Chapter 9

The first thing Harry thought as he regained his consciousness was 'soft sheets?' The last thing he remembered was a stinky gross creature trying to have him for dinner literally, he remembered the pain as the creature tried to crush him. It was not a very unpleasant thing to think about. He vaguely remembered Hades telling him he would send him home to his ada. Had something gone wrong? But then again it wasn't him who sent him back was it? It was his wife who had done it as she was the last to speak to him. He shut his eyes as his head was beginning to hurt it was too tiring to keep thinking and he just wanted to go back to sleep. There was someone else in the room with him. Whoever it was had asleep on a chair beside his head. He noticed long blond hair with ringlets that started half way down its length. Harry recognised her. It was lady Galadriel.

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Lady Galadriel's home felt more welcoming for Harry than Mirkwood forest ever did. It was not the same as being in Riverndale with his family but Harry didn't feel out of place there. When he had been asked about why he had run away he had calmly stated it had been accidental magic after he had been startled. He did not want Legolas to hate him any more than he already did. He knew that were he to say something it could strain the relations between the leaders of each elven home. He knew how important keeping allies was as he had seen Arwen go place to place as ambassador for her father mainly as upkeep for the peace. For as long as it was within his power he would keep his distance from the prince of Mirkwood. There really was no need for him to spend any time alone with him so there would not be any problem.

Lady Galadriel knew Harry was keeping something from her when he had answered her question and she knew she would not get him to talk about it if he didn't want to. She would not go searching for answers in his head as she would have done with any of her subjects, his trust was not easily given and if she should break it she probably would never get it back again. She decided to do the only thing she could she would keep a closer eye on him to look for any clues he might give.

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Lord Elrond arrived in Lothlorien not long after getting a message from Lady Galadriel that Harry was there. He stayed till Harry was well enough to travel before taking him home. On the way Glorfindel had had a chat with Harry as he wanted to know the cause of Harry's disappearance. "Your Ada has been inconsolable; he has not smiled since you went missing. He spent all his time searching for you." Even prince Legolas was there and helping with the search." At The mention of Legolas Harry visibly stiffened and Glorfindel not one to miss much noticed this. "What happened Gilgalad? Why did you run away like that?" Harry looked down and said "It doesn't matter now not anymore." Glorfindel was not to be deterred and said "Did it have anything to do with Legolas?" Harry looked away and said "I would like to see ada and make sure he is ok." Knowing he was not going to get answer out of Gilgalad, Glorfindel escorted Harry to Lord Elrond's side and let him ride with his ada. He had noticed Gilgalad's reaction whenever he mentioned the young prince and if he had anything to do with Gilgalad running away from home he was going to be in a wold of pain.

Upon arrival there was quite a commotion especially at the sight of Harry. The gloomy atmosphere in the air seemed to change as the magic welcomed Harry back home. Even the other elves sensed the change in the air and also noticed that Gilgalad was back. As soon as they arrived Harry ran inside his home feeling happy for the first time since he left. As he got through the door he looked at Lord Elrond and said with the brightest smile since he left "it's good to be home Ada." Lord Elrond hugged him and said "It's good to have you home little one. I do believe I am never letting you out of my sight again." Harry laughed and said "What if I should get married ada?" "Well your mate is just going to have to get used to me. Although they have to get through me first but that's not something we are going to have to worry about for a while yet."

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Harry spent the next few months in close proximity with Lord Elrond. He was teaching him how to read and write and the basics of defence. He noticed after a while that despite having a natural affinity for weapons like most elves do Harry showed more interest in healing. He was always asking questions on how things were done in the infirmary whenever they were in there and when they were out about if there was an injured creature about Harry brought it home. At first he didn't think it would last. Children tended to lose interest after a while as they explored things that they found enjoyable, so he figured he would let it run its course. He was however disabused of that notion when Harry continued to learn anything he was allowed to that was based on healing. He decided he would allow Harry to assist him till he was old enough to start apprenticing.

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The next fifteen years as Harry grew and developed were some of the happiest he had ever experienced. The rocky start he had had was more a distant memory and his life was filled with love and laughter from his family. On his twentieth birthday Gandalf had offered to teach Harry how to use his magic instead of relying on instinct. Magic was not something he really relied on and the only time he ever used it consciously was when he was pranking his brothers. He decided it would be a waste if he did not try and see what it was he was capable of. Who knew it might even save his life one day. That was also the he remembered the trunkful of books Persephone had given him. He felt guilty that he had forgotten the gift but he had been so intent on forgetting that time period as it been an unhappy part of his life.

He went to his room to look for the arm band. He knew he had brought it with him because he had seen amongst his clothes when he had returned. The only place it could be was where he kept the clothes he had outgrown. His ada kept them for sentimental reasons. Since Elflings were so rare there wasn't anyone that they could really be passed on to and even if there was there would be no point as the child would be gifted with so many new things from the other elves in the realm. He would have to tell his ada where got it from. Hades never really specifically mentioned that he should not tell. He had just assumed he shouldn't, however he could not honestly start learning something he did not understand without his ada's knowledge. If something went wrong he might not be able to fix it. Besides it was one less secret to keep from his loved ones. He knew now that they loved him unconditionally and he had nothing to fear so he got ahold of his courage and went to his ada's study where he knew him to be. He walked into the room and saw Lord Elrond sitting behind his huge desk with loads of paperwork around him.

"Ada are you busy?" Lord Elrond looked up and saw Harry standing by the door looking like there was something he wanted to talk about. He smiled and said "I'm never too busy for you Gilgalad come here."