Aethelred isn't King Arthur. He's just an ordinary person, the great great grandson of Alfred the Great, who became king at 10 years of age in an atmosphere of political instability and turmoil between the Church, the pagans and the Danish invasion. Apparently, his rule was considered to be very weak, although he was glorified for having laid down the tenets of modern jury and social justice, which is what my story will try to draw upon, based on the magical community with goblins thrown into the mix of invaders.
Honestly, there isn't much about Aethelred, but if you follow my story, what little I put can be quite fascinating. And to any history buffs, I apologize for any mistakes. I do not study nor am I an expert in history, I'm simply fascinated by it. My knowledge could be flawed, misinterpreted or mistaken, although I hope it is not.
Chapter 10
"Aethelred is unready!"
The words fell harshly on Harry's ears as he and Ginny entered the dining hall. Godric and Salazar were having a heated debate with some other people, who from their attire, appeared to be high nobility. It was Godric who had bellowed those words.
Seeing the two children, Godric paused. "Our apprentices," he introduced curtly. "Harold and Ginevra." He gestured towards the guests and said, "Archbishop Dunstan," to a clergyman. "Lord Uhtred of Northumbria," he pointed to a savage looking man, clad in rich silks and iron rings around his arm. An amulet of a silver hammer was hanging around his neck on a silver chain. "Our neighbor, from Castle Bebbanburg."
"Greetings," Harry said politely, with a bow. Turning to Godric, he said, "Forgive us for intruding, Master Gryffindor. Perhaps we should retire."
"Wait," said the newcomer Uhtred. With a strange gleam in his eyes, he turned to Godric and said, "Why do you say Aethelred is unready?"
"He is merely fifteen!" Godric said furiously. "His kingdom is under attack from goblins and Vikings! The only decent advisor around him," he beckoned towards the Archbishop, "is planning to retire! He has no support!"
"Exactly," said Uhtred. "Which is why he needs the company of people whom he can relate to." He glanced surreptitiously towards Harry and Ginny.
"No," bellowed Godric. "I will not have my apprentices thrown in the midst of political manipulations and open warfare! They are far too young!" Then sighing, he added, "And the Christian leeches," he turned to the Archbishop apologetically, "pardon me, father, but the Christians around King Aethelred will not condone the presence of magically endowed youngsters."
Dunstan sighed. "I am afraid Godric is right. But you cannot abandon him," he pleaded to the two Founders. "I have done all I can. My influence in the royal court is over. The king I supported has been assassinated. Aethelred's supporters will not allow me to remain much longer."
"Then what do you suggest?" Godric asked.
"At the very least, Godric, my friend," said the Archbishop, "aid the young lad in suppressing the goblin wars."
--
And so it was that a week later, Godric, Salazar and Lilith departed from the castle. They were to join the young king's army in invading Mercia to the south of Northumbria, where the goblins had established a stronghold.
It was with a wary heart that Harry bade farewell to his mother and the two men he had come to love as dear uncles, and despite Rowena's best efforts to keep them both occupied, Harry found himself staring to the South, in the hope of seeing Lilith return on her hippogriff. But to little avail.
Finally, he took Ginny aside and said, "Something is wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Godric's sword!" he exclaimed. "It bears a bond with me since my birthday. It's as if the sword is calling for aid."
"Harry," Ginny held his hand tightly. "Are you sure?"
Harry took a deep breath. "Something has happened to Godric, Ginny, and perhaps to mum. I must go."
"All right," Ginny said.
"Alone."
"In your dreams," Ginny said, picking up the makeshift staff Salazar had provided her for her Runic Magic.
Harry hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "On top of me," he said, transforming to his Pegasus form. Ginny hastily climbed atop the white and black Pegasus and grabbed his mane for support.
They soared to the sky, and Harry followed his link to the sword. After nearly an hour of flight, they came upon a truly horrible sight. The battlefield was a bloodied mess. Corpses were littered all around. The goblins were roaring in triumph.
In a rage, Harry dived to an empty spot near the goblins. The instant he landed on his feet, the Sword of Gryffindor flew to his hands from the ground in a far distance, and he charged. From the corner of his eyes, he registered Ginny having already brought down several goblins with her staff, before he reached them. With magic, he held a shield around himself, while attacking with his sword. With flawless technique and amazing speed, he cut through the goblin ranks. His rage was strong enough to keep a constant flow of magical power to hold his shield up, and he realized the reason why Lilith and Rowena kept on telling him to keep his anger at bay.
The goblins had not expected a sudden attack, and ran to a further clearing to regroup. Seeing them retreat, Harry instantly stopped attacking and searched the ground for any survivors. Salazar was alive, but badly wounded. Harry helped him up, and Ginny instantly apparated back to Hogwarts with him.
Godric wasn't there. Neither was Lilith Harry's heart was filled with fear and anger. He raged against the injustice in his life. He wasn't going to let go of his mother so easily. Walking towards the goblin party with the Sword of Gryffindor in hand, he bellowed, "Where are they?"
The goblins sneered and charged at him, but Harry was ready. He recalled Rowena's words. Dipping into the anger and hatred he had kept in store since his arrival - the anger of a lifetime of neglect and discrimination, and the anger which he felt at that instant, he sent a pure magical discharge through the sword to the approaching goblins, obliterating them instantly. He didn't keep count, but history would record it as a hundred goblins felled in one blow. Turning his gaze to another group of goblins, the sole survivors, he raised his sword.
But before he could send another wave of power, the goblins threw their spears down and knelt on the ground.
"Where are they?" he bellowed again.
"The king… the king is here," a goblin croaked, shoving the figure of a mere teenage boy towards Harry. "Take him… go…"
"Where is Godric Gryffindor? Where is Lilith Ravenclaw?" Harry bellowed, but held his hand out to support the young king.
The goblins looked at each other in confusion, and trembled at Harry's fury, but had no response.
The young king touched Harry's hand and said in a whisper, "The Danes took Lord Gryffindor and the pretty woman who accompanied him." Then he turned to the goblins in disgust and said, "These creatures only appeared after the Danes had ambushed us."
Harry looked at the king curiously. Then he turned to the goblins and said, "Swear an oath of allegiance to King Aethelred of England, and I will let you live."
The young king of England looked at Harry curiously, and in awe. But he didn't say anything as the goblins took the oath.
"You are injured," Harry said. "I will take you to Lady Helga for healing." Then he frowned. "I'm not sure if side-along apparition works on non magical people."
"You're a… witch?" the king stumbled back in fear.
Despite the situation, Harry chuckled. "No, I'm a wizard, Your Highness." Then he transformed to his Pegasus form, and lowered his head before the king. In a daze, Aethelred climbed on the horse, and allowed himself to be whisked away to Hogwarts.
--
"I must protect the Castle!" a voice shouted. "You cannot trap me here, I will survive, I must protect the Castle!"
Harry had flown to Hogwarts and led the king towards Helga's ward, when he heard Salazar's angry shouts. Quickening his pace, he flung the door open. All eyes turned to him in surprise, and then to the king.
"Your Highness," everyone said respectfully and bowed, except Salazar, whose face was heavily bandaged. Then Helga whisked young Aethelred to a bed, ignoring his protests at being treated to witchcraft.
"Harry?" Salazar asked in wonder. When Harry replied, he sighed audibly and his shoulders sagged in relief. "The Danes are coming. Their Magicians captured Godric and Lilith to use them in opening the wards. You must command Selene to destroy the invaders!"
"I can't do that," Harry interrupted. "Mum and Godric will be with them! They're not immune to the Basilisk Stare like us!"
"You fool!" Salazar hissed. "There is much more at stake here than two lives! Godric's final instructions to me were: give the sword to the boy, and set your snake loose!" He drew a deep breath, and said, "Do you not realize the difference Hogwarts will make to this Viking Invasion?"
"I will meet them in battle," Harry said with a tone of finality. "But I will not set a Basilisk on mum and Godric."
"The boy is right," Helga said. "We must hold to our values above our lives. Rowena?"
The dark haired lady got up and looked out the window. Sighing, she said, "Intellect and common sense is in Salazar's favor, but my heart screams in Harry's."
There was a moment of deep, and almost painful, silence, broken by Salazar Slytherin. "Then take me outside. I will attack the minds of our foes, while Ginevra wields my Serpent Staff."
"I will fight too," a voice came form a corner, and all eyes fell on the young king. "Though I will not be of much use against magicians and sorcerers, but an arrow can kill a witch as it can anyone else."
And so the Defenders of Hogwarts rose to battle - one blindfolded wizard, two witches, two barely teenage apprentices, and one non magical teenage boy. Facing them was a horde of Viking warriors, and several Danish mages.
It was nighttime. The sky was completely dark, and the air was still. Suddenly the clouds were seared by a blinding flash. Lightning smote down from the east and for a long moment, the Defenders of Hogwarts saw the space between them and the horizon filled with black shaped, bone cad men. Hundreds upon hundreds of them poured to surround the estate of Hogwarts in an arc, awaiting for the wards to be felled.
Strange incantations were carried by the wind from the lips of the bone clad men to the ears of those arrayed defensively on the towers of the magnificent castle. Arrows came as rain and came dangerously close to touching the walls of the castle. Some did find the mark. The assault on Hogwarts had begun, but there was no response. The Defenders remained still.
The assailing hosts faltered, frustrated by the silence that greeted them. Then the incantations became darker, the warriors who were not mages started screaming in an attempt to frighten any who stood before them. With a crack of lightning that didn't emanate from the skies, but from one of the mages, there was a loud and heavy crack, a burst of energy that sent tremors down the core of the earth and shook the castle to its very stone and brick.
It was Ginny who first noticed it.
"The centaurs!" she called out. "The centaurs are moving!" And surely in the distance, battle was about to be joined as scores of half horse half men creatures charged through the clearing beyond the forest and were about to fall upon the invaders.
"They will fight to protect their homes," said Rowena. "We must join them or they will die." With that she raised her hand and said, "Up!" A broomstick shot up and she clutched it tightly. "I will fight them from over their heads. Ginny, stay with Salazar; Harry, stay with the king. If anything should happen, bring out the basilisk."
Harry nodded and watched with wonder as Rowena Ravenclaw steered herself adroitly in the skies, maneuvering and carting through the air as if it were the simplest thing imaginable, and at the same time, she sent wave after wave of magical curses, hexes and explosions - felling many of the assailants.
Meanwhile, Helga Hufflepuff had been cackling insanely as she joined the other witch in the skies and emptied the contents of a cauldron over their enemies, making them cry in anguish before collapsing to the ground. Salazar Slytherin had his hands outstretched, and it spoke wonders of his skills that he required not the aid of his eyes to enter the minds of his foes. One by one, Salazar Slytherin broke the will of the assailants from fighting, and many a brave Dane ran like a coward. But yet, hundreds upon hundreds remained standing, especially those shielded by the Danish mages.
With the wards collapsing after a few more bouts of lightning energy, some of the Danish mages had started gaining towards the castle, and only after Aethelred, Harry and Ginny brought down six of them in their own ways that they became more defensive.
"I should go down and meet them face to face," said Harry, gripping his sword tightly, but Ginny chose that moment to scream at him.
"You will do no such thing!" she yelled.
"But there are so many of them!" Harry retorted.
"Exactly!" Ginny cried out. "And much better trained, and bigger and scarier. I don't want you to die, Harry. Please don't go."
"Ginevra is correct," came Slytherin's voice. "We are doing well as we are. Let the inhabitants of the forest engage the invaders in battle at the ground."
"Maybe," Harry said slowly. Then he suddenly raised his wand and cried out, "Salazar, where are mum and Godric? Can you sense them? Are they all right?"
After nearly a minute, Salazar nodded. "There. Behind that group of archers in the back. They haven't been hurt too bad yet, only a few bruises. That is a relief. I was afraid they might have… Lilith is safe. Why?"
But Harry turned to Ginny and said, "Cast shields around them, Ginny, the moment they rise to the air. Wingardium Leviosa! Wingardium Leviosa! Accio mum! Accio Godric! Protego!"
"Protego!" Ginny echoed, cutting the arrows from reaching the two figures that soared through the air.
"Stand back!" Harry said, as Lilith and Godric appeared closer and closer. "Mum!" he cried out and opened his arms to catch the taller woman. "Mum!" He fell to the ground with Lilith over him. Without caring, he kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly. Lilith also refused to let go of her son, from whom she had nearly been parted forever.
Soon Ginny also joined in the embrace, pulled by Lilith, and neither of the three heard the echoing shouts of Aethelred, as he screamed in joy. "Bebbanburg is here! Lord Uhtred has come!"