Chapter 11

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

AN: Don't take this too seriously. I don't.

... ... …


Harry was lounging near the archery range, laying on his belly. He had a blank arrow shaft that he was rolling on the ground. He flicked it away, then rolled sideways and rolled back just in time for it to wind up in front of him.

Haldir and his brother Orophin, along with Glorfindel, were watching him and found it quite adorable. Especially when he would start giggling.

The atmosphere around them was serene in a way that only Elven settlements could be.

It was all broken when Rumil came dashing towards his brothers with a shout.

"Haldir! The forest is being attacked!"

The brother in question shot to his feet, Orophin following a second later. Harry rolled onto his back just in time to see Glorfindel hesitating on if he should follow the Wardens, who were now whispering to each other, or go to Harry and protect him.

He opted for his own brother, picking up the tiny elfling.

Harry wrapped his arms around Glorfindel's neck, curious as to what this was about.

"What's going on Feeny?" Harry asked, leaning happily against his brother, even though the stress in the ellon was obvious.

"'Tis nothing to concern yourself with, little one," replied Glorfindel, who shared A Look with the March Warden and then took off at a brisk pace towards Harry's rooms.

Harry made an unhappy face. "Ya know. 'M not a child." The way he muttered petulantly didn't help his case.

Glorfindel smiled fondly but didn't stop his brisk pace.

"Feeeeeeeennnyyyyyyy..." Harry whined the name, trying to shake the elf that held him.

"Haarrryyyy," Glorfindel returned, his voice more of a hummed song than the whine of the elfling.

The sound made Harry laugh, but then he scowled and smacked his fist against the shoulder he'd been laying on before. "Tell me!" He demanded.

The Golden Elf opened the door while balancing Harry carefully on one hip, and pushed it open with his back.

"I see no reason why you wish to know. You are safe, that is all that matters, Harry," the elf explained as he set Harry down on his bed. Harry whined and flailed then rolled onto his stomach.

"Fine," Harry muttered into his bedding. He was quiet for a few moments and then turned to look over his shoulder at Glorfindel, who had pulled a chair closer to the door. "Does this have anything to do with what Gorny's been doing with all those dead people?"

Harry mused that it was interesting to watch an elf choke on their own spit.

... ... ...


Three days prior to the assault on Lorien, Harry had been absconded in a tree, trying to use his magic to roll a ball along the ground-with little to no success-when he'd felt it.

He felt Aragorn, but in a very different way to how he had felt Boromir. Aragorn wasn't dead, but ... he was around a lot of dead-not-dead ... people sounded better than things... maybe spirits was probably the best word.

Aragorn had... changed in status somehow. For the rest of the day and deep into the next, Harry could feel how Aragorn's... essence? or maybe soul? evolved.

It wasn't a fundamental or alarming transformation, but something had definitely shifted in the core of his being.

Around midnight, as Harry was tossing and turning, was when the feelings came to a head. He knew it wasn't bad, but he did know it had something to do with death. Ever since he had spoken about his title, he could sense that part of his magic easier.

The new knowledge settled with that part of Harry's magic and he was able to fall asleep, clutching his stuffed toy tightly.

... ... ...


Harry explained the change that he had felt in Aragorn to Glorfindel as the pair took refuge in Harry's rooms. In return, Glorfindel decided to explain what was happening and how it was, indeed, related, however in the blandest of terms.

It had been a while since Harry was privy to the knowledge of the blossoming war. He knew something had been happening while he was around the Fellowship, but nothing much. Glorfindel acknowledged there was a warrior in Harry, in his past, and that despite being an elfling NOW, he hadn't been BEFORE.

He decided that Harry should be able to handle at least a little bit it. Knowing they were at war. There would probably be more battles to come. Forewarned is forearmed, after all, and it would help Harry to know what was going on.

The rest of the day was spent debating how Harry could be kept safe, especially after Celeborn showed up to ensure the elfling was, indeed, safe.

... ... ...


The next few days that passed were tense. Harry tried to lighten the mood and he succeeded with most. Just seeing the tiny elfling running around and laughing raised people's spirits.

As expected though the atmosphere broke when news of a second assault on their forest was announced. Harry was carefully shuffled off to his room amongst much grumbling, but Glorfindel promised to teach him something new which helped to appease the tiny elf.

That night, during dinner, Harry stopped mid-sentence and looked up… He didn't make eye contact with anyone, clearly seeing-or Seeing?-something that no one else could.

A slow smile spread across Harry's face and he happily went back to eating.

Celeborn, glad that it was just him and Harry since Glorfindel was off training with other warriors, inquired what had happened.

"They were released. You know, I didn't even know how fucking WRONG it felt until they were and now it just feels..." That smile came back and it managed to brighten the entire room. "Now it feels right."

Harry laughed suddenly, stabbing at his fruit so he could eat it. "Good job, Gorny!" And he saluted with the fruit before eating it.

Though confused, Celeborn tilted his glass at Harry's strange toast.

... ... ...


The next week was busy for everyone. The elves were preparing for another assault on their forest. Galadriel knew nothing would come of it-their forest was too well protected by the use of her ring, Nenya...

However.

However, it was still scary, what with the elfling in their midst. They knew that if there was a third attack, they would have to go on the offensive. Already, Glorfindel and Galadriel were discussing the logistics of an attack on Dol Guldur.

Harry though was just scampering about underfoot, having managed to dodge Istimiel earlier and escape into the chaos of the day.

At least until he was picked up.

Harry let out a scream, squirming as dexterous fingers managed to both hold him aloft AND tickle into his sides.

"NO! EEEE~~ NO FAIR!" His arms and legs flailed about, "I'LL KICK YOU IN THE FACE!" Harry threatened, trying to angle his body in a way so he could accomplish such a feat.

The person holding him laughed and unceremoniously dropped Harry to his shoulder. This new vantage point allowed Harry just enough information to guess at his assailant. "Dir-dir?"

"Did you think it was one of my fine brothers?" Haldir's voice rung with his mirth, drawing giggles from the elfling.

"I dunno, you all do have blond hair."

Haldir replied with more laughter.

The March Warden carried Harry from the chaos of the staging area as if he was a sack of potatoes and Harry allowed it, happily playing with the hair he could reach. He tried to tie it into knots, but they just refused to stay.

Stupid magical elf hair.

Harry idly wondered if his hair would be like that if he grew it out long too...

"Heavy thoughts, little one?" Haldir gave Harry a pat before pulling him into a proper hold, then set him down on the ground.

"Not really," chirped the elfling, grabbing Haldir's hand and pulling him along towards an area they could play. "Do you think my hair could be like yours, Dir-dir?"

"Like mine?"

"Long and magical."

Haldir said the word with amusement, "Magical?"

"Yeah!" Harry threw his hands up into the air, turning towards Haldir. His hands, already up, reached for the March Warden's hair. "No matter what I do, it won't stay in knots! It's so silky and smooth...

"I'm really jealous..." His hands landed on his own hair, tugging a piece into his line of sight. "I've always had wild hair."

Haldir took a seat, pulling the elfling close so he could still talk to him. "Wild?" he prompted, hoping to hear more.

"Yeah. Potter Family Curse." Harry smiled in such a self-deprecating way that looked completely out of place on a tiny child's face. Seeing Haldir's confusion, Harry explained. "My name is Harry Potter."

"That 'tis... a very... Mannish name."

"Well, I was a man before I was an elf." That smile was back but tinted with a bit more humor. Harry pushed at Haldir's bent leg, moving it back and forth. "So of course I would have a Mannish name."

A soft hum left the March Warden as he thought about that, letting his fingers run through Harry's hair.

"You said before, little one, that you had children. Did they also have this... Curse?"

Harry laughed happily and nodded. "Not my dear Lily, thankfully, but most of them did."

Haldir hummed softly again, inspecting Harry's hair. The elfling was once more in need of a good bath. "I think if you were to grow your hair out long, it may smooth out like my brothers' and mine"

Draping himself over the leg he had been pushing, Harry turned to look at Haldir. "You think so, Dir-dir?"

An elegant shrug was the response. "It's possible."

A litany of giggles poured forth from Harry at that and he relaxed comfortably over that strong leg. Eventually, Harry poised a new question to the happily relaxing Elf.

"Where are Rum-rum and Fin-fin?"

Haldir expressed his mirth by shaking his head, not bothering to hold back his chuckles. Why should he? Being with the elfling brought joy and light to his heart.

"My brothers are still preparing."

"Preparing for what?"

"For something that might happen."

"What might happen?"

"Harry..." The tone was a warning. Harry didn't heed it.

"Dir-dir~." The childish voice came out as a song, making Harry giggle.

Haldir sighed then, dropping a heavy hand onto Harry's back. "This is not a matter you need to concern yourself with. You're too-"

"Fuck you if you say I'm too young," Harry didn't bother to glare because his voice was glacial. It didn't fit with his tiny body. "I've been fighting in wars since I was a baby, so even if I'm tiny again doesn't mean I ain't got the mentality to deal with this.

"Please, Dir-dir. I want to know what's going on..." There was a definite pout in his voice, belaying his words. "Feeny won't tell me much, some yes, but not a lot. Probably under the mistaken impression that he needs to protect me or something."

"You do need protecting," replied Haldir quietly, moving his hand to turn Harry to face him. "To all of Elvenkind, Harry, you are such a precious gift that we cannot help but want to protect you as much as we can. That is why we have kept mum about what is happening.

"It is... understandable that you want to know what is going on around you." Haldir allowed Harry this, "But there really is not much to know. The War that is being fought all over Arda is coming to a head, with battles taking place on all fronts.

"Your friends in the Fellowship are fighting and we are fighting here as well. We all must do our parts in these battles." A smile worked its way on Haldir's face as he continued to talk, "Even you little elf. Your happiness brings us joy, and if we coddle you some... that is because it is something we need to be able to do right now.

"Being able to provide for you a safe place to grow and flourish... It one of the greatest things for us." Haldir shrugged-it was a graceful thing. "At least, I know it is for me. Even when you call me 'Dir-dir'."

Harry's jaw dropped-it was more than Glorfindel had ever explained to him, though Haldir had managed to censor it enough so that the March Warden felt comfortable with what he told to the elfling. But then Haldir just kept going and going and Harry was blushing by the end of it.

And laughing. Blushing and laughing.

"I-. uh. Well. That is to say," Harry floundered like a pro, the red in his face covering from the tips of his ears all the way over his nose. "I-... I uh..." His voice dropped down quiet, "I like hanging out with you too, Dir-dir..." And was it possible to blush more? Because Harry managed it just then.

Haldir laughed at the elfling, picking him up with ease and snuggling him to his chest. A nose went to those wild curls, even though they were definitely musky, but Harry was just too precious for him to care.

"Come, Harry," Haldir declared eventually, setting the elfling down. "Let us go and find my wayward brothers. They deserve your joy as much as I."

"Yeah!" Harry shouted, running off into the distance. "Where's the Rum-rum and Fin-fin gone!" His laughter followed the statement as if sharing a joke with himself.

... ... ...


The anticipated third attack was met with heavy opposition from the elves of Lothlorien. Immediately following this show of power from Khamul, the second in command of the Nazgul, Galadriel-along with Celeborn and Glorfindel-led the march on Dol Guldur.

Being left behind with Istimiel and Beriogelir was not exactly ideal for Harry, but he did recognize the fact that he was in a tiny body and couldn't wield his magic like he used to in his magical prime.

Still, he was left pouting in his rooms.

His pair of caretakers tried to distract him, but it didn't work. Harry was worry about Celeborn and Glorfindel, not to mention Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin. His new family. Shit, he was even worried about Galadriel for all that he knew she was a bad-ass bitch who could take care of herself.

He still worried.

The first day was full of anxious energy on the part of everyone in the room.

Harry could feel that something was building. There was a ... climax coming. Some sort of peak that had been building in the entire world and it was coming.

Soon.

The second day was when Harry got his answer.

He had been doing some writing work while resting on his stomach when he finally felt it.

It was like the world of Bad had broken and finally, Hope could be felt again.

Harry wasn't the only one who felt it either. Marching towards a battle at Dol Guldur, Galadriel and Glorfindel stopped as one and turned towards the south-east. In Rivendell, Elrond did the same thing.

For his part, Harry smiled as the feeling washed over him. This would... This would be okay. It would all be okay.

... ... ...


Of course, it wasn't going to be okay.

Two days had passed since Harry felt hope and goodness return to the world. He was relaxing on his balcony, wrapped in a loose blanket. He had a pillow under his head and his stuffed animal hugged tightly to his side.

Looking up at the blue sky with its grey clouds... he found it oddly fitting about the situation he could feel. Things were getting better, but it wasn't a hundred percent.

It was during that doze when he first felt it. His magic. His... Death Magic-he couldn't think of any other words to describe the feeling he got from that side of his... magic.

Because Harry was half asleep, he didn't pay much attention to what was going on and just curled up with his stuffed animal more, mumbling a little. Nearby, Istimiel glanced up from her book and smiled happily at the elfling.

Harry couldn't get any rest, however. That niggling wouldn't go away. It was telling him that something was wrong. Something big. Something really big and important and he really should pay attention to IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

His eyes snapped open, breath seizing in his chest. A horrified whisper of, "No..." left him.

That was all the warning that Istimiel got before Harry disappeared in a deafening crack.

... ... ...


AN: /maniacal cackling. This chapter got a lot of help from Scarletdewdrops who was a constant sounding board for me. Thank you very much for your continual help.

Also, according to the timeline I have from the Tolkien wikis I've researched:

The 3rd assault on Lothlorien happened on March 23rd.

The Ring was destroyed on March 25th.

Celeborn crosses the Anduin and takes Dol Guldur and Galadriel brings down its walls on the 28th.

The last part happened faster in my story because of Harry being around, by like a day or two.

I am, clearly, following the books a bit more than the movies. (Though I've never read the books and only watched the movies once lol. So I guess I'm mostly following Wikis?)

Giving credit where credit is due, I'm also using the lotrproject com a lot for timelines. It's a great map.