Chapter 11

Elizabeth

FITTTZZWWWIIILLLIIIAM WHHATTT ARRREEE WEEEEEE DDOOIINNNGGGG HEREEEE????? I think as my body shook from the freezing cold.

I had to take us somewhere no one would think to find us.

And that would be? I am more than a little ticked to be in such deep snow. I love the outside, but being out in this kind of insane cold has never been an enjoyment of mine. I quickly do a spell to protect our clothes from getting further soaked and make sure we are completely dry. Then I put a warming spell in us both from within, so our body heat will remain at normal temperature. At the same time, I noticed sturdy winter boots appear on my feet and matching ones that now encase Darcy's feet. Thank you for that.

Thank you for the warmth. He smiles at me sweetly.

He is walking us towards somewhere specific. As if he has been here in this frozen wasteland before. I have no idea how he can tell where he is going. All I can see everywhere I look is white.

I truly hate to repeat myself sir, but can you please enlighten me where we are? I say through clenched teeth trying hard not to get frustrated. Not knowing the plan is making me very uneasy. As I am the one who usually makes the plans, following behind quietly is not a skill of mine.

We are in the Himalayas. He says while creating a fireball that he hovers in front of him to help be able to see. The snow is so heavy, it's hard to see one foot in front of the other. His hand is gripped tightly on mine. Without it I would have been lost long ago.

I stop abruptly at his news. Which causes him to stop and look back at me in concern. The Himalayas? The tallest mountains on earth? We truly are here now? All traces of frustration are gone, but replaced with fascination. I have read of the wonders of the tall peaks and heard stories from my Aunt Maddie, but never imagined I would behold it with my own two eyes.

His face lit up at my excitement. I am glad you are amused. His home is around here somewhere. I would transport us, but he moves his home around all the time. I can't be precise on where to land.

He says intriguing me even more on exactly where we were going. Suddenly I see bursts of yellow and orange peeking through the thick white sheets of snow. A few more steps towards it we noticed a small shack glowing bright amongst the white. Before we are close enough to knock on the door an apparition hovers before us. He was an old man with a long white beard that became very thin towards the end. He looked us both over and smiled appreciatively, but then just as quickly held out his palm in a battle stance ready to strike if we take another step.

"Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth- I see you finally found your way to each other. But before I let you come into my home, I must make sure you are who you say you are."

Darcy nods in understanding. I hesitate a moment with my agreement, intrigued that this man knows my name. He seems so familiar but I have no recollection of meeting him.

"Elizabeth, we have never met, so you can stop racking your brain trying to remember me. To gain entrance, you both must answer a question correctly."

He then looked towards Darcy. "Fitzwilliam on your 8th birthday I gave you a present, I told you to hide it in a very specific spot. Please tell me where that was now."

Darcy smiled at the man in remembrance "Under the fourth floor board in my closet towards the outer wall."

"Very good. You may enter, son." Darcy nodded his head but looked towards me. Waiting till I was ready to accompany him.

"She will be along soon Fitzwilliam, please go in." Darcy hesitated again, but then started to open the door. "And don't try tapping into our conversation, for you are well aware both of us will know."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. He definitely knew for sure that I would know. We watched him fully enter the shack and turned back towards each other.

"Now onto you Elizabeth. When you were 10 years old you visited your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. At that time they were still living in what town?" He looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

"Lambton. I'll be honest sir, I thought my question would be a lot more complicated than that." I say with my own eyebrow raised challengingly.

"Oh dear Elizabeth, we have just started." The old man winked and smirked at me. I immediately felt a connection to him, there was something so familiar about him. He says we haven't met before, but the sound of his voice and even his scent is so familiar to me. "Now the trickier questions, during that visit you fell out of a tree and were unconscious for how long?"

I look at him with wide eyes. At this point I shouldn't be amazed by this strange man knowing me so thoroughly but I am still shocked by it. "Three days." I barely croak it out. So intrigued over this man.

"Yes. Three days. During that time, you had a frightening dream. Can you tell me about it?"

I immediately felt my breath leave me. How did he know about that dream? I have told no one about that dream, not even Papa or Jane. I hid it from my thoughts immediately so no one would ever find it. I stare at the old wizard in complete shock with my mouth open wide.

"Elizabeth, you must tell me. Please." He put his hand on my arm and I noticed he was no longer an apparition, it was the true wizard himself standing before me. I guess he knew I needed to fully see him in the flesh to trust him.

I nod my head and try to find the words to begin. "In my dream... I saw a small golden ball of light before me. As I floated towards it, it became larger. As I stood right in front of it and held it in my hands the light encased me. I was surrounded by the gleaming gold light. I felt powerful, as if I could perform any spell, take down any Mage. Then suddenly the golden light turned black." I stopped to take a breath. I could feel the fear of the dream creep into my being once again. I noticed his nod in understanding, urging me to continue. "The black surrounded me fully. It felt like I was in a box. It was pitch black, with no way out. I felt my self beginning to hyperventilate." My breath was shaky trying to get the words out.

"But then you saw something in the corner." He looked at me pleadingly to go on. I nod my head.

"Yes, I could see a ripple at the corner. So I went towards it and touched the corner and the whole black box rippled at my touch. I immediately knew I could bust out, but still was unable to. Then I heard someone speak." I hesitated but looked towards the wizard, piecing together why his voice was so familiar. "It was you. You spoke to me."

"Yes my dear child. And what did I say?"

"Alone I am powerful, but will never break through. But together our powers are unfathomable and unstoppable." I look at him trying to think through his words with new understanding.

"Exactly. You may enter." Before I can question him, he was already in the shack.

Darcy

It felt like hours as I waited for the Professor and Elizabeth to enter the home. I could faintly see them outside. When I first entered the small home, the Professor and his wife had been sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea. A scene I had encountered multiple times over the years. After sitting down to tea with them for about a quarter hour, the Professor excused himself and joined Elizabeth fully outside. It must have been serious for his whole countenance to be needed with her.

Suddenly Fitz's words filled my thoughts.

Darce, we all are safe at the Capitol. Lots to inform you when we have more time. Are you both ok?

Thank you Fitz for letting us know. That is a true relief to hear. I will let Elizabeth know, though I am sure one of her sisters is informing her now. We are safe too. We will join you soon, but we will be delayed for a bit. We are gaining knowledge on how to defeat the Dark Mage that is after us.

Very good. Stay safe cousin.

Same to you Fitz. Oh Fitz, please give Georgie a hug for me.

Will do. She is being entertained by the Bennet sisters as we speak.

Should I be worried?

Not at all, she is enjoying them immensely. I think it's just what she has needed after… well you know.

I do indeed. Very good. Thank you for not only watching over my sister, but Elizabeth's sisters as well.

Good day cousin

Good day Fitz

Not too long after, I felt Elizabeth's fear rise and knew I needed to help her.

She is alright Fitzwilliam. Give her time. We will enter soon. The Professor's words echoed in my mind. Calming me down. But I was still agitated about what was causing her pain. I trusted the Professor above anyone else and knew Elizabeth was safe with him, but I still wanted to be by her side and help her through.

I looked up at the Professor's wife, her name was Patricia. She was a saint of a woman to put up with the Professor and all his crazy antics. She seemed purely sweet. She never spoke to me. Only smiled and offered tea and biscuits. I wondered if she was unable to speak at all, since I have never heard her voice. But I know the Professor and her could speak together telepathically. He would often talk to her out loud as well, offering me parts of their conversation.

Needing more answers I tried to speak to her telepathically, but there was nothing. I even tried to just read her mind. But still there was nothing. Interesting.

As I was lost in these thoughts, we saw the door open and our companions walked in.

Elizabeth

I followed the old man into his tiny home. I saw Fitzwilliam sitting at a table with a cup of tea. He immediately rose and came towards me, taking my hands in his.

Are you ok? I was so worried. I could feel your fear. I felt his concern wrap around me like a warm hug.

Yes. I am fine. Still very confused. But I am well.

"And we shall answer all your questions now. Well most of them, we will leave a few unanswered. Where's the fun in it if we don't leave you hanging a little longer." Darcy shook his head at the man's ridiculousness. I couldn't help it though his unique ways made me smile.

I then noticed a lady with her back to us working on something in the kitchen close by. She then turned and held a tea tray out with fresh tea. She smiled sweetly at me and I gasped. She looked identical to my Aunt Maddie but about 30 years older.

"Yes my dear girl, we are your Aunt Madeleine's parents." I almost feel stupid for not peiceing it together from the beginning. For it was my Aunt Maddie who always told me about her parents adventures in The Himalayas.

At the same time I heard Darcy choke on his tea in shock. Which was a relief in a way. That I wasn't the only one that did not know of this strange connection we all had.

"I can not believe I am finally meeting you, I have heard stories all my life of your travels and wild adventures." I take the tea from Aunt Maddie's mom and thank her with a nod.

"Same with you Elizabeth, Maddie has been telling us since you were born of your extraordinary talents." My cheeks redden at the praise. Especially from such an amazing Mage. "We are thankful you both finally found each other, we have been waiting for your match to be made for a long time." He says nodding towards Aunt Maddie's mom. She nods with a huge smile agreeing with him.

"I do apologize, but I have never been told your names. You were always referred to as Mamma and Papa from my Aunt Maddie."

"You are welcome to call us that as well, for you have been like another daughter to us over the years. We have watched you so closely. But if you would like, my name is Adam and this is Patricia. Fitzwilliam here calls me Professor. Though don't be confused, I have never taught professionally." He says looking at Darcy quizzically with a quirky smile on his face.

"When I first met him he bestowed on me so much knowledge of Mage's and magic of all kinds I just assumed he was a professor. I was quite shocked he was not at all." Darcy smiled at Adam and then at me.

"Ok you two, enough chit chat, it is time to get down to business. Now I know why you are here and who is after you. Though I don't believe you know that fully. But anyhow, Fitzwilliam please tell us now what was in that gift I gave you when you were 8." I noticed him tense up, similar to how I felt when Adam knew of my disturbing dream. "I know I told you never to share it with anyone, but as you know you can trust me and my wife. You can also trust your Soulmate fully."

"Please know Elizabeth I trust you fully, I just have kept it so close to me for so long. It was just a surprise to hear him say that." I nod with a small smile, pleading with him to continue. "It had a piece of paper in it that read 'Alone I am powerful, but will never break through. But together our powers are unfathomable and unstoppable.'" I let out an uncontrollable gasp as the familiar words tumbled out of Darcy's mouth. He looked at me in confusion.

"Go on, Elizabeth. Please share with him." Adam said nodding his head towards Darcy.

"When I was 10, I had a terrible dream, at the end of it I heard those very words spoken." He looked at me even more confused and then we both looked towards Adam, praying he would now explain.

"Listen you both are powerful Mages, but you are nothing by yourself. I wanted you to learn and understand that at a young age. But also it was leading to this time in your life now. Something is coming that is bigger than any of us. It is a dark force that can only be stopped by the two of you together. You have to trust each other fully. Learn to fight together. Now I can sense the love and admiration between the two of you, but if you want to fully defeat this Dark Mage you have to be as if you are one Mage moving and breathing together. Weaving your magic together fully. Now let's get to work." He winked at us both, then clapped his hands together in excitement.

Author's Note:

Just wanted to say thank you again for all the favorites, follows and reviews. You guys are truly awesome. I appreciate every one of them! I got so excited when I hit 100 followers, I had to screenshot it to show my husband. Ha.

I did want to answer one guest reviewer who wondered why if Elizabeth was one of the most powerful Mage's, how she could not defeat Collins. The reason is because he was using Dark Magic, and she was unable to defeat Dark Magic... that is up till now :)