Tel\' Lindar (The Bard)

Chapter 5

The Dregs of the Cauldron or a Hot Summer Night


***

The Voyeur was back in the woods, but these trees were different. More normal. The sound of a reed flute wafted through the leaves.

It was she.

She leaned against a trunk wearing a medieval-style brown velvet dress. The neckline plunged to show a generous decollage. The sleeves were long, pointed at the back of her hands, her legs tucked under a full skirt.

\"Watch. Listen.\"

The Voyeur scowled at the Elf over his shoulder.

\"Must you insist on sneaking up on me?\"

A cultured eyebrow raised in question. \"Why are you not looking for me by this time? You are too busy watching my lady.\"

\"Oh, but you bid me to watch out for her.\" the Voyeur replied, snidely.

\"Aye.\" the Elf smirked. \"I did.\" He nodded to the other side of the clearing.

A silver wolf had entered the clearing. His muzzle was scarred, battered and he came to rest five feet from the woman.

The Voyeur reached for his wand, only to be held back by the Elf.

\"Your magic will not work here. The wolf will not harm her. Watch.\"

She never stopped her song. Its melody was haunting, grief stricken, despondent.

The wolf sang. He laid his head back and harmonized with her, following her dirge. It sent a shiver down the Voyeur\'s spine. When one song was finished, they began another.

And another.

And another.

\"For seven days, he has come, he has followed us. Each day, he sits closer.\"

\"Why?\" The Voyeur, despite his misgivings of the close proximity of the wild animal, was fascinated by the repartee between the beast and the woman.

\"He has the blues.\"

The Voyeur looked at the Elf.

\"Is that not an American thing?\"

The Elf snorted. \"Nay. It is a musical thing. An emotional thing.\" Both Elf and Voyeur watched quietly, with arms crossed for several moments. The Elf then gestured back into the clearing. \"Observe.\"

As the woman and the wolf continued sing, to play together, two she- wolves silently came from the trees, carrying...

\"Wolflings.\" The Elf whispered.

Back and forth and back and forth the she-wolves came and went. The woman and the wolf never ceased their duet until seven cubs had been dropped in her lap. Upon the last cub, the scarred wolf came to her and nuzzled each cub.

\"Why?\" She voiced the question to the wolf. \"Why Firehater, do you do this?\" The wolf responded with low-pitched howls and yips. He sniffed over each cub again, before licking her hand and with a final look at the cubs, disappeared into the woods.

\"He is afraid.\" The Elf tapped the Voyeur on the shoulder. \"The future brings frightening changes and he is afraid of its uncertainty. The world changes and he knows not what to expect. He sees his own death. He is afraid for his children, himself, the survival of his pack. He brings his children to her for safe- keeping, for their protection.\"

\"Likewise, her world has brought frightening changes. She is afraid for her children, afraid of what the future holds. She has been given to you for safe- keeping, for her protection. Yet, she is afraid to live, to love again. She clings to her grief, does not want to let it go as she fears that by releasing it, she will forget and cease to love those who have gone before her.\"

\"If she does not wish to move on,\" the Voyeur snarled, \"what am I supposed to do about it?\"

The Elf narrowed his eyes, angrily. \"She embraces her grief, much like you cleave to your guilt.\" The consonants were spat, shot from the Elf\'s mouth like bullets from a fast-firing gun. \"You must both move on, releasing each other from your pain, if you have any desire to complete the task at hand.\"

The Voyeur felt her touch, a calloused fingertip, gently stroking his jawline. He looked down, startled, into forgiving eyes.

Reservo vester ipse. Adiumentum mea reservo tu. Reservo mea.

Save yourself. Help me save you. Save me.

Save me... save me... save me... save me... sa...



***
For she was right
I was tight
Everybody has their way
It was the Lish a- buy-a -broom
That led me astray

trad. Irish
***

She wore black anyway.

In truth, Remus had said nothing to Bronwyn about her attire. She was still sleeping when he entered the apartment and spoke to Rumil, who watched over her like a neurotic parent. The Elf had seemed excited about getting her outside and away from school for even a little while. And despite the fact that she wore that most somber of colors, Remus was still pleased with what he saw.

It was not unrelieved black, like Severus, who chafed behind him. She wore a black frock coat, with a low v-neck, allowing the white frothy bibbed collar to show. Long spidery lace cuffs that covered her to the first knuckle of her fingers, peeked from under the sleeve. The coat was indented, feminine with only one front button and laced and skirted in at the back. She wore tight black leggings, her feet encased in soft black leather boots that also laced up the back and he saw an ornamental etched dagger in her boot. Her only piece of jewelry was a ring, hanging from a chain around her neck.

Rumil was equally decked out in finery. He wore a blue tunic with black leggings and boots. His hair was intricately braided and he wore a single, sapphire earring. Remus looked up at the Potions Master.

\"Well, we might as well give up. No woman will look at us with him around!\"

\"I was not aware we were trying to gain any woman\'s attention.\"

You are no fun, Remus thought to himself. And yes, there is one woman\'s attention you most certainly want to attract! He looked at Bronwyn again. He nudged Severus.

\"Lle naa vanima. Say it.\"

Severus scowled at him, the perpendicular line between his eyebrows becoming very defined. \"I beg your pardon?\"

\"Lle naa vanima.\" Remus motioned with his hand, quickly. \"Come on, say it.\"

\"Why?\"

\"Just Say It!\" Remus hissed. \"Just say it! Lle naa vanima!\"

\"Lle naa vanima.\" he barked, a little too loudly. \"Now wha-\"

Bronwyn looked over at the two whispering, arguing Wizards. She blushed and smiled. \"Why Severus. Thank you.\" Her angelic glow was aimed solely at the Potions Master. She smacked Rumil in the arm. \"You have been giving Sindarian lessons, haven\'t you?\"

For some reason, Rumil looked very confused.

\"What did I just say?\" Snape voice was low, a simmering cauldron.

\"You told her she was beautiful.\" Remus chuckled. \"And look at the prize she bestowed on you! A genuine smile! Aren\'t you the lucky Wizard?\" He strode across the room to stand by her.

\"Expecting trouble?\" Remus asked, pointing to the dagger.

\"Only from him!\" Bronwyn stabbed a finger towards Severus. \"I was not aware he was coming.\"

Severus threw a haughty chin up. \"I do not have to go...\"

Her hand waved at him. \"Oh, get over your bad self! Of course, I do not mind your company, especially if you plan to fill my head with silly compliments! Just please try not to be so cheerful!\" She walked around Remus and grabbed Severus by the arm. Her touch was like an electric shock that traveled to his spine - a not unpleasant feeling, he decided. \"You will make the rest of us look bad! Amadeus! In or out?\" The wolf tweaked an ear and slid from the room, disappearing into the hallways.

The group made their way to the edge of the road, the sun setting over the lake. \"Well, my friends,\" Remus sounded jovial, \"do we walk or Apparate?\"

\"Apparate?\" Rumil and Bronwyn asked in unison.

\"One minute you are here, the next minute, you are where you need to be.\"

Rumil and Bronwyn looked at each other. Rumil had much to say in Elvish and she shook her head.

\"Nay. We will walk.\" and the two strode off arm in arm down the road in the direction of the city lights, the tails of her frock coat, swishing in the evening breeze.

\"Damn it, Severus.\" Remus sighed in mock desire, \"if you don\'t make that morsel yours...\"

\"Oh, bugger off, Remus.\" Snape was annoyed at the turn of events. \"She is not your type for one thing. And as you well know, I have no desire to make any woman my morsel.\"

Remus looked up at the thin slash that was Severus\' mouth. How long would Severus blame himself for Voldemort\'s folly? How long would he consider himself unworthy of love at all?

\"Lupin. You do realize they have no idea where they going!\"

Remus chuckled quietly. \"I suppose we should catch up.\"

***
He: On a hot summer night
would you offer your throat
to the wolf with the red roses?
She: Will he offer me his mouth? (Yes!)
His teeth? (Yes!)
His jaws? (Yes!)
His hunger? (Yes!)
Will he starve without me? (Yes!)
Will he love me?
He: Yes
On a hot summer night
would you offer your throat
to the wolf with the red roses?
She: Yes
He: I bet you say that to all the boys...

You took the words right out of my mouth/Hot Summer Night
Jim/Steinman
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell

***

The Elf could drink.

In fact, Snape decided, the Elf could most likely drink both he AND Lupin under the table, if it were a contest. Luckily for him, Lupin wasn\'t imbibing much of his Fire Whiskey and Snape had been slowly sipping his Scotch. The Elf was drinking ale like it was water.

To make matters worse, they were being closely observed. Remus was aware of it as well. The two Wizards were on guard, watching for anything, anyone untoward. The Elf drew attention the moment that walked into the Three Broomsticks, but many recognized Bronwyn as well. Several had asked her to play, to sing for them. Rosmerta had herself offered to run to her flat to retrieve her own family lute for Tel\' Lindar\'s use. Severus declined for her. Bronwyn quietly promised another time, another night.

‘It is just as well.\' Severus thought to himself. ‘Let them know where she is and that where she is watched over. Let them know she is protected by me.\' He was not aware of his possessive attitude towards her.

Bronwyn had been drinking as well - white wine - but unlike her counterpart, who talked more and more with every glass, she became more and more introverted. She had eaten well, so Snape was not worried about making a potion for her, but he was concerned about the growing depression building within her.

The wine had brought down her defenses, her walls.

So while Rumil talked and reminisced about his brothers, his nieces and nephews, his travels in Middle Earth with Bronwyn and her many adventures, Bronwyn became more and more withdrawn. Lupin tried to draw her out several times, to no avail. Her look became more haunted and the dark circles under her eyes became more pronounced.

\"Tithen Aras, do you remember the evening I interrupted you and Haldir by the river when you first came to us? I felt so badly...\"

\"Rumil, please, you make me sound a loose woman.\" Her voice was tired, slowly drawn out, her hand up as if to ward his words away. Rumil continued the story, her protestations unheard. Severus watched her closely, felt her draw herself more and more into a dangerously reclusive state.


Her spirits sagged lower and lower. No amount of coaxing, pleading, or gentle prodding on Rumil\'s or Remus\'s part could lift her from her silence. She smiled, laughed at the appropriate times, gently demurred from all requests.

Deep within, Severus could feel the bleakness in her soul.

It was late when they left the tavern and began back towards the school. As they left the outskirts, the hackles on Severus\' neck raised.

\"Lupin.\"

\"I feel it to.\" Remus took a staggering Rumil by the arm. \"I have him, you take her.\" and with a wave of his wand, vanished into thin air.

\"Wha-\"

Severus grabbed her, pulled her against his body. Bronwyn was warm and he felt her stiffen in surprise. \"Say ‘There\'s no place like home.\' \" and with a wave, the earth shifted under her feet.

The surroundings had changed, but neither noticed. Her hands had grasped him tightly around the waist and he held onto her with equal tenacity. She stared into his eyes, questioning and he stared back. Neither attempted to disengage from the other

\"Hey!\" Their thoughts were interrupted and she shoved herself from his embrace. Remus quickly strode to them. \"Whoever it was will know where we went.\" He gestured, motioned them to move forward. \"Inside, quickly. It will take time to remove the wards from the doors.

By the time they reached the main foyer, Bronwyn had an uncomfortable suspicion that someone - or something - had been close behind on their heels. For the first time since arriving, she spent the entire night in bed, huddled under covers, her thoughts churning on themselves. It bothered her to no end that she had enjoyed being in Snape\'s arms.

No potion, no spell could relieve Severus of his headache.

***

The next morning, she showed no ill effects of the night\'s imbibement. Rumil did, however and thankfully drank the nasty concoction Severus made for him. The Potions Master continued to escort Bronwyn to meals, yet left her to her own devices for the rest of the day.

Her dark mood continued.

Remus was furious at the turn of events.

Bam!

Snape\'s door flew open as Lupin exploded in for a second time that day.

\"Why the hell do you sit here? You should be over there! Merlin\'s Robes, Snape! Talk to her! Stop leaving it to me to do your dirty work and draw her out of her shell.\"

\"Is this going to become habit?\" Snape had several cauldrons going and was lording over each one. \"If I must, I will put Fluffy on the door.\"

Lupin laughed. \"Won\'t work, Severus! Every instrument known to Man and Elf resides across the hall along with the master who plays them all!\"

Snape\'s attention was back in his cauldrons. \"So be it.\" he muttered under his breath. \"I will paint a full moon on it!\"

\"I heard that! Dammit, man! Who peed in your lemonade?\" Lupin tapped fingers on Snape\'s desk. \"We need help with the harpsichord. It takes two to lift it so that she may attach the legs.\"

\"Levitate it.\" Snape never looked up from the cauldron he was tending.

\"She won\'t let me.\" Remus\'s head bobbled in weary vexation and his hand matched the movement . \"She doesn\'t trust the air.\"

Forbidding orbs looked out through the steam. \"She does not trust... Remus, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard come out of your mouth! And that is saying something! \"

Remus threw his hands up in supplication. \"I know! I know! She cannot see what holds it up, therefore she does not trust it.\"

\"What about the Elf?\"

\"He is out riding with Hooch.\"

\"Disgusting display.\" Snape murmured beneath his breath.

\"Oh, yes.\" Lupin agreed. \"Quite sickening! To the core! Sad thing is, he has every female here - including Minerva, mind you - smiling at the very mention of his name. He spends time with them, amuses them, makes them think they are the only ones on Earth. And -\" Remus put up a finger, \"they are not arguing over him. You, my friend,\" the raised finger began to wag back and forth tantalizingly in front of Snape\'s face, \"could stand to take a few lessons from the charismatic fellow!\" The grin on his face was wolfish. \"Now, are you going to help us or not? It would certainly raise your status with her a few notches.\"

Snape\'s gaze had returned to brew in front of him. \"Being egged into telling her she was beautiful was not enough?\"

\"Well, it helped some, but your delivery needs a little work... is that what I think it is?\" Remus peered into the boiling cauldron.

\"Yes, it is your potion. You will need to drink it tonight.\"

\"What is the chance of getting it to taste better?\"

\"None.\"

\"Excuse me?\" The door creaked open and Bronwyn peeked in. \"Any chance at all I can get some help with my harpsichord?\" Her smile rested on Remus, before moving on to Snape.

Severus placed the ladle next to the cauldron and wiped his hands on the cloth he had placed nearby. \"You owe me, Lupin.\"

Lupin chuckled to himself. \"Oh, you don\'t know how much you are going to owe me when this is over.\"

***

Every little thing she does is magic
Every thing she do just turn me on
Even though her life is almost tragic
Don\'t you know my love for her goes on...

the Police

***

Days flew past and Bronwyn slowly regained her strength. She ate hearty meals and occasionally, Lupin would come down with cookies, cheesecake, ice cream. Her form filled out and she was no longer paler than Severus.

At the insistent and annoying prodding of Remus, Severus found himself spending several days helping her unpack and he witnessed first hand the depth of her grief, the losses in her life.

There was the afternoon she opened the trunk with her armor. Severus watched in fascination as she removed each piece. Beneath her armor, Haldir\'s bow, Bronwyn\'s sword, their weapons, was Haldir\'s armor. She removed each piece with love, holding tightly to her emptiness until she reached the red cloak. Upon pulling it from the trunk, she buried her face in it, the scene exploding in the room, taking Severus with it...

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

\"How can I protect you if you will do nothing to protect yourself?\" The Elf was in full armor, the red cape, his long white hair, flowing in the breeze.

\"I trust you!\" Bronwyn shouted back. She was wearing no armor, simply a black tank, black leggings, weapons mounted on every part of her body. Severus saw on her left arm, the mithril snake, curving up towards her shoulder. \"Isn\'t that what you wanted? My trust? Well, now you have it! My unadulterated, unconditional trust!\"

\"You are such a neithadol!\"

\"I heard that!\" In her fury at the accusation, she jumped up and down, her entire body a indignant ball of energy. \" I heard that!...\"

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

The scene flashed forward, how far, Snape couldn\'t tell...

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

It was later in that same day. Bronwyn stood next to the big Elf\'s side, the angry words of earlier either forgiven or laid aside. The wind blew still through the red cloak. In front, thousands of... things... Orcs... stood in readiness to attack the line of Elves the two were part of.

\"You will move behind me if I say.\" Haldir stood, looking at the slowly advancing line.

\"I have your back, my love.\"

\"You task me. Sorely.\" The Elf said these words almost without emotion. Almost.

\"It\'s my job.\" Bronwyn sounded matter of fact.

Severus watched as she reached up and gently pulled the Elf\'s braid.

\"Baraermin.\" The two warriors looked at each other, deep abiding respect and love on each other\'s face. \"Proud, I am to have you at my side. Always.\"

\"I would not trade anything for the last few months I have had with you. I look forward to the rest of our lives.\" The wind jerked and snapped the red cloak around the Elf\'s and her body. Bronwyn\'s hand moved from his braid, to the tip of his ear and even Severus shivered at the mere thought of the touch. \"I would ask a small favor, please?\" She crooked her finger towards the Elf and he bent down closely. \"When this is over, \" she whispered, \"may I remove your armor?\" He nodded. \"With my teeth?

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Severus jerked back, back in her bedroom. Unthinking, he picked up a piece - an arm piece of the Elf\'s armor and saw delicate teeth marks on the leather straps. He looked to Bronwyn, her face, still buried in the red cloak, sobs racking her body.

He realized the cloak had become a symbol of protection, warmth, love. Unconsciously, he reached towards her to...

Rumil stepped around him and bending over, whispered in her ear. Her body relaxed and as she slumped, the Elf picked her up and carried to bed, the cloak falling to the floor.

***

The next day, she found scrolls, parchment. Again Severus was caught in her mental motion picture, Haldir...

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

... dressed in full battle gear, her in black. Both standing in a ram-shackle hovel.

\"Do you wish to read this scroll?\" The Elf waved the object of her desire.

\"Yes.\"

\"You must remove the armor from my right arm for that privilege. With your teeth!\"

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~


Merlin\'s Robe. The Elf was holding her to her word. Again, she broke down in tearful sobs.

And again, Rumil came to her, put her into sleep and carried her to her bed.

Several times, Severus witnessed this as Bronwyn unpacked things that triggered memories; a gossamer blue beaded gown - the scene, She and her husband, dancing in the moonlight in a garden; a large bowl, with strange markings - her in a pub, standing on a table, singing bawdy limericks, the bowl heaped with the coins being tossed in, Haldir standing nearby, watching the bowl, watching her; a silver circlet, a crown of delicate metal - the two of them in a field of flowers, surrounded by many friends, her wearing it at their wedding.

Each time, she cried with the memory. And each time, Rumil put her to sleep, put her to bed.

After watching Rumil do this many times, Severus called him into the living area.

\"Why do you do this?\"

\"Why do I do what?\" The Elf was genuinely confused.

\"You stop her grieving when you put her to sleep! Why do you do this? Must I spell it out to you?\"

\"Ah.\" Rumil sighed in understanding. \"It is not good for her to cry. She needs to rest because she does not sleep well...\"


\"Gods Man... Elf! She cannot rest because you put her to sleep twice a day!\" Severus raked both hands in his long hair, grasping it by the roots behind both ears, in a gesture that reminded Rumil of his older brother. \"You think you help her, but the fact is you cannot bear to see her in pain, you cannot tolerate to see her cry! You are not helping her; you are easing your own grief at the cost of barricading her own! In the meantime, her bereavement is pent up like an infected boil and you, in your stubborn know-it-all Elfishness, won\'t let her lance it.\"

Rumil had drawn up, red in fury. \"What would you know about her sorrow? Her trials? What would you know it? I think...\"

\"Your opinion does not matter! What matters is my opinion! I know she cannot function until she deals with the fact that her... husband...\" Snape spat the word as if it were evil, \" - is not coming back. He might be waiting in wherever it is your people go! But she will not be joining him for a long, long time. And she and I have work to do. Her loss encumbers her, so I must get her past this... hindrance.\"

Severus took a deep, cleansing breath and went nose to nose with the Elf, in attempt to back Rumil up a step. The Elf, however, stood his ground, going toe to toe with the dark Wizard.

\"No more sleeping spells, Rumil. Let her talk. Let her remember. Let her cry. If you cannot cope with her tears, leave or come and get me.\" And with that, the Potions Master turned towards the door. He stopped at the opened passageway.

\"And Elf,\" Brooding grey Elven eyes met with glowing, black Wizard orbs. \"do not let me catch you defying me. I will have your Elven ass out of here before you can say ‘Goodnight\'. She is my responsibility, not yours\"

Amadeus watched the proceedings with much amusement. A deep, gravelly Elvish voice whispered through the hall as Severus crossed it.

\"It is about time...\"

***

It was late, very late and Bronwyn sat at the warded doorway.

Want out.

The desire burned in her, made her crazy with need to roam, to wander the halls. For days, she had cried, raged, remembered. She looked for Rumil to send her into blessed quietness, but he would not be there for her.

Instead the dark Wizard would be standing there, arms across his chest, glaring, watching, not offering a hint of comfort.

\"Come on. Get it out.\" was the most sympathy he would demonstrate.

She howled at him. Cursed him. She damned him to hell and back several times a day. He offered to say hello to Haldir while he was there. Her shrieks reverberated throughout the dungeon, her fingers itching to go around his black-clad throat. Her pain flowed like blood.

At first, Rumil had done everything he could in attempt to console her, explain to her that sleeping was not helping her to work through her grief. She turned her fury on him, railing, cursing, until he left her alone for hours, days, in her madness. Severus did not ask where he went, but in his eyes, he thought the Elf could not bear to see her hurting, see her grieve and therefore chose to absent himself for the duration.

‘Coward.\' Snape thought to himself, as he watched the Elf distance himself from Bronwyn. ‘Bloody fucking coward! No wonder they did not give her to you.\'

And so Bronwyn found herself alone at two in the morning, screaming at the wards on her door. She had paced a path around her couch, around her bedroom. The harpsichord did not have the power to withstand her fury; she would have to go into London to replace five strings from last evening\'s temper tantrum. She made a mental angry note to herself: ‘No more Liszt on the harpsichord!\' In her angry roving, she found herself out on the patio, looking at rough hewn rock.

\"Damn you, Snape! Damn you to hell!\" Her tears poured forth again and she pounded on the stone. \"Dammit to hell!\"

The rough stone.

She looked at it carefully, studying it as she wiped her dripping nose on her sleeve. She tested the width, the depth of the grooves. She took off her house slippers - the screeching Godzilla boots that Haldir had purchased at a novelty store soon after their arrival from the Undying Lands - and fitted her toes in the ridges.

Big enough.

She tested the soundness of the wall, calculated the height.

It had been a few years since she and Haldir had scaled a mountain or cliffs. This wall went straight up...

She went upstairs, changed into laced leggings and a tee shirt. She put on ridged swim shoes and buckled on her knives. She found her repelling gear.

Amadeus was alarmed. He paced nervously around her, attempting to trip her, stop her.

\"I need air, boy. Just a little free air.\" She hugged him and locked him out of the patio area.

He immediately set to howling.

She turned and looked to the greenhouse ceiling. She hoped there were latches. If not, she would just simply break a pane.

She removed her knives. They were unique, the only set of their kind that existed. The Valar had had them made especially for her; to answer only to her. Each knife consisted of three blades, folded in on each other, the longest in the middle. When depressed, when making contact with anything surface, the shorter two arced out, creating a \"W\" of sharpness, approximately five inches in width. They were incredibly strong, strong enough to decapitate an orc.

Turning the knives point to the wall, she drove the tip of the blade in her right hand deep into the crevice between the rocks, high up. She fit her toes into a lower groove and lifted her body from the masoned floor, driving the left knife higher up. Repeating her attacks upon the stone, muscled broad shoulders smothered in black, she raised herself to the top.

***

What in the blazes was she doing?

Severus was not sleeping well, not that that was a surprise to him. He had not slept a full night in as long as he could remember. He jerked out of a restless sleep, immediately aware of her discontent, her roaming of the apartment assigned to her.

She was on the patio. Standing still...

Well, as long as she was staying put... he rolled over, trying to fall back into slumber.

***

There was a hinged door, latched at the bottom. Actually, it was very similar to a doggie door and Bronwyn crawled through it. Her muscles, so long out of practice, screamed in agony of the forced activity she was not in shape for and she sighed loudly as she rolled on the cool, damp grass.

The door tipped shut.

And she took a deep breath, laying on her back.

Free air. Breathe in deep, Bronwyn. Smell the free air.

She enjoyed it for a few moments and then quickly decided on a plan of action.

The library. She knew it was there, her palms had begun to itch uncontrollably in the past few days and she felt the need, the desire to sink her mind\'s fangs into books she had never read and feast on fresh knowledge. Drooling in anticipation for the raw meat of unrealized horizons, she made for the nearest door.

Warded.

Oh oh. Her mouth made a small moue.

She tried another door.

Warded.

Another one.

Warded.

Oh, shit in a bucket! Now what? Bronwyn looked around. Now what?

***

She was out.

With a bellow of fury, Snape shot like an arrow from the bed, snatching on clothes as he hurtled across the chamber into the potions lab. He bolted through the hallway, her classroom and into Bronwyn\'s private chambers.

He could hear that blasted wolf howling to no end.

***

Who can say for certain
Maybe you\'re still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory\'s so clear

***

It dawned on her, she could not get in.

\"Well girlfriend, you screwed up royally this time.\" The door to the greenhouse roof of the ceiling was closed tight, could not be opened from the outside and in all honesty, she really didn\'t want to scale back down the wall.

Snape-baby was going to be oh, so very pissed.

So what!

Heh! Fine! Let him! She had dealt with the most arrogant, most demanding, dour, disciplined, most difficult Elf in all of Middle Earth for 38000 years! What was the absolute worst a mere wizard could do to her?

Bronwyn slid out of her shoes and went running across the yard, loving the feeling of the dewey grass between her toes. She stopped in an alcove of sorts. It was dark and she looked up in the sky.

Stars. Hundreds and hundreds of stars. She and Haldir had made love under the glittering night gems, so many times.

And the memory came, along with the mist, unbidden. And as the song filled the air, she fell to her knees...

***
Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
***

Amadeus was frantic, howling, racing about the room. He barreled past Severus, into the shut door, where he began to claw and yip. Severus went to the French Doors and opened them.

Nothing.

But wait...

He saw dust on the floor and peering closer, he saw the weird triple grooves, niched at regular intervals up ...

Climbing up the wall.

She had found a way to escape. Silly, foolish girl. She did not have any idea the danger she had just landed herself in! Deep inside, he raged in black wrath. Spanking would not be enough. What curse could he rain on her head to teach her a valuable lesson?

He stormed towards the door...

***

You\'re still an inspiration
Can it be that you are
My forever love
And you are watching over me from up above?

***

In the recesses of her mind, she felt strong arms encircle her, she felt his breath on her ear.

Baraermin... My Fiery One.

And she fell backwards on the ground, it was like being held against his chest. Fingers lightly grazed her stomach and her eyes watered in the brightness of the constellations, these same stars they had made love under before.

\"Haldir. I need you so.\" Her whisper carried on the wind.

The mist rose around her body, embracing her and hands pulled up on her shirt...

***

Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile
If only for awhile to know you\'re there
A breath away\'s not far to where you are

***

Severus charged up the stairs, the agitated wolf at his heels. Reaching the main foyer of the castle, he stopped for a short moment, to gauge her location. Which way would be shorter? She wasn\'t moving, not like she had been a moment earlier, when she had raced around the yards like a child chasing an out of control ball. He captured her sense of peace.

And her rising heat.

What on earth was she doing?

Eyes narrowed, he made his way to the back entrance.

***

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream?
And isn\'t faith believing
All power can\'t be seen?

***

Her breathing had become erratic and the stars were no longer in focus. Bronwyn\'s cheeks were wet. Why? A hand had wriggled under her bra, had cupped her breast, teasing the hardening nipple. She was writhing on the ground. Again, she heard him whisper in her ear...

Baraermin.

The fog had completely enveloped her. Hands, fingers went to her leggings, the lacings snapping angrily as they were undone...

***

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me
Everyday

***

Severus reached the doorway. It had no less than four different types of wards placed upon it. As he began to unweave them, his voice spoke tersely to the wolf.

\"You might as well stay here. I am going to kill your mistress and if there is anything left of her, you may have the scraps.\"

Amadeus chuffed once in agreement.

As the door silently slid opened, he could hear the music wafting from the air...

***

‘Cause you are my
Forever love
And are you watching over me
From up above?

***

A hand reached into her leggings, questing for that sweet spot, fingers plunging, delving for the pearl of the devine.

So wet, Baraermin. Never in my years have I met anyone who could get as wet, as hot, as fast, as you.

Her moan rent the air, as her orgasm, so long denied, quickly reached out...

***

Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile
If only for awhile to know you\'re there

***

As requested, Amadeus had stayed behind. Severus\' hair flowed behind him as he made his way to the small courtyard where he could sense her presence. He could feel Bronwyn becoming more and more inflamed and as he turned the corner, eyes, already accustomed to the dark, saw her fog covered form writhing on the ground; ears, attuned to the slightest breath, heard her moans...

Of pleasure?

Silent, as a snake in the grass, he went to her...

***

A breath away\'s not far to where you are

***

Ghostly arms held her body tight. Lips, a tongue, made of air, breathed in her ear, whispering endearments she longed to hearken to, so long left unspoken. Hands, with knowledgeable fingers, found her most sensitive points as they drove her over the edge. Her back arched, her climax exploded and the stars in the sky shattered behind her shut eyelids as the world came to a screeching halt.

She slowly opened her eyes, expected to see the same constellation she and Haldir had loved each other under so many moons ago.

Instead the sky was blocked by a large, dark shape. Clouds? She was jolted from her reverie, her sweet dream...

\"Madam! What the HELL are you doing?\"

***
tbc
***

Lle naa vanima - You are beautiful
Baraermin - My Fiery One
Neithadol - hehe - guess!

To Where you are
Words/Music: Richard Marx and Linda Thompson
Sung by Josh Groban