#sid price

[hemlock-in-the-cocktails]

Father Brown and Sid

[abitofben]

Hollyoaks Spoiler Alert - Who is the body in the bag!

[carmineroyals]

[fycourtera]

{chapter twenty-seven: 3} a sin is soft(o)r...

Ron: *Carmen, wearing a simple but elegant gown was on his arm. She didn't need the gown to be extravagant (though perhaps ostentatious was a better word, for a voice at the back of his mind nagged he would give her everything); her entire being, simply put, was itself beauty. And he was utterly torn about her presence. There was as much truth in the fact that he did not want her to see this, as there was in wanting to never leave her side. He was not sure why she had offered, but upon realizing that there was a chance - what with most of the court present - that she might recognize someone, might regain her memory...even for the gruesome circumstances, he could not deny her that opportunity. Lifting his hand to place over hers and squeeze, it was in part deference to the fact that he had to leave. Ronald looked first, for until now he had not kept his gaze off his companion, flitting to where he would stand. His place was with the knights, a step behind the Lord Commander as his son and heir. 

There was not an ounce of his father in the man who stood there now: the persona of his title commanded him utterly. Ronald breathed out thinking to himself, he didn't know how his father did it - how proud he was, how desperately he wanted to make him proud as well. Still just seeing the council and the scaffold made him pause and he looked to Carmen, still squeezing her hand.* You don't have to stay if you do not desire. I would take you home. *He didn't want Sofya there either. His sister stood on the ramparts where he was leading Carmen, stony-faced and red hair blazing. But she would not be deterred, the ferocity in her eyes at his suggestion had made him silent.* 

Sid: *It felt odd being here, she realized the moment she saw the crowd. Her initial and brief hesitance didn't stem from not knowing how to deal with a great number of people, she felt no anxiety over it for she was an actress and used to audiences, but instead because she felt as if she was supposed to remember something about this place, about one of the people. That had only occurred to her as she arrived there, for her real reason for offering to come along did not have to do with trying to jog her memory.

She wanted to be there for him, offer some semblance of support however she could, during this gruesome event. It was the least she could. And she would do a great deal more for him, much more. It had been almost a month since he found her in the forest, and a month of knowing a person could hardly be quantified as a long time, but to her it was her whole life, the only thing she remembered. She was cautious because of that, unfortunately there was an inner hesitance that she could not quite shake off no matter how much she tried. She had no idea the people she had left behind, or the people waiting for her...but her innermost fear was that because no one had come looking for her, that no one wanted her, that she was alone. Sometimes, she didn't want her memories to come back. She was happy here, stifled at times, and those days she spent the entirety of them outside, but she was happy. She knew it was partly because of him...maybe mostly, because of him.

She turned to Ron as he paused, her gaze quizzical before he spoke. Of course, he would offer to take her back though the concept of 'home' was one that she was finding more and more difficult to define. It didn't matter to him that she had assured him before leaving, joking, to try and bring forth the dimpled smile she had grown so fond, that she was French. She had no fear of the rope, but the guillotine on the other hand, that she would've had to sit out on. But now was not the time for jokes, so she answered simply.* But I do desire. *She had no intention of leaving him, despite knowing he was among family, friends, and fellow knights. She allowed herself the small vanity that there were certain things that only she could give him.

Reaching Sofya, she offered the girl a small smile, for happiness and enthusiasm greater that was inappropriate. Ron bid them farewell to join his father, but before he could walk away she lifted herself on her toes and placed a brief but warm kiss on his lips.* I'll see you soon. *She squeezed his hand again before letting it go before turning back to Sofya, wholly unabashed. It was only then that the reality of what would come next sunk in.* If I cry, you won't hold it against me, will you? *After all, they were British, they had no room for emotions in public.*

Ron: *It took perhaps every fiber of his being not to lean and kiss her in front of the entire court the moment she said that; were his father not present, he would have failed. So he lifted her hand, kissed the top of her palm and murmured his intention instead - which she clearly took to heart. As she released him he found himself kissed instead, and he chuckled once. For a moment they were not here, they were not destined to watch this atrocity, they were back in his room kissing on clouds, dizzy from the height and breathless from the joy. The world was colored more grey when he spun from her, muttering,* Ah, Carmen, it appears you are braver than me. *, nodding to accept her farewell, and then walked with dignity and purpose to the knights. Virgil was winking at him, Paul snickering, Vlad smirking, and Paul rolling his eyes as he stepped to place unashamed. His father appeared not to have seen.* 

Sofya: *A twitter in her heart, flutter in her breath, Sofya bit back a happy squeak. Her brother's smile and Carmen's brazen act had warmed her, made her forget what she was there to see. Well, half of it. Her smile would not be made dimmer by the other, for she knew Hector would be there, and it had been over a week since she had seen him, since before the Stenrosa house was stolen into. Oh, he hadn't told her he would be: she knew it, for she felt she understood the most basic of their brotherhood (Sonja counted)'s code. Nobody, gets left behind.* Of course not. *Sofya smiled at her, just as small and reserved.* Carmen, I only wish I could kiss you myself for that -- I did not think I would see a happy sight, nor my brother's smile today. *Speaking of a happy sight...she lights up, for there was a hooded tall man in the crowd, the cloak tan and coarse ... and on his belt, was a hammer.*

Hector: *They had not all arrived by the same place, nor at the same time either. One hooded person was easy to dismiss, but five weren't. He was also grateful to the weather approaching, for it also had made some people wear hats and bonnets and cloaks and the like. Hector's heart hammered in his chest, anticipation building. Daniel's life was on the line, and this would be risky. No matter how thought out their plans were, no matter how many back up ones they had if the other failed, there would never be a certainty. Looking up briefly, though he was afraid to do for fear that someone would recognize his face, his gaze traced the people on the ramparts. He was counting the number of knights, but he also kept his eyes peeled for a certain red headed goddess he had been deprived of. He looked back down, kept moving, changed his position and looked again; this time he saw her. Despite the crisis and storm that loomed over their heads, he found he could still smile. Winking, he blew her a kiss only to then put his finger on his lips, a plead for silence before he had to unfortunately move again. Though right before turning, he could have sworn the girl next Sof had looked like Sid. But he didn't dare to check again, just kept moving, doing his best not to look at the hanging piece of rope on the scaffold, he couldn't.*

[fycourtera]

{chapter twenty: 7} sid & ron

Sid: *Her vision was a blur of different shades of blue and green at first. Colors floated like feathers in the wind, and shadows formed at the corners and in the distance. A faint sound reached her ears, faded and returned louder after each turn. She couldn't make out the words even as they got so loud it started hurting. She started running, and the shadows started chasing after her. She tried to run as fast as she could but she stumbled, her feet seemed to trip and get stuck in mid air. A hand made of mist curled around her knees and wrists, bringing her down. She fell through mud and sand and water; faces loomed above her, laughing, mocking, as she ran out of air. Startling awake, she struggled to get out of the sheets. Throwing them off her and sitting up, she breathed erratically, trying to calm her racing heart; it wasn't working. She tried to close her eyes but the faces were so vivid, so real. She shot up, somehow creating a ball of light that followed her. She couldn't be alone at that moment. At first, she just tried to keep walking, her pace normal but her panic just grew. A fast walk soon followed as she tried to remember her way around the large home. Head snapping as she thought she heard a noise, she didn't bother stopping to figure out what it was -she had seen too many horror movies- and instead started sprinting. Holding up the nightgown to keep from falling, her heart thumped in her ears, her eyes stung with the tears that she forcibly kept away. Turning a corner, she stopped suddenly as she saw him, the man who had held her and kidnapped her that day in the forest, smug and smirking. She screamed once, the light above her blinding the hallway in white light before going out; she couldn't see anything as she tried to scamper backwards and collided into something hard. She lost balance.* Ron: *He was rubbing his face as he walked down a hallway that seemed exceedingly long. If that dreadful night just shy of four weeks ago had been the longest in his life, this was in the top five. He had to wait for the Sheriff to actually deliver Bridges, who finally arrived unconscious from the amount of blows he'd received "during the arrest." If he believed that, he would be a fool, but there was no evidence to the contrary and nothing he could do about it in the slightest--except authorize and sneak Alysa past the guards to at least give him basic first-aid. The moon had already hit it's apex long ago as he walked in, his usually bustling home was asleep. Or so he had thought. Screwing up suddenly watering eyes against a bright light--good God was the sun rising already?--he grimaced trying to make out the blurred, shadowy form beside it. In a terrifying instant as she screamed, he realized he knew exactly who it was just as Carmen collided into his chest and stumbled. Arms snapping out to catch her instinctively, he held her through sheer strength of will against protesting muscles. Clasping her protectively to his chest, he puffed air out to banish her hair from his mouth even as he breathed,* Hey--hey, Shhh--shhh, Carmen, shh, it's just me, it's Rona--Ron, I've got you. *It bore repeating.* I've got you. You're safe with me. Sid: *As arms held her again, she tensed and tried to pull away before she realized who it was.* Ron? *she repeated breathlessly before she exhaled, her shoulders relaxing for a moment, she lifted her head again trying to look around, expecting enemies lurking in the shadows created by the moonlight to jump out at any moment.* It was a dream *she spoke out as she realized the whispers the faces were only in her head. Even though she had gotten out of bed before this, it was just now that she felt she was waking. She held on to him tighter for through the armor for another moment to steady herself and to hide the fact that a tear or two had slipped from her eyes* I'm sorr-- I'm being silly, stupid, God, I hope I didn't wake anyone, so embarrassing, I mean afraid of the dark what rubbish, am I a child, I'm just-- *she cleared her throat as she wiped at her eyes quickly and realized she had been speaking in half sentences and too quickly. She looked up again to meet Ron's gaze; he looked exhausted.* It was just a dream. Ron: Yeah. *It was soft. He knew that she hadn't truly required an answer to his name as a question, he reassured her anyways. Relief colored his expression adoring as she recognized him and he nodded fervently, letting her bury her face in his neck. Briefly regretting the fact that he was still wearing the blasted plate armor, he only shook her head at the breathless excuses.* There's nothing to apologize for. And you aren't being anything but human -- it's a bit relieving to know, to tell the truth. *The smile on his lips was sudden and brief, whispering himself,* I constantly am amazed you could exist. *He nods encouragingly,* Just a dream. What matters is that you're all right--that's all that matters. *The statement all of a sudden was weighted, rang in his ears with another bell, accented with his sister's nagging voice. Oh, wouldn't she be pleased. As Carmen pulled back from him, he lifted his hands to cup her cheeks, leaning closer, searching her wide and fearful eyes with his own drawn in kindness. As his thumb brushed her cheek, brushed tears away, he realized how breathless he was with a hard swallow lest he exhaled the shallow gasp against her lips.* I won't let anything happen, I promise. Sid: *She chuckled under her breath, actual amusement burst forth from her lips and the fact that it was possible for her to do so, and for him to make her do so, when her heart still felt in such a mad panic to beat out of her chest relieved her. It wasn't as relieving, however as when he held her face. It didn't calm her heart, especially not after the glance to his lips, but she didn't mind now. She nodded her head gently, loathing to move his hands away, before replying in a whisper.* I believe you...*she licked her lips as her gaze traced his face before she spoke again just as quiet* Kiss me. Ron: *He didn't speak, as his gaze traces her full lips, parted by his thumb, the color of a plum in these shadows. Head inclined a half inch to acquiesce, it sounded like her words were tumbling out one over the other, breathy and insistent to have something good, anything good, something for themselves; Ron understands, for he feels the same way. And so he takes her face again and kisses her, hard and long, as he has wished to do since the moment she had shoved him away from a fatal spell, still clutching his jacket around her bare shoulders. Native ingenuity mixes with naive desire as he slants his lips against hers, gently moving against a mouth warm and lush and clearly experienced, her breath curling over his lips. He doesn't dare break away.* Sid: *The second that had passed before their lips met seemed infinite, her thoughts filling up every single second. She didn't know her name, had no idea the type of person she was, and she was scared, lost, confused; that almost never went away. Except when she was with Ron. With Ron she felt she was herself...whoever the hell she was. Logic told her weeks ago it would be unwise to even imagine anything happening, but she was not logical. She just wanted to stop feeling like there was something missing, like there was something wrong. She just wanted to kiss him. And she did. The moment his lips pressed against hers, hers moved against his in return, drawing him in as she wrapped an arm around his neck, standing on her toes to push herself closer to him. The cool metal of his armor rubbed against her gown as she moved but she ignored it, focusing on him, his lips, his tongue as her mouth opened under his. Her other hand buried itself in the hair at the base of his scalp, keeping him there. It felt so good to her, even while it felt a little wrong. Wrong and so right at the same time.* Ron: *Ron had never hated metal armor more in his life. Melding her against him as close as he could, his grip pulled her to her toes as his hand slid to brush over and tangle in the mess of hair the color of chocolate. Others would say he was taking advantage of her vulnerable state - but they, had clearly never met Carmen. She didn't know her brother's name or her own, didn't know where she lived or who she had been -- and yet she persevered sure of herself and her footing, however contradictory that seemed. He had never met another like her. She melded smirks with smiles, jibes with kindness, a demanding attitude with a charitable spirit.  And right that moment he did not care to ever again. Or indeed do anything but stand there. Kissing her over and over again, he breathed in raggedy, short gasps, utterly without any other thought. Sid: *She knew that were she to open her eyes, there would only be darkness and moonlight surrounding her but at that moment as his lips perfectly melded to hers, she felt as if she was feeding off sunlight. She remembered teasing Ron about the poetic inspiration she had inspired in him, but the one he had inspired in her was there. Not entirely at this moment, unless the way her mouth moved against his, pulling a swollen lip into it, could count as inspiration. In a way it did. Tugging on his hair gently, she soothed his bottom lip with her tongue, breath falling erratically from her lips whenever she had a chance for air.* Ron: *He could not get enough; of her hands so smooth where his were roughened by the hilt of his steel, of her breath so muted against his mouth, of her lips so pliant with his. Yet it had already been true. Not one moment they spent together could be 'enough', not any conversation could be long enough, not one chuckle of her light laugh too much. Ron moved one hand, petting down wild hair, to cup her neck, and the other to the curve in her hip. Then he turned her, in one fluid motion lifting her up to rest in both his arms in a bridal lift and cradled her against him. Never did he pull away from kissing her as she sucked on his bottom lip -- until this moment now, to breathe out near teasingly,* I have to get out of this armor, milady. *He pressed another passionate kiss to her lips as he took a few steps,* But I have no desire to let you go.  Sid: *Her heart flew into her throat in the moment that he lifted her up into his arms, the feeling turning into a breathless but giddy laugh. Laughter impeded her from kissing, however, so she didn't do it for long, even though she wanted to do so. She wanted to laugh, and smile and joke but she wanted to keep kissing Ron mode. As they pulled away briefly, she licked her lips again and smirked as she made herself more comfortable against him. Exhaling in an exhale, she nodded, wanting him to take off the armor too.* Sounds challenging *she murmured into his neck before leaning up to better kiss the exposed areas, dragging teeth against his pulse point.* Ron: *He had a second to murmur approval. It turned into more of a half grunt as he felt her teeth and tongue grazing pleasurably in the only skin available to her. But oh, if she could do that to with only a patch of skin...his eyes fluttered open, realizing he was standing still in satisfaction, and his steps hurried. Gripping her side tighter, he lifted her legs higher to better improve his view, the other tangled in her hair until he was blindly pushing his door open and kicking it shut, muttering teasingly,* I take it you enjoy challenges. *Another thing they had in common, he thought for a breath moment but no--right now, thinking was wrong. Instead of the couch or bed, he lifted up to place her on the counter next to his wardrobe, teasingly wiggling his eyebrows as he was able to keep a hand on her while he unclasped the top plates and let them clatter off, leaving him in mail but was too distracted to continue. Coming back in to met her lips again and again in earnest, both hands tangling her skirt on her waist now.* Sid: *Half grinning and half smirking against his skin as she realized her actions had kept him from moving for a few seconds before she was moving up and down in his arms as he walked quickly to his room.* Very much *she exhaled the answer, nodding and then smirking again as he placed her on a counter. Laughing once as he proved himself right and kept a hand on her, her hands wrapped around his neck as he returned to her. The desperate and passionate kiss left her breathless again as she sunk herself into him, wrapping her legs around him to draw him in further. God did she hate chain mail even if the cold metal cooled her skin, she didn't want if to be cooled. Sighing against his lips, she tugged on the stupid armor* You're not finished. Ron: You're distracting. *The accusal was good-natured, muttered against her hair from swollen lips and heavy-lidded eyes. He craned his head to mouth across her open shoulder and neck, the porcelain skin begging to be kissed. His eyes still were open as he worked, locked behind her as he noticed the vanity mirror. Grip tightening as his gaze slid down the slight frame, he took in the curves in her back he couldn't resist sliding a hand up to feel himself until his fingers graze open skin atop her back. Too tempted by half to proceed untying, he drew his gaze back to hers, breathing heady as he conceded a brief nod. A swift, fluid rip and the shirt was clattering across the floor as the rings struck marble. The tunic he had under it sweaty and too-hot and so he tugged it open, a hard abdomen peeking under the white linen above his trousers. He kept his eyes locked on hers. His mutter was as challenging as hers had been,* If I continue...*he waited to let her gaze wander,* Will you return the favor? Sid: *Her smile was lazy as she listened to, and felt, his murmur against her skin. Her eyes drifted closed as she sighed in pleasure when his lips continued to wander across her neck, lips flicking into a smile, feeling a tickle as he neared the skin under her ear. Licking her lips as she felt his hand slide up her back, she was only disappointed for a brief moment as he pulled away and then he complied. Biting her bottom lip as more skin was revealed to her, her gaze took time in going from his abdomen to his face while her hands traveled in the reverse direction. Eyebrows rising with the challenge, she sat up straighter and then took her hands back to pull on the strings of the nightgown, shrugging her shoulders out of the fabric and letting it fall to her elbows and expose as much skin as he had. There, even.* Continue. Ron: *Continue. How was he bloody supposed to simply continue, when she had just--she had to know. She had to know how her back shone from his mirror in the flickering candles, the briefest sparks of embers from a dying fire someone had thoughtfully set in his room. Or how tantalizing her delicate neck was, marks from his mouth already beginning to form? Thinking briefly of the contradiction--how vulnerable she appeared, how much he wanted to protect her, and at once he thought her stronger than him. She had to know his hands ached to take hold of the petite, round--and perfect, goddamn perfect-- mounds of skin she'd exposed like two delicious cream puddings topped with cherries just barely visible beneath her lowered slip that he longed to brush to ripe. But he acquiesced with a playful growl and head shake, decidedly stepping away from her to rip the shirt and undershirt fully off, only nodding at her with the same smirk she wore. Her turn.* Sid: *The smirk she had been fighting off took hold of her mouth at his growl, her eyebrows raised in appreciation as he cast off his shirts in a swift movement, taking her already swollen lip between her teeth. Taking a moment to appreciate the view, her eyes sought his as she took her arms out of the gown and pushed it down to bundle on her hips with the skirt. Her patience was wearing thin and she could tell his was too. Tilting her head, she curled her finger towards him, beckoning him to her again* Ron: *He didn't notice if she challenged him again, and he didn't give a damn. The instant the dress was gathered round her hips he was on her with hands roaming, pulling, massaging, chest rubbing--mouths fused as one. The dress helpfully gave him purchase to grip at her waist as he lifted her again, legs clasped around his waist, stumbling backwards. They kissed for a long time under a canopy willowing with their motion before slowing, their desperate embrace one borne of need and want and all those shameful human emotions to which he was so addicted. But rational thought invaded to his dismay, realizing he had no intentions of dishonoring her or of anything happening that wasn't wholly about them. And while this was--it also was not, for Carmen had collided into him after a nightmare he wanted to erase from her mind, as much as he wanted her to erase his. His nightmares of a maimed, tortured boy was all too real. So he spun her suddenly, pulled her into his arms instead. Heated breath escaped his lips slowly, trailing over her shoulder and he held her to him tightly as one might cling more to a parent than lover, his cheek nuzzling against her hair. Resting comfortably for a long moment, he realized he'd breathed out,* Stay with me tonight?  Sid: *He had knocked the breath out of her as he devoured her. Because that's what he did, he ravished her; left her smooth, white skin flushed and marked, and goosebumps rose as cool air caressed skin he had wet with his mouth. She wasn't aware of how they ended up on his bed or anything else but him, how it good he felt, how wrong but right it was. Slowing, unfortunately needing air back into her lungs, she gasped softly as he turned her and held her. A soft smile tugged at her lips for a moment, realizing how nice it was to be held like this. Different from before but still good...in some ways better; she felt safe. She nodded gently, tracing the bare arms holding her with her fingers, the touch meant to be soothing and calming, not tantalizing. In a whisper, she spoke again* I'm not leaving you. Ron: *Marveling at how comfortable he was, a small smile spread across his lips at her words. He knew it was folly: if they were learning anything it was the fleeting nature of this screwed up life, but he didn't care. Her words were true. He knew now that come what may she would stay with him some how, in one way or another. Shutting his eyes as he leaned forward, pressed a kiss to the top of her head, he inhaled her and exhaled,* Good. God, I don't know what I did to deserve you here tonight, but I'm blessed. Sid: *Smiling at how different the kiss to her forehead was compared to the ones he had given her minutes before. Tracing the short stubble that grew on his chin, she chuckled at his words, feeling exactly like he had described. She nuzzled in closer to him, the fact that she didn't want to pull away from his warm gaze being the only reason she didn't lay her head on his chest.* I do. *she added easily with a smile* You saved me that day...*she trailed off, smile fading as she spoke in earnest* I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't. Ron: I have no doubt you would simply have gotten yourself free. *His town was certain--and he was, yet his arms still clasped her tighter to him instinctively. There was anger in his next exhale, hating to think how she had been hurt and terrorized, having already vowed a half dozen times to find them and bring justice to them for her--for all of them--but he was human and selfish and thus, especially for her. Taking another breath he'd calmed just at the scent from her, reminded they were safe here.* But I would always do the same as I did--and I am not going to let anything happen to you. *It was a sleepy murmur, whispered against her hair as his eyes shut. The 'I promise' was lost halfway along to even breathing instead.* Sid: *His belief in her always astounded her. He barely knew her, hell she barely knew herself, but he had always had...faith, it was nice. Odd, but very nice to know that even when she sometimes faltered, he didn't. Smiling softly as he spoke out quieter this time, she murmured an equally soft* You said that already...*she smiled still as she watched him fall into a sleep, remembering the exhaustion she had seen in his eyes earlier and wondering what nightmare he had lived through today. Her thumb gently traced his lips as she spoke out loud quietly, careful not to wake him* I wont let anything happen to you either. *Brushing a strand of her now tangled hair behind her ear, she shifted so she could lay her head agains his chest. His steady heartbeat and even breathing were her lullaby, and the falling and rising of his chest the movement that rocked her back to sleep.*

[fycourtera]

{chapter sixteen: 12} sin, jasper/outlaws

Ronald: It's still warm. *Crouching suddenly, with his wand still out, he held up the scant woman's shawl, warmth against the pads of his fingers. Someone had slept wrapped in this...someone who was still close, someone who he would be finding. His father had trusted him with this command. He would not let him down. Three other parties were still out in the forest searching too: all led by more experienced men, some of whom were currently under his orders, but he had the command. He had no intention of letting him down on his first assignment. No one complained, despite his young age. They knew perfectly well he was being groomed with command. The trouble, Ronald knew, was plainly that they were men they tracked: the four who had escaped twelve hours ago.This woman's shawl meant either they were joined with someone else now or...but no, he wouldn't think about that yet. (Even so, he sent a quick prayer to the sky that if not a willing companion, she had dropped the shawl on purpose).* Spread out. There's a pond nearby. Perhaps they stopped for a drink. *His knee cracked as he hopped back to his feet too quickly, brushing his fingers off and tucking in the belt on his waist for evidence. Grunts of approval and understanding were all he was gifted with in return; they were all too focused. The sentiment was shared. The memories from last night were burned in his mind. As he separated from most, he kept one man on his side, Paul Baker. The second son of a distant cousin of his mothers'--he didn't remember how they were related, he didn't care, Paul was the best bowman he had with him. Hearing the sharp, defined snap as twine was pulled back, he didn't look over his shoulder. His wand in one hand, and his sword in the other, he found himself stilled by the sight: a girl standing at the edge of the pond, still in a party gown, her arms locked around her shoulders. She didn't look at the men with her -- instead she had her eyes somewhere on the distance, dazed and unfocused. Four familiar faces to him -- how those images burned in his mind -- knelt beside the pond, shoving their faces in the water, patting their hair, their backs, with apparent lack of concern towards the girl. Ron frowned, holding Paul's shoulder to keep him back and nodding once to keep him quiet. A gestural, furious but utterly silent conversation quickly took place. Paul wanted to take out the men from here. Ron knew perfectly well there would be enchantments of some kind - hadn't they learned last night these men were not easily taken? - and besides, they had their orders. They were to be captured alive. More worrisome to Ronald, they could not make an obvious, forward assault. They would kill the girl. He suddenly hissed as she spun--slowly, as if moving through a dream. A flash went through his mind--those pretty blue eyes, the white cut-through dress dry, oh, God, he remembered her. Pressing his lips together tightly as he regarded her, still beneath the trees, his hand pushed tighter into the tree trunk. Seized with fury, he only went still as he realized she saw him. There was a breathless, extended moment of panic. Then he nodded at her, mouthing 'It's going to be all right' --and laid his finger on his lips.* Jasper: *They had to stop to rest. He knew that, despite the lengthy journey still ahead of them. He didn't know the exact destination, for Timothy's helpful advice had just been "there's some caves in them mountains" -- reminding him why he was in charge here, reminding them all. Still, all night they had spread trails behind them, cast spells in different directions to confuse scents for dogs, leave false footprints and magical traces to avoid tracking. The memories from the evening were weighing heavily on him, thinking about his fallen friends. Just like Ralph, he thought - an arrow in his heart - gone just like him, and it was all their fault. All those nobles, with their stupid fanciful ideas of playing God with their lives. Couldn't they just have left them all alone? They were fine, weren't they, he and Ralph, just the two of them. His brother's name echoed through a head strangely empty. He had a headache, and he didn't think that fair--he thought something in his head had ripped, a connection had severed. Least he couldn't hear Joel's thoughts anymore. Man had the strangest fantasies. Their companion had awoken while they stood arguing about the safest path to the mountains, but she hadn't said anything. Jasper wasn't sure why that was. He had thought she would scream, which was why he'd wrapped linen around her mouth--had thought she would demand in a high-an'-toity tone to be taken back to her family. They'd be given a last name, like it's supposed to impress them, and then a threat of knights coming down on their heads. Wasn't that what nobles did? Throw their names around like the gold they hoarded, expecting the world to react as if they were Gods? Yet this one said nothing. She just stared at him, and well, those eyes he imagined pretty normally, were terribly judgmental in his opinion. Strange. He couldn't say why they'd taken her. She'd been on the ground, two others knocked out beside her, but for some reason he couldn't touch 'em -- A shield spell , something whispered in his mind -- and she was enough of a hostage to escape with, he thought. Then it just seemed kinda wrong to leave her stranded in the forest, wasn't it? Least he could do was try to give her a meal of sorts, considering she'd been so helpful in giving them an escape, so he'd untied the linen, undid the spells on her wrists handed her bread. Joel had complained about that, said he didn't know how much he could cook, but she had to eat too. They weren't cruel, he thought miserably, rubbing the sore little M on his wrist. He'd tried to ask her what family she was from, thinking if they left her somewhere they'd just have to send a message to the nobles where and the cavalry would get her -- but still she was mute. Fine. Let her starve. Ungrateful noble wench, he thought. * Joel: *Pork. Salted pork with peas and cranberry sauce. That would be quite nice, at the moment. Better than squirrel, which he had insisted to the men it was rabbit. Harry bought it pretty easily, the buffoon. Then again, maybe he just wanted to believe something was actually good for once. Instead of the pain, the anger, the fury. He buried his face in the handfuls of water he had. For a moment he thought he could drown in it, maybe then he wouldn't need to suffer anymore. Maybe then he wouldn't need to keep making food for people who didn't appreciate it, or appreciated him. Bloody idiots. He rubbed the back of his neck and then spoke up softly without looking up* We should just leave her here, she'll slow us down. Harry: *he snorted, cleaning a bit of blood off of his brow. Joel talked too much in his opinion. And Timothy talked too little. But he would agree now that the less they talked, the better. They didn't know what could be waiting in the forest around them, how many foes lay waiting in the shadows and the bushes, ready to attack them as if they were a pack of animals. No, animals were treated better, he and his friends had been treated worse than that. Lower than low. He hated them, all of them. He hated that girl too.* Shoulda killed 'er last night. Joel: *he frowned, somehow finding that not right. Not right at all. They shouldn't kill the girl because...because...* It's not last night, anymore. Harry: *He rolled his eyes, looking up at the girl. She was pretty, but horribly indecent. Those nobles just had no sense of morals, of any kind. Godless, all of them. And they were supposed to be the children of Satan? The thought angered him* Oi, lass, whut're you looking at? Sid: *It was all so strange. Opening her eyes and finding herself in a place she had no idea about, with people she did not recognize. There was a small voice in her head that told her to panic, but what good would panicking do? No, instead she retreated into herself, trying to remember something or anything. She struggled with her own name, what she called herself. Was it different from what others called her? Who were these others and were there any? Maybe she knew this men, but that didn't seem right either. If they knew her, they wouldn't tie her up. She stayed quiet, merely moving to rub at her wrists and mouth when she was released. All the questions the man had asked, she had no answer for. What good was answering if she did not know the answer? She'd annoy them, she kept silent. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her shoulders. Warmth would have been nice. Anything would have been nice. She sighed, frowning to herself. She couldn't very well follow them forever. She had a strange suspicion that they didn't like her...that didn't feel right either. Nothing felt right, and the frustration was starting to catch up with her. She looked down at the water for a moment, taking in her reflection. Her hair was rather long, and it was in tangles. Leaves and twigs stuck out of it. She had a few scratches on her face and arms, her bottom lip was split. Oh, maybe that's why it hurt to lick them. She wished she could recall how she got that. The men had been talking about an attack, had she been there? Why did they take her? Who was she? Who was she? She turned away from her reflection, getting aggravated with it and then stilled as she saw someone in the trees. She regarded him curiously, her eyes searching his for intent. He had a weapon in his hand, a sword, and another...another- a wand. Yes, it returned to her. A wand, she had a wand too. She had magic. Did those men behind her have magic too? As far as she could tell they didn't have wands. She didn't make any moves to the newcomer either as he urged her to stay silent. Well, that she could do easily. Turning back around as she was addressed, she looked at the one they called Harry. He looked like a rat. A big, yellow, rat, whiskers and all. Why could she remember that an animal such as a rat existed but she couldn't recall her own name? Angry tears threatened to spill out of her eyes as she kept her gaze locked on the man's* Harry: *off put by her constant gaze, he looked back at the other men, frowning* She's stupid. *He didn't want her around, girls were just trouble. Every trouble he had ever gotten into was because of either girls, or nobles.* Joel: That's an awful thing to say *he frowned as well, looking back up at the girl. She didn't look stupid, she just looked like a girl. Actually she looked a little scared. Was his cooking really that bad? He would ask, but she wouldn't answer him* Maybe she don't got a tongue- *he paused, stopping his movements before leaning in closer to Jasper, whispering* Someone's close. Jasper: Migh' be she hasn't. *He hadn't thought of that. Peering back curiously a moment, he considered checking, thinking they could ask her to write her name down. And wouldn't Arleen be proud he could still remember the lessons? He snorted at the thought, shaking water out of his hair, stilling as Joel whispered. Swallowing on a suddenly dry, tight through, he cupped another gulp of water between his palms and downed it. Then he nodded curtly at his companions, to acknowledge Joel -- he wasn't incapable of manners after all, just adverse -- and to signal the men. Blasted nobles -- how had they found them? Swiveling to eye the girl angrily -- she'd done something, she had, it must've been her. All thoughts of letting her go gone in an instant in his aching head, he stepped towards her while craning his head, arching his neck to see the risk.* Easy, girl. *He spoke it softly as he stopped in front of her, eyes behind her.* No one has to get hurt. *He paused as he spoke, realizing -- well, why did he give a damn, really, she could die - it wasn't nothing to him. He'd even enjoy it, he knew now from experience-- knew that connection to the magic they'd had their eyes opened to, knew what was really possible.* Might be you can just serve to get us out of this after all. *He took her arm -- maybe not particularly lightly, but she was a hostage after all, and noble at that, so the hell did he care anymore? He frowned, his thoughts interrupted by a calm, but sudden shout.* Ronald: *Letting out a curse under his breath as he realized they were aware of their company, he sent Paul to the side, so he could come up on the other way--sent a quick message to their reinforcements which bank of the small pond to come towards, knowing at the very least they were surrounded. But he couldn't wait, not now, the blonde one had already taken the girl's arm again, saying things that made his stomach churn honestly--and here he was praying that was the worst she'd had to endure. Blood boiling, he struggled to keep his voice taut and calm, calling out as he finally simply stepped forward,* You don't want to do that. *He kept one hand on his drawn sword, the other on his wand, but his eyes were on the girl.* Jasper: *Ah, see, there they were. Well, one was. There was no way he was alone, Jasper's eyes narrowed, knowing how they worked. The sword amused him, as did that fancy suit of armor that seemed to drip coins to him, expensive as it were. His jawline tightened, envying the suit. Maybe he'd take it after he killed this one. Ralph has -- had -- a suit, not so nice...but a good one, he'd gotten work with it, even though he'd been supposed to be building shoes with him, not smithing, he'd made it himself. He hated this man in front of him, the hate a ready emotion, sickeningly easy to reach. And he couldn't care it made so little sense.* I don't? *He sounded amused, tightening his grip on her, perfectly ready to cast another spell to keep her immobile if he needed to.* Ronald:  No one has to get hurt? *He echoed the words incredulously. As if they'd given a damn about that last night. As if they hadn't murdered his friend's father, as if they hadn't killed his comrade, three other innocents, injured dozens more -- as if they weren't rampant, killers with no moral compass, but fine, if they wanted to go that way? It did make his job of capturing them alive easier.* You're right. *Breath quick yet steady, he shook his head a fraction of an inch.* Let her go, come with us quietly, and no one else will. *He couldn't help the last, tiny jibe, a tight snarl with a drawn lip--and all right, maybe he was buying Paul time.* Better than what you deserve. Jasper: You know what, noble--*his tone dripping as if he'd said a poisonous word*--you might be right about that, might just be but--all the same to you, I'd rather not hang. And seems to be there's one of you--and uh--I though' you were supposed to be able to count, anyway, thought we were the beasts? *He jabs his fingers between them--as he did so, Timothy raised his hands right on cue-- counting for show, other hand still tight on the girl's arm* Ronald: *exhales through gritted teeth, but he smirked slowly* Oh, I'm not alone. And I'm not asking, either. *He cast quickly, not expecting it to go through, blocked by the big one with the stick instantly. He grimaced, feeling a sudden drain of magic as he did so -- but it worked, the block, he thought, had lowered the shield around them. Long enough for an arrow of Paul's to get through, nearly hooking the one still licking his fingers before he jumped to avoid it. As the man in front of him spun--dragged the girl--Ron snapped his wrist down, narrowly avoiding a shot of vibrant green and catching the man with one of red, blasting them apart. As the trees around them erupted with spells --finally, his men were there -- he went straight to the girl, running with a speed he wasn't aware he had still, after last night, in time to catch her before she submerged.* Hey...I got you-- *His voice was soothing, smooth as he breathed out, holding on gently, looking behind them, grateful to see the spells raging, but focused on her.* --it's all right.. Sid: *holding her ground came easily to her, that was good. She didn't know exactly why she didn't back away, why she hadn't already tried screaming and running and calling for help, but it gave her some sort of odd comfort. Maybe she had endured worser things than this. She stared the man down, he seemed like the leader. The big man was almost never the leader, he was the muscle, and the other two weren't...she didn't know how to put it. This one in front of her made her more wary than the other two. She didn't move, didn't wince as he took her arm, she didn't dare to. She looked back out at the man who came forward, surprised to see him looking at her. What was he doing? That wasn't particularly smart. She looked at her captors, for lack of a better term, hoping they wouldn't take advantage of the situation* Harry: *He looked around as Jasper talked to the boy who came forward. Really? They send a boy to come and capture them? Were the nobles that arrogant? Did they still regard them as so little a threat? Even after last night, after paying back everything the nobility had ever done to their kind in full- no, not nearly in full. Not enough.* Kill her, Jasper. Just kill her now, you'll kill her anyway. Joel: *Oh boy, they were in shit, they were in deep pig shit. He almost kicked Harry right then and there too, suggesting to kill the girl. They needed her if they had any hope of getting out of there alive! And threatening to kill one of the nobles own would just make them angry. They needed an escape route. One that didn't involve killing her, maybe only just hurting her, if it got them away. If they hurt her, well then they had to take care of her first before going after them? How many of them were they exactly? He knew the number would only increase the longer they stood there. And Jasper chose instead to exchange taunts. He huffed, his hands raised, ready to send out a spell as soon as he saw any sudden movements* Sid: Ah- *she pursed her lips after that, annoyed that she had allowed that tiny sound of pain to pass through her lips. Jasper's fingers were bruising her pale skin already. It was almost odd. She hoped she didn't normally bruise that easily. She ignored a jape directed at her about having a voice after all, her eyes narrowed and her jaw tight. And then the fighting began. She kept her gaze attentive, her eyes wide as she surveyed the chaos around her. A flash across her mind showed her an image of shattering glass and flying spells, and a green one that seemed to hit her right in the face. She gasped again, being pulled whichever way like a rag doll before a sudden force had her falling sideways, away from the man's grasp. She exhaled sharply, expecting to come into contact with either the water or the mud only for neither to rise up to meet her, but rather a pair of arms instead. She blinked repeatedly, looking around, breathing heavily only to see the forest again, not a giant room. She didn't know whether to be relieved, or saddened. She nodded feebly as he spoke comforting words quietly. She'd rather he spoke her name, but, he didn't seem to recognize her either. Where was she? She flinched, pushing them both out of the way of a spell, her eyes wide as she stared at the green again, wondering what it could mean, the spell escaped her. He looked back at the man, and breathed out* Go help, I'll be fine. *It was time for works, she decided, as she didn't know how else to express the urgency of those flying spells. She hated it, hated it.* Joel: *They needed to leave, right now. He wiped blood out of his mouth as he watched Timothy pull an arrow out of his shoulder as if it were the most normal thing in the world. They were surrounded, they were never going to get out. His eyes stung with his tears and he quickly grabbed Timothy and Harry.* We gotta go! *Anywhere but there didn't normally seem like destination enough, but that would just have to do. After Harry grabbed Jasper's shirt, he spun on the spot and left with a pop, concentrating enough to take all of them with him* Ronald: *Holding tightly as she suddenly shoved him, he let her direct him out of the path of a spell. The vibrant stream, chockfull of fatality fell behind them, making him curse under his breath. It was too familiar. The urgency in her exhale, telling him to go made him nod, but even as he turned, eyes widened in disbelief he watched them disapparate, and turned to Armand. The anger in his expression and gaze meant Ronald didn't have to even ask -- he was sworn to a half dozen times he had cast the disapparation ward before attacking, just as he'd been told to do, that they must have disarmed it. When Ronald bit his lip, there was blood. He looked sideways to the girl, his face falling in concern: she looked confused more than hurt, but either way, he wanted to help. There was something in his gaze that held his, left him enthralled. Exhaling, he spoke without looking away from her.* Then search the area, see if they left any clue as to where they went. *There were murmurs of ascension, even as he added* And Paul -- *He turns to look at him, receiving a knowing glance in return. Ronald kept his chin held high; he wasn't ashamed.* Report to the Lord Commander -- *It always felt weird to refer to his father as such. You'd think he'd be used to it after six years, but to him, he was simply his father.* --I'll join you as soon as *he nods to her, feeling it would be unseemly to say "her" or "she" but realizing he didn't have her name* is seen home. *They listened quickly, clearly eager to see if there was any clue: to have come so close and lose them grated on them all, and he could see it on their faces. For the half second he managed to look away from her. Moving a little closer, he waited until they were gone to ask gentler, keeping his hands now where she could see them in case she was afraid of being grabbed.* I deeply apologize, milady, for all of this. *He presses his lips together tightly; glad they at least had rescued her, but certain she would have wanted them captured as much as he did.* We will find them. *He swears it: it isn't a threat, or even a promise at that moment. It was a fact. Keeping his gaze soft on hers, his eyes are still wide with wonder as he regards her, and says quietly.* I saw you last night, I wish I could have introduced myself then, but. *He nods, a half bow.* Ronald Faye, milady. A knight of Faye. *Or to be a knight, but regardless. As he meets her gaze again, he says softer.* Were you visiting? Can I help you get home? Sid: *She had wrapped her arms around her shoulders again, watching the men disappear in front of her eyes with a pop. Looking on, she realized she could do that. Or...well it certainly did look familiar. She looked back up as all the men in armor stepped forward, but she didn't know if she could feel safe. It rather felt like she was being passed around. She looked up again at the man who had caught her, feeling a little calmer to look at him instead. She didn't know who she was, but he had a nice face, a kind one. And he seemed to be in charge, at least he was ordering the men around him to search for clues towards the escaped men. Maybe she should tell him that the men had meant to find caves, that's what she had heard waking up. But she didn't know if she wanted those men hurt...she couldn't be sure. The yellow rat-like one had wanted to kill her, but...oh, damn it all. She wiped at her eyes as she frowned, frustration seeping in as she exhaled, looking away for a moment. She watched the other men retreat, and soon it was just her and the man who had caught her. He called her m'lady, was she really a lady? Where was she? She nodded, confused, when he said they would find him. It didn't seem that unlikely- the men in armor had already found them once, why couldn't they do it again? Straightening up a bit as she hears him say he saw her, her mouth dropped open. He might know something after all, at the very least, he knew where she had been yesterday. A knight? Well, that explained the armor. And if she was a lady...where was Faye? She didn't recall a 'Faye', she recalled...she remembered...that exploding room. And some sort of...castle? She might have stomped her foot in the ground, instead she wiped at her eyes again and then shook her head, looking as lost as she felt* I...I don't know where that is. *she licked her lips as she looked at the knight, Ronald Faye. He shared a name with this place? A town?...She hoped he didn't mean the forest.* You saw me last night? Where? Did you see who I was with? What *she breathed out* what happened? Ronald: *She didn't know where Faye was? Confusion spread across his lips before he realized suddenly, sadly, she was suffering from some kind of amnesia -- trauma induced, he assumed. It wasn't that surprising. They all had lived through a hell of an evening, and it was taking it's weary, terrifying sleep-depriving toll. As his eyes widened, he lifted a hand to his neck, wiping sweat and dirt off and throwing it to the ground. He waited an instant, trying to figure out how best to explain, a blush creeping up his neck as he realized he didn't actually know who she had been with. When he'd seen her, he hadn't been able to look away from her...just as he didn't feel he could right now. He kept his voice steady and soft.* Faye is a town -- well town, and manor, it's through the forest that way. *He nods in direction, pointing with a brief gesture. Still his eyes stayed on her pretty blue ones, the gaze striking even when clouded with confusion, making the word 'pretty' inadequate with false compare.* My uncle is the Lord of it, hence my last name. In my defense, it's actually the town named for us. *His lips twitch a bit, his cheeks still flushed.* I'm afraid I...don't remember who you were with, it....I apologize, you - ah - were wearing, well are...*he reached down now suddenly for the shawl, thinking it had to be hers, reaching to wrap it around her shoulders gently.* ...you're beautiful. *He summarized, save himself further embarrassment. His voice went more serious with his gaze as he tried to answer the last question* There was a ball, do you remember that at all? We were attacked...*He bit his bottom lip, then winced and brushed blood from his lip.* Why don't we...go to my home, so you can...*he gestures, stubbornly keeping his gaze on those gorgeous, beautiful, eyes, so as not to betray looking down.* Clean up, have a bath...and then...well, there were a lot of families visiting, but we can find those you were with, I'm sure of it. Sid: *Her eyes followed his gesture, though she didn't know why, it wasn't as if she could see through the trees. And then nodded to show she understood. Right, so he was pretty important then. Not a Lord, after all how could he be Lord if his uncle was Lord? She tilted his head curiously as she noticed something akin to embarrassment on Ronald's face. Momentarily forgotten as he admitted not remembering, her face crumpled as most of the hope vanished with that statement quickly. Looking back up at him as he complimented her, a small smile on her face as she grabbed the shawl to secure it around her shoulders. Well, as long as he had a good reason for his distraction. As he mentioned an attack, she realized dimly that that must be what she remembered. She nodded, a bit unsure* I do remember...screams. Spells. A wall exploding..*A green spell that blinded her. She shivered a bit, and wrapped the shawl tighter around herself. But she could still get glimpses of a castle. And now some sort of...was it stage? She couldn't be sure. Focusing on Ronald's words instead, she nodded in gratitude, and offered him another smile. It wasn't that difficult to smile at him.* Thank you, ser...that would be appreciated. Ronald: Call me Ron. *The words had left his lips before he realized, smile soft and honest as he relaxed a bit to see her do the same. He was proud of the title, but technically speaking it was one he hadn't been given, at least not until Damocles did officially knight him as he'd told his father he'd sworn to do that morning. However earned the honorific, he preferred to hear his name from her. * Yes...that would be the attack. You're safe now, though, most of those responsible are dead, the others gone as you saw. I won't let anything else happen to you, I promise. *He didn't notice he'd said the nickname instead, either, for surely such familiarity would be improper.The thought was forgotten in an instant as he leaned in the brush a leaf and twig from her hair. Exhale hot as it left his lips, his smile flicked at her. A pause stretched, fingers tangling briefly in ebony strands, pads brushing the tip of her ear. He leaned back to offer his arm, clearing his throat.* I can apparate us to the outskirt, milady. *He nodded to her arm, saying calmly.* Sid: Ron, then. Thank you. *She smiled still, flattered that he wished for her to refer to him in less formal terms. She wouldn't have minded either, the formalities seemed to be coming to her quite easily. Maybe she really was a lady, but she wasn't from here. Where was she from then? She looked down at the dress, thinking that maybe that would give her a clue- it really was quite...risque. But she wasn't feeling embarrassed- perhaps she was used to such dresses? She looked back up and nodded to hear that the danger seemed to be gone, at least for now. She stilled as she watched his hand come up to take some leaves out of her hair, smiling again, feeling quite relaxed as she held his gaze. She looked down as he offered his arm, momentarily confused with the words 'apparate' before she realized what he meant.* The disappearing in thin air, yes? I think I can do that...I have a wand too...but I do not know where it is. *Saying so was not helping anything, however. So instead she nodded and stepped forward to take his arm, after making sure her shawl was still around her shoulders* Ronald: *He nods briefly, realizing he shouldn't be surprised she didn't remember the word 'apparate' -- or did, just was clarifying it -- when she had yet to give him her name. His face furrowed in concern for her. What would it be like to not remember who you were? To be able to live, walk, talk, remember what magic was but not to remember your name. Sorrow clenched at his heart, momentarily distracting him from the vengeance and anger, but as she smiled he did too. Her smile was lovely. Nodding, he disapparated them both to the edge of his family's estate, slipping his arm around her shoulders as they landed, for he was wary of her letting him go and falling to the ground. The estate was not that far from Faye, rising in the distance. He was grateful it was at least a sunny day--it made the day seem brighter, at least, last night farther away. As he released her gently, he asked her quietly.* Is there anything else you remember? I can try to answer whatever you want... Sid: *She might have remembered what apparating was, and the feeling of it might have been familiar as she seemed to travel rapidly as if it was pushing her through a tube, but that didn't mean it wasn't unpleasant. She was glad for his arm around her shoulders, clad in armor as it was, for it kept her balanced and on her feet. After making sure she wasn't too dizzy, she stood up straight again, looking on at the house they appeared in front of. Though it was large, she didn't think she had been accustomed to it herself. Maybe she lived more modestly, yes, that was it. She pursed her lips together as she tried to think further. It was an odd feeling, trying to bring back memories that didn't seem there. It was as if she had forgotten how to remember. She rubbed her eyes again, frustrated* I remember...a stage. *At least she thought, it was a stage* Not looking at one, but...standing there. The lights blinding my face, but it's not...unpleasant. *Was she a performer of some kind? Had she been brought to Faye for that. She looked back at Ron* I'm not from here...we're in England, yes? *She realized that quickly, but it hadn't come from memory, it wasn't an image, it was presenting itself as knowledge. England, it felt familiar, but not really. Maybe she visited often, but it wasn't home.* Ronald: *Confused, for most ladies didn't work on a stage--didn't work period--it didn't show on his face, for the thought of her potentially acting enthralled and interested him. Grin flicking, he nods, saying lightly* Yes, it is England. That would explain why I have never seen you, though, for surely I would remember having encountered such a rare beauty. There were many foreign visitors last night though...Some Irish, Scottish, Spanish, French...? *His words were court-practiced, but he had a sincerity of tone he didn't commonly use. Grin softening, he mused gently, wanting to help her but not enjoying thoughts of last night,* Faye...pioneered a recent change in law, to outlaw the unjust, untried, frankly downright cruel execution of muggleborns. *He paused, realizing if she was a lady she probably disagreed with that, but he had no trouble speaking his (correct) opinion.* The ball was meant to...well, celebrate the triumph. *He looked sideways as they began walking up the back steps* Does any of this sound familiar? Sid: *A rare beauty, oh, she liked that. Her smile was a wide, and only then did she realize that maybe he was expecting her to be humble and bashful. That didn't seem correct to her- she hadn't acted that way with the captors either. With the smile still on her face, she accused him lightly* You're a flatterer. *Pausing a moment as he relayed the list of invitees, she weighed each decision. She wasn't Irish, she knew that. And she had the vague suspicion she had mocked the Scottish accent at least once. Mocking though? That wasn't particularly nice...maybe she wasn't nice. Spanish and French were ringing a little closer to home. The French more so than the Spanish one, but for some reason she remembered both. Huh. She was momentarily distracted by her potential origin as he continued to explain, the word muggleborn had her pausing, frowning. That wasn't right, that had been just wrong. She was glad his uncle had passed this law then, but why did she feel so strongly about it? Her eyes widened* I'm not a lady. My mother's muggleborn....or a muggle. *She bit her lip, she couldn't remember her face, but the knowledge was there.* My father, he's noble. Russian, I think. Yes...*she bit her lip, not wanting to keep quiet for fear of forgetting everything again* And I think I have a brother, we grew up in France. *She paused walking and then she realized, and with a smile, grabbed his arm, happy to make sense of the whirlpool of jumbled information in her head* Carmen! *she clarified* The opera? I had a speaking role, the innkeeper, because I don't think I sing very well. That was my first role. *Oh this was wonderful, she had something to go on. She wondered if she was well known, or just starting out. Did she forget how to act as well? She hoped not.* Ron: *Listening closely, he nodded once: he had begun to suspect she was muggleborn visiting -- or half, apparently. Quietly frustrated, for as Damocles had not required a guest list of any kind to those who weren't pureblood families, there was no way for him to go look up a list of "french muggleborn who attended", but he was sidetracked from this thought as he looked at her. His words were genial.* Really? *He blinked, saying frankly, and with honest delight.* You'd never know you weren't, from the way you carry yourself. *His smile widened. Then again, if her father was noble, it wasn't that surprising she had learned the graces. He adds honestly,* Either way, you're a lady to me. Did your brother come as well...? *That was promising...if she had a brother with her, there was a frantic person somewhere looking for her, he was sure. Suddenly sidetracked as she grabbed his arm, his grin widened in happiness for her.* Wonderful! And see, now I have a name to call you until you remember more. *His lips twitched.* Carmen. I am utterly delighted to meet you. Sid: *That was true, but...she was French, maybe it was just a French thing. But she had never lived at a court, properly...maybe she had visited, and that's why she knew to be courteous* Well, I still wear corsets. There's only really one way to carry yourself while wearing one without looking like Quasimodo. *she paused, smiling again. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. French. And she thought, one of her favorites. Maybe. She liked Esmeralda, at the very least. Frowning as she tried to remember about her brother, or indeed how her brother even looked like, she bit her lip and then shook her head* No. I do not think so...I do not recall arriving with anyone. Maybe I came here by myself? I can't be too sure. *she bit her lip. Going to a ball unescorted, that was almost as scandalous as the dress she wore. Smiling again, she laughed once as he referred to her as Carmen, wrinkling her noise as she tried out the name* Carmen....well, I suppose it will have to do for now. *she smiled before realizing she still had his arm in her hold and let her hand fall, continuing to walk again. The house only seemed to get bigger as they got nearer. Her brows furrowed for a moment* What if I don't remember much else? If I can't recall where home is? Ronald: *He chuckles, nodding once.* I suppose that's true. I wouldn't know from experience, but. *His lips flick.* I approve of corsets, I must say. ...for anyone but my sister. *Sofya should still be wearing pigtails, in his opinion, though she had never really been one for them. More often she had just braided her hair to tuck it back (always leaving a strand free for her to admire, he imagined) and grabbed a horse in the stables, but still, he was not unaware of how many had been looking at her the previous day. If there was anything good after last night, it was that she had been interrupted dancing with...whomever it was she was dancing with, that Benjamin had stayed away from her after. Small victories, he supposed. Carmen weighed the name, and he grinned back, only just realizing as she did they were still intwined and letting her go at once without looking away from her eyes. If she didn't come with her brother -- the thought of her unescorted...he wished he'd been able to ask her for a dance -- then they would just have to find another way to get her home. His look softens as he holds the door open for her, gesturing she should enter first, looking for a servant he would be able to ask to draw her a bath and escort her to a room. At the question, he turns back to her, expression still soft--but with a sudden earnest.* I am sure you will. Look how much has come back already...the rest will come. It was a rough night for...a lot of people. Sid: *She raised an eyebrow in amusement, lips twitching, at how plainly he stated his fondness of corsets* Of course you do. *He was male, so of course. She was fond of them too, despite the fact that they made breathing difficult. It was the price of beauty, she supposed. She often wore a lot of corsets both for her roles and regular coming and goings. Though, admittedly, she was having the most trouble trying to figure out her life away from the stage. Was she that focused on her trade? Perhaps.* I'm sure your sister thanks you for your protectiveness. *Her brother wasn't that protective of her...no, he wasn't. She couldn't remember his name, or his face, but she knew that. Good lord, why couldn't she remember her family? Urging the frown to go away as she walked through the door, she nods slowly at his words* I hope so...*biting her lip as she looks at him, she asks another question* And your parents won't mind you offering a strange woman shelter? *It was a sincere question, she didn't want to get him in trouble after all, he had been so kind, but she couldn't stop herself from a small joke as she tilted her head* For all you know, this could be all part of my plan to lull you into a false sense of security. Ronald: *He laughed once, shaking his head in bemusement. Sofya complained about it more often than not. What a crime of his, he thought, to love his sister so much. A crime he and Leigh shared, he knew. Winking, he answered easily.* To hear her speak, you should think I and my brother put her in a high tower. And that we cut her hair to avoid someone coming up it. The latter is the worse crime to her of course, she's very proud of her red hair. *He wasn't quite sure why he was able to speak so easily, so openly of his family with a near complete stranger. Hearing a voice suspiciously sounding like Emmett's tease him mentally about his weakness for the fact that Carmen was simply, drop-dead gorgeous, (hypocrite) he suddenly laughed as she brought that up as well. Tilting his head, he thought through a bright laugh, wishing it sounded as sweet as hers. It was gruffer, he knew, a sound rough even as he chastened it to not be reminiscent of a knight in a tavern. Grinning, he spoke candidly still.* You mean you might be acting right now even? And to think, how easily I am taken in. *His lips flick, but he says courteously, finally signaling a maid as she entered the room. His eyes were kind as he looked back at her.* But no, my parents would be angry to think I did anything less. It is a knight's duty, milady. *He paused to edit in a soft tease.* Carmen. *Turning to the maid as she approached (she had startled momentarily at Carmen's appearance, and he supposed that shouldn't have surprised him. He spoke still kind, not caring it was a maid with whom he spoke, though he supposed there was still a tone of command to his words.* Anna, can you please find a spare room for our guest, and take her there to relax, make herself presentable? I'm sure Sofya has some dress she could borrow...if they don't fit, try my mother's closet. *He looks back at her, saying with a small smile.* Anna is one of our best. *He nods at the maid without looking at her.* If there is anything else I can get you....? Sid: *She smiled as he told her of his sister, happy to realize she understood the reference to Rapunzel. She hadn't lost everything, she realized with relief. Apparently just the important things, like her parents and her brother. But something told her she did not quite appreciate her parents. At least not her father, he might not have been at all present. Still, it was nice to hear some normal sibling quips* It sounds like your sister and I would get along. *He had a nice laugh, she thought to himself as her smile widened to hear his amusement. But of course, every other trait of his had been pleasant so far, it was only fit that the laughter followed suit.* There's no discounting the possibility, *she teased lightly, smiling still only to nod as he ensured her that it was no trouble, lips flicking at the way he said her temporary name. She turned to the maid as well, pretending not to notice her look of surprise (she didn't mind it), greeting her with a small wave. She was nothing if not polite...at least, she thought she was, so she ran with it. Turning back to look at Ron, she shakes her head* You've done more than enough already, ser, Ron. *her lips twitch a moment before she smiles* I won't keep you from your work. *No doubt he had to go report to someone about the men in the forest, muggleborns, she realized now. The thought made her sad, that these men had attacked a party in their honor. Pursing her lips, she stepped closer to him to reveal in a softer voice* The men? They spoke of some caves. That's all I heard. Ronald: *He grinned at the thought: an image presenting itself of Sofya and Carmen in the sitting room, amiable and laughing. The thought was warm, caused a swelling delight, though he wasn't sure why. Still he nodded, a shoulder shrugging.* She's around here somewhere. *The house was expansive, of course, but he had learned as a young child it was easy to locate someone. There was a ready made network of servants who half the time seemed to live for gossip, and as such knew where most of them were at all times. It also wasn't half the size of the manor at court but, but he was glad of that. He, Sofya and Leigh had all explored every inch of the estate as well, and knew nooks the others preferred to hide in. The thought gave him pause. After last night, it was likely Sofya was on a horse actually, unless there was a way Leigh was coming home. He'd written his brother himself, of course, but it was sure to be a brief note in comparison to the tome Sofya and their mother would send. He was equally sure Hogwarts would allow the younger children home for a brief visit - a day or two - to soothe worried minds, and was looking forward to it. He was anxious without a response from Leigh, even knowing it was irrational, that his brother had been safe and he'd been the one putting himself in danger. Even that morning, as he rode out hoping to catch murderers and thieves, so accomplished with their deceit they had confused even the Knights with their trail, so accomplished with their terror they had taken a young girl apparently for no purpose--he hoped it was no purpose, for she did not seem traumatized in that way, and thus would not bring it up. Yet he couldn't think of the trip as a failure, even if a report would read as such, for Carmen was safe now. He would insure that stayed true. Smiling, he accepted her gratitude with a nod, saying easily,* Then I will leave you, in hopes it will lead to a swifter return. *He was about to withdraw, let Anna help take care of her despite the fact he had the shrewd suspicion she could take care of herself, when she added something that made him turn back. The smile on his lips tightened - he was glad for the information and reminded at once with certainty that he would find them. Lips flicking up, his words were softer as well.* Thank you. That's helpful. I'll see you soon. *His nod of departure was deep as it had been when he met her, even if she wasn't "a lady", for as he'd already told her, she was to him.*  Sid: *Oh, well, hopefully she didn't run into his sister without her being informed that they had a strange person taking a bath and borrowing her clothes, that would have been awkward. His words of hoping for a swift return made her smile again, feeling a bit warmed by the sentiment. She nodded as well after they exchanged final farewells, watching him walk away quite unashamedly. Biting her lip for a moment as a soft smile still graced her lips, she turned to Anna and greeted her warmly.* Anna, yes? Lovely to meet you. Please, call me Carmen. *She smiled as she took Anna's arm, shocking and flustering the woman, but Carmen persisted and complimented the woman's eyes, they truly were a lovely and mysterious grey color. Surely, Anna must have a lot of admirers, and Carmen told her so. They would be the best of friends by the time they got to the room, Carmen would make sure of it. And that way she could find out more about her gracious hosts. Besides, she needed to keep speaking. If she were allowed quiet time to think, she was afraid she might forget again.*

[fycourtera]

{chapter fifteen: 1} alec/sid, blair

Alec: *Sid had managed to get him to the dance floor, then again, no one could ever doubt that Sid wouldn't get what she wanted in the end. What she didn't know was that half of the reason why he ended up asking her for a dance was that he figured that she might attract less attention in the middle of a crowded dancefloor. If he had to see another man, or woman for that matter, drop their jaws on the floor upon catching sight of his girlfriend, Alec was sure that he would forget his chivalrous and respectable nature for favor of a more violent and possessive one.* I'm stealing away to your room tonight, if you couldn't guess that.

Sid: *she bit her lip hard to keep a laugh from leaving her lips and then smirked up at her tall and so easily made jealous hunk of man. She didn't mind it, it was quite entertaining when he got all 'mine!' with her. She was the same with him, as well.* Five galleons says you get caught.

Alec: *his brow popped in delight, looking back at her with a smirk of his own on his face* Oh? A wager. *he teased* You've been spending too much time with Patti.

Sid: *she grins, unable to deny it* In or out darling?

Alec: In *wiggles his eyebrows, smirking with the double meaning, eyebrows cocking but the gesture drops into a more genuine grin as he makes her laugh and lean her head on his chest. Spinning her around and away from him in order to pull her back in, he never got to do that as the walls around them exploded. His hair stood on edge at the back of his neck, as his eyes widened in terror. He grabbed Sid, his wand somehow in his hand already* Blair, where- Blair! *It was useless to shout, he could barely hear the sound of his own voice over the screams and the crashing.*

Sid: *Her wide eyes watered as she saw a man get pierced with dozens of glass shards, a breathless gasp leaving her lips. Her beautiful dream filled with dresses and dancing beauty had been as violently shattered as the walls, windows and ceiling. She fumbled to grab Alec's hand, letting herself be pulled into him as he grabbed her, but she did not see him. Her wide eyes saw the destruction around her. She had never seen so much pain, so much loss, had never seen death. She gasped* Alec, we have to help-

Alec: We have to find Blair, and Jesse and Bhavi *he looked around hurriedly again, moving them through the crowd looking for his sister and friends as he squeezed Sid's hands, his breath heavy and his heart hammering.*

Sid: *nodding repeatedly, she took out her wand, feeling safer with it in her hand. She casted protegos around them as they moved quickly, two pairs of eyes searching for their friends. They ducked the wreckage, moved past broken bodies, and Sid tried not to let tears spill. She had to be brave.* Alec! *she pointed to where she saw Blair, and the two of them ran to her*

Alec: Blair! *He was relieved to see Blair was unharmed with her wand in hand, and let go of Sid's hand for a moment to hug Blair for the quickest of seconds, asking hurriedly* Are you alright? Where's Jesse and Bhavi?! *He hadn't seen them and the more time that went on, the more nervous he became about the safety of his friends.*

Sid: *They had lingered in one place for too long, and someone had noticed. A bear of a man pointed a wooden staff at Alec and Blair from across the room and her heart dropped into a bottomless pit in her stomach.* Alec! *He wouldn't be able to react fast enough, and instinct took over. Barreling into the siblings, she pushed them out of the way just in time. Relief broke over her face a split moment before a green light illuminated her face as the hex found another target instead, her. The expression remained on her face as she dropped to the floor in a tangle of limbs and fabric, and remained unmoving*

Alec: *He had turned as Sid screamed his name, the fear multiplying to think that she had gotten hurt but found himself staring at a green light heading he and Blair's way, and then he wasn't. He stumbled to the floor, Blair next to him and it was with a horror that he saw Sid, the girl he loved, fall as well.* No, nonono, NOOO! *His long limbs fumbled as he crawled over to her, his eyes filling with tears as he pulled her into his arms, turning her over* SID! *He cupped her cheek, his mouth trembling as he stared, breath leaving him in a rush and not returning.* Sid wake up! *he shook her, hoping she'd forgive him for doing so as he knew how much she hated being woken up that way. She had to be knocked out, that's all, she had to be.* Sid! *the tears fell freely now as his chest shook with the force of his labored breathing, of his sobs.* No, no, you're not- wake up! Wake u- *he took his wand and pointed it at her chest* Ennervate! *Nothing. He tried again* Ennervate!! *The same result no matter how often he repeated it, the words ceasing to be a spell, but rather a cry, a plea for some miracle to happen. He rested his forehead against hers, eyes closing like hers were and he sobbed, his pain being too much to bear inside, he wanted to share it with everyone. She couldn't be dead...she couldn't be. She was going to do so much- they were going to do so much. She wanted the world and that was how the world repaid her. That was how the world repaid him, by taking his love away.*

Blair: *She had been dancing with a "Thomas"--(he'd only been a stranger for the first dance, for after that she knew his last name, his job, his girl's name, that he was Leah's brother, and she'd answered a half-dozen odd questions he had on if she could forgive someone from breaking her best friend's heart if the friend already had. Well, that she tried to answer. Really she thought it depended on the whose and wheres and whys and other particulars-the best advice she had was something her father had told her about the journey of love being unpredictable, which her mother had interrupted and said he was paraphrasing Shakespeare, which he'd had a lopsided grin and a "so?" in response to-- thinking of her parent's made her smile. 

Only for a moment. 

The next she found Thomas ripped away from her, disappearing behind a column--oh sweet baby that was seconds from dropping on her. Ripping her wand out, it only occurred to her while she flung herself at the ground secondarily it was probably more effective if she spoke curses. Well, curses not of the Aunt Kim variety. What the hell was going on!? That column was definitely standing 135 years from now. Scrambling to her feet, she ignored skid marks on her knees and bruises on her wrists-horrified as she saw Thomas away from her, his head cracking on the wall, but the next moment she could see nothing but bright spells and rubble. Alec, she thought panicked--and she might have yelled it, her brother's name suddenly a prayer. While she ran, all she could think was they had to survive this, or their parents would kill them. All of them. Sid and Bhavi and Jesse and--oh thank God Kale didn't come. Twice. Maybe they could  get UncleJude on their side, but mercy if Uncle Brandin got involv--* Alec! 

She was breathing out in relief as she saw him relatively unhurt, slamming into him in a quick hug, arms more slapping his back than embracing him, but she shut her eyes and found herself pretending she was five, and he was almost-seven, and they were on her bed listening to stories of knights and dragons, lords and ladies, disguised princesses and forbidden love sparked at a ball just like this one instead of living a nightmare. That ball didn't end like this, a truthful voice chided her, but she snapped back pointedly--it had, it had ended in a year later in dragon flames and Portia's death and her mother had stabbed the vampire before he killed her and her father killed the woman behind it all while she impersonated Mum--and they had still won, they had. Cause Damocles and Maeve drove out the knights and showed mercy and her parents--they were together, reunited, forever. And cause they had them. These were the thoughts running through her mind in their fifteen second smack of an embrace--before Sid shrieked, before Sid shoved them sideways, before Sid fell. Her mind froze. More bruises blossomed up her side, her arm sliced open--but she noticed none of it, pain couldn't register, her heart wouldn't work, couldn't actually, couldn't cause it was ripped from her chest when her brother yelled, stuck only a moment in her throat before a hard cough spat it out. The rough shriek of refusal or horror deadened her. No. It hadn't--no. Sid was her friend, the girl she'd teased her brother about for years before he had the nerve to ask her out, the girl who helped braid her hair in ribbons and who she asked for advice when Kale had first kissed her--just don't tell Alec I asked, Blair had made her swear and Sid had laughed, that haughty and high and wonderful laugh full of bells and life. Alec shook her as Blair collapsed beside them, wondering how she could breathe without a working heart. And how she could see through a flood. It was like she'd opened her eyes in the pool--they stung as if with chlorine but she kept them open anyways, determinately looking at her brother...and Sid. And Sid. Then she laughed--a bitter choked twisted stunt of a laugh, her brother's head had bowed forward, a golden little chain seeming to wink at her as it lit with another discarded spell flying overhead.* Alec. *she whispered it, and whether he heard her or not, she reached forward and touched the chain, watery eyes locked on his and she knew her meaning was clear. They were their parents children after all--born from two centuries, of Rowland and Rebecca Stone. And they could do anything.*

Alec: *red eyes looked up as he heard Blair though the whisper sounded like it was coming from miles away instead of right next to him. His sister who looked equally as pained as he felt. Sudden understanding rocked him backwards, grabbing the chain around his neck and gripping it tightly. His breath caught in his mouth- time travel. His mind already rushed through the books upon books of theory he had read, on practical use. If they went back and tried to stop this...how could they stop this without creating a a fracture in time, or worse a paradox? He breathed out finally, looking at Sid again he pressed a brief kiss to her lips before he took Blair's hand and stood up with her, leading her away from the middle of the room, they needed a corner. Dodging spells, glass, and stone was easy compared to what they were going to do* We cant let anyone see us once we're back *he explained breathlessly, his eyes still red but now narrowed in determination* we're probably already here, which means what just...what just happened *he rubbed at his chest, biting his lip, not having realized it was already split* has to happen again, but with a missed detail, something, anything that would let us save her-- *he pulled her into a nook, taking the time turner off his neck and putting it around both of theirs and then he paused, looking at Blair again* If we use this now, we can't go back home. It would take me...years, to fix it and get it working again and even then...*his breathing was erratic but he had already made up his mind- he was willing to risk it for a world without Sid was too unbearable. But he wasn't the only one affected here.*

Blair: *following him instantly--she gripped his hand tight for support, knowing it had to kill--no, don't use that word, it was too hard, too..possible-- to -hurt- him to walk away from her. Spells, glass and marble seemed to melt away from them, leave them untouched--for what else could hurt them now? In the nook with him, she hugged herself close, listening intently. He knew more than she did--her idea extended as far as "rewind time and yank Sid out of the way"--and only part of her understood why they couldn't. Her breathing quick as he slipped the chain around her neck, she bit her lip and said slowly* We stay here. Watch for whose casting spells this way--you deflect it. *bites her bottom lip and says quietly* Then...then I knock her out, cast the spell at us, and..and continue casting protegos so your ennervates don't work? Until we see us leave her and then you get her and--and we go in there--*she points to an adjacent room & then her eyes go wide as he continues, her heart skipping a beat. But there was no hesitation. She squeezed his hand, her hand cupping his cheek* Then we stay. We won't leave her--and you know Bhav and Jess would agree. *quieter--but certain* So would Mum & Dad. *slides her arms around his neck to hold on, taking a steadying breath, before quiet, firm words* I understand. We won't be seen. Go, Alec.

Alec: *He nodded along with what she said, finding the logic sound and he would have been proud of her quick thinking in any other situation, but he was currently having difficulty doing anything besides worry. But worrying would be detrimental to their efforts, and they had one chance to see this through , to bring her back. He waited anxiously, seeing comprehension dawn on her face, yet it did not change her answer, and for that he was grateful. He nodded, looking around again before lifting the time turner. It didn't need much- an eight of a turn would do it. And just maybe if he didn't exert the time turner spun, and time rewinded, literally passing before their very eyes. Once it stopped, he took it off Blair again and tucked it into his shirt. Grabbing her hand, they only just gotten there when the explosions began.*  Stay here *he let go of her hand* I need to be closer to the attacker, I can't see him from here-- be safe. *He hugged her quickly again, exhaling with a short breath. He was not intent on losing anymore loved ones tonight. Then he ducked out, moving quickly, making sure he wasn't spotted by himself and Sid. He gripped his wand in his hand as he looked around, seeing where past them were but where- oh no. The man was already moving his lips to cast the spell.* Depulso! *he set the man flying backwards but the spell still flew. He sent another spell to try and cancel the other in midair but it was dark magic, and dark magic wasn't so easily deterred...except that spell was. Somehow it became smaller. That did not stop the horror on his face as he had to witness Sid falling again. Saw himself scrambling towards her body. He breathed in and out, wiping at his eyes as he realized with joyous relief that the man hadn't been saying those dreaded words after all. It was another jinx, dark still, but there was hope. There was hope. He ducked to avoid falling ceiling, and waited for past him and Blair to leave Sid's side and then he ran, crouching down to pick her up and there he felt it, what he had been too distraught to see before- her faint, barely there breathing. He met Blair in the room as he kicked through the door* She's alive. *Barely but alive. Blast if only their original plan had worked* I need...I need...*he frowned and set Sid down gently* Blair, I need you to say this spell with me- *he said it to her and repeated it* We have to stop the dark magic before it collapses her internal organs. *That jinx had been lost for centuries, and it was being used by muggleborns freely? Thankfully, the counter curse was generic, difficult, but they had no other choice*

Blair: *The second time she time travelled, and it was no easier--but she was almost grateful for that. Her lungs compressed, her eyes screwed up, salt stuck on her cheeks, her breath cut off, and for a wonderful moment--there was nothing, nothing but her brother's arms and a spinning chain, no pain, no loss. As reality imploded back, it was with a cruel duality of crashes, disorienting her. The imagined explosions of sounds, sights, colors, tastes and worst--emotions smacked into her, but she was more thrown by the quietness of the room. What had seemed initially gloriously bustling and loud was peaceful in comparison to the hell she knew was a minute from being released. Hugging her brother tightly, she did not have the heart to wish him luck--she refused to accept anything but success. Instead she murmured to his cheek three little words and a calm "save her." He went. She ducked back. Her eyes traced the distant column still standing, knowing she was behind it at that moment, dancing, laughing, and pondering forgiveness and love--this was more surreal than arriving in 1904 had been. But her heart twisted at the thought, her throat convulsed as if trying to expel memories caught in her throat. 

Then it started all over again. The sudden shouts, exploding glass, windows bursting out to the terrace, the flashing spells illuminating the room in reds and greens--a mockery of christmas. People falling, people bleeding, people dying--this time she heard a shout that could only be Damocles "To me!--but she spared it not a thought as the column came down again, reminding her bitterly of her father reading of Jericho, and her heart constricted even as she went the way she had to--oh god, how could she see this all again? Nightmares could be woken from, yet this one played live, and twice, by her own choice. Hiding still where she had to, she wished a moment she had taken Alec's space--she wanted to do something, anything, not hide and wait--it was interminable, this purgatory. Yet regret was useless--she tried only to be proud, for taking the job that required hurting Sid, for even knocking her out was something she wanted to spare her brother.

There they were. Her wand came up, eyes tracing the field hurriedly, waiting to see the deflection, so she could replace it--but wait, wait it was coming, it still was headed towards them, and Sid was shoving them down. Trying desperately to cast a protego now, if only to shrink the impact, she swallowed a pained cry as green struck Sid square. It went wrong. 

All wrong. They couldn't try again, they were stuck with a broken time turner a hundred years before her birth and for all of that she watched her brother catch the woman he loved for the second time. Only this time she could not go to his side, could only watch her own self fall beside him--she didn't realize she'd hugged him, didn't remember doing that, didn't think he registered it. If waiting before had been purgatory, this wait was hell itself before she could sprint back, following Alec scoop her up, meeting him, praying desperately beneath her breath. Never more willing than in that moment to accept her father's belief in God, she only wished she could remember a psalm to pray aloud. For all she could seem to remember was "may the lord be with you and with your spirit", and that she would not say. 

She didn't believe Alec's words at first--but it went wrong, she saw it go wrong--it wasn't the unforgivable spell though? Relief breaking across her face only a moment, she fell beside him again, nodding and after a simple-* Alleluia-*she lifted her wand, following his motions, repeating his incantation, thanking God her brother read on these spells in spare time. She'd never call him a nerd again, if only Sid would wake.*

&.

Blair was quick and followed his movements quickly, and while neither of them had ever performed this spell before, as practice was entirely different to theory, they achieved results. The pale blue light seemed to hum in the air as they repeated the incantation over and over, waving their wands over Sid's body. Her skin regained some color, her breathing a little stronger and while her heartbeat was still weak, it was steady. But Alec couldn't risk trying an adrenaline inducing spell, not until he was certain her lungs or liver, or anything, weren't going to fail. Her brain might have already been decaying, but Alec couldn't think like that, no. 

She was alive, she was breathing, and he wasn't going to lose her again. He was deaf to the crashes and noises of outside, the screams and cries of pain did not deter him from the spell and did not break his concentration but the spell was taking it's toll on him, on both of them. 

Blair's eyes were locked on her brother as he worked as desperately as she did yet twice as fast, twice as fervent--thrice as brilliant. 

Expelling dark magic was no easy feat and this was even above NEWT standards. It was almost poetic how easily he could picture Sid encouraging him, like she'd always done. She was so firmly of the belief that every person was only limited by themselves and their doubts, and Sid had as little doubts of him as she had about herself. "Anything you want to do is within your reach, you only have to outstretch your arm and take it" she would say. Alec was more practical and he didn't believe it was that easy and frequently teased her about it. That was, he didn't believe her until right now. It was going to be that easy, he could prove that be could bring her back; he would take her back.

"I'm going to try and wake her up now," he exhaled, the blue light fading as he looked back up at Blair, full of fear but full of hope. Once again, he pointed his wand at her chest and muttered, 

"Ennervate." 

It was a gasp of relief that followed as her eyes began to flutter drowsily, opening into narrow slits, but opening nonetheless. 

"Oh Sid, thank God." 

He exhaled as he cupped her face, fresh tears falling from his face. 

If it were not for his edict of needing help, Blair thought she could sit here frozen in awe, marveling at his abilities, his perseverance -- just, at him, Alec Stone. Her brother, defying time first and now death with sheer stubbornness. 

Yet when he looked up and locked eyes with her, there was a gentleness too. It shocked her as they let the spell die off, for it was incongruent with his fierce denials and sharp movements. 

He fell forward to cup Sid's cheeks, lean to kiss her, Blair shut tired eyes, a happy gasp for breath and laughter escaping her--for she didn't know what else to do. She breathed out, 

"Sid, can you hear us?"

She had one hand squeezing Alec's knee, the other in Sid's, and when she felt a dim squeeze in response--bare, but she felt it, she nearly doubled in relief. 

"Praise God--well, praise Alec actually--"

As Sid stirred, breathing heavily and laboriously, his head snapped up as a crash the wall of the room they were in exploded, his arms failing to cover himself in time and they were showered with rubble, splitting and bruising skin, breaking bones. 

Another laugh rose in Blair's chest, but was caught a moment from expulsion, tying around her tongue against her teeth, as warmth flooded from her lip. Sharp, coppery and bitter--for a moment the taste enthralled her. Then she realized it was blood splattering her cheek-- her brother's blood. 

A large piece hit the side of his face with a loud crack and he fell backwards to the floor, his vision flooding in white as he cried out from the pain. Bloody fingers felt around for his wand as he shouted, using his shouts for something productive, "Blair! Sid!" 

Blair threw herself on Sid, battered to pieces by falling timber, her face buried in her friend's chest to shield them both. She snapped up as she heard a yell--her name, she loved her name--she thought dazedly, Blair, blairiffic, like terrific--her eyes went wide, and she released Sid to reach for Alec. 

Echoing his shout, "I'm here -- Alec!"

He felt blood dripping down his face, knew on subconscious level that his cheekbone was shattered, and that he was only actually seeing from one eye but in the next moment he was spared further thoughts and further pain as a red light hit his face, sending him back on the ground, unconscious. 

She scrambled. Wand knocked from her hand, her shriek of anger--of fear--nonetheless was traced with magic, knocking whomever it was who entered the room back, sending them careening into a book case. The attacker's face was hooded--not by cloth, but by her hazy vision, nausea spinning through her gut, and she remembered dimly, getting smacked in the head with a log genuinely wasn't the healthiest activity of the day. 

At that, she giggled, a mad sound in the chaos.  

Her hand closed around Alec's as the other threw rubble off of him, trying both to dig him out and find his wand. In her haste, her eyes unfocused, she couldn't see the other two join their comrade behind her--couldn't see them raise their hands, barely heard cruel and crude jibes. 

She found his wand. Her voice did not tremor as she snapped Protego, looking to shield herself, her brother, the woman they both loved--in different regards, admitted. The room spun. There was another laugh--this one madder than her own. She shut her eyes. A red flash imprinted itself on her lids anyway. Three shields to protect them, that was all she had to do, three shields. 

She only got to cast two.

[fycourtera]

{chapter fourteen: 5} alec & sid

Alec: *He had tried. He honestly had, but there was no convincing Sid away from anything she had set up her mind to do. He usually had no problem with her fashion, he would be a fool to protest anything she wore, but they -were- in the 1900s* Sid, love...*his eyes trailed at the cut that continued and continued...and continued, until it ended at a sharp point. Right above her navel. The strings were there, sure, criss crossing across her bare skin, offering whatever little covering they could, but it was more of a tease than anything else. In fact, everything else was covered, shoulders, back, everything- except that deep-v* Not that I don't enjoy the view-

Sid: *she giggled next to him, licking her lips and shrugging* Well, we're foreign, are we not? And I, am a French actress. *grins* If I hadn't done something risque, suspicions would have arrived.

Alec: *he sighed under his breath, smiling despite himself* And you love the attention.

Sid: *she paused for a moment and then nodded, unashamed to admit that* That too. *she tilts her head before asking teasingly* But you like it, don't you?

Alec: *he licked his lips, lips flicking into a smirk* I love it.

Sid: *her fingers trace the line of her cut as she tilts her head* Hmm, and the irony of it being white, and pure?

Alec: *he laughs under his breath and nods again* That especially.

Sid: *she grins widely, moving her hair she had teased into soft curls behind her shoulder* So what's the problem?

Alec: Well, I may have to commit murder in your name. *he grinned as Sid laughed and continued* Or at least gouge some eyes out, surely.

Sid: Sweetheart. Half of the people in this room swing swords for a living. *her eyebrows rise before she says innocently* And while I don't doubt your skills at thrusting, the last thing I want is for you to lose a limb on my account.

Alec: *he licked his lips again as he tilted his head to look at Sid in a playful glare* Sid.

Sid: Yes, baby?

Alec: You're cruel.

Sid: *she grins again*