The Yule Ball

Descartes felt tears sliding down his cheeks. How could she be so forgiving?

"Can we go now?" Sonia asks.

Maik reached up and wiped a tear from Descartes' cheek. "You go Sonia. I've seen Azkaban far too many times."

"B. . .By myself?" Sonia asks before sneering. "Fine." She says marching off masking her own pain.

Descartes leaned into Maik's touch. "H. . .How can she just forgive him so eaily?"

Elrohir opened the door to Darius' cell, glaring down at him in fury. "You filthy scum! How could you do this! I trusted you!"

"I don't know." Maik whispered. "He is still your father, no matter what he's done. Maybe that's why she's able to forigive him so easily."

"I. . .I guess so. I just don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him. . .ever." Descartes whispers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonia soon apparate in front of Azkaban. She spun around and immediately felt her heart break again. Her father was in there. . .somewhere.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darius didn't budge. He just looked down at his hands. "I am just protecting my children. Doing what I think is best."

"But what if Sonia does?" Maik asked.

"Protecting them from what?" Elrohir demanded. "How is potentially sending them to Azkaban with you going to protect them?!"

"They aren't deatheaters. . .YET." He stressed the last syllable.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Then father has probably succeeded in what he set out to do." Descartes says sighing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonia wondered around looking for someone who may help her find her father. She eventually ran into a very tall man (Artorius). "Um, excuse me, sir. Will you help me?"

"What do you mean, YET." Elrohir growled, taking a step closer to Darius.

Maik frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Artorius looked down at Sonia, instantly recognizing her as a Hubert. "Perhaps, Ms. Hubert. What do you need help with?"

Sonia blinked. "I'm sorry, but do we know each other? I was looking for my father. I. . .I. . ." her voice trailed off. She looked down at her feet and took another deep breath. "I'd like to visit him."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Descartes groaned. "I've read the letters as well, Maik. That's why I kept her from being alone with Father as much as I possibly could.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Darius sighed. "Who do you think Sonia takes after. Her mother? or me? Her anger and distrust of everyone will turn her."

"No, we haven't met." Artorius replied. "It's just you look alot like your father. You can visit him, I suppose. But my son is talking to him at the moment." He looked at her closely for a moment. "Are you sure you want to see him?"

"What are you going to do then?" Maik asked.

Elrohir frowned. "She can still choose what she will become Darius, regardless of what you are or what her personality is. Maybe Sonia does have some anger and mistrust, but she doesn't have to let that dictate her actions."

Sonia looked up locking eyes with the stranger. "Yes, sir. I really want to se my father." she tells Artprius. She tried to mask her own confused emotions as she looked into his eyes. Then it hit her. Elrohir was with her father. Was he mad at her dad?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Descartes sighed. "I don't know. Try to help her the best I can, I guess. Always be there for her."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"True, but like I was at her age, she doesn't know how to use her emotions." Darius says.

Artorius raised an eyebrow slightly. "Who are you trying to convince, Ms. Hubert, me or you?"

Maik nodded. "Maybe your father won't succeed after all."

"How do you know?" Elrohir asked. "Don't you think she's old enough to control her own feelings?"

Sonia blinked and tilted her head to the side. "I'm not quite sure what you mean. You were the one that asked. Can I just see my father, sir?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Descartes nodded. "He probably won't."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darius shrugged. "I just do. Just like I know she will come to visit me soon."

Artorius shrugged. "If you really want to." He pointed the way to Darius' cell and half bowed. "Good evening to you Ms. Hubert."

"She's got Elrohir." Maik smiled. "He won't let her go without a fight."

"Of course she will." Elrohir sneered. "She's your daughter isn't she? Though I don't see why she'd want to see you, considering what you're trying to do to her."

Sonia smiled. "Thank you so much, mister. . ." she blushed when she realized she didn't exactly know him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Descartes laughed softly. "If he's anything like you, than I believe you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darius didn't even attempt to argue. Instead he just watched waiting for his precious daughter to walk up.

"Celebrian." Artorius said, half smiling. "Artorius Celebrian."

"He can be. When he wants to be." Maik smiled. "Or needs to be."

Elrohir just shook his head at Darius. "You're pathetic."

"I thought you were Elrohir's father. Sonia. . .Sonia Hubert. Thank you again, sir." Sonia tells him smiling before heading towards her father's cell.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"That's a good thing"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"I know. But if everything goes your way, you'll have a pathetic father-in-law"

Artorius nodded poilitely and watched Sonia walk away, wondering if she'd regret her decision.

Maik nodded. "It is."

Elrohir clenched his jaw and glowered at Darius. He couldn't argue with that.

Darius was about to gloat when he saw Sonia's face. "Sonia, sweetie, are you okay?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Descartes sighed. "I better start looking for that tavern. YOu should probably go check on your brother and father."

Elrohir turned around in surprise. "Sonia! I didn't know you were here."

"Alright." Maik replied. "You sure you want to stay at a tavern?"