Chapter 16
Severus flew swiftly into the Ravens’ Eyrie, allowing the wind currents to carry his body until he finally landed, not a single strand of hair out of place. He allowed himself to spare the chambers enough of a glance to notice the tomes and scrolls, curse-breaker equipment, and puzzle pieces before settling his attention on the woman in the portrait.
Rowena Ravenclaw too, kept her attention solidly on him, scrutinising every inch of him unabashedly. They evaluated each other in silence, waiting to see who would break first.
But true to her nature, Ravenclaw could hold back no longer, “I hear you’re confirmed to be an air elemental, congratulations.”
“Indeed.” Severus agreed, “I’m sure Elliot also informed you of what exactly I am here for.”
Her lips pulled into a smile, edging the line of smug, assured in the fact that no matter the act he put on, she had the full knowledge over him. “Of course, step right up. Oh, and do keep in mind - ‘There’s more than meets the eye.’”
Severus inclined his head and rested his palm against the book, allowing his body to once again be taken away, into the book.
~~~~~~~
Severus opened his eyes slowly, bringing his hand up to shield against the curious licks of a pup, unsure of when he had closed them. He was quick to recover himself, standing when he found himself horizontal and jerking into what seemed to be familiar movement in response to a sudden shout.
Absentmindedly, he picked up the expertly weaved basket, not bothering to uncover it to see what it held, and pulled himself up to sit on the back of the horse pulled wagon, leaving behind the shack, pup and the small clearing in the woods.
As the wagon followed the path, Severus looked around him, taken in the disappointing view of trees, trees and more trees, with no landmark or otherwise in sight, and the mix-match group of passengers he rode with. Aside from the man steering the two horses and himself, there was only one other man in the group, the rest made up of ladies all in some sort of maid uniform, each holding onto a basket and whispering gossip amongst each other. Opposite him the other man was peacefully carving into a piece of wood, knife held in a lax yet professional grip, however much he gave of a lazy, non-caring attitude, Severus’ sharp eyes were quick to catch his routine surveillance of their surroundings - some sort of guard, Severus concluded. Up front, the driver sat with a woman who was dressed differently to the rest - casual peasant garb instead of a uniform, with a child nestled between them.
Half listening to the boy’s joyful blabbering, Severus pursed his lips. The wagon was being pulled by regular horses, neither one being assisted by any sort of Magic, in fact, not one person here had so much as mentioned Magic. Severus sighed and waited to see where the wagon would take him.
Slowly, after enough travel for the morning sun to start to make itself known, the forest path started to give way for a stone path, the group quietening to observe the hustle of the town. The town itself reminded Severus of the novels his mother used to read to him, where knights were born and princes and princesses were loved. Children ran alongside the wagon, screaming giddily about tea parties and Severus heaved a sigh; of course the Trio of Horror would send him someplace such like this.
“Girlie!”
Severus looked around as they came to a stop before a lavish gate, separating the town from an even lavisher manor.
“Girlie!” Severus startled when a hand clamped onto his shoulder, shaking him as if to wake him, “We’re ‘ere! Stop your day dreaming and get off the wagon, girlie, we don’t ‘ave all day.”
Severus blinked and turned to the guard who had his hand held out expectedly, squinting his eyes he got down without taking his hand, huffing when the guard simply rolled his eyes and turned to the next lady.
With an unsettling tingle in his stomach, Severus slowly peeked down at himself, only now noticing his short height compared to the guard, startling weight of his hair pulled into a bun and the strain in his muscles holding onto the basket. With dread, he eyed the maid uniform he, too, was wearing, as he was pulled in with the group to walk up to the gates.
“This is as far as I can take ya,” the driver was saying, “I’ll be waiting right ‘ere at the end of the night to take ya back, but I won’t wait too long, so if ya not ‘ere by then, then yar on yar own.”
“What do we owe you, sir?” Severus asked, inwardly wincing at the sound of his own voice.
The driver softened, sharing a look with the woman, “Don’t be silly, lass, ya mam will ‘ave me head if I asked more from ya. Go on, yar servin’ the Princess, make us proud.”
With that the driver turned his horses back the way they came, the boy twisting to wave goodbye as Severus was left alone. Grumbling to himself, Severus hastened to catch up with the group, guard leading the way to the manor.
The birds were merrily chirping away as Severus and the ladies worked to set up the tea party, the anticipation in the air could not be a more stark contrast to Severus’ feelings if it tried. No matter what Severus did to escape, one of the ladies were quick to pull him back into the work, chastising him fondly to reign in his curious temperament.
As he and the lady who had initially talked to him set up one of the tables, a small finishing touch to what must have been weeks of preparation, he softly cleared his throat, “What can you tell me about the party… ma’am.”
“Jus’ call me Betty, dear.” She smiled kindly, “The Queen set this up to celebrate the Princess’ day of birth.”
But, before Severus could ask any more questions, Betty was pulled away to where their baskets were being emptied in the kitchen. Set up for the tea party took only a little longer but with how much went on behind the scenes, Severus felt as if he had worked for days, more grateful for the Magic he had relied on now then ever before.
As preparations came to an end, he and the group of maids lined up off to one side, peering around the garden set up one last time for a quick inspection. Ten tables were set up, each decorated with extensive flower displays and gold plates. Behind them, ready for them to serve them out, were dishes upon dishes of sweets and snacks all suitable for a noble’s tea party. At the front, a long table was set up to face all the other round ones, the two chairs looking similar to thrones.
Soon, the tables were slowly filled up with guests of all sorts of ages, their clothes each painting a picture of wealth and nobility, their jewellery glinting under the light of the sun. Betty nodded to him and that seemed to be the start of the party, his group silently bringing the guests tea and treats. When they had everyone settled into their seats, cooing over the designs and crooning over each other, chittering about everything under the sun, the royal family’s arrival was finally announced.
Severus first set his eyes on the Queen, who was guarded by four knights. She was tall and walked forth with a strong purpose, but her smile was fond and her eyes kind. The guests had stood for her arrival and when she sat on one of the thrones, all at once bowed for their Queen, greeting her with clear love. As the Queen turned her attention to the side so did everyone else, anticipating the arrival of the Princess and the star of the party.
As soon as the Princess stepped up to the edge of the garden, she was immediately bombarded by children running up to her. The Princess knelt then, meeting the children at their level with a wide smile, happy in the face of their laughter.
Severus felt his lips twitch up at the sight of a girl leaning in to whisper in the Princess’ ear, the sense of deja vu filling him as from the Princess’ fingers sprouted a shimmering blue butterfly.
“Merlin.”
He must have said it louder than he initially thought for a guard stepped up threateningly, sword an inch out of its sheath, “Have some respect for the Princess’ name.” He demanded.
“Please, Sir Vector, it is of no consequence.” Merlin in his - her?- female form met his eyes as she gracefully stood up, the children leaving them. “It has been so long since I have heard my own name, everyone is so quick to call me Princess Emrys. What is your name, my lady?”
Severus blinked fondly at her, “S- err, Silviana. I’m no lady but I am honoured to serve you, your highness.”
Merlin walked to him and connected their arms, shorter than him even in these bodies, “Please ignore Sir Vector, my name from your lips is the best thing I have heard all day.”
They did not have their privacy for long and the children who had ran off were quick to return, this time holding out gifts that they excitedly held up to Merlin.
“Happy Birthday, Princess Emrys!”
Severus’ arm felt cold from the echo of her, enough that he shivered when she left his arm to stride forward with the kids, teasing them and chatting with the guests easily as she made her way to her mother. Now knowing what he did, he looked intently at the Queen again, looking for pieces of Merlin. The Queen did not look like Hunith but there were some similarities to Merlin despite the fact. Merlin sat beside the Queen and the rest of the guests finally sat back down, Severus and his team regrouping to the side as the Queen demanded the rooms attention.
From beside him, Betty pinched his waist, “don’t think we didn’t see whatever that was with the Princess, missy.”
“Oh no, that was nothing.” He tried to say but stopped as she smirked at him.
“Oh, it was somethin’ alright, the Princess was leanin’ all over ya.”
“Don’t be shy, Silviana, look, the Princess still has her eyes on ya.” A different woman said from his other side, Severus raised his eyebrow at the name he had only just given himself and peeked in Merlin’s direction.
Merlin met his eyes and winked; Betty snickered.
~~~~~~~
The party goes on for hours, the cheer never dying down despite it. Severus had lost sight of Merlin sometime after the big toast, busy working to ensure Merlin’s tea party was a success. The Queen herself had retired soon after the toast, leaving the guests a little looser. Finally, Severus was allowed a moment of peace, to take a step back from the party and settle his breathing, legs aching from the constant moving around. Betty speed walked to him, somehow looking as calm and collected as she had in the beginning.
“Take a break, love. We can handle it for a couple of minutes.” She chuckled kindly, patting him on the back.
“No, I couldn’t, Betty.” He tried to refuse.
“Nonsense.” She pushed him towards the woods on the other side of the garden.
With a sigh he walked into the woods, walking far enough until the loud chatter became a quiet murmur. There he came across a small clearing, a white bird-bath statue in the middle surrounded by benches. He sat down heavily, sighing to himself and directed his attention up, peering at the the stars that seemed closer than anything he’d seen with his naked eye in Hogwarts. Nothing at the tea party had caught his attention, nothing particularly quest-like begging for him to complete. Merlin’s alternate existence here seems to confirm that the quest will take place in the tea party, but so far it was a perfectly normal day.
A clearing of a throat brought his attention back to the clearing where Merlin stood at the edge smiling softly.
Merlin as a woman was not unsimilar to them as a man. The world still bended to their will; still lit up with their smile. Merlin was softer but just as bold, their eyes still older than time and the set of their face just as sharp. Their steps were strong and their gait calm, presence tranquil and movements precise.
They still had the same effect on Severus.
With a small raise of an eyebrow, Merlin tilted her head to the seat beside Severus, accepting a slight nod from him as permission to sit. She presented the small plate she had been carrying to him, a delicate pink blush spreading across her cheeks when Severus gaped at the offered croissant.
“For you, lady Silviana.” She said uselessly. “I noticed you were the only one to not eat the entire party.”
To Severus shame he felt his own face warm up, unable to hide himself from Merlin, timidly he accepted the plate, shyly expressing his gratitude and biting into the croissant.
“That’s very kind of you, your highness.”
Merlin watched him eat with a satisfied smile turning only when a bird landed in the bath - Severus snickered when he identified it as a Merlin, Merlin herself giggling into her hand. They sat together silently, Severus slowly eating and Merlin watching the birds. They’d peek at each other from the corner of their eyes, huffing when they’d make eye contact but never stopping despite it. There was something charged in the air between them; a feeling deep in his bones, running up and down his spine.
Suddenly, Merlin bent forwards, fingertips tracing an overgrown tree root and the bud of a flower that had grown from it. Gently she brushed her thumb over it, the flower blooming from her magical touch. She picked it, delicately cradling it as she observed the flower before reaching and tucking the bloom into Severus’ hair securely.
“Woah… That’s pretty.” They turned, blinking in shock at the herd of children that stared at them in awe, eyes shining in excitement.
A boy stepped up, smaller than the rest with his eyes hidden behind a curtain of soft hair. “Can you teach me how to do that, your highness.” Voice trailing into a whisper as he spoke.
Merlin smiled, “You have Magic?”
The boy nodded, face red.
“You are the young master Kale, right? Third son of Duke Carlsen of Ekireville”
He trembled, a girl whispering reassurances loudly at him until the entire group started hyping him up; Severus winced in reaction.
“Yes, your highness. We only recently learnt about my Magic.”
Merlin guided his hands to the root again, cupping her hands over his as she whispered into his ear, encouraging him. It seemed to take a while, but a similar yet smaller bloom to before slowly eased out of the root.
“Could you do more, please, your highness?” The girl from before spoke up, the boy perking up slightly in excitement.
Before the entire group could start again Merlin huffed a laugh and pressed her palm against the root, sending Magic into and through it’s system, allowing for flowers to bloom throughout the entire clearing. Severus looked down at the root, smiling when he noticed that despite the growth all around them, this root only held the boy’s bloom. Now able to observe the flower with a clear mind, Severus tried to identify it, using his extensive knowledge from his Mastery as well as the list of plants he made from Merlin’s Garden. He was surprised, then, that he could not identify the flower, but sighed fondly the next second.
Of course Merlin would create an entirely new and unique flower for his quest, something so small and inconsequential could not possibly escape his notice.
“We should get back to the party.” Merlin said. “I’m certain your parents and guardians will soon be missing you.”