The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Chapter 22

The Homecoming

Helena looked around the dining hall at the grown-ups. They were all busily talking and no one was watching her. She peeked out from under the table one last time, then stood and, gathering up her long dress in her hands, she darted out of the door, running and laughing at the game she played. She would run down the hallway and hide behind one of the tapestries that hung low to the ground. Her Mum and Auntie Helga or Gramma Emila would look for her, and tickle her when they found her. Looking back over her shoulder and giggling as she ran she felt herself suddenly scooped up by strong arms and tossed into the air.

"What have we here?" A laughing baritone voice rang out as arms caught her and held her in the air. "Erwin, is this the one you are always talking about?"

"It has been a while, but with that nose and those eyes I would guess that it is." Erwin laughed and took the squirming child from Gryffin. "My gods, it has been a long time. Look how she has grown and how beautiful she is."

Helena looked at the man, screwing up her face, and shoved her thumb in her mouth.

"Mum," was all she managed to get out before clamping her mouth shut again.

"Where is your mum?" Erwin kissed the top of her head as he swung her to his hip, unwilling to put her back on the floor, lowering his head and taking in the smell of her.

Helena looked up at him, thumb firmly in place, and raised her free hand, pointing to the large room over the kitchen, which was now the dining hall.

"Shall we?" Gryffin smiled.

Rowena had just bent over and peeked under the table to check on Helena. Not seeing her, she sat up and looked at Emila, where Helena would be if not with Helga, only to see the old lady talking with Milt, shaking her finger and then slapping her hand on the table to make her point. Rossia, Milt's wife, was nodding with Helga and frowning at her husband. Rowena stooped over again, peeking under the table when she heard Helga's excited voice.

"Gryffin!" Helga squealed. "Erwin! My gods be thanked."

Helga got up so quickly that her chair fell back to the floor, clattering on the stones and causing the rest of the group at the table to stop talking and look up at her, and watch as she ran to the door, throwing out both arms and catching the wizards around their necks. The three stood in an embrace as Helena squirmed to get down, pushing against Gryffin and pulling at Helga's arm.

Salazar was on his feet before Helga was halfway to the door, shouting out to them and welcoming them back. Emila leaned over and whispered to her granddaughters as Hanson and the other three wizards rose to their feet to greet the Gryffindor that had offered them safety and shown them the way to their new home.

Rowena only sat and watched the scene play out in front of her, unable to move. He stood there, holding Helena, smiling as they welcomed him home. He kept looking at the faces in front of him, looking at each one in turn, smiling and accepting their embraces. Finally, he looked to the front of the room and saw her sitting at the table.

Her breath had stopped when she saw him standing with Helena on his hip, smiling and talking as if he had just stepped in from a walk. She felt a hand at her throat threatening to cut off her air, and another in her chest making a fist and holding her tight. She tried to stand but could not find her feet and felt as if she were falling into a great void.

Erwin turned and handed Helena to Helga, and whispered in Helga's ear, then slowly walked over to where Rowena sat and stood in front of her, unsure of himself when she did not stand to greet him. Going down on one knee, he frowned when she lowered her head to hide her tears.

"Is that how you greet your husband?" His voice was soft and hinted at his fear of her rejection. .

"I have missed you," she managed to rasp out in a voice so low he had to lean closer to hear.

"Then why do you sit there and not look at me?" Erwin reached out to lift her chin, to seek her face.

"Because I am scared. I am scared as to why you came back. I am scared that you will leave again."

"Rowena," he sighed.

She reached out, laid her hand on his cheek, and studied his face. "You have changed, Erwin. You look different. Have you changed as well?"

"I am only older and tired, and too long away." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. "I cannot tell you how I have missed you and how much I wanted to come sooner."

Rowena pulled away just enough to raise her head to his and allow his mouth to cover hers, wanting to recognize his taste and his smell, to know it was him and to feel his heart against her. She felt at home for the first time in three years and felt her tears begin to slide down her face and her throat close with her swallowed sob.

"Gods, witch, you had me scared," he whispered into her hair as his lips sought her ear. "I have waited to do this so long."

"Mum?"

Rowena pulled away and looked down at Helena staring up at her and pushing on Erwin's leg, wanting him away.

"Out!" she pouted at him. "My mum, you go out."

"No, sweetness," Rowena said. "This is you father. You remember at night when you say your prayers you always pray for your father to come home. He has, this is him."

Helena looked up at Erwin with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. She walked around him as he laughed and watched her continue to circle him. She looked up at his face and slowly down until her eyes rested on his boots.

"Mum?"

"Yes, Helena?" Rowena smirked at her, trying not to laugh at her serious face.

"You cry now?" Helena looked at Rowena and shoved her thumb back in her mouth.

Rowena picked her up and hugged her, burying her face in her hair and breathing deep to steady her voice. "No, I won't cry now. You run to Helga and see if she has a sweet for you. Tell her it is fine this once."

Helena looked up at Erwin from the safety of Rowena's lap and frowned. "I'm Helena."

"Yes, I know. I gave you your name."

"Waz you name?"

"Erwin, Erwin Raven. Like you, only you also have your mother's name. Helena Ravenclaw."

Rowena set Helena down on the floor and stood, watching her scamper off to Helga, then, turning back to Erwin, she felt his hand on her face as she raised it to look at him.

"I told you I would be back." He frowned at her. "Yet my daughter does not know my name?"

"I didn't ... I mean I was going to... I tried...it was easier to just call you her father," she stammered and tried to look away. "When you left last, you did not look at me. I wasn't sure ..."

"You did not think I would come back?"

"It does not matter now." She looked up to him and stepped closer. "You are here now, that is all I have wanted. Tell me it is all that matters."

He pulled her close and closed his eyes, resting his head on top of hers. "Let's get out of here. There are too many eyes."

"I can't, not now," she said, blushing. "I have a lesson and then I have to work on the list of new students."

"The list can wait and someone else can take your lesson. I have wanted you for too long to wait now."

"Erwin, I cannot just..."

"Quiet, witch." He laughed as he grabbed her hand and headed to the door that led down to the kitchen, pulling her along. "If I remember correctly the elves have pallets they sleep on down here."

"Erwin!" Rowena hissed. "You wouldn't dare."

He pulled her into the doorway and after closing the door behind her, he pushed her against the rough wood and leaned into her, crushing her mouth as his hand lifted her gown to her waist, and running his hand across the skin on her back. She put her arms around his neck and as he lifted her, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Gods, witch, how I have wanted you." He kissed her neck in a path to her ear and back again as his hands found her thighs and stroked her legs. He heard her moan his name as he found her lips again, not wanting to stop kissing her long enough to say hers. She put her head back against the door, offering him more of her throat as she felt her body want to melt into his and knew that if they did not stop soon he would have her in a public staircase where anyone might find them.

"Mum?" The sound of small slaps instead of heavy knocks came from behind Rowena.

"Gods, witch." He eased her back to the floor and leaned down to kiss her again. "I want to take you for a walk, a walk like we used to. Now."

"Don't say that to Helga," she giggled. "She and Hanson had a misunderstanding when he asked her for a walk and she was quite embarrassed."

"Hanson?" He raised his eyebrow. "The tall dark-haired one?"

"Yes, she seems quite taken with him and he with her."

"Mum?" the small slaps came again. "Now!"

"Oh my." Rowena turned to open the door. "I am sorry, Erwin, but I can't just leave her out there."

He reached around her and opened the door, pushing it open until it revealed the small girl standing impatiently waiting for her mum. Rowena picked up Helena only to have Erwin take her and again move her to his hip.

"Alya says no, she says no sweet." She put her small hands on Erwin's cheeks and turned his head to hers, demanding his attention.

"Alya?" Erwin looked at Rowena as they stepped into the main room.

"Salazar's intended," Rowena whispered to him. "He brought her just last week. They were to wed as soon as they got here but she is already fighting with him."

Erwin's lip twitched as he fought not to laugh at Salazar's luck. He slipped his arm around Rowena's waist as they walked to the others who still stood and talked by the door.

Salazar came over to Erwin, clasping his arm and pulling it to his chest. "It has been too long, Erwin, much too long. What news have you brought?"

"He has been gone near on three years. Surely do not expect an answer tonight." Rowena smiled and laid her head against Erwin's arm. "Come, Helga managed to get mead and the students will be down at Temin's house. It is time to celebrate. Let us leave the lessons and work for one day."

"A lot of changes have been made since I was last here." Gryffin walked up to hug Rowena. "You look good, Rowena, and who is this? Surely not our little Helena?"

Helena looked at him, shoving her thumb back in her mouth and scowling. She laid her head down on Erwin's shoulder and turned her head away from Gryffin.

"Oh my," Gryffin laughed. "Not home ten minutes and you have her charmed. She is beautiful, Rowena. I have brought her a present."

He finally found what he was looking for in his pocket on the inside of his cloak. Holding his hand out to Helena, he waited until she looked up at him before turning his hand over and opening it in front of her.

"Oh my." Rowena's hand flew to her mouth. "Gryffin, it is too much. We cannot possibly accept them."

In his hand he held two perfect earrings, set in gold with a stone as green as an angry sea hanging below a perfect pearl. The settings were the finest gold, and the wire that wrapped around the back of the ear and looped up over the rim was of the finest work.

"Emeralds," Gryffin said as Helena's finger reached out and touched one of the sparkling green stones.

"Emm el?" she said, looking up into his eyes. "Emmel."

"Pearls and emeralds for my beautiful girl." He smiled at her. "And for her mother?" He handed Rowena a pendant of ruby, the colour of the brightest sunset. "It is said to come from beyond the sea, and beyond the desert. It is old and made by our people." He reached up and placed it over her head. "It carries no charms, no spells and no luck. It is just made to match the beauty of the wearer."

"Gryffin, it is... it is..." She looked up at him, then stood on the tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"I should not accept this." She laughed and put her hand over the stone. "Although with Erwin's permission I shall. I have never seen any thing like this."

"I brought Helga a gift." He looked at Salazar with a little colour rising to his cheeks. "It is not something I can give her. I only bought them for their beauty and then ... I did not think of the meaning before...."

He unwrapped a set of hair combs, each a perfect copy of the other, made of ivory and encrusted with stones of different colours creating a butterfly that would lay against her hair. Gryffin looked up sheepishly as he held a traditional bridal gift, not knowing how to present it to her.

"Erwin had said maybe you could... I asked him if you would and he said maybe you... perhaps if you gave them to her for me." He pushed the hair combs at Rowena only to have her step back and laugh at him, then take Helena back from Erwin and place her on her hip.

"Gryffin, I told you she would not do it." Erwin laughed at the sheepish look on his face. "He has been carrying these things around since before I met up with him, now he worries."

"You should keep them for your own bride," Rowena chided him.

"He has another set hidden in his pockets." Erwin laughed, hugging Rowena close.

Salazar held out his hand, took the combs with a smile, and looked across the room to where Helga stood with Hanson and the others, still talking and planning the celebration they would have for the students that night.

"I know someone who wants to give her something but has no money." He slid the combs in his pocket and winked at Rowena. "I will pick a time when he cannot refuse and his pride will not get in his way."

"Hanson?" Rowena gasped and looked around the room for Hanson. "He has asked for her?"

"He has hinted. He says he cannot talk to her father to ask her price." Salazar shrugged. "It is a custom that seems very important to him. I told him that Helga's custom is for simple claiming. He wants to honour her with a bride's price."

"Salazar, what is this I hear of a new bride you have brought home to us?" Gryffin slapped the Slytherin on the back.

"Her name is Alya. We will we soon join." He looked over to the witch standing by the door with her arms crossed, staring at him. "We are in negotiations."

"Negotiations? With your bride?" Gryffin laughed outright as Erwin and Rowena hid their smiles.

"It is only correct to settle the contract before the claiming takes place." Salazar lifted his chin.

"I take it you have reached a point you cannot settle?" Gryffin pushed him for more information.

"A small stumbling point. That is all." Salazar crossed his arms and scowled at Gryffin.

"It seems Alya is a more modern witch the Salazar remembers." Rowena grinned and took a step behind Erwin. "It seems she wants a marriage of equals."

"She will be equal," Salazar hissed. "I have given her half of my wealth, and will promise her children the rest by inheritance."

"That is protection, Salazar, not equality." Gryffin stopped laughing and now frowned at him. "A witch expects protection but wants more. What is it she wants?"

"She wants the freedom to come and go as she pleases." Salazar looked around at the others. "It is not a small thing."

"Well," Erwin tried to ignore the twitching he felt at the corners of his mouth, "it does not seem a lot to ask. I would only ask where is it she goes, and if it is safe."

"You who has a wife that cannot leave the valley tells me this?"

Rowena looked down at the floor and started to walk away as Erwin grabbed her arm and held her, glaring at Salazar and putting his free hand into his pocket to take up his wand.

"Rowena." Salazar raked his hand through his hair. "I meant nothing by that. I am sorry, I just... I am at loss of how to deal with her. I did not mean to say that, and I do not think less of you because of it."

Rowena nodded but kept her eyes to the floor as she felt Erwin relax and pull his hand from his pocket.

"She wants one of those brooms that are being used in Iberia. She heard of them from Issa." He reached for Helena, who fell toward his open arms with a squeal of laughter. "At least there is one witch in this place that does not want her freedom."

"She is only three, give her time." Rowena grinned at him, watching Helena peek around to see his face. "Issa also told us we should bring the brooms here. She said it would be easier to gather the students."

"If all she wants is a broom, that does not seem too much to ask." Gryffin turned back to Salazar. "There is more to this, I am sure."

"I do not think they are safe. A broom! How would a witch sit on a broom? It would be inappropriate." Salazar spoke with his jaw clenched looking over to where Alya stood. "She does not want to live in the dungeons."

"Nor would I," Rowena said.

"She wants to live in a city," Salazar said flatly.

"If she had a broom, and one for you, the trip from here to city would be but a couple of hours." Gryffin shrugged. "Perhaps two homes are what you need."

"That would solve the problem," Erwin said, seeing Gryffin's pointed nod to him.

"I have no need for two fires," Salazar snapped at Erwin, clearly upset.

"No, but you need two dwellings if that is what she demands. It is not much to ask if she needs to keep to the old ways of the clan and you have need to stay here." Erwin looked down at Rowena, who had grown quiet. "Now is the time for a celebration. Enough of this. Tell Helga we want food."

"Lots of food, and mead." Gryffin(Salazar?) laughed and walked off with Helena on his hip. "I will take my undemanding love with me and we will build the fire."

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Later they sat around the first celebration fire they had seen since the Oidhche Shamhna of five years ago. Gryffin lay on his side, propped up on his elbow, watching two of the witches dance in the style of the old Slytherin. They slapped the ground with their bare feet as they followed patterns as old as the memory of the clans, and clapped small cymbals attached to their thumbs and middle finger to send the sound of women to the gods. Three of the young boys that had come as students from Salazar's clan beat the time to new drums Temin had fashioned from the hides of animals, letting their sound of men join with the silver sound of women.

Gryffin watched the dancers, chewing on a blade of grass while Helena straddled his hip. She sat with her thumb stuck firmly in place and her eyes brightly watching the shimmering colours of the scarves twirling in the dance and the sparks of the fire rising in the air. Salazar walked over and joined him, lowering himself to the ground and sitting cross-legged to the delight of Helena, who scampered over to sit in the diamond formed by his legs, leaning back against his chest in her favourite position.

"You need a dozen of your own." Gryffin watched as Helena snuggled closer to the stern wizard, no longer needing the comfort of her thumb. "Alya seems a good witch and only wants to keep the old ways, you can not fault that."

"We have yet to reach an agreement." Salazar ruffled Helena's hair and looked to the celebration. "We used to have at least two dozen dancers, now only two here can find the steps."

"We will not teach clan law, or clan custom here." Gryffin answered Salazar's unasked question. "Perhaps your witch will find a way to pass the dance to her children so it will not be lost."

"I will not talk to her as of yet. I have learned to give her time to get rid of the anger."

"You have learned? She has been here but a week." Gryffin raised his eyebrow and smirked at Salazar.

"We argued first on the way here. She insisted we stay at inns in the stone cities."

"Imagine that." Gryffin shook his head, feeling his lips tug up. "She who knows how to hide in plain sight of the non-magical men did not want to sleep on the ground."

"Muggles, we call them Muggles now."

"Fine, she who knows how to hide when with Muggles did not want to sleep on the ground." Gryffin laughed. "So who won?"

"We slept in the inn. I took two rooms." Salazar frowned.

"Ah, so the reason for the argument was the ground or the number of beds?"

"She does not want a simple claiming. She wants witnesses."

"Like Erwin and Rowena?" Gryffin sat up, frowning. "That is not the old way."

"She seems to want the old ways only when it strikes her fancy." Salazar scowled.

"It must be the way of all Slytherin women. If I remember your mother correctly she is much the same." Gryffin laughed aloud and looked around to find where Alya sat by herself watching the dance.

"You have been too long alone, old friend." Gryffin turned back and looked at Salazar. "Watch the little one and I will put an end to this. If this is not settled soon, I myself will take her back. It is not fitting for her to be with you unwed."

"She stays with Helga," Salazar said angrily.

"As she should. However, if she stays here at the school longer she will be unable to return home and be accepted as a bride if you refuse her." Gryffin stood and shook his head at Salazar. "Surely you do not plan on ruining her name and then sending her back unwed."

"I plan on making that witch my wife and I do not want to hear her arguments."

"I think you have forgotten about not only witches but about wives." Gryffin laughed as he walked across the clearing to the other side of the fire.

Gryffin stood over Alya as she sat watching the dancers, looking up at him and then back at the swirling colours. She moved over to allow him space on the cloak she had spread out against the damp earth but made no attempt to greet him.

"Since Helga is in the kitchen and Rowena is walking with her husband I thought to introduce myself," Gryffin said as he sat next to her, drawing up his knees and looking at the dancers with her.

"Why didn't Salazar introduce you?" She lifted her chin, still refusing to turn her head to him.

"He is angry. With you or himself, I cannot tell." Gryffin laughed softly. "He says you are in negotiations."

"What?" She spun her head to look at him, anger flashing in her eyes. "Negotiations? Is that what he is calling it? How dare he? I do not see him for four years, I waited for him not even knowing if he wants me to wait, and now he says negotiations?"

"You do not have family here, no father to speak for you. I will take your demands to him," Gryffin said, offering to play the role he thought she needed.

"Oh no you don't," she said angrily. "Oh no. He promised me a home. A real home, not a hole in the ground."

She stood up and brushed her skirt off and then reached down and pulled on the cloak, pushing him to the side and grabbing it in both her hands. "I want a house. Somewhere I can see the sun. If he cannot give me that, I want none of it. I did not ask him for his money, and his inheritance."

"I did not mean to..."

"He sent you over here. He told you to talk me into it." She ran her sleeve over her face, angrily brushing away her tears. "I know no one here and he has not talked to me in three days."

"He thinks you want to move back to the city." Gryffin patiently got up from the damp ground and tried to reason with her.

"He is a fool." She folded her arms and stomped her foot, looking at the ground. "All I said is I wanted a house that did not smell of peat, and did not have a roof cut from sod and a dirt floor."

"You do not want to live in a city?"

"No, I don't care of that."

"You would be willing to stay in his chambers while lessons are in session if he finds you a suitable dwelling when they are not?"

"Yes, if he promises it will not smell of peat."

"What of the broom?"

She smiled and lowered her head, laughing. "I told him that so I had one thing to give up if he gave me the rest."

Gryffin put his head back and laughed, then, grabbing her hand, he started pulling her back to where he had sat with Salazar.

"Witch, you two are perfectly matched." He shook his head, still laughing.

"You can not tell him about the broom," she hissed. "He is Slytherin, and the son of Sharar. He must think he wins or I will never hear the end of it."

Gryffin laughed and took her to her groom, and pulling her to him, gave her a kiss on each cheek before surrendering her to Salazar.

"You deserve each other." He laughed as he scooped up Helena and left them alone as he went to find Helga and Hanson.