Snape rises and dresses silently, then slips out of the room unnoticed. Their laughter follows him and he smiles faintly as he steps into the kitchen. He washes his hands and dries them, then pulls out three pans and begins preparation for lunch. Malfoy enters the रसोई, रसोईघर as Snape opens the fridge and asks him if he would like anything in particular. Malfoy tells him he's feeling like something sweet, when there's a sound at the door. "Ah, if you'll get that Severus, I will fix us lunch." Snape looks at him quizzically and Malfoy tells him quietly, "it's Dance, and Shiver, from the feel of it...they're here to see you."
As Snape जवाब the door the rest of the Family passes through the hallway and notices Malfoy in the kitchen. As they take seats at the table, Snape steps outside and closes the door behind him. The Silhouettes greet him warmly, then Shiver hands Snape a beautiful, ornate box that appears to have been carved from a single block of wood. "We found that in the Southfarthing, while we were sculpting the lakebed. आप won't believe what's in it." He grins widely, then says, "we feel it's best आप decide what's done with the contents." Snape opens the box and his breath catches. His दिल skips a beat and he asks, "how old are these?" Dance grins. "We're not certain, we have an idea, but..." he shrugs slightly, "we'd like to hear someone else's opinion."
Snape closes the box and holds it close to him. "Has Perdurabo seen this?" They both nod and Shiver tells him, "he felt it should go directly to your Lady, but we believe आप should decide." Snape takes a deep breath and steadies himself. "It belongs to Oddbit, then." He's thinking that this may be what leads to her self-rediscovery. Dance chuckles. "I figured आप would agree with him," he says, and Snape asks them bluntly why the Old Man is dying. He's hurting, and doesn't bother attempting to conceal his emotons from them; it would be futile anyway. "When आप heal someone--" Shiver puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Severus, you...you should go in and eat lunch. This is a deeper issue than a front door chat."
He invites them in. "Then come and eat with us. We can discuss this after." They agree and follow him in and are greeted द्वारा the aroma of a finely-made meal, as well as the happy greetings from Cambion and Loki. Malfoy glances up as they walk in and indicates the extra seats. "Now," he says, smiling, "there's plenty, so enjoy." He places the last two dishes on the तालिका, टेबल and takes his सीट between Therion and Elsbet, as Snape takes his सीट on the other side of her. He sets the box on a shelf behind him and begins dishing up his plate. Elsbet looks back at the box and asks him where if came from and he tells her; she smiles widely and looks first at Snape, then at the Silhouettes. "You made a lake in the Southfarthing?" Dance nods, and notices the delight of those around him. "So, the Southfarthing is open then?" Shiver looks up at the ceiling as he tries to think of a creative way of explaining it to Remus, but Snape decides it's best they know the truth.
"Well," Therion says with a sigh, "it's about time. I'm relieved our southern border is strengthened. Were there any hold-outs?" Dance and Shiver look at Therion for a long moment before answering. "Well," Shiver says slowly, then smiles weakly, "actually...after having a look at the claims made, the only one that still stood had only one claimant left..." टॉंक्स asks them what that means and Therion tells her, "basically, the family that originally made the claim on a specific plot of land has only one living member still residing in Sanctuary City." Elsbet asks, "who is it?" Shiver moves his portion of shredded chicken and almonds around on his plate with his fork and replies, "Thomas Aqualine."
The silence that follows is deafening.
"Oh, my Gods," Therion says breathlessly, and Snape forces his chicken down. Elsbet takes another forkfull of steamed brown rice, and Remus rubs his chin, then sits back. "Interesting," he says thoughtfully, "that can not be a valid claim, and yet..." Therion finishes his last bites of chicken with the last bit of rice, takes a drink of his tea, then sits back, and टॉंक्स glances around the table. "I'm missing something..." Dance tells her, "if आप know who Aqualine is, then आप know he has no rights to property claims. When one joins the Order of the Silver Night, one relinquishes all physical holdings." She sits up straight and looks at her husband. "That's Nodus, isn't it? The peculiar one...?" Remus nods and Therion says quietly, "he never declared it. He entered the Order with a lie to his name. Well," he half-shrugs, "one more lie, anyway."
Snape rises quickly and begins clearing away the empty plates, his face set and eyes blank. He can feel Elsbet's सवाल before it's on her lips, and he needs for her not to ask. As he carries the plates and silverware into the रसोई, रसोईघर she watches him, her प्यार and her worry plain on her face. Before she can speak, Malfoy places his hand gently on her leg and she meets his gaze; his eyes and his touch tell her their Dark प्यार needs some time. She swallows her सवाल with a sip of pomegranet रस and places her hand on his. Therion's eyes meet those of the Silhouettes and he thinks directly to them, he knows something we don't, doesn't he? Dance gives the most imperceptable of nods, and Therion sighs softly.
Snape stands in the kitchen, his back to his Family and his arms folded after cleaning the dishes and putting them away. Remus quietly gathers the last few plates and takes them into the kitchen. He tells Snape softly that he'll take care of them, but Snape shakes his head once, takes the dishes from him and proceeds to do them up. "It's alright," he whispers, and Remus grips his shoulder for a सेकंड before returning to the table. Once he's finished, and calmed his anger, he goes back out to the तालिका, टेबल and sits down. He reaches back for the box and sets it on the तालिका, टेबल in front of Elsbet.
She looks up at him questioningly, and he asks her if she knows what kind of wood it is. "Yes," she whispers, "teak. My father loved teak." She holds her hands over the lid of the box and closes her eyes, her brows knitting. "Old," she says, "very old...it's a Mother's Box." She is aware that evereyone is looking at her; she can feel the weight of their gazes, but it's a warm, bouyant feeling. Her eyes flutter open and she says, "whoever buried this box was a mother, and it holds something very dear to her." Snape strokes her hair and tells her that it belongs to her now, that Brother Perdurabo wanted her to have it.
She looks up at Snape and protests just a little before Dance and Shiver tell her that it's already decided. She looks back to Snape and asks him if he knows what it inside and he tells her that he does, and that he thinks it is very, very important that she accept it. Cambion alights on Therion's shoulder, and Severus helps Loki onto his, so they can better watch the goings-on. She rises and gently caresses the latch, smiling as though touching an old friend. "The latch is platinum, a wisdom metal. My प्रिय metal..." She carefully flips the latch, then even और carefully opens the lid. With a gasp, she stands back and looks at Snape.
So much passes between them, between their hearts, that neither words nor thoughts are necessary. "Ellie," Malfoy says, his curiousity getting to him, "what is it?" She looks around at everyone, then wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Wands," she says, her voice cracking, "a box of wands." No one speaks and she looks up at Dance helplessly. "But...I'm not versed in Wandlore, I don't know--" Snape touches her and tells her, "but आप know trees, as your father did, Oddbit." She takes a deep breath and nods. "You want me to tell आप what woods they are," she says, and Shiver nods. "Whatever आप feel from them, Ellie. Please."
Remus rises and both Snape and Malfoy notice him studying Elsbet closely, and can only wonder what he is seeing. She looks back down into the box and wrings her hands a bit, as if she is about to plunge them into hot water. "It's alright Ellie," Therion says softly, almost teasingly, "they're only wands," and she nods. "I know, I've just...never held a wand before. At least, I don't think I have." Snape looks up at her and thinks that this may indeed be exactly what she has needed...she takes a deep breath, then takes each wand out of the box and places it on the तालिका, टेबल before her.
She doesn't take the other items out yet, since they're interested in the wands, of which there are seven. "Ellie," Remus says, frowning mightily, and she looks up at him almost like a guilty child. "You and I both know that's not how it's done," he repremands, and she sighs. "I saw what आप did," he says, his tone much kinder. "You let your mind wander, and intentionally did not focus on the wands." She looks down at the wands, then back up at him, and Remus fixes her with his gaze. His mental touch is very gentle, though his need to instruct makes it firm. "What are आप afraid of, Ellie? There is no Dark Magic in that box या what it holds; if there were, the Silhouettes would have destroyed it when they found it." She nods and rubs her hands on her pants, and Snape knows it's not Dark Magic she's afraid of.
She's afraid of remembering something unpleasant. He places his hand on her back for a moment and she looks to him, grateful for his support. "Go on, Ellie, give it go, we'll look out for you," टॉंक्स says reassuringly, and she grins. "Alright," she says, chuckling, then centers herself. After several मिनटों she's ready, and once focused, she gives herself totally to the bits of trees before her.
She lifts the first wand gingerly, as if it were a fragile thing, and holds it lovingly in her hands. "Beech," she says, her appreciation of the fair wood obvious to those around her. "Female, very loving, very spiritual. This पेड़ was a happy tree, she needs a happy companion, perhaps one who bonds others." She places the Beech wand back on the table, then moves on to the one beside it. She grins widely as she lifts the सेकंड wand and says, "Apple, a happy पेड़ she was, and this wood is good for healing. She wants to be with a lover, a healer. Like you, Lucius." She places the सेब wand beside the Beech, and moves on to the third. She traces the length of the wand with her index finger before she picks the wand up, then smiles faintly.
She holds the wand loosely, as if she would let it fall from her hand. She sighs almost sadly and says, "Hickory. This पेड़ was dying when this branch was taken; he has nothing left to offer a witch या wizard, but would like to hold something up." She cradles the wand suddenly, close to her heart, then smiles. "Tie him to a sapling to help it grow straight and strong. That is what he wants." She places the Hickory wand away from the others, but as if under the wand's own power, it rolls toward the Silhouettes, its tip pointing at Shiver. All eyes turn up to Elsbet and she asks them, "which one of आप planted a पेड़ recently?" Shiver swallows and looks down at the wand. "I did. At our Outpost." She nods and says directly, "then he will go with you. Tie him to the little one आप planted and he will help it grow."
She asks Shiver what पेड़ he planted, and he has to think for a moment. "Ah, Juniper. I planted a Juniper." Her eyes tear up a little and she nods. "Ellie? What's wrong?" She shakes her head slightly, not meeting Remus' gaze या answering his question. Without another word, she moves on to the forth wand. She brushes the wand with her fingertips, then smiles. "Mmmmmmm, Shedua! Good wood for Charms and healing!" She brightens so much that even Remus is surprised. She lifts the wand as if she would cast a spell with it, and the wand fits well in her hand. "I like this wand...she is a strong wood, her पेड़ was old and healthy, and many sibling-wands were made from her tree. She came from Nigeria, and when her tree's sibling died, a Gbedu drum was made from his wood." Elsbet laughs and holds the wand up, pointed toward the ceiling. "She says he made good music."
She turns her wrist, looking at the wand, Remus watching her closely. He asks, a knowing gleem in his eyes, "how does she know, Ellie?" Elsbet smiles and tells him, "she was there! The Wandmaker's family were musicians and healers. She says all of the brother tree's wood made good drums and playing sticks, and many families were happy." She lowers her hand and smiles, then says, "she should be with a musician, या someone very creative." Snape glances at Remus, then looks up at Elsbet. "You're creative, Oddbit..." She looks down and smiles at him, then places the wand with the Beech and Apple. "She likes me, but she's not for me." She returns her attention to the other wands before her, and Snape looks around the table. Do आप think she could blossom into a Wandmaker? Malfoy thinks, and Remus gives a little shrug. It's possible, I believe...but only time can tell with such things.
She gently lifts the fifth wand and smiles again, and holds the wand close to her. She sighs and fights back tears, and her gathered loved ones think she's remembering something quite profound. She is, but again, it is a memory held द्वारा the wood.
"Willow," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "The पेड़ this wood came from sheltered two lovers...I don't know who they were, maybe the parents of the box's maker..." she shakes her head just a little and wipes her eyes with her free hand. "There was a terrible storm, and two people took shelter under his branches, and there they fell in love. When they married the पेड़ gave the branch this wand was made from, and the wizard gave this wand to his bride." She sways a little, as though this is taking a great deal of her energy, and both Snape and Malfoy steady her. Loki gives her a soft trill of encouragement; both ravens are enthralled द्वारा this gift she's never shared with anyone...
...anyone other than Padfoot.
She clears her throat and tells them, "this wand should be with someone who works प्यार Magic, Moon Magic. Perhaps a bonder या a blesser, like the Beech wand." She places it gently between the Beech and सेब wands, then leans against the table. "Ellie," Therion rises, concern in his voice, "are आप alright?" She nods and when she smiles and straightens, they relax, and Therion goes into the kitchen. He pours her a glass of juice, comes back in and hands her the glass. After a couple of sips, Remus hands her a chunk of chocolate, and the two combined clearly have a revitalizing effect. "Gods, Remus," she says, "Belgian chocolate? That's so good..." She finishes the चॉकलेट and drinks the rest of the juice, and Therion whisks it back to the kitchen, then asks if anyone else would like something.
He pours a couple और glasses, then once everyone is settled again, Elsbet redoubles her focus, and returns her attention to the wands. There are two left, and she chooses the one closest to her heart. "Oak!" She holds it aloft as she did the Shedua wand. "Oak was one of my father's प्रिय trees to work with. He कहा the wood always felt like it wanted to be shaped into things." She laughs, not noticing Remus and Snape exchange glances. Shaped, Severus, not made. Shaped. Very interesting, Remus thinks, and Snape looks over at Malfoy and Therion. Well, Therion thinks, she did say that her father was a woodturner, and Snape nods. Malfoy looks from them to Remus, then to टॉंक्स and the Silhouettes and thinks a सवाल that catches them all off-guard. All but Snape, for he had already reached Malfoy's conclusion.
In his heart, he already knows the answer, and he would tell them, if not for Elsbet's jubilant laughter, and her interaction with the Oak wand. She swings her arm in a wide circular motion around her head as if she were swinging a lariat, and while no spell is cast, of course, there's still magic. The magic of her joy, and how it makes them feel...she seems to suddenly remember what she's doing and looks around at them all, then laughs hard at herself. "Sorry," she says and she regains her composure, "couldn't help it. It's just been so long since I've handled Oak that it ran away with me." They tell her there's no reason to be sorry, that it was wonderful to see her so happy, and that she should keep that wand for herself just because it makes her happy. She laughs a little and places the wand with the others, saying that he needs to be with someone very powerful, someone brave, one who is a guardian या a liberator.
At last she comes to the seventh wand, and she is reluctant to pick it up. "Ellie," Remus says softly, "what is it?" She takes a small step back from the table, her hands together in front of her. "Yew," she says with a sigh, then, "I shouldn't be the one to touch it." टॉंक्स gives her a half-grin and says, "but आप took it out of the box!" Elsbet nods, replying, "yes, but that was a सेकंड of time, this...this is prolonged contact and communication." Remus leans आगे against the तालिका, टेबल and asks her earnestly why she is reluctant to handle the wand. "Because यू is associated with sorcery and dark magic, and I have Darkness in my past, and--" Snape looks up at her and repeats to her, "in your past," and Malfoy places a steadying hand on her back.
"Are आप afraid?" Snape asks her and she nods; Malfoy whispers to her, "don't be afraid, Ellie, we're here with you," and Snape asks her if she would like him to assist her. "Yes," she whispers, and Snape turns his gaze to the यू wand. Could she know that Riddle has a यू wand, Severus? Snape considers Malfoy's question, then thinks, I am not certain, Lucius, but her fear is genuine. With his right hand he lifts the wand carefully and knows there is nothing Dark about it, no Dark magical has tainted it, but he will not minimize her feelings. He opens his left hand and lays the wand in it, then looks up at her again.
She looks at the wand in Snape's hand, and thinks of how gentle that hand has been to her, how much pleasure that hand has दिया her, how many times that hand has protected her. She leans against him and places her right hand on the wand, then gives a sigh of relief and a light laugh when nothing happens. Well, nothing bad anyway...a feeling of warmth comes over her and she leans into him. Their hands close together with the wand between them and they kiss. It is a tender kiss, full of meaning, one that lasts several minutes, and when it ends, they both take deep breaths. She regains herself slowly, straightens almost reluctantly, then says clearly, "this is a powerful wood that should be treated respectfully. The witch who placed this wand in the Mother's Box was a healer, but she did not heal the Living."
Recognition plays accros Dance's black features, though he keeps it to himself. Only Remus notes it. "She helped the Dead make their Transitions," Elsbet says, and Remus smiles softly. "Yew is also कहा to be excellent for divination. Did आप see something, Ellie?" She looks at her three wizards in turn, her gaze lingering the longest on Snape. "Yes," she says, "something good, something very good, and I don't want to ruin it, so I won't tell you." She seems for a moment to be about to किस him again, but instead she places the यू wand beside the other active wands. She takes a very deep breath, lets it out slowly, then runs her hands through her hair. "Wow," she says, giggling, "did I just do all that?"
Malfoy helps her sit down and they tell her how well she did, and ask her how she feels. "I'm happy, and very drained. I'm hungry, too," she says with a laugh and a sigh, and Remus tells her, "you've done well, Ellie, I'm proud of you." Snape strokes her lovely hair and caresses her cheek, and she smiles at him coyly, then laughs at herself. "It was silly of me to be afraid of that wand, wasn't it?" Therion and Malfoy get up and head into the रसोई, रसोईघर and Remus tells her, "not at all, Ellie. It's very wise to be cautious of a wand you're unsure of, especially when आप are untrained. आप had no way of knowing who may have handled it last, and if they were very powerful, they may have left residual magic in it. And as आप correctly stated," he hands her और chocolate, "Yew is associated with dark magic."
Malfoy brings out a few sandwiches and Therion a plate of buscuits. "After आप eat this," Snape says to her, "you should get some rest." Els did good! Loki caws to Cambion, who cocks his head at his friend. Much power, she be strong wen she learn more, he replies, and Malfoy smiles. "There's still things in the box," Elsbet says, "I'd like to look at them when we're done." She takes her सैंडविच and a biscuit, and a sip of रस when Therion pours them all some. "Alright," Remus says, "just don't over-extend yourself." She leans against Snape as he takes his sandwich. He passes his बिस्कुट back to her; they're very nice, but she likes them और than he does, and he likes the way they make her crinkle her nose.
You were right, Severus, Malfoy thinks, Remus is a good teacher for her. Snape's eyes flick from Elsbet to Malfoy, then to Therion, then finally return to his lady. He loves them all so very much, and wishes he didn't have to return to the world on the other side of The Divide...
As Snape जवाब the door the rest of the Family passes through the hallway and notices Malfoy in the kitchen. As they take seats at the table, Snape steps outside and closes the door behind him. The Silhouettes greet him warmly, then Shiver hands Snape a beautiful, ornate box that appears to have been carved from a single block of wood. "We found that in the Southfarthing, while we were sculpting the lakebed. आप won't believe what's in it." He grins widely, then says, "we feel it's best आप decide what's done with the contents." Snape opens the box and his breath catches. His दिल skips a beat and he asks, "how old are these?" Dance grins. "We're not certain, we have an idea, but..." he shrugs slightly, "we'd like to hear someone else's opinion."
Snape closes the box and holds it close to him. "Has Perdurabo seen this?" They both nod and Shiver tells him, "he felt it should go directly to your Lady, but we believe आप should decide." Snape takes a deep breath and steadies himself. "It belongs to Oddbit, then." He's thinking that this may be what leads to her self-rediscovery. Dance chuckles. "I figured आप would agree with him," he says, and Snape asks them bluntly why the Old Man is dying. He's hurting, and doesn't bother attempting to conceal his emotons from them; it would be futile anyway. "When आप heal someone--" Shiver puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Severus, you...you should go in and eat lunch. This is a deeper issue than a front door chat."
He invites them in. "Then come and eat with us. We can discuss this after." They agree and follow him in and are greeted द्वारा the aroma of a finely-made meal, as well as the happy greetings from Cambion and Loki. Malfoy glances up as they walk in and indicates the extra seats. "Now," he says, smiling, "there's plenty, so enjoy." He places the last two dishes on the तालिका, टेबल and takes his सीट between Therion and Elsbet, as Snape takes his सीट on the other side of her. He sets the box on a shelf behind him and begins dishing up his plate. Elsbet looks back at the box and asks him where if came from and he tells her; she smiles widely and looks first at Snape, then at the Silhouettes. "You made a lake in the Southfarthing?" Dance nods, and notices the delight of those around him. "So, the Southfarthing is open then?" Shiver looks up at the ceiling as he tries to think of a creative way of explaining it to Remus, but Snape decides it's best they know the truth.
"Well," Therion says with a sigh, "it's about time. I'm relieved our southern border is strengthened. Were there any hold-outs?" Dance and Shiver look at Therion for a long moment before answering. "Well," Shiver says slowly, then smiles weakly, "actually...after having a look at the claims made, the only one that still stood had only one claimant left..." टॉंक्स asks them what that means and Therion tells her, "basically, the family that originally made the claim on a specific plot of land has only one living member still residing in Sanctuary City." Elsbet asks, "who is it?" Shiver moves his portion of shredded chicken and almonds around on his plate with his fork and replies, "Thomas Aqualine."
The silence that follows is deafening.
"Oh, my Gods," Therion says breathlessly, and Snape forces his chicken down. Elsbet takes another forkfull of steamed brown rice, and Remus rubs his chin, then sits back. "Interesting," he says thoughtfully, "that can not be a valid claim, and yet..." Therion finishes his last bites of chicken with the last bit of rice, takes a drink of his tea, then sits back, and टॉंक्स glances around the table. "I'm missing something..." Dance tells her, "if आप know who Aqualine is, then आप know he has no rights to property claims. When one joins the Order of the Silver Night, one relinquishes all physical holdings." She sits up straight and looks at her husband. "That's Nodus, isn't it? The peculiar one...?" Remus nods and Therion says quietly, "he never declared it. He entered the Order with a lie to his name. Well," he half-shrugs, "one more lie, anyway."
Snape rises quickly and begins clearing away the empty plates, his face set and eyes blank. He can feel Elsbet's सवाल before it's on her lips, and he needs for her not to ask. As he carries the plates and silverware into the रसोई, रसोईघर she watches him, her प्यार and her worry plain on her face. Before she can speak, Malfoy places his hand gently on her leg and she meets his gaze; his eyes and his touch tell her their Dark प्यार needs some time. She swallows her सवाल with a sip of pomegranet रस and places her hand on his. Therion's eyes meet those of the Silhouettes and he thinks directly to them, he knows something we don't, doesn't he? Dance gives the most imperceptable of nods, and Therion sighs softly.
Snape stands in the kitchen, his back to his Family and his arms folded after cleaning the dishes and putting them away. Remus quietly gathers the last few plates and takes them into the kitchen. He tells Snape softly that he'll take care of them, but Snape shakes his head once, takes the dishes from him and proceeds to do them up. "It's alright," he whispers, and Remus grips his shoulder for a सेकंड before returning to the table. Once he's finished, and calmed his anger, he goes back out to the तालिका, टेबल and sits down. He reaches back for the box and sets it on the तालिका, टेबल in front of Elsbet.
She looks up at him questioningly, and he asks her if she knows what kind of wood it is. "Yes," she whispers, "teak. My father loved teak." She holds her hands over the lid of the box and closes her eyes, her brows knitting. "Old," she says, "very old...it's a Mother's Box." She is aware that evereyone is looking at her; she can feel the weight of their gazes, but it's a warm, bouyant feeling. Her eyes flutter open and she says, "whoever buried this box was a mother, and it holds something very dear to her." Snape strokes her hair and tells her that it belongs to her now, that Brother Perdurabo wanted her to have it.
She looks up at Snape and protests just a little before Dance and Shiver tell her that it's already decided. She looks back to Snape and asks him if he knows what it inside and he tells her that he does, and that he thinks it is very, very important that she accept it. Cambion alights on Therion's shoulder, and Severus helps Loki onto his, so they can better watch the goings-on. She rises and gently caresses the latch, smiling as though touching an old friend. "The latch is platinum, a wisdom metal. My प्रिय metal..." She carefully flips the latch, then even और carefully opens the lid. With a gasp, she stands back and looks at Snape.
So much passes between them, between their hearts, that neither words nor thoughts are necessary. "Ellie," Malfoy says, his curiousity getting to him, "what is it?" She looks around at everyone, then wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Wands," she says, her voice cracking, "a box of wands." No one speaks and she looks up at Dance helplessly. "But...I'm not versed in Wandlore, I don't know--" Snape touches her and tells her, "but आप know trees, as your father did, Oddbit." She takes a deep breath and nods. "You want me to tell आप what woods they are," she says, and Shiver nods. "Whatever आप feel from them, Ellie. Please."
Remus rises and both Snape and Malfoy notice him studying Elsbet closely, and can only wonder what he is seeing. She looks back down into the box and wrings her hands a bit, as if she is about to plunge them into hot water. "It's alright Ellie," Therion says softly, almost teasingly, "they're only wands," and she nods. "I know, I've just...never held a wand before. At least, I don't think I have." Snape looks up at her and thinks that this may indeed be exactly what she has needed...she takes a deep breath, then takes each wand out of the box and places it on the तालिका, टेबल before her.
She doesn't take the other items out yet, since they're interested in the wands, of which there are seven. "Ellie," Remus says, frowning mightily, and she looks up at him almost like a guilty child. "You and I both know that's not how it's done," he repremands, and she sighs. "I saw what आप did," he says, his tone much kinder. "You let your mind wander, and intentionally did not focus on the wands." She looks down at the wands, then back up at him, and Remus fixes her with his gaze. His mental touch is very gentle, though his need to instruct makes it firm. "What are आप afraid of, Ellie? There is no Dark Magic in that box या what it holds; if there were, the Silhouettes would have destroyed it when they found it." She nods and rubs her hands on her pants, and Snape knows it's not Dark Magic she's afraid of.
She's afraid of remembering something unpleasant. He places his hand on her back for a moment and she looks to him, grateful for his support. "Go on, Ellie, give it go, we'll look out for you," टॉंक्स says reassuringly, and she grins. "Alright," she says, chuckling, then centers herself. After several मिनटों she's ready, and once focused, she gives herself totally to the bits of trees before her.
She lifts the first wand gingerly, as if it were a fragile thing, and holds it lovingly in her hands. "Beech," she says, her appreciation of the fair wood obvious to those around her. "Female, very loving, very spiritual. This पेड़ was a happy tree, she needs a happy companion, perhaps one who bonds others." She places the Beech wand back on the table, then moves on to the one beside it. She grins widely as she lifts the सेकंड wand and says, "Apple, a happy पेड़ she was, and this wood is good for healing. She wants to be with a lover, a healer. Like you, Lucius." She places the सेब wand beside the Beech, and moves on to the third. She traces the length of the wand with her index finger before she picks the wand up, then smiles faintly.
She holds the wand loosely, as if she would let it fall from her hand. She sighs almost sadly and says, "Hickory. This पेड़ was dying when this branch was taken; he has nothing left to offer a witch या wizard, but would like to hold something up." She cradles the wand suddenly, close to her heart, then smiles. "Tie him to a sapling to help it grow straight and strong. That is what he wants." She places the Hickory wand away from the others, but as if under the wand's own power, it rolls toward the Silhouettes, its tip pointing at Shiver. All eyes turn up to Elsbet and she asks them, "which one of आप planted a पेड़ recently?" Shiver swallows and looks down at the wand. "I did. At our Outpost." She nods and says directly, "then he will go with you. Tie him to the little one आप planted and he will help it grow."
She asks Shiver what पेड़ he planted, and he has to think for a moment. "Ah, Juniper. I planted a Juniper." Her eyes tear up a little and she nods. "Ellie? What's wrong?" She shakes her head slightly, not meeting Remus' gaze या answering his question. Without another word, she moves on to the forth wand. She brushes the wand with her fingertips, then smiles. "Mmmmmmm, Shedua! Good wood for Charms and healing!" She brightens so much that even Remus is surprised. She lifts the wand as if she would cast a spell with it, and the wand fits well in her hand. "I like this wand...she is a strong wood, her पेड़ was old and healthy, and many sibling-wands were made from her tree. She came from Nigeria, and when her tree's sibling died, a Gbedu drum was made from his wood." Elsbet laughs and holds the wand up, pointed toward the ceiling. "She says he made good music."
She turns her wrist, looking at the wand, Remus watching her closely. He asks, a knowing gleem in his eyes, "how does she know, Ellie?" Elsbet smiles and tells him, "she was there! The Wandmaker's family were musicians and healers. She says all of the brother tree's wood made good drums and playing sticks, and many families were happy." She lowers her hand and smiles, then says, "she should be with a musician, या someone very creative." Snape glances at Remus, then looks up at Elsbet. "You're creative, Oddbit..." She looks down and smiles at him, then places the wand with the Beech and Apple. "She likes me, but she's not for me." She returns her attention to the other wands before her, and Snape looks around the table. Do आप think she could blossom into a Wandmaker? Malfoy thinks, and Remus gives a little shrug. It's possible, I believe...but only time can tell with such things.
She gently lifts the fifth wand and smiles again, and holds the wand close to her. She sighs and fights back tears, and her gathered loved ones think she's remembering something quite profound. She is, but again, it is a memory held द्वारा the wood.
"Willow," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "The पेड़ this wood came from sheltered two lovers...I don't know who they were, maybe the parents of the box's maker..." she shakes her head just a little and wipes her eyes with her free hand. "There was a terrible storm, and two people took shelter under his branches, and there they fell in love. When they married the पेड़ gave the branch this wand was made from, and the wizard gave this wand to his bride." She sways a little, as though this is taking a great deal of her energy, and both Snape and Malfoy steady her. Loki gives her a soft trill of encouragement; both ravens are enthralled द्वारा this gift she's never shared with anyone...
...anyone other than Padfoot.
She clears her throat and tells them, "this wand should be with someone who works प्यार Magic, Moon Magic. Perhaps a bonder या a blesser, like the Beech wand." She places it gently between the Beech and सेब wands, then leans against the table. "Ellie," Therion rises, concern in his voice, "are आप alright?" She nods and when she smiles and straightens, they relax, and Therion goes into the kitchen. He pours her a glass of juice, comes back in and hands her the glass. After a couple of sips, Remus hands her a chunk of chocolate, and the two combined clearly have a revitalizing effect. "Gods, Remus," she says, "Belgian chocolate? That's so good..." She finishes the चॉकलेट and drinks the rest of the juice, and Therion whisks it back to the kitchen, then asks if anyone else would like something.
He pours a couple और glasses, then once everyone is settled again, Elsbet redoubles her focus, and returns her attention to the wands. There are two left, and she chooses the one closest to her heart. "Oak!" She holds it aloft as she did the Shedua wand. "Oak was one of my father's प्रिय trees to work with. He कहा the wood always felt like it wanted to be shaped into things." She laughs, not noticing Remus and Snape exchange glances. Shaped, Severus, not made. Shaped. Very interesting, Remus thinks, and Snape looks over at Malfoy and Therion. Well, Therion thinks, she did say that her father was a woodturner, and Snape nods. Malfoy looks from them to Remus, then to टॉंक्स and the Silhouettes and thinks a सवाल that catches them all off-guard. All but Snape, for he had already reached Malfoy's conclusion.
In his heart, he already knows the answer, and he would tell them, if not for Elsbet's jubilant laughter, and her interaction with the Oak wand. She swings her arm in a wide circular motion around her head as if she were swinging a lariat, and while no spell is cast, of course, there's still magic. The magic of her joy, and how it makes them feel...she seems to suddenly remember what she's doing and looks around at them all, then laughs hard at herself. "Sorry," she says and she regains her composure, "couldn't help it. It's just been so long since I've handled Oak that it ran away with me." They tell her there's no reason to be sorry, that it was wonderful to see her so happy, and that she should keep that wand for herself just because it makes her happy. She laughs a little and places the wand with the others, saying that he needs to be with someone very powerful, someone brave, one who is a guardian या a liberator.
At last she comes to the seventh wand, and she is reluctant to pick it up. "Ellie," Remus says softly, "what is it?" She takes a small step back from the table, her hands together in front of her. "Yew," she says with a sigh, then, "I shouldn't be the one to touch it." टॉंक्स gives her a half-grin and says, "but आप took it out of the box!" Elsbet nods, replying, "yes, but that was a सेकंड of time, this...this is prolonged contact and communication." Remus leans आगे against the तालिका, टेबल and asks her earnestly why she is reluctant to handle the wand. "Because यू is associated with sorcery and dark magic, and I have Darkness in my past, and--" Snape looks up at her and repeats to her, "in your past," and Malfoy places a steadying hand on her back.
"Are आप afraid?" Snape asks her and she nods; Malfoy whispers to her, "don't be afraid, Ellie, we're here with you," and Snape asks her if she would like him to assist her. "Yes," she whispers, and Snape turns his gaze to the यू wand. Could she know that Riddle has a यू wand, Severus? Snape considers Malfoy's question, then thinks, I am not certain, Lucius, but her fear is genuine. With his right hand he lifts the wand carefully and knows there is nothing Dark about it, no Dark magical has tainted it, but he will not minimize her feelings. He opens his left hand and lays the wand in it, then looks up at her again.
She looks at the wand in Snape's hand, and thinks of how gentle that hand has been to her, how much pleasure that hand has दिया her, how many times that hand has protected her. She leans against him and places her right hand on the wand, then gives a sigh of relief and a light laugh when nothing happens. Well, nothing bad anyway...a feeling of warmth comes over her and she leans into him. Their hands close together with the wand between them and they kiss. It is a tender kiss, full of meaning, one that lasts several minutes, and when it ends, they both take deep breaths. She regains herself slowly, straightens almost reluctantly, then says clearly, "this is a powerful wood that should be treated respectfully. The witch who placed this wand in the Mother's Box was a healer, but she did not heal the Living."
Recognition plays accros Dance's black features, though he keeps it to himself. Only Remus notes it. "She helped the Dead make their Transitions," Elsbet says, and Remus smiles softly. "Yew is also कहा to be excellent for divination. Did आप see something, Ellie?" She looks at her three wizards in turn, her gaze lingering the longest on Snape. "Yes," she says, "something good, something very good, and I don't want to ruin it, so I won't tell you." She seems for a moment to be about to किस him again, but instead she places the यू wand beside the other active wands. She takes a very deep breath, lets it out slowly, then runs her hands through her hair. "Wow," she says, giggling, "did I just do all that?"
Malfoy helps her sit down and they tell her how well she did, and ask her how she feels. "I'm happy, and very drained. I'm hungry, too," she says with a laugh and a sigh, and Remus tells her, "you've done well, Ellie, I'm proud of you." Snape strokes her lovely hair and caresses her cheek, and she smiles at him coyly, then laughs at herself. "It was silly of me to be afraid of that wand, wasn't it?" Therion and Malfoy get up and head into the रसोई, रसोईघर and Remus tells her, "not at all, Ellie. It's very wise to be cautious of a wand you're unsure of, especially when आप are untrained. आप had no way of knowing who may have handled it last, and if they were very powerful, they may have left residual magic in it. And as आप correctly stated," he hands her और chocolate, "Yew is associated with dark magic."
Malfoy brings out a few sandwiches and Therion a plate of buscuits. "After आप eat this," Snape says to her, "you should get some rest." Els did good! Loki caws to Cambion, who cocks his head at his friend. Much power, she be strong wen she learn more, he replies, and Malfoy smiles. "There's still things in the box," Elsbet says, "I'd like to look at them when we're done." She takes her सैंडविच and a biscuit, and a sip of रस when Therion pours them all some. "Alright," Remus says, "just don't over-extend yourself." She leans against Snape as he takes his sandwich. He passes his बिस्कुट back to her; they're very nice, but she likes them और than he does, and he likes the way they make her crinkle her nose.
You were right, Severus, Malfoy thinks, Remus is a good teacher for her. Snape's eyes flick from Elsbet to Malfoy, then to Therion, then finally return to his lady. He loves them all so very much, and wishes he didn't have to return to the world on the other side of The Divide...