The Founders Four

Chapter 5

In that instant, Godric's eyes had lost their warmth. He wasted no time in whipping around, drawing his sword from the scabbard and brandishing it in the direction of the disturbance. Helga had automatically reached for her wand, hoping to be of some assistance, but her companion just pushed her back out of harms way. She was about to protest but at that very moment, two horses burst around the corner at full gallop, their nostrils flaring, flanks glistening with sweat and dust. The pair of animals let out hoarse warnings to the man stood in their path as their hooves pounded the soft earth of the forest floor. However, no one stepped aside for them as they powered forwards through the clear air like a sharpened sickle passing through barley.

Suddenly, the lead rider tugged on the reins sharply, drawing his steed to a skidding stop. The giant, pitch black animal's charging mass came to a halt barely metres from the man on the road. The second rider followed suit, but was a lot more gentle in commanding her mount to be still. The grey mare slowed from a gallop back down to a walk before coming to a complete stop. The man in red held his sword at his side defensively as he looked up at the pair. The second rider was a beautiful woman, with raven hair, pale skin and dark eyes. She was dressed in an elegant blue gown, but it had been patched and mended in a few places, suggesting she wasn't rich. The first horseman was dressed in emerald green with unsettlingly bright eyes of the same colour. He also had dark hair and pale skin, but he had ugly, sickly looking bruises marring his complexion. The man in red locked eyes with the man in green for a moment, before the latter's lit up with delight and a smile spread across his face,

"Gryffindor?" He gasped incredulously. Godric tilted his head to one side to get a better view of the newcomer's face. After a moment, his confusion was replaced by recognition, which swept all the confrontational anger from his features,

"Slytherin?" He laughed, a wide smile spreading across his face, "Salazar Slytherin! Is that really you under all those bruises?" Salazar laughed whole heartedly and he quickly swung himself from his horse's back. He rushed to Godric, grinning as though he would never do so again,

"The very same!" He replied. The moment he was close enough, Godric reached out and crushed Slytherin against his chest in a fierce hug,

"It's so wonderful to see you my friend!" The knight in red exclaimed, finally releasing the smaller man. Still laughing and smiling, Salazar clapped Godric on the shoulder,

"The same goes for you! I thought you long dead," Gryfindor chuckled and shook his head,

"They'll have to do better than that if they want to rid the world of me! Rest assured!" Godric answered, before turning towards the trees, "Helga!" He called, "Come on out! It's perfectly safe, this man is a dear friend of mine," Slytherin looked up to watch the young woman wearing yellow and black emerge from the trees to stand and Godric's side. Godric looked at them both, before deciding to introduce them, "Helga Hufflepuff, this is Salazar Slytherin, one of my fellow knights before the old king died," The man named Slytherin was devilishly handsome, Helga decided despite herself as she let him bow to her and kiss her hand,

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Hufflepuff," he spoke in a voice smoother than silk, looking up at her through his bright green eyes. Helga couldn't help but smile and blush a little. Not only was he handsome but he was charming too. As he straightened up, Salazar's own traveling companion approached cautiously. He smiled to her and gestured for her to come over. She obliged, albeit rather hesitantly and she stood close to Salazar, as though untrusting of the pair before her. She felt Salazar putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder,

"Rowena, this is Godric Gryfindor and Helga Hufflepuff, they're friends, not foes," he told her. Godric sheathed his blade and gave her a shallow bow,

"Please allow me to apologise for my actions earlier, I'm deeply sorry if they have shaken you," he said. His voice was a deep rumble, like the sound of far off thunder. Or a lion, she thought, upon noticing the rearing, red depiction of the animal which was caught in the act of leaping across his chest. Rowena was instantly endeared to this Godric Gryfindor. He was polite and considerate from what little she had seen, and his smile was almost as warm and friendly as an open fire on a cold winter's night. In response to his kind words, she curtsied to him,

"You have nothing to apologise for, but thank you very much for your concern," she smiled to him. Gryfindor was a good half head taller than Slytherin, with broader shoulders and a wild mane of auburn hair. Helga Hufflepuff suddenly stepped towards her, holding out a hand of friendship, which Rowena took without thinking. Helga looked like they youngest of the group. Her large, round eyes sparkled in the dappled light and a river of blonde hair cascaded down her back in waves.

Finally, when all introductions were over, Salazar turned to Godric,
"I take it that you are heading in the same direction as us," Godric replied with a nod and the words,

"Indeed we were," with a grin, Slytherin spread his arms wide,

"I propose we accompany each other," he said, causing Godric to laugh,

"I concur. It would be an honour," he answered. There was a sudden pause and Godric glanced at his new companions, "Rowena, forgive me for asking, but are you quite open minded?" He asked. Rowena put her head to one side, mystified by his question,
"I would like to believe so, yes. Why do you ask sir?" Godric didn't reply, before removing his shield from his back and laying it on the path beneath his feet. The knight in red quickly withdrew his wand from inside his tabard and flicked it in the direction of the shield. The piece of polished metal promptly changed itself into the marble white horse. Rowena's face broke into a smile as she let out a disbelieving laugh as Godric looked back towards the group. The woman slowly approached the newly appeared animal and ran a hand over its smooth hair. She glanced up towards Godric,
"That, my good sir, was a remarkable feat of magic if ever I saw one," she paused, grinning a little wider at the pride that crossed the tall knight's face, before adding, "I couldn't have done it better myself,"

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A/N: I cannot say anything to you guys to make up for the lack of updates. Here's a new chapter and hopefully it won't take another half year for me to update again.

-Sithy.