Private Message to Barty and Tosha

[alt_narcissa]

Tosha, it's so kind of you to host brunch for everyone, particularly given that this morning's audience was so ... unnerving for many.

I'm only writing to say that - we may be late. Or

we may not be able to join you at all. I'm not sure yet.

I think you'd both already gone right away, so that you'd be able to greet your guests. At least, the throne room was nearly empty and I don't recall seeing either of you still among the court. So you wouldn't have seen: Just as we were leaving, Our Lord - called Lucius back to speak with Him. My hand was on his arm and I could feel him tense. He hid it well but his lip - chin - his pulse started racing and his face drained its colour. It - I - It was most concerning.

and now

There wasn't time to discuss anything, of course. But he sent me out with his eyes. It was as if he were telling me to escape leave if Our Lord would allow it. So I did. At least to the antechamber.

I can hear

You'll make our excuses if we haven't arrived within the next half-hour? It all depends on my husband's wishes, of course. Once his audience is over. He may decide that not appearing would be less wise than appearing whatever the circumstance.

Toshenka, there's nothing I ought to know, is there?

Comments

[alt_antonin]

Milaya?

Have you

I cannot bear any more of this

[alt_crouch_jr]

Narcissa.

Let us hear from you.

[alt_narcissa]

I'm sorry to have worried you.

Lucius is resting. He says he's replaced the private message monitors with people we can trust not to read them. Nothing's changed on that score, I hope?

Private Message to Narcissa

[alt_crouch_jr]

That score?

That you may trust me?

...

It's beyond question.

Re: Private Message to Narcissa

[alt_narcissa]

That's not what I was asking.

But

This might not be the sort of thing you wish to know. What I mean is - I understand if your ... sympathy ... is diminished, under the circumstances.

He's my husband, dearest, and I love him just as deeply. I know you do not wish me to hesitate to come to you in need. That does not mean you are never jealous of his prior claim on my devotion. It would be ungracious of me to force you to console me when it doesn't serve your desires.

Re: Private Message to Narcissa

[alt_crouch_jr]

I apologise. I saw something in what you said that wasn't there.

I think, Narcissa, that we're beyond the point of this being only about serving my desires. Hoped you'd known that. Particularly now that 

If there's some way I can be of use, you've only to say.

[alt_crouch_jr]

And, yes. You may trust the message screeners. Lucius ensured their cooperative lack of curiosity with respect to certain of us.

How is he really?

[alt_narcissa]

Yes, he said something about that but wasn't certain our people were still in charge of the department.

He's fine.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Yes. Had hoped to speak with L about a permanent solution for the Communications Department. Need to move on that if we're to prevail.

For the time being, however, the staffing remains as it's been. Were able to cover the loss of L's clerk from that rota. It's temporary, of course. Aurors and Auror staff are not communications hacks.

When you say he's fine, is he in a state to discuss business?

[alt_narcissa]

I'll reassure him.

He would say yes; but whether he is or not I am not prepared to allow him visitors - or his journal - until he's had at least a few more hours' rest.

[alt_narcissa]

He'd been concerned since early Saturday, you know. Tosha, I thought at first it was because you and he had discussed (in private) how Our Lord's murder might have been, in its way, a blessing. Because you all had been working with Dominic in the wake of the assassination to restore order and because of your plan, to give out that the Council had been in charge for years without Our Lord's guidance.

But that wasn't all there was to it, of course. Mostly it was because he suddenly remembered his conversations with Dominic over a period of months, and couldn't fathom why the Obliviations should spontaneously revert like that. He told me late yesterday that he'd concluded it was a last revenge Dominic was playing on him - for not joining Dominic's faction back when he'd been approached.

I asked him why that should have made a difference. He wouldn't say then, but this afternoon, he told me the awful truth of it.

Tosha. Dominic Obliviated him not because he threatened to expose the treason, but because Lucius asked him. He confessed that he was not wholly opposed to the attempt to - ensure the Protectorate a more - stable - future. He merely refused to participate. On the second and third occasions ... Dominic reminded him of their prior conversation and as a result, Lucius supplied him with information and, again, requested Obliviation.

Dominic must have performed the spell so that if he failed, if he were killed, Lucius would remember. Remember all of it.

That's what Our Lord saw. I don't know when: During the ritual, perhaps, or yesterday at the wedding reception - or even in Court this morning. I'm not sure. Presumably He saw something in Dominic's own mind that led him to look at my husband's more closely.

But whenever it happened, He perceived Lucius' ... doubts. His willingness to let Dominic proceed. And I was certain - I think he was certain, that he was about to pay the ultimate price for his hesitations.

At least we can be thankful Our Lord chose not to reprimand him before the whole Council. He has been granted another chance to prove his loyalty - he said, Our Lord extended leniency in remembrance of their past closeness, and in recognition of his service all these years.

I

What's done is done. But I'm so afraid this is not over.

Please. Tell no one.

[alt_antonin]

Ever-living and merciful eternal gods preserve and defend us. My dear, I am out of words. For all of this.

I will not tell anyone.

At times like these, we must hold together.