It's Just A Name, Right?

L

Lucinda Dalton

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OOC First Name
Camilla!
Wand
Eucalyptus Wand 13 1/2" Essence of Mermaid Scale
Lucy had, for the most part, kept well away from the Forbidden Forest, not having seen any reason to ever go there. It was forbidden for a reason, right?
But because so many students seemed to make a point of going there, Lucy started to consider the 'Forbidden' as simply a title, nothing more. After all, everyone else was going there. Why shouldn't she?
And this was how Lucy found herself, one afternoon, on the edge of the forest, leaning against one of the trees, absently tapping her wand against her open palm. She knew she probably had better things to do, but that spirit of adventure - the little Gryffindor spirit in her - was telling her to go check out the forest.
Besides, she'd told Landon she was going to go there at breakfast this morning. Hopefully, he would come and see her. Because if she got scared, at least she'd have Landon's hand to hold. But she wouldn't...because with Landon by her side, she was never scared.
Sighing, Lucy smiled to herself as she accidentally set off silver sparks from her wand, without even noticing.
 
Landon spotted Lucy by the trees of the forbidden forest and joined her.
He was carrying his wand and a red backpack with a lion on it rested on his back.
He tapped it, smiling to Lucy, "Just in case." He said, not yet revealing the contents.
Landon gave Lucy a hug, a big goofy grin spread across his face.
"I've missed our little adventures.." And he looked at her lovingly, that gooey soppy look upon his face like the puppy so pleased it's owner came back for it even though they'd only been parted five minutes.
"Are you ready?"
 
Lucy always wondered what Landon saw in her. She was a shy, awkward Ravenclaw, who kept her nose in books at all times and missed the muggle world more than anything. She wasn't particuarly pretty - at least, not in her opinion - and there were plenty of other better girls out there.
But she was his. And he was hers. And that's what mattered, right?
As the very person she was thinking of approached, Lucy returned the goofy grin he offered her with and even goofier one of her own.
"Me too," Lucy admitted, as she returned the hug and gave Landon a shy peck on the cheek. "Of course I'm ready!" she replied, eagerly, twirling her wand awkwardly in her hand and setting off silvery sparks again. "Uh, probably should stop with that, though," she added, embarassed, as she put her hands down by her side.
 
Landon stepped forwards into the forest, his wand held out, ready to defend them.
The coast was clear.
Landon reached back and took Lucy's hand, leading her into the forest with him, still constantly checking nothing was going to attack them.
There was a rustling above them and Landon paused to look up for a moment. It fell silent.
"Probably just the wind." He said to Lucy. Though he didn't think it was.

They walked further in without anything attacking them..
"Well, seems pretty sa-" But Landon stopped mid sentence as something dropped from the trees before them.
Landon, without hesitation, pushed Lucy behind him.
"Protego!" He shouted into the shadows where the creature had fallen.
A magical shield formed in front of Lucy and Landon.
He wouldn't stun it because the creature may be innocent and just curious.
 
Artemis was spending her morning swinging through the pines as usual. She was darting about ever so clumsily though, for she refused to use her left hand; Jareth's makeshift ring was still wrapped around her second finger. She'd been too enraptured with whole situation for too long, and had forgotten to put a spell for preservation on the poor sweet flower, which was beginning to crack and dry. Perhaps she'd got to her Transfiguration Professor and ask about turning it into silver or suchlike. After all, Artemis couldn't wear anything that would tarnish.

High above in the canopy, Art began to trill back to the birds, who then began a short and nonsensical conversation with her. A moment later, she realised that she was no longer alone. Art was lingering at the edge of the forest which she did not normally do, so it was only fortune that had her happen upon Landon and Lucy as they began their adventure into the Forbidden Forest. "Those naughty humans," mumbled Art to herself, and she slipped down the mossy trunk with more noise than she would have liked, and dropped in front of them both. Art opened her mouth to reprimand them, but found her nose squashed against a shield charm. "Oof!" she grunted, pushing her face off the warm, glass-like surface. "Oi! What are 'ye two doin' here?". She planted her hands on her hips, and her pointed ears turned red as she glared up at them.
 
Landon stopped the shield charm and stared down at Artemis.
"S-sorry.. Didn't know it was you.." His eyes suddenly found the dying flower on her ring finger.
He needed to get Lucy one and he quickly made a mental note of it.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, though his eyes were still on the ring.
She was engaged? Landon did know Jareth- but not very well- and he had never had him down as the type to propose..
 
Lucy followed Landon, slightly afraid though not showing it. In a matter of seconds, it seemed like so much happened, and all of a sudden Landon was talking to another girl. A third year Ravenclaw, Lucy believed. She was little, though. Lucy had a few inches on the older girl.

"Aren't you a student? A third year? It's not up to you to tell people where they can and can't go," Lucy stated, obnoxiously, although the words were stammered somewhat, numbing the effect. "Er, that is to say..." she added, trailing off in embarassment. Sometimes she forgot she was at Hogwarts, and behaved the way she used to at primary school. She forgot that at boarding school, you didn't have the option to not have friends. Besides, Landon seemed to know the girl. So Lucy had to be nice.
 
Immediately Artemis' indignation withered, and her ears drooped and paled to their normal state. "Goofballs, I'm just looking out for yer. Don't 'ye know that the forest is dangerous?" Art told them, furrowing her brow. She knew Landon and was comfortable telling him what was wrong, but who was this other girl? Artemis was looking up to her just the same as she did with everyone else. She was used to being the height that she was, floating somewhere in between three and four feet, but it didn't make her any less than what she was. Art's moods were written all over her face, and it did a one-eighty at the girls' attitude. "Ain't 'ye a second year? It's not up to 'ye to tell me what I can's and can'ts tell people. It's called the Forbidden Forest, y'know."

Then her face changed again as she remembered what Landon said. It went from indignant to thoughtful, and Art scratched her head. "Well, I guess I was just messin' around like I usually do. I come 'ere a lot." Suddenly she laughed, and the goblin girl turned into a pixie. "Blow me down, 'ye ought to have told me off fer bein' in here." Artemis turned her enormous hazel eyes to Lucy, and popped her a grin. "I'm Artemis. What's your name?"
 
Lucy wasn't fazed by the girl's attitude - heck, she probably deserved to be yelled at for being obnoxious. Not to mention that she'd been a debater at school. She was used to confrontation. She didn't like it out of the school, though. But the girl was so little, Lucy didn't feel that intimidated. Lucy wasn't the tallest girl around, but she was a solid five feet at the age of thirteen, and would probably reach 5'7" by the time she was seventeen.

Though what fazed Lucy was the attitude change, from defensive and indignant, to suddenly more cheerful and friendly. That confused the second year somewhat. Lucy, somewhat ashamed of herself, changed her attitude slightly to match, however. "Oh, uh, m-my name's Lucy. W-well it's Lucinda, really, but everyone calls me Lucy," she explained, with a shrug. "Second year. You're in Ravenclaw too, right?" she added, politely.
 
Landon looked to Artemis. An explanation was due as to why he was wandering the forest with a girl in tow.
"Lucy and me.." Landon took a deep breath, turning red. "We're erm... we're engaged.."
He tried to hide his face as he turned bright red.
It wasn't like he was ashamed of it, more that he hadn't actually told anyone yet.
Landon could also sense a certain tension between Artemis and Lucy; he knew Lucy could be a fighter if she wanted to but he also knew Artemis was very strong physically.
He still had his wand at the ready- You never knew when a fight might break out..
 
"Aye, I am!" replied Artemis jovially, holding out a tiny hand for Lucy to shake. "Oooh. Now I know 'ye. Yer the famous Lucy, aintcha? Poor Landon was lovesick over 'ye for ages, didn't ya know? So glad 'ye got together in the end. Yule Ball, right?". Now that she was no longer hostile and within friendly company, Art changed tracks to talkative, and always with a hint of squirrel-ish inquisitiveness. Her eyes were round and merry, but there was a sharp glint behind them that made it seem as though she knew more than she ought to. It was a very goblin trait, and often one that warned people not to cross her. Even so, Artemis was genuinely pleased to meet Lucy and happened to be a bundle of energy that day.

Now her mouth dropped open slightly as Landon revealed who this girl really was to him. Such a mix of emotions passed over her face, from astonishment to disapproval, joy and, mysteriously, a bit of pride. "Bollocks," exclaimed Art with mock disbelief. "Ha ha! Oh Landon, really? Bet that's got the whole house talkin'. Oh congratulations," she beamed up at them both. But anyone with a sharp eye would just notice her having moved her left hand slightly behind her back. It was almost as though she was ashamed.
 
Lucy reddened at the older girl - Artemis's - sudden talkativeness. She took her hand, but bit her lip and looked away at her statement. The famous Lucy, really! "I, uh, he was?" Lucy managed to splutter out. She hadn't realised it at all! In fact, she had thought she was the mad lovesick one, and Landon hadn't looked at her that way at all. Some Ravenclaw, she thought, more embarassed than anything. "Uh, yes, yes it was the Yule Ball," she added, blushing even more. The blonde second year had been caught completely off guard by the statement made by Artemis. Normally, she was much better at keeping her cool - though she was prone to stammer when she was shy or nervous. But in this case...she'd honestly had no idea Landon had felt that way about her for so long, even less that other people knew, when Lucy herself had had absolutely no clue!

If it was even possible, Lucy reddened even more as Landon stated that they were engaged. Oh, she wasn't embarassed about the fact. Indeed, she was elated to be able to call him her fiance. Though she hadn't actually told anyone yet, except Violet, who was now also engaged to her boyfriend. She wasn't sure how she'd be able to tell her mother. "Um, thank you," Lucy said graciously, looking down at her feet. "Though we...well, I, haven't really told anyone yet..." she added, biting her lip.
 
Had Landon not been such a gentleman, he would have thrown Artemis from the forest.
Did she have to tell Lucy? Landon found himseld unable to make eye contact with Lucy for the time being and instead shot Artemis a quick awkward half glare.
"Erm.. so.. you and Jareth," Landon said, trying desperately to change the subject. "You.. you got together then?"
He gestured to the flower on her ring finger.
 
Artemis face began to crumple as she physically forced down her laughter. Despite her efforts, she let out a snuffle, then a snort, and was finally forced to cover her mouth as she choked into it, overwhelmed by Landon's passive aggressive look towards her. It was several moments before she had gotten herself under control, and finally straightened with a crooked grin on her face that made her look like the devil incarnate. "Sorry," Art told him very obviously, winking extravagantly at him. Now she really couldn't resist this bit of fun. "I'm surprised 'ye didn't burn a heart-shaped hole in the back of her head at the breakfast table that morning." Art grinned at Lucy, then closed her eyes forcefully as she swallowed her laughter once more.

But the laughter died on her face when Landon mentioned Jareth, and mortification replaced her mischievousness. Artemis went cherry red to the tips of her pointed ears, which began to twitch in nervously in embarrassment. "Ah. We did! Same time as 'ye guys did, actually," she mumbled awkwardly. To her horror, she followed Landon's eye-line to her ring finger, which she very visibly whipped behind her back. "Er, that? That's, um. A private...in-joke. Just f...for me, y'know. Just a flower." Her voice was coming out in a squeak, and she shuffled her feet in the leaves. Oh Lord, if Bess and Connie find out, I'll never hear the end of it! Best not mention any sort of engagement to Jareth, she reassured herself. But Artemis was a terribly actress.
 
Landon could not stand the embarrassment. His face was bright red and he covered it with his hands.
But then he asked Artemis that question and suddenly the tables seemed to turn.
Landon raised an eyebrow, "Oh yes?" he said, sarcastically, "An in-joke? .. Or an engagement ring?"
He tilted his head slightly at smirked at Artemis.
 
Lucy looked from one to the other, a little out of place and embarassed. She found it hard to believe Landon had been in love with her all this time - sure, it was possible, but why her, of all people? Though she did not dwell on it when the other girl's hand was brought up. Was she engaged, too? It certainly seemed to be the case. Nonetheless, Lucy could not think of anything to say, so she merely looked down, twiddling her thumbs awkwardly and biting her lip in embarassment, her hair falling across her face like a soft blonde curtain.
 
"Ha, ha ha ha." said Artemis weakly. "An engagement ring? I'm thirteen, how silly!" she continued to laugh halfheartedly for a moment before pinning a glare onto him so fierce that her eyes seemed to glint with a murderous light. The glare said all; 'You're better drop it if you know what's good for you.' Abruptly she turned to Lucy and fixed an accusing finger at Landon. "Control yer boyfriend!" she commanded in her high voice, pointed ears wobbling precariously on her head as the dry flower waved in the sunlight.

Just like that, the moment was over and Artemis was having no more talk of engagement. It was now glaringly obvious that she was Jareth's fiance, but more subtle was the thrill of joy behind her eyes that spoke volumes. Deeper still ran the thread of sadness and guilt as feeling the need to hide the proclamation of their love, and as always the story was written all over her face. Nevertheless, in Art's usual fashion, she powered through the self-inflicted unpleasantries and moved on. "Well, love-birds. Do 'ye need an escort in, or out?". She gave them an impish grin and wave a tiny hand towards the edges of the forest and then towards the dark mist beyond.
 
Landon could see felt a shiver down his spine. Artemis was scary when she was angry.
He dropped the topic of engagement and moved on to the present situation. It seemed Artemis was doing the same thing.
Landon considered his options; lead Lucy into the darkness of the forest to try and find the stuff of legend or turn back and go the the safety of the castle?
..Well, Landon didn't want Lucy to get hurt but they had been through so much already.
"If you want, Artemis," he said, having made his decision, "You can come with us.. You're a year above so I'm sure you'd know a few useful spells." Landon smiled but quickly turned to Lucy. "If.. If that's ok with you, that is."
He may have been brave in the face of danger but he was still timid around Lucy.
 
Artemis beamed up at them, glad to be able to tag along and show them a thing or two about the forest. There was a strange rustling to the left of the small group, which Art ignored. "Sure! It's not the spells I'm good at, though. For example," she began, and her tiny body seemed to inflate with excitement. "I could tell 'ye not to go thattaway," she pointed out between the thick trees into a seemingly pathless area. "Or thattaway," said Art again, this time turning forty-three degrees to the right exactly, and pointing. "'Ye can go over there, if 'ye want to visit the spiders," said she, and so it was. There were even a few tiny huntsmen making their way down the track. "Or if 'ye wanted to go to Little Grove to try and spot a unicorn. And over there is the Mouse's Nook." grinned Art proudly as she pointed a little way to the south.

From where she pointed to where they stood were little tiny feet mark, feet that could only belong to a goblin. They led right up to the exact place where Artemis stood, even though she had dropped out of a tree. "That's my little underground home," she told them, and her words gave of the distinct impression that they were very privileged, if not honored, to know just where Art kept her treasures. "What say 'ye, Landon's Lady Lucy?" she addressed Lucy formally.
 
The life of Thearus wasn't exactly what anyone would call easy... or relaxing. He was a centaur for gods sake, he should be star gazing with his centaur buddies. But that's not how it is, for the simple reason of Humans. Because he decided to take their side in something that happened long again, he was banished from his herd. So, he tries to make the best of it by keeping the humans out of trouble.. An impossible task with first years toddling around the forest like it was a play pen! Never once did they willingly cooperate.

Yet again Thearus saw some first years entering the forest. Will they never learn? He thought to himself with a depressive sigh. To be honest, he sometimes wondered if his trust in humanity was worth it. Sure he met a human ever now and again that he genuinely liked and so forth.. but it was dwarfed by the land slide amount of students that had no respect for anything around them. But, of course, he would stick to his self proclaimed duty of getting them to leave.

Just at that moment little Art popped up. She was one of the very few humans that Thearus would willingly allow to walk freely through the forest. He trusted her enough not to get herself in trouble or indeed cause trouble. Pausing just far enough away not to be noticed, he waited and listened. He was really in the hope that she would lead them out herself and save him the trouble. Unfortunately, after the conversation go going, it was not to be. She even went as far as to offer them guide further into the forest.

Thearus quickly pulled his bow from his back, sliding an arrow into place as he did before taking quick aim and drawing the string back tight. With a whistle he let the arrow loose, watching it soar through the air and bury itself into the tree trunk inches from the boys head. Sliding his bow around his back once more, Thearus came out into the open before them. The usually mysterious and dreamy face took on a more serious and dark shade to it as his hand rested on the hilt of his blade. "You should not be here.." as always, his voice seemed to be made of many sounds all entwining into enchanting, fluid words that you could easily lose yourself in.. Only this time, they hand a thread of overpowering authority in them. His eyes excluded Artemis pointedly from this, almost as if he was brushing her off.
 
Artemis only got so far into her tirade before a soft twang made her ears twitch. With a cry she turned, but it was too late. She could only thank the heavens that the centaur wasn't aiming to hurt or kill and some were like to do. Even so, she had taken an instinctive running leap and gave a great push to Lucy so that both she and Landon were behind her. Truth to be told, it wasn't going to help in the slightest since her head as around the height of their waists, but she trusted in her ability to swipe another arrow that she would be prepared for this time. Her eyes narrowed as she recognised the smell of their assailant. Art did not know this centaur's name, but since when she know any of their kinds'? An occasional chat and a 'Begone!' from a centaur didn't put one on first name basis.

Art was no fool, and saw that she specifically was being ignored. She decided that it was for two reasons; she did not need to be warned about the dangers of the forest, and that she was being warned that very moment to take the students out, regardless. She was having none of it. "Well that's blimmin' well why they call it the Forbidden Forest, ain't it?" she said angrily. Art was not pleased with having her friend shot at. "But I'm figgerin' that if they're goin' ta go in anyway, which 'ye can bet every student will, I might as well make sure the ain't gonna go places that'd get them eaten; or worse." That's all she could really say on the matter. After all, technically Artemis was in the wrong for not ushering both of her fellow students out of the forest that very minute.

But there were several questions she would like to have asked. For one, 'Waddaya doin' do close to the edge of the forest?'. Perhaps even 'Since when is it your bloody business?'. Wisely, she refrained.
 
Lucy was about to comment on the term of address that Artemis used for her, when they were interrupted by a new presence in their small group. An arrow soared right past them and landed right next to Landon's head. Lucy very nearly screamed - how dare someone hurt her Landon? And more to the point, who had done that anyway? Well, Lucy may have been naive, but she wasn't dumb. It had to be a centaur, right? She knew they existed, though she had yet to see one, for she had avoided the forest like the plague in the two years she'd been at Hogwarts.

Mildly terrified, though calmed by the presence of those beside her - Artemis seemed trustworthy enough, and Landon...well, Lucy would trust Landon with her life. He already had her heart, after all. She wasn't sure that yelling at the centaurs was the best course of action, though. Lucy wasn't sure who to be more afraid of - the centaur or Artemis. She reasoned it had to be the former, though, because he had arrows and while she had her wand, having an arrow pointed at her would surely inspire such abject terror that Lucy would completely freeze up and not use it. And Artemis wouldn't turn her wand on Lucy, of that the blonde second year was sure.

"Uh, uh," Lucy piped up, biting her lip and clinging to the strap of her satchel nervously. "I-it was my idea to c-come here," Lucy stammered, lying desperately for the sake of everyone else around her. So she though. "I-I'm sorry, I-I-I wasn't th-thinking. P-please don't hurt m-me..."
 
Landon heard a 'fwoosh' noise and a moment later there was an arrow stuck in the tree above his head.
He looked up at and gave weak whimper. His wand clutched in his hand and aimed in the direction of Artemis.. Well, just behind her.
Landon just stared unblinkingly in astonishment at the creature stepping forth.
A centaur.
He had never seen one before so in all truth he was in shock.
The first words to leave his mouth however were not those of "Wow, you're a centaur" or "I can't believe I'm meeting a centaur but were instead "Watch where you're bloody aiming those things!"
It was not usual for Landon to say such words but this was different; some being had just shot an arrow inches above his head.

But at Lucy's words, Landon took a very serious tone, stepping before Lucy and Artemis, bowing his head before the mighty centaur.
"I brought her here," he said, shamefully, "I'm sorry.. It seemed like a good idea at the time.. Excitement is my forte and I have promised to show Lucy the forest, to take her on an adventure." He had his wand by his side and at the ready.
He had promised Lucy excitement and adventure and no centaur, no witch, no nothing would stop him making her life exciting.
He would also protect her to no end.
 
Artemis spoke up immediately against Thearus. Finally his gaze turned down to hers in a powerful stare that would falter even the greatest of bravado and heart. "So you proclaim yourself a guide into our home?" The centaurs voice was not necessarily loud but it seemed so powerful it made up for it ten fold. "Do I come unwelcome into your home and guide a nice little party of creatures with me? I thought you could be trusted... Yet again I must question my own judgement".

He decided to skip the girl who was mumbling an apology, instead his eyes moved to the boy who took up to brave boyfriend role and told Thearus to 'what where he bloody aimed those things'. "Your lucky I can aim or that arrow would have found itself a good way into that skull of yours boy". He noticed the wand down by the boys side, "I suggest you put that away.. centaurs don't take kindly to 'death sticks'. And your a fool, Take your little girlfriend to an ice cream shop or camping near the lake or something. But I thought humans were smart enough to realize there are dangers here. I am not your enemy.. I'm here to tell you that there is much worse in these woods." His speech was as compelling as ever as he kept eye contact with both the boy and the girl. "All three of you best head back now before you get killed".
 
If there was one thing Artemis hated, it was being ignored. It made her inflate with rage and cry internally all at once, and if there was a second thing that Art hated, it was people who made her cry. She was well familiar with the ways of centaurs, and knew perfectly well that their kind kept to a certain part of the forest to avoid some of the worst creatures that liked to roam. This centaur was alone, something that rarely happened in centaur herds. Then was he an outcast? Artemis' eyes narrowed into slits and her ears stood on end with outrage. But her chest deflated and she managed to calm down enough to speak understandably.
"On the contrary, Mr. Centaur. I welcome myself in to my home and steer those who do not know better away from yours." She could not help but be hurt by his retraction of trust, but she was not to be swayed. For the most part, they weren't meant to be in the forest; but his argument was not applicable. He was wrong.

Now Artemis was a bit older than the last time she had had direct contact with centaurs, and now she knew to hold her tongue on the threats. But something had to be said. Lucy was quite frightened, and Landon was going to end up doing something drastic if Lucy was in danger. But both second years seemed to be wary of her as well, and for good reason. Artemis closed her eyes, opened them again and collected herself.
"I acknowledge the presence of dangerous creatures in this forest, and the knowledge that anything that happens to those under my care is my responsibility. I do not acknowledge your right to proclaim this entire forest to be centaur territory and I do not acknowledge your authority to send us away." There was a long pause that was heavy with tension as Artemis stared up in to the centaur's eyes. "I will take my friends to the well-worn tracks and open areas that I know well and in which I can best protect their safety. And," she added, her fingers spreading subtly and her legs widening in an unconscious fighting stance. "We will go unhindered, unless I must fight for the right to do so."
Out of the corner of her mouth, she hissed to her friends, 'Wands away'.
 
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