The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Chapter 37

The Calm

Jonas was born that day as Salazar walked by the lake and tried to find the gods of his Kista to pray to. He had thought of her since he had heard that Alya would have the baby this day. He wished she were still with him even as he knew if she were, he would not have his Alya.

He had sat heavily on the stone boulders and looked to the North where he knew the icy seas stretched out beyond his knowledge and for a moment thought that it would be nice to once again be of a clan and be alone with others of the same ways. He had been gladdened to see Alya light the candles and say the prayers for the gods to send Kista to her bedside to help her with their husband's son but was now saddened that she felt herself second and in need of a dead witch's approval. Although he loved her fiercely, he still felt he had betrayed his Kista.

Gryffin had come to collect him when the witches were done with Alya, as she and his son were dressed in the proper gowns and sat ready to receive him according to the old ways and to present him to his son.

"Come, Salazar, a new Slytherin waits the naming," Gryffin said softly, knowing what was on his mind. "He begs to hear his name spoken."

"Do you think often of Lara?" Salazar looked up at Gryffin blankly. "Do you want her still? Even with Bretta in your bed?"

Gryffin sat down on the boulder next to Salazar and looked out to the north as well. "It was different with us. We had so newly joined that I did not have time to grow used to a wife. We had no children and no history."

"I need something to hold on to." Salazar breathed deeply. "I want to hold on to Kista but Alya waits for me and if I lose her I will die. The more I want her, the more I feel I am betraying Kista."

"You have a new son. A grand boy with dark hair and dark eyes, even on the day of his birth no blue shows in them. He has a lusty cry, loud and strong." Gryffin turned to him. "Bretta said Alya did not cry out once. Her concern ran to you and if you were near."

"It as if she grieves my death," Salazar said sadly. "She has no joy here. Have you seen the marks I left on her?"

"Yes. We have not told her of the potion, or your cure." He looked out to the north. "I have no answers for you, Salazar. I do no know if it will be better, or if the gods will let you keep this son. If we had a clan, perhaps it would be easier. This is what we have now and this only."

"Our children will not know the old ways. They will not know the old ones, or to respect the elders." Salazar stood and brushed off his robes. "They will be empty."

"No, they will be different." Gryffin stood with him. "Now come, say his name so he may greet the world and it him."

Together they walked back to the castle and into the dungeons. Salazar walked past the others in the sitting area and entered the bedchamber, looking at his son in Alya's arms.

"I have your son." She smiled up at him with moist eyes. "I give him to you to bring up as you choose."

He bent down, kissed her on the top of her head, and took the babe she held out to him. Pulling the wrapped bundle to his face, he breathed in the scent he remembered being his first son, taken by fever so many years ago. He lowered himself to his knees and looked up at Alya.

"I will name him by a name of the new god because the old ones are leaving us. I will name him for one that they thought lost and the gods gave back. He is Jonas." He looked at Alya and saw the tears in her eyes.

"Salazar, are you sure?" she whispered. "It is not a Slytherin name."

He looked down at the tiny creature and nodded. "Yes, he will be the new hope for the Slytherin. Thank you, wife."

"Now go," she laughed at him. "Take him to the sitting room and let them meet him."

He stood and was almost to the door before she called out to him. "Your mother is sending an elf. We may stay."

He nodded at her as he lowered his head and looked at his son. "Yes, I have already approved it."

"I am scared, Salazar," she said.

"As am I." He looked up at her and tried to smile. "I have a potion to take. Three times a day I will take it. I imagine that the elf will be told of that as well."

"Sal," she breathed his name. "Thank the gods for the potion, do not push it away."

"No, thank that overbearing Helga." He smirked at her. "Now, let me show off my son. He will be better than all the rest."

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"Mother, it just happens to be at the same time as the race. It was not planned that way." Helena rolled her eyes at her mother.

"I said yes to the ball because Salazar will be there to watch over you, not so you could run around the continent at will."

"Lawrence will be in the race. He has said I should come." Helena crossed her arms and pouted. "And Timothy will wait for me."

"No, perhaps when you are older," Rowena said with a shake of her head.

"I told Gryffin of the race. He and Bretta are interested. There will be brooms from all over and only the best to race them."

"Helena, I do not care if Salazar, Gryffin, and the whole lot go. You will not."

"Fine, I will tell them I am to be kept home as a baby."

"Good," Rowena seethed. "We are in agreement for a change."

Helena stomped to the door and pushed past Erwin, who was just entering, on her way back to her house tower.

"Now what?" Erwin scowled at her.

"Now she wants to go to the race after the naming ceremony."

"I think she is too young for the crowd that will be there. It is no place for a witch, let alone one her age."

"You tell her. She thinks I say no just from spite."

"I will talk to her." He sighed and ran his hand though his hair. "Why do others think girls are easy to rear?"

"Because she flashes her eyes and flirts with them and appears to be sweet," Rowena tried not to laugh at the look of horror on Erwin's face. "Come, you remember the first time you saw her. She, just a baby, had you charmed before you had found your way to me."

"She is too old for her flirting." He frowned. "She needs to begin acting like a young witch instead of a child in a grown body."

"I cannot control her." Rowena sat heavily and looked up at him. "I can not forget Elbragh's words at the circle."

She looked at his frown and shrugged. "Remember? He said, 'A child will be born, a female child. She will break your heart.' At times like this it runs though my head."

"Rowena, Elbragh is not here to explain his words. He also said that nonsense of the future bloodline. The line she shares in blood with Vortigern. I do not hold with most seeing."

"Shhh." She raised her hand and put it over his mouth. "You agreed she must never know his name."

"So," he said to change the subject, "how is Helga doing with the new potion? I did notice she had managed to stay seated during the entire evening meal."

"Oh Merlin." She rolled her eyes and grinned. "I have always believed that a wizard that gets a witch with child deserves to be treated as she wants. That said, I feel sorry for Hanson."

"He is making her a new cradle. He uses willow this time."

"She did not like the one of cherry?"

"No, nor the oak, or pine."

"Do you think she does it to keep him busy?"

"No," he said, laughing. "Rowena, Salazar really needs to reconsider this potion. She no longer cries, but now she is demanding."

"Helga really needs to only take one swallow. I would have thought she had learned."

"He only gives her one swallow at a time now." Erwin shook his head. "No, this is all Helga. That is why he needs to rethink the potion."

"Poor Hanson," she sighed. "At least she does not stick him to a chair."

"Come." He leaned down and captured her mouth. "Walk with me."

"Helena..."

"She is in class." He ran his hands down her back, lower than her waist, and pulled her into him. "It has been as long time since we visited the pass. Let's go back to where we first lay together."

Rowena looked up at him and smiled. "Now? In the middle of the day?"

"Your lessons are over, the students are all in class or taken to Hogwarts weeding duty, it is a perfect time." He leaned down, nibbled the outer shell of her ear, and kissed along her jawline to the throat until he felt her nod.

"Do you want to wait that long?" she asked as she reached up to pull him down to her mouth again.

He smirked and stood up, pulling her into his side, and spun to the secluded place that was theirs, high up on the path.

"Elf travel." He laughed as he pulled her down to the ground. "I knew it had benefits."

He kneeled beside her and lifted his robes over his head, feeling her hand stroke his chest as he did. He tossed the garment aside and looked down at her.

"I love you, Rowena. Do you know that? Do you know you are the only thing that keeps me sane?"

"Erwin?" She sat up and leaned into him, kissing his chest and then sitting back and looking up at him. "What is wrong?"

"It is going so quickly. Helena is almost grown and the school can almost run without me. In two more years, it should be completely self-sufficient. What happens then?"

"Then we can enjoy our time." She smiled and tugged her own robes off, then began to unlace her bodice.

"I want you to think of leaving here. Perhaps just as Alya and Salazar, only during the summer months."

"It would mean that much to you?"

"I don't know. I want to have a home with you. It is what I have always wanted."

She turned away from him, thinking of the son he had and wondered of their home together. She felt the old tears begin to sting again and cursed them that they would choose this time to come.

"Perhaps a place in town?" he offered and turned her chin to him. "Just think of it."

She nodded, and seeing his smile, she lay back in the grass, pulling him down with her. "I did not come here to talk."

He raised his eyebrow and pulled open her bodice, lowered his head and heard her soft laughter as his lips found her beasts. He passed his hand over her, removing her clothing with old magic, and smiled at her gasp of surprise. He then nudged her legs apart with his knees and lowered himself to her, resting on his elbows and trapping her head between his hands.

"I want you, Rowena. As much today as the first time I took you here." He pushed the hair behind her ears and studied her face as her eyes grew large and he heard her gasp out his name as he slowly lowered the rest of the way into her and whispered her name.

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Gryffin walked with his arm around Bretta, deep in thought about what Salazar had asked him. He had watched her carefully as Salazar lay Jonas in her arms and had seen how she had held him and seemed afraid of him even as she had closed her eyes and struggled to say the prayer of life and welcome.

"You are quiet tonight." Bretta looked up at him and then back out to the flat expanse of the grounds. "Ever since we left Alya you have not spoken more than a grunt and a click of your tongue."

He pulled her closer and continued to walk until they reached the top of the bluff that dropped suddenly to the bottom of the valley.

"Salazar worries that Alya feels less than his full wife because she was not his first."

"I am sure there is more to it than just that."

"His words."

"He should know better," she chided him and slapped his arm. "And so should you if that is what this is all about. I am not jealous of a dead witch."

"I do not want you to ever think that I would think less of you." He turned and looked at her. "I would never love you less."

"Gryffin, you have accepted me when others would not. You have..."

He put his mouth over hers, stopping the words, and then pulled her to him. "All this time I have only thought of what I have lost. I have never asked you what you have lost."

She leaned with her arms against his chest, looking up at him. "I was spoken for, but that was all. He had not taken me, if that is what you need to know. Gryffin, our past makes us what we are. If you had not loved Lara, and lost her as you had, you would not be standing in front of me. Should I worry about her? I think not. I should thank her."

"I care nothing about who had you before." He traced her lips with his finger. "You loved him? That is all I care to know."

"Yes." She locked her eyes on his, not looking away or hiding her face. "I loved him as surely as the sun comes up. I love him still. Do you think that lessens my love for you?"

"You have never spoken of him." He gripped her shoulders tightly.

"As you have never spoken of your Lara to me." She smiled at him and reached up her hand to his cheek. "I think if I had not loved him I would not have survived after the war. It was his face that made me keep moving forward until I found this place. He gave me the will to fight and not give in. I would have killed myself by the old laws when the men took me if he had not been there inside my heart when I needed him."

"On Peska's island there are children left. They have no home, and no one to take them in. They live in the streets but have found each other." He looked up at the sky and sighed. "I want to bring them here."

Bretta began to laugh until Gryffin silenced her, putting his hand over her mouth and scowling at her. "That is not the reaction I was hoping for."

"What does one have to do with the other? Why would you worry of Lara, and my past loves, for the unwanted children? They are everywhere now. Since the war and the burnings, many children run the streets."

"I do not know." He smirked. "Somehow it all fits together in my head. You, Lara, and the children."

"How many?"

"Four. Two of each. The oldest, eight."

"If the gods decide," she looked down and then lifted her chin up, "if they decide may I still have ..."

"My gods," he said, as he pulled her to him. "A dozen if you want. Did I not tell you the first time we were together that you were to have my children?"

"Not exactly," she laughed then her eyes grew wet as she looked at him. "Go get them, you fool. Helga thinks I may still be able to bear. If I cannot, you may still find another."

"You would leave me?" His breathing stilled at he looked at her.

"If you want that badly, and I lose another." She looked away and sighed. "Twice now I have had them in me, and I can hold them only two moons."

"I can live with only these four easier than without you." He cupped her face in both hands and brought her face back to his. "Where will I find a witch that can fight beside me and do as well as I with the long blade?"

"Get the children. We will pray for more. If not, we will just pluck them from the streets." She smiled widely at him. "My husband, Godric Gryffindor. I think I like you as just plain Gryffin."

"Tomorrow I collect the four, tonight I have plans." He turned to her and lowered his head to her neck as he pushed her robes off her shoulders.

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He left her still abed the next morning, the sun not yet up. He knocked softly on Hanson's door and was relived to find him up and dressed for the day. He was explaining his mission and was about to ask for help when Helga came into the sitting room.

"Helga." Hanson jumped to help the lumbering witch into a comfortable chair. "Gryffin is about to ask me to help him bring them home."

"It is about time. I have done nothing but worry of them." She winced and readjusted her body.

Gryffin looked from witch to wizard as his brow came together in thought. "I have been led to think this was my idea."

"Of course it was," Helga said. "I would not spell or hex a thought such as this. It had to come from between you and Bretta."

"How did you know?" He leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms on his knees.

"I don't know. It was not a vision, but," she looked at Hanson and licked her lips, "the boy, they call him Peter, and the girl is Laura. Then Mary and Mark - Christian names, they say. All names of their god."

"Gryffin, they will bring the new god. They were given to him in a temple when they were named." Hanson looked at Helga but talked to Gryffin. "You are the only ones that will be here without the gods of an old clan. The only home they will be welcomed into and not asked to change would be yours."

"They keep different customs and ... I don't understand it." Helga shook her head and lowered her head. "Elmira has found books, books written of their god. She will make copies to a language you can read."

"How many gods do we have here?" Gryffin laughed and stood up. "I do not think one more will make a difference. If Issa is well enough to visit she would bring six more with her and still be welcome."

"Helga has already made plans to have Issa speak to you and Bretta once the children are here." Hanson laughed. "It seems they have different prayers to say as well to different ... saints."

"Saints?" Gryffin grinned. "They worship saints?"

"I know, but we pray to the old ones and talk to our loved ones. Is it really so different?"

"Helga? I need the truth, not one of your answers wishing it were true. Does Bretta know the names? Was she told?"

"No, Gryffin, I swear. No one but the few that saw the owl come."

"I will leave now. Hanson? Five on a broom will not work, and remembering how elf travel can sicken I do not want to travel with four leaving their lunch along the way."

"Now this is a vision she did have." Hanson grinned. "Why else do you think I am up and dressed?"