Alcander Achillia
When I wrote Alcander Achillia in the Inglorious Bastards (Chapter Eighty-Six) his voice and manner of speaking that popped in my mind was King Ecbert from Vikings. I love how Linus Roache portrayed the character, and I love the character so much (even if he was very problematic).
~*~
2010
"Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, can we go to the place where the Olympics were held? Oh, can we also go to Delphi – can we climb Mt. Olympus?"
Sofia has not stopped with asking about their itinerary for the family trip to Greece. She has been going on and on about the trip and asking where they were going and what to pack since Theodore and Carina told their children of their plan for their yearly family trips. Last year, they went to France, now they chose to go to Greece.
As his daughter went on about asking about their plans, all Theodore could do was laugh with the sight of her excitement. Her brothers on the other hand, were not amused with their sister's endless questions. Romulus has already stuffed his ears with cotton to block her out while Viktor hid his head in his shirt. Theo, who was on his father's shoulders, just sighed and tried to look around while they stood there in the middle of the Parthenon, waiting for their mother to come out with their registries.
Just before Romulus could stuff a sandwich in his sister's mouth, Carina came out of the Greek Ministry. Romulus and Viktor ran to their mother, crying for help and to make Sofia stop. Hearing her brothers' complaints, Sofia glared at them and pouted. But before they started fighting, Carina told them that they were all registered and that they should head to the inn they were staying at to check in.
"Then, once we put down our bags, we could go sightseeing – we're going to see old villas, museums, and the beach for today." Carina told them. "Then tomorrow, we are going to Delphi, and do more sightseeing, and more time in the beach."
"Are we going to join those group tours?" Sofia asked.
"Why bother if your father's here. He'll be our own tour guide."
Theodore chuckled. "Come on, let's go, and when we get to the inn we'll have lunch first."
Romulus pumped his fist in the air. "Yes! I'm hungry!"
"You're always hungry!" Sofia remarked.
"I'm a growing boy! And who was it that ate all the snacks earlier?"
Before Sofia could call off her brother, Carina and Theodore dragged their children down the hill. In the streets, Carina had to hold onto Romulus as the boy had the tendency to run off while Viktor, being the most calm between the twins, held Sofia and kept close to their mother. With her being the only one who knew how to operate a camera, Carina took as many pictures as she could, she would even let Viktor try out the device and take his siblings' photos, and the statues they followed that pointed them to the direction of the entrance to the magical world of Greece.
"Is that Apollo?" Viktor asked.
"Yes, that's the god Apollo," said Theodore.
As his family entered the portal to the magical community, Theodore felt an odd presence. He turned around to see if someone was there but found no one.
"Da, what's wrong?" Theo asked.
Theodore glanced up to his son who clung to his head. "No, nothing's wrong. Come on, let's catch up with your siblings and your mother... bend down a little alright? Don't want to hit your head on Apollo's foot."
Theo giggled and bent down to fit the portal. As the father and son disappeared into the portal, a figure emerged from the Muggle restaurant, his eyes fixed at the portal that the family passed through. Waking to the small alleyway, the man waved his wand while whispering an enchantment and a message. A corporeal image of a hawk appeared, its body made from light, and it flew away to the direction of the Mediterranean.
~*~
True to her word, once they had their lunch in the inn they checked in, the family went around Athens to explore. The entire time, Theodore acted as the tour guide, giving commentaries about the history and the mythology of the statues and other structures and arts they come across. When they were in the museum, Theodore has caught the attention of one of the groups that they started asking him of the piece than the guide they were with. That had Carina choking on her own saliva and went to a coughing fit that was also in the line of laughing. Before the group could ask him any more questions, Theodore said that he was not a curator and quickly led his family to another section of the museum.
"Ever thought of a career change, Achilles?" Carina teased.
"Shut up, Argo," he muttered.
Before the sun would set, the family went back to their inn at the beach side and had their time at the beach. Carina was glad that none of their children went though the I-hate-sand phase and enjoy themselves. While she stayed on the shoreline with Theo, letting the boy play with the lapping waves and the shell he was finding, she watched as Theodore taught their children to swim. Not long, the three were racing each other towards their father who had his arms out to mark the finish line.
"Mum," Theo spoke.
"Yes, love?"
"Swim?"
"You want to swim too?"
The boy nodded.
"Alright," Carina stood up, she held Theo's hand as they slowly went into the water. The boy would giggle whenever the waves would come at them, or when he would see a fish swimming by. When it became too deep for him, Carina had to pick him up and continue until they reached their family. In the water, they played games. Theo was trying to learn how to swim with the help of his siblings, and he entire time, Carina held his hand and coached him until he learned how to float without holding onto her for a short time.
As they played though, Theodore kept getting the same feeling of someone watching. He would look around to see who it was. There were people who glance at his way as they were taken by the sight of his tattoo covered arms that stretched to his back, and then at Carina's own tattoos that covered her scars. Maybe a few onlookers at his wife which Theodore sent a glare at. But those weren't the ones that had him on edge. Someone was watching them.
"Dad!"
Theodore jumped at the call. Instinct to look if something was wrong, he snapped his attention to his children to assess the situation, but then he just saw his children laughing as they played with their mother and inviting him to join the fun. He sighed in relief. When he joined them, his children did not seem to notice that something was wrong, but Carina did.
When children decided to retreat to the sand and make a sandcastle instead, Theodore and Carina sat under the umbrella and watched as their children played in the sand. While Viktor and Sofia started making the walls of the castle, Viktor was helping Theo to dig the lake, the Black Lake to be specific, as they planned to create a Hogwarts sandcastle. But from where their parents sat, it looked like a pile of dragon poop. They won't say that though.
Carina laughed as she watched them create their castle. She grabbed her camera and took a photo of the children playing. "One day, when their older, they'll look back at this and ask 'why the bloody hell did we make a pile of shit with sand?'." When Theodore did not respond, Carina turned to him and saw how his jaw was clenched his eyes narrowed as he looked at their children. "Theodore."
He flinched at the sudden touch on his hand but then relaxed when he saw that it was just Carina.
"What's wrong?" She whispered. "You've been distracted lately."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... but I feel like someone is watching us."
Alarmed, Carina turned to their children, her hand reaching for the wand that was in her bag. "Since when? Is it bad?"
"Since we went in the portal... but I didn't feel it in the museum, I just did earlier. And I don't think it's bad... but it's still something. I'm sorry..."
"What are you apologizing for?"
"We came here for a family vacation – to spend time with the children, and I think I brought this on us."
Carina cupped his cheek and made him face her. "You didn't do anything wrong. This isn't on you. Maybe it's just one of your relatives who recognized you – you did say that they work in the Ministry, some are Aurors who take rounds in the capital to keep watch on things."
He wanted to say she was right, but Theodore knew this feeling. It wasn't like someone who recognized him and started gossiping. It felt like he – they were being watched. Followed.
"Would it help you if you went to see your cousin in the Ministry. Perses? To get your mind off this so you could relax and enjoy this time with our kids?" Carina asked.
Theodore swallowed, he looked up to his wife guiltily. "I'm so sorry."
Carina smiled. "It's okay, I understand... just do what it is you need to do so you could enjoy this trip with our family."
"I won't leave now... maybe later when they're asleep."
"Alright." Carina leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I know it's a lot to ask, but can we now go back to our little devils?"
Theodore chuckled. "Alright, let's see who built the best sandcastle there is."
Placing one last kiss on Carina's lips, Theodore helped her up from the blanket and went to where their children were playing. But the moment they turned to the direction of them, their smiles fell, and Theodore started running as a man wearing a expensive robes sat on the sand talking to them.
"You know our dad?" Romulus asked.
"I do," the man said.
"Yes, I'm actually his cousin –"
"Step away from them!" Theodore stood as a wall between his children and the man. Carina came and called for Sofia, Romulus, Viktor, and Theo, and hid them behind her. Her wand in hand.
"Hello, Achilles," the man stood up, a mocking grin on his face.
"Perses," he sneered.
"Leave. Now."
Perses clicked his tongue. "You don't want to cause a scene in front of your children. How do you think that would affect them when they see their loving father attack a stranger – his cousin nonetheless!"
Sensing the tension, Carina told Theodore that she and the children would just walk down the shoreline to look for sea glass. Theodore nodded in agreement, but before they left, Sofia went to her father and took his hand, wanting to take him away from the man who made him so angry. Theodore smiled and brushed his hand on her hair. "Go with your mother, I'll catch up later," he told her. Sofia was hesitant but then left his side reluctantly. The moment they were gone, his smile fell.
Theodore took a breath. "What is it that you want?"
"Where is your hospitality, Achilles? Won't you invite me first to join your family on the blanket? This is a violation –"
"From what I recall, those traditions only apply when I invite you. Not you walking in and ruining my family vacation."
Perses chuckled. "Fine, I'll be direct. Grandfather has heard of your arrival in Greece."
"What a surprise, I wonder who told him." he grumbled.
"Even when you are banned from coming Aeaea, you are still the son of his favorite daughter, so he couldn't stop himself from at least giving you and your family the best accommodations."
"Thanks, but no thanks. We're fine without his special treatment."
"He has also booked a reservation for you all so he could meet his great-grandchildren, and so they could also meet him."
"Does he really think that I'm going to let him just meet them after he kicked me out? After he refused to help me during the war? And knowing where this family stands towards blood purity?"
"You never understood the reason why he never had us go with you. It was keeping a neutral ground. And like I said, Grandfather's love for his eldest daughter was far beyond than purity. Since you're too thickheaded to listen, I'll leave this with you," Perses handed him a card. An invitation to dinner for his family. "Wear something nice when you go there... I don't think Grandfather would appreciate if he saw you in this."
"Get the fuck out of my face, and I nor my family are going to this dinner," Theodore thrusted the invitation back. "Now, excuse me, I have to look for them." He turned away from Perses to grab their things. With a wave of a hand, he had their blanket, umbrella and bag packed, and shot to his hand as he walked, following the footprints left on the sand.
~*~
After the children had a short nap in the inn, and Carina and Theodore discussing about what happened earlier, the family went to their own reservation that was away from the restaurant that Theodore's grandfather set up. It was at the beach side, giving them a view of the ocean. And unlike what Perses told them about wearing something formal, the family wore their best beach wear.
"Tomorrow, we are going to climb Mt. Olympus," said Carina.
Sofia gasped in excitement while her brothers' brows knitted together.
"Why?" Viktor asked.
"Won't it take days to reach the top?" Romulus grumbled.
"Not if you have a portkey," Theodore chuckled. "As much as I want you all to experience climbing it, you're still too young. For now, we use the easy and magical way, so you could see the sunrise –"
"I do love watching the sunrise with the gods."
The additional voice had the family turn. Approaching them was a man, standing tall and proud with a smirk on his face. He had a head full of gray hair, his beard and mustache had more of a salt and pepper touch. Wrinkles were seen in his face and neck, showing his old age. He wore cream-colored robes that had a touch of gold, following the patterns they have seen around the city, and acting as a cloak was a himation dyed in purple with gold trimmings. A symbol of power. Then there were his eyes, they were a deep set of brown, very similar to Theodore's own, and with Sofia and Romulus'.
Theodore stood up as he saw the man. Before he could speak, the man smiled and said, "Hello, Achilles, it is nice to see you again."
"Funny, I didn't think you would after our last encounter," Theodore spoke in Greek so his children would not catch up, considering they were still learning it and only knew the basics.
"Ah, that is the past. I would like to believe that we have made our amends when I sent the gift for your eldest children." Theodore's grandfather's eyes fell on Viktor. The odd one in the bunch. When he glanced at Theodore and Carina's way and saw the look of alarm, he said nothing. Instead, he went to Carina's side and greeted her with a smile.
"You must be Carina Black, as much as I want to say that I have heard so many things about you, alas, it would be a lie," Achillia took Carina's hand and patted it for a while.
"Unfortunately, I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Achillia," Carina glared at the man.
"Please, call me grandfather. And these little ones," Achillia came to Sofia, Romulus, Viktor, and Theo. "Can call me great-grandfather."
"You're our great grandfather?" Viktor asked.
Carina and Theodore glanced at each other, worried about what Achillia would say. But the man's response surprised them.
"But of course!" Achillia snapped his finger and called forth a chair. One appeared behind him before he sat down between Viktor and Romulus, disappointing the two as they would always sit together. "My daughter is your father's mother. Which makes him my grandson."
"Grandmother is your daughter?" Sofia asked, leaning forward. "Dad said that I was named after Grandmother."
Achillia smiled. "And I could see that you are just as strong and bright as her."
"Dad, why are you still standing?" Theo asked.
"Come now, Achilles, take a seat. Stop standing there like a fool and join us, the food is just about to be sent out," said Achillia.
Theodore sat down. He turned to Carina, expecting that she would say something or show a reaction about what was happening but it seems that she too was in shock with how his grandfather was interacting with their children. He had an idea that he would do something that would traumatize them, but he was being something that he never was to Theodore. He was being a grandfather. Rather, a great-grandfather.
And as much as he wanted to make Achillia leave, he couldn't without making a scene. But that did not stop Theodore from asking, "Why are you here?"
"As I told Perses, I wanted to meet Sofia's grandchildren – my great-grandchildren." Said Achillia.
"Blood is power," Theodore said in Greek. "Isn't that right."
Achillia smiled mockingly and replied in the same language. "But even we bend our own principles when it comes to people we love. And I loved my daughter dearly."
Theodore wanted to retort that he had other children who too had given him grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pester, but he too knew how his grandfather treasured his mother. She was not like her siblings who were much like other nymphs who were too vane, she was an intellectual, a curious mind, who knew how to play the game with pureblood families, who grew tired of her life in the island and found an escape.
"Now, if I have this right, you my dear are Sofia, correct?" Achillia smiled at the girl.
"That's right!"
"And this little man is Romulus," he messed with Romulus' hair. "Then here is Viktor. And that little boy is Theodore."
"But we call him Theo," Viktor said.
"Of course, Theo. Much better and not a mouthful to say."
The commend had Theodore roll his eyes.
"What's your name Great-Grandfather?" Sofia asked.
"My name is Alcander Achillia."
"Like Alcander our chimera?" Romulus grinned.
Achillia glanced at Theodore's way, glaring at him, and Theodore had a mocking look at his face. "Yes, just like your chimera."
Their food was brought out, it was the dishes that they ordered but with a few additional ones that Achillia picked out for them to try. And one of the things he added was the wine, which was served to Carina, Theodore, and himself. Knowing how good the wine was, Theodore gladly drank it. And with him stressing about his grandfather, he drank it in one gulp, alarming Carina. Especially when he asked for another.
"This looks delicious," Romulus licked his lips.
"Yes, that's my favorite, actually," Achillia said. "Carina, my dear, from the stories I hear, you are an Astronomer, correct?"
"I am," Carina answered, her eyes never leaving the man as kept an eye on him and how he interacted with her children. "I'm now based at Sinora where I also teach at the school."
"You're a member of the Maj-Astra, correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"Excellent. And your father, how is he? Did you know, I almost had Sirius Black as son-in-law." Achillia smiled. "I had the agreements with your grandparents, even sent the dowry, but then he ran-away. Next thing I heard, he was imprisoned, widowed, and left an orphaned daughter to the care of her mother's family." He then chuckled. "And now, here you are. How things went full circle."
Carina was about to say something but then one of her children asked a question.
"Great-Grandfather," Theo spoke, struggling with the long title. "Where's great-grandmother?"
Achillia hummed. "Your Great-Grandmother does not like leaving our home. She likes the ponds and fountains there, but she does send her love."
Theodore coughed as he chuckled while he drank his wine. It was a cynical chuckle. Before he could take another sip, Carina took it from him and had him drinking water.
"You've had enough," she told him.
"I'm not drunk," he said.
"And I'm not going to sit here and watch you get drunk."
As dinner went on, the children asked their great-grandfather more questions, and each time he answered them truthfully. They asked about the island that no mortal can reach. They asked about the Greek gods and if he had drunk wine with them before.
"Yes, I did," said Achillia jokingly. "And Dionysus threw marvelous parties. And Zeus, he was a large man who would throw lighting for fun!"
"Don't believe everything your great-grandfather says, he likes to exaggerate things," Theodore said.
The children laughed. When dessert was served – by Achillia's request that they have dessert – the conversation switched to between the man and Carina and Theodore. Achillia asked about what has happened to Nott Manor or the Ancient House of Black, which the couple answered truthfully but not fully ("Dad and I gave it to Harry," said Carina. "I turned the Manor to a Dragon Reserve." Said Theodore. "I doubt your father's father would be happy about that," Achillia chuckled. "Well, it's a good thing he's dead."). Most of the conversations were about political matters, Hogwarts and where the children's education.
"We have them going to a Muggle primary school," said Carina.
"A Muggle school!" Achillia's brows shot up. "Interesting, why do that?"
"Aside from the fact the Hogwarts doesn't have the basic lessons of mathematics, language, science, and those things, Carina and I want them to learn how it is to be with other children their age... and because while I had my private tutors, Carina went to a Muggle school when she was their age. And I'm sure you could see which of us turned a whole lot better," Theodore mockingly smiled.
Carina's brows furrowed. "I get it that you were bloody twat when we started in Hogwarts." Their children gasped at their mother using the word when she would tell them not to. Carina apologized to them and continued, "but I think you turned out just fine. Sure there were the times where I just want to smash that know-it-all head of yours into the toilet, but I have to admit, it's also that brain that saved our lives a lot of times."
"Glad to see that you just told our children how much you hated me when we were still students," Theodore chuckled. "But it was a lonely childhood, and I think it would have given me some relief to not always think about things... and schemes."
Carina sighed. Under the table, held Theodore's hand and slipped her fingers through the gaps.
"And what about their magical education?" Achillia asked.
Theodore and Carina raised a brow. Was he serious? They thought. "They're going to Hogwarts." they said.
"Even after everything that has happened to that school?"
"It's not like Beauxbaton is open to all students of all countries. Besides, their friends and family will also be at Hogwarts." said Theodore.
"And there is no way am I sending them to Durmstrang where they practice Dark Magic and the Unforgivable Curses," said Carina.
"Well, we could all cross out Durmstrang out of your list, but with the right family name to back them, we could have them go to Beauxbaton." Achillia shrugged. "Your mother went to Beauxbaton."
"We?" Theodore raised a brow.
"I am just concerned for my great-grandchildren's education and wellbeing, considering they will be staying in a castle that has – what? Secret chambers that have Basilisks. Dark Lords. A castle that became a battleground for a war... creatures roaming the forest that is being cared by an untrained half-giant?"
Carina glared at him. "For your information, Hagrid is a good caretaker. And a good teacher. And this isn't any of your concern. They are going to Hogwarts just like Theodore and I and the rest of their family unless they want to choose another school to go to."
"If you mean Ilvermorny, my dear, that school too has its dark secrets, and it is linked to our very infamous Salazar Slytherin," Achillia smirked. "Yes, I've heard of your mother's family, Carina. I did my little research about you and your mother and father."
She bit the inside of her cheek. "And besides, Hogwarts is a lot safer now with McGonagall as the Headmistress."
"And how is she better? I believe they said the same thing when Albus Dumbledore was Headmaster – that Hogwarts was in good hands... and look, that school because the source of all problems during his reign. And that includes the time when Grindelwald was in power."
"Because she's not Albus Dumbledore. And she's better than him," Theodore answered. "McGonagall has a heart. She doesn't scheme, nor does she treat boys like pawns for her game. She cares for her students."
Before Achillia could speak, Theo tugged on his mother's shirt and said, "Mum I'm sleepy."
Carina smiled, she took Theo from his seat and lets him rest his head on her shoulder. Turning to the other children, Sofia and Viktor had droopy eyes as they ate their dessert. Romulus was already snoring while a spoon was in his mouth.
"I think it's time we head to bed." She said. Theodore got up and tapped Romulus on the shoulder to wake him. The boy snorted and jumped and went to eat more of his ice cream.
"That's enough ice cream," Theodore told him.
"But before you go," Achillia got up. "I want to give you some gifts."
"There's no need," Carina said.
"Let an old man spoil his great-grandchildren," Achillia said. Calling forth for the servants, five boxes floated in midair as they entered the room. Sofia and Viktor jumped in shock at the sight of the floating, and expensive looking chests. "As you could see, each box is named after the children, and this one is for you, dear Carina," Achillia personally handed the box to Carina while the rest floated to the hands of the children. "There's no need to give Theodore considering he already took his."
Theodore rolled his eyes at that. "Thank you for the gifts. Kids, say goodbye to your great-grandfather."
"Goodnight, and thank you for the gifts Great-Grandfather," Sofia, Romulus, and Viktor said, trying their best not to yawn. Theo, was already asleep and was not able to say his thanks.
"Goodbye, children, and I hope to see you again... if your father permits it," Achillia turned to the couple. "Carina, Achilles." He nodded at their way and then left the restaurant.
~*~
Laying in bed, after bathing and putting their children to sleep in the separate room, Carina and Theodore decided to open the box that Achillia gave her. Theodore betted three Sickles that it was a cursed object, Carina betted that it was a poisoned crown. They were both wrong. It was a rectangular mechanism made from bronze, with layers of gearwheels on each other at the center that moved, and on top was what looked like a sphere that held a long clock hand circling the circular layers around it.
"I guess we owe Grandfather seven Sickles," Theodore mused.
"I'm sure what he doesn't know won't hurt him," Carina chuckled as she picked up the device.
Theodore smiled as he watched his wife examine the device. He knew what it was, but as she marveled at it, the ingenuity, and how she bit her lip to stop her excitement, he held back from telling her and asked her what it was.
"It's an Antikythera mechanism... see it as an ancient computer during Ancient Greece. It's a machine that uses bronze gearwheels to calculate the cycles of the cosmos – the sun, moon, the planets, the stars. With this, astronomers in ancient times would know when the next eclipse was, the position of the moon in the next ten years." She smiled as she turned the hand and saw the movement of all the mechanisms. "If you look at the pieces, you could see inscriptions on the surface, like a user-manual –" she turned to her husband and saw him smiling as he watched her. "You already know this, don't you? Why bother asking me about it when you already know?"
"Because I love watching the way you talk about these things..."
"And what do I look like, exactly?"
He shrugged. "It's something you've always had when we were children – how you would just go on about these things even when Roman or Harry have already stopped listening because of how bored they were."
Carina chuckled. "Would you hate me if I kept this?"
"Why would I hate you if you kept a gift given to you?"
"It's because it's from your grandfather."
"Carina, it's yours not mine. And besides, I'd know if he was planning something, and from the looks of how he talked to the kids and the fact that he gave you this, it was a sincere gift. See it as a gift to welcome you to the family... the fucked up family, that is."
Carina smiled. She leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips. "I think he really does care for the children... only because they're the grandchildren of his favorite daughter. Why is it that he hates you so much?"
"Because he doesn't like my father, and because I remind him of my father. What I'm curious about is the arrangement with Sirius Black – I didn't know that."
"Yeah, Dad mentioned it once. It was one of the many reasons why he ran away from home and lived with Mum then the Potters. He said that during a holiday dinner, his mother announced that she arranged with the Achillias to join the families. He thought it was Regulus, but to his surprise, it was him. They were going to make him go to Greece to make the Unbreakable Vow with Achillia, but before they could force him to, he ran away. Took the Knight Bus and rode to Ottery St. Catchpole."
"How disturbing to know that there was a possibility that Sirius Black could have been a cousin of mine or an uncle... and the fact that if he hadn't gotten away you wouldn't be here and nor would those little mischief makes at the other room."
They laughed. Carina sighed and laid down in bed with open her arms. Theodore pulled the covers on them before laying in her embrace. Carina reached for her wand turned off the lights with a spell.
"Do you want them to see your grandfather more, now?" She asked.
"Would you hate me if I said not in a daily basis? Maybe once a year or whenever we go to Greece – and only if we come back here." His voice muffled as his face was buried in her chest as he tried to get some sleep.
"Okay – by the way, the kids are going to Hogwarts. Even if there's fucking basilisk in that fucked up chamber. I trust McGonagall more than I trust the bloody Ministry to keep them safe while at school."
Theodore chuckled. "Yes, they'll go to Hogwarts, and besides, I also trust McGonagall to look out for them... Merlin, we better give her a good luck present when Sofie, Rom, and Vik start's their first year."
"I'm sure she'll appreciate a bottle of whiskey. Especially with James and Fred also starting."
"Make it five bottles. She'll need it."