Chapter 9: Exploration Ⅱ
Following their exploration of the hidden tunnels, Rowan and Severus head out onto the grounds to play to the vast relief of Sir Knight Prince, who feared he would spill sworn secrets of the Prince family that he was sworn to keep. The is a tad too warm to be on the grounds. However, the nearby woods offer a cool shade from the summer heat.
Rowan stretches her arms in the warm sunlight while Severus looks at the woods. "Should we forge deeper into the woods, or should we explore the creek that we found yesterday?"
"It is rather warm," Rowan reflected. "Wading in the creek will feel nice and cool right now."
"Sounds good to me," Severus agreed to the suggestion.
The two of them move on the outskirts of the grounds towards the creek when a loud peacock trill pierces through the air. The gorgeous peacock belonging to Aunt Georgine is named Fidel. Fidel, the peacock arrogantly struts towards them. Severus marvels at the massive array of feathers of the approaching peacock, while Rowan wonders if she can steal a peacock tail feather to make a quill.
Fidel proudly flutters his tail feathers and lets out a shriek, before furling his glorious tail closed. Smaller now, but still gorgeous Fidel haughtily swaggers right past them as Severus barely stretches his hand out to touch Fidel's trailing tail feathers. Fidel instantly whirls about rather nimble for a bird of his size and viciously pecks Severus' hand drawing blood. Severus hissed in pain and pulls his hand back cradling it against his chest.
Fidel is about to shriek in triumph when a rather deadly hand clamped itself around his neck and squeezed. The peacock is abruptly unable to move feeling his feathers quake in fear. A soft voice whispers into Fidel's ear, "What do you think, you're doing to my precious little brother?"
Fidel makes a squawking sound in protest as the hand tightens around his neck efficiently silencing him. "Now listen carefully, you are going to let Severus touch you as much as he wants and whenever he wants. And should I ever see you try to pull a stunt like that again, I will personally pluck out every single one of your tail feathers one by one. And no, I won't stop there, I will continue upward until all I see is a giant featherless chicken, is that perfectly understood?" Rowan hissed into Fidel's ear.
Fidel tremblingly squawks in fear as a few of his tail feathers actually fall. "Good, now I'm going to let you go and you are going to act all cute like and rub yourself apologetically against Severus until he feels better, got that!" Rowan viciously growled, before letting Fidel go.
Fidel shakily stumbles at Severus and makes pleading cries at him as if saying, "Please pat me on the head, or I will die!"
Severus warily bends down to gently pet the peacock as he suspiciously says, "What is wrong with Fidel?"
"That's how male peacocks react to other males intruding into their territory. Now that he's certain that you're no threat to him, he's being friendly," Rowan deadpanned.
"Oh," Severus said, before patting Fidel one last time before getting up.
Seeing Severus let go, Fidel sees Rowan nod at him as Fidel rushes away as fast as his feet can carry him. For that girl is a future bird KILLER! And as a result, Fidel would avoid Rowan like the plague and allow himself to be petted by Severus lest Rowan ever fulfills her horrifying promise.
After this, Rowan and Severus head out to play by the creek, before coming back for dinner. A few days later feeling a bit bored, Rowan wanted to try cooking something. However, Dawn, the Prince family house elf would simply not hear of it. It simply wasn't done for the young mistress to be in the kitchens!
It wasn't like the food was bad, Rowan just wanted to eat pizza. Apparently, wizards don't eat pizza. At least the British variation...
So far Rowan and Severus's stay at Prince Manor had been quite enjoyable. They had a warm bed, plenty of food, and books to read. The only thing lacking from Spinner's End was Lily, but Severus had been permitted to write to Lily by their grandfather. (Somehow the letter ended up at a muggle post office to be delivered to Lily. How? Well, obviously via House Elf. Although a reply letter from Lily, not so much.)
Not that Reginald Prince necessarily approved his grandson's communication with a muggle, but he understood that it would be ill-advised to force his grandson to give up his only friend. He had learned that lesson the hard way. And he was not about to repeat it again.
On the other hand, the return to Prince Manor had been a nightmare for Eileen. It was as if every single slight from the past was back. No matter what she did she could not escape the critiques of her mother and Aunt Georgine. She was beginning to feel numb and empty again. It was as though she was back at Spinner's End again.
The hour is close to dinner already hungry Rowan and Severus pop into the grand dining hall. There are three massive golden chandeliers encrusted with diamonds hanging overhead. They illuminate the grand dining hall causing the silverware to glitter in the light. Although the silverware has been set, there is no one else in the hall.
"I guess, we're early," Severus muttered rubbing his rumbling belly.
Rowan shrugs in reply when suddenly, loud angry footsteps can be heard. Out of sheer reflex, Rowan and Severus hide under the covered dining table. Rowan and Severus frantically scramble underneath silent and alert. Their years of survival instincts developed in a violent home wouldn't vanish in a matter of days or weeks.
Two female voices can loudly be heard that only grow louder as they get nearer right outside of the doors. "Eileen, stop this instant!" Sirsa Prince roared after the storming figure of her grown daughter. From underneath the table, Rowan and Severus exchange glances with each other as if this was a perfectly normal occurrence and it was for them.
Ever since their arrival at Prince Manor Eileen hardly left her room. When she did she appeared distant, cross, or simply tired of fighting with her mother. She was so tired of everything and of everyone. She just wanted to be left alone. That's all she really wanted!
Whirling about in anger to face her mother, Eileen shouts, "What more do you want, mother? I have done everything you have ever asked of me!"
With a frosty gaze, Sirsa coldly says, "You are behaving quite irresponsibly, Eileen. Have you seen nor much less spoken to your children since your arrival?"
"I have tried, but every single time, it's always this or that," Eileen yelled. "What more do you want me to do? They are safe here! They don't need me anymore!"
"They are merely children," Sirsa impatiently retorted. "As parents, it is our responsibility to seek for the better of your children! And though mature, they might be for their age, a child is still a child!"
"What more do you want me to give that I haven't already given them?" Eileen's voice cracked feeling empty and exhausted inside. Her voice drops to a pained whisper. "There is nothing else left for me to give them. Nothing."
A brief emotion of hurt flickers across Sirsa's face as she manages to keep her face firm. " You are their mother, you brought them into this world, and you must be responsible for them."
Eileen's face distorts in anger and pain and simply in exhaustion. Why could her mother not understand? It wasn't that she did not want to, she simply couldn't! There were days when she no longer wanted to get up, but she feared leaving her children alone in this world. Now, her children were safe, but she wasn't even entitled to a bit of rest?
Sirsa watches Eileen turn away utterly defeated. Sirsa's shoulders deflate as she tiredly holds her head. She did not mean to be so cruel to her daughter. But her daughter simply could not lock herself away. Her daughter could no longer afford to repeat the actions of her youth. She was a mother and needed to act like one.
A faint pop forces Sirsa to pull herself together as Dawn appears with a food cart. "I am sorry, Dawn, I am not feeling very well tonight. Please inform my husband and Georgine and the children."
"Yes, Lady Sirsa," Dawn squeaked. "Would Lady Sirsa like a cup of tea and biscuits later?"
"That would be just lovely, Dawn," Sirsa replied, a bit downtrodden, before heading to her quarters to rest.
Dawn watches the Lady of the Manor disappear from the hallway, before sadly turning towards the dining hall table. "Young master and mistress, you can come out now," Dawn quietly said as she flicked her finger, and the food platters float off of the cart neatly onto the dining table without so much as spilling a single drop or crumb.
With mixed emotions, Rowan and Severus emerge quietly from underneath the table. "You won't tell anyone that we were here, will you, Dawn?" Severus stilly asked.
"No, Dawn shan't even if asked," Dawn kindly said with a toothy, but comforting grin.
The two of them, Rowan and Severus stride over to the petite house elf and give her a tight hug. Sensing their emotions Dawn gently rubs the twins on the back as if they were small children. "There, there now. Why don't the two of you settle down to eat early and Dawn will tell the master, that you were hungry and ate early?"
"Mm," Rowan and Severus hummed, before giving the house elf one last hug, before reluctantly letting go. Dawn smelled like Christmas cookies with just a hint of spice. It was a comforting scent for the twins.
Rather subdued, Rowan and Severus obey and sit down to eat. The food seemed bland to Rowan that night, but she still ate as she was told to. In the end, Rowan and Severus went to bed early. Severus slept on his bed, while Rowan slept on the floor next to his bed. They were feeling a bit off that night and didn't want to be alone.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
EsliEsma
EsliEsma I think the pureblood family dynamics must be very complicated at times. Not just here but in many other families as they try to balance maintaining the wizarding world traditions but connecting with others for power. Never mind the social and peer pressure, but also the question of Mental Illness. Depression among others may be seen as a sign of weakness despite its very real impact. And I don't think there are such things as therapists in the wizarding realm.
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