McKay (scribbulus_ink) wrote in time_of_storms, @ 2006-03-11 12:21:00 |
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Original poster: werwolfoflondon
Music: Silver Moon, by Michael Nesmith.
Remus' hands were steady as he gazed down at the unopened letter he held, but he couldn't say the same of his insides. It was the third and final message he had been waiting for. Magda's had been the first to arrive; it had taken her less than twenty-four hours to decide she and her pack would remain neutral, assisting neither side. It had taken Yuri another full day to respond with what was essentially the same message. Neither of them wanted to get involved, and Remus suspected they might be taking a "wait and see" approach to the whole thing.
Sighing, he turned the letter over and over, wanting to avoid opening it and reading what he imagined would be another refusal. He knew that neutrality was better than any of them actively helping Voldemort, and it was good for the Order, but bringing in extra people to fight for their side would be even better, and part of him had held out hope that he would be able to do that. He knew he ought not feel disappointed since at least he had managed to thwart Voldemort's plans, but he was feeling a twinge nonetheless.
It was the Ministry's fault, of that he had no doubt. If the government didn't have laws in place that either kept most werewolves living in poverty or forced them out of wizarding society completely, Remus probably would have had a stronger case. As it was, he understood why the Alphas would all be reluctant to help a faction whose governing body discriminated against their kind. There were no guarantees that things would change after the war, and while Remus believed with unwavering certainty that Voldemort's regime would be far, far worse, they had no basis of comparison, only what third party information they had been given about both sides.
Might as well get it over with, he thought, and he ripped open the letter from Nikolai, skimming it with resignation, expecting to see polite words of regret.
I will provide volunteers from my pack to assist you in your efforts.
Wait.
Remus blinked and lifted one hand to rub his eyes before reading the letter again, making sure he had really seen what he thought he saw. But no, the words were still there exactly as he thought he had seen them. Nikolai was willing to help!
He couldn't hold back a whoop of joy, and he grinned madly as he pressed the letter against his chest, silently thanking and blessing Nikolai. He didn't know how large Nikolai's pack was or how many of them might actually volunteer, but he didn't care. It was a huge step forward, and he wouldn't return to the Order empty-handed. This alone made whatever punishment he received worthwhile, even if it cost him his life.
"Good news, I take it?"
Remus turned to see Henri standing in the doorway of the guest bedroom, and he beckoned, inviting Henri in. "Very good," he said, still smiling broadly. "Nikolai agreed to send volunteers."
"I'm not surprised. He has always been an idealist." Henri moved to stand by the window, gazing out with a distracted air before finally turned back to Remus. "I suppose that leaves only me, yes?" His lips quirked in a one-sided smile. "I confess, this has been a difficult decision for me, Remus. The part of me that is an Alpha urges me in one direction, while the part of me that is a man of God urges me in another. There is also the fact that I like you, and I have no wish to see you hurt or endangered. Emotional attachments always muddy the waters, do they not?"
"Indeed they do," Remus murmured, thinking of Severus as he dropped the letter on the dresser. "But whatever you decide for whatever reason, I'll understand," he added, moving to join Henri by the window. "You have a different perspective on this situation than I do, and you have different priorities. I'll accept whatever you decide without judging you for it."