The Gathering

Chapter Twenty Nine

As the whole of the Hufflepuff quidditch team stood in the entrance tunnel to the field, we were in silence. As I looked out to the crowd, I got a look for how fortunate they had been here. The stands were filled to the brim with demigods, where most camps could barely fill half. Each section was for a different house, and as I looked to ours, I got encouraging looks from all, especially Kat. As we marched onto the field, the Hufflepuff crowd exploded into applause and boasting. These people were so at ease, it was relaxing for anyone around them.

As we mounted our brooms, we flew into the sky like free birds, without any cares and flew freely, feeling the warm wind lash our face as we made laps around the stadium. The wind brought about a deep calm in my soul and for just a moment, I thought about what it would be like to live here my whole life. I could live in this safe haven, whatever the circumstances of it safety was, and find comfort in all of those around me. Sure, maybe we wouldnt be helping the current problem of zombies, but no one really can do anything for that, there will always be more.

Called back to reality by the blow of a whistle, I realized how foolish I was being. Maybe we couldnt help the current problem, but the gods could, and thats why were all here. To show that we give a damn and put our trust in them once again so that they can save us from this hellhole. If anything was to be done, we all had to have unwavering faith. I couldnt doubt for a second our mission because I was the leader. I accepted this role, so Im accountable.

I took up my position in front of the three goals and waited for the quaffle to be thrown up, and signal the beginning of the match. As the ref walked out to the middle of the field, brown case in hand, something felt wrong. I couldnt get the feeling out of my head that something bad was going to happen. I tried to shake it off, but it lingered at the edges of my mind. As she opened the case, I got a good look at all three balls; the quaffle, snitch, and bludger. Each was drastically different and suited for their own purposes, but I was only focused on the quaflle, as my only jobwas to stop that from entering the goals behind me.

As the ref tucked the quaffle into her arms, she released the snitch and I got just a glance at its golden beauty before it flitted away into the clouds. I gave up after that, I had no idea how seekers were able to keep up with that. Its wings fluttered almost faster than light and often, the only way I could tell where it was was by the gint of the sun off of its golden hide.

Once both the bludger and quaffle were in the folds of the refs arms, she recited the rules for us, just to show that we were all brothers and sisters here and there was no reason for us to fight. Once she was through, we all were on the edge of our brooms, ready to set off at the whistle. Finally, as the stadium became silent in anticipation, both balls were thrown into the air and simultaneously, the ground below us began to crumble to pieces. At first, there were just giant cracks that began to spread along the entire ground, but as the quaffle flew higher into the sky, the cracks began to widen and even the stands were affected, as the ground beneath them was destroyed, so was the base, so most of the stands fell to the ground within seconds.

Utter confusion arose, as no one had any idea what was going on. From my position above the crowds, I tried to spot someone who looked too calm and collected, as they would have likely been the cause. My search was fruitless, until I spotted someone in a black cloak walking towards the center of the stadium, flanked by a river of black water- the waters of the river Lethe. This had to be one of Matalel's friends.

I flew down to meet him, and apparently so had everyone on both teams. As everyone fled behind us, we walked calmly to surround this new, mysterious, man as he took a fighting stance.

"How good to see you Ashleigh. As I recall, though, you said you would not let in outsiders. And if my eyes arent mistaken, these two here don't belong, he said, swiping his hands at both Lindsay and I, which also brought the waters of Lethe rushing towards us. I dove forward as they skimmed over my head, but Lindsay was knocked full force in the stomach, and layed sprawled out at least fifty feet from where our circle was. "Bravo Vande, correct? I've heard so much of you, I hope we can be good friends. Do not worry though, your Lindsay will be safe, only short term amnesia for now"

"Chaldean, you are no longer welcome here. Vande has helped me see that. We should be fighting the enemy, fighting to take back what is ours. Not bowing to the will of the likes of you" Ashleigh spat.

Chaldean clicked his tongue and shot the Lethe waters at another of the Gryffindor members, not shooting them back as far, only because he hit them in the head, sending them high into the sky spinnig uncontrollably. "Wrong answer Ashleigh. That one? He could be dead, could have lost his memory completely, or he could be completely unharmed. Who knows?" Chaldean said, joy obvious in his tone. He was toying with us, and no amount of talking was going to get us out of this. But I didnt know how I was supposed to fight someone with such powers, especially one close to Matalel who would be as skilled as he was. One look to Lindsay, though, gave me all the strength I needed. I wasnt going to let anyone else get hurt because we came here for help.

With a voice I didnt know I had, I yelled a roaring war cry and charged Chaldean. Everyone, save Ashleigh, charged along with me. With a sigh Chaldean toook a staff from the folds of his robe and bashed the ground, bringing us to a halting stop, no matter what any of us tried.

"Tsk tsk. i would have expected more out of all of you, especially Vande. You're the great leader of your people, and yet how you fell so easily to me" Chaldean taunted, as he now walked in between us as we were cemented to our spots.

"Chaldean take me. Do not harm these people. I was foolish to think we could have overtaken you, take only my life as pennance" Ashleigh asked desperately. I tried to tell whether or not she meant it, but as I looked into her honey eyes, I saw regret. Deep regret, and I knew she had meant every word she had said. Maybe she was inspired moments ago, but because we failed, the harsh reality was once again brought down on us.

"Gladly" Chaldean said, taking a long black dagger from the folds of his cloak and spinning it in his hand. "Or even better yet, leave you barely alive so that if you do die, your blood will be on Vande's hands, that he wasn't able to save you. I thinnk I like that idea much better"

Slow and deliberately, Chaldean strode to Ashleigh and drove the dagger into an area just near her heart. Close enough to kill her, yet not immediately. Ashleigh fell to the ground and as soon as Chaldean has left the vicinity of the arena, making sure to make slow steps to prolong Ashleigh's pain, we were released from his spell. We all gathered around her while Kelli flew into the castle to get medical supplies for Ashleigh. As we made what precautions we could for Ashleigh without any supplies, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to see it was Lindsay. The force and quickness of my turn had knocked her off balance, but I caught her hand and steadily lowered her to the ground.

"What happened?" She asked.

"What do you remember? Someone came and attacked us and you were knocked unconcious" I asked. I hoped Chaldean was true to his word, that Lindsay was left unharmed.

" I only remember his name. Chaldean. While I was unconcioius, his name bounced around my head countless times. I dont think I could ever forget his name" Lindsay said with a shiver, finding its way to me and I couldnt help but shiver myself.

"Dont worry about us. For now you should rest" I said, and relief flooded Lindsay's now pale face. Nodding, she walked over to one of the fallen house banners and wrapped herself in it, and was out just like that. Satisfied that she would be okay, I returned to our circle around Ashleigh, finding Kelli was already back with a Slytherin, who was treating her wounds.

"You're all suffocating me! I cant help her if I cant think clearly" The girl said, shooing us away. I walked to LIndsay and sat down. I suddenly had the impulse to check her temperature, and found she was burning up. Something Chaldean had done was causing this, it had to be. Without a word, I raced to my broom and set Lindsay on my back and raced back to the castle to make sure she was going to be okay.

Determined, I raced back to the castle, against the masses of people who were now gathering to see what was left in the wreckage of the quidditch field. Someone had set up a medical tent outside the castle, and as I entered, I got a real feel for how many others had been hurt, and how many people were gathered, determined to help them. I left Lindsay in the hands of one of them and set off to find the rest of our group. We needed to discuss a lot, and it involved all of our input.