Disclaimer: Since I last checked, nothing is mine. I should know, I check everyday ;op
Sorry for the long wait, I was on my last clinical posting and then i had my professional exams so I was a little busy. Anyway, enough talk, here's the next chap.
9. First Assistance
Harry stroked the phoenix gently, crooning to the fiery bird as he watched the skies. The phoenix's feathers were glowing brightly, the only light in the darkness of the night, keeping all nocturnal creatures away, though Harry was never in much danger of them. His companion shifted in his lap until he was evidently comfortable in his perch and then, he begun to thrill gently.
"I know, my friend," Harry replied, "Radagast has yet to know of Saruman's betrayal. I... am a bit reluctant to inform him of this, just to ask for his assistance."
His feathered friend thrilled again.
"Even if this was his mission too, Radagast has the choice to participate in it and he has made it evident that his heart will always be with his animal friends," Harry answered.
The phoenix hopped from his lap, thrilling almost furiously.
"No, I do not think that Saruman has any standing in Radagast's decisions," Harry vouched. Just then, his sensitive ears caught the sound of something approaching. Fast. And there were flapping of wings. It sounded as if there were a number of them. As they grew closer, Harry became aware of what they were. Beside him, the phoenix's glow dimmed, disappearing almost entirely to hide their position. His horse too became quiet as if knowing that they were in a precarious situation.
Above him, the Crebain from Dunland soared past.
When the flock was gone, Harry turned to his fiery companion.
"It looks like I stand corrected, Fawkes." (1)
Harry sent his old friend off to the Brown Wizard with the news concerning their kin's treachery in hopes that Radagast will cease lending Saruman more of his beloved animals to spy on the fellowship.
With that done, he begun his journey again towards Gondor. It didn't take long before his progress was halted again. Harry felt it in the air as it passed, carrying the fell voice that was so familiar yet foreign to him.
Saruman, Harry thought to himself in exasperation. He had quite a few choice words for that idiot. Foolish greedy old man were among the few tamer ones.
He got down from his horse and lifted his ebony staff. The countercurse came to his mouth easily as he directed his will towards Isengard.
Gandalf felt it almost immediately. The magic of another working against Saruman's foul curse. His lips twitched as he continued his incantation amidst the howling snow storm, keeping in mind that beside him, four terrified little hobbits were cowering from the harsh weather.
Saruman sneered ominously as he felt the presence of another's power.
Fools. Did they think that just because their number are more significant they can defeat him?
He snarled, struck his staff against the floor and doubled his will.
Gandalf frowned and prepared to counter the foul incantation stronger but was hindered when the snow, ice and rock from above the fellowship began to rain upon them.
Harry gasped, snapping out of his trance as Gandalf's presence was wrenched suddenly away.
That indespicable bastard! What has he done to Gandalf?
The black wizard frowned.
Now that Gandalf must retreat from the Mount of Caradhas, he will probably head over to the Mines of Moria. Perhaps Harry should send a little more assistance. Knowing what was lurking within the shadows all too well, the fellowship would need all the help they can get.
In the darkness of Moria, Gandalf scrunched his nose in disguntlement. He huffed as he tried to remember which pathway he should choose in this forsaken mine. The darkness was getting to him but he dared not risk more light in fear of being discovered. Just then, as he contemplated on choosing the route less foul, he caught sight of a small glow from his peripheral vision, alerting him to another's presence. He turned only to catch sight of a small bobbling light drifting from above.
'A firefly?' he thought to himself but then recognition set in as the little light begin to beckon him, flitting to and fro in front of him.
"Gandalf, what is that?" Frodo asked from beside him, as the others stood up to watch the seemingly harmless ball of light.
"A will-of-wisp, I believe Harry called them," Gandalf replied, "One of his spies."
"Spies?" Boromir asked in surprise. The hobbits were now surrounding the little bobbing glow in fascination.
"Ah, yes, Harry has an arsenal of creatures that serves him," Gandalf clarified as he followed the bobbing light towards the... ah hah! the less foul route.
"They are quite... magical," he chuckled. Very magical, in fact.
Gandalf remembered the first time Harry called upon one of these creatures to show him. Back then, he had been known as Ol rin and Harry was called Celahir. The dark-haired Maia had confessed that Ol rin was the first, other than Vala Namo and Vala Vaire, to know of his ability.
"Have you always been able to do this?" Olorin asked as the fiery bird tilted its head, examining the Maia in equal fascination. Amazing, this 'phoenix' with it's flaming wings and blazing eyes.
"I do not know," Celahir answered him, "I am Death, yet I am Life. Is it confusing?"
Olorin did not blame him for thinking so.
"Or am I the end and the beginning?"
The wise Maia paused in silent contemplation.
"Perhaps, you are both."
The blind Maia tilted his head endearingly, reminding Olorin of a curious little kitten.
"Celahir, there can be no beginning without an end." (2)
Gandalf was jolted out of his memory when a cry of horror erupted from Gimli's lips. The wizard turned just as the dwarf broke off from the group to enter one of the open doors.
"Gimli!"
The rest of the fellowship followed after the wailing dwarf, leaving the little will-of-wisp to bob in midair for a while, as if at a lost. Then, it drifted after the fellowship into the tomb.
The glowing creature wondered if it should hurry the old wizard to follow him rather than read the tome that he had found. There was nothing here in the mines worth examining after all. The wisp had already seen most that can be seen here and most of which are dangerous. And dangerous equals bad things.
Unfortunately, the wisp could not distract the wizard nor did it catch the little hobbit from fiddling the precariously perched skeleton sitting on the well.
As chaos rained upon them, the little wisp could do naught but follow the fellowship and witness the fall of Gandalf.
Harry gripped his staff and breathed in deeply as his little friend conveyed his news. The will-of-wisp bobbed gently, almost dispirited with the terrible information that it had brought for the gentle wizard.
"Thank you, my friend," the sable-haired istar said, sorrow painting the wizard's fair features.
The mythical glow bobbed once in acknowledgement, then it disappeared as if it never existed.
The black wizard got up from where he sat and turned to his languid companion, who regarded him through half-lidded eyes. Harry patted the giant feline's head gently and could feel rather than hear the pleased rumbling purr.
"It seems as if it is time for me to intervene," he said, pushing the pain of loss from his heart. The end will not claim Gandalf so swiftly yet, for the other wizard has yet to fulfill his mission. He knew this for certain.
He also knew that he should focus on the priority of the mission. And that precedence is Frodo Baggins and the One Ring.
At his words, his majestic companion too got up from his sprawl on the cave floor and spread out its impressive wings. The resulting strong breeze that swept across Harry's face did not faze the wizard but the thought of arriving at Lothlorien with his friend did.
"Perhaps, it is not time yet for you to show yourself, my friend," he said to the massive beast, who huffed indignantly, sending a burst of warm air towards the black-clad wizard. Harry smiled a little at his companion's petulance.
"Do not worry, I assure you that I will be in need of your help very soon," he stated, then gathered his cloak and exited the cave, leaving his old friend and its pride behind.
"For now, I have a fellowship to join."
End of First Assistance
(1) I'm not sure whether the Crebain are dark creatures but I believe it was written in the book that Radagast unwittingly provided creatures to Saruman for spying not knowing the white wizard's betrayal.
(2) Harry's powers: Originally, I wanted Harry to possess only one significant power, which is over death. But subsequent chapters that I have drafted suddenly meant that I needed to change some of my original plans. Anyway, I like the idea of blending the HP/LOTR worlds a little. Just to explain a little though, Harry maybe able to 'summon' these creatures but they may or may not choose to serve him.
Special thanks to seventhSINwrath, Vairetwillight, PeanuTree, AiedailWing, quaero lumen, Mish, deerang88, lunarrose3, KingofLoosePages for your interesting reviews. I really appreciate it and enjoyed reading your reviews.
p.s. someone mentioned that Harry seemed like a child. It's not that he's in a child form but he's petite compared to the other characters of LOTR.
p.s.s. Kudos to the person who can guess what creature is described in the last sequence of this chapter. If u can't guess what it is, u'll find out in the later chapters. ;op
and yes, i know this chap is short. it's more like filler, so dun worry, I'll be updating the next chapter soon enough. Once I update First Meetings.
Ah, one more last thing, my 300th reviewer will get a HPLOTR fic of their request, as per tradition. ^____^