Amalgamation Ⅲ
The first to react is Wulm, who scowls fiercely at Kostilb. Not that Kostilb cared as he is clearly Wulm's elder. Wulm may be the elder for many of the goblin generations including the goblin king, but there are only three other goblins in the entire world that are Kostilb's elder! And one never knows because if he's lucky he soon won't have any elders!
Greatly satisfied Kostilb puts his dagger away and raises his spotted, gnarled hand into the air. The floating blood droplet floats to rest just above his wrinkled palm. With care, he magically carries the floating blood droplet to the throne.
Raising his hand to the level of the goblin king, Grok Gringotts, Kostilb says, "I present the claim to the King of the Stone Throne. Stone born, blood born, Rowan and Severus Prince are true kin."
"The claim is witnessed and accepted," Grok Gringotts answered with a measure of awe and disbelief.
There are various expressions of protest, but not even the staunchest goblin is not able to deny the claim. The grandchildren of Reginald Prince, Rowan & Severus are indeed descended from the royal line. Distant kin they are, but they are still kin.
With a somber expression, Grok Gringotts leans forward and extends his hand to take the floating blood droplet from Kostilb. The floating blood droplet is gently received by the goblin king. He carefully lowers the droplet to a carved root on the throne. The throne greedily absorbs the droplet and begins to gleam with twinkling gem lights.
A rumbling sound is heard as a glowing-like root seems to extend from the throne. It is not a root but rather what appears to be a magical blue-colored root that rapidly across the floor up the walls and to the ceiling. A scraping-like sound is heard as writing in gobbledegook appears on the walls. The lineage of the entire royal goblin family appears including the descendants of the first-born goblin son, Ranuk.
Yet while there are countless descendants of the second-born son, whom Grok Gringotts is descended from the line of Ranuk is dead except for two descendants, Rowan & Severus Prince. But that is not what is important, rather every goblin's eye is drawn to the top of the magically created tree.
At the top of the tree, there is the name of Ragnuk, the first, (the Goblin King). Listed directly below are the names of his two sons. Just below the name of the first-born son, Ranuk, there is the name known to all, Helga Hufflepuff. The tale is true!
Astonished whispers fill the chamber as the glowing roots retract and vanish back into the throne. However, to the wonderful astonishment of the goblins, the carved royal goblin family tree remains on the walls. A permanent fixture.
On the other hand, Rowan's gaze became fixated on the closest relative on that side of the family Hepzibah Smith, who had been murdered by Riddle in 1961. The last known descendant of Helga Hufflepuff until the birth of Rowan and Severus in 1960. They truly were the last descendants descended from Helga Hufflepuff.
The gazes of other goblins are not as calm, especially among the councilmembers. Purtang's expression is rather solemn as he contemplates the Prince's. The Prince heir's had the right to the throne. And perchance that was exactly what the old Prince was aiming for.
The strange atmosphere is broken by Grok Gringotts speaking," By birthright, the Prince heirs have a claim to the stone throne, Prince. Was that your objective all along?"
A somber silence fills the chamber as the goblins glance at their present heir, Ragnok, and the Prince grandchildren. More royal heirs are not necessarily better for the goblin kingdom, rather there are more contenders to the throne. And these were not even quarter goblins, but a full witch and wizard with mere droplets of the royal bloodline. They could not be allowed to sit on the throne.
Yet strangely, the heir, Ragnok shows no trace of worry. Rather he reassuringly smiles at Rowan and Severus Prince. Ragnok held no worries having interacted sufficiently with Rowan to know that she held no desire for the goblin throne or her brother. If any, the threat to Ragnok's succession would come from within his immediate family. (The disinherited sons of his uncle, Ranlaff).
"That claim is moot," Reginald walked over to place a reassuring hand on his grandchildren's shoulder. "By tradition, Helga Hufflepuff would not have been eligible for the throne even if she had been formally recognized. The throne solely belongs to the heir, Ragnok, the Prince household lays no claim to the stone throne."
The goblin king leans back against the throne with no small measure of relief. Grok Gringott's dark eyes scrutinize Reginald Prince but find no traces of an entrapment. "I, Grok Gringotts, King of the Goblins accept the power of surrender of succession rights of the Prince heirs. By the power invested in me, I formally recognize the lineage of the first-born son of our forefather, Ragnuk, the first. The Prince heir's lineage is acknowledged as true and royal."
Rowan and Severus slightly relaxed as the most difficult part had been addressed. It still would be uphill from here out, but much more manageable. By being formally acknowledged, they would gain some measure of protection and have a say in the management of Gringotts, unlike the rest of the magical world. To the point that Gringotts could offer them sanctuary in the worst of situations and ensure their safety even if it meant hiding them in the goblin ancestral lands.
"I sense that is not the only reason why have you requested an audience, Prince," Grok thoughtfully said feeling much calmer and clear-headed. "Speak your mind, I doubt there is much else that can be said that will surprise me."
Reginald suppresses the urge to smirk and rather aloofly responds, "The key to the matter lies in the exitance of Helga Hufflepuff."
"What about her?" Grok arched his brow.
"Helga Hufflepuff is one of the four founders of Hogwarts," Reginald purposefully indicated, "a half-blood descended from the royal goblin lineage."
Grok Gringotts furrows his brow in thought, and he is not the only one among the goblins.
Yet the first to realize the significance is Kostilb, who shows an excited child-like expression. He had lived several hundreds of years and never thought in his lifetime to witness the possibility of the impossible becoming possible. And just maybe, he might have his childhood dream finally fulfilled.
Abruptly Grok Gringott's dark eyes widen in shock. "Prince, do you mean to say that we have a legitimate avenue of claim for my people to wield a wand?!"
"That is correct," Reginald pointedly declared.
There is an air of shock as the goblins feel as if their entire universe has been turned on its head. Time and time again the witches and wizards had denied the right to a wand. Yet here is clear proof that one of the very founders of Hogwarts is half-goblin. There is a clear precedent, and it opened the door for an appeal to a hundred-year-old pact.
Claang looks positively excited at the prospect. This meant everything to the Goblin nation to be seen as equal to a wizard or a witch. It was the dream of thousands of goblin generations.
Having been visibly shaken, Grok recollects himself. "I confess, Prince, though your offer is tempting it is still not enough," he forlornly said. "Even if we pursue this avenue to rightfully appeal, the International Confederation of Wizards will never accept our claim. They will surely argue that it is an attempt to destroy peace between our kind. It is simply not enough."
Reginald turns to gaze at his granddaughter, Rowan who carefully retrieves one more item from her mokeskin. A gleaming sword made of pure silver with its hilt set with egg-sized rubies. Godric Gryffindor's sword glitters in the light revealing catching the eye of every goblin in the room. Yet just hidden out of sight, below the hilt is the full name of Godric Gryffindor engraved.
Every last goblin in the hall was shocked. They had all heard of the wretched tale of Godric Gryffindor stealing the sword from the first goblin king, Ragnuk the First. It was the first tale taught to them by their mothers and fathers teaching about the treachery of wizards.
"The blade of Godric Gryffindor will serve as the symbol of peace," Reginald plainly offered. "It will be the legitimate proof of the treaty between us."
A few goblins' eyes fill with greed and self-righteous fury. They are the first to rise to protest to demand the rightful return of the legendary sword to the goblin nation. Yet their fervent wishes die as their king holds up his hand to keep them from speaking. The energized goblins reluctantly sit back on the stone bench.
This time Grok Gringotts is not able to collect himself. Rubbing his forehead with one hand, his expression is troubled. "How did the Prince's come to acquire the sword of Godric?"
"That is not for me to respond," Reginald honestly responded.
Grok furrows his brow only for his gaze to turn to Rowan Prince.
Sensing hundreds of gazes upon her, Rowan somewhat truthfully responds, "Only a true Gryffindor may draw the sword," which was true enough since she was the descendant of Godric Gryffindor. However, it did not preclude any Gryffindor or individuals worthy of drawing the sword from the Sorting Hat.