A Path To Take
Frustrated she threw aside a scroll moving on to the next one.
"Hermione."
The scrolls each held maps on them. Maps of Kruphios. She could only hope that they were correct for their age made her wonder.
"Hermione?"
She looked into the eastern regions of Kruphios, two forests laid there and from the images she had scene the elves would be residing in one of them, even possibly both.
"Hermione!"
Her hands covered her face. She did not want to look up from her work. "I cannot be called that any longer."
She removed her hands to see her long time friend, confusion written across his face. "Can't be called that? It is your name."
"Was. Harry, much has happened and is going to happen. Hermione Granger's path has ended. Katherine Malfoy's has just begun."
"What are you talking about? You will always be Hermione to me, and what of your parents?"
"My parents will return to the muggle world and continue their lives as dentists."
"To forget of their daughter? You really think they'll agree to that? That I'll agree to that?" He was angry now and she knew he had every right to be.
She sighed and stood walking closer to him. She needed him to understand. "Harry, you out of all know what it is to have a destiny you cannot change. I need you to understand now more than ever. My path as Hermione is over."
"Destiny? You talk as though you have your own prophesy?" His face became worried.
"Yes, I do."
"Then I will help you just as you helped me. I will not leave you in this." She smiled at him. He had been a brother to her, and she knew it would be difficult for him to leave.
"They are leaving with the bodies today. You're going with them." She said walking back to the table leaning over it looking at the maps once again.
"Her…Katherine…" She raised her eyes to meet his. "At least say goodbye."
"I have." She whispered her mind replaying the events of the night before.
She had snuck in at the light of the sliver of a moon. She had said goodbye to each only lingering a bit at Ron's coffin. She closed her eyes to the memory.
Ginny had caught her there, saying her goodbyes as well. Her mind then turned back to Harry. Have you asked her yet?" He looked at her curiously before a small smile came to his lips matching the one on her own.
"She said yes." Katherine's smile widened and she hurried to hug him.
"That is fantastic. I'm invited to the event yes?"
"Of course." She pulled away from him and the reality of Ron missing begun to hit them.
"He'd be happy as well, Harry. He always wanted you for a real brother." Harry nodded and looked away. A minute of silence went by before she spoke again. "I am sorry I cannot return with you, but…my country needs me, and I can't leave them." He nodded once again.
"Mr. Potter." They turned to see Rashidi in the doorway. "They are waiting for you to depart." Harry turned back to her and hugged her tightly.
"Take care of yourself, I want you at my wedding, Hermione." And with that he kissed her cheek and left the room.
She looked to see Rashidi still standing in the doorway. She sat back down in her chair and looked over the maps once again.
"Then you do plan on going after him?" She looked up at Rashidi and nodded.
"It is my responsibility, my ancestor."
"Perhaps, but one should not journey alone."
"Blaise is coming, against my better judgment, but…"
"Then I would like to send another." She looked up at him.
"Another?"
"My son has been trained in Elven ways. You plan on making your way east yes?" She nodded. "Then you will benefit greatly from him."
"I will not put your son in this kind of danger, and in fact am surprised you would do as such."
"I put him in no danger, for I know who I am sending him with. He is trained both in the skills of the sword and wand."
"I will not bring another innocent with me on this journey, there's too much that could happen. To much unknown."
"Which is known by him. He has traveled the direction you are planning on going. Princess, I must insist." Her shoulders drooped, there being too much weight on them already.
"I will meet with your son, but I will not say for now whether he is to go with me."
"Princess-"
"Rashidi, I am already putting the one I love in danger. Give me time with this decision." He seemed to take her words on this and let her be.
She returned to the maps trying to decide the best course from Medora. She did admit to herself that it would be easier to have a guide for such a journey.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
She turned and hit the blade of Adofo's sword. "You seem to be doing better." She spoke moving around to strike once again.
"Only because of my training with you, Princess." He flattered. She only smiled before striking hard and fast. He barely had time to bring his sword up to black her.
"Flattery will get you no where in a duel, Adofo." She spoke. He smiled at her, the scar on his face becoming more prominent as he did so. She knew he wouldn't accept her sympathy and so she continued with their duel, fighting harder with her sword.
He stumbled a few times against her and almost lost the grip of his sword twice. Finally when the last strike of the sword was given, her sweet graceful voice pronounced him dead.
"Yes, much better. I'd say you are better than new in fact." She said helping him to his feet and clasping his wrists.
"Though still not able to beat you, Princess. Though none can." She smiled at him and turned to the empty field. While soldiers were still placed on duty to guard the castle, and many were overseeing the citizen's arrival back to Medora, many were given time off as they were either injured or exhausted. Therefore none were in the field today with the exception of Adofo and her.
"Come I think it time for lunch." She said with a small smile at her growling stomach. He offered her his arm once she had sheathed her sword and she took it graciously.
She had almost regretted her decision to come to the dining hall once she saw the irritated expression on her brother's face.
She sat across from Blaise who looked unwilling to speaking at the moment. He gave her a warning look before she turned her attention back to her brother.
"Draco?"
"Bloody fools." He hissed as he stabbed at his lunch. She tilted her head to the side for a moment until realization hit her. Draco had been in meetings with the council all day. He was bound to be a bit angry.
She thanked the server for her food, before turning her attention back to him. "Yes, they can be." She said before taking a bite. He turned to look at her, dropping his fork. "Would you care to explain?" She asked after swallowing.
He hesitated and looked to Blaise's younger brother and sister. "I do not think my words would be appropriate for such an audience." She watched as he gripped his fork once more and was surprised that he did not break it.
Her eyes turned to Blaise who nodded and took both his brother and sister away from the angry king. She looked around to see even Adofo had not stayed and they were alone in the room for the moment.
"Now, speak." She said before taking another bite. He seethed for a minute before speaking in a threateningly low tone.
"They questioned my competence as king." He hissed. "Saying that I had no right ordering woman and centaurs to fight for Kruphios much less you. And now they have heard of your plan to leave the castle and wonder why I cannot seem to even restrain my sister."
"Restrain!" Katherine stood at this, irate at such words. What right did the council have to question her much less their own king? She threw down her napkin and made to the council to have a "talk" with them.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
As he watched his sister leave the room he made to follow her meeting Blaise on the way out. "You told her then?" He asked as they both watched the angry woman storm down the hall, the torch flames flaring as she passed them.
"Yes." Draco's smirk was prominent on his face.
"Then I suggest you follow her otherwise there will be nothing left of the council." Blaise's smile was evident in his voice and Draco did not even need to look to know he held back laughter.
At this Draco followed his sister, only hoping he would not be facing a mass murder once he entered the council room.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
She stormed into the room not waiting for them to take their seats nor bow to her. She stood at the front allowing the heat from the torches to scorch the room in her anger.
"You think you have the right to question me or my brother? You know nothing of what goes on outside this room." Her voice was barely a hiss.
"We know you plan to leave." A brave council member stood to face her. His face defiant.
"I plan to protect this country as I am destined to do. You know nothing of my journey nor my path awaiting me. Next time when you speak…." She said her hands beginning to glow with energy begging for a way out. "You will learn to think first either that or you will no longer sit on this council as your position can easily be replaced."
Another stood. "Are you threatening us and our positions? This sounds like tyranny!" The man yelled angered others agreed to his statement.
She turned her eyes to him noticing the beads of sweat dripping down his face as the room turned into an oven. "Draco is your King, you will do well to respect him as he has sacrificed much in his position already. You will listen to him and head his rulings as he only has the best interests of Kruphios at heart." She hissed walked closer to the man. The energy was crawling up her arms, trying to find an outlet and if this man was not careful it would be him.
"You can not understand what it is to sacrifice, to lead an entire country. So unless you are willing to lead a country into battle then I tell you now, sit back down and stay as quiet as possible." Despite her stature of looking up at the man none seemed to cross the angry woman. For the look in her eyes became brutal and the energy pulsing into the room hard to bear.
"Princess." A voice hit the room softly. She did not remove her gaze from the man. "Perhaps you should release some of your…energy." Rashidi spoke standing next to her.
She clenched her teeth realizing now how angry she had gotten. She turned and stormed from the room, the heat leaving with her.
All eyes then seemed to rest on Draco standing with a smirk on his face at the door.
She made her way quickly to the training field and raising both hands to the sky let out a yell and watched as the white light left her palms. A shower of sparks fell around her as she let her hands drop along with a small breath from her lips.
"Why do you let them get to you so?" She turned to see Blaise standing there as though waiting for her to be done.
"I am unworthy to them. Both Draco and I are. We did not grow up here and do not know all the ways of Kruphios, therefore we have no respect from them."
"But such takes time."
"Time we do not have." He was silent at her words.
"You are still planning to leave then?"
"You are still planning to come?" He hesitated but nodded.
"Though I do not know our destination, I will go." She gave him a small smile. She was grateful for him. It was then that her eyes drifted over his shoulder to two figures crossing the field.
"Princess." They bowed low, imitations of each other. "I have brought my son Jabari to speak with you." Spoke Rashidi in his deep voice. A young man looking greatly like Rashidi bowed to her. She gave a graceful bow of her head and he stood. He was not quite as tall as his father, but the same features were there.
"Come then to my study. I do not wish to speak of such out here." They all followed her as she made quick pace to her rooms.
"Sit." She spoke referring to the chairs in front of her desk once they'd reached her rooms. He complied, though Rashidi stood. Her eyes followed Blaise who stood in the dark of a corner near two bookshelves as though waiting for the secrets to spill. She turned her eyes once again on Jabari. "What have you to say?"
"My father has told me the direction of which you would like to go, of who you would like to meet with. My knowledge of the area and the people is extensive. Though I have only met with them twice I have all but mastered their ways."
"Have you? And just how old are you, Jabari?"
"I am seventeen." Katherine's eyes moved to Rashidi as she spoke.
"Just of age? And you willingly send him?" She stood at this and turned to the book shelf behind her.
"Princess, I do not believe you have been here long enough and do not understand the ways of our children. The culture is different here. Children are taught magic from the day they are born, not just from eleven. At the age of fifteen they are to specialize in an area of magic, my son chose the magic of elves. Perhaps the most difficult, he left on a quest to meet them and learn their ways. You will benefit greatly from his knowledge and I would not feel right if you left without him." She had turned at his words her eyes falling on the younger man, who truly was only two years younger than herself.
Pulling a book from the shelf she handed it to him. The book was in elfish. A language which she was having great difficulty deciphering.
"I wish to know the propriety of greeting. If you can find it and translate it, I will allow you to come."
But it was what happened next which surprised her. The young man did not open the book, but rather stood as though to address her.
Placing a hand over his stomach he bowed. "Kvetha." He then looked up to her.
She copied his stance. "Kvetha."
"That is the simplest of greetings, which literally means greetings. However, if you are meeting elders, or royalty a simple "greetings" will not suffice." He bowed again placing is hand over his stomach. "Kvetha, Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo."
She repeated him. "This translates to: greetings, a star shines on the hour of our meeting. Just as the centaurs, the elves place a great importance in the stars."
He was silent for a moment while she looked over him. "And these maps, you have been to these places?" He stepped forward towards the desk and looked to the scrolls.
"I have, is this the way you are planning?" She looked to his eyes as though trying to read them.
"Should there be another?"
"It is not a bad way, and the two forests you have chosen have the two major houses of the elves, but the way you are planning to enter them is discourteous. The relationship between wizard and elf has been strained in the past and any discourtesy will get you no where with them. You must enter with the river."
She looked to where his finger pointed. "But we cannot carry boats all this way."
"Here there is a small town on the shores of the river. They should have boats we can purchase." She looked to the young man beside her before looking back at Rashidi.
"There will be one last test required before I allow you to come."
"Anything my princess."
"You will fight me." She watched his eyes widen slightly and as he cleared his throat before speaking.
"Very well." He said.
"I will allow you to change and retrieve your sword and wand before we meet on the field."
"Yes, Princess." He bowed at this and left her study. She turned to Rashidi.
"If I deem him well in the sword, then he may come. I must say, Rashidi, I was very impressed."
"He will not disappoint, Princess Katherine." There was a smile on the man's face before he bowed and left the room after his son.
Blaise came back into the light of the lamps in the room.
"Impressive indeed." He spoke quietly coming towards her. "Elves?" He asked with a smirk. She smiled up at him, though the smile did not reach her eyes.
"Elves."
"Interesting." He answered lightly tracing a finger down her jaw line.
She hummed her agreement, before moving from him to the door where they made their way to the training fields once more.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
She stood on the field her sword drawn. Adofo stood near her as the other soldiers stood surrounding them waiting for a true sword fight.
"My princess, I have seen your skill with a sword and you are better than any man here, but I believe you might meet your match with, Jabari. He has trained with the elves, their magic and swordsmanship is legendary."
"Are you warning me then, Adofo?" She asked as she watched Jabari walk towards them.
"Yes." He bowed away at that as Jabari approached her.
"This is a training exercise, no more. You will fight as if to disarm, or to kill." He nodded and they clasped wrists before stepping apart from each other.
She watched for a minute as he stood before her. Calm as though not hindered by the weight of his sword. She held her own sword before her confidently awaiting for him to strike. Though he did not.
She furrowed her brow; she had not met a man yet who had not taken her offer to strike first. "Is it your strategy that causes you to wait, or the fact that I am a woman and a princess?" She asked.
"It is neither." He answered features calm and sure. She circled him for a moment, though he did not follow her movements. She stopped in front of him for a moment and the tension built before them. She recognized it though, but only right before he released his strike of magic to her. It came with the force of his sword and she only just had time to place up a shield to block her of it. She smiled at him. Her shield still in place.
"A bit of magic?" She couldn't help but be happy to have someone to challenge her. She turned quickly shooting her hand out sending the white light at him which he absorbed in his sword throwing it back at her. She was surprised at this and turned to catch it in her own. She felt the power she had sent out return to her and she dropped to one knee.
Blaise made to her, but she held up a hand. "I have never had one to fight me as such. I am interested to see how this will end." She came to her feet once more.
Flowing her power into her sword, she sent it out mimicking his own magic as he dodged it. The slice of magic nicked his face causing him to turn. He looked back to her and wiped the blood off his cheek.
She has worried she had gone too far, but apparently Jabari enjoyed the challenge as well. He turned quickly and struck his sword to her own beginning an intense fight of power and magic. But while Jabari had been trained by the elves, Katherine had been given a gift by Fate.
Katherine moved swiftly and slid his feet out from under him. He had tried to send out another strike of magic, but while she moved her sword she put up a shield avoiding his attack. She then turned and held her sword to his neck. It was only now she realized his pale and sweat ridden face.
"This is a friendly exercise." She spoke calmly helping him to his feet. "If you could not have carried on you are to tell me. In training you do not expend all your resources."
"You have never fought nor trained with elves." He spoke clasping her wrist. He stumbled slightly and she realized how much of him it took to make such magic without a wand.
"You may lean on me." She whispered to him as they walked back to the castle from the silent crowd.
A/N: Alright so here is the sequel...how you likeing it so far? Even more important how do you like the title? I fooled around with many different ones, but kept coming back to the fact the she has a destiny to fulfill.
Jabari: Brave (African though i do not know what dialect specifically)
All elfish is from either The Lord Of The Rings or The Inheritance Trilogy
Please Read and Review for i dearly would like to know how this is turning out!! THANKS!!!