The Tower

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

Elvera had been spending more time with her grandma recently. out of all of her sisters she was certainly the one closer to morgause as she had been brought up by her where as Eden and Lilith had been brought up with that Mrs luna. Today she was visiting again spending the day at her childhood home making creams and other lotions for a fair that was coming up. she felt like she was seven again, a time when the fairs (this one especially) would mean that she could travel and see somewhere new, and then get to explore the products on show by all the other people, some of them friends after years of doing the same rounds. this fare always held in mid november was special to her. firstly it was held in a castle, and nothing held memories like a castle, even as a little girl she could feel them there even if she couldn't connect to them. the other good thing about t was it was a medieval one which meant she had to dress up and there was some interesting entertainment and music. but that wouldn't be for a week or so. right now she was sitting at her spot in the kitchen crushing up rosemary. you know what Rosemary is for right Elvera" said morgause who was sitting along from her. "yes, it is for memory" she said. the herb lore had been drilled into her and it had stuck. correct, how about a cream with Anthemis nobilis and Avena sativa"[/b] she thought for a moment. "Camomile and oats, they are used together for rash or burns to the skin. how about a poultice of Glycyrrhiza, Allium, Echinacea, and let's say Sambucus" she said coming up with one of her own. "that my dear is a poultice for a cough and cold" came the reply. as her gran poured hot water over a bowel of herbs. "okay last one, what is Silybum used for" she said putting a last herb out. "it is used in a liver tonic and as a cure for hangovers" came the correct reply
it was times like this that it was easy to forget that she was getting older, that she was ill, she still seemed like the lady she had been ten, no twenty years ago. but if you looked closely you could see that there was a slowness to her. a slight lack of colour, her hair was lighter and she looked feeble, much more feeble, her clothes were starting to hang off her. Elvera tried not to notice this but she could feel it in herself too. she had tied herself to this lady in the hopes of helping buy her some more time but at the cost of some of her own health, she was going to bed early, waking up tired, there were rings under her eyes. as she worked she started to let her mind wander and as it meandered it passed thoughts on people she knew, on Icarus, she wondered what he had been up to since she had run into him in the playground. to Mima her student this term who she felt had a lot coming up in her life, and to her friend Sabrina who she really should call and see soon, but mostly what filled her mind on this particular afternoon, between brief conversations on what herbs did what, and recipes for some of the more specialist concoctions, was icarus. "whatever is on your mind girl? you should share and then go and tell the bees" came morgauses voice again. "It is nothing interesting, noting that hasn't happened before, just life and its twists and turns" she said moving away from the rosemary and starting on mint.

 

[Icarus Stratis]

Icarus knocked twice the door of Elvera's house in New Zealand. He still hadn't sorted out if his feet brought him there because he wanted to see her after so much time or because he was desperate for her assistance. It was a long time back when he had met her at the playground of Takarokaro Park. He had sensed the awkwardness and the tension between them. It was a strange attraction from his part. Like the opposite poles of two magnets striving to meet together but he was fighting to prevent the inevitable. Icarus had thought that day that he should stay away from her. He wasn't sure how strong he was to resist the pull for so long and it was unfair for his fiancee, who he loved and respected. However, there was something else apart from stabbing glances full of desire and long-preserved silence that was said that day at the park. Elvera had talked about an isolated tower somewhere in Great Britain that could be used as a stronghold for something that Icarus wanted to keep safe. Elvera was eager to help him and show him the location of that tower and Icarus had kept that in the back of his mind, in case things were going to turn ugly.

Strangers were trying intensively to gain access into the Sanctuary. His uncle's property was attacked by shady people, testing the defensive measures of the area. The whole Stratis family was alert and gathered at the Sanctuary, ready to face the nameless threat together. Icarus wasn't a fool and he could tell that these recent raids had something to do with his uncle's abduction. He had joined the pieces of this mysterious puzzle in his head. Those strangers wanted something that his uncle had. Apparently they had thought that he had it on him the day they kidnapped him but they eventually found out that the item they wanted was left in the safety of the Sanctuary. Icarus had searched after the first few attacks his uncle's study. He had guessed that if there was something that important it would be there somewhere. After day of searching he had located a long, wooden box located in a secret area behind the portrait of a world atlas covering the most part of the wall behind his uncle's desk. Icarus opened it to find a parchment sealed with red wax. He never attempted to open it. He could feel how important was that box and decided to take it away from the Sanctuary. Somewhere that those mysterious people weren't going to find. The Sanctuary was still standing strong as the natural fortress it was and with all the defensive charms and magical creatures guarding it but for how long?

Icarus had taken the initiative that day to visit Elvera at her home. The long, wooden box was in the inside pocket of his dark robes as he stood at the doorstep of the Le Fey's household. He waited the door to open but when there was no response, he knocked again. Then he heard footsteps behind the door which opened and a woman welcomed him. The woman who proved to be Elvera's mother, was first hesitant to invite him inside but Icarus explained briefly the reason of his visit and he was soon to experience the hospitality of the lady. He felt he could trust this woman as much he could trust Elvera so he explained why he was there over a cup of steamy coffee that Morgan Le Fey had offered him. Not really interested in details, the woman told him that Elvera wasn't there at the moment but in the United Kingdom, paying a visit to her grandmother. Icarus was about to thank her for the coffee and say that he was going to visit again when her daughter was going to be back but the kind woman offered him a way to Elvera's whereabouts.

After a minute he was standing in a big fireplace with a handful of floo powder. He was entrusted with the name of Elvera's grandmother place and after thanking Morgan, he tossed the powder and said it loud. Emerald flames rose from the fireplace's ashes and enveloped his strong body. He was sucked in a vortex and saw fireplace openings and flames coming his way as if he was in a roller coaster ride. His body was turning away each time he was reaching closer to a fireplace's exit when it wasn't the right one. He started feeling nauseous when finally his body was launched through an opening. He landed hard on a floor and slided all his way across the room, taking along his crazy course a carpet, a coffee table and clotheshorse. His momentum was stopped when he crashed on a bookcase and several books toppled on his head.
"Damn. I should have apparated." he moaned in pain and took off him the clotheshorse. He managed to get up although still dizzy and brushed the ashes off his clothes as he looked around.
"Hello? Sorry for the inconvenience." he said apologetically as he heard voice at a nearby room.
"It's Icarus. Morgan sent me here." he explained from there, not sure if he should take another step in the house where he came in, practically uninvited. Icarus heard the footsteps of someone coming closer and the man started picking the books from the floor, deciding to start cleaning the mess he had brought.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

at the sound of a clatter from somewhere else in the house enough to make both of the le Feys in the kitchen jump. "what on earth" she said getting up and looking at the door wondering who or what was there. she picked up her wand and headed in the direction of the noise opening the door cautiously. as she looked into the room she saw first that there was a mess and secondary that there was someone sitting in the middle of it but a chair was in the way to see who it was. Who is there Elvera?" came a voice from behind. taking a step in she was able to see who it was. "Icarus?" she said a certain tone of happy surprise in her voice. she looked around to the door. she looked around to the door. "Don't Worry Morgause, it is just Icarus" she said walking over to him. wiping her slightly green, plant stained hands on her apron. "are you oaky? she said. offering him a hand up. it was sort of odd to see him here. and he must have been coming fast out of the fire in order to have hit the shelves with such force to dislodge so many of the volumes. "who is icarus. the last icarus i heard of flew close to the sun and fell into the sea" came the voice from the kitchen. elvera smiled. it was clear to see where Elvera had got her love of myths, although she did tend to have a more british focus to her love where as the lady who had raised her had been around long enough to have knowledge of many more myths than her. she could see the man trying to put the books back on the shelves and clean up after his appearance. "don't worry about the books or mess." she said flicking her wand at them and they sprung up and landed neatly on the shelf. it was another flick and the streak of ash along the floor and it cleared its self up. "Icarus is a friend. we have had twists and turns but he is a good friend friend" she said hinting to what she was thinking earlier. "How are you?" she said smiling softly at him. she always had a soft spot for icarus, a soft spot that she always had to contain for fear of being hurt.
"come on to where it is warm. whatever you two lovebirds need to catch up on a catch up needs a cup of tea in the kitchen" came the voice from next door. looking to the door in shock Elvera turned around. stepping back to the room that smelt so earthy it was almost overwhelming "Morgause!? she said shocked "we aren't love birds, we are friends. beside Icarus is engaged. To Edens best friend." she said not being rude but wanting to set some things clear to bother her grandma and ot remind herself. Elvera looked back to see how icarus was taking this. and behind her she heard a slight mumbling Arthur and Guinevere were engaged once you know" though this was only quiet and she hoped that Icarus didn't hear her, or if he did wouldn't know who those two were as he wasn't the only one named from a myth. sure morgause was getting on in life, and she knew she was slowly coming to the end but she was still switched on, that was for sure. "are you coming? or do you have some other plan?" she asked standing in the doorway ready to move into whichever room she was most needed.

 

[Icarus Stratis]

While collecting the books from the floor, Icarus had a better look of the room he had just invaded. It was an inviting, warm living room, denoting that its residents enjoyed books since there were quite a few bookcases, as well as the art of divination. The end tables were decorated with crystal balls, tarot cards, rune bags and other amulets closely related to clairvoyance. He definately was at the right house. As he was shoving the books back to their proper places, he heard her silvery voice. "Elvera." he smiled back when he saw the familiar face appearing in the room. "I'm okay. I'm not sure about your living room." he chuckled. Using a little bit of humor was necessary to break the ice. He might wasn't showing it but he was quite embarrassed for coming uninvited. "Your grandmother has definately read her mythology books." he commented, guessing that the woman talking from another room was her maternal grandmother.

The Keeper remembered that he was in a house of seers. The gift was shared among the females of the Le Fey family or he thought so. Icarus wasn't feeling comfortable about divination. It was the branch of magic he came to understand the least as a student and despite having a seer grandmother himself, he didn't like the idea of someone being able to know about his future when he didn't. However, the cozy house and Elvera's presence made him forget about it. "I'm doing good. How is life treating you?" he asked her, wondering what she had been up to all this time they had to see each other. They were once colleagues at Hogwarts New Zealand but now only she was teaching to the newest generations of wizards and witches. He couldn't deny that somewhere deep inside him, he was reminiscing the bunch of first years awaiting next to the arranged brooms.

Icarus smiled awkwardly when Elvera's grandmother called them 'lovebirds'. He pretended he had no idea who were Arthur and Guinevere mentioned by her grandmother. There was no reason to intensify embarrassment. Still Icarus didn't know how to explain to Elvera the reason of his visit. He was there for some serious business but he wanted to sit down with her and hang out. On the other hand, another thought was darting through his time from moment to moment. What if he was putting hers and her family's life in danger by coming here with the mysterious box. They couldn't have known where he was now, unless that group of people were monitoring the traffic of the floo network. "Yes, sure. I don't have anything planned. You lead the way. Nice house by the way." he couldn't stop admiring it.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

elvera looked around the room. "it is fine. see it is almost clean again already" she said. the charms had done their jobs well and it was almost tidier than it was before he had arrived. she nodded. "morgause loves mythology and plant lore." she said. as the last few bags of dried thyme jumped back onto the shelf they belonged. when asked on her wellbeing Elvera shrugged. "I am good, well the same as ever. still teaching. how are you? and how is kida?" she asked caring much more for the answer to the first question, the second was almost more out of duty. She lead them into the kitchen and filled up the kettle from the old tap and put it on the stove. "take a seat, sorry we were just making creams. do you want a drink" she said clearing a little space at the table. where she managed to fit three cups of tea, a milk jug and a sugar pot. "I am glad that you like the house. morgause actually built it" she said gesturing to her grandma.
"I started building even before the asylum sold the land. I used to come and hide in the woods here when i came and visited Igraine" the lady said, Elvera had heard the story before. how Ingrain her great grandmother had fallen in love with and pregnant with a muggle man before he went to war and subsequently go killed. and she knew how fortunatly his family cared for her and the twin girls but didn't know she was a witch, or of her gift, and when she hit the low torpor associated with her family so they ended up committing her to a mental asylum, morgause used to sneak away and visit her every saturday at the edge of the wood where the containment fence was. and she started making a shelter for when it was cold, and then when they needed money they started selling the land surrounding the house which she had bought and made a proper house. "right, time for introductions, Morgause this is my good friend Icarus, we used to teach together, Icarus this is my Grandma Morgause" she said.taking a sip of her tea. a moment passed until she started the conversation again. "seeing as you are here we should go and i can show you the tower once I have finished" she said.
"Elvera Nimue, you know the rules of the tower. you can't take people there on a whim" she said. elvera nodded, "I know the rules and haven't forgotten them, I trust Icarus completely" she said. "in that case i can finish it for you, I am not that ill you know" she said with a slight tut. nodding Elvera looked at icarus. "is that what you are here for? she asked quietly. remembering that he wanted to hide something in there.

 

[Icarus Stratis]

Icarus couldn't help but admire the divination themed decoration of the place. It looked like it was drawn out of the pages of a children's fairy tale. "That would make us two about mythology." he commented as he followed Elvera out of the living room. "I can't say the same about plants. I almost failed Herbology back at school." he added. He was nostalgic every time he was talking about school. Not only he was missing the carefree student life but also that of a professor. Icarus had missed more than what he would have expected, teaching new generations to learn how to fly. However, his dream of becoming a professional Quidditch player was coming first and demanded a lot of his time and energy for him to split it into two careers. "Good to hear. I'm doing good as well. You know, practices for the new season." he said about his current, hectic schedule. He hesitated to talk about his fiancee. He was feeling weird discussing about his relationship with her. "She's alright. Busy coaching her new team." he replied briefly as they entered inside the kitchen. His sense of smell was stimulated by the piney aromas of herbs, grinded in the pestle.

Icarus smiled at Elvera as she offered him a seat and something to drink. "A coffee would be nice. Thank you." he accepted his offer and scanned his surroundings, feeling slightly uncomfortable before Elvera's grandmother. Elvera broke the ice when she introduced him to the old lady. "Pleasure to meet you ma'am. Elvera refers to you with a lot of respect and admiration." he bowed slightly his head. Icarus wasn't expecting Elvera to start the topic of the tower. He was actually trying to find the best possible way to bring it to the table. Then, he thought that Elvera had possible foreseen the purpose of his visit as the seer she was. "It's true. I would like to visit the tower that Elvera had told me." he paused to thank Elvera for the coffee she brought him. "That if it is not really a problem." he clarified and took a sip of his warm, black coffee. He didn't want to bring trouble with this request but he really wanted to get rid of the wooden box, somewhere safe.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

Elvera nodded as Icarus said he too was interested in mythology. But she chuckled when he said that he was not so good at herbology at school. "I wasn't that good at herbology either. I didn't do it for newts. But there is far more to plants than learned in that subject, I don't really care about the classic magic plants but the plants sen as Muggle plants". She said. She found those far more interesting with their healing and calming properties than plants that only job was to lash at you with wild thorny branches.
When he said that he was training for the next year. good luck! you still play for the macaws right? she said she didn't know much about quidditch! and the teams but over time Lilith had been teaching her things with her often constant chatter about it when they were spending time together, well that and information about how padme was, and praneil and her job.
She went to the stove. Reached for some cups and put some coffee in one and tea in the other two before taking the kettle off the stove and adding the hot water to it. "it is a pleasure to meet you too mr stratis. she has spoken highly about you often as well. said the lady causing elvera to blush slightly but managed to hide it by busting herself for the drink. She took the drinks to the table and took a seat watching manga use start triturating some oils into a cream. She could tell that it was the tower that had drawn him to her today, what else did she have that he would want. "of course that is okay! I just need to... finish this cream first before it spoils she was gaing to say before morgause cut her off. A life in her eye that elvera realised had been missing for quite a while. "that doesn't matter, I can finish that I am done with mine now, you two go and have fun before the tide turns and it floods, you can't just spend your life looking after others be it your students, sisters or old grandma" thank you but really it is no big deal. I can get this done first. she said no Eve, the tower is more important. Go I insist said the woman in a slightly whimsical tone which made her wonder what the lady knew. okay Morgause. just let me get changed and the I will be ready when you are elvera said before leaving and changing out of her dress into something she didn't often wear, a pair of trousers, a t-shirt jumper, and boots. she returned to the kitchen wand in one hand and tying her long hair back and out of the way as she arrived. "Okay. I'm ready. apiration will be the best way to get there." she said holding out her arm so as he could take it and she could guide them both. once he took it she turned on the spot. into nothingness.
suddenly the land around them was filled with light. under their feet was soft longish crass and in the distance was some ruins of a castle, a popular tourist attraction for muggles, fabled to be the home of king arthur and Camelot. "that is where we are going" she said

 

[Icarus Stratis]

The mug of coffee was steaming in his hands and Icarus blew on it as he listened the Le Feys debating. He pursed his lips when he realized, he had interrupted an activity that grandaughter and grandmother were spending together. He thought of intervening and telling them he could wait them finish their work. However, Morgause Le Fey persisted and her granddaughter left the kitchen to get changed. Icarus finished the cooled down coffee while waiting for Elvera. She appeared back into the room and Icarus stood up. She was a different person now that she was dressed casually. He said goodbye to the lady and took Elvera's hand instead of her arm, his fingers interlocking hers. Everything went black, feeling his body being streched from every direction. He blinked as he was taken from pitch darkness to blinding sunlight. They could inspect from the top of the hill they were now standing, the ruins of a white stone tower. The medieval was standing alone at the edge of the cliffs, facing the agitated sea. "Your ancestors lived on the edge. Literally on the edge." he quipped. It seemed that the tower was standing on those cliffs by magic. It was a miracle that the tower itself had defied the power of erosion. The wind was blowing viciously on that island, moisty and salty. "Are you sure it is really a secure place? I mean, I can see it right now. I was expecting something concealed or hard to find. Not a lone tower standing out on a deserted island." he gestured at the lone tower, expecting to be impressed with the magical security measures that he couldn't discern yet.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

Elvera smiled and blushed slightly when Icarus took her hand and not her arm. feeling his fingers interlock hers was something she wanted to feel more of. calm down she told herself He doesn't like you like that any more. he probably never did but she wasn't listening to the voice. now was now and that was what mattered. she smiled when he said they had lived on the edge. before shivering. "yes i guess they did, so with that I shall welcome you to the remains of tintagel castle, originally the home of Queen Ingrain of Cornwall, now owned by the Cornish heritage trust and unknown to them the Le Fey Family." she said giving a brief introduction to the castle. she smiled and chuckled through chattering teeth when Icarus said that it wasn't very well concealed as he could se it. "that wasn't the main tower, that was the entrance tower. now lets make a way down before the tide gets any higher and it becomes near impossible" she said
she hadn't used the 'guest' entrance since she was twelve, but she could remember it well, the way in was through a cave and although it was easy to walk through at low tide it was full of water at high, currently it was rising and they would probably have to wade though icy water as it was. "It is this way" she said gesturing not towards the caste but to a worn footpath down the cliff. taking the lead she made her way down. remembering the nightmares she used to have in her first year about this cliff, and the cave below before she knew where it was or what significance it held. her feet caught on some gravel as she went and she slipped slightly thankfully she was able to catch herself before she fell properly "be careful it is loose underfoot" she said slowing slightly and making sure to focus on where she was placing her feet.
by the time she reached the bottom she was frozen through and what wasn't helping was that she was standing in freezing (well not quite freezing) sea water that went rom knee to ankle deep depending on the waves. at least they weren't too big. "we are almost at the cave, t is just around this corner" she said. and sure enough around a slight outcrop of the rock was a large circular mouth of the cave. "W-w-welcome to m-m-mmerlins c-cave she said shivering. wrapping her arms around her body to try and keep a little warmer. From the entrance one could see a cave stretching right the way through the island and could see light on the other side. she was sure it would seem odd that she had taken them to a cave when she had promised him a tower but she didn't have time to explain, as she was starting to worry about the tide, she wasn't sure how long they had until it was too far in for them to be able to use the entrance and she really really didn't want to have to swim out. besides if Icarus wanted to keep whatever it was he was hiding secret it would be best to explain it once inside and warm. "I know this seems weird but trust me, and also no wand light" she said making the first slow wet steps into the cave.

 

[Icarus Stratis]

Icarus had heard before about the Tintagel Castle but it hadn't crossed his mind he was currently watching at it until Elvera told him so. "Who would have thought." he nodded impressed when she informed him that it was owned by her family. Icarus looked at her confused as she mentioned the tide. "The tide?" he wondered and followed her puzzled. Apparently, they weren't going straight to the castle as Elvera guided him through a worn pathway, he probably wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't showed it to him. It was a treacherous route around the cliffs and they were going downwards. The wind was howling fiercely like a beast warning them to retreat and not follow anymore the path. His heart skipped a beat when Elvera slipped but managed to keep her balance. "You be careful. I'm doing fine here." he told her, looking down at his feet, choosing carefully each footing. He had his wand at the ready in case something was going wrong. He wasn't sure if Elvera was accustomed to such kind of excursions like he was and thought he should precautious. She was doing a terrific job so far for someone who had been reading the tarot cards on her free time and wasn't into adventurous stuff. Icarus was pleasantly surprised by this unknown side of her which he was finding really interesting.

His legs sloshed water as they reached lower and submerged to his knees. Icarus ignored the water seeping into his shoes and his robes' hem getting heavier as it was absorbing water and continued his way. He was about to ask where exactly they were heading to when Elvera referred to a cave. He smiled softly as it was getting better. They arrived on a rocky outcrop where the entrance of a cave stood like tha gapping mouth of a dragon. A cave leading to an unknown destination would have always been intriguing to Icarus but now, Elvera's stuttering had monopolized his attention. He took off his black robes and put it on her shoulders to keep her warm.
"I think you need it more than I do." he smiled with his tattooed arms now exposed. He regretted for wearing only a plain t-shirt underneath his robes but he didn't show a hint of being cold. A wave splashed against their legs, warning them that the tide was rising.
"I trust you. Let's move on before it will be impossible to proceed." he said and took a step inside the cave and light deminished. Icarus shuddered. It wasn't the cold but the sounds of the cave. The wind shrieked through the hollows and gaps of the cave like haunting banshees and water was dripping from cracks on the roof. He could see light flickering in the distance as if it was the heart of the cave located there.
"Why it is called Merlin's cave?" Icarus asked curiously. His stomach clenched when accidentally touched the slimy, stone walls. He obeyed though Elvera's recommendation and he didn't cast light from his wand.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

at the feeling of the extra weight against her shoulders as Icarus lent her his cloak elvera couldn't help but smile, it smelt like him and it was so warm "Thank you, but aren't you cold" she said letting him know that if he needed it he could she knew it wouldn't be long until they were in the inner passage. they started moving through the passage the cave was rather huge so there was plenty of room and although the light was dim the fact that the cave opened up at both end and what little light was being reflected by the water meant that there was enough just about to see. glad for the conversation she thought for a minute trying to remember why merlins cave before she answered. "the castle is Tintagel, it is the birthplace of king arthur. and well arthur and merlin intertwined it makes sense that there is something named after him at the birthplace, some myths say it was in this cave that Merlin inchanted Uther to take the form of gorlois the night arthur was conceived" she said.
about twenty meters further in Elvera heard a humming noise. looking around she saw a few little blue creatures flying about. "Oh great, here come the pixies" she said as two started to pull at her hair and a third was tugging at icarus' robe that now hung over her shoulder. reaching into her pocket and pulling out a bag. she had remembered last minute when getting changed that the cave was home to a pretty hard wearing family of cornish pixies and she had remembered to get bag of cockroaches from the potions kit so as to distract them. "now if you leave us alone until we get to our destination i will let you have these cockroaches. if you don't i will eat them all" she said putting her hand into the pouch and pretending to eat a couple. "yum" she said to add to it. immediately they created a bit of distance letting them pass without being pranked any more. she looked back at icarus hoping that he too was being left alone.
She kept walking a little further, by now they were almost half way through the cave and thus almost under the heart of the island. she headed towards the edge of the cave and started feeling as though trying to find a door handle or a light switch. the rocks were cold and slimy but thankfully the floor was slightly higher here so it was just her feet in the water and even further up there was a small area where the sand was still showing. "It is around here. " she said closing her eyes so so could concentrate more on what she was feeling. there was a hidden passage along the side of the cave which she was looking for. after about five minutes looking she was almost at where the 'beach' had been but it was gone with the ever encroaching tide. if she didn't find the entrance soon she would have to swim out. it was then her hand hit a small rock sticking out of the edge and she felt it move. "aha" she said pushing it further until there was a small hole in the wall. she put her hand in and reached down to the bottom and there as she remembered was a sharp rock. "ow" she hissed as she felt it cut her finger. it was a proof of id more than anything else. "now you have to lt the tower learn your id so it will let you in the front door next time, unfortunately it is old magic so well" she said sucking her finger where there was a small pinprick of a cut and a drop of blood issuing. of corse the tower knew her, but she had to be almost a guarantor for him she stepped back to let him in "sorry about this, but top security it needs a le feys blood to let anyone new in" she said before putting her hand back in to close it. as soon as her finger touched the rock there was a rumble and a crack appeared in the rock to the side, it was a small hole large enough to slip though. on the other side was a short passage leading to a steep tightly winding spiral staircase cut into the stone. she ushered icarus to go in first "once you are in you can light your wand" she said leaving the cockroaches on a ledge for the pixies maintaining her side of the bargain before she too followed. saying the incantation to close the entrance once she was safely inside

 

[Icarus Stratis]

"Nah, I'm good." he replied when she asked him if he was cold. Now that they were inside the cave, temperature was the least of his concerns. The tower looked old if not ancient and its cave couldn't be in a better condition. It was too dark to inspect if the ceiling was ready to collapse and bury them alive. He listened to the place's story while trying to get used to the dark but the only thing visible was the light at the other end of the cavern.
"For real?" he muttered, founding remarkable the fact that they might were using the same passage once used by the greatest wizard of all times. Icarus wanted to listen more about medieval stories from Elvera's lips but a familiar humming echoed somewhere in front of them. A humming he had closely connected with nuisance.
"Cornish pixies." he added. He had seen these pixies only once at a class back at school. The pesky creatures weren't native to his homeland but he certainly knew how to take care of them. He pointed his wand at the blue shadow that flew to close to him and casted a spell. The pixie inflated and then exploded in a cloud of blue sparks. Icarus didn't have to vanquish the rest of them as Elvera instead tempted them with roaches. His grey eyes widened in the dark. He didn't expect Elvera carrying with her insects nor he knew that you could negotiate with Cornish Pixies if you were going to offer a handful of these crawling beings.

The blue creatures allowed the to pass but they were still hovering around them. He couldn't really see them now but he could here the buzz of their transparent, thin wings. "What? We made it?" he asked when he heard Elvera exclaiming in front of him. He blinked in order to discern in the shadows what exactly she was doing. "Are you alright? Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he asked concerned as she sounded she got hurt. She explained to him how exactly the tower needed to identify their owner with their own blood in order to let someone proceed. "Amazing!" he admired the access control of the cave. "And we are still using sphinxes and griffins to guarantee security." Icarus laughed just before the crack on the rock appeared after recognizing Elvera's blood. A stone staircase was appeared after he squeezed through the narrow passageway. Icarus casted an orb of light at the tip of his wand, washing with golden light the walls full of mold. So far, so good. It would be a shame if they were going to trip over now that they had left the tide and the pixies behind them. "I couldn't have asked for a safer place." he commented, thinking that only Elvera, her mother and her grandmother could have access to the inner parts of the tower and he was trusting all three of them. "Do you and your family visit often the tower?" he asked, wondering if the Le Feys were even staying here or they were using the tower only as their warehouse.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

Elvera was a little surprised at hoe surprised icarus was when he heard that merlin had used this tunnel. "yeah. well that is at least what legend says" she said. Legend also said that she was the direct descendent of Morgan Le Fay but mists of time had a tendency of excluding if this was actually true or not. Elvera believed it was. when he banished the pixies with magic she raised her hand and shook her head. "they help guard the entrance. you don't want to go upsetting them." she said.
once they were in the proper entrance elvera shut the 'door' and raised her wand the light of icaruses wand was enough for them both to see by so instead of lighting her own she muttered a different spell first the drought charm on each of their clothes which managed to remove most of the water and then another charm, the hot air charm first aiming the jet at icarus until she was sure he was properly dry and warm before drying her own clothing. when he commented on the fact that sphinxes and gryphins were still being used to ensure security she nodded. "sphinxes and gryphins have their place. it depends if you want to deter people from entering or conceal it completely. they also have the advantage that they can be relocated where this had been here for over a thousand years, so long that the spells used to create it have been long lost, that is if they have ever been known" she said. gesturing to the spiral stairs. "I am afraid there are a few of them to get up" she said they had both the distance they were underground and the hight of the tower. "I don't think many people come. Lumos, Morgan certainly doesn't come here any more. as she has too many bad memories stored in the walls, Morgause may visit every now and then as do i. but i don't know if eden or lilith ever visit" she said. making her way up the steps. after about three turns around she paused and raised her wand again. "incendio" she said taping a torch on the wall. it lit and so did all of the others ahead of it. it was a bit of a warmer light.
eventually after what felt like ages climbing passing a few small off passages on the say they reached the first landing. a large empty circular room with a solid oak door and a few narrow windows. Elvera paused for a moment there taking of the two cloaked se was wearing and heaving them hanging off a hoop conveniently placed by the door. "welcome to the west tower of tintagel also called Tor De Fay" she said breathing a little heavily but not to bad as although she was very unfit she lived in the divination tower at the school which meant a lot of climbing stairs. looking up again she started the rest of the climb.
the few slitted windows on the tower showed the castle much like it had seemed from the outside but with an almost echo of the older more complete castle, although maybe that was just her picking up on the stones memories. she paused by one of the windows and pointed out. "that is the tower you saw" she said and there in front of them was indeed the only tower most people could see standing. eventually after passing thorough a few landings they reached the top two floors. these two certainly seemed a lot more lived in. there were a couple of chairs, a table, a few trunks, a kettle, cups, blankets and the likes where as upstairs there was a simple bedroom. both with large windows encompassing the majestic view of Cornwall and the sea which would possibly would have been more majestic if it hadn't been encompassed by cloud. though the slightly musty smell hinted it hadn't been lived in for a while. the last time she thought anyone had lived there was when she had left her sisters wedding due to fighting she had stayed there a few days. "so what do you think?" she said looking around and picking up a book she had forgotten she had left here the last time she had visited.

 

[Icarus Stratis]

"Oh, sorry. I thought they had infested this place." he apologized as they ascended the spiral stairs. It might was the first time he had heard of using Cornish Pixies as guards. The creatures were easy to exterminate but combined with the cave's darkness could be proved a real nuisance.
"You can use disillusionment charms on the creatures so you can keep the location secret but also deter invaders in case they detect it." Icarus explained how his family did it for centuries as well as many other families around the world. The Stratis' business of breeding rare creatures was highly based on wizards and witches around the world, needing griffins in order to protect their properties. This creatures were really good and silent guards if trained properly and concealed with disillusionment charms.

Icarus had a good look at the walls now that the place was well lighted and Elvera mentioned that her mother had some bad memories of the place. He wasn't curious about what could have caused Elvera's mother's disinclination for the place but sure he was wondering how the tower had passed down to their family.
"I wanted to ask you before. Does your family have any connections with the infamous Morgan Le Fay?" he asked her as she caused several torches before them to lit with bright flames. Icarus that her family was one of the oldest ones of Britain like his was from Greece, and there were always assertions from such kind of families about their famous ancestors. The Stratis were claiming three famous wizards and witches of the past to be their ancestors. Circe was the most popular one, also claimed from other prominent Greek families. A possible ancestry from this famous witch could explain why most of the Stratis were really good with transfiguration as Circe herself was a master at human to animals spells. All assertions like this were just assumptions as there weren't any official evidence to support them. And to Icarus this was the beauty of the whole thing. That they were just rumors.

The two of them finally reached the top levels of the tower after what it seemed an endless ascension. With a smile, he briefly studied the place as Elvera was officially welcoming him to her family's property. He looked outside a slitted window the tower he had been watching when they were still outside. "Clever." he mused as he realized that the ruins he had been watching were merely used as a decoy to both wizards' and muggles' attention. As Elvera was busy looking for something he swished his wand and checked if there were other presences in the building apart from him and her. He had grow cautious now that he had that wooden box with him. When there was nothing to worry, Icarus felt slightly more relaxed and comfortable with the place. "I like it." he smiled as he had a closer look of the Le Feys' antiques. Icarus had made up his mind. The place felt secure enough to store there his uncle's mysterious possession. "Are you sure you are okay with me using this place?" he asked her again.
"I might need to apply some extra protective spells around here." he let her know before starting muttering incantations.

 

[Professor Elvera Le Fey]

Elvera shuckled when he said they could catch a disilusienment charm on them "we are in cornwall the home of cornish pixies. and the charm will never last, they breed to fast" she said. after a few quiet minutes Icarus asked her a question. "I believe i am, deirect decedent, oldest daughter of oldest daughter, but unfortunatly some facts have moved to more of a family myth." she said. it was funny the Le Fey were one of the oldest wizarding families in brittain bt oddly they had never claimed to be pure blood. no so long as they could see and that they had daughter they never really cared for blood. and had a history of working closely with muggles. in fact even now Morgause was high priestess of a coven which as a combination of true and muggle witches, one of the few remaining ones, the coven that Elvera had always wanted to be a member of, but she was always too young, an now she was living on the other side of the world.
As icarus looked for a hiding space, and made triple sure she was still up for using the tower. "Of course i am, you wouldn't be here if i didn't, morgause agrees too" Elvera looked around and moved some of the mess she had left last time she had stayed, nothing too messy, mainly a few books, scrolls, a set of ruins was scatted across the table and Tarot cards on the bed. unfortunately there was also a used nightdress on the floor that she kicked under the bed and some once used teabags in a teacup which she decided to just ignore. "Cast whatever you want on what you are hiding but please don't cast anything on the tower" she said. "keeping it hidden is a fine balence of magic and illusion including a fidilious charm, so it is pretty safe she said the magic was ancient. For most people the tower is notng more than a few stones in the soil. people could walk right through it and not know it was there. even the people who knew the way in would only be able to go in if they went the right way. I can show you the intricies when we get out. but trust me, no one unwanted has been in for hundreds of years so you will find it perfectly safe." she said she walked around the room and looked out over the land, it was a spectacular view, and even now it was clearing and the land looked like a misty mass with buildings and hills erupting out. "if you want a good hiding place some of the windowsills are loose and have a hidden compartment beneath them" she said she hadn't tried them all. she had hidden a journal containing poems, thoughts and secrets in one which is why she knew but there was one or two which were jammed. though she couldn't remember which ones were which.