Chapter 8
Of Curses and Madams
This chapter is for Seldon and Katrionna. Thanks to Sue for the beta. Sue, you rock me like a hurricane, love.
~
The night sky is endless and empty and dark. There seems to be nothing behind which to hide, and they know that trying to travel the long distance that night would prove to be fatal.
"Never going to get past him, you know. You may as well leave all of your money. It would be a shame if that went to waste," Imran says, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Hermione stops walking, and spreads her arms in a gesture of frustration. Harry stands behind her placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently. She reaches up and clasps her hand over his. Ron seems to find this mesmerizing, but makes an attempt not to stare.
"You can go back. In fact, you should leave now unless you want to be hunted along with us," Harry says.
Patrick kicks the ground. James shakes his head.
"We've already paid you," Ron adds. Pansy mutters some inaudible complaint and Hermione gives her a gaze of warning.
"If you have something to say, just come out with it," Pansy says to Hermione, "Oops! I forgot!"
"Shut it, Pansy. You aren't even remotely humorous right now," Harry snaps.
Pansy snorts. "Oh really? I thought that was pretty good, don't you Weasley?"
Hermione turns back to look at Ron who flushes red. "Shut it, Pansy. Please," he mutters.
Imran fiddles with the coins in his pants pocket. Max shoves him, and takes some from him. Patrick wrestles Max to the ground.
"I know somewhere he can't find you," James announces suddenly.
There is silence.
"This temporary moment of insanity is brought to you by James, the idiotic hero," Imran growls.
Harry turns, and glances down at James.
"Go on," Harry says.
"I know where you can seek refuge, at least for a while," James mumbles hesitantly.
Max gives Patrick a knowing glance, and Imran sits down in the dirt with his hands over his face. "Oh dear," he says, suddenly grinning widely, "Do we have enough money to splurge some while we're there?"
Pansy's patience is disintegrating. "Look, if you've found a place for us to hide from this monster then spill it, or else I might be tempted to stomp on you!"
Ron sighs. "Really, Pansy. You aren't helping."
James ignores her hollow threat. "We'll find the Madam."
Hermione's eyes widen.
"We're seeking refuge with a woman whose sense of cruelty is only rivaled by the King. Wonderful idea, James. Wonderful, "Patrick says, throwing his hands up.
"But there are women of ill repute, let's not discount the value of that!" Imran says anxiously.
Harry is contemplative. Pansy gives Ron a menacing glance when he opens his mouth to comment.
"I trust you, James," Harry says. "And unless anyone else has a better plan, I say we find this Madam."
~
The skies over the woods are still filled with smoke from the celebration. Some of his servants night fires are still burning, confusing his senses. In the pit of his stomach, there is a fire of his own.
Edred swoops down towards the edge of a river for a drink. His throat is dry and his anger has consumed him too quickly. He will rest, and then seek them out again. He spits in his palm, dips his finger into the water and sucks on the tip of it. The water boils on his tongue.
He will call to his loyal servants. Every inch of the forest will be scoured. She will not leave him.
~
They move quickly, following the Imps, careful to follow in their tiny footsteps. Hermione begins to slip into the type of delirium that comes from either extreme hunger or fatigue, and now, hurrying after the Imps, her waking dreams start to unnerve her even more. She is free, but for how long? She has seen Edred's power, and her heart is heavy with the thought that her friends could perish in their attempt to rescue her.
"Stop thinking that, Hermione. We came because we wanted to," Harry whispers.
'I cannot trust you to keep any confidence, can I?' Hermione thinks angrily. The book in Harry's knapsack is quiet, ashamed at having passed on Hermione's thoughts to Harry.
Their journey ends at the finely wrought gates of a small cave hidden behind some brush. It looks as if no one has gone inside in years. The only curiosity is a green rock that sits beside the doorway, almost equal in size to the cave itself. When they get closer, odd sounds emanate from behind it.
"What is that?" asks Pansy, and for once, Hermione is glad that the other girl has spoken up.
"The Madam's summoning stone. It's how we call her," Patrick explains.
"I hope you know what you're doing. I've got a bad feeling about this woman, " Ron says, pointing towards the remains of some unfortunate creature lying a foot away near a tree.
James shrugs. "We don't have much choice, and she isn't all bad. She just believes in reciprocity."
"So we'll owe her for giving us refuge?"
James shakes his head, and lays a hand on the rock. "No, she'll demand it immediately."
"So much for getting to keep any of that gold," Pansy says, nudging Ron in the side. "Weasley here could have used some of it-"
Pansy is interrupted by the sound of metal grinding, and the gate creaking open. They brace themselves as something scurries towards them, stopping only inches away from the Imps. She is small, and Hermione guesses correctly that she is an Imp.
When the old Imp smiles, it makes Hermione more nervous than any scowl she has ever seen. It's neither kind, nor understanding, but it's painful. Her eyes cut into them.
"Madam, I did you a great service once, and I'd like to ask for a favor in return. Though it is more than anyone has asked before, I'm afraid," James says.
The Madam watches them with vague interest, never gracing Hermione with more than the briefest of glances.
"Then my payment shall be equally as great," she says, motioning for them to follow, the gate creaking shut behind them.
"My God, that thing is so old she actually creaks when she walks-"
The Madam turns to face Pansy. Two other female Imps scurry up beside her, and tug on Pansy and Hermione.
"Hey!" Pansy says angrily, "get off of me!"
James motions for her to calm down. Harry feels for his wand, and Ron steps up beside Harry.
"You will bathe these two, "the Madam commands the other female Imps. She runs her hand over Pansy's leg, and Pansy flinches. "Bathe this one twice," she adds imperiously.
The servants tug on Hermione and Pansy, and they reluctantly follow them. Harry and Ron give James a concerned look, but Patrick, Max and Imran are already scouring the hallway as another three or four female Imps come out to greet their new 'guests'.
~
Dinner is a bizarre occasion. Pansy and Hermione both submit to their baths, and have allowed themselves to be dressed in long garments that were quickly sewn together to fit them, both women being nearly twice the size of the female Imps. The plates on the table are square, and there is a large stone in the center that turns towards whomever is speaking. A female Imp is screeching, although Harry suspects she is singing, and Pansy rudely grimaces at every note.
Madam sits at the head of the table and flirts shamelessly with James, who, much to his credit, is polite, despite an undercurrent of repulsion Harry senses from him. Max and Patrick have long since disappeared, and Imran sits in the corner negotiating with a female Imp who is wearing a pretty dressing gown and some ornate jewelry around her neck.
"Your friends would do better to let themselves be killed. The King will not stop seeking them until they are found," she says, biting into a crispy piece of flesh. Ron's face begins to turn green as he watches the old Imp suck down the meat. "But I will do you this favor, James and allow them refuge …for a fee, of course."
Imran interrupts the conversation with a fit of nervous giggles, the female Imp of his choice cooing on his lap and tickling his sides. The Madam does not seem perturbed by this, but instead, grins wider.
"We'll do as you ask, Madam," Harry says, looking down at his own plate. His hunger is greater than his reluctance to eat the unknown.
"For certain, you will."
Ron downs his drink, some sort of juice, in one gulp.
They all jump as a knife suddenly appears in the Madam's left hand. She turns around and tosses it towards a rat who is sulking in the shadows of the corner. There is a brief swish in the air, the cackle of triumph from one of the other Imps, and the rodent falls, writhing. Madam smiles, her small teeth gleaming in the firelight.
"It looks like we will also be serving breakfast."
Ron looks away, groaning.
"That is hospitable of you, Madam, " James says.
"Do not be fooled, my solicitous friend."
Harry looks to James, and then to Hermione and Pansy.
"What are your demands in exchange for temporary shelter?"
The Madam orders one of her female Imps to gather up the carcass of the rat. Then she turns to Harry, her eyes two narrow slits.
"You will retrieve something for me in the morning. It is something many have failed to do. The box contains something belonged to my father, and it's very precious to me. You 'll likely die trying, but it will be better than dying at the hands of the King."
"With all due respect, Madam, I'd prefer not to die at all. In the morning, I'll go looking for what it is you seek."
"We'll go looking, "Ron says. Hermione nods.
"Oh for God's sake, can't we just give you some money? Must everything lead to another damn quest?" Pansy moans.
~
It's as if time remains the same, replaying the same long, desperate hour. Edred can't sleep. He sits instead, gravely listening, assailed by gusts of wind, and still stunned with disbelief. He thinks he smells her on the wind, but he is disappointed to only come across a garment of hers, long since discarded. The flames in his throat are now burning him from the inside. This is a natural condition, one that he has learned to live with. He knows he must retake his other form, this one leaving him unable to rest for very long.
The change comes quickly, his body relieved to be ridding itself of the fire. Edred cannot seem to bring himself to return home just yet. He will sleep under the sky. He knows it is a risk, but returning to his home now would signal momentary defeat and his pride will not allow him even that.
He lifts his horn to his mouth and blows a long, low sound from it, signaling those loyal to him with this. He waits. He listens.
He hears them murmur, and a messenger finds him in a matter of minutes.
"The reward, "he says, "to anyone who finds my Queen and her companions will be more wealth than they can imagine."
The messenger nods, and hurries into the night. Enthusiastic voices extol the declaration all around him, as he sits and tries not to think of her. There is an unfamiliar ache in his chest, and his legs feel heavy. He tries to remember her face, the way her eyes grow wide and dark when she is afraid.
He watches the brush in front of him, waiting for the shadows to move, the shadows to shift from darkness into light and point him toward where she is hiding. But they don't. He realizes then that he has let himself feel for this creature. He must not think of her this way.
She will be nothing more than a meal.
~
It is the lack of movement, the way things are too quiet that keeps Harry awake. Hermione is on his left, her steady breathing assuring him that she is asleep. He thinks about waking her, but decides she needs the rest. Ron is in the corner, and Pansy is against the wall, having found a comfortable spot near the fire. Even Pansy looks innocent in that light.
He takes a stomach tightening breath, and looks into the cracked mirror hanging against the door. The person who looks back at him seems so in control and unafraid.
Harry wonders why it is that mirrors always fail to reflect the truth.
"Harry?" Ron whispers, "if anything, you should at least try to sleep."
He turns towards his friend. "I'm just thinking about tomorrow. I'm not sure I trust the Madam's word."
"Neither do I, but it isn't like we have many options. Besides, we're still alive now. That's something at least."
"I have a feeling that the hardest part isn't over yet. We don't even know what we're looking for."
Muted laughter comes from the room beside them. "At least the Imps are having a good time, "Ron mumbles.
Another laugh. It's Max. Harry thinks he hears Pansy mumble something, but when he looks over, her eyes are still closed tightly. He is surprised to see Hermione's eyes are now open, and staring up at him.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, " Ron says, "we didn't mean to wake you."
Hermione sighs, and sits up. There is a few nervous shuffles coming from the other room, but it soon dissolves into nothing. For a while they talk, their conversation almost too casual. Hermione doesn't seem to mind that she can't join in, and she smiles when Ron tells her of how they ended up with Pansy. Soon, their chatter grows quiet, their words further and further apart. Ron is the first to give into sleep again, and then Hermione lies back down.
- She wants to know why you won't rest- says the book..
''I'm not tired", Harry says out loud.
- You're lying-
"Yes, I'm lying," Harry answers. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a hero. I help save you only to lead you somewhere you might end up dying anyway."
- You're her friend- the book explains - She says that you're not her knight in shining armor, and that you'll help each other-
"Well, that's true enough," Harry whispers. Hermione smiles, touches his hand. Harry instinctively looks over at Ron, who is fast asleep.
- It's too quiet- the book says.
"It may be the last quiet night we have for a while, but it does make me nervous."
Harry decides to let his body rest, even if his mind can't. Hermione lays down beside him, closer than she was before. Her breathing is broken up like his own. He is surprised by the warmth of her hand when she intertwines it with his. He can understand her, even without words. Slowly and gently, he pulls her into his arms and she rests her head on his chest.
'Tell him not to worry,' Hermione thinks.
The book relays the message, and Harry lets his hand tangle in her hair.
"We'll make it out of this place, especially now that we have you," Harry replies with a bravado he does not feel. He is surprised when she rolls over, letting his body have all of her weight, her chest against his. Her face is near his face, then his lips against hers.
It feels like a dream. His whole body sweetly aches, as they kiss again. When she lifts her head up for a moment, he can make out the hesitant expression on her face. She touches his face, traces the outline of his mouth. Indecision, want…need.
Deciding for them both, he pulls her to him again. He does not want it to end, and for a few moments more, it doesn't. They kiss until his mouth burns, and every nerve in his body is alive. When she finally pulls away with a gasp of air, he regrets the loss of sensation. She settles back against his chest, and he can feel her breathing against him. After a few minutes, his arm grows numb from lying so still, but he does not mind much.
~
Edred awakens from his slumber quickly, as if someone has set off a firing pistol inside of his head. His eye-blink brief night is enough to restore his energy.
He buckles his belt around his waist and dismisses the servants who have gathered at his side. He detests their weakness, but is grateful for their loyalty.
Over the hill, he can see birds soaring high in the air, peering down into the thicket in hopes of capturing the prize. A squinty eyed Goblin with sparse lips is screaming at her spouse to hurry and follow them, so that he too can be rewarded.
There is that unbearably rich, fertile smell of humans hanging in the air like a taunt.
His hairs stand on end when he hears someone laughing. Trolls, laughing; low voices and higher ones. "Invincible, Ha! Humans escaped him!" "I wonder what he'll do if he doesn't find them."
There is doubt. Doubt about his power, his reign. He will resolve it.
He races through the wood towards the voices. They are startled, and fall to the ground before him. The one that speaks first is the voice he had heard from afar. The one who had laughed at him.
He reaches for it by the throat, and lifts the creature into the air.
"I am your King, and you mock me?!"
The creature begs, pleads. He considers letting it go, but his claws are already sinking into its skin. The force of it sprays the ground with red droplets; a murderer's morning dew.
Edred tastes it. He cannot help himself. As he steps away from the scene, he watches them fall upon the body like a swarm of ants.
~
Madam touches the muddy wall in the back of the cave. They step back when it cracks, and opens up into a dank tunnel. They look down the long hole, guided by the light leaking in from above ground. There is a reptile sitting daintily on top of what looks like a small trunk.
Pansy laughs. "That's it? That's what you're afraid of? It looks like a baby alligator. I could turn that into a nice handbag."
The Madam ignores Pansy's remark, and orders one of the female Imps to fetch something from the kitchen. The Imp returns with a small bird, and hands it to the Madam.
"What you see is a Gharadian. The cursed creature can not go beyond the borders of the first tunnel it digs shortly after birth."
Madam tosses the bird into the tunnel, and the creature stands on its hind legs, suddenly at attention. There is a sound, a piercing squeal, as the reptile's body twists and writhes through the tunnel, so fast that to their eyes he is nothing but a blur. There is a whir of feathers, another scream, and the unmistakable crunch of bones.
"Things aren't always as they seem," Madam says, glaring at Pansy. "You'd be foolish to underestimate its power."
Harry breathes deeply. "So we're going to have to kill this thing?"
"Your goal is to retrieve the box. Gharadian's are immortal. "
"Is there money inside?" Imran says. Patrick kicks him, and Imran draws his sword.
"No, there is something far more valuable. I dismissed someone from my dwelling, and was stupid to spare her life. She took vengeance upon me by throwing my possession to the Gharadian. She wasn't aware that she would follow it only hours later. A Gharadian never leaves its dwelling, so they have quite the appetite. They survive only on unfortunate beings who wander inside."
"Or out of work whores who are tossed inside," Pansy snipes.
Madam shrivels up her nose again.
"So, do we have a plan yet, Harry?" Ron says.
"Only one of you will be able to enter at a time. I will close the tunnel as soon as someone sets foot inside, and they will not be able to exit unless they have my possession. I would choose quickly, the creature doesn't stay satiated very long."
"Just one of us? Why only one?" Ron says.
"It wouldn't be very sporting otherwise, now would it?" Madam laughs. "When one of you gets eaten, another will make the attempt."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Ron says angrily.
Harry balls his fists at his side. "I'll go" he declares, just as Hermione steps inside of the tunnel. Madam closes the cave behind her, before Harry can object.
~
'Can you hear me?' Hermione thinks. She read about these creatures once. She only hopes what she has will be enough to distract it.
- Run, run away now- something inside the cave says.
'I cannot run. I have to get the box', she replies.
- I'm useless to you - the box replies.
The lizard-like creature eyes her curiously. He won't attack her until he is hungry again, but he will fight in defense. If she goes after the box now, he will rip her to shreds.
'I don't wish to use you. I wish to return you to your rightful owner,' she says.
The small Gharadian's ears twitch. Then he sneezes once, twice. She can hear the faint sounds of Harry and the others calling to her from outside of the cave. The Gharadian makes a rumbling sound deep in his throat, and the end of his tail flicks. Hermione steps carefully to the other side of the cave, and sits, never taking her eyes from it. She is trembling, but confidant. The creature doesn't move. Feathers are still sticking out from its mouth, and its head only makes small, jerking movements, swallowing them down.
Hermione reaches for the shiny clamp on her robe, holding it up towards the trickle of light coming from the crack above. The Gharadian's eyes widen. His tail lashes against the wall, bringing down a spray of small pebbles and dirt. He is powerful, for his size. With an air of petulance, he shakes the dust from his scales and moves towards it. Hermione tosses the object towards him, hitting him between the eyes. He snarls at her, enraged, but keeps his eyes on the shiny metal, deciding whether he will go after it before ripping her apart. He grabs the clamp, holding it between his teeth, and then emitting an all too familiar sound.
Laughter. Glee at this oddity he now possesses, this rare 'jewel' he has been given.
Hermione takes a cautious step towards the box. Her feet, well rehearsed in stealth after living with the King, make no sound on the floor.
-Quickly then- the box says - you are clever, now be quick -
'Now,' Hermione thinks, and lifts the box in her arms, racing towards the mouth of the cave. She knows it will open when she touches it, but whether it will open fast enough is the real question.
She sprints as fast as she can towards the entrance, and the Gharadian, momentarily stunned by this daring move, hesitates a few seconds before dropping the clamp and racing after her. She pushes against the cave wall, and several small boulders dislodge behind her, slowing down her predator. The Gharadian throws his head back and screams with fury.
Hermione opens her mouth in a silent scream as the razor-sharp edges of his claws sink into her leg, but she reaches for the entrance anyway, and touches the wall. The Gharadian snaps at her feet, as another boulder comes crashing toward them. Hermione can feel the blood dripping from her leg, but she takes scant notice of the pain as the cave begins to open.
Writhing, the Gharadian pulls her to the ground, but she grips the box between her arms and throws herself towards the opening. Managing to get one hand through, Madam takes the box from her and squeals with delight as Harry and Ron pull her towards them. The Gharadian screams, holds her firmly as he rips into her thigh, shaking her in his mouth, refuses to let go.
Hermione sinks her fingernails into his nostrils, and holds on firmly. It releases her, crashing backwards against the wall, as Harry and Ron pull her completely through. The walls tremble, and Hermione looks up at Harry. She feels wet, soaked with something sticky.
"Oh God, Hermione," Harry says.
Then everything is black.
~
The smell, as always, astounds him. A stew of stale breath and sweaty armpits mixed with the excrement of whatever creature they had managed to slay. He hates moving among the trolls, but their size is useful to him. They are also not very smart, and he needs creatures he can easily control. The ever greedy, ever stupid, always willing trolls.
Edred cannot get her face out of his mind. Two nights have almost gone and still, he cannot find her. Most of his victims were quick, easy, and forgettable. He doesn't fool himself into thinking that she will be any of those things.
He knows that she must have found an unplottable spot, somewhere protected even from his eyes. Such places exist, he knows that, but surely she would not know where they were. She and her rescuers had to have help.
A troll, a particularly vulgar one called Nairam, returns with a wiggling sack and places it before Edred's feet. It smells faintly human, and for a minute, Edred is hopeful. When he opens the sack, he sees it is only a wolf girl.
"Hu-man" the troll mutters, holding out its hand for some sort of payment. Edred reaches in his pocket, pulls out his knife and chops the limb clean off.
"That is not a human, idiot. It's only werewolf," he says angrily.
But a familiar scent comes to him. He can smell the humans on this she-wolf.
"What is your name?" he demands, gripping her by the shoulders.
"Naya, "she says.
~
One of the female Imps opens the door, and a hot rush of cooking wafts out. She is squinting permanently at Hermione, and the wrinkles on her face worsen when she tries to smile sympathetically. Hermione feels disoriented, and no longer wonders why when she looks down at her legs that are now covered in bandages.
"Hey, "Ron whispers to Harry, "she's awake.".
"You've been out for a couple of hours," Harry says.
She looks around, trying to focus. Harry is on her left, and Pansy is lounging in the corner, picking off of a tray someone must have sent in earlier.
"You're not as smart as I thought you were. Lucky, but not smart, "Pansy says, although the girls tone is less venomous then usual.
-I was so worried, so worried! - the book says. Hermione tries to sit up, and Harry helps her.
"Hermione, do you think you can walk?" Harry asks. His face is anxious. "I don't think we should stay much longer."
"I agree," James says. Max and Patrick shrug, and Imran nods in agreement. "Madam will want to use her new possession. I don't think any of us will want to be around when she does."
Hermione looks around. She had never asked the box what it contained.
"Something's going on. I can feel it. Madam has been quiet and all of her servants are waiting on us hand and foot, "Harry whispers.
'How long have I been out?' Hermione thinks.
-Only for an hour or so - the bed answers-
Pansy moves across the room, pulls the covers off of Hermione's legs.
"I did a healing spell for you, but it will take a while. Potter didn't think you'd want him to look under your robe," she laughs. Then she leans and whispers in Hermione's ears "But I know better, Granger."
Hermione's face gets overly warm. Ron snorts. "As opposed to having you look under her robe?"
Pansy tosses her hair back. "I was forced to bathe with her, so I've seen everything she has already."
Ron and the Imps seem to come to attention. Harry turns away so Hermione can't see the expression on his face.
"You bathed with her?" Max says. "That's like some sort of dream-"
Hermione is redder then she has ever been in her life. Pansy makes a look of disgust.
"Well, you didn't think they'd draw us separate bathes, the morons. It was just awful. We had to bathe together in this itty bitty tub made for creatures half of our size-"
Hermione gives Pansy an angry look. Pansy shrugs. "What? Well, it's true."
Max and Patrick race to Pansy's side. "Please, go on."
Imran falls to his knees. "Anything. We will do anything if you'd continue!"
"Yes, this sounds very interesting- " James says, smiling at the end of the bed.
Hermione glares at Harry, and then at Ron, who are both suspiciously quiet.
Well, it is sort of interesting - " Ron says finally, turning crimson himself.
Hermione smacks Ron in the back of his head.
Harry laughs. "Glad to see you're feeling a bit better."
A female Imp comes into the room with a basket. Some food, some rags and a few other items Hermione can't make out.
"The Madam is pleased."
Pansy watches the Imp exit the room. "I say we go tonight if we can. I don't trust this Madam. She's been hiding out in one of the back rooms ever since you pulled Hermione out."
Ron looks over at Harry. "I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Pansy."
~
The cold night air doesn't penetrate the cave at all. Even the shrieking of the wind outside is inaudible to the Madam. The only sound is from deep within her dwelling. It is a distant whisper, an angry whisper.
The orange glow from the end of the tunnel grows brighter. There is a vaguely sulphurous odor, and she inhales it eagerly.
"At long last, " she says, holding the glowing ball between her fingers.
To be continued….
~
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