O Beija-Flor - Regulus Black (Complete)

LXXXVII -

AND THE BATTLE STARTS! HERE WE GO!

LEAVE COMMENTS (i had so little comments last chapter :(, did I do something wrong, ya'll?)

ANYWAYS, I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE IT. I'M VERY EXCITED TO FINISH THIS STORY AND START MY NEXT STORIES (plural)

The forest of Kielder in Northumberland was so cold that even people that were used to snow were somewhat uncomfortable with the bitter chills freezing their bones. However, the Brazilian army was not used to that sort of cold – they were taking it surprisingly well, yes; most complained, but did their job collecting wood for the fire and cooking their breakfast in little hisses of curses in Portuguese.

But Cecilia, no matter how long she was there or how much clothes she was using, would never get along with the snow or the cold that made everything wet and uncomfortable to the touch. So, she stood in the corner, refusing to the sit on the ground to eat her breakfast, just balancing the small container with soup and bread in her hands.

"Just sit down!" Sirius was saying, rolling his eyes. "The ground is dry. I used a spell."

"I don't want to sit down. I'll freeze in place and not be able to get up later," she complained, finishing the soup and giving the container to Giovanni, who had offered to wash it. "I hate this. I wish we could fight in the summer."

"We can postpone it if you want," mocked Draco.

"I would want it, yes," she said, rolling her eyes at him.

Regulus smiled to himself.

When they had been alone in the tent, Cecilia had been happy, joking and naked. As soon as she put on her clothes and stepped out of the tent (and the warming charm), all her good mood seemed to have disappeared. Now, she pitied any Death Eater that dared to attack her when the time came.

"We're trained to survive any condition, but snow is not something we had contact with before coming here," one of the soldiers said, smiling at Cecilia with understanding in his eyes.

"Did it have to start snowing last night? Couldn't the skies hold it back for one more night?" Cecilia continued to complain.

The soldier laughed and Regulus rolled his eyes at Cecilia's unhappiness.

He knew that most of that annoyance and unhappiness that she was feeling and using to keep herself sane was anxiety because of the battle that was to start at any moment, according to Severus' information.

So, when breakfast was done and everybody was well dressed, everything in the calmness and joking atmosphere stopped. Nobody sang. Nobody joked. Nobody smiled. Nobody laughed. Everybody was ready to die.

The plan was clear, made by Regulus and Remus in the last meeting of the Order before the Brazilian army had gotten there.

The first group of the Order, the ones that volunteered, were sent forward – out of the shadows and covers of the dense trees of the forest. They created as small false camp, meek and mild when compared to the real one, that sheltered almost a 100 people. In that group were Remus, Sirius, Emmeline and her girlfriend Vanya, Molly, Arthur, Narcissa, Hestia and her friend Elphias, Dedalus, Andromeda and her husband Edward. Twelve brave people that knew what they were doing and what they were willing to go through.

They were targets. They were baits.

In the middle of the most open part of the forest, near to the rapid currents of the river filled with rocks and taking a sharp turn to the east, there was no protection for any of them. The forest on one side, the Malfoy House on the other, endless land to the west and a river impossible to swim in the east. The bait was clear, but so dangerous that it would be considered stupid without proper planning.