I have her on a strong Sleeping Potion so that she will not move about. I prefer if you wait and visit her in the morning," Sagittari said to Severus.
"And I prefer to visit her now," Severus replied, ignoring Sagittari's exasperated sigh as he slipped past the centaur. Sagittari glanced back at the other two centaurs.
"What is the purpose of the little plate?" Amphion asked Firenze.
"I do not know," Firenze admitted.
"What is to happen to Vega? Did the council know of her plans?" Sagittari demanded. Amphion raised his head proudly.
"I asked Keki's Rider to council to speak about Keki's Grove," Amphion said bluntly. "To discuss the Unicorn's wish to let in the Riders and their children, and to request the removal of the Wizard Sanders. My mother has been angry and refuses to see the stars, but no one believed she would harm the Rider. That is why I brought the Rider myself. I do not wish to share my mother's dishonor. Her views are no longer the views of the Constellation. They are her views alone and she will be held responsible for her actions."
"Very well," Sagittari said solemnly. "I must see to my patient. Be aware that I plan to advise her not to travel alone again, and to refuse any invitations that try to force her to go alone."
"You do not trust us," Amphion accused him.
"No more than you trust us wizards," Sagittari replied evenly. Frowning at the reminder that his father thought of himself in that way, Amphion glanced at Firenze and the two of them stepped out of the hut, walking back into the Dark Forest.
Jennifer felt warm lips on hers and smiled softly. But before she even opened her eyes, it slowly turned into a frown of annoyance while Severus gazed at her intently.
"I can't move.." Jennifer immediately complained. "These heavy bandages..."
"And a gentle holding spell, yes," Severus confirmed quietly. "Sagittari doesn't want you thrashing about just yet, he has a potion or two still to give you to heal internal damage that you needed to be awake for. Once those have had a half an hour to work, then he'll release the holding spell."
"A half an hour? Couldn't he have done with an imbibe spell and just let me sleep through this part? You know how much I hate feeling confined," she complained.
"Better than anyone, but you'll simply have to put up with it for a bit," Severus replied. "After that, he wants you to stay another night to make certain the wound doesn't open up again. The arrow punctured your lungs and some arteries and you have no idea how lucky you are to be alive right now considering it nearly pierced your heart."
"I remember the Unicorns trying to warn me..." Jennifer murmured. "And then pain... when I realized I had been pierced through, I knew I couldn't use normal healing potions so... I grabbed the Elixir," she admitted apologetically. "I suppose that was pretty rash."
"Hardly. We nearly lost you again," Severus replied softly. "You're right that a healing potion at that moment would have made it worse, although a blood staunch probably would have helped... which is another reason you need to stay longer, so don't attempt to sneak off no matter how much you might want to. I fully intend to have both the familiars and the paintings present at all times to keep an eye on you, isn't that right, Rogue?" She heard an affirmation out of his violin and glanced up to see him wearing the same stern expression.
"Why are you both convinced I'd be tempted?" Jennifer asked, but since she was gazing at the Rogue in that moment, it was easy enough to read. "Lucky had her baby? Oh, no! I should be over there helping, not lying in bed!" The Rogue rolled his eyes at that, and Severus nudged her chin over to look at him.
"I know how disappointed you are, but your recovery is more important than who gets to wash the dishes at the Craw Mansion, now isn't it?" Severus said sternly, unmoved by her pouting. "I'm certain that Myrine is over there playing the grandmother role, not that she's the type, and I promise I'll let you have a couple of days off to go over there once you're well again so you can change as many of Robert William's nappies as you like."
"Robert," Jennifer said with a smile. "So Lucky talked him into it."
"Oh, yes, that doesn't surprise me. Although I hear there was a bit of a fuss about Robert March coming over and claiming the baby was named after him, but I think he was simply getting Dale's dander up. He was named after Robert Kingler and Ambrose," Severus said.
"Ambrose?" Jennifer repeated, but then looked amused. "Oh yes, Bill."
"Yes," Severus confirmed, Jennifer smiling at that.
"So what happened after I got shot? How did I manage to get back here?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh, yes, back to that. Amphion carried you to Sagittari's hut with Firenze leading the way," Severus explained. "I received a note that something was about to occur and to remove the barriers by Sagittari's hut at a certain time."
"Really? Amphion did that?" Jennifer said in surprise.
"He was incensed at his mother for attempting to assassinate you when you were invited to the Constellation in good faith, and took responsibility for her actions by carrying you himself. He even stayed for a cup of tea to make certain you would survive, although his response to Sagittari's home was comical to say the least," Severus replied. Jennifer smiled softly at that. "The irony of this whole thing is that Vega's actions have caused the centaurs to be even more open to reconciliation than they were before the incident. In fact, it has sped the process up to the point that they have agreed to open Keki's Grove and wanted me to inform you that you may bring whomever you like as an escort during further discussions... including Sagittari."
"I'm glad something good came of this," Jennifer replied.
"Yes," Severus said, shaking his head slightly. "But the next time you 'cheat', I would very much appreciate it if you don't put yourself in that level of danger to do so."
"Cheat? I had nothing to do with this. I had no way of knowing at all I was going to get hit by that arrow, it took me quite by surprise!" Jennifer protested.
"No, but I was also given no way to stop it," Severus pointed out. "Had I known about it beforehand, I would have warned you or intervened myself to keep you from taking the risk. Instead, I was only informed that there had been some sort of mishap and that you would be coming to the castle by way of the Dark Forest by Sagittari's Hut, with a time to meet you there. I may have let that arrow fly, Jennifer, but I certainly wouldn't have allowed it to harm you like this if I had been the one to set this little Mulligan up."
"Severus, no intervention was needed. The Unicorns warned me and made me turn around so she didn't have a perfect shot," Jennifer said. "I remember hearing their whinnies after I got shot too... I think they stayed with me."
"All of the way until the edge of the Forest," Severus confirmed with a soft sigh. "Are you certain you weren't behind the timing in this case?"
"Don't be silly, Severus. You know I'm not into the whole Temporal Magic thing, that's your area, not mine," Jennifer pointed out. "Perhaps that message was sent later and there's a lot more about that situation that we don't know about yet."
As Severus was pondering the possibility, there was the sound of hooves and a knock on the door. Severus quickly got up and opened it, and Sagittari came in with a tray.
"I trust you had enough time to catch up," Sagittari said.
"Somewhat," Severus said. "Allow me," he offered, taking the tray while Sagittari adjusted the bed slightly with his wand to make it easier.
"How are you feeling?" Sagittari inquired.
"Constricted," Jennifer said.
"Any pain?"
"Yes, but it's tolerable," Jennifer replied.
"Feel free to give her the pain potion first, Severus. You know as well as I do what she considers 'tolerable'," Sagittari said disapprovingly.
"All too well," Severus agreed, helping her take her potions.