"Severus," the Elder Mother reaches out to him as he approaches; she is so very glad to see him. She sits on a special perch, one that gives her a view of most of the Garden, and when he comes to stand before her, she looks down into his face as though she were much taller than him.

Of all the Silhouettes, she is the one he loves the most.

She is not only the oldest of them in the White City, she is one of the greatest healers in their collective memory. To her people she is Elder Mother; to those who seek her out, she is Bezoar. He just calls her Bea. He never had a relationship with his grandparents; his mother's parents died before he was born, and his father's parents weren't worth knowing. If he could have chosen a grandmother, it would have been her. Bea never had children; she was always more concerned with taking care of others to bother with things like 'personal companionship'. If she could have chosen her son, it would have been him.

"My boy," she says softly as he looks up into her face, smiling. Within her aura, it is as if he were much, much younger. She holds out her hand expectantly, and he gently places an ancient bezoar in it. She closes her hand and he watches her face, knowing what the gift means to her, pleased with himself for bringing her that joy. She opens her hand and it's disappered; the goat stone is now a part of her. "Thank you, Severus," she whispers, kissing the crown of his head. She loosens her physical form for a moment, slides down the wall, then solidifies beside him.

They stroll in silence to a nearby bench and watch the little light bugs flit around Asphodel blossoms. "Lucius is a very complex man, you know that," she says. "But there is a great deal you do not know." She touches Snape's hair gently and smiles at him. "He has the Gift of the Healing Touch, Severus, just as you do. Now that he is away from the Dark Lord, it has become stronger; once the Dark Lord has fallen, it will emerge fully, but in that time he must work to develop it." Snape nods and tells her, "I will be happy to assist him in that any way I can." She smiles and Snape thinks she doesn't seem quite like herself.

Then he notices her chest. There is a slight dent in her chest, over her heart. He asks her what has happened and she hesitates before answering, first taking his hand in hers. "Severus," she squeezes his hand, "you know that Magic is comprised of many different components, and that the Art practiced effects the Practitioner on a physical level. The Healing Arts are a more sympathetic Art, Healers tend to have longer lifespans and are healthier, certainly happier. Those that practice the Dark Arts are eventually consumed by them. It is a dead end path. All this you know first hand."

She releases his hand. "Electricity is a component of Magic, and all living things emit electricity. When there is an overload, the results can be catastrophic. The Killing Curse is basically a single, massive overload of electricity that completely disrupts every system in the victim's body. Even casting the Killing Curse carries a price. Casting it reteatedly..." She pauses and studies Snape's pale face, knowing what he's thinking about. She's truly sorry to take him there, but it's something she feels must be discussed. "The Dark Lord knows this, and he surely must have taken steps to insure his Immortality. But that is not relivent at this moment."

He has an awful chill, as if icy fingers have gone up his back. Something Dumbledore had danced around one night...something he felt he deserved to know but the Elder Wizard refused to tell him... She touches him lightly to bring him back. "Severus," he meets her eyes again, "good. Now, the Cruciatus Curse works on a similar level. Over the course of time, exposed to repeated cursings, the victim's heart..." she breathes deeply, "the victim's heart is destroyed." They don't speak for a while; she knows he is suffering, and that there is nothing she can do to ease it.

"You know how we began, Severus, as a People," she says softly, "we began as healers. We healed the land, we healed the animals, and in time, we healed the people who came to dwell near us. When we heal, a little bit of us is left behind in those we've healed. It's just part of who we are. It bonds us all beyond all unbinding. Sometimes, so much of us is left in someone we've healed that they become truly a part of us, part of our Community. Lucius is now a part of our Community." He reaches for her. "Bea," she touches his face, then rises weakly. "I sacrificed part of my heart to replace the part of his that had died."

Snape trembles, understanding the implication of her statement. He realizes how close he came to losing Malfoy. "You saved his life when you took him away from them." He rises and goes to her side, saying, "and if Therion had not known to bring him here..." she nods. "Yes. Therion suffered a massive heart attack within days of his Ordeal, but fortunately, the damage done by the few tortures he endured did not require as much repair. He needed only rest after healing, and a better diet. And you see now how healthy he is. But Lucius...I will not tell you how many times his heart has felt the Dark Lord's wrath. I do not think it is a number you can bear to hear, nor I can bear to say."

Snape walks to the Asphodel growing nearby and disturbs a few light bugs. "But why would he take it? Why--" she laughs softly. "Really, Severus, can you think on no reason a man such as he would submit himself to something so horrible?" Oh...oh, yes..."Draco," Snape whispers, and she appears beside him. "Yes. So that his son would not have to suffer that fate. The boy would never survive such a thing." He turns to her and places his hand over the slight dent in her chest. "Lucius has always loved you, Severus. I can not begin to tell you how hard he fought to live. His love for you, Ellie and Draco were what kept him fighting. His heart stopped, right in my hand, but I could not let him go."

She draws Snape into her arms and comforts him, and after several minutes, she tells him he should save his strength for Lucius and Ellie instead of trying to heal her. "Do you think I can not feel that, my boy?" He laughs softly and she tells him, "if I am not mistaken, your Lady is planning a dinner for your little group tonight. After enjoying that dinner and their company, Severus, I think you should make good healing love to your dear ones. They both need it. And so do you."

He lingers a moment longer, kisses her cheek softly, then leaves the Garden deep in thought.

Without even thinking about where he's going, he finds his way to Elsbet's new home. He hopes she can be as happy in it as she was in the one he made for her. That gave him a sense of pride, a measure of self-worth, because that's what a decent man is supposed to do; provide a safe, happy home for the woman he loves. For the people he loves. As he walks up to the door, he vows to himself he will give that home back to her, someday.

He raises his hand to place it on the door, but the door opens before he even touches it. It's Malfoy. "I thought I felt you coming," he says, winking, then shuts the door after Snape brushes passed him. Snape watches Malfoy walk over to the table, noticing a subtle change in him already. He's always been an attractive man, but now, he's simply...beautiful. There's just something about Malfoy's long, now-white hair and those grey eyes, coupled with his richer, healthier complexion, and that damned sexy smile...the want is almost overpowering.

"How are you feeling?" Snape asks as Malfoy sits down at the table. Malfoy looks at Snape as he sits down and grins at the question. "I'm feeling quite randy actually, Severus. Ellie has thrown me out of the kitchen twice...I don't know what to do with myself. Well," he chuckles, "I do know what to do with myself, but...why waste it?" Snape glances over at Loki and sees he's made a bed for himself and is asleep again. He rises quietly and looks at Malfoy, who rises also. Stelthily, as if stalking prey, they move slowly to the kitchen, where Elsbet is happily preparing their evening meal. Gods, Severus, Malfoy thinks, doesn't she look...edible? Snape slips into the kitchen and Malfoy follows, but before either of them can touch her, she says, "we are having guests tonight that are expecting a meal actually cooked by a human...do you wish to disappoint them?"

Something in the tone of Elsbet's voice does something to Malfoy, and he purrs silkily, "no, Mistress," and Snape looks at him like he can't believe what he's just heard. "Good," she says, "now you two go...play." Snape thinks it's an incredibly good idea, and before he leaves he leans forward to whisper in her ear, "yes, Mistress." He gives her ear just the slightest nip, then they slip silently out of the kitchen. She stands there a moment, struggling to keep her own desires in check. She does want to join them, but she thinks it's more important for them to have time together, time for themselves.