Greetings! This fic is a collaboration between Alina (me) and Chloe. I write for Freya, Chloe writes for Celia. This is our first attempt at writing a fic together so please bear with us as we work out all the kinks.
We plan on breaking it down into parts, with each part consisting of several chapters. We will try to get two parts per week posted, given enough time to sit and write and plan and plot and giggle and plot some more.
Disclaimer: We do not own any Harry Potter or Hobbit characters. Only Freya and Celia are OCs. For the Death Eaters whose first names are never mentioned in canon, I used the names given to them in the HP RP I'm in, seeing as they are quite lovely names and I'm used to them. Credit goes to the admins for those names.
To see the map these brilliant Death Eaters have in their possession, Google "map of Middle Earth" and it's the first one. We do not own it, nor do we take credit for creating it. (Google images is such a useful tool.)
Read, review, enjoy!
CELIA
The whole forest shakes when we land as if it's shuddering at our sudden presence. We all knew apparating this far from our land would take its toll, and the fresh bruises now blackening and scrapes now bleeding were proof. I slowly sit up and grip the back of my pounding head.
"Is this it?" Theodore Nott, who seems to be the only one not groaning in pain, begins ruffling through his bag. I hear a faint muttering and turn to my left. Gavin Travers is kneeling down over our eldest member, Rowan Wilkes, mending his splinched leg.
"Found it!" Theodore proudly announces as he waves a folded map over his head. He opens it up and tilts his head with a puzzled expression. I manage to find enough strength to stand and just as I begin to find my balance I take in my surroundings and instantly feel like sitting back down. Wandering roots cover the cold ground making it almost impossible to walk. Moss and colors I've never seen before hug the large tree trunks that are so tall they seem to disappear into the sky. However, the leaves on the branches are so thick that I can't even see the sky, which puts this forest in a forever eerie state. Getting lost seems as easy as breathing in this place, so when I look over at Theodore, who's still trying to make sense of the map, I walk over to him and snatch it from his pale hands.
"Celia, I was just about to figure it out!"
I glance at the map for ten seconds before folding it up and putting it in my pocket. "I'll hang onto this from now on." He knows he lost this round so he doesn't protest. I take another look at the dense, thick forest that surrounds us. We made it to Middle Earth.
"Aghh!" Rowan shrieks as his bone is set back in place. Gavin tries to hold him down as he waves his wand over the wound to heal it.
"Let's see, that's one…" I look around at my injured comrades and do a head count. "Four, five, six…Where's Freya?" Everyone starts looking around. "Where's my sister?" I frantically shout in all directions. "Freya!"
The others look worried, which only makes me more anxious. I want to run and look for her, but the fear of isolation in this place keeps me close to the others.
"Freya!"
"Maybe she went—"
"Shut up! Be quiet and listen." We are all silent. Even Rowan stops his moaning. I didn't notice before, but the forest seems to have a constant hum. It's very unsettling. Suddenly, something rustles in the bushes. They're so thick that I can't see any movement. I take out my black wand and point it at the source of the sound. The others point their wands as well. We stand there. Silent. The forest's hum now painfully loud. The brush rustles again. I'm so scared I can't think of what spell I could possibly use on whatever's out there. This world is new to me, to all of us. The unknown terrifies me. A figure emerges and I exhale with relief.
"Freya!" I run to my sister and hug her.
"We made it," she breathes, our foreheads touching. "The Dark Lord will be pleased."
"He will not be pleased until we return with the Stone," Theodore states. Freya breaks our embrace and slowly walks over to him.
"Nor will he be pleased to know all six of you were clutching your wands at the first sign of trouble. Wands are to be our last resort, you idiots. We are now dwarves. We look like dwarves, we ought to fight like dwarves. Perhaps one of you can answer this for me." Freya stands there, one hand on her hip and a finger tapping her chin. "Do dwarves have wands?" No answer. "Hmm? Yes? No?" Knowing she won't stop until she gets her way, Theodore reluctantly answers.
"No, Freya."
Freya turns to him with great speed. "That's right! The answer is no." She grabs Theodore's wand out of his hand and waves it in the air for all to see. "Last resort." She throws it. "You should get that," she says to Theodore.
"Alright, lads…and lasses," Rowan says, trying to change the subject before a fight breaks out. "Let's get our things and move out. We have work to do."
Freya smirks and waltzes over to me. "Keep it in your boot." She shoves her wand in hers. "Easy access." She playfully kicks the side of my boot.
"Do we have a map?" Walden MacNair asks. I can feel Theodore's glare, which makes me laugh. My interaction with him was that of a brother and sister. I teased him and could care less what he thought of me. When I first met him, I questioned his ability to be a Death Eater. He seemed so innocent. And then I saw him in action one night. I watched him kill a mother and child without hesitation. After that, I toned down the teasing and joking. That was the first time I realized these people are vicious killers, followers of the most evil being in our world. I don't want to be friends with any of them. I don't like what these people are capable of. I joined because of my sister. I could not leave her alone with these people, these monsters. I love Freya. We're family, we're blood. But she does have an evil inside her that I don't understand. I look down at my wrist and since we're under a spell that makes us look like dwarves, my mark is not visible, and I smile.
"Well?" Walden impatiently asks. I take out the map. I have no idea where we are.
"Uhh, well…" I nervously say, scared that these people will turn on me. Think of something, Celia. Quick.
Freya sees me struggling and takes a look at the map. "If we walk straight, eventually we'll make it out of the forest."
Our group doesn't seem convinced, but unlike me, Freya does not fear them.
"So let's go this way," she points straight ahead, hands me the map, and starts walking. Everyone throws their packs over their shoulders and follows her.
I hear a noise behind me and see a small grey hedgehog appear from behind a tree.
"Aww." I go over to pet it but I'm interrupted by a sudden green flash. I turn and see Evan putting his wand away. The Killing Curse is a favorite of his. He turns and walks away. I don't allow myself to cry. I'll look weak, but I can't bring myself to look at the dead animal because that'll make me lose it. Innocence lost.
I swing my heavy pack over my shoulder and run after them. Intimidating as they may be, they're my only company in this wood. I don't know which is more terrifying.
