After what seemed like an exceedingly long swirling green ride, Rowan emerged out of another hearth. Climbing out steadily, she pauses to brush off a touch of soot from her sleeve, before glancing at her surroundings. Her aunt and grandfather were patiently waiting at the side of the foyer and were speaking to their host, Mr. Avery.
Much like his son, Evan Avery, Mr. Avery was a sharp faced wizard with a widow's peak. The older man had a cool but calculating gaze much like that of Stephen Flint. But unlike, Mr. Flint's gaze, Mr. Avery's gaze was much colder, but not entirely unfriendly.
A swoosh from behind her causes Rowan to glance back and see Severus emerge from the fireplace without looking queasy nor without having stumbled. Rowan nods her head in approval, before the two of them stride over to their grandfather and aunt. They come to halt next to them and wait expectantly for the adults to begin speaking to them.
While the adults make small talk, Rowan and Severus peer about them at the home of the Avery family. The home was decorated in dark, rich colored tones. The statues and paintings were a bit reminiscent of the baroque period, which tastefully contracted with the darker color scheme of the home. It was surprisingly a tasteful home.
Finally, Mr. Avery turns his cool dark gaze towards the Prince grandchildren. He is silent for a moment as he studies the two slender figures. Both were dark haired, pale, and had sharp features including their deep, piercing gazes. And the reason for the exceedingly small naming ceremony as Reginald Prince was not willing to risk his grandchildren with the presence of any other guests.
"Greetings Prince heirs," Mr. Avery formally said.
"Thank you for your invitation, Mr. Avery, we are honored by thine grace," Rowan and Severus answered in unison.
Georgine nods her head faintly in approval, before saying, "Well, Avery, do lead the way?"
"Naturally," Mr. Avery courteously replied as he graciously offered Georgine his arm to take. Georgine gingerly accepts as he escorts Georgine and leads the way through Avery Hall.
Rowan and Severus follow quietly after taking the time to peek around at the rest of the Avery Hall. Unlike the Black family homes, the Avery Hall had a much more tasteful architecture and décor. It was a rather enjoyable experience to stroll through the Avery home.
Finally, they arrive in a candlelit ballroom lit by hundreds and hundreds of floating candles. Surrounded in a circle is three figures standing next to a small cradle. Rowan and Severus instantly recognize the younger male their same age, but they do not recognize the biscuit haired woman with fair features. No doubt, the mother of Evan Avery and wife of Mr. Avery, Mrs. Avery.
However, they do not recognize the third figure, a dark-haired man with a bit of a tan and strong facial features. He looked quite confident but contrasted with an air of solemnity. But overall, a handsome fellow. And based on physical appearance alone, it was highly unlikely that he was related to the Avery family.
Still Rowan and Severus did not speak knowing that the ceremony had already begun as they followed Mr. Avery into the candlelit circle. Reginald steps to the side as Rowan and Severus come to stand at his side, while Mr. Avery leads Georgine to come to stand next to the cradle in the circle.
Mr. Avery releases the hand of Georgine, who is now standing next to the cradle with Evan's Avery at the back of the cradle, and the unknown man standing on the other side of the cradle. Mr. Avery and Mrs. Avery step back to stand in the middle of the circle with clasped hands.
Rowan recalls that the ceremony will begin at sundown symbolizing the fact that the child was born during the night. Still, her eyes keep wandering to the tanned man before her. There was something awfully familiar about him as though she had seen him before, but where?
Before Rowan can recall, the Avery couple begin to chant, "Beneath the gaze of the great moon, a child was born, but a mother was lost. Still a name was given at that time of great sacrifice that of Barnabas Avery. A wife lost, a husband widowed, but a motherless child must be protected."
The Avery couple each take a silver knife from their pockets and approach the slumbering infant. The silver blade's in their hands glitter brightly in their hands as they stab the blade into the tip of their finger. A great, big red drop swells from the tip and falls onto the cradle that holds the sleeping infant.
"We the elders that have come before like the great pines that have sprouted seeds and seen them grow," the Avery couple said. "We the grandparents of this new offspring seek blessing of grow and life. The child must be protected by a worthy sword and shield."
The infant's blanket is stained by three blood drops as the Avery couple continue, "Long have we searched and at last, we have found a worthy sword and shield. We bind them in a promise as old as time. And so, Magic of old heed, our call. Magic of old, come forth!" The candles suddenly go out leaving only ten candles lit.
(Though at the time, it did not occur to any of them that there were only nine figures in the circle. The four Avery family members, the four Prince's, and the stranger. And yet, who was the 10th figure? But then again, it was rumored that the dead were permitted to permit in such events.)
Much like the times before Rowan and Severus begin to feel that old, almost eerie, but sentient presence of ancient magic. The godparent ceremony was not merely a show, but an actual magical binding. No wonder, aunt Georgine had been initially reluctant to accept!
The Avery couple each turns to face their son, who takes the silver daggers from his parents by the hilt symbolizing that he too would bind himself the solemn vow. The sharp blade cuts into both of his palms as blood drips down his palms and onto the pure, white silken blanket.
"I, Evan Avery, the father of Barnabas Avery seeks a sword and a shield. His mother is dead, and I am young. And much like great ocean of life and death, I have yet to finish navigating my own journey," Evans Avery solemnly said. "But my son has already embarked unknowingly on his seaworthy vessel. And thus, I seek protection for this incredibly young, and defenseless sailor."
With great reverence Evans Avery bows his head as he turns the blades in his hand to hold by the hilt. Finished bowing, he turns to the would-be godparents. Bowing to the would-be Godmother, Evan says, "A child was born under the gaze of the great moon and knows no light. Fire is that which we seek, the unknown warmth of a mother. And to that same fiery inferno that protects, we seek loyalty, determination, and honor."
Bowing again to the would-be Godmother, Evan turns to Kain Shafiq and says, "A child was born under the gaze of the great moon amidst the shadows of the night. Air that knows all is that which we seek, the wisdom and guidance of age. And to lashing tempest that crushes its enemies from on high, we seek cunning, and fearlessness."
Evans bowed again to the would-bed Godfather, before crossing his arms and holding out the bloodied blades to each of them to take by the blade itself. "To Fire, the role of Godmother, Georgine Prince and to Air, the role of Godfather, Kain Shafiq. Here in the presence of these witnessed and in the presence of magic itself, we ask solemnly for the truth. Do each of you accept this great honor out of your own free will and choice?"
"I do," Georgine and Kain Shafiq said in unison.
Rowan's eyes widening at the revelation as Georgine and Kain Shafiq each accept the blade by the blade itself. The blade cuts into their hand leaving a long thin wound as they hold both blades over the cradle of the sleeping infant. The blood drips down into the cradle before they return the blade to the Evan Avery without haven spoken a single word.
"So, mote be," Evans Avery said as a string of golden light appears to swirl around them and connect to the sleeping infant. "And to that which is Fire and Air do you accept the role of sword and shield to child born under the gaze of the moon, Barnabas Avery?"
"I do," Georgine and Kain Shafiq answered again as a second string of golden light appeared between the trio.
"And does Fire and Air solemnly bind themselves to love, protect, teach, cherish, and guide their charge, Barnabas Avery until he is fully grown?"
"I do," the godparents said for the last time as a third string appeared interconnecting them.
"That which was unspoken has been pledged," Evan Avery loudly declared. "And so, mote be!" Suddenly a golden swirling wave of magic can be seen around the figures of Georgine, Kain Shafiq, and that of the infant. It is though the golden strings are being permanently bound between the three of them and around the infant.
With a final burst of wind, all the candles suddenly go out as they are plunged into darkness, before all the candles light up again. Squinting at the sudden light, Rowan blinks tears away as she finds that the presence of the almost sentient magic is gone.
And though she could breathe again, she was infinitely far more anxious to meet Kain Shafiq. Still, she could not let this opportunity go. She had to somehow find the way in which to at least exchange words.