A/N: Harry in Grim form will be referred to as Grim for now. Harry as normal will be referred to as Harry, and Harry in his second form will be referred to as ******w. No spoilers~ Although reviews with guesses will be rewarded with a Story Ticket. In other words, if you get it right, you can suggest to me a story and I'll try to write it~ Or anything else, like an opinion on your story, story ideas for you (trust me I have enough) or anything else to do with stories you can think of~

Veil of Valar Chapter 4 – Meetings and Rulings

Harry saw the spectral beings reach the base of the hill and begin to climb, bony fingers clutching at the rock and dirt. With a feral snarl, Harry launched himself towards the castle ruins, intent on protecting these strangers from the bound souls.

Harry raced as fast as his body could take him, paws scrabbling on rocks and soil as he pushed his body faster and faster. He used a small breeze to launch his body halfway up the hill, scrambling up the steep side in an effort to reach the not-quite-humans before the specters could. Snarling in frustration, Harry redoubled his efforts as a frightened babble reached his ears.

He would NOT let them die, strangers or no.

After what seemed an eon, Harry reached flatter ground and raced forward, body straining to keep up his level of speed. Ears flat to his face and fur blowing in the wind of his passage, he burst upon a scene that made his growl reach new heights. The rumbling, menacing sound filled the air, making the specters pause briefly before continuing their inexorable pursuit.

One of the little not-men fell with a cry. Harry snarled, leaping forwards as the closest cloaked menace raised a sickly black sword. Nearly too late, he felt the blade pierce through his shoulder and scratch the child-man beneath him. Snarling and tossing his head in challenge, Harry released himself and let the Grim's instincts take control, melding perfectly together.

A howl of fury rose through the air, powerful and dominating. Head swinging low, Harry stalked towards the souls, tail lashing behind him. A ball of fire materialized, admittedly not all that large, and with a single bound Harry locked his jaw around ones throat, nearly gagging as the taste of mold and rotting bodies filled his mouth. Venom coated his teeth and burned through the magic and bindings holding the construct together. A lash of his tail and the ball of fire impacted on another's chest.

The creature let out a high-pitched scream of agony that made Harry whimper in pain. His ears were too sensitive in some instances. Harry felt the world stagger drunkenly.

Poison…He thought dazedly, managing a weak snarl at one of the approaching things. It only hesitated briefly before heading again to the smallest man-child, the one with the evil, stinking ring. Staggering, Harry managed to race over to his side, standing over the fallen ring-bearer in a protective stance. His growl was weaker than the last time though, and crazy, whirling colours spun through his vision.

The clang of sword on sword and the crackle of flames brought him slightly out of his poison-induced stupor. Large green eyes blinked slowly, slowly clouding. Suddenly there was another shriek, and the presence of evil fled. Harry felt himself slowly begin to awaken, more alert now that the stink of evil no longer permeated his senses.

Looking down, he noticed the man-child sweating and looking pale. The poisoned blade had nicked the skin of his shoulder, and he was obviously a lot less resistant to shade poison than Harry. Whining in exhaustion, Harry felt himself droop over the prone teen, only to find his nose getting intimate with a blade of cold steel.

With a mewl of confusion, Harry struggled to raise his head, looking with uncomprehending eyes at the tall man standing with glower firmly affixed on his face. Too tired to care, Harry flipped the man off with a lazy tail swipe and whined again in pain.

"What are you, creature?" the man hissed, blade never wavering. Harry attempted to roll his eyes, but instead felt himself slowly succumb to the poison coursing through his veins. Black encroached on his vision, and Harry knew no more.

(Aragorn and Group)

Aragorn clambered up the hill, cresting the rise just in time to see a shadowy, vaguely canine form attack the Naz'Gul with a ball of fire. Charging in with sword and torch, Aragorn fought the evil shade's off, before turning back to the unknown with a bared blade and hard heart.

Slightly confused eyes the colour of an emerald looked up dazedly, the creature's head swaying. A lazy flick of the tail was Grim's only response to his presence and that of his sword, and Aragorn tightened his grip on his weapon at the lack of reaction. The creature whined in pain, and then collapsed half-on Frodo, who himself was not looking the best.

"What are you, creature?" Aragorn hissed, blade unwavering. His only answer was an unconscious snuffle and then silence. For the first time, Aragorn noticed the sickly looking Frodo. Noting the scratch, and the similar if far more grave wound on the identical shoulder of the creature, he drew his own conclusions.

So. The creature had protected Frodo to the extent of being hurt by a Naz'gul's poisoned blade, and had tried to protect him even whilst poisoned.

Lowering his blade, Aragorn sighed. "Sam, Merry, Pippin. Help me get them on my back. We need to hurry to Rivendell. They have been poisoned. We shall carry them on the horse." At their shaky nods, Aragon gave them a gruff half-smile in reassurance. "Now, tell me what happened here, and where this creature fits in."

Sam began to speak, with many interjections from Merry and Pippin. " Well, those naz'gull things started after us because we lit a cookfire. Master Frodo told us to put it out, but it was too late. We climbed up the hill at Master Frodo's urging, you see, and those things were coming closer and closer…" here all three shuddered. "We tried to do as you told us, coming together and holding up our swords, but we were too scared. And then Master Frodo fell… and that dog-thing came racing up. He placed himself between Master Frodo and the Naz'gul, and growled at them. It was scary. There was so much hate, anger, defiance…" Sam shuddered, and asked Merry to continue.

" So then, right, he comes towards them, all growling and swinging his head and whoosh!" Merry said, walking backwards. " His tail caught on fire, see? And then he just whoomph! Chucked it right at those creepy things and bam! One was screaming and becoming fried whatever-they-are." Merry grinned excitedly and Pippin took over.

"Well, then he got one by the throat, and it kind of… sizzled a bit. His teeth were dripping with some sort of liquid, and it made holes! Holes, in the stone! And then, one of them stabbed him, and he went all woozy. He still tried to growl at them, but it was really weak. And then you came!" Pippin finished with a smile.

Aragorn nodded, deep in thought. The sudden noise of hooves made him halt and draw his sword. "Protect Frodo!" he barked at the hobbits, and they circled the horse warily, shaking slightly. As soon as the rider came into view, Aragorn relaxed.

"Arwen. Why have you come?" he asked.

"Aragorn." She smiled. "I have come for the hobbit. You will be too late at your speed. He is too far gone. Only an elvish steed would make it in time." Aragorn nodded.

" There is another hurt here. Will you take him?" Arwen shook her head. "Why not?"

"He is stronger. He can travel with you. The little one is more important." Aragorn made to argue, but Arwen merely took Frodo onto her horse and galloped off. Aragorn shook his head and turned to inform the hobbits of what had just transpired, the group continuing on towards Rivendell with lighter hearts.

- Harry -

Where am I?

Oh… that's right… I'm unconscious from the poison… What were those things?

Naz'gul. Servants of the evil creature Sauron.

Uh… thanks? Who, no, what are you? No to be rude of anything, mister… um… or is it miss?

Neither, Harry of the clan Potter. I am the one sent to guide you. As we speak, your body arrives at the elven citadel of Rivendell. There, you will meet your destiny… and the Fate She has decreed be yours will unfold. Wake, little half-mortal! Wake, and become what… meant… be…

- Outside World -

The voice faded, and Grim opened his eyes. He was in a clean, white room with carven wood engravings and a stream of white, bright light streaming through the windows and open door. He was lying on a bed, next to the man-child that he vaguely remembered saving however long ago. Grim yawned, displaying prominent canines, and stretched, claws kneading the sheets as a rumbling purr emanated from his chest.

Secretly, he had an obsession with kneading things with his claws. He found it fun and really enjoyable. Which is probably why he didn't notice the newest entries into the room, nor Frodo's open eyes. He purred to himself, still kneading away and twitching his tail happily, when a faint laugh drew him out of his fun-induced haze.

Instantly regal and solemn, Grim calmly bathed a paw, studiously ignoring the other people.

- Others -

Aragorn led the hobbits and Legolas to Frodo's room, meeting Gandalf along the way. The elderly wizard smiled at the ranger, and motioned them into Frodo's room, where they all promptly froze in surprise.

Frodo's savior, the large, hulking black creature that had killed, as much as they could be, a Naz'gul and withstood their poison, was half-lying on the bed, bum up and tail twitching, kneading the sheets between his paws with obvious enjoyment. Gandalf laughed quietly, and almost before they could blink, the creature was sitting regally upright and washing a paw with studious interest, pretending nothing had happened.

Aragorn cracked a smile, and Legolas laughed quietly. Grim looked over at them with affected surprise, and bowed his head as if a King to his subjects. This set off Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo. Instantly, everyone was crowding him, hugging him, smiling and crying. Grim hovered for a moment before quietly hopping off the bed, making his way to the still open door… which closed right before his nose. Falling backwards in surprise, Grim glared at the offending wooden object. He turned a disgruntled look upon the old wizard, who merely smiled beatifically and then ignored Grim. Grumbling and whining, Grim lay down facing the door, paws over his nose and eyes determinedly closed.

They stunk, these men, half-men and non-men. Two stunk of quite obvious pheromones which caused his nose to itch incessantly, and the rest stunk of over-sweet joy, salty sadness and smelly worry. Not for the last time, Grim cursed the powerful nose so capable that it could even identify emotions from their smells.

Grim growled as another wave of pheromones hit his nose, making him sneeze explosively and hard enough to rocket him onto his paws. The conversation stopped, and Grim glared at them, one paw protectively over his nose, before he sneezed again. And again. And another two times. Growling, he stalked up to the two who stunk so badly and dragged them over to a corner, before sitting down in front of them and barking, holding his nose for extra emphasis.

When the only answer he received was blank looks, Grim whined and theatrically flopped onto his belly, sighing loudly. This close, the smell was nearly overpowering, and he was not in a good mood to begin with… Harry stirred from their join and half-changed his vocal cords before sinking back into his mind-meld.

"R-Y-ooouyuu." He growled out, words slurred and his voice rough, scratchy. Grim winced and whined at the pain of talking. "Yooouuuuu!"

Aragorn stared at Legolas beside him and they both frowned, before staring back down at the creature. It opened its mouth and a long string of garbled sound emerged. Legolas looked startled, and whispered to Aragorn, "He's trying to talk! I think he just said 'You.'"

Aragorn raised his bows slightly. The creature whined then tried again. This time, it was definitely 'you', garbled as it was.

" Yoouuuu twwwoooorr." Grim tried, and nearly cheered at his success. Aragorn and Legolas indicated themselves, and he nodded frantically. "Yoouuu twoooo… sssmmmeellllyyyyyy-rrrr." Grim nodded in satisfaction and began grooming his paws again.

Aragorn stared, flabbergasted, at the creature. Had he dragged them all the way over here and away from Frodo just to say that they SMELLED? His eyes darkened in anger, and only the pale hand on his arm halted his forwards' movement. His grey eyes traveled up the strong, firm arm, past the broad shoulder, across the slender neck and up into Legolas's beseeching blue eyes. Aragorn sighed.

"Yes, Legolas?" he asked, voice still a bit gruff from anger. Legolas smiled, and turned to the creature watching them.

"What did you mean by smelly?" he asked, distaste at having to use such a plebian word clear in his voice. Grim sighed and tapped his nose with a claw. Legolas nodded slowly. "So… because your nose is better than ours, you can smell something on us? Like what? Travel?" Grim shook his head, and tapped at his heart. "Emotions?" Legolas guessed, and Grim nodded excitedly.

" Youuu twooo rrrr-ovvvvee." He tried to say, tapping his heart again. Aragorn frowned. Rove? They walked? How did that make them… oh. Aragorn put it together. The heart, rove… the creature couldn't say his L's! He was saying they… loved each other? Aragorn blushed darkly and avoided looking at Legolas, instead finding the wall supremely interesting. The way the knots swirled outwards, the way the rings formed and told their own stories to whoever would listen…

Legolas frowned. Aragorn had obviously gotten it, but he was still confused. But judging by the way Aragorn had blushed and turned away… Well, Legolas would never miss a chance to know something that made Aragorn blush… He thought it through. The creature obviously had speaking difficulties, probably from being not human, and… "Creature, please try to say hello."

Aragorn winced. It seemed Legolas was catching on. He began to edge towards the door slowly, only to feel long fingers clasp around his elbow in a vice-like grip. Grim nodded, tongue lolling in a doggy grin at this not-man's intelligence, and attempted to comply. " Hhhe-rrr-oooow. Iii Grrriiim." He half-howled the end bit, but Legolas was still sure of his find. Grim coughed, rasping at his throat with bared claws, before he dropped his head and whined pitifully.

"You can't speak your L's?" he asked, just for clarification. Grim nodded. Legolas tightened his grip on the Ranger's elbow. " You were saying our scents were really strong because they were scents of… love?" Grim nodded again, tapping his nose, and then turned to leap onto the bed. Legolas turned to Aragorn, who was still facing away, and smirked. "Well then, Estel, it seems we have much to be discussed."

Aragorn sighed as he was dragged away, not for the last time cursing the dratted racial strength of elves. He waved forlornly at Gandalf, who smiled back, and was dragged away to his doom… Grim grinned at him, and Aragorn poked his tongue out. Okay, maybe not doom…

Legolas smirked and dragged Aragorn into an empty room, before turning and pushing the Ranger against the wall. He stared down into dark grey eyes and half-smirked, leaning closer. "Now, Aragorn… Is there something you want to tell me?"

- Frodo's Room -

Gandalf opened the door and waved goodbye at the hobbits, motioning for Grim to follow. "Your name is Grim, correct? Or at least in this form." Grim halted, staring at the old wizard, before he chuffed in amusement. Changing back to Harry, still dressed in battle robes dirty with blood and gore, he smiled.

"You were the one who asked the Valar for help?" he asked, falling into step with the old man and pulling up his hood. He winced at the way his voice rasped in his throat. Obviously, attempting to change a single part of your anatomy whilst in Grim form was harder than he'd thought.

Gandalf smiled serenely. "Yes. I must admit I did not expect them to send me a student so young, but I am well pleased. I thank you for that little display earlier, as well. Old as I am, young love truly is such a wonderful thing…" Gandalf sighed, before turning back to Harry. "What is your true name, little Istari?"

Harry smiled softly. "I have no name now." Gandalf stared intently for a moment into sad green eyes, then smiled cheerfully.

"No matter, no matter!" he called out, walking slightly faster. "Have they told you the reason for your journey? No? I thought not, because I've not even told them!" Gandalf laughed, and Harry chuckled. "Now, there is an evil being called Sauron. He made a ring of terrible, terrible power, a ring that contains a piece of his soul. To destroy him before he destroys us, the Ring must be…" Gandalf talked on, explaining the history of Sauron, the role of Frodo and the One Ring and Mount Doom, as well as why a Council had been called.

Harry nodded, listening intently. "Of course, I have faith that Frodo will succeed,, as will the Fellowship joining him. You, however, are not to join them." Harry frowned in confusion. "I have reason to believe beyond much doubt that Sauron has been creating a monster using magic to mold and combine demons. I believe it is a… final weapon, if you will. An eventuality in case of his death, and if he does not die… Well, what better way for him to rule a world than to kill anything and everything inside of it?"

Harry nodded slowly. "So… my companions and I are to be a last offence? But what shall I do whilst we wait for the Fellowship to return?"

"Why, you shall be trained, of course!" Gandalf beamed at him, and a chuckle forced itself from Harry's throat.
He shook his head before turning back into Grim at the sound of voices. They emerged on a balcony, large, open and airy, just in time to see Frodo fling himself at another of those strange half-men, this one old, with hair growing white. Gandalf smiled at the scene, before a shadow appeared to pass before his eyes. Harry bark-growled in amusement, and butted his leg.

"The road will be hard, old one, for all of them. That does not mean they will not succeed. Rather the opposite, in fact." Harry said quietly, vocal chords still human enough to speak. Gandalf smiled down at him.

"My name is Gandalf the Grey. The hobbits you see before you are Frodo and his grandfather Bilbo Baggins. The two insufferable fools (Gandalf smiled) are Merry and Pippin. The larger hobbit is Sam. The Ranger is Aragorn, and the elf is Legolas." He said quietly, smiling at the hulking black Grim. Grim gave a doggy grin and lolled his tongue at the wizard, before bounding towards Frodo with a bark.

Gandalf smiled as he watched Frodo laugh, the young one bright with love and life. Feeling his age in that moment, the Istar turned, smiling still at the rough barks and childish laughter that trailed in his wake.

Yes… the road would be hard. But they would succeed.

He would make sure of it.