The Green Flame Torch

"How are feeling?" asked the woman, her twinkling eyes worried.

Helga's abdominal area and below, ached with each movement. Rowena sat next to Helga on her bed and stroked her blonde hair gently.

"We were all very worried, truth be told," expressed Rowena, "You have such a little body and the Gryffindors aren't know for their diminutive statures. We had no idea how big Leon would be. You seemed to be having such difficulty."

Rowena leaned over and picked up the baby. She looked down at Leon with a soft smile.

"He has Myrddin's eyes," she sighed.

Helga looked away from Rowena. She couldn't start crying again. She had to be strong for her son.

Rowena nodded and handed the infant into his mother's arms. Helga clutched him tightly against her chest, allowing his little ears to hear her heart.

"Everyone I am sure will want to see you. Should I get them?" asked Rowena.

"I don't want to see a lot of people," whispered Helga, "Could I just see Godric and please tell Sylvana I am fine."

"Of course," replied Rowena.

She rose from the bed and left Helga's chamber. Helga kissed Leon's golden head as he began to

"There, there," she spoke in an undertone.

The door reopened and in walked a giant of a man. He had long sleek black hair that was graying. He was getting on in years but it hadn't had any effect on his physique. His muscles were well defined and his red tunic clung to his large chest. He gave her a reluctant smile despite his saddened emerald eyes.

"I'm glad to see you are well," he said kissing her forehead, "The whole castle feared the worse."

He looked down at the baby in her arms and smiled.

"How is he?" he asked stroking the little head with his immense hand.

"Strong and healthy. Just like a Gryffindor should be," replied Helga with a smile. "Do you want to hold him?"

Godric nodded and took the pink-faced bundle in his massive arms. For an ominously large man he carried the infant with tenderness and knowledge of that of a caring father.

"Ah, yes. A good, strong Gryffindor," announced Godric holding the child above him then bringing him back into a nook in his arm.

"But, I hope sweet natured like his mother," he added.

Godric looked down with pride at the baby and Helga saw tears in his eyes.

"He never got to see him" Godric said his voice quivering.

Helga couldn't help but share Godric's tears and got up and put her dainty arms around his large waist.

"I swear on my grandson," growled Godric, "I will never forgive Salazar for killing my son."

Helga looked up, afraid of him. She knew he meant what he said. Her heart ached. She knew Godric and Salazar had loved each other as kin. And that Salazar had looked up to Myrddin ever since he was little. She couldn't bring herself to hate Salazar as much as Godric was allowing. She hated what he did, not him.

"Where is Myrddin buried again?" mumbled Godric, "Elora wishes to visit it."

"Beneath a tree where we met," sighed Helga. "It is under the north tower of Camelot."

Godric handed the baby to his mother.

"Listen my dear," he said urgently; "I must bring up things none of us want to face. But, it must be said . . .Salazar will come back. Rowena has hidden the sangrael, since your message to us about his reconnection with his mother, but we fear he now wants the torch."

"Rowena has foreseen that the torch will play a part in his arrival here," answered Godric, "It is your creation my dear. So it is up to you to determine its fate. But, I must warn you that Salazar's jealousy will make Leon and you prime target's for his wrath."

Helga put Leon in his cradle.

"The torch is for white magic. It destroys evil and heals good. That is why I made it? Why does he want something that is capable of that?" inquired Helga sitting next to the cradle on the bed stroking the fussing Leon's hair.

"I don't know."

Helga looked over at her son and then around her chamber. Sitting on top of a table was the torch standing up right. It was made of bright gold and gave off a light of its own. In the middle of the head was a sun made out of copper that had turned green since she had made the torch nine years before. She thought back to that little girl who made it. Thirteen and so naïve. She thought she could heal the world of hatred with that torch. She went to it and picked it up.

"I don't trust it being taken away," she said, "Let me think about this."

"Well, think quickly," interjected Godric, "I am taking all the apprentices away from here and leaving them in the safety of some muggle friends of mine. The castle will not be safe for them. Rowena and I shall remain. Elora is taking ours as well and Rowena has already sent Wesley with their children. I insist you go with Leon."

"No," said Helga firmly.

"Please precious," insisted Godric, "Camelot is falling, it is evident. And if it is true Salazar is causing an uprising against his father, and is after the torch, he will surely lead the rebellion here."

Helga lay the torch down on her bed.

"I am not running away," she said sternly then hesitated but continued, "You may take Leon with you."

Godric looked pained and nodded his head. He approached her and put his arm around her tiny form.

"Don't worry," he whispered, "He'll be safe."

Helga looked up into his kind green eyes. She believed him. Helga was about to tell him so when a shriek was heard in the castle. They exchanged nervous looks and Godric ran for the door. Helga grabbed Leon and followed.

Helga's body ached with each step she took, but her feet quickened when she saw Godric was headed towards the tower where Rowena's girl apprentices slept. As she made it up the tower her fears increased as she recognized the shrieks as being her sister's.

Rowena was already there, kneeling down on the floor. Girls were scattered about the room staring at sixteen-year-old Sylvana. She was standing up right, her eyes forward. Her golden hair in braids, that were coming undone. Her body, no longer that of a child, hiding underneath a blue robe. Her eyes were glazed over and wide. Tears were streaming down her porcelain face. Helga recognized these as traits of one in a trance and was less afraid.

"What do you see?" asked Rowena in a calm tone that said 'I do this all the time'.

"The torch," whimpered Sylvana who was standing above Rowena, "It is left for the heir."

"Why?" asked Rowena.

"Because they're dead," she sobbed, "He killed them. He didn't want to. It was around her neck."

"Who's dead?" asked Rowena in the same calm tone.

Helga felt her fear rising again. Then, Sylvana began to convulse and fell to the floor. Rowena caught her before her head hit the ground. She cradled her.

"Sylvana, follow my voice," she whispered in her ear.

Sylvana's body began to relax. Soon she lay still.

"Will she be alright?" asked a first year apprentice.

"Yes," answered Helga, "It was just a trance. Clear her bed for her."

The younger girls did what Helga asked and Godric picked up Sylvana and carried her to it. As he lay her down her body constricted and her eyes snapped open again startling him.

"He's coming," she hissed her eyes in the same distant state.

"Who is?" asked Rowena rushing to her side.

"Draco," whispered Sylvana.

"Draco Rubeo," whispered Sylvana, obviously losing strength.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Red dragon?" puzzled Godric.

"Pendragon!" exclaimed Rowena and turned to Sylvana, " You mean Pendragon?"

"He's getting closer," continued Sylvana sweat forming on her brow, "Banners flying. The dragon is breathing fire."

"Arthur Pendragon or Mordred?" Godric asked Sylvana.

Helga came closer to her sister.

"She needs to stop," she protested, "You hear me Sylvana, come back. Enough."

"The small dragon draw's near!" yelled Sylvana; "The banners are burning!"

Godric looked over at Helga alarmed.

"Salazar's bringing an army," he said in a stern voice, "He really is preparing to battle Arthur."

Sylvana struggled for a second, but obeyed. Her eyes closed and her body went limp. Rowena raised Sylvana's eyelids and observed them, then closed them again.

"She's drifting back to us," she sighed.

"I don't know," sighed Rowena, "But yet again the torch has been mentioned. I saw it in my own vision as being important to us very soon. But, it has been apparent that Salazar was going to rise against his father. I don't know what is happening anymore."

Rowena looked down at the lake below, her eyes becoming glassy. Helga was empathetic towards her. Yes, Salazar had killed Myrddin, but Rowena was his true mother, not Morgan, and she couldn't just stop loving him, no matter what he did. True mothers didn't do that.

"Who . . ." Helga hesitated, "Who do you think is dead or will die?"

"I fear . . . Salazar and Arthur," whimpered Rowena.

Helga didn't say anything and looked down at the lake as well. What she wouldn't give to have the old Salazar back. Her best friend who was all talk but, never really hurt anyone.

Rowena sighed and turned away from lake and faced the castle.

"It is times like these" she sighed, "That I wish I wasn't Lady of the Lake."

Helga kept her eyes on the lake watching the mer-folk swimming happily. A woman's face appeared in the lake, then disappeared. Helga was startled and looked deeper into the lake and the ripples formed the outlines of a smiling woman, who began to laugh.

Rowena turned around.

"What was that?" she asked.

"You heard it too?" asked Helga; "It is coming from the lake."

Both woman stared at the lake as the ripples began to talk.

"The chamber is done," the woman cackled, "Mordred will arrive having a lair all for himself."

Rowena and Helga stared down in horror.

"Even if he doesn't succeed I have all the time in the world," continued the woman, "Runaway and hide if you wish. I will have the sangrael and the torch and Mordred's heir will have your souls!"

"Morgan!" shouted Rowena, "What are you doing? Your quarrel is with Arthur not us!"

"It is with everyone!" screamed Morgan; "Godric made the potion!"

"It was your idea!" replied Rowena.

"But, Godric knew Arthur was my brother!"

"He was young. It was a jest! We go over this all the time. He never meant for it to be that strong. Let go of the past!" egged Rowena.

"Let go? Let go! He raped me!" shrieked Morgan.

"I know that!" hollered Rowena, "But . . . but Morgan you were in love with Arthur!"

"NO I WASN'T!"

Leon began to cry and Helga stuck her pinky in his mouth to pacify him.

"Yes you were!" snapped Rowena, "You wanted him to want you."

"I didn't know he was my brother! I would never . . . it was Godric's fault. Through his jest, as you call it, my life was destroyed!"

Rowena was furious.

"And in return you force your son to ruin his and his loved one's lives!" she shrieked holding back tears.

"I don't force him to do anything," smirked Morgan.

"Leave him alone! Please!" begged Rowena, "You have won! Arthur will fall and Godric lives everyday with his guilt!"

"That is not good enough for me."

Helga heard some footsteps behind her and saw Godric appear at the archway. She ran and forced him back in, grasping Leon tight to her chest.

"It's Morgan. It would be best if she doesn't see you," she whispered to him.

He obeyed and stood out of view, but listened.

"He is more my son then yours!" yelled Rowena; "You have no right!"

Morgan set up a wave of water in anger. It hovered in the air and was on the same level as Helga and Rowena.

Morgan's face appeared in the ripples and rushing water.

"I won't rest until the last lion and dragon have suffered," hissed Morgan.

"You don't care about Salazar at all," snapped Helga.

"Far more then you did my dear!" Morgan screamed back.

"Leave us!" spat Rowena, "Back to your land of the faerie. Back to your little delusions of solitary victimhood!"

Morgan glared at Rowena and the wave subsided and she was gone. Godric slowly stepped out and Rowena let her emotions go and began to cry. Godric embraced her and her sobs shook her body. Helga stood by watching, feeling the tears streaming down her face as well. She turned and left them. It was their past burden not her's and she felt like she was intruding. She walked back up the stairs to check on her sister.

***

"Here," sighed Helga, handing the torch to Rowena.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" asked Rowena as she finished petting Leon who was dosing in his crib.

She took the torch.

"Yes, it can't be destroyed," said Helga, " It is made of the same magic that created Excalibur and the Sangrael. It is the only way to protect it from Morgan. Avalon is not an option. It is not a holy relic and it is too late now to have it blessed thus."

"If I would have known, I would of taken it there," Rowena declared.

"I know," sighed Helga, "Let us just do this as quickly as possible."

Godric walked in the chamber carrying a cauldron. His two youngest daughters Tuatha and Fionna were carrying jars of different liquids and bundles of herbs. They set them down next to the cauldron, bowed to the adults and hurried out.

Rowena pointed her wand at the cauldron and mumbled, "Absto Aura."

The cauldron floated up to her knees and stayed still in the air. She then conjured a blue flamed fire to float underneath it. Then, Helga and Rowena began to pour in different jars of liquid and drop in herbs. Godric took out his knife and cut strands from his hair, and from both women.

He threw each stand in while chanting, "Is urrain dhomh dia. Tiuggain aile! Tiuggain talamh! Tiuggain teine! Tiuggain fuil!"

Rowena placed the torch inside the cauldron and began to chant the same chant this time in Latin, while Helga chanted it in Greek, and Godric continued his Gaelic. The water began to boil. Helga took Godric's knife and held it to her hand.

With that Helga lightly sliced her finger and let the blood drop in the cauldron. A large puff of golden smoke in the shape of a badger appeared then quickly dissipated.

She handed the knife to Rowena.

Rowena held it to her hand and said, "Blood of my blood. Heir of my throne. Hide this torch. Hide it alone."

And with that she cut her finger and let the blood drop in. As well a large puff of smoke appeared only this time in blue and in the shape of an eagle. She handed the knife to Godric.

He looked down uneasily at the cauldron.

"Helga, this isn't right," mumbled Godric, " Rowena and I and Slytherin all have other artifacts to use for our heirs. And Slytherin also has this Chamber nonsense Morgan mentioned about. Yours should be able to actually use the torch."

"Godric we went through this," sighed Helga," Your heir will be the bravest and most worthy to use it. Rowena's will be the wisest to hide it. Mine will be most loyal in which to bare it on them. I don't feel cheated. I too have more then just the torch waiting for my heir."

"The forces are dwindling," warned Rowena, "Do it Godric."

"Blood of my blood," he said." Heir of my throne. Use this torch. Use it alone."

His blood dropped in and a red lion of smoke escaped the cauldron. The torch began to rise from the cauldron and the green flame flickered to gold, then blue, then red, and the back to green. Rowena pointed her wand at it and transfigured it into looking only like the copper sun on the center of the head. She attached it to a gold chain she conjured and placed it around Helga's neck.

"None but our lines may take this off of you," she whispered in Helga's ear.

Helga nodded her understanding and admired the necklace.

"On that note I think I should head out with the apprentices relatively soon," added Godric.

Rowena nodded, "All my children are ready in the hideouts, waiting for you to drop off the apprentices. They just need to be told when."

Godric soon left the room with the cauldron and began to move out all the apprentices and his children.

"What do we do now?" asked Helga.

Rowena who was seated next to her sighed, "Just sit and wait."

Helga rose up but fell back on the bed.

"Helga," cried Rowena reaching for her.

Helga lay down.

"Too much going on," she sighed.

"Yes, your body went through far too much bringing Leon into the world," replied Rowena smoothing Helga golden locks, "You should rest. Too much excitement."

Helga nodded and Rowena helped her get more comfortable like a mother helping her child. She kissed Helga on the forehead and then left the room quietly. Helga quickly drifted into sleep.

***

Helga felt her body being shook. She blinked her eyes opened and her vision slowly focused. Above her was standing a young man with curling brown hair and tanned skin. His hazel eyes were looking down at her like a lost puppy's.

Helga was startled and sat up quickly.

"Salazar," Helga gasped, "What are you doing in here? Where's Rowena?"

"Don't worry about her," sighed Salazar.

"Where is she," demanded Helga.

"With my mother," he snapped.

"Why?"

"Because they had something to discuss over."

Salazar sat down on the bed next to Helga. Helga tensed her body and inched away. Salazar looked away from her pursing his lips.

"Why are you so afraid of me?" he snapped.

"It is pretty obvious," she whispered, her voice quivering.

Salazar jumped up.

"I didn't touch Myrddin!" he shouted.

"I know what I saw," snapped Helga.

"He was already dead when I got there!"

"Let's not do this again," she sighed.

"But, I want you to believe me," pleaded Salazar sitting next to her again, "How can I make you see that I am innocent."

Helga looked up at his desperate eyes.

"I want to believe you," she whimpered, "But, I know what I saw. Your wand was drawn and you were pointing it at him."

"I was trying to revive him, in case he was just knocked out," mumbled Salazar.

Helga looked away then noticed the cradle was empty.

"Leon," she whispered to herself.

Her heart sank as she realized Godric hadn't let her say goodbye. Her eyes filled with tears. Salazar raised his hand out to her but she shrank away. Salazar's hands clasped in a fist and he jumped off the bed.

"Fine!" he snapped, "You don't want to believe me! You are as stubborn as Godric! Be disgusted by me!"

Helga felt her heart break. She couldn't believe this was the same boy who had loved her. Now nothing more then a confused angry puppet of his mother.

Helga felt fearful of what Salazar was capable of. But, in that moment when he reached for her she saw the old him. The young innocent boy who had cared for her so.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"To see you," he snapped.

"Why are you really here?"

"I told you. To see you!" he shouted.

Helga shrank from him again and his voice instantly lowered.

"Forgive me," he whispered, "But I'm telling the truth. Arthur is after me and I don't know if this battle will be my finest hour or my last."

Helga believed him, despite her knowledge of the torch that was hanging around her neck.

"I just wanted to see you again. You left so abruptly from Camelot," he continued in a calm tone, " All hell has broken loose there. No sane man walks the halls. After the Queen ran off with Lancelot, I believe Arthur went mad with jealousy. For the first time I felt sorry for him and understood what he was going through."

"I didn't run off."

"You said you'd wait for me. You promised."

"I did wait for you," pleaded Helga," But after almost three years I rarely heard from you. What was I supposed to think. I was going on my mission and you didn't even show up to see me off. And then Morgause came to her mother and . . .she told us . . ."

Salazar's eyes became frightened at the mentioning of Morgause.

"What did she tell you?" he asked cautiously.

"She told me she was carrying your child."

Salazar was quiet and paced around the room.

"What was I supposed to think?" she continued. "You obviously were moving on, so I thought. Rowena and I had to charm her so that the baby would gestate at a rate that would look like it was Lot's child. Morgause was devastated. She loved you. You know that?"

"I was stupid," Salazar whispered, "I was lonely and I missed you."

"So you lay with Rowena's kinswoman? Why didn't you visit me? Love me?"

Salazar looked around the room, a lost look on his olive face.

"I . . . don't know. I was scared. I . . . thought I didn't deserve you," he whispered his voice quivering, "I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean to hurt her or you."

"You did though," she said as compassionately as she could, "You did hurt me and Rowena. All of us."

A thought struck her.

"Were you in contact with your mother then?" Helga asked slowly.

Salazar snapped his head towards her.

"Yes, why?" he hissed, "You're not indicating that my mother had anything to do with this?"

"I was just asking," she stammered.

"Because if you are, then you are more of a simpleton then I thought!" he snapped, "My mother is helping me. She wants me to have what I deserve. Camelot is mine!"

Helga stayed quiet and still, fearfully realizing she was unarmed and that her wand was lying on her table next to the door. She looked over at it cautiously and began to walk to it.

She picked it up carefully, her back to Salazar, and placed it in her pouch around her waist. Salazar watched her suspiciously.

"Godric will return and . . . if you he finds you here he will . . . kill you."

"Let him come," snapped Salazar.

Helga stared down at Salazar with pity, pain, and fear.

"You must understand why," she said softly.

"But I didn't kill Myrddin!" hollered Salazar desperately, "He was like a brother to me!"

Helga felt a fire in her belly that scared her.

"Enough!" she snapped.

Salazar looked up at her startled, it was rare for her to raise her voice.

"I can't take this anymore!" she screamed, "I am trying to be helpful and not have you killed. Just leave. I don't want to hear you tell me again you didn't . . ." her voice cracked, "That you are innocent."

"Helga . . ."

"No! Enough!" she yelled as tears streamed down her face." Leave me in peace. Leave it alone! I loved you once and I still care for you despite my anger. Just go!"

Salazar looked in her eyes. His beginning to get glassy.

"I still love you," he said quietly.

"No more!" Helga sobbed.

"But Helga . . ." he begged going to her.

"No! Please!"

He tried to embrace her but she broke away and headed out the room, her sobs increasing.

"Helga! Where are you going?"

"Leave me!" she begged.

"No!" he yelled following her.

Helga began to run.

"Helga!" shouted Salazar.

She ran passed the main corridors and higher and higher until she reached the highest tower. A place where she always went to think. A place that gave her a sense of safety. The observatory.

She shut the door behind her and magically locked it even though she knew he could open it.

"Helga!" he called banging on the door.

"Go away!" she shouted.

He stopped banging and pulled out his wand.

"Let me in," he said in a pitiful voice, "I'll open it even if you don't."

Helga pointed her wand and opened the door.

Salazar walked in and saw Helga curled up in a ball in the corner, in tears. He went to her side and put his arms around her.

"NO!" she cried and scurried away from him.

"WHY?" he shrieked slamming his hand to the wall.

"If I even let you touch me you'll believe you have a chance," she whimpered.

Salazar slouched down against the wall. A glistening streak appeared down his face and he wiped it away.

Helga stood in the center of the room trying to hold in her tears.

"Will you please go," she begged.

"No," he pouted.

Helga felt her knees go weak and sank to the floor. She didn't know what to do. If Salazar stayed he would be killed, if he went after Arthur he would be killed. All she wanted was him far away from her, but also alive and unharmed.

"Salazar," Helga whispered.

"What?"

"Just run away. Leave me and this and Camelot and Arthur and your mother. Leave it all. Go far away. Save yourself."

Salazar gazed at Helga as if he had never seen her before and slowly his expression became angered.

"Fine," he hissed standing up; "I'll go. You want me far away from you. I disgust you so."

"I want you safe," she insisted.

"I'll go I said!" he shouted, "But not until I have the torch."

"Salazar," she sniveled, "You know I can't do that."

"Where is it?" he said looking down at her.

"I don't know."

"You're lying," he implicated.

"Why do you want it?" she asked looking down.

"It will help me defeat Arthur," he said matter-of-factly, kneeling to her level.

"But Arthur is not evil."

"To you he isn't it. You know the torch's flaw. The barer of the torch tells it who is evil and must be destroyed."

Helga felt her body growing smaller and smaller.

"I can't give it to you, even if I knew where it was."

Salazar grabbed her face a tad forcefully.

"You know where it is," he snapped.

"Know I don't. Stop that. You're hurting me."

Salazar let go of her face and stood up. He looked around the observatory searching for the torch.

***

"I've searched everywhere in the castle," snapped Salazar, "Even your chamber. So where is it?"

"I told you I don't know!" she whined standing up.

Salazar walked over to her and his body began to shake with rage.

"You're lying!" he shouted, "Why make this harder for you!"

"You can't have it!"

He shook her shoulders and screamed, "You are making me angry! Where is it?"

"Stop that!" she begged.

His hands were strong and his fingers dug into her delicate arms. He stopped as something caught his eye. He began to reach slowly towards her chest.

"Salazar don't," she warned.

He touched the sun around her neck and a spark of what looked like lighting struck his hand and he jumped back in extreme pain.

"What the devil is that!" he shouted.

"A talisman," she lied quickly.

He looked at his hand and then up at her, his eyes burning in fury.

"The sun looks like the one on the torch," he hissed.

"Coincidence."

"I'll bet. Give it to me!" he demanded.

"I can't."

Salazar walked back up to her and held his other hand out. Helga noticed his anger and fury were failing and desperation filled his eyes.

"Just give it to me," he begged,

Helga backed away covering the necklace with her hand.

"I can't," she whispered.

"Don't make me force you," he whimpered.

Helga felt a spasm of fear.

"I said you can't have it. Don't make this worse," she said her wand hand shaking.

Salazar grabbed his wand and pointed it at her.

Both stood with wands drawn, terrified of each other.

Salazar sent a blast of energy through the wand at a wall behind her in frustration, causing Helga to scream and send one at him in defense.

"Just do as I ask!" he screamed tears forming in his eyes, having successfully dodged the blast.

Helga shook her head.

"The torch isn't yours to have!" she yelled.

"Stop denying me everything!" he yelled and sent another blast next to her, crushing part of a wall near to her.

A yell from outside the window was heard. Helga and Salazar looked out and saw a horseman riding quickly towards the castle. Bron was approaching.

"Did you call him in your mind?" hissed Salazar.

"No," she answered, "Sylvana must have."

"She knows you're in danger?" he smirked, "Never did like the fact that she knew too much for her own good."

Sylvana's trance-like state appeared in Helga's mind and she could hear her voice.

"They're dead," she had sobbed, "He killed them. He didn't want to. It was around her neck."

Helga felt a spasm of fear, as the chain around her neck became oddly heavy. Who's dead? She thought. She looked over at Salazar and her fear was greater.

He turned back at her.

"It's going to end somehow," he said, "Might as well be helping me instead of fighting."

Helga wasn't trying to kill Salazar, she had to knock him out long enough for her ad Bron to sedate him.

Salazar's body crashed into the wall. Bits of broken stone slashed his shoulders. But to Helga's horror it hadn't knocked him out. He definitely was stronger then he used to be. She suddenly realized why. Dark Magic.

Helga couldn't hear the footsteps running up the stairs. Salazar's hands were shaking as he slowly rose back up, his wand pointed in her general direction. Tears streamed down his olive face. With every movement he winced.

"You have to see that what I say is true. Arthur will fall. No point in fighting anymore," grumbled Salazar. "Just do as you're told and you won't get hurt."

Salazar looked in her eyes and Helga could tell the words weren't what he really wanted to say. Tears kept streaming down his face. The distressed eyes did not match the ferocious mouth. She realized what he wanted wasn't the torch at all, but her.

Salazar noticing her distraction yelled "Expelliarmus!"

Helga's wand flew out of her hand and onto the floor.

"You aren't getting the torch!" she yelled, "Stop using that as your excuse to lash out at me!"

Helga saw her wand lying in front of the window. She tried to inch towards the wand but Salazar sent another blast just in front of her face, bursting part of the stone wall. Shards slashed her face.

"Leave the wand alone. Come here!" snapped Salazar beckoning her over with his free shaking hand.

Helga shook her head quickly.

"What are you doing?" she asked hysterically wiping away the blood.

"Trying to help you," Salazar smirked tearfully.

The door burst open, and Bron ran in.

"No!" Helga yelled as Salazar raised his wand towards Bron.

Helga dove for her wand.

"Don't!" she begged grabbing the wand.

Bron reached for his wand as well. Helga began to chant a hex and Salazar spun quickly towards her sending a blast in defense. He did not notice the window was behind her.