Chapter 2
A.D.
The bright light streaming in from the big dreamy window woke Albus with a start.
Panic set in as he took in his surroundings. Dark wooden floors that were almost entirely covered in all kind of carpets and expensive red and gold wallpaper. It was nice, but it wasn't home, and it wasn't the hotel he'd rented. No… these plush covers, mountains of throw pillows and the mahogany furniture meant nothing to him. Although in the back of his mind they reminded him of a dream he used to share with someone long ago, but he wouldn't admit that to himself, couldn't.
He tried to regulate his breathing, falling into hysteria would do him no good in this situation.
Stay calm, asses the situation and find out where you are and how to get back home.
After what felt like half an hour of breathing in and out, Albus felt like he was calm enough to get up.
He threw the covers aside, reviling a rather expensive looking pyjama set instead of the suit he had been wearing before.
How curious.
As he stood up and took his wand– which had been placed on the side table –the wizard still felt a bit shaky on his legs. The walk to the window was short and the view enough to stun him.
Mountains, green mountains and a forest surrounding the entire place– it reminded the redhead of some of Albert Bierstadts works–. Albus could only imagine how this place must look in the winter, like a fairytale landscape. He couldn't help but wonder if the area was magically altered to look like this–for the wizard could feel magic running throughout the entire place– or if nature itself had created this beauty.
The drop below was far, and he could see some walls and what looked like small watchtowers when he looked down. A fortress, he guessed, and then came the realization where fate had landed him. Of course, he should have noticed sooner, it was all so obvious.
Bile started to creep up Albus' throat, and his airway suddenly seemed constricted again. Only this time he couldn't keep the panic down, and neither the sick.
As he made a run for the door right to the bed –with he presumed was the one leading to the bathroom– he saw the other door open in the corner of his eye.
He threw up in the sink as it was closest to the door and could hear someone stepping closer in a quick pace.
"Oh Liebling," Grindelwalds soft voice murmured behind him and he could feel a hand brushing over his back. More vomit started to creep up his throat, "I guess that thing did more damage than I thought." The other sounded regretful.
Grindelwald stood behind him holding his hair and murmuring reassurance into his ears until Albus was only coughing up nothing, the redhead wanted to punch him. How dare he.
Albus gripped his wand a little tighter and turned to face the other, pointing it at his throat. The other looked at him in shock, stepping back a little and holding up his hands as if in a gesture of peace.
"Schatz," the blond let out a little laugh before continuing, "What are you doing?"
Albus' blood boiled, what was he doing, him? "What are you doing? Why am I here?" He tried to maintain a calm and perhaps cold tone, but his voice was scratchy from the coughing and the panic and anger clearly swept through it.
Grindelwald looked at him as though he was mad, and it looked so genuine that Albus could almost believe he was, the other had always been a good actor.
"I thought it was better to discontinue our trip after your accident." The blond reached out trying to touch Albus' arm in reassurance, but the redhead took a step back before he could, feeling the sink dig into his backside. "We can go back another time. You need to recover properly."
What was this? Some intricate scheme Grindelwald came up with to make him question himself, the younger surely couldn't believe this would work.
Albus shoved the other aside and made a run for the door, weirdly enough, the other let him pass.
Albus went for the door that Grindelwald just came through, and to his surprise it was unlocked. No locks, barriers nor protective spells, it seemed like he was free to go and he did.
He walked along the castle hallways in a quick pace, not finding it in himself to care that he was still in the pyjamas he'd woken up in.
He passed some people in the hallway –he presumed they were some of Grindelwalds fanatics– but they didn't try to stop him, only looked a little shocked as he passed and, if it wasn't Albus' mind playing a trick on him, perhaps a little scared of his anger. But he couldn't care about such things now, Albus would have enough time to think about this once he got home, if only he could find the darn exit.
He turned another corner as a feminine voice chimed :"My Lord, may I ask where you are going?", she had a heavy French accent. He turned to the women.
Vinda Rosier stood before him, Albus recognized her from the papers. She was often assumed to be Grindelwalds lover, though there was no statement from either of them on the matter. It made sense, he presumed, he'd almost believed it himself a couple of times, she was a beautiful, elegant and powerful woman, always by his side and sometimes posing in a way only a couple would. But it was probably for show, to make Grindelwald seem like a successful man in all fields, to make him human and relatable.
The way she addressed him bothered Albus, Grindelwald had probably put her up to it, everyone had to play their part in this little scheme.
"I'm going out."
Rosier raised her brows, looking him up and down before replying:" You are?"
"Yes, I was feeling quite nauseous and wanted to go for a walk, get some air."
The women nodded, but didn't seem very convinced by his statement. "Would you like me to inform Lord Grindelwald of your departure?"
"That won't be necessary, he's already informed." She'll tell him either way.
Rosier looked at him as if expecting something.
"Ah! Of course." With a flick of his wand Albus transfigured the sleeping attire into something suitable for travels.
"Good day, my Lord" Rosier said and turned on her heel, surely on her way to inform Grindelwald of his departure.
Albus wondered if Grindelwald would let him step a foot out the door, or if he would be stunned from behind in a second. Well, he surely didn't plan on staying to find out.
It was all rather curious, wasn't it? Albus had always been so sure that the only part of Nurmengard he would ever have a chance of seeing were the dungeons, if Grindelwald managed to defeat him in a duel. But now he was running past libraries, sitting rooms and living quarters. It was quite reckless of Grindelwald to let him roam free like this and with wand in hand. He felt like he was missing something.
That there was perhaps something, some sort of ancient artifact or spell keeping him in this place, rendering even his magic useless, but where could one even begin to look for something like this?
Albus almost couldn't believe his eyes when he finally reached a door that lead outside. The redhead didn't think long– it would be no use, as he felt no magic but the usual protection charms a place like this required– and stepped over the doorstep.