Thin White Duke

Regulus, James 

“Run.” Yelled James grabbing Regulus’s hand as he stumbled past the younger man. He refused to think about the pulse which shot through him as their fingers entwined.  Totally not the time or place to lose his shit at what would be a completely normal thing to do with Sirius or Lily or any of his friends really. Except … ‘Shit! No time. Got to run.’ He berated himself and held more firmly onto the slim pale hand in his. 

Startled, Regulus allowed himself to be pulled along. He refused to admit it, but the amount and complexity of magic he had used in the past few hours was starting to take its toll. And the warmth of James’s hand made him feel safe. That in itself was highly unusual and somewhat disturbing. 

Between the fiedfyre bombs they had set in the corridors and the earthquake which had started after Yig’s banishment, escaping through the dark cave system proved to be extremely challenging. James had a soft glow on his wand, while Regulus had managed a floating ball of light. keeping his hands free - when James wasn’t holding one of them. ‘Fucking genius.’ James thought making a mental note to learn the spell. 

Scrambling over outcrops, shimmying along narrow ledges and trying desperately not to stumble into gaping fissures which Regulus could have sworn hadn’t been there before, it felt like hours before the two of the burst out onto the shore not far from where he and Pandora had first entered the cave system. They had lost sight of the others after the first rockfall but rather than stop to look, Regulus had simply ignored James’s pleas, held on tight and kept going. He knew Pandora would see them safely out. That was simply what she did. Kept people safe. Plus they had Gloriana and he doubted the god wanted to be buried alive in an obscure English cave.  

“Where.. where are we?” James panted. 

“Cornwall. I hope.” Regulus replied as he fought to control his own breathing. He was seriously out of shape. 

“I miss quidditch,” 

“What!” Regulus inadvertently exclaimed

James felt his cheeks heat - again. ‘What on earth is it with this man?’ He thought embarrassed “You know, quidditch. Played on a broom, throwing quaffels, dodging bludgers, catching snitches. You played didn’t you?” He said, hoping his cheeks didn’t glow in the dark as the image of a sweaty determined Regulus racing elegantly after the snitch lodged in his mind. 

Regulus rolled his eyes. “How is that relevant to our current situation?” He asked acidly. 

James laughed. “Fair question. Level of fitness. I used to be so much fitter when I played all the time.” 

‘You’re still bloody fit.’ Regulus thought, taking in the tight butt and muscular legs outlined by the fashionable jeans.  He didn’t let the thought show on his face as he snorted and turned to scan the long narrow beach around them. “Can you see any sign of the others?” He asked instead. James shook his head. 

It took almost an hour of walking in one direction then another retracing their steps to try the other direction before they spotted the soft glow of wand light.

“Why is it slowly changing colour?” James asked as they came closer to where Regulus hoped he would find his only friend. 

“Reflects Pandora’s mood.” Regulus replied absentmindedly, his emotions all over the place at having to see his brother again, this time without a battle to distract them. He suddenly realised that he was more terrified of that than he had ever been of his mother’s cruelty and Voldemort's deranged wizardry. Even the monster-god Yig. ‘Shit!’ He thought. 

Sirius, Remus, Lily

Sirius  had collapsed against Remus the moment Pandora had called a halt. The final dash though the cave, avoiding falling debris, and down the beach had sapped him of the last of his energy, which was impressive.  Willow and Tara were also leaning against each other he noticed, while Lily was propped up against a sand dune in arms reach of Remus.  Sirius nudged his boyfriend and nodded in Lily’s direction. Without a word, Remus opened his other arm and smiling gratefully, Lily crawled over and into his embrace. 

“Thanks” she whispered and squeezed Sirius’s free hand. 

The three of them sat there and stared at the sky which had begun to lighten with the rising sun. 

“What now?” Lily asked 

“We wait.” Remus replied sleepily, content to have two of his best friends curled up at his side. ‘Pack good.’ rumbled the wolf within. ‘Very good.’ He agreed. 

“It’s taking too long.” Sirius murmured sometime later. 

Remus sniffed without opening his eyes. The sun had breached the horizon. The day would be cold but clear. “They’re finally walking towards us.”

“What do you mean finally?” Lily asked. She didn’t want to move. James meant movement and she wasn’t ready for that.  Remus was comfortable. She wanted comfort. 

“They emerged a little while ago but walked in the opposite direction.” Remus answered. 

Sirius chuckled. “Ah. James took the lead then. Couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag that child. Regulus will be fuming.” 

Remus felt Sirius stiffen and pulled him even closer.  “You’ll be okay.” He said gently. Sirius nodded, letting Remus’s soft welsh lilt wash away some of the tension building up inside him. 

Lily squeezed the hand she still held. “We’re here if you need us.” Sirius smiled gratefully at her across the chest they were sharing.  Remus chuckled. ‘This is going to confuse the hell out of them’ he thought as quiet descended once more.  

Tara, Willow 

Tara and Willow lay off to one side, arms wrapped around each other. 

“You okay?” Tara whispered

Willow thought about it and nodded. “Surprisingly yes.” She smiled, lifting her head and taking in Tara’s tired eyes so filled with love and concern. “What about you?”

Tara held Willow's gaze. The hazel-green eyes were calmer than she had seen for a long time. Like something had been resolved. “Exhausted.” She answered honestly. “And worried?” 

“Worried?” Willow asked, caught between concern and amusement as worry was a Tara default. 

“Aren’t you?” Tara swallowed a frustrated sigh. “Afterall we don’t really know where, or when, we are, let alone how to get back to where, and when, we should be. Plus I’m not sure there are camels in England. Not bloody warm enough.” 

Willow laughed softly. Tara smiled. “I would miss the camels. And the dolphins, if we were stuck here. Possibly even the demons, Maybe not the demons..” Willow said “Don’t suppose we can at least wait until tomorrow before we work out the getting home part?” 

Tara kissed her wife before she replied. “Totally.” She paused as Gloriana and Pandora walked by. “Maybe Pandora and Gloriana can help.” She mused. 

“Mmmmmm.” agreed Willow as she dropped in to a light sleep. Tara tightened her hold ever so slightly. She hadn’t been lying when she said she was exhausted and worried. She just didn’t want to admit how scared she’d been seeing Willow possessed and that while the scooby gang had done amazing things in their teens and early twenties, how could these kids help them reverse a god’s spell. Also she really didn’t trust Gloriana at all. That was a god who wasn’t going to give up such wonderfully gullible pickings no matter how much Pandora trusted her. Tara sighed and closed her eyes. Sleep was a good idea if she could.  

Pandora, Gloriana 

Pandora watched as Gloriana glided down to the sea shore and waited for her invitation.  

“Come join me sister.”

Standing Pandora smiled at the fading stars. The sun was needed now. Around her the others spoke quietly and rested which was good. Regulus and James would join them soon and decisions would need to be made.  

“We did well tonight.” Gloriana said, her voice low. 

“Will he come back again?” Pandora asked 

“Perhaps. When he is strong enough. You are safe from him.” Gloriana said

Pandora nodded. “And your plans?” she asked keen to get a clearer idea before the others voiced their opinions. 

Gloriana laughed softly. “You know my plans. They are yours also. Deep down. You also dream about what we could do together.”

They stood together staring at the sea which lapped lazily at their feet. A new dawn. So many possibilities. Gloriana was right. Pandora did dream of a world in which all creatures were acknowledged and included. A world free from devastating conflict. A world filled with sunshine and laughter. 

“How?” She asked

“Benevolence.”

“Submission?”

“Worship.”

“Freedom?”

“Direction.”

Pandora could hear James approaching. ‘Regulus is going to have his hands full with that one’ she thought before saying mildly. “Humans do not react well to those who try to dominate them for too long.” 

“I rule with kindness. I am firm but from a place of love. Like a mother.” 

“And when your children rebel?”

“They will be punished as children ought to be.”

‘And therein lies the rub.’ Pandora thought. “Will you honour your implied promise and go back to your own world?” She asked 

“When the time is right.” Gloriana stepped in front of Pandora and laid a hand on her cheek. “We could rule the world. You could bring the peace and harmony you desire. I would have the worship that I desire. We would be magnificent together.” 

Pandora allowed the hypnotic voice and the soulless eyes filled with warmth only for her to envelop her for a moment before she stepped back. Tears filled her eyes. “We can’t. The world is not yet ready.” 

Pain flashed through Gloriana’s eyes before they returned to empty hardness. “We shall see.” Gloriana said, all warmth gone, and in a moment so was she. 

Pandora wanted to scream. Sometimes she hated being right. She had really and truly hoped that Gloriana would prove her wrong. Straightening her shoulders Pandora turned and headed back to the others.  There was still a time travel puzzle to solve.