Fate Set On Stone
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After the introduction of the only heir to The Belmont, fortune was finally made Arthur waved his wand towards the instruments allowing the object to play a soft tune of classical ballroom music as it levitated above the room. The majority of the pureblood couples began to make their way to the middle of the dance floor. Candles covering the ceiling their movement moving up and down. Aurora watches from a corner balcony away from the public eye as she moves away from the party to look out the window. Seeing the crystallized bears with wings that wander in the gardens they were said to be her mother's favorite creatures.
The violin plays in the background a soft melody that she closes her eyes to force her body not to move to the flow of the music. But as her body has a mind of its own her feet sway to the beat of the music. One step, two steps, and side-to-side. She moves her hand to spread open like a dove and she flows her arm like water as she twirls onto the tip of her toes. Something inside her overcomes her body as she begins to hum an unknown lullaby.
She places her palm out open while her eyelashes flutter close she attempts to reach out, calling to the unnamed boy she has been seeing in briefs time. She spreads all her desperation out to him in hopes that maybe he will somehow feel it. Feeling a sense of emptiness and losing hope she lowers her hand down a single tear snuck its way out.
Il ne viendra pas. Peut-être qu'il n'est même pas réel.' ('He isn't coming. Maybe he isn't even real.')
It wasn't until a slightly large slender finger wrapped its fingers through her own. Aurora gasps looking up in hopes that it's truly him. His eyes beamed in joy and he smiled apologetically to her, "Sorry love for the long wait it won't happen again." His eyes furrowed down to a harsh gaze as he attempted to wipe away the single tear down her cheek but his thumb only went through it as he whispered angrily, "What happened?"
Aurora softly whimpers but does not speak even though she doesn’t understand still what the mysterious boy said to her. It has been years since she last spoke a single word. He sighs in frustration but quickly shoves his dark thoughts away to wrap his arms around her smaller delicate form. Neither can feel each other's physical touch and as much as they both yearn to be in each other presence. This will have to be enough.
Tom hears the music in a slight echo melody and in hopes to distract her, he begins to sway to the beat. Aurora still having her head on his chest let one hand go from hugging him to meet his palm raising. Their palms are so close yet so far as they continue to dance in their world unaware of an unknown lady approaching Aurora. In a distance, from this interaction, a pair of heels softly made their way up the stairs to the balcony Aurora was secretly dancing at. An unknown figure watches the young heiress dance amused and awed by the way her little hands move around her as if she was dancing with someone. The figure's interest peeks, even more, when hearing her giggle softly.
She peeks over the balcony to the dance floor seeing Arthur communicating with the Head House of the Miller family.
'Il est occupé en ce moment' ('He is busy right now'), she looks back to Aurora, taking note of every detail of the child. Her heart bleeds as she sees the resemblance to the child's mother. 'Alors... ce doit être elle... combien elle a grandi depuis cette nuit d'infidélité' ('So...this must be her...how much she has grown since that unfaithful night')
She turns towards the glass windows looking out to the night sky searching for a sign of help within the twinkling stars. Something to guide her at this moment as her inner trauma from the past clawed its way into her mind. But she successfully pushes them away. She reminds herself why she was here. The urgent letter for her help from Henrik, followed by the birthday invitation from Arthur IV was what brought her here quickly. Finally coming out of the shadows.
"S'il vous plaît, Mademoiselle Lavigne, sauvez-la. Avant que la malédiction sur Arthur ne l'emporte aussi."
~ Henrik Baudelaire
(Please, Miss Lavigne, save her. Before the curse on Arthur takes her too.)
She takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what she knows will be an ongoing battle to protect this young child in front of her. But she knows it would be worth it. For she would do anything for this child, no matter the price. She looks at her reflection seeing her purple eyes glow now that she has accepted the final fate of the girl. Standing up straight she turns and walks towards Aurora. She coughs loud enough that only Aurora can hear her.
Aurora immediately stops caught red-handed her eyes wide with a mixture of shock, confusion, and absolute fear.
The boy who was dancing with her disappears from her view making her feel a sense of yearning to call for him back. She can feel him trying to reach her again but she pushes the magical connection away in fear that everyone would be able to see him. But Aurora doesn't know what to do now. Should she apologize? Would it work or would it be the same with her father? What should she do? All she does is look down staring at the shiny marble floor.
"Tout va bien" ("It's alright"), the pure-blood witch said. Her smooth tone spread a sense of warmth inside Aurora. The lady kneels to her level and reaches a hand out for Aurora to grab. "Je ne te ferai pas de mal" ("I won't hurt you.") Aurora should have been more cautious, and should not listen to any random strangers. But there was something about the lady's aura, a motherly presence, that pulled her in. Her feet began to move on their own as she made eye contact with the unique pair of purple eyes that twinkled in the moon's light.
Small smooth hand places themselves on another pair of smooth hands. The older pair of hands turn over in a way to show a frightened animal that someone means no harm. "Je m'appelle Olivia et je suis ravie de vous rencontrer officiellement." ("My name is Olivia, it's nice to officially meet you.") She glances at where Aurora was dancing a few minutes ago. "Je sais qu'il était là" ("I know 'he' was here."), the once mysterious lady now named Olivia whispered to her.
Aurora's heart sank down to her stomach as her blood runs cold. 'How?' The lady shakes her head in reassurance, ""Je ne le dirai pas à ton père, je te le promets. Calme-toi jeune fille, je suis une céleste. Je peux voir quand certains destins puissants sont accordés aux gens. Tout comme j'ai senti sa présence lorsqu'il était ici." ("I won't tell your father I promise. Calm down young one, I am a celestial. I can see when certain powerful fates are bestowed on people. Just like I felt his presence when he was here.")
'A celestial. I never knew such people existed.'
She tilts her head slightly in sadness and empathy for the young witch. She opens her lips, closes her breathing in gently, and sighs before she proceeds. "Je peux vous aider, Aurora." ("I can help you, Aurora.") Aurora looks up at her with eyes of hope and desperation. This is the first witch or wizard who wants to help her. But then the sense of curiosity hits her, 'How?' Olivia looks at her with pride as she explains.
"Je suis la directrice de la plus grande école de France dans le monde de la sorcellerie, l'Académie de magie de Beauxbaton. C'est une école exclusivement féminine pour les jeunes sorcières brillantes et une école où tu seras en sécurité, surtout en tant que demi-veela". ("I am the headmistress of the greatest school of all of France in the Wizardry World, Beauxbaton Academy of Magic. It's an all-female school for young bright witches and a school where you especially being half-veela will be safe and secure."
Before Olivia could go on even more heavy loud footsteps made their way towards them in a rush. They both turn toward the noise to see Arthur standing in front of them. He furiously glances at Aurora before changing his expression when he looks at Olivia to one of confusion, "Olivia... qu'est-ce que tu fais ici ? Je croyais que tu avais dit que tu ne viendrais pas ?" ("Olivia...what are you doing here? I thought you said you weren't going to make it?")
"Aaah, allez Artie, tu sais que je ne manquerai jamais tes fameuses fêtes. En fait, j'ai terminé mes affaires en Grande-Bretagne bien plus tôt que prévu, alors je me suis dit que je n'avais qu'à venir ici pour voir comment vous alliez." ("Aaah come on Artie you know I will never miss your famous parties. In truth, I finished my business in Britain quite earlier than expected so I thought why not come here and see how you're doing.")
""Eh bien, je suis heureux que vous soyez là, mais je me débrouille très bien." ("Well, I am happy you are here but I am doing just fine.")
Aurora glances between the two wondering how they both know each other and analyzing her father's behavior seeing his shoulder less tense despite the black veins continuously spreading.
"Aurore." ("Aurora.")
Her father calls to her, "Il est temps pour toi de danser avec les autres sangs-purs." ("Time for you to dance with the other purebloods.")
Her feet move on a mind of their own but a strong, gentle hand places itself on her shoulder stopping her from approaching her father. Aurora gasps in shock as she looks up towards Olivia who gives her a small smile and a wink as she looks towards Arthur again.
"En fait, il faut que nous ayons une discussion" ("Actually, we need to have a talk.")
Arthur sighs, "Olivia Je n'ai pas le temps pour ça" ("Olivia I don't have time for this.")
"Alors, prenez le temps, Arthur ! C'est important, tu sais mieux que quiconque à quel point le destin peut être terrible pour quelqu'un, surtout quand il est jeune." ("Then make time Arthur! This is important, you know that more than anything how terrible fate can bestow someone especially when they are young.")
He freezes and with a heartbroken look he nods away, "Okay....okay..."
"Aurora, ma chérie, pourquoi n'irais-tu pas explorer un peu plus le manoir ? Je dois parler à ton père tout de suite, d'accord ?" ("Aurora sweetie, why don't you go off and explore more of the mansion? I gotta talk to your dad right now, okay?")
Aurora was confusingly and anguish nervous about what to do. So she just simply nods and walks towards the stairs behind her father. Walking past him a gush of wind passes through them and a sense of sadness overcomes her but she knows these feelings are not coming from her. She continues walking, away from the guest, and away from where she came from. She sees a single door in the corner of the ballroom and makes her way toward it. Giving one last glance at the balcony before closing the door behind her.
Her quiet pair of footsteps made their way down the many endless halls. Places that Aurora never had the chance to explore before as she came across a loud echoing noise. The music from the ballroom could no longer be heard so Aurora knows it's not that. Staying quiet again she hears the noise again.
Il vient de là !' ('It's coming from there!')
A wooden door stood on her left looking oddly different from all the rest of the other doors. Cautiously and curiously she approaches the door. Pulls the door open as it creaks loudly revealing a pair of dark stairs. The noises repeat against in the depths of the darkness below confirming the noise location. Fear strikes Aurora's heart but unknown bravery overcomes her as a soft voice whispers in her head, "Dohaeragon issa, kostilus." ('Help me, please.')
Aurora looks towards the torch on the wall close to her as she infuses the fire on her palm. As she breathes in mustering her strength she places one step on the stone stairs and then another. The small fire on her palm is the only light source she has to barely walk down. Her heart beats even faster as the voice she once heard gets louder,
"Kostilus dohaeragon issa. Someone kostilus." ("Please help me. Someone please.")
The end of the stairs appears to be lit up and Aurora quickly wanting to leave the darkness runs her way down the stairs. Happy to no longer be doing that she walks backward bumping into a cold metal surface. Gasping in shock she turns around and her eyes wide in fear.
Qu'est-ce que cela fait ici ?' ('What is this doing here?')