White Rose, Queen of the Forests

I woke alone, the other side of the bed lingering with his scent and a small indent in the pillow being the only clues left as to what we had done. I rolled to my side and inhaled deeply, caressing the warmth of the pillow. He had only left moments ago. Perhaps I was disappointed, but not surprised. I stretched and got up. When I pulled back the cover there were small marks of blood spotting the sheets, I felt strangely guilty when I muttered "Tergeo" and the traces of blood vanished. I pressed my palm to the now snow-white sheet. He would not want anyone to know, not even Wynny. I quickly got washed and dressed, then went down to the dining room.

Godric was the only one in there when I arrived.
"Morning Helga." he beamed and poured me a cup of tea.
"Morning Godric. Where are Rowena and Salazar?"
"Could have asked you the same question yesterday…" he said.
"I had things to attend to."
Godric began to butter a roll and then pulled a pot of honey over, "As do they, both of them are busy in the library."
"Already?" I asked.
"Aye, Rowena had time for breakfast, though she wolfed it down. Salazar only stopped in here for tea, then went on his way."

I frowned at that, I forever had to remind Rowena to eat when she became too busy with her studies. It was a part of our childhood I had grown up with, Rowena's mother often charged me with the duties of fetching Rowena from whatever chair she had found, and pulling her away from the book she was engrossed with, to eat. Godric laughed on seeing my expression.
"You can mother them in a moment, when you've eaten your own breakfast."
I rolled my eyes and he passed me the basket of warm rolls. Godric did not speak for a few moments, while I busied myself in buttering the rolls on my plate. He took a sip of tea and then turned back to me, his expression worried.
"What is it?" I asked.
Godric pinched the bridge of his nose, "There's been another spate of burnings and some attacks from wizards on muggles in the South, I…I am intending to go there and try to help in some way."
I put down my cup.
"Godric…" I began reproachfully, for he knew well the dangers such an undertaking would bring and the worry for the rest of us.
"I know what you will say, for Rowena has already said it: What can I do, I am one man amongst many? I will probably cause further damage; I dumbly risk my own life…etc, yet I cannot sit here and do nothing."

I bit my lip, of course we all wished to do something, but in the saving of one witch or wizard – even muggles mistaken for witches or wizards – often more were harmed or killed. Angry villagers would seek revenge on family, friends or neighbours. Vengeful witches and wizards made matters no better. I had been fortunate in finding the village of Caerleon, a rare place where muggles and wizards coexisted. There was occasional anger and frustration, particularly on our part if muggle-borns were forced from their homes. In the small school I had ran there were a few runaways and those who had been abandoned, but they tended to come from towns further away. There had never been a time of bloodshed. After all, the great wizard Merlin had hailed from there.

"Godric, you know it to be futile to rescue anyone from the stake or already held in gaol. It would further their wrath…"
His brow furrowed and he glared at the table, I got up and gently squeezed his shoulder, "Just try to bring the others to a place of safety and keep yourself safe."
He smiled at that and tenderly placed his hand on top of mine, "For your sake I will."
"Hogwarts needs all of its four founders." I said and Godric finished the roll on his plate and got up.
"When do you leave?" I asked.
"As soon as I am packed and able to."
I nodded, "If you need to use my house as a place of safety you can do so, but I shall send a note to Alys first and tell her what you intend."
Godric's smile returned and he seized my hand in his, he pressed it to his lips, "You are a goodly woman to have amongst us. God knows we would continually fight and argue were you not here."
I smiled, "Nay, Rowena would not accept fighting; it would distract her from her work."
Godric laughed at my joke, "Well I hope I shall return to your beef stew and thickly crusted bread, it is a favourite of mine. I will bid you all goodbye when I am ready." And with that he marched from the room.

I grabbed a scrap of parchment and a quill, quickly scribbling a note to Alys informing her of making up beds for the children and preparing a good amount of food, I said I would send them more should they need it. I made my way to the owlery and attached the note to my barn owl, Pollux.
"This needs to get to Alys, as quickly as you can. You know she likes being prepared." I gently stroked Pollux's feathers and he nibbled at my fingers affectionately before flying off through the window and up into the blue expanse of the sky. It was such a fair day it was hard to believe such hatred and anger had occurred. I sighed and turned to the door, Salazar stood there, he looked grim.
"Godric told you then?"
"Yes." I murmured, "I've sent a note to Alys telling her to prepare my house for an influx of guests." I smiled faintly at the weak jest. Salazar crossed the room and looked out of the window, his frown still etched on his face.

"My father will not have the scum in his house." he said so quietly I could have easily misheard his words. I decided I would not say anything; Salazar would already be in a foul mood in the death of good witches and wizards, yet he disliked being reminded many muggles would die beside our fellows. He turned round to look at me, I was still watching him.
"You begrudge me the sentiment." he said and came towards me, a faint smile on his lips. I could feel my eyes drawn to his lips, he had quite a full mouth and I felt a dawning ache in wanting to kiss them. I shrugged.
"You know I do, but we must agree to differ on this matter." I said.
He chuckled coldly at that, "You would seek agreement when we have none."
"Tis better that way or else we live in strife."
"Aye and you look very beautiful this morning."

He pressed his mouth to mine and I sank easily into the bliss of his rare affection. His arm captured my waist again and he pushed me back into the doorway. He trailed his mouth over my lips and neck, inhaling against the curve of my neck.
"You smell good. You smell of sex."
I bit my lip as desire lit in my belly again. Salazar knew that, despite the soreness between my legs, if he asked I would let him have me. He brought his kiss back up to my mouth and then smiled at me.
"But I am not as cruel as that. I will let you recover a little further." He rests his forehead against mine, "In this dark time you bring me some relief."
"Do not be angered." I begged. Salazar grunted in reply.

"You have not told Godric or Rowena about this?" he says a moment later.
"About what?"
He scowls, "What happened last night."
"No…Why, are you ashamed of it?" I felt a bubble of anger grow in my chest. He draws away from me and glares at me.
"Well thank you for thinking so little of me! Nay, I am just not one for vainly strutting around like a peacock, proudly declaring my conquests." His lip curled into a sneer, but then his face softened a little and he gently touched my cheek, "Will you blame me so for desiring to keep this between us? I am not ashamed of you Helga; I would not sleep with you if that were the case."
I rolled my eyes, "You are honest to a fault, when you decide to speak." I mutter, he smirked.
"Yes, I've been told that is a virtue of mine as well as a flaw. Am I pardoned for my secrecy?"
"Yes…I just wanted to be sure."
"Of what?"
"That I wasn't just some meaningless conquest."
His proud little smile returned, "Oh my Helga, you could never be that."

I left him after that, making my way down the long staircases to the library. Rowena was already seated by a desk, the wooden surface covered in a multitude of scrolls, books and Rowena's own notes. Rowena's head was bent, her quill busy scrawling across a piece of parchment and now and then she would mutter softly to herself. When she heard my footsteps she looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, Helga."
"Godiden." I replied and she laughed at the expression. Rowena was fond of strange sayings and she found it very amusing when I spoke Welsh to her. Her smile faded a little and she gestured to the seat beside her.
"Godric has gone to the South."
I nod, "Yes, he told me this morning. Witch-burnings." I shivered, "I just sent an owl to Alys, so she can prepare some rooms and food for them."
Rowena nodded, "Hogwarts will be used as well, would you be able to see to the Great Hall as a place for them to sleep?"
"Of course."

Rowena put down her quill and stretched, then reclined back in her chair.
"Salazar is in a foul mood, of course." she said. I nervously bit my lip and she gave a momentary puzzled frown, "Though less so than usual…I'd go so far to say he was practically mild mannered at breakfast, well at least until we heard the news from Gwaine."
"Is Gwaine safe?" I asked, glad I could change the subject so easily onto Godric's brother.
"Yes, the Gryffindors are rarely touched by these matters, though of course they're helping as many as they can."

We lapsed into silence; Rowena rolled her quill between her fingers. I smiled gently at her and was about to get up and pick up a book on Runes when she suddenly snapped her fingers and pointed at me.
"You're different too."
"Different?" I frowned, my hands smoothing down my dress.
Rowena nodded slowly, "Yes. Different…I don't know what it is, but there is something changed about you."
"What are you talking about?" I said, though regretted it slightly as it sounded defensive, "I'm not in any way changed."
She shrugged, "I don't know, I can just tell. You're different."
"Very well…"I muttered and picked up the small, leather bound book from the shelf. A rune intricately decorated the front cover and around the sides small runes were painted on in gold. I sat back down, though Rowena kept looking at me.
"Rowena, that's very distracting." I said. She gave a sigh and turned back to her own work, though now and then I felt her gaze drift towards me.