Arya hadn't released Harry's hand after she began to sprint down the hallways to reach the dining hall, which left Harry bumping into walls behind her as she cut around corners. Harry was making soft comments each time he was swung into another wall, which was causing Arya to laugh. Her giggling had spread to Harry and he was soon laughing alongside her, which is the scene the doors to the dining hall opened to reveal. Queen Islanzadí and another, older looking elf sat at the table, seemingly talking in low times while they waited for the rest of their dinner party.
Harry and Arya slowed to calm their mirth and present a more respectable appearance as they slowly stepped forward into the room. Arya gave a quick smile over at Harry before greeting her mother and the guest that Harry did not know. He reposted the greetings to Islanzadí before she turned to the person that had been sitting at the table.
"Harry, this is Oromis Thrándurin. Before we speak any further, I must ask that you give me your word in the Ancient Language to not reveal any information you are told from the time you have entered this room until you are released from your oath." Islanzadí stated firmly.
Harry gave a glance to the man introduced as Oromis and gave an easy nod. "I will not reveal any information, implied or stated during my stay here or in any time until I am released to speak of said information." Harry intoned directly in the Ancient Language, making sure that there were no loopholes easily seen. He did not want either of the two older elves in front of him to think he was trying to word his oath in a way to be able to slip around it later.
Islanzadí looked at him with a small smile and nod, noticing his words were well chosen to hold himself to the oath he gave. "Thank you, Harry. Oromis had been believed to be dead by all of Alagaësia and is the only…whole Dragon Rider pair aside from this Eragon and Saphira that you have told us of."
Oromis gave a small chuckle, "Not quite whole by the opinion of some, Islanzadí." The aged rider stated before turning to Harry, "I was injured during one of the last battles with the Foresworn. My body cannot bear the same level of exertion as it used to and I have struggled to stay in touch with magic at times. My Dragon is likewise injured. But we have both found peace and contentment in our life even with our injuries. Queen Islanzadí mentioned that you are well versed in the art of healing and asked me to come so that you may look over my injury to see if there is anything you could do." Oromis stated and gave a quick glance at Islanzadí.
Islanzadí scoffed and shook her head and Oromis looked back at Harry to continue speaking. "While I appreciate the gesture, I have tried to assure her that I do not require healing. My peace is complete and does not require my full health to be so. It was requested of me, however, so I felt bound to comply with the request."
Islanzadí spoke up at this moment, "Our healers have had little success with bringing back the full health and mobility as they both have once enjoyed. He may not require it to be happy, but should things continue to escalate like they seem to be, his injuries could be detrimental to his ability to fight." Oromis made to interrupt, but Islanzadí stared him down. "Refute it as you would like, those episodes you have at times leave you fully incapacitated."
Harry smiled off to the side. There had been plenty of times he had tried to make the same arguments to Hermione and others when he was feeling slightly out of sorts. Harry had watched the man during his statement and found that there was truly contentment and peace flowing from him and his words.
Harry's thoughts were drawn away as Islanzadí spoke up after a moment. "Let us eat, we will return to this discussion following our dinner." The elven queen stated with a smile and gave a wave towards the table. Once they seated themselves, food was brought out and placed on the table before them and the four settled into easy conversation about various topics. Harry explained some of the different magics he had learned over the years, though he did not state much about his uncommonly long life or the years he had spent as Brom or any of the time before arriving in the world. Arya and Angela would be the only two who really knew of his full past.
It was tough to find a way to explain his training in the magical arts without explaining everything else that he had been through. He was able to make it through for the most part though. Harry gave a small sigh of relief as the dinner came to a close and the attention was turned back to Oromis.
A forced smile came over the older elf's face as the gaze of everyone else at the table settled on him. "Part of me desires that you would all drop this idea of healing me. There is a reason I am known as Togira Ikonoka now." He stated before catching the look of confusion from Harry at the strange phrase in the Ancient Language, "The Cripple Who is Whole. I have found nothing wanting in my life since the injury and I see no reason to change my situation."
Harry leaned back, "If you are whole as you are now, as a cripple, will you become broken or dissatisfied with life if you are healed? If you are whole, completely content and find nothing lacking as you are right now, then why should the return of your health, something that will not affect you adversely, be unwanted. You have found peace in not being whole, but what is it that makes you turn from acceptance of it when it has been offered to you?" Harry questioned gently, trying to understand why the broken elf would turn down the offer to be healed.
"I…I fear that if you fail that I will be disappointed, or if you succeed partially that I will feel bitterness. Not towards you, but at the situation I find myself in. Furthermore, while you could possibly heal my injuries, I strongly doubt you are powerful enough to heal my friend as well." Oromis stated softly.
Arya smirked at first, but then her thoughts turned contemplative. Harry leaned forward, "What injuries does your friend have? I am assuming that it is your dragon, Glaedr?" Harry asked.
Oromis nodded, "Yes, he was grievously struck on the leg and lost the lower portion of the limb entirely." The old elf explained while his eyes were unfocused off to the side of the group.
Harry nodded slowly after a few moments of thought. "I would like to look at his injury if you would not mind too much, I think I may have a solution of some kind, but I would have to see the injury and speak with him. Even after that, it would be an unsure thing. I have seen the spell cast on another human before and have learned about it and how to cast it and modify it to whatever needs there are. However, I have never had need to use it before, and certainly never on anything not human.
"As for what ails you, we can mend the nerves and pathways of magic over the course of the next few days if you would like. I have no doubt of that. I may have you cast some simple spells for me to be completely sure, but I highly doubt I will find anything different than my current thoughts." Harry said confidently.
Oromis looked carefully at Harry while he mulled the young looking wizard's words over. "You have never tried the spell before?" The old rider asked with concern filling his voice.
Harry shook his head, "No, I have not. But I am confident that it will work. I need not words like those who use the Ancient Language do, as I have told you. My magic works differently, but in parallel with what you known to be common. If you would like to see how my magic works before you take me to meet your friend, Glaedr; then that is fine. We can begin your healing sessions to let you see how I use magic differently from you." Harry said kindly.
Oromis nodded his head and Harry could see curiosity flowing within the aged elf's eyes. "I suppose there is no time like the present. Do you have need of anything to do the first session of healing?" Oromis questioned.
Harry shook his head, "I have need of nothing for our first session. I will likely conjure a chair for you to sit in for the next few sessions, but for this one, I need you to stand up for me and posture yourself as you would in a common, relaxed environment." Harry requested.
The elf stood and settled into a relaxed stance and nodded to Harry. Harry returned the nod and stood also, moving closer to where Oromis stood. He was a few feet away before stopping; he motioned slightly towards the elf and Oromis felt a wave of warmth flow over his body before focusing on a few certain areas. His muscles heated up a little more as the heat faded from the rest of his body, the heat only remaining in a few certain areas. He could feel movement in his body where the heat had remained at and the stance he was in grew more comfortable to stay in.
Harry gave a nod as Oromis felt the warmth fading away. The elf looked over at Harry with wonder. Harry spoke before Oromis was able to thank him, "I need you to shift into an opening stance you would take if you were about to spar with someone."
Oromis tilted his head to the side for a second before doing as Harry asked. He felt a little more tightness in his body and he felt as though a spasm was about to take him before the warmth settled over him once more. The warmth remained in more areas this time and took far longer to fade as the warm areas readjusted themselves to settle into what Oromis assumed was the correct position.
As the last areas of warmth faded, he heard a soft expulsion of breath from Harry and the wizard leaned over onto his knees and began to breath deeply. "That is all I will be able to do for the time being. Normally sessions like these are done by a group of wizards, or they focus on one section of the body at a time before shutting down for a day and returning the next to heal it. This form of healing is very precise and very draining because you are making adjustments to how the body works and has become used to working.
"I will need to take the next few days to reposition the nerves and bones that have moved from where they are supposed to be and then I will need to start over with the muscles and go through them once more with you in a few different stances to be sure nothing else is out of alignement. Those should go quickly and not be too draining however so the last day of these healing sessions will be focused on rebuilding your magical pathways. Once your body is back into alignment, you will have a much easier time accessing your magic." Harry explained. He had three sets of eyes on him, staring at him with focused curiosity so he decided to explain a little more.
"The body has veins that carry blood to the heart and then from it once more to the various areas of the body, you know this, yes?" Harry asked and he received nods in return. "Good, I wasn't sure how far medical knowledge had advanced here. Magic is in many different places and has worked many different ways in the different places I have visited, but here, magic flows through your body much like a vein does. It moves from the core, through the body, and then exits the pathway into the ambient magic to cause what you see as the effect of the spell.
"This is the reason you begin to feel tired after casting a spell, not only is the magic you use coming from you, but it must also interact with the ambient magic of the world here and force it to respond as you want. The Ancient Language makes the ambient magic more susceptible to being changed since it is a magical language of truth. The magic here wants to be true and so it will be more likely to change to what you speak, but it will not change on its own." Harry took a breath and checked over his audience to make sure they were still following his explanation. Islanzadí and Oromis were looking at him strangely but seemed to understand what he had explained so far. Arya had a concentrated look on her face.
With a nod, Harry continued, "All of that to explain this. If the body is not aligned, then the pathways that magic would normally travel down is likewise thrown out of line. The magic will be weaker, harder to access, and more taxing to cast consistently since the magic must be pushed harder to reach the outside of your body. Let us say that you have a pool of water that needs to be taken to a garden a short distance down the hill. A channel had been dug for the water years ago and it flowed straight down to the garden without any trouble. Then an animal comes through and knocks brush over, into the channel, or a rock rolls from the side of the channel into the flow of water. The water will still reach the garden, but there are things in the way that will slow the water until they are cleared.
"This is how magic flows from the body of people here who use the Ancient Language. Your core is the pool of water, and your Gedwëy Ignasia is the end of the channel that flows into the garden or, for you, the ambient magic in the world. By righting the alignment in your body, we clear those obstacles from the flow and then it will be a simple matter of strengthening the proper flow of magic in your body once more." Harry explained.
"You speak as though you do not come from Alagaësia." Oromis stated softly and Islanzadí nodded her head in agreement with the old, elf rider. "I have not found anywhere on the continent that exhibits a different reaction with magic, nor any who could use magic safely without the use of the Ancient Language as you have."
Harry sighed after a moment, "I ask that you not make a large issue of my words or actions. I have been trained differently and in different areas, allowing for my strange use of magic and words. It is my own past however, and ask that you not concern yourselves with it. I mean no one any harm here or in the rest of Alagaësia that stand against the Black King. Please let my presence within your protect home be proof enough of that fact." Harry stated, trying to not offend or cause worry.
For the time being, his past was f little consequence to those who did not need to know and was a possible danger if the enemy heard of his past. At this moment, he was shrouded in disinterest and the simple fact that no one would know of him. Should he openly claim that he traveled realities and galaxies in his role of Master of Death, attention would be drawn to him out of curiosity and distrust. With his anonymity, he was out of sight and of little consequence to either faction.
Arya rested a hand on her mother's arm to try and quell any statements that could be made out of frustration at the lack of information. The Queen looked at her daughter for a moment before nodding to her and then to Harry. "Thank you for applying your skills to Oromis, Harry. I hope that you are able to bring him to full recovery, as well as help Glaedr." The elven queen stated amicably.
Oromis gave a deep bow and straightened from it with a wide smile. "I have not been able to bow in such a manner for many years without fear of a spasm. Thank you, Harry. I am glad you have begun healing my body."
Harry smiled at the elf, "You are very welcome, Oromis. I must suggest that you take it easy until we finish the sessions. There is still quite a bit to be done and I do not want something to happen to let anything slip back to how it was before. The next few days, your body will be susceptible to slipping back out of alignment until everything is put back into its place. Keep your normal schedule, by all means, but I would advise against any spars intense exercise, or excessive use of magic. While I don't think they would cause large problems in the small amount of time you have between now and when we finish the sessions, I don't want to chance it." Harry said firmly, hoping to impress upon the smiling elf the importance of taking the next few days easy.
Oromis gave a happy nod and bowed once more to the three of them, asking to be dismissed, and exclaiming that he would go to Glaedr to tell his draconic friend the great news. Oromis invited Harry out to his home, stating that Arya would be able to show him the way the next day for the healing session. The elf gave the traditional, parting phrase before turning from the room and exiting.
Islanzadí watched the rider leave with a light smile. Without turning from her gaze at the door she spoke, "He may have been whole, as in peaceful and content, but I have not seen him be truly this happy in some years. Once more I thank you, Harry. You have done much more than we could have asked, and I hope to see your help come to fruition with what you have promised for Glaedr. May I ask what you have planned for him? Our healer could not force the leg to regrow or reattach it with anything they knew. Do you have magics that would allow you to do so?" The Queen asked curiously.
"I do know of some, Your Highness. But what I plan to do is quite different from that. I will speak no more of it for now, but you should join us tomorrow if you can spare the time. I will apparently meet Glaedr then and will have the chance to look at exactly what I will need to do. I will show them the idea as well while I am there and see if it is acceptable to them." Harry said with a coy smile at the playful, frustrated huff the queen gave at his circumventive words.
Islanzadí wished them a good night and exited the dinning hall, leaving Harry and Arya alone. Arya gave a smile over at Harry and reached over to give his hand a squeeze before intertwining their fingers and dragging him once more along behind her. She led him to a small garden that was off to one side of the building they had been in for dinner and slowed her pace some to finally come to a stop in front of a flower. A flower with stunning black petals stood up from the health grass that made the flooring in the indoor garden. Arya crouched low and cupped the flower gently.
"I…I'm not sure why I dragged you here." Arya stated softly as she stared down at the flower that she had her hands resting below. "You seem to calm me though…you have been so honest with me, so good to listen when I have needed you to…and, even though I met you only a short time ago, I feel as though I can…just be myself with you. Not Princess Arya, or Ambassador Arya, but just…me."
The beautiful elf moved so that she was now seated, cross-legged in front of the flower. Harry didn't question the action and sat down on the grass on the other side of the flower from her, letting her gather her thoughts without interruption. She continued after a minute or so of silence. "My friends that I spoke with you about, the ones killed in the ambush that I was captured in…one of them sung a Black Morning Glory like this one into full blossom for me."
Harry smiled gently at her words, "Fäolin sang it out for you?" He questioned softly.
Arya's head shot up to look at Harry. "I did not say that…" She trailed off slightly.
"No, you did not, but I was able to assume. You and he were very close. Travelling for seventy years together, did you not?" Harry reasoned easily.
Arya gave a tearful nod and focused back on the flower that sat between the two. "Yes. I had not yet decided to become the egg courier and Ambassador to the Varden. He had been a dear friend during my younger years since he was a couple centuries older than myself. He acted so much like an older brother or father during those times and it wasn't until later, during our travels, that our relationship became more of one like a friendship. I had locked myself in my room during the entire day, it was the day that my father had been killed. I was usually not alone on that day, my mother was with me, or some of the other elves from around the forest would be there, often telling me stories. That year, however, I didn't want to hear stories of how my father was before he was killed, I just wanted to be comforted."
Arya reached down and lifted the flower from the dirt, its roots still intact. "He opened the door and came in quietly. His fist was clenched as he walked in and I was worried something had gone wrong at first. He sat down on the bed next to me and opened his hand slowly. It was filled with dirt and he began to sing to it. A seed had been in the middle of the dirt and it grew as he sang until it opened up to reveal the Black Morning Glory flower. The song was not cheerful, or uplifting. It was slow, mournful and it touched my heart so deeply, that he understood and was there to care for me. We spoke for a time after that, his arms wrapped around me protectively, trying to draw my mind from the loss the day reminded me of."
Arya leaned back, still cupping the flower in her hands, and looked into the night sky. The ceiling to the garden room was see through and Harry glanced up at the sight that had caught Arya's attention. There was a small number of stars that shone brightly into the greenery room and Harry was able to pick out the North Star from the shimmering group. A soft smile adorned his face as he looked back down at Arya. She gave an unsure smile back at him and tilted her head in confusion at his look.
Harry shook his head. "There is so much to the gift of this flower, Arya." He stated softly, gently touching one of the petals of the flower she still held. "That he would give you a black flower on the day of your mourning the loss of your father. That he brought in a seed that was in its first stages of life and he sang it to full blossom, and gave it to you. So much insight can be drawn to what he was saying from just this one example. I find myself amazed at how well you elves can speak without a word."
"Im sorry, Harry. But I do not follow your thoughts. What was being said? For I only noticed him to be comforting me…" Arya stated softly, trying to understand what Harry had thought of that seemingly brought all of this 'insight'.
"Perhaps that was all he meant it as, but I can see so much more of the pure coincidence of the happening if he did it unknowingly. A Black Morning Glory. If one were to not know of the flower's name it could very well be interpreted as a black mourning glory. In my culture, people would wear black clothing to the ceremony for a person's passing. Before what I considered to be modern times for me, a family would stay in the black clothes during their time of mourning. Very symbolic of the time you were going through when he came to you. In my world, there was also a phrase of 'the night is always the darkest before the breaking of new light.' A black morning's glory would be something to behold, much like this flower. The sun slowly creeps up to the horizon before it is fully risen, and then, it bursts over the horizon! Letting light and warmth flow over the plants, animals, and people who walk underneath it. Sunrises are such beautiful, glorious things to behold and have always filled me with a fresh sense of hope when I see them. That ties in with the seed being sung into blossom. It was dormant and unseen during the time it was encased in the darkness of the soil and Fäolin's hand, but then, magic and one who desired to see it grow strong and beautiful nourished it to a fully-grown flower.
"Keep one of these flowers close, Arya. For it embodies you and all you have gone through. You have suffered through Durza's torment and have blossomed into a beautiful, strong elf that will soon be making her grand appearance to the world, showing her strength and glory to those who had given up hope. You are a dazzling woman, my dear, and so refreshing to be in company with. And please, do not hide your laugh. Keep your seriousness when you must, but be merry, even when you hurt, for your laugh is invigorating and renews those who hear it. I…" Harry leaned back slowly and let his hands fall slightly from where they had begun to rest on Arya's arms as he spoke. "I must request to retire for the night, Arya. I am sorry to cut our time so abruptly, but I believe you have another who would wish to speak with you." Harry said standing up and motioning to the door where Islanzadí had just walked up to.
Harry took a few deep breaths as he worked to refocus his mind. He had gotten slightly carried away with his emotions and words, which while it is not a bad thing, He did not want to rush the elf princess that he had become so extremely fond of and attracted to. The young elf was still working through the loss of a friend and he had nearly felt drawn to kiss her as he spoke. While he would not mind or turn down the chance to, quite the contrary to be honest, he did not want things to become jumbled in an overload of emotion. Harry gave a bow and turned to leave the room, exiting from one of the other doors into the garden while Islanzadí entered through a different one.
"My daughter, I thought I would find you here." Islanzadí said softly as she approached her daughter. "I could not find rest for my mind without speaking to you once more."
Arya gave a small smile to her mother. "I had been speaking with Harry. He left a few seconds before you arrived. He seemed to be of the thought that we should converse alone with the quick departure he gave." Arya said with confusion to her tone.
Islanzadí smiled in a bemused manner, "He does seem to have an ability to know and respond to situations in the best way possible for those involved. I was desiring to speak with you alone. I was wondering if you thought Harry would explain more of what his past was like. He was very tight lipped about it during dinner and did not explain much, but it was easy to tell that there was more just under the surface." Islanzadí said.
Arya let out a breath gently and tried to think whether Harry would explain or not. She hadn't known him long, but he seemed to be at least a little closed off about his past. "I doubt he will speak much of it right now. I do not wish to break his trust and speak freely of his past, but I can promise that he has no intentions against our side and the allies that fight for the end of the Black King's reign. He only withes for peace between the nations, and he will fight willingly to see this war come to that end.
"I might not have known him for very long yet, but I can tell that he is worthy of our trust. I have experienced a sense of easiness and freedom around him that I have not felt aside from during my travels with Fäolin and Glenwing. I miss both of them dearly and they will never be replaced, but Harry has been a good buffer." Arya said and looked down at her hands. She opened her mouth to say more, but she shut down instead and closed her mouth again quickly. She took in a deep breath and straightened her back slightly.
She didn't break down, it was not what she needed, nor would it help with anything. She steeled her emotions and locked them towards the back of her mind. While they could be used at times, it was best to only let things be seen by yourself and no one else so that they can't play with them. There was something about Harry that had her unconsciously loosening up around him and dropping walls that she had maintained for so long.
Only after twenty years together did she start letting Fäolin and Glenwing see the other side of her. Her time around harry, short though it had been, had worn her walls down almost to the point she had spoken freely to her mother. While the relationship was mending, it would be a long time before she could be so transparent with her mother once more.
The two royal elves stood in easy silence, looking around the garden, enjoying the sights and scents of the plants, along with the feeling of the magic that permeated them. It was a calming location for both of the elves that were under varying levels of stress and pressure. After a time, Islanzadí laid a hand on Arya's arm before moving out of the garden, apparently having forgot the reason she had come in the first place.
Arya smiled as she watched her mother leave the gardens. Durind the times of travel with Fäolin and Glenwing, she had often thought of how things would likely go over between her and her mother when she returned home. Out of all the times that she had envisioned it, none had come anywhere close to being this optimistic. While they had not spoken, her and her mother were able to stay in the same room without arguing, apologizing, or bringing up the issue because of a feeling of the situation being unresolved. She was not so stubborn as to claim that it wouldn't have been mostly her fault, from how her mother reacted when they had talked earlier. Her mother had been so ready to make amends after the long time of separation.
No, it would have been her making things more difficult than they needed to be. Arya knew her stubbornness and even the pain of losing her companions would have made her quite taciturn and unrelenting had it not been for Harry. While there had not been any great debate or long discussion between the two of them, the simplicity of his statements and logic was hard to refute.
Arya's mind continued to wander for a few hours before she stood and made her way to find one of her friends. The woman she was going to see would be considered by most to be anything but friendly, and maybe she was more than a little rough around the edges. Arya, however, had always made it a point to visit the elf since she had accidentally stumbled into the elf's smithy nearly eighty years ago.
She walked through the doorway to the smithy without a worry and mode her way to where she could hear the older elf working. Rhunön hardly ever left her smithy, and when she did it was to go home, which was connected to the work area. She slowed her pace slightly as she heard a soft voice, only heard during the pauses between the hits of the hammer. She heard a chuckle after a moment and the hammer hits fell out of their rhythmic loop and stilled completely. Rhunön's head appeared around a corner. The elf gave a grunt and her lips twitched slightly in a show of uncharacteristic openness that she was happy to see the younger elf.
"Arya, I see you have already made yourself at home. I have an acquaintance of yours here helping me work on something. I must say that after all of my years of working metal, he has some strange ideas that I have never even heard of before, though I have wondered quite a few times. The sword he has on him is by no means better than any I have made, but the way it was formed is very different than I am used to." Rhunön said before she disappeared back around the corner.
Arya shook her head at her older friend and made her way around the corner. To no surprise, Harry was standing off to the side of the forge, not far from where Rhunön was looking over a blade. Rhunön turned to Arya and handed her the sword. "It was made in a similar manner as I used to, it never dulls or rusts, but it also does quite a bit more. This blade constantly takes in whatever is around it, be it acid or magic, and holds it within the blade. Don't cut yourself with it!" Rhunön stated quickly as Arya had started to check the sharpness of the blade.
Harry reached over and took the blade from Arya and ignored her frustrated look. "It is nothing against you Arya, but Rhunön is right, even though she does not understand the full implications of it yet. It was what I was explaining to her before you arrived. This sword has taken in the venom of one of the most deadly kinds. It was from a beast called a basilisk, the King of Snakes, as it was known in my world, Dragons there were nothing more than mindless beasts, though still large and dangerous. Basilisk venom however, has only one antidote, and if it is not received within a few minutes of the bite, it is an assured death. The worst part however, is that I have no way to get access to the antidote, nor is there any way to create it to my knowledge.
"The antidote came from a rare and highly magical bird called a phoenix. A phoenix could cry tears that had magical properties so strong, that it would cure anything. Literally, it was even tried on a few diseases that the non-magical world thought to be incurable. The experiment was closed off though after the first success because of how rare the phoenix tears were, and the testers did not care enough about…sorry, I got off topic. The short of it is, don't touch this sword unless you are looking for a quick way out; which, by the way, I will not allow if I am still alive." Harry stated with a tone of finality.
Arya's look of frustration turned to a look of amazement at the two substances they had just been told of. Poison that had only one cure that wasn't even accessible here, and a healing substance so powerful that it could cure anything. Both would be major assets to anyone who could get them in large quantities.
Rhunön, unaware of Arya's musings, turned to Harry. "Would you mind greatly if I kept you here while I studied this and worked to replicate it, if not make on eht at was a bit better?" The elven smith questioned.
Harry smiled easily as he replied, "I have no other pressing matters at hand. I would be more than happy, and greatly honored to stay here while you worked your craft."
Rhunön nodded her head and grunted once more before turning to her forge looking over her tools. She hummed in thought. "I have never seen the kind of metal that sword was made with, and the main ore I would use in crafting swords like it was Brightsteel; but I don't have any more like it."
Harry shifted slightly, "I don't know what brightsteel, but I do have a few different kinds of metals, well I don't have them, per se, but I can create them." With those words he bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt. "You don't mind if I borrow some of your floor do you?" Harry asked. Rhunön looked at him strangely but shook her head.
Harry moved over to a table and placed the dirt on it. He began to mutter, quickly and softly as he traced various lines in a circle around the mound of dirt. A trail of magical light appeared right behind his finger as he continued drawing different runes in a circle around the dirt. As the lines grew more numerous and brighter, the mound of dirt slowly began to shift and mold in on itself, growing larger as it shifted until there was a flash of light from the runes and circle. On the table, in the place of the dirt that had been placed there, sat a large chunk of ore, nearly three times the size of the mound of dirt that Harry had picked up.
Rhunön went over to the table and ran her hand across where the lights had been just before and found that the table had been left unscathed. Harry chuckled. "You can look that over if you would like. I have three other ores I would like you to look at."
Rhunön nodded and picked up the ore that sat on the table. "I hope you know that I will need more than this to make a sword, if this is the kind of metal we end up using. There are impurities that we will need to work out of it before it is good enough to use." The elven smith stated as she looked over the ore that she held in her hand.
"There are no impurities in that right there. That right there is pure cortosis. I am about to make some Phrik, Mandal iron, and mithril also for you to look at. They were different types of metal I have come across during my years." Harry stated easily as he grabbed another handful of dirt. He was about to stand up before he shrugged his shoulders and grabbed a second handful. "I am going to just make extra for you to play with later."
Rhunön looked at Harry for a few moments and then gave an honest to God smile at the wizard before turning to her forge and getting it heated up so that she could begin working with the new substance as soon as possible. Metallurgy was her passion and love. Arya, however, was exceedingly interested in what Harry was doing with making the dirt into these new metals.
She moved closer and tried to listen closely to the words he was saying. She didn't recognize any of them though, even with her years of learning the more common languages used in Alagaësia. Another flash of light soon followed and Harry looked over at the elf next to him and gave a smile.
"Transmutation." He stated simply. "It is a form of alchemy that I have learned over the years. It allows me to turn one thing into another. I believe the same can be done in a manner with the Ancient Language, yes?" Harry asked.
Arya nodded, "Similar. We can conjure an item, but that is only if we know the true name of the itme and have enough power to create it from practically nothing." The elf explained.
"Ahh, that's what it was. Brom's memories held that information, but it seemed like he had not given it much consideration during his years so I was unsure." Harry said easily and Arya looked over the Rhunön in worry before looking back at Harry who had just placed two more handfuls of dirt on the table after moving the chunk of cortosis out of the way. "Don't worry," He stated, catching the alarmed look on Arya's face. "Rhunön knows my past and the path that led me here. She was able to sense my age right away and there was no real way of denying her assumptions. She gave her word to not speak of it to anyone, without my requesting it even."
Arya looked back tat the metal inclined elf and gave a soft smile. She was sure Rhunön was happy to have another that seemed to be as old as she was. A thought occurred to Arya, "Speaking of oaths," She stated towards the elven smith who she knew to be listening in on the conversation.
"I'm not breaking my oath, youngling. This is no rider sword since Harry here is not a rider. This is a wizard's sword, or a mages sword perhaps. Basically it is different. I'm not even using the same materials as I did for those, hence, I am not breaking my otath, or even coming near it! Don't, don't you dare ruin this for me, youngling." Rhunön said harshly and for a few moments, Arya was worried. Harry stood next to her and his shoulders began shaking lightly. Gasping sounds began coming from his and his shoulders shook harder.
Arya turned to look at him and grew even more worried as his face had turned a deep shade of blue. She was startled however when Rhunön let out a long, bellowing laugh and Harry finally expelled the laughter he had been holding in.
"Oh, Rhunön, I am definitely sharing that memory with you later. Her face was absolutely priceless." Harry said between his laughter and Arya gave a huff as the two others in the smithy continued to laugh at her response.
"Sorry, dear. Harry had asked if I wanted to try working on a replica of the sword earlier and I agreed happily since he was no rider and it was different from my oath. Basically everything I just explained. And then I realized that you woud likely think of the same thing and had Harry go along with me on this. Very well played, Harry. You did well, kid." Rhunön said, her face holding a smile for a little longer before it slipped back into its normal expression.
"Who are you calling kid, young lady?" Harry shot back to the older elf.
Rhunön gave a half laugh but stayed focus on the metal in front of her. Arya turned to Harry. "That wasn't very kind, I hope you know." She stated, a small measure of frustration slipping into her toine.
"Perhaps not, but it was quite enjoyable. Talk to me about it in a couple weeks and I will show you the memory, I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I jut did." Harry said before beginning to speak out the incantation for transmutating items. He spoke a little slower and more clearly this time, for the benefit of Arya who still stood beside him and watched him work.
"What are you saying? And what language are you using?" Arya questioned after he finished forming the metal.
"It is a dialect of Dead Latin mixed with some Egyptian runes that I have been drawing. It is a very strange mix and most would not have even thought to use the two together, or thought that they would work well in tandem, but you don't live as long as I have without learning a few things. The Dead Latin has the creativity that I need since it points the magic in a certain direction and then allows my will to focus it, but the Egyptian runes have stability to them since they were refined over and over again by the Egyptian runemasters. Egyptian runemasters were part of an ancient sect of wizards that existed for thousands of years in close quarters, working together to further and improve their understanding and usage of magic. Most of their knowledge was lost however when the Egyptian empire was destroyed. Some of my adventures, however have taken me all over the place…and all through time…" Harry paused as he placed the final pile of dirt on the table. "There is a sense of finality here. I felt it as soon as I arrived. I wonder if…"
Harry's eyes took on a far away look before he shook his head and focused back on the dirt in front of him, starting to trace the lines around the dirt as he had before, working with the same speed he had on the first one and, once it was finished, he moved off to the side of the smithy that opened to the outside.
Arya made to follow him but a voice stopped her. "Leave him." Rhunön spoke without turning from the forge. "While I am sure you mean to comfort him, there are times that it is best to be left alone." The old elf spoke quietly. She gave a sigh before continuing, turning to face Arya. "I cannot think to have lived like he has. To move every few centuries from a place of existence, never to return. To live around others who will end up dying in the end…watching them die, knowing there is nothing you can do even though you care for them and will miss them. That I have some understanding of because of the wars, but it is also a part of why I stay here, mainly within the walls of this smithy and my home…"
Arya stared at the older elf in surprise at the openness shown before her. Rhunön chuckled humorlessly, "I was not always so taciturn, though there are none who remember what I was like in my youth. Some have heard stories but…being around one, such as he, it is comforting. To know that I am not alone in this long stretch of unending life. I have seen the world, yes, but he has seen worlds. Multiple times over. It has been a joy to be around him and I hope that her has enjoyed his time here. You two are the only ones that I enjoy the company of and I would hate to lose that once more."
Rhunön turned to Arya and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Wherever you two end up going, promise you will look out for each other and stay safe. There are few things aside from my metal work that keeps me sane, and you two are now the biggest things."
Arya, wide eyed and stunned speechless could only nod in response. Rhunön nodded back and glanced around before coughing gruffly and clearing her throat before turning back to the forge. Arya watched between the pair for a short time before Harry moved back inside and joined Rhunön by the forge. The pair fell into conversation about metals and Arya was quickly lost, even after her time spent watching and speaking with Rhunön during her visits.
It was a few more hours before the sun rose once more and Arya looked at Harry in surpsie as a thought struck her. "Harry! You don't need to sleep?"
Harry smirked at her and then glanced pointedly at the sun. "Just now noticing are you? Well done." He gave a soft laugh. "No, I have not needed to sleep for quite some time now. A pain in the butt if you ask me since you lose track of days even easier without it. I have a hard enough time trying to pay attention to a full week at times. You try and have thousands of years of memories and keep up with only a couple hours. You can right well lose yourself in a mind like that!" Harry said with a playful smile on his face, but there was a heavieness to his words. Rhunön nodded in agreement, complete seriousness emanating from her.
Harry looked at the sun once more before giving a bow to the pair. I am afraid you must excuse me ladies, I have an appointment I must keep with a new friend of mine." He stated, speaking of Oromis, but he was unsure if Rhunön knew of the secret.
Arya nodded, keeping her silence but it was all for naught as Rhunön reached over and gave Harry a hard pat on the back. "Say hi to old Romi if ya don't mind. Havent seen the old man for a few decades now…maybe even a few centuries….no, Arya isn't old enough for it to have ben that long." The elf stated with a thoughtful look on her face. Harry had to cover his mouth to contain the laughter that threatened to break out at Rhunön's name for the wizened and very respectable elf that he had met the day before. Arya could not contain the burst of laughter at first but quickly got it under control.
Rhunön nodded to the pair, "Aye, mention that name to him and you will get a kick out of it. Literally. I am the only one allowed to use it and get away with it."
Harry did laugh at that, "I had a friend long ago who was much the same, though she wouldn't let anyone call her anything aside from Tonks."
The younger elf and ageless wizard gave their goodbyes before leaving for the first full session of healing with both Oromis and Glaedr.
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A/N: The actual healing process will not be detailed extensively, only mentioned briefly since it would occur in mostly the same manner and is stretched over a period of a couple of weeks. As a hint towards how Gleadr will be healed, think book 4 of HP. Oromis will be mostly dealing with his magical, mental and physical issues, though most are physical and magical. As such, only a little bit more time will be spent in Ellesméra in the next chapter and then it is back to the main twisting of the storyline. Should be fun, have a few changes in store and still working on getting through the changes already made. As always, thanks for reading, and I would love it if you reviewed. :)
Gratz to those who guessed Oromis last chap as the dinner guest. 15 more useless points if anyone can tell me where three of the metals/ores Harry mentioned came from *Without looking at google* ;) lol. If I keep doing this, I feel like I should keep track...