A/N Have a short and intimate chapter!

I wanted to comment about the review on Medallion about Jennifer and Harry; in the Christmas chapters, it's stated that Jennifer was going on leave to "play Auror" and "work with Harry". In other words, they knew going in who each other was, and it's subtle, but they also spend that whole disguise section covering up one another's mistakes anytime they fell out of character (such as when she kept reminding"Charles" that his wife works at the museum.)

Chapter Four

Due Process

The third story bedroom suite was large with a large tilted window to let in the breeze, a cozy fireplace and a handy set of low cabinets with a counter to set things on. It even had a very small ice cabinet, which Sirius told them had after Mitch and John occupied the room.

As promised, Bres found a couple of translated books waiting for him on the counter. After getting assistance from his wife to figure out how to run the bath, he was soon changed for the evening and settled in to look over the books, taking the time to inspect the cloth cover, the pages and the ribbing, curious to what techniques were used to make it.

Bres decided to get into his satchel and pull out a journal, then had to go downstairs to inquire on what was best to write with. By the time Lunette was out of her bath, he was settled at a small desk, attempting to chronicle everything he had experienced so far.

"You're not going to be up late writing again, are you?" Lunette said knowingly, then tested the bed. Pleasantly surprised at its quality, she eagerly dove under the covers, her exhaustion quickly catching up with her.

"I also want to look at the tomes that Lord Severus lent me, but I want to record my day first," Bres insisted.

"Bres, just call him Severus, or if you must use a title, call him Professor. He's only a Lord in your world. He isn't one here," Lunette reminded him with a yawn.

Bres pondered that.

"I should probably make a list of everyone I've met and the differences in what they're called here as opposed to home," Bres decided, wondering how many pages he should dedicate to that.

"Good idea. Start with me, since I'm called Lunette here, or Vallid. Or Counselor Vallid," Lunette said, waving the window open a bit more to enjoy the damp air.

"In many ways, that is the hardest of all," Bres admitted, writing it down. "It is Princess Islene that I married, and Islene that I go to bed with."

"Good idea. Go to bed," Lunette said, pulling the covers over her neck.

"No, no, there is too much I might forget. I need to get it all down. Go ahead and rest," Bres insisted. He never got a response; Lunette was already fast asleep.

This was the time of day that Bres liked the best; the quiet after a very long day, when he could concentrate solely on his work. Or perhaps not so quiet, he mused, his long ears twitching ever so slightly. Could there be a more blissful sound than the soft tap of a gentle rain? It came in just as the sun was setting, encouraging them to call it a day. Most of the guests had gone home, leaving only Sirius, Anna, Zoe, and three children; Aubrey Lynn, Samantha Black, and Serendipity Snape.

Bres heard Anna getting them settled into their rooms, and footsteps on the stairs. He heard the soft chatter of a people that Sirius called Trade Elves, who helped maintain the house and looked after the family. And he heard strange creatures hooting, cooing, or scritching and scampering, untroubled by the rain, mixed with the occasional crackle of embers from the fire that was just enough to keep off the chill from the weather.

He worked fervently yet meticulously to write down every detail, leaving room in the margins for questions he had along the way. Finally feeling as if he had written as much as he could without having his questions answered, he got up and fetched the books, deciding he would prefer to read comfortably in bed. He disrobed and slipped quietly into bed so as not to disturb his wife, but moved the lantern closer so he could read. He decided the best tactic would be to look for the passages about his people first to see what to expect, before then starting at the beginning and reading them all the way through to have a more contextual understanding.

But when he opened the book, he was quite amazed at the strange writing in front of him. It was so small! It was so exact! Every letter was perfectly formed and looked like the rest. Was it the translation charm causing it, he wondered. Carefully, he held the book horizontally to his gaze so that he could inspect the letters mechanically. Sure enough, the native language looked just as neat and uniform as the translated letters.

Curiously, he opened the other book. The letters were larger and very different than the first book; but still interestingly uniform. He guessed from the edges that this book was older, and yet it seemed to be in better condition; the newer volume sometimes had ink notations, folding corners, and pieces of paper stuck at intervals and causing ripples in the pages when the book was closed. Was the page with his people on it marked by folded paper as well, Bres wondered, flipping through them and reading only enough to confirm that the entry was not the one he was looking for. Finally he found a section simply marked, "Dark Fae,' erroneously listing a number of Demon mutations when it attempted to list all of the major fae types. Shaking his head at that, his eyes were drawn to note written in ink within the margins between different types of cursed Fae, that stated, Elvish steel inundated with Light Magic is proven effective against Dark Fae of formidable power.

Pondering the fact that those words were added, he had just found his first reference to his particular race mixed in with races from completely other regions when an arm came out of the blankets and flailed searchingly until it hit the book in his hand. With a wave, the candle snuffed out.

"I am not quite done with my research yet, Islene, just a few moments more," Bre protested, the candle flaring up again.

"That book is not going anywhere, and you're done writing, so put it down and put the light out already," Lunette complained.

"I shall presently, just let me finish this particular section first," Bres said.

Changing her tactics, Lunette reached over and got his attention.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Bres asked.

"Time for bed," Lunette said dangerously.

"Alright! Alright, Islene! You win," Bres said, carefully marking his place. "But a well-mannered partner would have the patience to let me finish my work first. What if this situation was reversed and you're the one who needed to do research ? You would not have reacted so calmly if I attempted to dissuade you from it."

"You have my permission," Lunette said. "Look at me if you don't believe me."

"I pick up emotions, Islene, I don't read thoughts like you do," Bres pointed out.

"Then why aren't you picking my emotions up?" Lunette countered.

"If I reacted to every emotion I picked up, I'd be driven insane, as would most Delfs born with this particular trait. Otherwise they become warriors, but my father sent me instead because warriors don't exactly make for the best harbingers of peace," Bres said with amusement, tapping the book in front of him. "There is a note added to this book talking about swords of Light Magic, which I assume is a reference to the swords of the True Fae. Are there many True Fae swords in this land?"

"Three," Lunette replied sleepily.

"Three? In the whole land? Doubt I'd need to worry about it then," Bres said, deciding the notation was a waste of ink. He closed the book. "This book is much too basic and general, but I suppose it does the job. I do know how they like to kill us now."

"Then put those books away and pay the penalty for waking me up," Lunette demanded.

"You do realize what that would mean, I hope. We still have your father to find," Bres reminded her calmly. He set the books on the side table and snuffed out the light.

"I married you knowing what I was getting myself into," Lunette said evenly.

"Better than I, it would seem," Bres replied, kissing her gently.

"I know this world is probably a bit much, but give it time, it'll grow on you," Lunette assured him. "Just let me know if it gets to be, and I'll whisk you somewhere out of the way so you can just process it for a while. I don't want you to start resenting that you ever met me, let alone married me, especially since this wasn't originally our idea."

"Such an emotional thing you are! To go through such strong emotions in so little time, and with such worries that are unfamiliar to me. We were fated to be together. How could I possibly resent such a kind fate when so many of my brethren had such harsh fates given to them? My Fate filled them with wonder that such a thing could ever be true… until the demons were cast out and a path opened for us. My people see me as their deliverance, and I see you as my deliverance. And you will soon find me being your deliverance, especially if you do not move that hand," Bres said with a hint of amusement.

"You were seen as an intolerable jokester at court, weren't you?" Lunette said parried.

"Intolerably so," Bres agreed, moving her arms and putting them around him before kissing her again.