AN: EARLY! Kinda... Whatever, I'm just happy it's not three in the morning or something. Anyways~ Hello lovelies! I hope you all had a lovely week, and I certainly hope you enjoy the new chapter!
NOTES: We don't meet people by Accident. They are Meant to Cross Our Paths for a Reason.
REVIEWERS!
BrawlerGamer: ...It'll take a while, but wait for it! I swear it was planned from the start! Anyways~ Pitch is always plotting to take down the Guardians. And being an Animagi would require the ability to change back into a human XD
Arwen Eledel: Trust me, I'm full of surprises! This won't be the last we see of the centaurs. Pitch's POV will return later in this story, specifically, and everyone might just freak out when it does...
C: The lack of Pitch's POV was somewhat on purpose. I wanted people to almost forget about him so when he came back they would realize they're almost as unaware of Pitch's plans as the protagonists themselves. I have to play the adorable card to it's fullest extent, especially when it comes to our two favorite bros! Much more is going to start happening as this story is reaching it's last few chapters, so hold on to your wizard or witch's hat, it's gonna be a crazy ride! And don't worry about it! The week wasn't too stressful, there was just a lot going on. If there was too much I would definitely skip an update because health and happiness need to come first in life, but when I know I can handle it, I don't like missing updates. Foreshadowing is my absolute specialty! One of my hopes is that after the series is finished all of my readers will come back and read through the first ones to see just HOW MUCH foreshadowing was actually shoved into this plot. And yes, some of them can see Thestrals. I hope you enjoy the new chapter, and have a wonderful week!
Chapter 16: The Centaurs
Merida couldn't remember a single time in her life when she was more nervous than she was in that moment. They were surrounded by centaurs who were armed to the teeth, and Merida had no way of knowing if they were friendly or not. To make their situation worse, Jack was sporting a nasty head wound, and the blood staining his white fur had already rolled down over his left eye, drenching the entire side of his face.
Jack's legs were shaking as he tried to remain braced for another fight, Rapunzel stayed by Jack, trying to stop the bleeding with a small handkerchief Rapunzel carried with her, and Hiccup stood on his hind legs, his eyes darting about as he looked between Jack and Rapunzel and the centaurs. Elinor stood tall and firm beside Merida, offering some comfort as the Princess faced the Head Stallion.
"Who are you?" Sypys, the very large Stallion that lead the centaurs, repeated once he did not receive an answer from the last time he asked.
Hiccup scurried forward and started squeaking rapidly, trying his best to communicate something, but it wasn't working. Merida could feel her own face falling into a hopeless line as Hiccup's squeaks caused the Head Stallion to tilt his head slightly and curiosity.
"We're students," Rapunzel said suddenly, and Merida sighed in relief as the taller girl stepped forward to join her before the centaur. She bent down and scooped Hiccup into her arms, ignoring his squeak of indignation. "Please, we're students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Our friend was hurt by the Nightmares, and we're terribly lost." She told him, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder as he slowly stepped forward to stay close to them.
"Why should two witches come to the forest with three bears as their companions?" Sypys questioned them, raising an eyebrow at them in his skepticism.
"That's just it! They're not bears! Our friends and my mom were turned into bears by a spell. The witch from the little cottage did it, but we couldn't find her, and now we're trying to get back to the castle in time to break the spell! Please, we need your help!" Merida pleaded with them. Surely such wise and noble creatures would be willing to offer them assistance.
"The forest is our home, and our home has been attacked many times in recent moons. As Stallion of this forest, I must do what is best for my people. We shall take the witches and their bears, and they will face trial before the herd!" Sypys announced to the other centaurs, and several nodded, drawing their bows and aiming them at Merida and the others.
"No, you can't!" Merida exclaimed. "We have to get back to the castle before sunrise!"
"Too much darkness has corrupted the forest. The shadows grow longer, and the other creatures step with caution within their home. I must do what is best for the forest. I must protect my people." Sypys told them, and though his voice was gentle in his explanation, his voice held no remorse for his decision.
"Please, you have to let us explain more! I know it's confusing, but we're trying to protect people, too!" Rapunzel begged, hoping to persuade the centaurs into listening.
"We will tend to the White Fur's injuries, but this place is not a safe place. Prove yourselves to the elders, and we will offer you aid in your journey." Sypys said, silencing them as several centaurs moved forward. Some approached Jack with bandages and herbs, some held their bows at the ready, pointed at the ground but poised for a fight.
"Sypys." A gentle, calming voice cut through the chaos of the five trying to argue with centaurs, and everyone looked behind Sypys to where the voice had come from.
Sypys watched as a young centaur, no older than Merida herself, moved forward until she stood beside Sypys. The young centaur was petite in comparison to the other centaurs, and she looked very short while standing next to Sypys, but all of them gave her their full attention.
She had platinum blonde hair that fell down her back in waves, and tiny wild flowers of blue and purple were tangled in her loose hair and tail. While her hair and tail were pale gold, the rest of her lower half was white with flecks of brown covering her flanks. She had long-haired socks around her hooves that started white and ended in light brown, she wore a brown top that wrapped around her breast, but she carried no weapons, and her eyes were a grey-white that almost blended in with the whites of her eyes.
"Arafess." Sypys greeted her with a nod. "What troubles you?"
"These are not the ones who caused the strange magic." Arafess told him, her voice naturally quiet. She walked over to Rapunzel and picked up Hiccup from her arms. Hiccup gave a grumble of annoyance, but made no move to fight against the younger centaur. "This one aided us in capturing the hunters that invaded the forest two moons ago. He came with Mr. Crood from the castle."
Hiccup squeaked rather loudly, giving an annoyed look that clearly stated 'that's what I said!'.
"I can See him with my Gift. What they say is true. He has been changed by magic, but not the magic that threatens us." Arafess said, allowing Hiccup to climb up to her shoulders as relief flooded through Merida's veins.
Centaurs were best known for having the deepest respect for Seers, and for producing the strongest Seers throughout history. From the centaurs reactions to Arafess alone, Merida knew that they had just gained a very valuable ally. Or, should she say, Hiccup had gained them a valuable ally.
"I am certain they mean us no harm." Arafess finished, looking up at Sypys.
Sypys looked at them with quizzical eyes for a long, silent moment. When he seemed satisfied, he turned the centaurs around them and motioned them away. "Tend to the White Fur's wounds, but we will not take them before the elders." He ordered, and the centaurs lowered their heads respectfully as they backed away and put away their weapons. "Forgive us, but the forest has become a much more dangerous place than it was before."
Merida and Rapunzel glanced at each other curiously, wondering what was causing the centaurs so much trouble, but nodded to Sypys.
"We understand. It wasn't that long ago Pitch Black attacked the school." Rapunzel told him, and Jack gave a soft roar of agreement as the centaurs finished wrapping the bandages around his head.
"If you don't mind me asking; what's been causing you so much trouble? Can't be something as simple as hunters, can it?" Merida asked, hoping to get information.
Most heavily forested areas were home to hundreds of Wilder-Creatures and Magical Creatures, and almost all of them were protected by the Council of Kingdoms and the Ministry of Magic, but that didn't stop certain bands of illegal hunters and black market traders from invading the forests. The Forbidden Forest was one of the most dangerous to be in, so not many hunters survived, and those that did were often chased out or captured by the centaurs and the teachers of Hogwarts who helped to keep the forest safe.
"The hunters come and go as they always do, but they never manage to take from the forest. We owe your teachers for that." Sypys informed them, nodding to Hiccup in a silent thanks. "The real danger hides within the shadows. Since the Season of Change we have sensed strange magic within the forest. It is changing our home, and interfering with magic far more ancient than you or I." He explained, and Merida shared a look of concern with her mother and Rapunzel. "I do not believe you to be the cause, and Arafess has declared you are not, but it is drawn to you. Do you know why?"
"Well, if you're talking about Pitch Black's Nightmares, I'm pretty sure he's trying to kill us for what happened during First Year." Merida answered slowly and a bit uncertainly. Elinor gave a roar of shock and concern after hearing that.
"The Nightmare King's dark magic has affected the forest. The Circle of Stones moves from place to place, neither taking, nor leaving, but always moving. The shadows grow longer, and more dangerous. I fear His darkness is growing once again." Sypys looked extremely troubled, and Merida couldn't blame him.
Pitch had sworn he would be back, and the Guardians had confirmed that he'd return at some point. Considering the damage he'd done during the War, all of the adults had every right to be concerned about his growing power, and after what had just happened, Merida's own worries had come right to the front of her thoughts.
She didn't worry too much about herself, seeing as she was a trained warrior and could defend herself easily, but Rapunzel and Hiccup didn't care much for fighting. It worried her that they may be cornered by Pitch one day with no one there to help them. But in all honesty, she was most worried for Jack. The son of the man responsible for putting Pitch Black away the first time. The boy brave enough to stand against the most powerful Dark Sorcerer in the world. Jack was probably at the top of Pitch's revenge list, and Jack being the one to get hurt in their scuffle with the Nightmares just a few moments ago only solidified her worries even more.
"Have you seen Pitch in the forest? Do you know where he is?" Merida questioned, but Sypys shook his head.
"We have only seen his shadows and his Nightmares. We chase them from the sunrise to the sunset, but they never lead us to their master or their kin." Sypys's brow furrowed as he sighed in frustration, but it was hard to see the centaur as anything but calm and regal.
"I have tried to See what is to come, but the darkness clouds my Sight so that I cannot See. My Lady Fate has offered only a few visions of moons to come, but they are unclear to me. Have you Seen our fate, Witch-Seer?" Arafess looked directly at Merida, and suddenly all eyes were boring into the red-haired princess.
"Uh..." Merida stuttered nervously, her palms sweating as she felt her stomach coil tightly. "I -I don't think so. I... I'm not even sure if I've ever had a vision..."
"Our elder-Seers cannot See, either." Arafess looked worried, and Hiccup squeaked as he slipped down onto the ground and looked up at the young centaur. Arafess turned to Sypys. "We must speak with the elders. I believe we should converse with the Guardians, but the other Seers do not agree. I am young and inexperienced, but they will listen to you."
Sypys nodded. "I have sent words of warning through Mr. Crood, but it is time we begin gathering our forces." He turned back to the four and Elinor and bowed his head respectfully. "We shall guide you to the forest's edge where you will see your school, but then we must depart to convince the elders of our choices."
"Thank you!" Rapunzel bowed gratefully to them, but Merida was just happy that something good had finally come their way. "Thank you so much!"
"We'll tell the Guardians about everything that happened. If your elders won't let you come to them, we'll convince them to go to you." Merida promised, seeing it as only fair.
"You have our thanks, young Witch-Seer." Sypys nodded to her. "May Lady Fate be with us all."
After that it wasn't long before Sypys had gathered three of his archers and Arafess to help guide them back to the school. The rest of the centaurs were sent ahead to finish their patrol and then return to the herd.
Hiccup had climbed up onto Merida's shoulder as they walked, his short legs unable to keep up with them and Jack's head too tender for him to stand on as he had been. Merida walked at the front of the group next to Arafess and Sypys. Behind them was Jack and Rapunzel, and then Elinor and the other centaurs spread out around them in case more Nightmares decided to ambush them.
They walked in silence for a long time, whether out of fear of attracting dangerous creatures or simply because it had been a long day for everyone, Merida wasn't quite sure, but she was too lost in her own thoughts to notice. She couldn't stop thinking about the Stone Circle. Sypys had mentioned it earlier, and part of her was relieved to hear that the Stone Circle was moving to different places, but the other part of her worried about what this could mean about Pitch's power.
Where did the stones come from? Did someone place them? Did someone enchant them? Did the stones have magical properties themselves? Were the stones somehow tied to the Wisps? What were they for?
None of it made any sense to Merida, and so she turned to Sypys. "You mentioned a Circle of Stones earlier." She started, gaining his attention. "I think I've seen it, a couple times now, and I was wondering... What are they for? The Stones, I mean..." Merida asked.
"I know not." Sypys shrugged easily, giving a light smile at Merida look of surprise. "The Stones are of magic as ancient as the Great Moor itself. We know not where it came from, nor it's purpose. All we know is that the magic is very old, and very powerful."
"So, if the Stones are reacting to Pitch's dark magic, that must mean that Pitch is powerful enough to control that magic?" Merida felt sick at the idea. Ancient powers were dangerous, and they were not to be taken lightly. If Pitch had somehow figured out how to control one, well, Merida didn't even want to think about it.
"No." Sypys told her. "Pitch has no control over the Stones. We have made sure of that. But the Stones are reacting to the dark magic within the forest."
"Which means Pitch is strong enough to influence the Stones." Merida clarified, and Hiccup gave a soft rumble.
"Yes." Sypys agreed, nodding grimly. "There are dangerous times ahead, Witch-Seer, we all must tread carefully."
When he finished, their party passed underneath a large, low-hanging tree branch. Merida felt relief and excitement flush through her as she looked up to see the castle sitting at the top of the rise. Rapunzel gasped when she stopped behind Merida, and Jack and Elinor gave roars of delight.
"This is where we must leave you." Sypys announced, causing Merida and the others to turn and look at the centaurs.
"Thank you for everything." Merida bowed deeply. "I'm not sure if we would've been able to find our way back without you."
"No trouble was caused." Sypys replied. "I wish you all peace, and may Lady Fate be kind to you in your endeavor." With a humble bow of his head, Sypys turned and motioned his fellow centaurs back into the forest.
However, Arafess stepped forward, standing before Merida, Hiccup, Rapunzel, and Jack as Elinor stood off to the side, watching curiously.
"Your friendship is good, and your hearts are pure. I cannot Seen the paths laid before you, but I know they are long and treacherous. I wish for you love and strength to help you through the darkness ahead." Arafess whispered to them, and the four exchanged looks of confusion as she stood up straight.
"Arafess." Sypys called from the edge of the trees.
"May our paths cross again some day." Arafess bowed her head in goodbye, and then turned to follow Sypys into the trees.
Hiccup gave a squeak, and Merida could almost hear the sarcastic quip from her friend. Jack snorted in response, and then the four turned to Elinor who looked at them worriedly.
"Don't worry about that, mom." Merida said, walking over and hugging her mother tightly, and then pulling back again to look her in the eyes. "Right now let's just focus on getting you back to normal."
Together, Merida and Elinor looked up at the castle that stood silhouetted against the night sky.