ATtD Ch45 pt2

[voxfuriae]

Awakening To the Dream
Ch45 pt2

“Please forgive my delay. Take your seats.” The doors opening before him, Harry strode into the Hall of Peace, carelessly dropping his fallen enemies head on the table in front of Marjory and Stratford. He waited patiently for Lesley to take his seat and Obsidian to set himself as guard in front of the closed entrance. “Today we speak of war but, before that, we must first face the problem of our weaknesses.” Still standing, he waved his hand to where four house elves had just popped in, laden down with an array of glittering items. “I have already dealt with Clive’s before coming here, which has made me late… among other things…”

He swept his eyes over the councilors, taking in their confusion and anxiety. Unlike Lesley, he had not bothered to change and was sure he was quite a fright covered in blood and guts, face streaked with dust and sweat, robes torn and hair caked. If he could see his eyes, he would surely notice the slight mania that was frightening those in the room right now. As frightened as they were, he sensed no guilt or deceit from any of them and a part of him was able to relax.

“This is truly my fault. I have forced you all into a position of power and failed to give you means to defend yourself from the enemies that will now stalk you as they do me. I would like to think that secrecy alone could protect you, but it doesn’t take a fool to notice that I have called you all again and will repeatedly in the future. Now, there are two ways we can do this.” He moved to the piles of armor that he had selected from the underground armory, the house elves popping out with low bows.

“I don’t like this way, defending you because you are not strong enough to defend yourselves. But, at the moment, we do not have much of a choice. To awaken your powers now would leave you all knocked out for days and we do not have the time for that. Having Clive out of the picture is far more troublesome than any of you can imagine; I cannot have any more of you incapacitated. First blood has been drawn and it will only escalate from this moment onward.”

He picked up a fine chain mail made of a silver colored substance, similar to the invisible one he wore at all times. It was, unfortunately, not as strong as his, but few items were in this realm. “You will all wear this armor until I say otherwise. It is light, will become invisible once I charm it, and the only side effects from wearing it will be the lengthening of your life and possibly a little chafing. Christien, you will replace your current armor with this; it is far more resilient… Immediately, people.” He tossed the current chain mail he was holding, Lesley catching it easily. “Marjory, give me a moment to set up a screen for you so you can have some privacy.” It took ten minutes before everyone’s armor was on correctly and spelled invisible, Christien waiting for Marjory to finish and then using the shadowy screen to change as well. Harry only raised a brow, the man would be fast to change since he was familiar with armor and had been helping the others, but Lesley heartbroken look said a different motive was in place.

“Sire, aren’t you going to wear anything to protect yourself?” Stratford asked carefully, eyes taking in the way Harry’s hands trembled still since the adrenaline rush from earlier. “You are more at risk than any of us.”

“On the contrary, Stratford, I am the least at risk because I have the ability to defend myself. I am more fearful for the innocents around me that will indirectly die at the hands of those seeking me out.” Harry looked away, intentionally not mentioning that he was in fact very well armored. Let everyone underestimate him, it would serve him well in the beginning. “Sit, all of you. Who knows what beast this is? Try to imagine it still has its jaw attached.” He pointed turned the mangled head on the table so they could get a clear look. “No Lez, let them have a chance at it first.”

Harry fidgeted around while he waited for some sort of recognition. “Come now, I’m a muggleborn and I’ve run across this one in my school studies. It has the ability to mask its presence and enough magic to create a protective area before it attacks, keeping screams from attracting help and help from getting in. Look at the eyes; they’re foggy now but you can still see.”

“Dear gods, it’s a grim!” Marjory gasped, pushing away from the table and the decapitated head. Christien and Stratford immediately followed suit, leaving Lesley as the only one sitting calmly, Harry having yet still to sit down.

“Correct. Very good, Marjory. Now really, don’t make me ask you all to sit again. I’m in an agitated state and having you swarm around is not good for the nerves.” Harry chuckled harshly, running a hand streaked with dry blood through his hair, the coated locks catching his fingers. He really needed a shower but now was not the time. It took a long moment for his companions to get the nerve to sit back down near the grim, but sit they did.

“All right… so, yeah, a grim. A real live grim that haunts your dreams and stalks your soul right to the grave. I don’t mean to scare you but this is what you could be facing in the future, and far worse.” Harry picked the head up, glaring at the dead red eyes. “…As I’m sure you know, either having been there or from word of mouth, we had a very special visitor last night. Did anyone catch sight of him besides Lesley?” Marjory and Christien both nodded.

“I only caught a short glance when he was on his way out.” Stratford admitted. “It was the Child of the Sun.”

“My nephew, Jamil. He was courteous, correct?” They all nodded. “Jamil is very courteous… charming, entrancing, forgiving, full of mercy and love until it leaks from him in a foul stench.” Harry smiled wickedly. “This is the gift he left me… us. If the grim had not found me by nightfall it would have stalked the halls of White Towers and killed all it found. Very nasty indeed.” He looked up from the dead beast to access the councilor’s reactions.

“Unfortunately for you, you have all seen Jamil. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem… but you are mine. Whether you agree or not, in his eyes you serve me and that will intrigue him. The man is vain, forever needing to be seen as perfect to satisfy his ego. He plays the good hero, charms and seduces while inside his soul is twisted. And one day he will return, not for me, but for each of you. He will want to know what you think of him. He will want you to honor him, love him, serve him…” He let the concept sink in, placing the grim’s head back on the table and pacing around.

“And he will destroy you if you deny your allegiance to me. He hunts you because I have chosen you, but he cannot have you as long as you are under my protection. Do you all understand this? These people-beings, are not like you. They have different rules. They follow ritual and ceremony to an exact science, and they hold everyone around them to those rules even though they know damn well that most of you are completely ignorant of their ways. I will have to teach you. Ignorance will be your downfall; it is the only true weakness-gods, there is so much you all will need to know and there is just no time! I didn’t think they’d act so soon, but since I’ve been gone so long they must have gotten antsy.”

“I can teach them.” Lesley offered, his jaw set in determination. “This time around I imagine they’ll listen for a change when the stakes are their lives.”

Harry gave his cousin a grateful look. He’d have been lost without the man there. “You would have made a great Soul Vigil, Lezzy.” The compliment surprised Lesley, and to Harry’s amusement the man’s cheeks began to flush. Which reminded him… his cousin needed a very good thank you for all his help. “Others will likely be coming here to visit at some point, and most likely I will not be here to handle the situation. If this occurs, leave it to Lesley; he is of my kind after all and knows the proper way to deal with such beings. But if Lesley and I are both indisposed, then I need you, as in my people, to greet and see to their needs until Lesley or I can arrive.

“I know, you’re thinking it is the Chancellor’s place, but if you recall, you will all be taking that role. My brothers and their kin will not care about the hierarchy of some wizard mortals who holds a small percentage of fae blood. They will see you as worthy because I see you as worthy. Even if you bumble and flail and come at them with swords, they will refrain from killing you because I have placed my trust in you… Err, do try to resist the urge to play like that. They will only take so much.” Harry added with a smile that only Lesley shared. The rest of his audience seemed scared to silence.

“There are only two situations where my kind will kill you, and I do mean kill with all full intent, passionless and succinct. If you in any way- from words, to body language, to your very thoughts, which some can read as if they were their own- show disloyalty to me. You don’t have to like me, you don’t have to even speak with me, but heaven help you if you go against my orders or wishes when in their presence. They will try to trick you, taunt you, seduce you into leaving my services for theirs; believe me, they will kill you no matter what they promise. Loyalty is very important to my kind.” Harry took a deep breath, slumping over the back of a high back chair that’s spikes retracted at his touch.

“What’s the other one? You said there were two situations where they’d kill us.” Christien asked stiffly, having gone pale under his healthy tan.

Harry shrugged, staring at his folded hands. “That situation will only come when faced with my brothers; the others are too weak to play that particular game with me. It is not something that will concern any of you.”

“Even so, I think I’d like to know what to look out for.” Stratford pressed, Marjory nodding in agreement.

Sighing, Harry looked up to meet their worried gazes. “They kill all that I love. You have nothing to fear; my fondness for each of you is not enough to make you a target… and they won’t hunt family.” He added, smiling weakly at Lesley.

“When they come, and they will, they will greet you.” He continued more seriously. “They will call you not by your names but something far more creative to hurt you… dogs, whores, sniveling leeches, slaves; if you can think it they will say it. This will be the first test. Their intent is to get you to respond by saying I am not his dog, or whore, or dirt on his feet, etcetera. Why? Because the first four words will get you killed; I am not his!” He emphasized each word with a palm slam to the table. “That is all it will take for them to justify your deaths. I suggest, unless you are fully confident in your abilities, to not speak at all when in their presence. They are tricky and have had thousands of years to perfect how to get my people killed. It is life and death to you, but a mere game to them and they like to play.

“Now, if you have held your tongues and lived this long, the second test will follow. They will call you my ‘chosen’ and ask you to prove your worth. You do this by greeting them in the ancient ritual, echoing the way that I formally greet the leaders of my family. Cousin, if I may use you as an example?” Lesley immediately stood tall, tilting his head to the side.

“When facing, you will go for the left side, on the lower half of the neck where this thick muscle is.” Harry pointed it out on Lesley’s neck. “If you go too high or low it is a sign of inexperience and weakness of will. If you go for the right side of the neck you are initiating a life bond and will likely get your skull cracked open and laughed at for your troubles. It must be this spot and you must bite down hard. Ideally you will draw blood, but since human teeth are weak in that manner, you will have to rely on the strength of your jaws to subdue them. This greeting is a sign of dominance.

“I realize the last thing you will be feeling is dominant; you’ll probably be scared out of your minds, to be honest. But you are my chosen and I am the dominant force over my family, meaning you are to be the dominant force as well. Now, don’t expect them to go doing what you say, or scraping at your feet or such foolishness. If they find your greeting satisfactory, they will refrain from injuring any while in your home and under your hospitality. If not, you will have no security while they are here. Now watch closely. I will show you first and then you will each have a chance to try it out on me.”

Harry stepped forward, wrapping his hand in Lesley’s hair and pulling his head to the side. “You must be bold. Keep eye contact as long as you feel you won’t flinch. Remember, you want to hurt them. Don’t be deluded by worries of their safety or of inciting their anger; any noises you hear will not be from pain.” Turning his gaze back to the man in his grip, he tightened his fist, a soft whimper escaping Lesley’s lips. “There we go, cousin. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

He nuzzled into Lesley’s long neck, taking in the scent of his family and letting his fangs grow in response. The man was wrought with anticipation, having felt guilt ever since biting Harry’s neck earlier, and this was the only way to ease it. Lesley didn’t struggle or fight, but submitted willingly when Harry carefully bit into the man’s throat. The taste of blood filled his senses and once again Harry felt like he had merely half an hour ago when he had torn the grim in pieces. A low growl rumbled through him and he yanked Lesley’s blue locks, biting harder until the man fell to his knees with a strangled moan.

Harry pulled away, licking his lips distractedly with his eyes locked on Lesley’s. “Yes, well… that’s how you do that.” He shook his head to clear his mind, grabbing his cousin’s arm and pulling the man to his feet. “Sit before you faint on me, Lez. Marjory, you’re first.” He crooked a finger at the woman, too busy calming his bloodlust to notice her panicked expression.

“Now, Lesley’s reaction there is what you’ll get if you do it right. Don’t expect it to be as strong, you aren’t of my kind after all, but you will get some sort of reaction even if it’s as simple as feeling the quickening of their pulse or a small noise or even swaying on their feet. Come now, dear. I have more to fear than you do.” He smiled, not realizing just how frenzied he looked at the moment.

“…I, uh… you’re covered in blood, Sire.” Marjory whispered, clutching her hands together until her knuckles went white.

Harry raised a brow, taking a step towards the trembling woman. “They will not come to you in blood, Marjory. They will be bright and shining, so beautiful you will wonder if your heart is not beating in love… but inside they are dark and twisted, as foul as the grim’s blood that soaks me now. The closer you are to them the more you will sense it. You will not want to touch them and you will certainly not want to taste the dripping evil running through their veins.”

“They must!” Lesley insisted with a growl. “Your fear will cost you everything, Marjory. If you refuse you allow everyone around you to be killed. What is a little fear to so many lives?”

Marjory shook her head repeatedly. “I-I… you can’t expect me to- It’s grim blood!”

“Perhaps I should go first, to set your mind at ease?” Stratford intervened calmly.

Marjory’s eyes flared with hope but quickly dimmed at Harry’s words. “No. She must do this on her own. Marjory has spent enough time following in other’s shadows; now it is time for her to step up for herself.” Although his words were harsh, Harry smiled gently and beckoned to the woman. “Come now. I do not radiate cruelty like the others so there would be no point to test you without the grim blood as a deterrent. If you can face this, you can face anything.”

Marjory looked far from convinced but she stepped forward hesitantly, allowing Harry to hold her arm lightly and pull her in closer. “They will try to intimidate you, but intimidation doesn’t work on you, does it Marjory? You are a strong woman; ever since you father abandoned you and your ill mother, you have been strong. You don’t let your fears rule you… perhaps you’ve even felt that you do not have that ability anymore?”

“My f-fears come from me.” The mantra Marjory had taught herself when she had first fought for survival rose to her lips. “I control w-what comes from me.”

“There you go.” Harry tilted his head and smiled encouragingly. “You are beyond your nightmares now. You can destroy them if you just take that last step. Look at the life you have built for yourself by doing just that… and Helena will soon be back.” He added in a soft whisper, his words spinning a net of security for the young woman.

“Helena…?” Surprised, she nodded in understanding and carefully placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder, standing on tiptoes so she could reach his neck. Harry fell silent, letting the woman get up the nerve on her own. It was a full half-minute before she actually bit, hesitant at first and then with more strength as her confidence grew.

“You won’t impress them with that; you need to inflict pain.”

Marjory narrowed her eyes at Harry’s mocking tone and bit down harder. The wounds on Harry’s neck hadn’t healed fully and the thin skin broke under the woman’s teeth. Harry tapped lightly on Marjory’s head to gain her attention.

“That will suffice. If blood is drawn than you have succeeded the traditional way.” He blinked, beaming when Marjory, dazed from the sudden lack of contact, extended her hand for more of Harry’s fresh blood. “Ha, you’re going to be something when your powers are woken up.” He let her lift some of the liquid and led her back to her chair, Marjory licking her fingers the whole time with a strange smile on her face.

“You’re up, Stratford. And don’t give me any guff about old teeth.” Harry placed a hand to his neck, speeding the healing process along until his wounds were nothing but fresh pink skin. Stratford gave him an amused look, not missing the affection in Harry’s voice.

“Giving the old man a tough time? You young punks are all alike.” Stratford stepped up, his smile fading as he eyed Harry’s neck apprehensively. Taking a deep breath, he bent forward to bite but paused when Harry flinched. Frowning, he tried again, only to have Harry flinch away. He pulled back a bit, giving Harry a questioning look, but Harry had closed his eyes and his face was an unreadable mask.
“I’m waiting.”
Pursing his lips, Stratford bent forward again, determined to make contact this time. Harry continued to fidget, a soft laugh escaping him when the man starting swearing in frustration. “Hold still… bloody-ha!” In a flash of insight, Stratford grabbed Harry’s shoulders to keep him still long enough for him to bite down. Harry howled in surprise, but Stratford had figured out the boy’s game and didn’t release until Harry tapped him on the head.

“Not bad.” Harry said with a smile, turning the man back towards the table. “I’m sure you won’t hesitate next time. Christien- my, you look determined to tear my throat out.” Stepping clear of the table, Harry opened his arms wide. “Well then?”

Christien gave him a long look. Rolling his shoulders, he straightened to his full height, his head held high and eyes narrowed in an expression not usually seen off the battlefield. His expression didn’t waver, even when he strode across the small space and gripped Harry’s hair harshly, biting down into his neck without showing the slightest hesitation or care for Harry’s safety.

Harry tapped him after only a few seconds. “Very good, Christien. Your execution was flawless.”

“…But you didn’t even sway.” Christine complained, his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. “I couldn’t even draw blood and I bit you hard.”

“I told you not to expect much…”

“Yeah but, I mean, Lesley is your kind and he fell to the ground. Did I do it wrong? I bit really hard.”

“You did fine.” Harry couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the man’s pout. “You’re human, Christian. You really can’t expect to be able to dominate me.”

Christien rolled his eyes and threw his arms up in exasperation. “Then what is the bloody point?! How the hell can we keep this Jamil fellow from killing us all if we can’t even draw blood?”

“Hush; I know how to fix this.” Harry interrupted, a very wicked idea forming in his mind. “Lezzy, can you walk?” He turned to his cousin, keeping his expression as innocent as possible. Lesley nodded, slowly pushing himself to his feet and letting Harry heal the small wound on his neck. “Now, obviously you don’t have enough power to get a true reaction from me, but I can set your mind at ease that you are in fact doing it correctly, Christien.”

He stepped away from Lesley, leaving both men to stare at him in confusion. “Well? Go on.” Harry urged with a smile.

“What exactly…?” Christien trailed off, understanding dawning as Harry pointed to Lesley and then to his neck. “Oh.” Christine blinked at Lesley’s blank expression, his face slowly going red.

“Oh, just bite him already, Christien.” Marjory broke in with a snort, not quite herself yet since having tasted Harry’s magic-enriched blood. “It’s not like it’s some big secret, man.” For all of Christien’s denial, they had all caught the two of them, on more than one occasion at that, in compromising positions.

“Um, I…” Christien took a hesitant step towards Lesley, his hands nervously clenching in and out of fists.

“You’re really not going to approach like that, are you?” Harry scolded. “Do it like you did before. You look like a frightened rabbit about to be eaten by a big bad wolf.”

The comment seemed to bring Christien to his senses. Growling lowly, he snapped his head back to Lesley’s ever watching face and stalked over. “Call me a bloody rabbit…” He muttered, reaching up to wrap his fingers in Lesley’s blue hair. “You hardly constitute a wolf, Lesley.”

Lesley watched him impassively through golden eyes. “…That does seem more your personality.” Lesley agreed, hissing softly when Christien pulled his hair and forced his head to the side.

“Don’t be an ass.” Christien grunted, bowing his head to stare at Lesley’s neck and the small pulse fluttering beneath his pale skin. Shit, since when did his neck seem so bloody long and fragile? …Was he shaking? He glanced up, meeting Lesley’s eyes. Instinctively his hand tightened in the smooth hair and he watched as the man’s lids drooped and lips parted to pant softly. He hadn’t looked like that when biting that bastard Jamil; he’d looked practically bored. Not now though. Now Lesley was trembling and all because of him. Pulling his eyes away from the golden gaze, he surged forward, sinking his teeth into the smooth flesh of Lesley’s throat.

“Heavens…” Lesley groaned and Christien wasted no time putting his full strength into his grip and jaw. The man didn’t have the magic like Harry had behind it, which was why no one would ever be able to match the boy’s ability to bring the gods to their knees. It still didn’t stop Lesley’s knees from buckling when a fire hot tongue snaked out and began to boldly stroke over his abused flesh. “Oh fuck!” He grabbed blindly for purchase, his hands ending tangled in Christien’s shirtfront as his knees hit the ground.

Christien followed him down, never breaking contact with his mouth, and instead wrapped his free arm around Lesley’s waist. He would break the skin; he didn’t care how long it took, he was going to break the skin and claim the infuriating man for his own. Now, if he’d just stop fidgeting… Untangling his hand from Lesley’s locks, he pushed down on his chest, forcing the man’s back to the ground with his own heavier form. Long fingers slid up his back and he growled, changing the angle of his mouth so that pressure hit his back teeth and the sweet tang of blood filled his senses. “Ha! Got you!” He exclaimed, pulling his mouth free and adjusting his sore jaw.

“Yes… ah, yes you do…” Lesley agreed breathily, wondering just what Christien would do with him now that he had so thoroughly ‘got’ him. He was more than willing to offer some suggestions.

Christien triumphant smile wavered and he pulled his head up so he could look down at Lesley’s flushed face… mussed hair, disarrayed clothes, lithe body spread out on the stone floor while the man struggled to drag air into his gasping lungs. His cheeks lit up, realizing for the first time that he was pinning the man to the floor and Lesley was far from unwilling… and that was not his armor burning against his thigh. Swallowing thickly, he fleetingly knew that he should definitely let the man up but for some reason his limbs had decided that they didn’t want to move.

Lesley carefully rubbed his hand over Christien’s back. “…Still angry with me?””

Christien managed to choke out a small no, to busy focusing on the way his hips had inadvertently jolted against Lesley’s when the man suddenly pulled him closer. “Lesss…” It took him a moment to focus, catching the guarded eyes that watched him anxiously. He really couldn’t understand him. The man was hundreds of years old and yet he sometimes acted as erratic and unstable as a love struck teenager and it just confused him to no end. “Gods, what do you want from me?” He found himself pleading, gripping the man’s narrow shoulders and searching his otherworldly eyes.

Lesley turned his head away, and a piece of Christien’s heart crumbled. “Lesley?”

“This side, Chrissy. Bite it just like before.”

Christien stared at him in disbelief. “You want to… with me…?”

“Gods yes.” Lesley confessed affectionately, turning his head back so he could gauge the man’s reaction. “Ever since you nearly got your head knocked off trying to ‘save’ me from my own pet minotaur, I knew that I couldn’t go on without you. You’re such a reckless fool that never knows when to stop and think before jumping into danger-how could I not?”

“You’re serious… I-I can’t believe you’re serious…” Christien stared searchingly, looking for any sign of misgiving. “How can you be serious?!”

Lesley smiled tentatively. “I can prove it, if you want. We can get some truth serum or better yet, have Harry compel the truth from us.” He pushed at Christien’s thick curls until his tanned neck was bared. “I’d claim you right now if I wasn’t afraid you’d hate me forever. I’ve never felt this way about anyone in all my years on Earth… I don’t think I ever will again…”

“Lez, I-”

“Don’t.” Lesley pushed up onto his elbows and smacked a quick kiss to Christien’s forehead. “Don’t decide anything yet. I want you to think about this… I’ve had years to figure out what I want… need… just think about it for as long as you want. Whatever the answer, I want you to be certain.”

“…You, you-you are such a berk!” Christien exclaimed, gripping Lesley’s top until the man had to point out that he was being choked. “Sorry, I… Lesley, this is insane! I never thought… fuck, it’s hard to look at you and think straight. I’ve wanted you so long… Gods, to have you forever…”

“So… you do love me?” Lesley nervously bit his lip and raised his brows imploringly.

“Of-Of course I do! You were just to busy chasing anything with legs to notice!” Christien grabbed Lesley by the back of the neck and crushed his lips to his. “You can’t cheat,” kiss, “a life bond.” He ground down possessively, holding Lesley’s face in both hands and raining kissed down on him. “…Be serious about this.”

“I have never been more serious in my life.” Lesley gasped out, chasing Christien’s mouth until it was on his again. “I’ve waited so long to find you… do it now, love. Right this instant.”

“Don’t you bloody dare!” Harry interrupted, glaring at Lesley with his hands on his hips. As happy as he was for his cousin and Christien, he certainly wasn’t going to allow that. “You two can bond after I’m out of here and you don’t have to worry about inadvertently dying at my enemies’ hands.”

“But, Harry! I’ve been waiting three hundred years for this!” Lesley protested, pouting beseechingly up at the boy while pulling Christien flush against him. “He’s my bloody soul mate!”

Harry was not impressed, and began prying Lesley’s hand from Christien’s back. “Honestly, doesn’t anyone think around here?! The second you two initiate a life bond you’ll be shagging like bunnies for weeks and absolutely useless to me. No, no, let go of him! We have too much to do today for you to go at it right now.” Harry slapped Lesley’s hands away and pulled Christien up by his collar as if he weighed nothing at all.

“Take your seats and keep your hands to yourselves. We only have four days left and most of it will be filled with preparations for the Coronation Ceremony. You’re not going to stop being soul mates any time soon so quite glaring at me and focus.” Harry scoffed at Lesley’s protests and pushed him towards his chair. “Snogging in the Hall of Peace… un-fucking-believable…” Harry muttered.

“You know… I think I might just hate you right now.” Lesley muttered right back at him, Christien grunting in agreement while trying to find a comfortable position to sit in with too tight pants.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you should be thanking me, you ungrateful buggers. Christien would still be thinking you and Jamil were lovers if not for me. Stratford, while I think of it.” Harry turned to the older man who had pulled out a handkerchief to hide his laughter. “I have a proposition for you. A way that I think will convince you to undergo your final phase into a Fae Wizard.”

Stratford immediately sobered, and began to pull tensely at his collar. “About that, Sire. I really have no intention of-”

“What if I told you I can do the same for your wife? If her power is free, her magic will fight off her physical maladies.”

“I-uh… what?” Stratford furrowed his brow, trying to process what Harry had just said. “You can heal Margaret?”

“I can make it so she can heal herself and enjoy a very long life beside the man she loves. Hell, you could probably have children now, if you so wished it. If I have enough energy after dealing with whatever injuries Helena will arrive with, I can do it as soon as today. I won’t be able to do the same for you until things have settled down; I will need you all alert and not distracted with the common issues that come along with an exritus right now. But yes, I will wake Margaret’s power as a gift for serving me.”

Sure, he knew it was a cruel thing to ask and, if he had evil intentions, it may have bothered him. At this point he wasn’t going to go out and play the ‘let’s make everyone’s problems go away’ game. He wasn’t some sort of miracle worker; there was a balance, a higher order that needed to be followed. If he happened to make everyone’s problems go away in exchange for getting people to help him bring that order, than that was just an added bonus and nice incentive.

“Please, talk it over with your wife first. This is her decision just as much as yours…” He stopped as the castle wards wavered for a moment, and he turned quickly to Obsidian who was glaring intently at the door as if he was seeing through it. A new presence was coming, something that was sucking the very magic from the air.

“Christien, what exactly did you send for your search party?” Harry turned slowly, just catching the curly haired man sucking on his fingers suggestively at his cousin. “Christien.” He growled at the two.

“Um, five of my elite enforcers.” Christien answered sheepishly, his eyes still trained on Lesley.

“They are all half faerie?” Harry pressed.

“Yeah… yeah.” Christien blinked, focusing on Harry. “That particular five have heightened senses and can move in dangerous areas without being considered targets by the wildlife because of their blood. Why, have you sensed their return?”

Harry nodded, eyes unfocused as he used his magical senses. “They’ve brought a friend and I’m not referring to Helena. It is… aggressive… and not afraid to hide its power. Oh… and Loxton and Bower have just reached it.” He stopped talking, waiting and seeing what the little blobs of magic he sensed would do. Suddenly the new presence flared strong and shot out at Bower’s presence, sending the older councilor whirling. Moments later the blob of magic was barreling its way into the castle, Christien’s guards following swiftly behind.

Harry frowned, the direction the new presence was moving in too much of a coincidence. “Not to alarm you all… but we may have an intruder coming our way.”
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