Sub Rosa

Sorry about posting the same chapter twice, I have fixed that and now here are the next two chapters. Thanks to my beloved reviewers whom I adore!

Chapter 41 – Strolling through Stalagmites

The kids were deftly sandwiched between the Archers and the Warriors. The horses were being led, since the roof of the tunnel was too low and the Minstrel had suggested that they go last. It was clever, Kathryn thought, it kept the children in the safest part of the grouping without making it obvious that they were being protected.

Kathryn walked in front with the Minstrel and Harry, the Minstrel, because he was the leader of the elves, and Harry because the sword was the one giving them directions through the maze of passageways and caverns.

Harry and the sword were obviously exchanging friendly insults at the moment because Harry could be heard muttering things like “Hunk of tin” and “Loud mouthed butter knife”. The sword was apparently giving as well as it got, because Harry kept frowning and grimacing at odd moments.

The Minstrel was chuckling softly, trying not to offend the boy, though Harry seemed unconcerned by the Elder’s amusement.

“This blade you carry has a reputation for having no manners, you know.” The Minstrel’s voice had taken on a reminiscent quality.

“Why am I not surprised?” Harry smiled up at the tall elf.

“It is said, that Queen Mab was so enraged by the sword’s rudeness that she threw it into the well of the earth.” Kathryn peered at the blade in Harry’s hand.

“Oh, so it’s that sword. Lady Morgan told me of it once.” She smiled in memory of the story. “She said though, that Excalibur was equally cantankerous and Arturus often contemplated tossing the thing into a ravine. In fact, she said, that she could never decide if it was the nature of a sword to be cutting, or if the tongue of the dragon smith who forged it was simply too sharp.” The elves laughed loudly at the puns, though the kids just looked blank.

“It’s an elvish joke.” The Minstrel said with a wink at Harry. “It is playing with words.” Harry shrugged and then turned the party onto the right hand pathway where the passage split before them. “Tell me your tale, boy.” The Minstrel then commanded and the next hour or so was spent catching the elves up on recent history and the story of Voldemort and the boy-who-lived.

About midday, by Kathryn’s timepiece, they halted to rest. Tali brought water to them and one of the other servants, a lanky brunette man with smoky eyes and a wolfish face brought food.

They were camped out on a ledge that ended abruptly at a thousand foot plunge on one side and a sheer wall on the other. Harry, Seamus and Hermione kept making Moria jokes and calling the archers “Legolas”, which confused them no end. Kathryn kept shushing them, glad that the elves were not taking offense at the children’s horseplay, but unwilling to push it.

A rumbling noise was the first warning they had of the earthquake. The elves flung themselves at the cavern wall, the children following after as quickly as they could. There was a grinding noise and Kathryn watched in horror as a chunk of the ledge began to slide off into the abyss, taking Minuet, fallen on her side, with it. Kathryn could see the look of horror on the girl’s face and she moved forward, knowing that she would be far too late, knowing that her still injured leg would kill this child.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Harry blur into action, moving with such speed that Kathryn didn’t actually register his movement until he had flung himself onto the ground and was reaching out to Minuet.
His hand clasped hers and he was pulling her back even as the last of the crumbling rock vanished over the edge. Her ht nht no longer supported by the stone, she fell and Harry was being pulled over after her, his own slight weight not enough to counterbalance hers.

“Wingardium Leviosa” Hermione’s clear strong voice rang out and Minuet floated in Harry’s grasp. He pulled harder, towing her to safety as the others finally reached them and tugged them into the shelter of the rock.
It had all taken a few short seconds, but Kathryn felt as though she had run a marathon as she patted Minuet down, checking for injuries.

The Minstrel reached out and touched the rock and he spoke words in a tongue Kathryn did not know and the rock calmed beneath his touch, like a horse being gentled.

Harry wrapped his arms around the frightened girl, who turned to sob quietly into his shirt. Draco was hovering over them both, murmuring soothing words to Minuet.

Kathryn placed a hand on Draco’s shoulder and he turned his white face up to her.

“Just like Potter to play the bloody hero.” He muttered with only a shadow of his usual sneer.

“Well, I might have let you fall, Malfoy, but I would never drop a pretty girl.” Harry snapped back with a small smile. Minuet beamed up at him through her tears, while Draco stuck out his tongue.

“Gryffindor git!” she rolled her eyes at him in mock disparagement.

“Slytherin sneak.” Harry took the handkerchief that Kathryn offered him and wiped Minuet’s eyes with a brusque manner. Kathryn hid a smirk, recognizing the boy’s attempt to disguise his earlier tenderness. From the look on Draco’s face, however, he was not being as successful as he could wish.

The elves and the other kids were watching this by-play with fascination, though she suspected that few understood the significance. And here she thought that she and Severus had it hard. The Prophet would have a field day with this. Not to mention what her father would do to her if he ever got out of Azkaban.

Blinking away her visions of impending disaster, Kathryn hoisted her backpack and waved to the elves.

“Let’s get moving, if the Elemental is upset, then we need to get there sooner rather than later.” The elves rose with that innate boneless grace that reminded her that they really weren’t human.

“How did you calm the elemental? “ Ginny asked the Minstrel. “I didn’t see you use any magic.” The Minstrel smiled broadly at the young woman and dropped a friendly hand on her shoulder.

“We don’t use magic, child. We are magic.” He winked at the look of confusion on Ginny’s face.

“I don’t understand.” Her voice had taken on that stubborn tone that Kathryn had learned to dread in class. Ginny wanted to understand and neither hell nor high water would stop her till every question was answered to her satisfaction. The Minstrel cocked his head at her, considering her stance and expression.

“I am uncertain, child, as to what would serve you best.”

“Excuse me?” She trotted along side him as the party moved out. Kathryn slipped up behind, fascinated by the exchange.

“Your constant need to understand, child. I am unsure whether to indulge you in it or to try to curb it.”
Kathryn had often wondered that herself. There was a danger in the girl’s stubborn pursuit of every answer.

“What? Why would you want to curb it?” Ginny was growing angry and Kathryn mentally prayed that the Elder would not lose his temper with the youngest Weasley.

“Because it may drive you to seek things which will harm you.” Ginny paled at the Elder’s patient words.

“It already has.” She ducked her head in shame. “Now I want to know so I never fall into another trap like that again.” She glared fiercely up at the Minstrel. “I will never be used by anyone ever again.”

The Minstrel smoothed her hair with an absent gesture. His eyes had gone distant and Kathryn braced herself.

“You will never fully close the door that you opened, Virginia. You will always remember his voice in your head, but you are strong enough to resist his call.” Ginny’s face had gone so pale that her freckles stood out like drops of blood in a bowl of cream. “Your only true weakness is the rage you will not speak and that is what haunts your dreams now.” The Minstrel shook himself lightly as he came back to himself. “You have a deep and complex destiny, Child of Fire and Dark.”

“Is that bad?” Ginny was frightened, but still questioning, which made Kathryn smile a little.

“There is nothing good nor bad but that you make it so in the choosing.” Ginny rolled her eyes. Kathryn pulled the younger girl in to a hug and whispered in her ear.

“In the dictionary next to the word “Cryptic” there is a picture of an elf.” Ginny gave a delighted laugh and hugged her back. The minstrel smirked at Kathryn over Ginny’s head and Kathryn returned him a wry smile.

“In the dictionary next to “Impatient” there is an image of a human.” The minstrel zinged back with an arched eyebrow.

There was general laughter from the group as they stepped into the next passageway. Only Kathryn noticed the look of concern on Neville Longbottom’s face.