Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XX

Anne happily skipped around in the bonnet she was gifted, with dirclaw feathers woven in for additional protective capabilities. Sebastian had yet to open any of the gifts laid before him, instead enjoying his sisters happy expressions.

"Are you going to see what you have Sebastian?" His twin questioned as she rejoined her seat at the table and he shrugged reaching for the one with his name written in the beautiful calligraphy of his witches handwriting.

As he felt around inside the box he lifted a silky feeling material from the confines. As he did so he saw the silver shimmer in the light. Confused he stood, letting it fall to the floor as its odd patterns shifted. It took him a moment before he realized what he was holding.

"There's no way! This must've cost you a fortune!" He said draping the cloak over the back of his chair, lifting her in the air with a quiet squeak. He laughed as he spun her around until he caught Solomon's warning eyes and set her back down.

"What is it?" Ominis asked curious without his sight.

Sebastian lifted it back up, wrapping the fabric around his body as he disappeared. Anne's shocked face spoke volumes as her brother dropped the cloak once again.

"How on Merlin's earth did you find a cloak of invisibility?" Solomon asked her

"I made it actually... Mr Moon cornered an actual demiguise and sent me to collect it. I returned it back to a safe location where I've been taking care of it. Eventually I saved enough hair to weave into fabric with Deek's help." She spoke as if the task was normal, but everyone else was left stunned.

"Well that's... here Sebastian, I'm not really topping that am I?" Ominis questioned, handing him a new wand handle exactly like his current one to replace the worn wood.

"This is incredible. Thank you." Sebastian said, once again dragging her into his side. Never could he have imagined to be in the possession of such a high value item. Invisibility cloaks were deeply sought after and expensive. If she hadn't made it herself he debated selling it to purchase a ring for her, but given the hassle she'd gone through to craft such an item, he knew he'd never part with it.

Setting it back in the box he turned towards the brown paper wrapped package, opening it to find several documents as well as several pouches of galleons.

"That's a decent enough portion of your inheritance to do with as you please".

Solomon spoke with a knowing tone and Sebastian nodded, carefully tipping one of the pieces of parchment away from the girl next to him. Seeing what was detailed on the page he promptly returned it to the box to look at later. Realizing his uncle had laid enough research in to land in the surrounding area, as well as a ring maker up on the coast, made him happier than he realized. Knowing his uncle took time to make it easier for him was shocking to say the least.

Setting the lid back on the box he pushed it onto the center of his he table to resume their eating. He didn't notice the way the woman next to him eyed the box curiously, wondering what all the pages of notes around the top could be, but she did briefly see the words "metal worker", deciding to let the information go until later.

Sometime in the evening... 

Bellies full, faces flushed from whiskey, and the cold Scottish air all met them with a welcome greeting as they danced around the fire with the rest of the hamlet. The Hogmanay celebrations had been underway since noon and everyone was happily taking part.

As the music faded away and everyone cheered, several men began work on finishing the preparation for the firework display. Sebastian stepped back, watching as Anne and his witch spoke together with hushed whispers before looking over at him by the firelight. The girl's eyes looked up and down his figure hungrily as he raised an eyebrow.

Ominis had left a while ago to properly apologize to his uncle and from the way they were laughing now all seemed forgiven.

The girl made her wait to him, however as she did so, her foot caught a cobblestone and she fell forward with a laugh. He skillfully caught her, holding her upright as he adjusted the tartan around her shoulders from where it had fallen when she tripped.

"Careful now, don't want you falling over me darling" he quipped

"Are you concerned about me looking up your kilt?" She asked, referring to the time he may have not-so-accidentally fell during one of their outings to get a glimpse up the skirt she had to borrow from Nerida after her trousers were ruined.

"Not in the slightest. If you wanna look I certainly won't stop you." He replied smugly, puffing his chest out as he brushed a small spec of lint off his jackets lapel.

"You are an utter delinquent. And a proud one at that" she laughed

"I make no attempts to hide who I am darling. I also do not deny how wonderful you look in Sallow green and blue" he said, lifting his hand to ask for hers. She relented, giving him her hand as he carefully spun her under his arm before caressing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Stunning." He replied matter of factly , before looking back at the fire.

"I'm really going to miss Feldcroft" she said as they watched the hamlet dance and sing in celebration of the new year.

"We won't be gone long. And we can visit any time you like" he tried to console her sad thoughts.

"Good. This place feels like home." She said looking back at him as he smiled. Carefully making sure Solomon was distracted he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before drawing her close.

"I'm glad you feel that way. I'd like to make this our home someday" he spoke with honestly.

"I'd like that very much." She confirmed and pushed herself closer into his side as they saw the bright colors take to the sky.

He hummed out as she rested her head along his chest, both enjoying the artful display. Slowly he started loosing track of time. Having been awake for a long time, feeling content with a lovely woman in his arms and scotch in his belly he started to almost doze off standing up.

"Sebastian" he heard his uncles voice and he opened his eyes. Looking down he saw his uncles outstretched hands with an unopened bottle of scotch, some coal and a galleon.

"Why don't you do it this year?" Solomon said and he felt himself nodding, retrieving the items from his hand. He had never been allowed to take part in the tradition, his uncle doing it every year.

"Come along Lass, he'll join us in a moment" Solomon said escorting the girl back inside as he stood watching as other men or the hamlet waited outside their doors. Grabbing his father's golden pocket watch that was fastened to his coat he brought it out, watching as the time ticked closer to midnight.

He looked at the top seeing a portrait of his mother when she was much younger, before the twins were born. She looked radiant with her long dark hair waving in the breeze and her smile stretched wide. He heard cheers around him as several other wizards finally crossed their thresholds and he tucked the watch back inside before opening the door.

"Did anyone request a tall, dark haired, devilish handsome man?" Sebastian called out as he stepped through the door before shutting it behind him. As he did so he almost got teary eyed seeing the sight before him. His best friend standing next to his sister, their fingers wrapped together. His uncle holding out an empty glass, demanding a pour. And lastly in the middle of them all stood the love of his life.

Her smile radiated so brightly seeing him take part in a tradition explained to her only moments before. His mothers tartan wrapped around her frame, while she looked so beautiful in the fire light of their hearth. Seeing all his loved ones together and in one place, on a day so sacred to his family moved him. He couldn't wait for more years as this one had been.

And as he brought the gifts inside, setting them down he could only thing of how utterly blessed he was that she had allowed him to bring her home for a Christmas with the Sallows.