After being stuck on her research for months and almost falling into acute desperation, Rowena started to make progress after a curious dream. A voice talked to her in a space that looked like a forest but had water puddles that allowed a glimpse into different worlds. Narnia and her own world included.
She knelled and scoped up some of the dirt on the ground, and water from the two puddles… waking up with questions rather than answers, and she really had the scare of her life when she laid eyes on the inconspicuous pouch filled with dirt and the two little glass bottles with clear water on her nightstand. What on earth? So, her dream had been real.
After getting her hands on such precious resources, her research advanced exponentially. Fearing shed be left without then and rationalizing she couldn't go to that place just with wishing it. So she reached a clever decision. These materials could gather and store her magic. She could always save a little bit of it. Keep it close to her hearth.
She searched the artisan that made her diadem and asked a special favor, he had the man designing a locket. So she could have a speck of dirt and a drop of water on each side of it.
And she also asked him to incorporate a little compartment in her diadem, maybe these elements could react with her powers and allow her more freedom in her world travelling, right?
When the moment of truth arrived, she looked herself up in a cellar. She just asked for a mirror and a bucked with water, if the servants found their request to be weird, they didn't voice it, everyone was used to her antics now. No one was dumb enough to question their queen in the middle of her research.
Not even their king.
She laid her hand on top of the mirror focusing her magic on the locket and the diadem and recreating and image of their home in her head.
Then she opened her eyes and found the mirror projected a clear picture of Helga´s inn instead of her reflection. But something wasn't right, even if that was a village, people passed by frequently, she was staring at what looked like a ghost town.
What had happened in their absence? Had it been centuries? She was worried.
Before she could fret anymore about it, the image flickered and she was staring at a sleeping Hengist. The boy was safe. But where?
This was enough to peer into another world. But it had to be enough to travel in between world so she could label it as a success.
She wouldn't settle for less.
…
They all stared in awe at her display, how the diadem flew from her grasp and floated in the middle of the clearing reflecting the moonlight. They were fascinated. Only Rowena could've pulled this. The brightest witch of their generation indeed. Even if they weren't known yet, they will be. Their school will stand and be a safe haven for everyone, this was just the start.
_ I understand if you want to go back now. I won't be able to join you since I can't let Rilian behind. It's too soon for us to join you on the other side. And I don't know how that's going to be received by his advisors. They didn't take it well when they found out about us being magic users. - Rowena said, meeting their eyes one on one and holding onto Rilian´s hand for support.
_ We certainly want to go back, but that can wait. I believe you're just finishing the experimental phase with this, even if we trust you, we should wait before putting this to test. - Godric stared open mouthed at Salazar after that declaration, Helga as well. Rilian just had eyes for Rowena who was… laughing.
_ Just say you like Narnia and you want to stay, it's easier. If you guys won't mind waiting for another doorway back to our world you're welcome to stay until that happens. I'll have more time to develop this portal and join you even if you leave before me. - Rowena finally felt more at ease. She won't be losing anyone any time soon, she had her door.
…
Salazar had his design ready, a private chamber that will be hidden in plain sight were Hela could be held safely within the castle. He loved her creation and pet dearly and he won't abandon her it didn't matter what the others thought, Hela won't harm a fly without his orders or his descendants. Finally, happy with his plans, he stored the parchment in a safe place.
Godric was even more obnoxious than Rowena and Helga. The man couldn't be reasoned with. Anyone that could be bought or persuaded by non-magical people shouldn't be allowed in the school, they had to see reason, he won't have his students placed in jeopardy for their utopic dreams of freedom and salvation. They were facing monsters that looked like them, the threat was real. And he had to take his precautions. Blood wards were out of the questions since they looked at him with scorn when he suggested such a thing.
The castle will be their joint possession and it they were that biased against blood wards he really couldn't do it. They were… drifting away from him.
He found solace and understanding with people he meets in Narnia even if they were wary of magic, from dwarfs and noblemen from Narnia, Archenland and even Calormen (some of them were salvageable from their rotten lot). They understood his fears. It was a shame they could go back and forth between worlds more than once a month. That if they didn't want to be missing from their world for a year or more.
That was bittersweet and such a disappointment for Rowena, she still researched the door, she wanted the best of both worlds and he really could relate to her ambition and drive. He was like that whenever he wanted something too. But she really should just conform with what she had. He knew where and when to draw the line.
But she wanted to bring Rilian into their world and for that to happen she had to discover how to travel in between worlds with more flexibility, there was no way Rilians´s advisors would allow him to leave Narnia for a month., less of all without an heir.
…
There was a secondary effect that came with going back and forth between worlds as frequently as she wanted and she didn't want anyone realizing it, she tried and failed to control her erratic heartbeat and fell to the ground of the cellar with a gasp.
She couldn't subject Rilian to this. Her friends will be safe from this because they respected the set boundaries to use her portal. But she wanted more, something drove her to keep trying besides everything.
Drowning the potion quickly, she left the cellar and went to find her husband. Hogwarts construction was going smoothly and she couldn't ask for more, Godric found some of the best artisans and cooperated with manual labor. Helga was hell-bent on the gardens and the kitchen and she commandeered obedience with just a look. The castle was taking shape and it was magnificent. She loved it, the possibility of teaching everyone and exchange ideas and also help people while she did what she loved, that's the reason she wanted to perfect that portal so badly, she didn't want to quit to anything.
She was Rilian´s wife and Narnia´s queen, but she was also Rowena Ravenclaw of Hogwarts and she had a mission, shed be dammed if she lost her chances to change the world.
…
Without Rowena to balance their tempers, conflicts ensued. Godric and Salazar butted heads and Helga couldn't really keep the peace without help to balance their tempers. She really couldn't hope to keep them together without Rowena being more present in the school but she really didn't want to ask that of her. she had it difficult as it was.
It was their first year and they handpicked their students, Godric wanted the bravest and Salazar just accepted heirs from known magical families and ran a background check of every student, he won't budge in that or in not accepting students that came from non-magical families in his house, and really, he was a founder and had equal rights, they couldn't force him to do anything he really didn't want to do. They had to live with his choices even if they didn't approve, that was important to him and it didn't matter how much he and Godric butted heads, he won't budge. Slytherin students were polite to students of the other houses, but they clearly didn't want to relate with anyone that had ties to non- magical people and there was little to nothing Helena or Godric could do to have Salazar change that rule. It was a set rule that Slytherin students shall not form ties or close relationship with half-bloods or those born to non- magical parents.
Rowena picked those who loved to spent their day drowning in books and shared her infinity curiosity within them, she did so because she wanted to teach people who really loved and thirsted for knowledge and… they could fend for themselves for months at a time with just her directions from whenever she happened to be in the castle or the notes she left for Helga to pass onto them when she saw fit. That left her free so she could pursue her other interests. Those being, her private research and her duties to Narnia.
She gave birth to a son while they were building the school and they all went to Narnia to know him since they really didn't want to test the portal with a child that young and… Narnians weren't about to allow their recently born prince to be whisked away somewhere, it didn't matter if the Queen lived there half of the time.
William was a really quiet baby, he stayed asleep on his mother while she read most of the time and he enjoyed gurgling and staring up at Rilian with wide innocent eyes when they spent their day together.
Rowena had a hard time whenever she had to leave Narnia, her son grew by leaps and bounds and she thought it was just yesterday that he was lying in her arms, now he crawled on the floor and she worried about the stone floor hurting him, she ran after him hexing the stones so they will be harmless and everyone laughed at her worried efforts. Rilian assured her he had crawled and walked on those stones when he was a toddler and he was perfectly healthy.
She was also worried about William showing any sign of accidental magic.
So far, he was just like any other toddler and every maidservant and guest adored the little prince.
She dreaded her upcoming trip. William´s first birthday marked the promise she made. She had to go to Hogwarts, Helga really couldn't deal with Salazar and Godric squabbling over the tiniest detail. This was escalating to a level she feels ill prepared to control or mediate. Rowena had to go.
Rilian couldn't go with her. she had to leave her son and husband behind. And she certainly wasn't happy about it. But it seemed Carlormen was stirring trouble in Archenland and… he couldn't abandon their friends and allies, she understood that consciously, but she really was excited about her husband finally knowing their school. Her disappointment could barely be covered and she struggled to maintain her façade. It seemed there was always something…she vanished the though before it could settle, she didn't want to resent her husband, she had married him knowing he had to prioritize Narnia´s wellbeing and if that interfered in their plans she had to understand and make do. Rilian loved her.
He had been nothing but perfect.
…
Helga knew something was wrong as soon as she laid eyes on Rowena, she had lost weight and had this melancholic air around her… also, she came alone when she had told them that maybe this time Rilian could come with her and they had prepared accordingly, she´d have to ask the house elves to be quick and discreet about rearranging her bed chamber so she wouldn't feel sad looking at the suite and feel Rilian´s absence.
Luckily Salazar and Godric agreed on a truce due to her return and she was happy to see them, alright. Even if they hadn't it didn't take a genius to notice something wasn't right; Rowena needed to laugh and they all made a silent agreement, they will help their friend and bury their hatchet. For now, at least.
_ How are my students? - she asked, looking at their friends hoping to receive some "professional" feedback. Well, chaos ensued.
_ We had to threaten to actually ban them from the library and to take away all of their books so they won't skip meals. - Godric jested. Helga laughed behind her goblet and even Salazar smiled a little.
_ Oh come on you! As if your students are any better with fencing and dueling. One might think that it will be nearly impossible to have the hall in order for meals. Some of the damage done to the walls and floors on those sessions took ages to repair- Helga despaired.
_ Be that as it may, they´re hardly a handful and the same cannot be said about your lot. What was the last prank they pulled again? My ears are still ringing from listening in some of Helga´s reprimand that they worked so hard to earn.
Rowena just laughed it off, specially looking at Helga´s reaction being reminded of it. Godric looked sheepish and Salazar was amused as hell, probably the reason why he brought it up in the first place.
_ I see things are going smoothly. I better go and see my lot. I´ll see you all in the Hall, later. - Rowena said, smiling at then and making her way to Ravenclaw´s tower. It felt god to be back, even if her family had to stay behind again. Someday not too far in the future they might be reunited under Hogwarts starry dining Hall.
