'Light to my Dark'
Please note that Old Norse is an ancient language, and translations can vary based on context and interpretation. Chapter Titles are also in lower case, as the language did not have capital letters, something that was introduced later in time.
'I, I feel so unkind.'
'And I think it will heal me to enter your mind.'
'I know that I'm numb.'
'And I think it will cure me to make you mine.'
'Take my broken parts and fix me now.'
'I can't feel a thing.'
'My heart isn't bleeding.'
'Believe me now.'
'I wanna know.'
'Replace my broken parts.'
'I need someone to fix me.'
'My heart won't heal;'
''Cause something's missing.'
'Machines don't bleed that easily.'
'Fix me now.'
'Replace my broken parts.'
Broken Parts - Smash Into Pieces
"What did the All-Father do to Icarus?" Helia asked in an almost hushed anticipation.
Helena's gaze grew distant as she continued to recount the tale, the fate of Icarus. "For his audacious attempt to steal the sun, He was cursed by the All-Father. Odin stripped Him of His celestial form and imprisoned Icarus within a mortal vessel; a man born of the very world He had so foolishly almost destroyed. By the day, He was to walk the world as a mortal, basking in Sol's light, yet never able to touch upon Her beauty."
"By night, however, Odin did gift back Icarus His celestial form. He would be able to turn back into the wolf He once was, though His mind was forever to be locked away from His beastly countenance. The All-Father had seen through Icarus' desire for the sun, and had decided to gift the wolf His most selfish of desires. Forever would Icarus be able to gaze upon Sol's radiant beauty, be able to bask within Her warming light. Though forever She was also to be out of His reach. His immortal form, His wolf, was forever to be locked away from His mortal shell, forever to be tied to the cycle of the moon."
Helia looked thoughtful, the girl pulling her hand away from her brother's so she could swipe away a riotous curl that had decided to try and poke her eye out. "It's like he flew too close and got burned," she murmured, another story the ten-year-old did so enjoy reading coming to mind.
Her mother smiled at her daughter's astute observation, giving in to the urge to roll her eyes when Lucius huffed and Helia beamed. "Indeed," she agreed before her son could say something to his sister about showing off. The rivalry between the pair was rather sweet at the best of times, Helena having managed to utilise it with not only their learning, but also just building upon the bond that they shared. Though she knew that there was also a lot of jealousy between the two, each having come into their own personalities despite being so close in both comparison and companionship. Never, if ever, did she see Helia without Lucius being somewhere nearby, and vice versa, and it had Helena wondering if they knew just how close their connection was.
"Just like Icarus and Daedalus," she continued, giving herself a mental shake as she got her mind back on track, "The tale of the wolf who dared to steal the sun serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the consequences of unchecked desire and the arrogance of challenging the natural order. Icarus Hróðvitnisson's punishment was a reflection of the All-Father's own commitment to the balance and unyielding power of His cosmic laws..."
"What is it, Mother?" Lucius asked worriedly as Helena trailed off, his sister siting silently at his side as she stared at their mother; chocolate brows furrowing as a contemplated look overtook her features.
"Mother," the ten-year-old brunette begun hesitantly, her eyes darting to her brother for a moment before returning to the seated witch before them. "W-what happened to Mani and Sol?" she asked. "You said He tried to stop Her, and that was what caused the eclipse. Though..." Helia trailed off as her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth, something of which her mother was quick to stop.
Helena clicked her tongue at her daughter in admonishment, though the witch shook her head at the same time, a smile reappearing on her lips. "The Day of Eternal Night was a time of great turmoil and conflict," she once more begun, returning to the deities who had begun her journey down memory lane. "Sol had been injured during the collision with Mani, and in His wisdom, They decided to descend to the Mortal Realm to protect Their powers and maintain the balance of Light and Dark; all the while giving Sol the time She needed to recover. They took human forms, disguising Their divine nature from those who would seek to use it against Them."
Lucius' grey eyes sparked with wonder. "Humans? Just like us?" he asked in disbelief, his young mind unable to comprehend why Gods would willingly choose to become mortal.
His mother could only nod her head, her smile growing in strength. "Yes, my dear. They lived among mortals, walking the Earth as Sol slowly healed, yet still ensuring that the Light and the Dark continued to remain in harmony. However, Their presence upon the Mortal Realm had consequences," she added, her smile slipping once more.
Lucius, however, only leaned in closer, entranced by the tale he was hearing. "Consequences?" he enquired, needing to know more. And his sister seemed to be in the same boat, Helia asking at the same time, "Mother, what happened next?" as the girl's features twisted in concern.
Their mother's gaze once more turned distant, as if she herself were peering into the very depths of history itself. "Their choice to walk amongst mortals was not without sacrifice. When Mani brought Sol to Earth, when They reappeared within the firmament and fell towards the world like fallen stars, He took it upon Himself and turned Them mortal; still tied to the cycle that was Light and Dark, yet now forever imprisoned within Their human façade; Mani's love for His sister, Sol, being far great that the very heavens weren't enough to keep Him from Her side."
Helia felt her heart ached for the Gods, unbelieving that in trying to save His sister, both Mani and Sol had been trapped by Mani's noble decision.
It just didn't seem fair!
Helena continued, her voice taking on an edge of finality as her gaze returned to the present. "But Their sacrifice was not in vain, for not only did Mani's decision ensure the survival of His sister, but that of our world. And as your ancestors, They have walked the world, passing down Their divine blood through the ages, through our lineage. And because of that, it is our duty to protect the balance of Light and Dark, just as They did."
The twins exchanged a solemn glance, their hearts suddenly heavy with the weight of their heritage. Though Helena softened her voice as she placed a gentle hand on each of her children's heads, drawing them from their thoughts.
"Remember, my darlings, you are the descendants of Gods. The legacy of Sol and Mani flows through your veins. Embrace your destiny, any may you always find your balance between the Light and the Dark."
Malfoy Estate
Morning of Samhain - 31st of October 1976
Seven Years Later...
Amidst the rolling hills and ancient oaks of the Malfoy Estate, a young woman wandered, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves that blanketed the forest floor. Her chocolate-brown curls glimmered like fine silk; her face as flawless as it was pale, and even at seventeen, Helia Malfoy was known throughout the Wizarding World for her ethereal beauty - a somewhat striking contrast to the supposed darkness that did hang over her family.
The Malfoy Family was old, ancient even, with roots entwined with only the most darkest aspects of wizarding history. They had long been servants of that Dark, however their power and wealth had been built upon the responsibilities and foundations of Dark Magic; and the sinister alliances that came with it. Helia's own father, Abraxas Malfoy, was a formidable figure, the epitome of what a 'true' follower of the Dark should be, his influences reaching far and wide within the wizarding community. But there was more to their heritage - or at least Helia's heritage than met the eye.
The brunette was different from her father, from the Malfoy side of her family in a way not widely known - if at all. Her heart had not been consumed by the Dark that seemed to infect their very souls, and she longed for something more, something beyond the responsibilities and confines of the Malfoy legacy.
As she continued to let her mind wander, her feet took her deeper into the forest than she had ever ventured before. Ancient trees loomed overhead, their branches creating a labyrinthine canopy that filtered the sunlight into nothing more than shimmering shards of solar-warmth. It was a place where the very boundaries between magic and reality seemed to blur. And yet Helia took none of this beauty in as she continued on her way.
Her thoughts were consumed instead by the questions that had haunted her for years.
Was there really more to life than the pursuit of power, of wealth and dominance?
Could there really be goodness and Light in a world where the Dark seemed to reign forever supreme?
The witch was determined to find answers, and she often sought solace in these woods while in pursuit of such things since her mother's passing. For here, amongst the ancient oaks and hidden glens, Helia felt closer to her legacy - a legacy of kindness, compassion, and love. Though it was also one that her brother, Lucius, so often seemed to forget in his relentless pursuit of their father's approval.
Helia had always taken more after her mother, be it her looks or her heart yearning for a world where darkness did not dominate every corner of the world. She knew that people often tended to forget that she was even a part of the Malfoy family - Lucius' twin sister being mostly dismissed as impossible at their best because she bore little resemblance to her brother and father. Wherein Lucius was the spitting image of Abraxas, with the same sharp features and icy demeanour, Helia's resemblance to their mother was uncanny. Yet, it was something the witch cherished, the reminder of the goodness that could still exist in their bloodline revealed to her every time she took a glance in a mirror or caught her reflection on the pane of a glass window, and it caused a warm smile to appear on her lips each time.
As she walked deeper into the forest, Helia's mind continued to drift, and her steps grew almost trance-like as she lost herself to her thoughts. The silence of the woods enveloped her, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird. She often found solace in this solitude, away from the expectations and demands of her family.
However, today was different.
Today, she felt an unusual energy in the air, a subtle shift in the very makeup of the woods. It were as if the very forest was trying to communicate with her, urging her to continue her journey deeper into its heart - all the while Helia let her mind drift to what her own heart was sorely missing.
Unbeknownst to Helia, and on that very same day, another figure prowled the edges of Malfoy Estate; a young man of whom was on the precipice of making what he felt to be the most important decision of his life.
He was a loyal servant of the Dark, his fanaticism bordering on madness, and it had made him such easy prey for one Dark Lord Voldemort; a soon-to-be-prominent wizard who wished nothing more for the young man to serve him.
Though he found himself torn, his mind shattered, and his allegiance twisted.
He'd been hiding, and he knew it was cowardly.
But with his presence concealed by the most powerful enchantments he could create (or what little money he had could buy), he had been tracking the youngest Malfoy twin for what felt like weeks, having been drawn to her by a mysterious force he couldn't quite explain.
There was something about the brown-haired witch that both intrigued and unnerved the dark-haired male, an aura of purity that surrounded her - and completely clashed with everything he'd been taught about the Malfoy's been servants of the Dark.
As Helia continued her solitary journey through her family's estate, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Her senses were on high alert, her instincts warning her of an unseen presence, and it was enough to pull her from her thoughts.
A sleek, ebony wand slipped into her hand, brown eyes searching - seeking the cause that had the fine hairs on the back of her neck raising in depths of the woods before her. And it was then that their paths converged, two souls on a collision course with destiny as Helia followed a bend in the trail; the witch turning a corner in the forest and stumbling across him.
He was a gaunt lad, his dark hair wild and his amber eyes piercing. And as he stepped out of the shadows and into the light, his very presence sent a shiver trickling down Helia's spine.
For a moment, the pair simply stared at each other, almost as if a silent, yet unknown understanding had been passed between them. It was as if they recognised something in the other, a glimmer of humanity in a world that was consumed by nothing but the Dark.
The young man was the first to break his silence, his voice low and raspy with disuse as he cocked his head to the side. "Who are you, girl?"
Like that, whatever spell Helia had found herself under, it was broken. The grip she had on her wand tightened at the demanding, demeaning question, indignation igniting a fire deep within her whiskey-brown eyes. However, her fury died just as quick as it came, curiosity replacing it with something... more.
"I could ask you the same question," the seventeen-year-old stated, her shoulders squaring. "What are you doing on my family's estate? The party does not start till this eve."
The laugh that passed the man's pale, pink lips was bitter, completely devoid of mirth, all the while his eyes traversed their way up and down Helia's form. "Your family's estate," he mocked. "You a Malfoy, then?"
Helia's eyes narrowed, yet she still gave a sharp nod in reply. "Yes, I am. Though I don't see how that matters. I'm not the one currently trespassing."
Ignoring the words coming out of the teen's mouth, the dark-haired male took a step closer to her, his amber eyes never leaving her face as they seemed to seek something only they knew. "You're different from them, aren't you?" he suddenly asked, a surprised look overcoming his features before he took a step back.
His question was unexpected and it had Helia blinking in surprise.
"I can sense it," he continued, a frown pulling at his lips as he continued to stare. "Yo-you're the light to their dark. The sun to their moon."
Helia froze, shock momentarily overtaking her body at the fact that this man - wizard had clearly seen what so many did not. Yet, and again, the sensation passed as quickly as it had come, and she was quick to reply, her voice soft but resolute as her wand and hand fell back to her side.
"I am no light," she dismissed. "Though... I am also no servant of the Dark, either."
"You stand against their beliefs, or their darkness?" the man questioned, confusion pulling what the seventeen-year-old had originally believed to be raven brows, yet now discovered to be dark-brown ridges together on his forehead.
The witch's lip curled at his question. "I do not share in their beliefs or their darkness," she corrected, and caused a strange mixture of emotions to pass across the wizard's features - almost as if there were a war raging within him.
"Darkness is all there is," he retorted firmly after a moment, jaw becoming set. "It's the only truth."
Helia just shook her head, her brown curls cascading around her shoulders like a golden waterfall under the shimmering light of the morning sun. "I don't believe that," she stated with a wrinkle of her nose. "There is always light within the world, even if it's hidden beneath the layers of selfish beliefs and dark desires.
Amber bore into whiskey-brown, and for a moment it seemed as though something had shifted within the young man before the girl. He reached out with a trembling hand, his fingers brushing ever so gently against the soft, porcelain flesh of Helia's cheek. It was a gesture so tender, so out of place in the world they both inhabited, that it took the witch entirely by surprise; stealing away what little breath had been within her lungs.
"Who are you?" the wizard repeated his original question. Though this time his voice was filled with a mixture of wonder and despair, and Helia could do nothing but watch with unconcealed fascination as his hand fell back to her side, the witch barely able to stop herself from investigating the place he had touched upon her face with her own.
She dragged her eyes upwards and away from the fallen limb, meeting its owner and sought something within his amber eyes, something that she hadn't a clue to be.
"I'm Helia. Helia Malfoy," she told him after a pause. "And you?"
The young man's pale lips twisted into a bitter smile, and out of the corner of her eye, Helia swore she saw his hand twitch before it curled into a fist - almost as though he had wanted to reach out and touch her once more. She wasn't certain as to why she was disappointed when he didn't, her cheek still feeling unusually warm despite the absence of the limb that had placed that heat there. Though as she watched the wizard instead taking a step away and backwards as he shook his head, a part of her wanted to follow - and that confused and startled her even more.
"Me? I'm no-one," the man told her. "Just one of the many shades of grey lost within the world's darkened sea."
It was an encounter that hung in the balance, a fragile moment within Fate's infinite web wherein two souls touched and something irrevocable would shift. Though Helia Malfoy had no way of knowing the depths of darkness that consumed the man in front of her, just exactly what shade of grey he believed he was. And nor did she know of the horrors that had been committed in the name of his twisted beliefs.
However, and in this fleeting, precariously tender moment in time, the witch could not deny that there was some kind of connection between them; a glimmer of hope or sparkle of light that defied the very world that threatened to engulf them both with its views. It was a moment that would haunt the young woman for many moons to come, its memory taking up her mind as she tries to navigate through a world wherein good and evil were not always as they appeared to be.
Though it was also a moment that left her with many unanswered questions, as, and before another word could be uttered by either of them, Barty Crouch Jr turned on his heel and disappeared back in the direction he had come; the wizard never once looking back to meet the whiskey-brown eyes that continued to stare long after he was gone.
Helia's young eyes gleamed with fascination. "And what about Hati and Sköll, Mother? What happened to them?"
Helena sighed; her gaze distant once more. "Hati and Sköll were relentless in their pursuit, but the Day of Eternal Night was their downfall as well. With Mani and Sol absent, they lost their purpose. The All-Father, fearing their havoc, imprisoned them as well, bound to chase phantoms in the In-Between."
Lucius pondered the implications of the story. "So, there are beings that exist beyond the Light and Dark, in the realms between?" he questioned curiously.
"Indeed, my son. There are forces that defy categorization, like Mani and Sol, who became the first known Immortals, and others like Hati and Sköll, who remain forever bound in the shadows of the In-Between. The balance of the cosmos depends on these unseen forces, my dears."
Helia head slowly begun to nod, a newfound understanding beginning to take flight within her mind. "And just like Icarus was supposed to teach us, Odin did in his stead, proving that even in the darkest of times, there can be beauty and balance; even if that balance hadn't been initially as he'd thought."
Helena smiled, her love for her children shining through. "Yes, my clever one. The All-Father's lesson of Icarus and his brethren should be remembered for always. Life is not merely about choosing between light and dark. Sometimes, it's about finding your place in the In-Between, where you can be a force of balance and harmony, even if no one is there to see it."
