When Malfoy emerges he catches Snape's eye, but before he can communicate anything to his Dark lover, Elsbet happily wraps her arms around him and asks if they had a nice chat. He forces the best smile he can muster and tells her that they did, and he knows what he, Snape, Therion and Layne are doing. Keeping Ellie, Remus and Tonks ignorant of the Old Man's fate. In a way, they are his Secret Keepers, and it hurts. Being open-hearted hurts...he remembers how it was when he felt nothing for anyone but his wife and child. It was so much easier then...he kisses the top of Elsbet's head and hugs her tightly. He knows that, after having tasted the lips of his lovers, after having felt the warmth of his friends, he will never go back to the pathetic fool he was.
"Let's go get our friend," he whispers as he releases his lovely Elf maiden, smiling in earnest as she picks up the loaf of bread meant for the swan. Layne takes her hand and together they push open the great doors with Remus and Tonks. The birds, save for Loki and Johnny Rook, take wing to the Garden of Dreams, leaving the rest of the little family to take their time walking. Behind the others, Therion, Malfoy and Snape keep a slower pace, conversing silently. Are you alright, Lucius? Therion asks, and the fair wizard shakes his head. He's dying, and there's nothing anyone can do for him. He's in agony, and even Bea can not ease his pain, it's so bad. His own magic is consuming him! Can you imagine what that's like? Elsbet glances behind her and sees Malfoy leaning his head on Snape's shoulder, and Therion rubbing his back. She pulls her hand gently from Layne's grasp and, passing the loaf of bread to Tonks, goes back to them, gazing up at at Malfoy with great concern.
"What's wrong?" she asks them, and Snape's eyes flick to Therion. The Brown wizard touches her face and tells her that Malfoy is worried about the swan, and smiling, she takes her partner's hands. "He's alright, Lucius," she says and kisses his hand. "Come on," she tells them, "let's go, I'm excited to see him!" She takes the place between Malfoy and Snape, takes Snape's hand and leads them on. "Who's going to hold my hand, then?" Therion asks jokingly, and Layne chuckles. "Maybe Tonks, she looks like she's going to eat that bread," he says, then laughs and extends his hand back to the copper-maned wizard. "Let's sing something," Tonks says suddenly and Remus gives her a quizzical look. "Who are you, and what have you done with my wife?" he asks, as Snape and Malfoy exchange glances.
"I'm not singing," Snape says, and Therion echoes his sentiment. Elsbet squeezes her partners' hands playfully and says, "I'll sing! I love to sing!" Malfoy kisses her hand and asks her, "what shall you sing, pretty Ellie?" She slips from their hands and dances into the middle of the group, then begins to sing.
"On waves of love
my heart is breaking
And stranger still my self control
I can't rely on anymore
New tide, surprise
my world is changing
Within this frame
an ocean swells
Behind the smile
I know it well
Beneath a lover's moon
I'm waiting
I am the pilot of the storm
Adrift in pleasure
I may drown
I built this ship
it is my making
And furthermore my self control
I can't rely on anymore
I know why
I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Who claims that no man is an island?
While I land up in jeopardy
More distant from you by degrees
I walk this shore in isolation
And at my feet eternity
Draws ever sweeter plans for me
I know why
I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools..."
Loki caws loudly, thinking, dat nice my Els, you sing more! Johnny Rook had climbed out of Therion's jacket and settled on his shoulder when the song started; now he joins Loki in calling to her. She blushes and looks around at her family; their expressions tell her that she's touched each heart. Layne wipes his eyes and tells her, "I love that song." She asks him why he didn't sing with her and he tells her, "I just couldn't find my voice. You have to sing another." She dances around a little, bows to Loki and Johnny Rook, then takes the bread from Tonks. "You'd better have it back," she says, "I just might eat it." Remus takes her hand as they approach the Garden of Dreams; the gate is open for them, and they see Dance and Sing waiting for them.
"That was a beautiful song, Ellie," Dance says as he and his mate greet them, "I've always loved Robert Plant." In the distance, they hear harp music and as the gates close behind them, Dance tells them that Beltane is very excited to see them. Puzzled looks are exchanged and Sing laughs softly. "Your swan, Lucius, he says his name is Beltane. I think he must have heard Hyperion telling the younger children about holidays and what they mean, and liked the name. Or, it could have been the song he heard someone singing after you left him with us." She grins and adds, "he's been waiting for you for an hour or so, and we've had to play the harp to keep him calm and in his nest. Otherwise he might be wandering through the garden!"
Malfoy can't express how relieved he is, knowing that he did the creature no harm. "So, he...he is fully healed? He's alright?" Dance and Sing both smile warmly and reassure him. "Yes, yes, brother. You did so very well. Truth be told, Lucius," Dance says, "if you had brought him straight to us, or even called to us...he may not have survived. The little ones did right by bringing him to your home. Your instincts were correct." The fair wizard is so happy he could weep, and when they round the corner and emerge into the Teller's Court, he does. There is the swan, watching the Harper intently, listening as if the music is a special language meant only for him. He moves in his nest, and that is when he notices the people who helped him. He trumpets loudly in greeting, then launches himself out of his nest. Honking and flapping his great wings, he runs toward them; Malfoy kneels down and opens his arms to the swan, enfolding the bird in his loving embrace once he reaches him.
It's obvious the bird loves the fair wizard, and the bird's joy is infectious. Malfoy carefully lifts him as he rises, and together they walk back to the Harper, who is still playing. Gently he returns his friend to the huge nest, then sits down on the cushion beside it. The Harper pauses for a moment, smiling at the little tribe, and tells them she's happy to see them. "I think, today," she says, "there is something for each of you to find." As a piper joins her she adjusts the position of the harp and says, "sit with us if you wish, of course, but I think you'll be missing out."
Snape brushes Malfoy's hair with the tips of his fingers, thinking, you're right where you need to be, Lucius. Relax, and be happy. The fair wizard looks up at the Dark, and smiles. There's nowhere else he'd rather be right at this moment. With tender touches the group splits up: Remus and Tonks find themselves following Cilantro, the Silhouette who first welcomed them to Sanctuary City; Therion goes in search of the Petra, the library in this place of Midnight where the books are chiseled on the walls; Elsbet gives the bread to Malfoy, kisses Snape sweetly, then runs toward the sound of joyful whinnies; Layne departs in the direction of the Shaded Court, as Snape heads purposefully into the darkness of the Garden of Dreams.
"Let's go get our friend," he whispers as he releases his lovely Elf maiden, smiling in earnest as she picks up the loaf of bread meant for the swan. Layne takes her hand and together they push open the great doors with Remus and Tonks. The birds, save for Loki and Johnny Rook, take wing to the Garden of Dreams, leaving the rest of the little family to take their time walking. Behind the others, Therion, Malfoy and Snape keep a slower pace, conversing silently. Are you alright, Lucius? Therion asks, and the fair wizard shakes his head. He's dying, and there's nothing anyone can do for him. He's in agony, and even Bea can not ease his pain, it's so bad. His own magic is consuming him! Can you imagine what that's like? Elsbet glances behind her and sees Malfoy leaning his head on Snape's shoulder, and Therion rubbing his back. She pulls her hand gently from Layne's grasp and, passing the loaf of bread to Tonks, goes back to them, gazing up at at Malfoy with great concern.
"What's wrong?" she asks them, and Snape's eyes flick to Therion. The Brown wizard touches her face and tells her that Malfoy is worried about the swan, and smiling, she takes her partner's hands. "He's alright, Lucius," she says and kisses his hand. "Come on," she tells them, "let's go, I'm excited to see him!" She takes the place between Malfoy and Snape, takes Snape's hand and leads them on. "Who's going to hold my hand, then?" Therion asks jokingly, and Layne chuckles. "Maybe Tonks, she looks like she's going to eat that bread," he says, then laughs and extends his hand back to the copper-maned wizard. "Let's sing something," Tonks says suddenly and Remus gives her a quizzical look. "Who are you, and what have you done with my wife?" he asks, as Snape and Malfoy exchange glances.
"I'm not singing," Snape says, and Therion echoes his sentiment. Elsbet squeezes her partners' hands playfully and says, "I'll sing! I love to sing!" Malfoy kisses her hand and asks her, "what shall you sing, pretty Ellie?" She slips from their hands and dances into the middle of the group, then begins to sing.
"On waves of love
my heart is breaking
And stranger still my self control
I can't rely on anymore
New tide, surprise
my world is changing
Within this frame
an ocean swells
Behind the smile
I know it well
Beneath a lover's moon
I'm waiting
I am the pilot of the storm
Adrift in pleasure
I may drown
I built this ship
it is my making
And furthermore my self control
I can't rely on anymore
I know why
I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Who claims that no man is an island?
While I land up in jeopardy
More distant from you by degrees
I walk this shore in isolation
And at my feet eternity
Draws ever sweeter plans for me
I know why
I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around
back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools..."
Loki caws loudly, thinking, dat nice my Els, you sing more! Johnny Rook had climbed out of Therion's jacket and settled on his shoulder when the song started; now he joins Loki in calling to her. She blushes and looks around at her family; their expressions tell her that she's touched each heart. Layne wipes his eyes and tells her, "I love that song." She asks him why he didn't sing with her and he tells her, "I just couldn't find my voice. You have to sing another." She dances around a little, bows to Loki and Johnny Rook, then takes the bread from Tonks. "You'd better have it back," she says, "I just might eat it." Remus takes her hand as they approach the Garden of Dreams; the gate is open for them, and they see Dance and Sing waiting for them.
"That was a beautiful song, Ellie," Dance says as he and his mate greet them, "I've always loved Robert Plant." In the distance, they hear harp music and as the gates close behind them, Dance tells them that Beltane is very excited to see them. Puzzled looks are exchanged and Sing laughs softly. "Your swan, Lucius, he says his name is Beltane. I think he must have heard Hyperion telling the younger children about holidays and what they mean, and liked the name. Or, it could have been the song he heard someone singing after you left him with us." She grins and adds, "he's been waiting for you for an hour or so, and we've had to play the harp to keep him calm and in his nest. Otherwise he might be wandering through the garden!"
Malfoy can't express how relieved he is, knowing that he did the creature no harm. "So, he...he is fully healed? He's alright?" Dance and Sing both smile warmly and reassure him. "Yes, yes, brother. You did so very well. Truth be told, Lucius," Dance says, "if you had brought him straight to us, or even called to us...he may not have survived. The little ones did right by bringing him to your home. Your instincts were correct." The fair wizard is so happy he could weep, and when they round the corner and emerge into the Teller's Court, he does. There is the swan, watching the Harper intently, listening as if the music is a special language meant only for him. He moves in his nest, and that is when he notices the people who helped him. He trumpets loudly in greeting, then launches himself out of his nest. Honking and flapping his great wings, he runs toward them; Malfoy kneels down and opens his arms to the swan, enfolding the bird in his loving embrace once he reaches him.
It's obvious the bird loves the fair wizard, and the bird's joy is infectious. Malfoy carefully lifts him as he rises, and together they walk back to the Harper, who is still playing. Gently he returns his friend to the huge nest, then sits down on the cushion beside it. The Harper pauses for a moment, smiling at the little tribe, and tells them she's happy to see them. "I think, today," she says, "there is something for each of you to find." As a piper joins her she adjusts the position of the harp and says, "sit with us if you wish, of course, but I think you'll be missing out."
Snape brushes Malfoy's hair with the tips of his fingers, thinking, you're right where you need to be, Lucius. Relax, and be happy. The fair wizard looks up at the Dark, and smiles. There's nowhere else he'd rather be right at this moment. With tender touches the group splits up: Remus and Tonks find themselves following Cilantro, the Silhouette who first welcomed them to Sanctuary City; Therion goes in search of the Petra, the library in this place of Midnight where the books are chiseled on the walls; Elsbet gives the bread to Malfoy, kisses Snape sweetly, then runs toward the sound of joyful whinnies; Layne departs in the direction of the Shaded Court, as Snape heads purposefully into the darkness of the Garden of Dreams.
