The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Chapter 34

The Beginning of Madness

Helga held the parchment in her hands as she ran over the grounds to the groundkeeper's hut, calling Hanson as tears ran down her face. He hurried to meet her, expecting bad news as she jumped up on him, wrapping her legs around him with so much force they both tumbled to the ground.

"They are coming. They said they would but I did not believe him." She laughed as she cried, sitting on his chest and waving the letter in her hand. She leaned over and kissed him firmly on his mouth, then jumped up and ran to see Kista.

"Kista? Temin? I have need of a goat. A good milk giver for five." She turned to run back to the castle when Hanson tried to catch her.

"Helga, calm down and tell me what is happening," Hanson knew when she got like this it was all but impossible to make her stop.

"I cannot Hanson, not now." She ran back to stand on her toes and kiss his cheek. "You will love them too, you will see."

He watched as she gathered her skirt and ran back up the slope to the castle, shaking his head and sighing.

Temin stood behind him, chuckling. "Well, Hanson. Here we go again. What do you think it is this time?"

Hanson glanced at him with a scowl. "I wish she would wear shoes when she does not plan on staying. She is acting strange of late."

"Shoes?" Temin smirked.

Hanson grinned and raised an eyebrow. "When we walk she comes to me barefoot."

"Arse," Kista stood leaning in the doorframe, smiling down at them. "Have you not noticed her ankles swollen? I am sure her shoes are tight and she is sick each morn. The witch is with child. Even a fool could see it."

Hanson looked up to see Helga as she still ran up the slope and frowned. "She needs to stop running, and holding lessons. I will make her..."

"She is with child, you idiot, not ill. And you have not been able to make her do anything yet so I do not think you should try now."

"That is not true. Just last week she helped Salazar prepare his potions."

Kista shook her head and looked at him, smiling. "That was because she was angry he took a shelf from her kitchen so she took it back without removing his vials first. Of course she helped clean it up."

"I have no idea what she is talking about. Do you?" He looked at Kista hopefully.

Kista sighed and shook her head. "Something about milk enough for five."

Hanson shoved his hands in his pockets and walked the way Helga had gone, needing to know what had happened. He was surprised when he found her at the entrance to the dungeons yelling at Alya.

"The two of you are not the only ones to give approval." Helga had her hands on her hips, her face shoved within inches of Alya's and stomped her bare foot on the stone...

"He is welcomed here, but she and her non-magical child will not be. I know what he will say," Alya hissed back. "We vowed to keep this place separate and safe. I will not have it put in danger anymore than he."

"They will not put it to danger. You know that. How dare you say things like this?" Helga's voice began to tremble.

"Helga?" Alya reached out and put her hand on Helga's shoulder, then looked up and saw Hanson approaching. "Now your husband will think I am against you, witch. I only tell you what Salazar will. Helga, I am sorry. Do not cry."

"I am happy." She sobbed, yanking her shoulder out of Alya's grasp. "Then you say you will not welcome them. Two children of theirs have magic. Young children in a Muggle world."

"Helga?" Hanson walked up, looking at Alya. "I am no good at guessing, witch. You need to explain the goat."

"Saul and his wife come, and their three children." She dug though her pockets, pulling out the parchment and shoving it at him. "My fifth brother is Saul, his wife Marri is a Muggle and this joke of a witch does not want her here."

"I did not say that, she asked what Salazar would say. He would say she does not belong here. He does not trust Muggles."

"Do you think she would give up our location and risk her own children?" Helga turned back to her, still in tears.

"They will be welcome. I will speak to Rowena and Gryffin," Hanson said softly.

"You have no say in this, Hanson. Only the other two will decide. We agreed to the children of Muggles, not Muggles themselves." Alya narrowed her eyes at him. "They will not let you or I have a say in this. Anything you say they will see as self-serving. Would you let a Muggle in if it were not Helga's family?"

"Her brother, Alya. I am sure he is safe."

"What of the family of the witch? What if they search for her?" she shot back. "I know it is wrong, but I also worry."

"What if it is found they have magical children in their family? The Muggle men could kill them." Helga sobbed anew. "They will be in Hogsmeade, in the town at the pass."

"Hogsmeade may be too close. Perhaps we can find a farm farther away for them," Alya said.

"It is spelled. Is it not?" Hanson asked. "No Muggle can see the castle?"

"Talk to the others. I am only answering as she asked. Ask Salazar, he will be back soon, he has gone for the witch, ask him when he returns." Alya turned tearfully and ran to the dungeons.

"Helga? Kista thinks you are with child." Hanson scowled at Helga.

"I don't want to tell you yet. Just pretend you don't know."

"Then it is true?" He smiled at her, stepping forward to take her in his arms.

"Not yet, I can't tell you yet. Not until ... now it is ruined." She wailed in tears. "I wanted to tell you on the Summer Solstice. I wanted to celebrate in the old way."

"Helga, it is not something I can just pretend I did not hear. Solstice is still three moons off. If Kista could already see how long do you think I would not have guessed on my own?" He smirked at her.

"You? You would not have guessed, and if you did I only have to say you are wrong." She sniffed, looking up at him. "You believe everything I say."

Hanson was not often at loss for words, but now as he stood and looked at her face he could think of nothing to offer. He began to smile, then suddenly frowned at her.

"What have I believed?"

"Does it matter?" She sniffed and rubbed her nose on her sleeve.

"It may."

"Then I shouldn't tell you." She turned on her heel and walked away. "Close your mouth. You look like Salazar when you do that."

"Helga?" He caught up to her and started to walk beside her.

"Oh, Hanson," she sighed, "just little things. Like the time you helped weed the crop and pulled the herbs and left the weeds in the last row."

"Which herbs?"

"The ones Rowena found by the ridge."

"Why didn't you say something? You watched me do it."

"Because you wanted to help." She stopped walking and looked at him oddly. "You never like it when I point out something you are doing wrong. You become cross and mutter things the children should not hear under your breath."

"I do not." He scowled, crossing his arms.

"See? You do it now."

"Fine. Something else."

"The cloth you brought from town. I dislike it."

"You said it was just what you wanted."

"See, you believe everything I say. And those flowers, the yellow ones you bring into our chambers. They make me sneeze."

"Helga," he ran his hands through his hair, "you have to tell me if you don't like something. I would continue to bring you that same fabric until you said something. I thought you liked the yellow ones."

He saw her bottom lip begin to tremble and her tears start fresh.

"Now what have I done?" He reached out to pull her into him.

"Nothing, I just feel like crying." She laid her head on his chest and continued to cry.

"I hope you hurry and have this baby." He laughed at her. "I don't think I can put up with this a full ten moons. At least it is better now, I thought I was the one making you cry."

"Seven, seven left." She turned her face up to him and cried anew. "What if Saul cannot come? What if Salazar gets his way?"

"He will not. The others do not believe in his ways. I am not even sure Alya does completely."

"I should have thought of this. I should not have asked her first..." Helga smiled and stopped crying, wiping her face and stepping back. "That is the trick. I will talk to Alya again, and she will tell him what to do."

"I don't think Salazar will listen to her on this." Hanson shook his head. "No, it is wrong to set yourself between them."

"You do not understand, Hanson. If I just happen to mention my ...Helena. He loves Helena like his own."

"No." He held her by her shoulders and waited until she looked full in his face. "I have never forbade you anything. This, I will. You are not to talk to Helena of this. Do you understand?"

She only looked at him and nodded.

"Helga, I am happy about the baby." He leaned down to kiss her only to see her start to cry again. Wrapping his arms around her, he sighed, pulled her into his side, and walked her back to the castle.

Rowena saw them come in the main doors and rushed to Helga, hugging her warmly and looking up at Hanson.

"Alya came to me already. I told her we would work something out."

"Rowena?" Helga broke into tears again.

"They will come to Hogsmeade and if they don't like it there they can stay right here in this castle. Furthermore, their children's names are already on the list. I checked just before coming here. A set of twins, in ten years' time, will be students here."

"Are you sure? Oh, Rowena, please talk to Salazar. He will be so angry. Alya is right, he will be furious."

"Gryffin will talk to him. He will have far better luck than I." Rowena reddened slightly. "He will think I only do this at Erwin's insistence."

"There you have it." Hanson smiled at Helga. "Now you can turn off those tears and be happy about the baby."

"Thank the gods she finally told you. Now perhaps I can get her to take the potion she needs."

"I do not need it." Helga folded her arms and glared at Rowena. "It is for me and not the baby, and I do not need it."

"No, Hanson needs you to take it. I need you to take it. Even the elves need you to take it."

"Elves?" Hanson grinned.

"Oh yes, it seems she cries if the dinner is perfect from happiness, and from sadness if it is not. They have banned her from the kitchen and demand she writes down her instructions on the preparations of the food."

"Fine, but Salazar must brew it," Helga pouted. "He may anger me the most with his perfect pure blood ideas but his potions are the best."

"I will talk to him of the potions." Rowena looked to Hanson. "I will not mention Saul and his family. That must be Gryffin's job."

"Helena may..."

"Helga?" Hanson warned.

"I agree," Rowena said. "Helena should not be brought into this, Helga. I am surprised at you. With Alya due in only one moon I do not want two weeping witches walking around bumping into walls and I do not want my daughter wailing right behind them when her father berates her for speaking where she has no business."

"Alya should take a room in the tower," Hanson said. "She looks pale."

"Salazar will not permit it." Rowena shook her head. "He does not like the direction the school it taking. He says he will stay separate from the impure students and those who condone them."

"Tell him Saul's children will not take his lessons. I will keep them from the dungeons. Perhaps it will be enough." Helga looked at Hanson and Rowena in turn. "It is still years before they will be in Hogwarts. He may still change his mind."

"I will mention it to Gryffin. Now, I will ask him of the potion." Rowena put a small kiss on Helga's cheek as she headed to the dungeons.

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Before leaving to find Alya, and to collect Peska, Salazar had paced the white stone walkway in the chamber below. He had checked the water supply and assured himself the cold river water running to the kitchen still ran pure and clean. He made sure the iron and lead pipes carrying the air to the floors above from the hot springs were closed for the summer months. He had made sure the small crevices that allowed the pests from the kitchen and fields to creep down into the chamber were open and accessible to them.

The snake from his clan was growing larger than he had thought possible in such a short time. A cobra of this type should be no larger than the height of a man. It was already twice that. Where table scraps had once been enough, now the familiar wanted live food. Rats and other small animals were plentiful in the valley and found their way in to find water or a new food source only to become a source of food themselves. As the population of the castle grew, so did the food supplies and as the food supplies grew, so did the pests.

Now Salazar paced and thought of Alya, who carried his son in her womb. She hated the dungeons. He thought of living in one of the towers but rejected the idea at once. He had grown accustomed to the dark and silent hallways. It was enough he had to live in the cities during the summer, and take in celebrations with the others. He was no longer used to the crowded markets and gaily-coloured world that his people lived in. The very idea made his head hurt and his joints ache.

He would watch Alya's shimmering veils as she walked the halls and grounds of Hogwarts and scowl, seeing how she stuck out form the others. In the cities, she was one of the many and did not attract attention to herself by the sheer nature of her dress. In Hogsmeade, she turned the heads of traders and he heard the rude comments about loose witches and the garments she wore. He did not like it.

Salazar looked up to the ceiling, hearing footfalls pace above his head. The paces were coming from the baths that hid the entrance to this chamber. He knew Alya waited for him, impatiently pacing. He grinned and knew she would not venture down. She would only wait where she knew he would come to her as he had in the past. This time he turned and made the long walk to the far entrance, high in the mountain, and refused to answer her bidding. He would seek her out in the hallways and not let her think he cared.

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Rowena knocked on the massive door Salazar had put on his chambers, shaking her head that he would feel the need for such protection. She heard the wards coming down as Alya began working on them from the inside and frowned at the number she heard.

"Alya?" she said softly as the door cracked open.

"Rowena," Alya said. "I think this is the first time you have come to the dungeons in all this time."

"I have need to talk to Salazar."

"Come in, please." She opened the door and stepped aside to allow Rowena entry. "He is off collecting Peska."

Rowena stepped into their private chambers and stopped suddenly. The rooms were unlike anything else in the castle. Fine paintings and tapestries covered the walls. Furniture made in the style of the southern clans across the great water surrounded a great fire pit that stood not in the centre of the room, as there was no ceiling for a hole to capture the smoke, but as if on end against the wall.

"How does that work?" Rowena stepped closer and held her hand to the coals.

"It is a cold fire. It gives only light and no heat," Alya said sadly. "He tries to make it look like home."

Rowena looked to Alya and noticed a large bruise on her arm, and a smaller one on her throat. "Alya, you are injured." She hurried to her and lifted her arm to look closer.

"No," Alya said, pulling her arm back. "It is fine. I only hit it on something."

"You hit here as well?" Rowena's hand went to the mark on the side of Alya's neck.

"I don't know what to do." Alya looked up at Rowena, suddenly in tears. "He is getting worse, Rowena. I know this is not like Salazar. He has never raised his hand to me. Now when he is near I fear for him and for myself. Even the boy feels a sickness in him."

"Salazar? He did this?" Rowena felt as if the room suddenly fell to coldness and her words echoed back at her.

"He must be ill, Rowena, he must be." Alya looked back at the door. "It may be best if you left. Truly, he is not himself. He will not like to find you here. He will know the wards have been dropped."

"He is collecting the witch. We have plenty of time." Rowena pulled Alya to one of the couches and sat down next to her. "Why do you think him ill?"

"He does not eat. For days he goes without and than eats as if he will die for want. His head aches and he wakes at night sweating and in pain but will take nothing for it." Alya looked at Rowena as if she was also in pain. "I don't know what to do for him and he refuses to see Helga. For moons now, he has been like this. I fear for him."

"Does he also refuse to see me?" Rowena asked and saw Alya nod her head.

"He did this," her hand went to her neck, "but did not remember it in the morn. I am scared for the baby. I cannot reach him, Rowena. It is as if a part of him is dying and I don't know how to save it."

"You should have come to us."

"Not against his wishes. Even I will not do that. It would kill his pride to have it known. You don't understand how much he carries."

"Tell him Helga needs a potion. She is with child and it plays havoc with her emotions. She trusts only his brews."

"He will do it, no matter how angry he becomes with her, he will do it." She smiled at Rowena. "Before I came to know Helga I was jealous. The way he speaks of her and the way he plays with her. Really, I saw her as a flirting witch and him as liking it. I have come to learn she is a sister to him that he loves the same and just as dearly as if she were a true one. He will make her potion."

"I will tell her." Rowena stood and walked to the door. "Alya, we will find a way to help Salazar with whatever this is."

Alya smiled thinly and waited for Rowena to leave before she began to reset the wards. She hoped the witch was right and they could indeed find the source of the problems with Salazar. She sighed and returned to the couch to pick up her sewing.

Salazar should have been back hours ago. He had not taken his lessons that day and she had to have Kista lead the students. Normally, this would anger him. Today the lesson was on the use of dragon heart and unicorn blood. Alya reasoned Kista was naturally the one with the most knowledge and had brought her to the dungeons before the students knew anything was amiss. Now she worried about Salazar's reaction to Kista taking the classes and Rowena's visit. She looked to the hourglass and worried about the length of time he had been gone and quietly lowered her head.