Tale of a Time Long Gone

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter...

In this chapter: Salazar is being stubborn and slightly prejudiced (but not really); Godric is being stubborn and a regular git; Rowena is being her shrewish self and Helga? Well... Helga probably has the right idea... The gang is moving out!

Enjoy!

Chapter 6 - On the Road

"Out of the four Founders of Hogwarts, it is a known fact that we know the least of Helga Hufflepuff: kind lady, great witch, Muggle born.

"It is this last fact that condemned this brilliant woman to relative anonymity.

"Her three companions, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, were all of old, formidable families and could trace their ancestors back to the time of Merlin and Morgana. There was not a drop of Muggle blood in their lines for centuries - the ultimate "Pure Bloods", as some might say. Not so was the case of Helga, who was a pure Muggle born.

"At the time, the prejudices of the Wizarding World were as yet unformed and the community accepted any witch or wizard, regardless of blood status, with open arms. But still, the fact that Helga was not only a Muggle born, but also a woman, put her immediately at the bottom of the social scale. She was slandered and ridiculed, considered inferior to everyone. The leaders of the magic community considered her weak and tried to discredit her on countless opportunities.

"Through all of the Founders' hardships, however, Helga proved her worth and showed the world that no matter what your lineage is, you can always aspire to higher levels and succeed in proving everybody wrong.

"Though sweet and generous of nature, Helga had in her a steely streak. She did not stand down when bullied and rarely let go of something she wanted or believed in..."

- Hogwarts, A History; Author unknown

Salazar's eyes snapped to look at the older woman. "What was that?"

Rosalind sighed. "I said Helga may go, Lord Slytherin. Lord Gryffindor said it depended on me, and I say she may go. Do you want to contradict what your companion has just said?"

He looked into her eyes, too flabbergasted to say anything. There was a steely glint in her eyes, and he knew that whatever he had to say would not sit well with this woman - even if he could speak it out loud.

How could Godric agree to this? he asked himself. It is bad enough that we have to take this Rowena girl - now we also have to take care of her friend? This is preposterous.

"Now that this is settled-" Helga began, only to be cut off by him, when he had finally found his voice.

"No, it is not settled," he exclaimed fiercely. "Why do you have to come? This mission has nothing to do with you."

Helga was a small person. She did not have a presence that made people notice her. She was quiet, pretty and tame. She did not speak out of turn and was always cheerful.

Obviously, today was not one of those days.

"Excuse me?" she asked softly. "Has nothing to do with me? Are you completely sure, Lord Slytherin? You come to my home, spend the winter with us, talk nicely and act like a gentlemen. Then you turn your hide and demand to take my surrogate mother away from me and from her daughter - then when she refuses you settle on taking her daughter instead? My best friend? My only friend? Who gave you permission to change our lives like this? Who gave you authority to come and break families? Who said you had the power in you to stop me?" Her voice rose angrily with every question. "Rowena is as good as my own sister. She has been with me through thick and thin for over a decade and by Merlin I will do the same for her. You will not tear me away from her. I told you this - I am going. There is nothing you can do to stop me. Just try it, my lord."

Salazar felt his cheeks redden. He would have retorted were it not for Godric, who chose that moment to start laughing.

"The little bird has some mettle in her!" he chortled. "I have not seen you blushing since you were... eleven, I think. I'll have to bring her along just for a chance to see you become all flustered!"

Salazar turned to face his friend, his eyes shooting sparks. Godric, however, merely waved his anger aside and said, "It is settled, my friend. She will come. She is right, of course. You know what kind of women go alone with men these days." His eyes twinkled and he glanced at Rowena meaningfully. The young woman glared at him, grasping his meaning immediately.

"That was discourteous of you, my lord," she said in a voice that could have frozen the sun. "I will go and get my things ready. Are you coming, Helga?"

"Yes," Helga said, still glaring at Salazar and hurried after her already retreating friend.

"I will leave you to your own devices, my lords," Rosalind said softly. "I assume you will depart next week?"

"Yes, Madam," Godric said, sobering up. "There is no point in dallying any further. We are overdue as it is."

Rosalind nodded and swept after the girls.

That left the two men alone.

"Let us go to the stable, Salazar," Godric said softly. Salazar was not sure he liked his tone.

The moment the door to the stable closed behind them, Godric turned to face him, his eyes piercingly blue.

"I know you despise the idea, Salazar, but we really do need Helga along," he said with no further ado.

"I don't see why," Salazar replied stiffly. "She will be a burden to us. She is of Muggle blood and a woman to top it. She will be of no help."

"You don't see it, do you?" Godric said with a sigh. "Salazar, I wasn't jesting when I said that the only kind of woman to travel alone with men is a whore. Were we to bring Madam Ravenclaw by herself... well, that would not have been troublesome. She is an older, respectable lady, and I gather that she is well known in the community - or rather, was well known. Rowena, however... She is a young woman - and a good looking one at that. Were she to come alone with us, what kind of respect do you think she would get from the Council?"

Salazar frowned at his friend's logic.

Godric nodded. "I see that you can get my meaning. The chances are that Ambrosius will wave her off and that would be it. He would either send us again, or make use of Rowena and get rid of her somehow. She needs a chaperone. Helga was right. This is our best course of action, and I will stand by it."

"I don't like the idea, Godric," Salazar said with a shake of his head. "It will not be a safe journey as it is, and with a Muggle born-"

"Will you just drop it?!" Godric snapped, his short temper getting the best of him. "I know she is a Muggle born - no need to repeat it! It doesn't matter! Rowena trusts her - and she needs a confidant on this journey. She will be sour all the time if she will not have anyone to speak to except us. Helga is coming. I don't want you sulking anymore. It is unbecoming."

"When did you become my mother?"

"When Dahlia won the draw."

"What has my sister to do with it - and what's this about a draw?"

"Before I finished my training - just before I forged the sword - Dahlia and I drew lots on who is to mother you when you are doing foolish things. I lost - but that's only because you sister is a horrid cheat."

"Well known fact. Very well, Godric," Salazar finally said silkily. "Helga may come - but I expect repayment."

"What sort of... repayment?" Godric demanded suspiciously.

"Oh, I don't know... let me think about it," Salazar smiled evilly.

"Don't take too long this time," his friend said sourly. "Last time it took you three weeks and then you came up with that revolting idea that I would enjoy wallowing in your horse's droppings for a week."

"Ah, those were the days."

"Speaking of Dahlia - have you heard from her lately?"

Salazar nodded somberly. "Ambrosius' men came over - I got the letter just after we left for Caerwyn Valley - they decided Dahlia had in her house my father's wand. Never mind that the wand was snapped into a thousand pieces when that cauldron exploded - Ambrosius decided he wants it. So five men came over - hexed Bran when he tried to protect Dahlia and the children - and would not let go. She wrote that if your mother would not have gotten there they probably would have killed him."

"What was my mother doing there?" Godric said in surprise.

"Didn't you know?" Salazar was genuinely astonished. "She left you uncle Gladwyn's home a few months ago and moved to Sir Rhys' so she can be closer to Dahlia. Are you sure she had not told you anything?"

"Certain."

"Oh. Then, there you go."

The two men stood in the stable in silence for a while.

"It's funny, you know," Godric finally said softly. "How we let women control our lives."

"They are annoying, they are possessive. They will not let you be the one to be right..." Salazar said in amusement. "But I'd like to see you stand up to your mother on one single occasion. I dare you."

Godric snorted and headed to the door. "You can keep your money, Salazar. Last time I tried to defy my mother I ended up cleaning the outhouse for a month. No thank you. I'll be her willing slave for ever."

"Godric, you were eight years old when Ceridwen made you clean the outhouse. You can't still be afraid!" He followed his friend outside, staring in mild amusement at his back.

Godric turned and grimaced. "I'm scarred for life, my friend - I will never cross blades with my mother again."

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"Are you sure that you have packed everything?" Rosalind demanded yet again.

Salazar sighed. It had been a week since the decision to leave had been made. Since then their days were filled with packing and planning. Rosalind gave numerous advices to the young women and warned them against the people they might meet once outside the Glen, and gave the men an equal amount of threats.

Salazar now knew what could be done to each and every part of his body was he to let harm come to the Rowena or Helga. He did not fancy being castrated or decapitated - and these were Rosalind's milder threats. The woman was too protective, he had decided.

They were all standing on the clear ground, on which patches of snow still showed, just outside the Ravenclaw house. The horses were already saddled, the baggage charmed to featherweight.

"Yes, Mother," Rowena said, and Salazar found he had to admire her patience. In the past two days Rosalind would not let go of her daughter for a single moment - it was a miracle that the girl had not burst as yet - though he could see a nerve twitching in her face. She was probably fighting the urge to strangle her mother.

Rosalind's and Rowena's relationship had suffered great change since Rowena discovered all that her mother tried to hide from her. He guessed that the younger woman no longer trusted her mother wholly.

"We've got everything, Rosalind," Helga said softly.

"Clean pairs of stockings? Tunics? Woolen scarves? Extra cloak? Hairbrush?"

"Yes, Mother," Rowena replied patiently. "We have everything."

"Your wands?"

"Yes."

"Your good gowns?"

"Yes."

"The book?"

"Err... yes." There was hesitation in Rowena's voice when she affirmed her mother's words, and Salazar realized that she did not expect Rosalind to agree to give her the book. She had most likely filched it during the night.

"Good. Make sure none of Ambrosius' men catches you with it. It is priceless."

"Yes, Mother."

Rosalind turned to face Godric and Salazar. Her eyes hardened. "I have already had the Talk with you, gentlemen. I presume there's no need for me to repeat it?"

"No, Madam," Godric hurriedly assured her and Salazar felt the need to repress a snigger. She had scared Godric half to death with her Talk.

"Good. Now, I have made you some food for the first few days of your journey-" She pushed a large parcel into Helga's arms, "-And here is a little money, in case you run out of food-" She handed Rowena a small leather purse, "- and I expect you to write weekly, young lady. Is that clear?"

Rowena smiled. It was the first true smile she had shown since discovering her father's true identity. "I will, Mother. Are you sure you will not come with us?"

"Oh, yes! I like it here - and Merlin forbids I will face Ambrosius again. I said it once and I will say it again - I might kill him on sight. I had better remain here. Now, you know the terrain, Rowena. Don't start riding those horses until you reach the mouth of the Glen."

"Yes, Mother."

They fell silent. Godric and Salazar started walking towards their horses with Helga in tow.

"Well..." Rowena said after a while. "I suppose that this is it, is it?"

"Yes," Rosalind said softly. "This is it."

More silence ensued. Rowena stayed where she was.

"You need to go, dear," Rosalind said. "It is time."

"Yes, it is time."

Still, the girl did not make a move to leave.

"Rowena," Helga called. "We need to go. The sun is already high up."

With a cry that startled Salazar so much that he dropped the bag he was tying to his saddle, Rowena threw herself on her mother and sobbed into her shoulder.

"There, there, dear," Rosalind said. "You will see me again in a month - two at the most. It should not take you longer than that. There, there. Helga-" she motioned the girl.

Helga hurried to Rosalind's side and helped disentangle Rowena from her neck. She led her sobbing friend away, holding her tightly.

Salazar averted his eyes, and knew very well that Godric did the same next to him. "Let us go," he said. "We need to get out of Caerwyn Valley before nightfall."

Godric nodded and grasped Griffith's bridle.

They walked for a while in near silence. Helga was whispering soothing words to her distraught friend, and Rowena was sniffling a little.

It seemed that Godric was fed up with the noise. "For Merlin's sake, woman! Have you no shame?" he snapped. "Sniveling like a little girl who had lost her toy! Are you a grown woman or are you child?"

Oh, dear, Salazar groaned inwardly. Godric knew exactly how to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"How dare you?!" Rowena cried in outrage. "How dare you belittle me? You are nothing but a-"

But whatever it was that Godric was, Salazar never learned, for Helga had put her hand over her friend's mouth. "Hush, Rowena. You are a lady."

Rowena muttered something that sounded suspiciously like Lady, my arse. Salazar fought to stifle a chuckle.

They reached the mouth of the Glen after nearly two hours of steady walk.

"Well," Rowena said in a cool voice. "We can now ride the horses safely. If we want to make it out of the valley by nightfall we had better do it now."

"Very well," Godric said. "Helga will ride with me and you will ride with Salazar."

Salazar liked the idea. He still was not sure about Helga joining them on this journey and did not fancy being nearer to her than absolutely needed. The arrangement would make it possible for him to get acquainted better with Rowena and see what made her tick, while in the same time limit his time spent with Helga.

He liked the idea very much, but he had also noticed a major drawback- nay, impossibility.

Why do I have to be so observant? he thought bitterly. Out loud, he said "It will not work, Godric."

"Why not?" Godric demanded.

"Because my horse is much smaller than yours - and Rowena is - I beg your pardon, Rowena - bigger than Helga. It would be for the best if Rowena rides with you."

"Absolutely not!" both people in question protested hotly, and then glared at each other.

How similar they are... Yet they are not aware of it...

"I am afraid that this it the only option open to us, my friends."

"Really, Rowena," Helga said, her voice gentle. "It is only for a ride. It's not like we are asking you to marry him."

"As if I would want to marry him," Rowena said snidely.

"As if I would want to marry you!" Godric retorted - rather lamely in Salazar's opinion.

"Look," he said in what he hoped was a placating tone. "This is the best arrangement that can be made. You don't have to speak to each other - only ride. Please, don't make it harder than it already is. It is only for a week or so."

The two exchanged vehement glances.

"Very well," Godric grunted.

Rowena only nodded curtly. They were not happy about the arrangement.

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Helga was quiet as they rode through the valley. She was sitting before Salazar on his horse. He had his arms around her, holding the reins, easily looking ahead above her head. A small distance away from them rode Godric and Rowena. The two seemed to sink into sullen silence.

Not so with Helga, however. During the winter, Salazar came to realize that this was a cheerful girl, who was rarely down and always had a good thing to say on every person she met. It was almost impossible to shut her up, he had also learned.

Now however, she did not utter a word. He glanced down at her and was startled to see tears streaming down her lightly tanned cheeks.

"What is the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing," she whispered.

Nothing, my horse's backside. "You are crying."

"I'm not," she denied, hurriedly wiping her cheeks.

"Yes, you are. What is wrong?"

"It really is nothing, Lord Slytherin."

Taking a deep breath, as if it cost him a lot, he said, "Call me Salazar, Helga. We are going to be companions for a while, and it really gets cumbersome to be called Lord Slytherin on an hourly basis. Now tell me, what is bad enough to make a happy person such as you shed tears? Is it Rowena? Godric?"

"No," she said, a small smile breaking her somber expression. "Though I have to admit that their behaviour frustrates me. No, it's just that... I'm leaving home. Completely. And... I get the feeling that I am not going to return here - at least not for a very long time."

"Nonsense! This business should be over within two months at the most - you heard Rosalind." But to himself he said: You know you are lying. You have the same bad feeling as her. Ambrosius does not summon people for a few days' worth of chatting. And you know that people who have talked to Ambrosius were never seen again. They are only girls! You should have told them, warned them.

In the meanwhile, she shook her head. "I am not a seer, and I don't really believe in premonitions - side effect of spending so many years with Rowena, I think - but when I look at this valley - the place that had been my home my entire life... I suppose you could say that I have a hunch that says I'm not going to be back for a very long time."

She then turned her face to the road ahead sank into her own thoughts.

They stopped that night just outside the valley, somewhat glad to have the place behind them. Rowena and Godric refused talking to each other, and Salazar would have given a lot to know what had passed between them during those long hours together on horseback. This went on during the following week as well.

Late one evening, when they sat in a small way-side inn, Godric said "In two days time we are going to reach Stonehenge. I hope you are ready."

Rowena seemed to fight her dislike of him and asked as politely as she could, "What should we expect there? What kind of person is this Ambrosius?"

"Dominant. Domineering. Impressive. He talks a lot, makes a lot of wind, but in truth he is just a petty man who is a murderer and a usurper."

"Murderer?" Helga asked in a quavering voice.

"It was never proven," Salazar said quietly, "but Lady Ceridwen - Godric's mother - was certain he had murdered my grandfather, Lord Fenwick."

"The former Chief Warlock?"

"Yes."

"He talks in long, elaborate words," Godric continued. "And will try to wind you around until you have no idea what is really being said - but I daresay you, my Lady Ravenclaw, would have no trouble to see through it - as you do much the same thing. Takes one to know one, as they say."

Salazar winced. Something had definitely taken place between the two during their forced ride together.

Rowena did not miss the insult. She scowled. "I suppose that you know he is a petty man because of the same reason, Lord Gryffindor."

"Enough," Salazar said, hoping to head off any more insults. "As we were saying, Rowena. Ambrosius likes to have everything in control. He has the Council twisted around his little finger. Take into account that if you decide to oppose him, we may not be able to help you. We are Servants of the Council and have to do as we are told. You will be on your own."

"I understand. Is there anything else?"

"Don't let him sweet-talk you," Godric said darkly. "He is very good at that and many a woman had fallen into his web. The best way to confront him is being direct, cut to the point and not let him twist things around. Keep the advantage to your side as long as you can. I think that it might be better if you did not say whose daughter you are until absolutely necessary."

She nodded gravely, for once not retorting with a snide comment.

"Ladies," Salazar said, "I believe we shall call it a night. We have a long day tomorrow and we may not be able to reach an inn. Good night."

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It was a raining. It was not much of a surprise of course, as it rained often in the British Isles. Even in the summer.

One day I will leave this wretched country and live in a place where there is rain only in winter and there is lots of sun in the summer, Salazar thought sourly as they led their horses into the stable two miles away from Stonehenge.

"Have we arrived?" Helga asked.

"No," Godric shook his head in disgust. "Ambrosius is a paranoid bastard. He does not allow horses within two miles of the Council Chamber - which means we have to walk the rest of the way on foot. Are you ladies up to it?"

"Have we a choice?" Rowena growled. "There is no place to take shelter apart of this place - and I do not think the stable boy taking care of the horses would offer us any hospitality. There is only going forward, wallowing in mud."

"Glad you can see reason," Godric murmured, earning himself a glare.

They snuggled deep into their cloaks and started the long march to Stonehenge and the Council Chamber.

The fields leading to the massive stone circle were muddy. The mud was at least ankle-deep, sometimes deeper. The rain slashed at their cheeks and bare heads, soaking them, weighing them down.

"What kind of an imbecile is this Ambrosius?!" Rowena screeched above the roar of the storm.

"The worst kind!" Godric replied.

In the distance a lightening struck, soon followed by thunder.

Just great, Salazar thought. Couldn't pick a better weather for such an important mission to be accomplished.

"The rain is getting stronger!" Helga shouted.

Salazar glanced at her. She looked utterly miserable. He assumed he did not look much better. That day could not get any worse, so he decided.

"How much further do we have to go?" Rowena's voice was barely heard above the shriek of the wind.

"Not much!" Salazar turned to shout. Not noticing where he was walking, his foot caught in some unseen burrow and he stumbled, falling straight onto Godric, and unintentionally tripping Helga as well, who pulled Rowena's arm for support.

They all found themselves in the mud, covered from head to toe in dung coloured muck.

"We look like monsters," he heard Helga's hysteric laugh.

Great. Just great. I probably jinxed us, thinking it could not get worse...

They helped each other up and continued their trudge.

It was not long until a voice cried, "Who goes there?"

Thank you so much to all those who reviewed chapters 3 and 4! Your responses truly warm my heart

Doxycide: Glad you like the story, and I hope that you will continue reading it and enjoying it!

Lindwen: I am quite honoured that my story is the first Founders fic you have found and that you enjoy it this much. Thank you so much!

Sivaroobini Black: People usually make horrified faces when they realize chores are imminent in their future - especially Lords like Salazar and Godric ;) Yep. Rowena is definitely talented - I like her like that - super smart and everything. Thank you so much for reviewing!

And that is it for this time! Thank you all and stay tuned!