Wit's End{Rowena}

[Cwen Bodicea Gewissae]

Cwen sat alone in the forest behind her father's castle. The events of the day raced through her mind. She'd overheard the servant girls whispering about Cwen's impending engagement. Father's new church declared his previous marriage unlawful making Cwen illegitimate in the eyes of the Christian side of the Kingdom. The worst news of all was carried to her by her own father, jubilantly he proclaimed that Malodora was with child. Cwen pulled her legs up to her chest and sobbed quietly upon her solitary log. She cared not for the rain falling around her.

When the rain stopped, she looked up and wiped her eyes. Cwen looked off toward the castle because that was where the tree platform belonging to some peasant boys was. The rain must have chased them home, she thought. Cwen stood and went to the tree. She gazed up at the platform wonderingly. Still amazed that it stayed up there without magic. Cwen climbed up the tree, making a mess of her dress as she did. When she reached the top after dragging the front of her dress to tatters, Cwen collapsed onto the cold, wet wood floor. How do they climb up and down that all day? Cwen wondered just as she drifted into sleep.

She woke to the whip-like crack of thunder. Cwen sat upright and turned her head in the direction of the storm. All she could see was black darkness until a slender bolt of lightning heralded another great clap of thunder. Cwen covered her ears before the noise reached them. She stood up and drew her wand. With all her muster, she concentrated on the one place she could be free of her troubles. Mother. Cwen shook her head and corrected herself, Mothers dead, Cwenie. Perhaps Hogwarts? Is there anyone there? Better, Ravenclaw residence. Cwen disapparated suddenly.
In front of Rowena's home, Cwen stumbled toward the front door at a quick pace. Almost tripping at her door, Cwen knocked upon it softly but rapidly. She shivered in her wet, torn clothes. Hoping Rowena was home.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Although many years had passed since the time Rowena could call that place her home, she came to visit it every once in a while. The joyful days of her youth spent in the manor were now merely a memory, something that could never come back no matter how hard she tried. Too many things had happened since her childhood, she had seen too many things and lost even more. However, returning to her parents' home occasionally brought peace and solitude and there was nothing more she could ask for.

It had been raining heavily for days. Much to her surprise, Rowena found the sound of the rain soothing and relaxing. She climbed up the stairs to her father's library, took a book and returned to the spacious living room. It was a strange feeling to be completely alone in such a large house. Her parents had gone out, despite the heavy rain. They probably had some work to do with Muggles. Rowena was impressed how well they managed to fit in the Muggle community. They could not live on their own, completely detached from the rest of the town, but they certainly couldn't let the others know the truth, that they were probably the only magical family withing miles. Life could be so simple at times...

Rowena jumped, startled by the loud crack of the thunder. She remained motionless for some time, staring blankly into her book. Few seconds, or perhaps few hours later, she heard a knock. Remembering that she was not in Hogwarts anymore and that her mother had refused to take a house elf, Rowena slowly got up, put her book down and walked to the front door. As she opened the door, Rowena faced someone she didn't expect to see. Her eyes quickly went down from the girl's face, wet hair and torn dress. "Miss Gewissae, what are you doing here?" she asked as gently as she could manage, trying to hide her surprise. Then she realised how impolite she was, since she was utterly shocked. "You will fall ill... get in, get in." Then Rowena moved from the door and stepped inside, making room for her student to enter.

[Cwen Bodicea Gewissae]

cwen hadn't been waiting long, at least she didn't think she had, before Rowena appeared framed by the doorway. Cwen didn't how she'd been able to find this place or how she knew Rowena was here but that didn't matter right now. Cwen did not wait long to be let in. Even before her professor had welcomed her inside, Cwen moved toward her. The soon-to-be Sixth year, followed Rowena around the door even and embraced the older lady tightly. Cwen sobbed softly into Rowena's chest. She jumped when another thundering blast issued its magnificent sound through the open door. Cwen seemed to snap out of a stupor and released Rowena and backed away quickly.

Cwen realized now that she was wet and cold and that her gown was a mess. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by another rumble of thunder. Cwen then put her hand to her head and noticed that her temperature was rising. She didn't care though. "I can't go back home. They're going to..." Cwen stopped suddenly. She worried that Rowena was annoyed and sniffled softly. "My cousin Hector died of illness last night. I am the next heir unless my step-mother has a son. I'll be killed or locked away in some tower!" Cwen's bloodshot eyes darted toward the door as a streak of lightning flashed in the distance. She didn't jump this time and spoke coldly. "I'll never go back. Never go back." She put her arms over her chest and began to shake with her chill. "Father was happy. Glad that I was to be a corpse or a captive. He expected me to be delighted. Poor baby Hector." Cwen's eyes widened in shook. She could not believe it of her father but wondered if the rumours about her step-mother were true. She might've been in graver danger than she'd first realized.