The Nuuruhuine

by phoenix catcher

Complete. Harry/OMC-Alex. Vampire:Harry. Harry and his elite team are thrown into Middle Earth two thousand years before the fellowship to start a new life in a strange world. Will be followed by a sequel.

21. The Burning Jewel

The Nuuruhuine

A/N; Getting close to the end now, this chapter isn't the last one, there will be another after this one which will probably include the epilogue. Hope you like.

Chapter 21; The Burning Jewel

Morchaint – The Blood Plains

Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo rode doubled up with friends. Frodo rode in front of Gandalf as normal, Sam sat in front of Denver, Merry sat in front of Alex who he'd taken a liking to and finally Pippin sat in front of Calamy. Also in their little group were the last five Gondorians sent with them by Aragorn and lastly Gimli doubled up Legolas but around them both in front and behind were thousands of troops. Easily twenty thousand Elves, Dwarves, humans and Vampires marched with them across the rolling fertile ground of Morchaint heading along a twenty metre wide paved highway. At times they passed through villages surrounded in farm land but at other times they headed through open land.

Throughout the first day on their way down the western escarpment and then across the plains and for the entire night and most of the next day a huge storm ripped through the northern sky beyond the mountains that lined their path. It had taken a few hours before the four Hobbits had realised that not all the thunder was from the storm and when asked Gandalf had told them that what they heard was the Grey Batteries.

On the third day the storm began to subside and shift into the east and it was a few more hours before a loud screech scattered the horses, even the Morchaint chargers which were used to the Vampires and Lamia. The group turned around to see a huge bird silhouetted by the rising Eastern sun. It's size unmistakable as anything other than Harry. As it glided down towards them it shimmered and soon a much smaller form took its place as Harry returned to his normal form. His almost black wings locked into place and he landed silently in front of the fellowship with a strained smile.

The Fellowship could only listen on as Harry exchanged a few words with a highly decorated looking Vampire, Gelderan, the Warden of Domia who had been leading the march towards Dras Arget. The words they exchanged were fast and obviously Elvish yet it sounded slightly harsher without the lingering softness that Elves always spoke with. Legolas and Gandalf clearly understood most of it yet even they looked confused by some of the words and phrases. Alex, Calamy and Denver obviously understood the words perfectly.

"It is the language we speak in Morchaint." Alex told them quietly so that all four Hobbits could hear yet not loud enough to interrupt whatever Harry and the Vampire were talking about. "It was originally closer to Elvish yet it has changed over the years."

Harry finally turned to the others and smiled grandly even as the horse he'd ridden since Minas Tirith was led to him. He lightly leapt up onto it and it shifted under his weight for a moment before turning to the side as Harry directed it. Pippin looked at him pleadingly and he simply laughed and held out a hand. Pippin slid off of Calamy's horse with the Lamia's help and ran up to Harry who grabbed his hand and with ridiculous ease pulled the Hobbit up in front of him.

"We have far to travel today before we rest. Tomorrow morning you will get your first sight of Dras Arget." Harry announced to the group as he led them onwards. Gandalf drew up on Harry's side.

"How fares the enemy?" Gandalf asked.

"I slowed them down and probably killed off a lot of their living armies." Harry told him. "But the damage is limited. The Grey Batteries did more damage than I though and they'll continue to force him north as long as they can."

"What of Miril?" Gandalf asked.

"What's Miril?" Frodo asked from in front of Gandalf.

"A large mining city on the western tip of the Grey Mountains." Harry explained. "It is well guarded under the sights of the Grey Batteries."

"Will it be safe?" Gandalf asked. "It lies in the path of the enemy."

"I doubt Nacraemeus will risk his army to take it." Harry told him. "He would have to bring his army into the sights of over thirty ballistae to overrun the city. His losses would be too great. No, Gandalf. Nacraemeus will not delay for Miril, he will head as far west as he can before heading for Dras Arget."

"Will we reach the city first?" Gandalf asked.

"We've been successful in delaying him." Harry nodded. "My best guess is that he will arrive during the night in three days. We'll arrive tomorrow afternoon, so we should have the best part of two days once we arrive."

As they rode on at a comfortable speed the Hobbits fell into a doze but were awoken in the middle of the afternoon by loud horns rolling out from the head of the column which when they looked was just broaching the top of a ridge line almost a mile ahead of them. The column continued on but a rider was seen running back along the far right of the highway. Harry watched silently as the rider reached his side, turned his horse and fell into line.

Words were again exchanged before the Rider blew his horn gently but at such a range it still made the Hobbits wince and the Elvin riders around them jerk in their saddles even as their mounts twitched. "What is it, Harry?" Merry asked as a trio of horns took up a rather staccato signal at the head of the column. A long answering one echoed from the distance and Harry listened to it for a moment before answering him.

"The head of the column came into view of the Greater Crossroads. It's a junction in the Highway that leads to every sector of Morchaint." Harry explained. "We're on the Eastern Highway right now which leads straight from Dras Arget to Domia, almost dead west to east. This crossroads joins the South-Eastern Highway down to Edoc'sil, or the Northern Highway that takes you up to Miril. There's also the South-Western Highway which takes you down the North Downs into old Arnor but that path was used by traders mostly. You should maybe know that one. It cuts down through North-Eastern Shire and to Bree."

"The Ancient Path?" Frodo gasped. "Uncle Bilbo told me about that but I've never seen it."

"It hasn't been used much in the last five hundred years so it's probably rather overgrown." Harry admitted. "At any rate the head of the column saw the armies marching along the South-Eastern Highway from Edoc'sil. I told them to signal them to break at the crossroads."

"What do you mean?" Pippin asked.

"You'll see in a minute when we reach the ridge line." Harry assured him and hugged him to his chest to placate the rather inquisitive Hobbit.

"You spoil all my fun, Harry." Pippin told him.

"You're just impatient, Pip." Merry declared from their left. The others had drawn up closer to listen to Harry's explanation.

"Something you all are when with races such as us." Alex told him eerily. "Patience means something else entirely to immortals."

"It's funny." Sam mused almost to himself. "I rarely think of Harry as being that old. I mean he doesn't look that old."

"As opposed to me, young Hobbit?" Gandalf laughed at Sam's stricken look.

"I could look older if I wished, Sam." Harry told him. "We choose which ages we wish to look."

"That's frightening." Sam bit his lip in thought. "I mean you'd never know if a Lamia child even was a child."

Harry laughed this time in amusement and reached over to Denver's horse to ruffle Sam's hair. "You worry too much, Sam." He told him in amusement. "But as a rule assume anybody that looks younger than twenty is younger than twenty. A Vampire freezes at the age they are bitten and have no choice so none normally take the bite until their twenty-fifth birthday. The Lamia get their wings at sixteen and could choose at any time to freeze their aging yet a growing body has disadvantages so none freeze their age until their twenty-fifth birthday at the very earliest."

"That's a relief." Sam whistled.

"So everybody will look to be twenty-five?" Frodo asked.

"Take those around us." Alex spoke up. "The humans obviously age as they do, they can choose to take the bite anywhere up to their fiftieth birthday so humans normally range from any age while Vampires age from twenty-five to fifty. Lamia can look as they wish so can look up to a human elder but taking an old body has it's disadvantages so most never take a form over forty."

"Why would a human ever choose to wait until they are fifty to be turned into a Vampire?" Merry asked.

Harry shook his head at yet another question but answered anyway. "Lamia and humans can have children. Vampires cannot. Most of the humans wish to have a family before they are turned."

"That puts a more human look on Vampires." One of the Gondorians spoke up suddenly making them all look at him. He blushed slightly but stood his ground. "We've learnt more about your nation in the last few weeks than the entire Gondor nation has in two thousand years."

"We'll have much to talk about when we return home." Another nodded as he spoke. Harry smiled at them gently.

"Ah," Gandalf suddenly grinned. "Here we are."

They had reached the top of the ridge and before them was a rolling valley. Along the bottom of the valley ran a wide paved road that met up with their own one at a large junction. There were five roads into the valley in total. Their own was the straight one that led from their position down the valley but three others linked with it from all directions. At the junction the Highway formed a huge square with a large statue of what they recognised as a Thunderbird in the centre. Around the junction were about a hundred buildings, a town around the junction. What was most eye catching though was the riders on the road at the bottom of the valley, they stretched up the Highway at the bottom of the valley and turned onto their own. Except the army riding in on their left towards the town was at a standstill.

Harry pointed at that Highway and then pointed around in a clockwise direction as he spoke. "That is the South-Eastern Highway to Edoc'sil, the next around it the South-Western road, or the Ancient Path as you call it." He pointed next along the one straight from theirs, "That is the continuation of the Eastern Highway that leads straight to Dras Arget and then the last on our right is the Northern Highway that leads to Miril."

"Who are they?" Merry asked.

"That is the army from Edoc'sil I spoke of. They've broken formation to let us onto the Highway. That's what the signal was for." Harry explained. "Otherwise our army would have to wait."

"How many are down there?" Frodo gasped.

"I can see about eight thousand." Legolas shielded his eyes against the lowering sun.

"According to the reports from Edoc'sil there should be about seventy-thousand in that army. There's always a large force in the south east in case we get trouble from that direction. They'll stretch a long way in both directions." Harry told them all. "We'll rest here tonight though and they'll still be passing in the morning. Our army will join with this one and head for Dras Arget overnight to arrive before us."

"Why not go with them?" Gimli asked.

"They will not stop for night." Harry told him. "The end of that line will only just reach Dras Arget before Nacraemeus becomes a threat."

"What of the Elves and Dwarves?" Gandalf asked.

"I suppose I should give them the choice." Harry sighed before turning and talking to Calamy who nodded and turned his horse around to find the Elvin king, Legolas' father.

"Why do we need to stop for the night?" Gimli asked, "It is not as though we are walking."

"Because, Gimli, I am tired." Harry told him bluntly. Everybody stared at him in shock except for Calamy, Denver and Alex. Even Gandalf looked surprised. The three Lamia would have seen it in his movements and no doubt so would the rest of the Vampires and Lamia who knew the signs. "I have not fed since Edoc'sil which while only a week is enough to cause a problem after driving that storm."

"Why not just feed from one of the humans then?" Gimli asked.

"I will." Harry told him. "Once we have stopped."

"But..." Gimli frowned.

"Gimli!" Gandalf snapped sharply. "We'll stop. I'm feeling rather tired myself in fact and we have time."

Harry inclined his head gently just as Calamy returned. "The Elvin King and Dwarven King say that they will follow the Morchaint Army to Dras Arget and aid in the preparations." Calamy told them all in the common tongue.

Harry nodded and sat in a tense silence for the rest of the journey. Gimli and muttering quietly to Legolas but Harry chose to tune him out and knew they were discussing how tired he possibly could be. When they reached the noise filled clatter of the junction Harry turned his horse aside and the other ten followed off down one of the junctions to a large mansion. Several Lamia, Vampires and human guards greeted them smartly and Harry dismounted in the courtyard in the centre of the sweeping wings that made up the mansion.

He pulled Pippin off gently and set him down before turning to greet the Lamia soldier charged with the protection of the junction. "Welcome to the barracks my Lord." He bowed. The others were surprised that such a beautiful building could be a barracks. It looked more like the home of a King but the signs were there. The entire first floor around the courtyard led to stables and two arches led to paddocks behind. A staircase led up to the second floor in three places.

"We expect your hospitality for the evening, Marshal." Harry told him.

"Of course my Lord. I'll have rooms readied for you.

"A common room may well be better suited, Marshal." Harry told him knowing that after all this time the fellowship would prefer not to be separated especially in such a strange place. Almost as a second thought Harry half turned to the five Gondorians. "Perhaps a second common room?"

"We are happy not to cause a problem, my Lord." The Gondorian nodded at him showing he knew what he meant by the offer and telling him that they weren't worried about sharing a common room with four Lamia.

Harry turned back to the Marshal. "Just one common room then. Hot food, baths for those that wish them and donors."

The Marshal nodded and showed them up into the mansion while grooms took their horses and led them into the stables to be pampered over.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Harry took the blood he needed from one of the human women from the town's people as did Alex, Calamy and Denver. Nobody cared that they were women and the Gondorians weren't there to comment but it would take them several days to fully recover and no human man would be taken from this close to a major battle. They were all used to being Donors anyway even if having blood taken from you by one of the Nuuruhuine was a different business all together.

Harry took a hot bath with Alex so they could clean off their wings before Harry went up onto the roof in light clothing while his own uniform was cleaned. He wore simple heavy cotton trousers and a laced up vest since his wings were out. Alex joined him without a word and a while later the fellowship found them there. They sat around a burning brazier talking together.

Harry only turned when he heard Frodo cough at his side. He turned and saw the Hobbit shivering away from the fire. Harry opened his wings and stepped behind him before curling his wings around them to shield him. "I'd love wings." Frodo whispered quietly reaching out to stroke them. Harry smiled at him. "Harry? Why are you so worried?"

"Noticed that did you?" Harry asked back without answering.

"You're not really too tired to reach Dras Arget are you?" Frodo almost accused.

"No, but if I don't sleep tonight I may be too tired later when I need the energy." Harry told him truthfully.

"What do you need to do?" Frodo asked.

"Nacraemeus." Harry spoke bluntly.

"You have to fight him?" Frodo asked.

"Nobody else can." Harry shrugged. "Even Gandalf cannot fight Nacraemeus. Only I truly understand what he is."

"What is he?" Frodo asked.

"He's been many things in the past." Harry sighed and Frodo almost gasped as the light seemed to fade from Harry's bright eyes. "First he was a son, then a brother to a friend, then an ally in war." Harry's voice was soft as he spoke but then a rather harsh edge trickled into it as he continued. "Then a warrior for a cause, then a slave to greed and finally an enemy. He hunted and killed Vampires first as a human and then as a Necromancer. Always searching for the best way to achieve it until he became what he is today."

"Can he be turned back into what he was?" Frodo asked.

"I doubt any of that person is left." Harry shook his head. "It is the choices we make that form who we are, Frodo. You chose to fight a war that had never touched your home. You chose to risk your life for millions of people you have never met. All of that makes you a hero, somebody that can be looked up to and loved. Nacraemeus has made choices as well, yet his choices were not for the benefit of others but for the benefit of himself. That is why I must kill him."

"Can you kill him?" Frodo asked.

"We shall see when the battle is joined at Dras Arget." Harry told him.

"That's why you need rest now?" Frodo realised. Harry nodded slowly and Frodo jumped forwards to hug Harry's waist. Harry wrapped his wings around the Hobbit for a moment before pulling him away to look into his eyes.

"There will be a ship at harbour at Dras Arget, Frodo. If the battle turns bad or the wall falls you must do something for me." Harry told him and placed a finger on his lips when Frodo began to complain about what he was obviously implying. "You must make Sam, Merry and Pippin board that ship. The Captain will have orders to take you first to the Grey Havens and then down to Minas Tirith. If Morchaint falls then the armies will flee down to Rohan and then to Gondor where the last stand will be made. If there is any luck left to us at that point Nacraemeus will follow them rather than cross the Shire."

"We won't run." Frodo declared.

Harry knelt quickly and grabbed his face lightly with his hands. "You will run at that point Frodo." Harry kissed his forehead before locking eyes. "You will run because if you don't run, Sam, Pippin and Merry won't either and you will all die. Do you understand that?"

Frodo nodded with wide eyes and bit his lips. "But Dras Arget won't fall will it? Gandalf said it could hold."

Harry stared passed Frodo's head for a moment before turning back to him. "Nacraemeus isn't there to defeat Dras Arget. He's there to defeat me for I am his enemy in this world."

"You won't die though, right?" Frodo almost pleaded. "You can beat him right?"

"I will beat him, Frodo." Harry said after a while before letting the Hobbit hug him. He opened his wings and sent a rather shaky Frodo off to the rest of the laughing group who hadn't even been aware of the argument.

"You will beat him, Harry." Alex told him from where he'd stood beside him the entire time without saying a word. "I love you and I know you better than any other. You will beat him because that is the only option open to us. Dras Arget can hold out against his hordes but it can't hold out against him."

Harry looked at his love for a moment before nodding. "I know. I'll beat him because I owe it to Ron." Harry sighed. "I owe it to the man he once was."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The Fellowship, Alex, Denver, Calamy and their five Gondorian entourage left the town before sunrise. Harry and the other Lamia refused to say why they were leaving so soon even as Pippin began whining about being up that early when his bed had been so nice and warm. Harry simply wrapped him up in his wings to keep him warm.

They rode in pre-dawn silence amongst the still travelling troops coming from Edoc'sil along the Highway to Dras Arget. The road turned away from the valley floor and started to climb up one of the sides of the valley towards a dip in the ridge that led off to the west. As they reached the top the sun was just breaking the horizon behind them yet the vast plains that came into view was still in the dark. Harry pulled off to the side at the top of the ridge and the fellowship and the Gondorians followed him.

"This is why we moved out so early." Harry told them. "I'd like you all to see this."

"What are we supposed to be looking at?" One of the Gondorians asked.

"We are looking out over the plains of Dras Arget." Harry announced.

"It's rather dark." Sam commented blandly.

The view was rather dark. With the sun not yet over the horizon the plain before them was almost pitch black. With Lamia and Elvin eyes they could just make out the dark outline of the city near the horizon but this vantage point was a one of a kind. It hid all light to the low plain while being just high enough and far enough away that you could see the city. It almost meant that the sun hit the city before it hit the plains between them. "Just watch." Harry told them gently.

As they waited the sky visibly began to lighten over the space of a few minutes and then in a single second a bright light appeared on the horizon as the top of the mile high city caught the light. Another moment and something utterly unforgettable happened. The city caught the light and almost seemed to explode outwards. Silver light shone around it as if a billion candles had lit up. The plain shone with silver light that the Hobbits, Gondorians, Legolas and Gimli blinked away from since they hadn't been expecting it. The light faded slightly after a few minutes as the sun began to lighten the rest of the plain but it still shone with magnificence. The tall mountain in the centre, larger and more beautiful than Minas Tirith itself, with the tall tower that had first shone and reflected the light on the flat top of the mountain. Then the city full of towers all around it spreading out for miles around it with a huge glittering wall that encircled it.

"It's..." Sam gasped.

Pippin opened and shut his mouth and Harry heard his teeth clicked.

"It's..." Sam gasped again.

"Amazing." Frodo whispered.

"I never believed Dras Arget to be so much greater than the jewel of our own kingdom." One of the Gondorians gaped just like the other four.

"That's the Mythril in the rock used to build the city." Harry explained though he was smiling softly at his city. "Most of the veins are left naturally but some of the places, like the tower at the top, are finely crafted. I never get tired of sitting up here in the morning and watching this.

"This is incredible." Pippin spoke up finally.

"There's a legend in the Shire about a city of diamonds that withered in the night and lit up the sky in the day. Bilbo told me about it when I was younger." Frodo laughed slightly. "I thought he was joking."

"With the Shire so close I'm not surprised there are legends." Harry told him. "We used to trade with the Hobbits in Bree."

"But Morchaint has been closed for the last five hundred years." Gandalf sighed. "I have missed this sight, Harry."

"And I'm sure it has missed you." Harry laughed showing his teeth just as the sun directly hit the outer wall and lit up the plain in one massive blaze of light. "It's time to go." The others looked rather reluctant but even as they watched the light began to fade as the surroundings began to light up.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

As they approached the city the entire group was brought into awed silence. It looked even more other-worldly than the Elvin buildings in Rivendell but it had none of the daunting effect of Domia. The area around the city seemed almost deserted except for the marching army filing into the Gates and the sounds of a city at work from within reached their ears easily.

The outer wall reached up to the same height as that of Edoc'sil, almost a hundred and fifty feet of dark grey walls veins with glittering silver veins that swirled and exploded across its surface to the point that Gimli was almost crying. The main gates seemed to almost stand open and welcoming even when guarded by two enormously thick towers riddled with slot windows and capped by large metallic machines that nobody could identify. All along the walls and interspaced towers were similar machines and across an ornate arching bridge that linked the gate towers stood almost a hundred archers, Lamia, Vampire, Human and even the Elvin army. They watched everybody that came into the city.

"It is almost a shame to see the weaponry on the walls, Harry." Gandalf sighed.

"I like it little more, Gandalf, but it is necessary." Harry sighed.

"It looks formidable and everything," Gimli started, "but it looks a little too decorative in places."

"There can be danger in beauty, Gimli." Harry told him.

"Have you not seen the Lamia and Vampires, Gimli?" Legolas asked with a smirk. "Most of the Elves pale in comparison to their beauty."

Harry laughed and noticed that Gimli, the Gondorians and the Hobbits were looking at him, Alex, Denver and Calamy. Studying their faces. As they approached the wall though those faces turned to shock as a cold wind ruffled their hair and a low buzz reached their ears. "The wind is in the Northwest." Alex told them.

"What do you mean?" Frodo asked.

"When the wind blows in that direction it flows through the moat." Harry told them bluntly.

"Moat!" Legolas scoffed. "It is no moat!"

Harry reminded himself that Legolas had been here once before but only as a child and before Harry had slept and even though Harry could remember meeting him he'd been busy with his father for the whole time.

As they approached the moat the group went pale staring to both sides at the pitch black chasm that reached along the foot of the walls. The walls themselves formed the see-able side wall of the chasm making them even taller than they seemed. "Now that's a defence worthy of a Dwarf." Gimli whistled appreciatively.

"You do not want to imagine the bones that litter the bottom of that chasm, master dwarf." Gandalf told him.

"How deep is it?" Sam asked in wonder.

"About as deep as the Eye is tall." Harry told them bluntly. "You would have enough time to contemplate your approaching death on the way down."

The group shuddered as one at that just as they reached a wide bridge that crossed the chasm towards the open gate. "Do you plan to destroy this bridge?" One of the Gondorians asked as they moved out over it.

"The gate has no door." Harry told them all simply. "A portcullis closes from either side from the towers but this bridge is much like the ones you saw at Edoc'sil. It forms the gate."

"Incredible." The human whispered.

As they approached the gates a loud horn blast rang out followed by several others and soon they realised the signal was being taken up all around them. "A fitting welcome for the return of their Lord." Gandalf guessed.

"Actually it has been a long time since I forbade such garish festivities." Harry laughed. "Baring one time after our return. This is for Frodo."

"Me?" Frodo gasped and shrunk back into Gandalf's white robes even as Gandalf chuckled.

"For you mainly but also for Sam, Pippin and Merry." Harry announced. "It is well known with my people how much you four have sacrificed and as Aragorn told you in Minas Tirith. You bow to no man. That is true also to us here. You bow to no human, Vampire or Lamia."

Harry opened his wings wide and pulled his horse beside Gandalf's and motioned Denver and Alex up on to either side of them so they and the Hobbits rode forwards in a line. Harry hugged Pippin gently as they passed through the suddenly split army which stood regally on either side of them with their shining armour and clean cloaks. The rigors of their three day march vanishing from their faces at the sight of Duke and Lord Corvil.

Harry snapped his wings once and they made a loud thud as they struck the wind before he folded them against his back. He raised a hand and their party came to a halt. Silence reached out around them and the four Hobbits realised that they were being watched by almost five thousand people, looking out from the area around them. The tall buildings almost looked like fortresses and towers of both elegance and war stood around them linked by ornate arching bridges all filled with soldiers and people.

"People of Morchaint!" Harry barely raised his voice yet it seemed to carry regardless. "Guests from the Lonely Mountain and from the Great Forests of Mirkwood. Human, Vampire, Lamia, Dwarf and Elf. Once again we shall all fight side by side. What was once started a year past with the formation of the Fellowship will now culminate into a war that none shall forget!"

A roar of sound reached them as people cheered his words. "My people, my guests. I present to you the bringers of our peace from Sauron and his hordes. I present to you four who's hearts outshine any immortal's. Samwise, Meriadoc, Peregrin and Frodo."

Another cheer reached out around them just as loud as the first. Harry held up hands and his black wings reached out into the air again. He waited and slowly there was a rustle of movement among the crowd. Alex, Calamy and Denver were first as they reached up with their own wings and then a thousand more wings spread up into the air around them. All colours reaching out over their comrades like protective arms. "Two days!" Harry announced loudly into the sudden silence. "Two days!" He said in amusement. "Two days is all the time that Nacraemeus has left to him!" This time the roar of cheers was unbearably loud and Harry folded his wings and nudged his mount on up the street. Cheers surrounded them as they rode as a group up through the city and the Hobbits began to realise that Harry's words had reached every section of the beautiful city.

It took them almost a half hour to make it around to the north of the city where Harry led them into a large stables complete with a large field of grass where they left their mounts. Gandalf looked at the decorative entrance to the Shadow Citadel and raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Are we to meet in the Council Hall?"

"Tomorrow." Harry told him. "Tonight we'll relax up in the Citadel and discuss matters with the others."

"Up there?" Sam gazed up and went dizzy. "What's up there?"

"The Lamia." Denver told him. "A city in itself to challenge the greatest cities of men."

"How do we get up there?" Frodo asked.

"We fly." Harry announced just as familiar faces appeared around them almost out of the shadows. "The Nuuruhuine will carry up those that myself, Alex, Calamy and Denver cannot."

"The Hobbits will go with you four." Gandalf nodded at Harry. Harry nodded back and motioned Calamy to take Frodo.

Harry turned to the five Gondorians. "Will you accept their aid or would you prefer accommodation in the greater city?"

"A place with no entrance or exit." One of them whistled with a shake of his head. He chuckled. "We've come this far, we might as well go all the way." He nodded finally at Harry who nodded back before spreading his wings out with a snap. He raised his arms to Pippin before lifting him tightly to his chest so his back was to Harry. With a massive thud Harry powered himself up into the air clear of their heads before he turned north away from the mountain and out into the sunlight where it was easier to climb.

With the added weight that the other Nuuruhuine had to carry they took it slow. Spiralling up in the currents of warmer hair on gliding wings. They settled down gently on the arching promontory where Harry had first come out to after awakening and Harry let the others take in the sights before leading them into the upper city.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day was spent apart from Harry who had disappeared at first light to check over the city. Gandalf was called away at around lunch time and the two didn't return until after the evening meal when a woman entered and Harry left with her. When he came back he had clearly been feeding and the Fellowship could almost see the power rippling from him. Nobody said anything but it was clear he was taking extra to build his strength. The next day there was a hushed quiet all over the city. It hung like a fog and the four Hobbits sat with Legolas and Gimli out on the promontory that overlooked the area.

At around an hour before dawn a long peal of a heavy horn echoed from the highest point in the city sending Legolas to his feet. Shouts could be heard throughout the city and almost as one a hundred of so Lamia leapt into the sky. "On the horizon." Legolas gasped. "A shadow."

"What kind of shadow?" Frodo asked.

"An army." Legolas told him sadly. "Too far away to see clearly. Even for me."

"It's them isn't it." Sam whispered.

"Most likely." Legolas told him.

"Finally!" Gimli grunted. "I don't like all this waiting."

As the day passed on the shadow grew until even the Hobbits could see it spreading from the horizon. As more hours passed they could hear drum beats and see the larger forms of Oliphonts and Siege machines against the northern sky then the sound of a rumbling thunder struck and they could hear the army marching towards them.

Shadows leapt into the sky above the enemy army and they all got to their feet. Before they could move two Lamia landed at the end of the promontory. One was Alex while the other was one they hadn't met before with beautiful violet wings. They instantly realised they couldn't feel power behind him and knew he wasn't one of the Nuuruhuine. "You all need to get into the city." Alex told them gently. "Those are Dragons."

"Dragons!" Gimli gasped. "There are no Dragons, they've all been killed."

Frodo stared at the Dwarf in astonishment and a dawning kind of horror spread across his face and Gimli turned to stare at the rapidly approaching beasts. "Please, my friends." Alex prompted them. "The city can deal with Dragons but you will not be safe out here so exposed."

"We'll go." Legolas nodded at him and gently put his hands on Frodo and Sam's shoulders. As a group they followed Alex into the city with the other Lamia following behind them.

"Where's Harry?" Pippin asked tugging at the edge of Alex's wing gently. The wing flapped slightly at the touch but Alex folded them properly before pointing up at the top of the tower. At the top they could see Harry standing with his wings completely open. A horn pealed out again over the city but this time it was replied to by a horrible screeching sound. The group spun just as they reached the city just as a massive shadow blotted out the sun. A dragon glided towards the city on huge wings but they could see light through the wings where the flesh had decayed slightly.

"Get up against the walls." Alex ordered before moving to block the entrance just as the Dragon folded his wings and dived. Regardless of the order the Hobbits ran to the edge and looked down at the Dragon as it dived at the open Gate, probably under orders to break it so it couldn't be closed when the army arrived. There was a series of peculiar metallic sounds and as they watched metal objects were flung up into the sky from the outer wall and a few of the towers within the city. Some missed and flew out into the plains but a few slammed into the Dragon cutting through its wings or impaling it.

It lost control of its flight and landed heavily at the far end of the bridge over the chasm but it's wings hung limply. It lurched forwards to cross the bridge but there were two dull thumps from the top of the towers as the metallic weapons released sending two shapes like barrels out over the chasm to slam into its hull. The explosion was immense and a ball of fire erupted from the Undead Dragon burning the grass of the plain and scorching the stones of the Highway and bridge. When the firestorm cleared there was nothing of the Dragon remaining.

"What was that?" Gimli gasped.

"Naphtha." Alex told him. "It's a bit primitive by our old world's standard but it's useful against the Undead."

"Very effective." Gimli grunted.

"Do the Gondorians use it?" Frodo asked.

"Not even the Elves know of what makes up Naphtha." Alex told him. "There are rules with this kind of weapon. It can level cities. There are enough barrels in this city to turn Dras Arget into a smoking crater. Mythril and all."

The others gaped at him but were distracted as five more Dragons attacked from the sky. Lightning crashed down from clouds starting to form over the city and more of the harpoons lanced up into the sky trying to bring down the Dragons outside of the gates to be destroyed by Naphtha barrels. Two landed within the city taking the tops of buildings with them as they landed yet they still died as flaming arrows with Naphtha filled tips struck them ripping them apart.

There was a lull over the city after that though fires raged where the Dragons had fallen yet even as they watched the fires were extinguished by great jets of water thrown out from the tops of towers. "How do you get the water up to the tops of the towers like that?" Sam asked.

"How else?" Alex asked.

"Well we use towers to pressurize water so that it comes out lower down." Sam frowned. "But that wouldn't work."

"No, it wouldn't." Alex grinned at him before pointing out over the city at a group of tall columns that vaguely looked like chimney stacks. Some belched black smoke while the others let out what seemed to be steam. "Steam engines. They do many things for the city but they are the answer to your question."

"I don't understand, what are steam engines?" Sam frowned.

"They use pressurized steam to run machinery which in turn sends the water through underground water pipelines and then up into the towers. A city wide fire can be stopped with that system." Alex explained.

"I don't understand how that works." Sam frowned. "But can you imagine, Frodo, what the Shire could do with things like that."

"They belch smoke." Frodo told him dryly.

Alex laughed. "A necessary evil though you didn't see them yesterday, we only run them when we need them."

"What else do they do?" Frodo asked.

"That is a secret, I'm afraid, Master Frodo." Alex grinned at him with his sharpened teeth. "Come, I shall find you food. It will be a long night and in the morning the battle will be joined."

"Normal food I hope." Gimli grunted.

Alex turned his teeth on the Dwarf in a feral grin and the dwarf stepped away slightly putting Legolas between himself and the Lamia.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

As the night passed the plains around Dras Arget slowly filled with moving shapes almost as far as could be seen. By the time the sun rose there was nothing but army all around them. The Hobbits were awakened by a group of boys that seemed rather hyperactive. It took the four Hobbits a while to realise that they were in fact Lamia too young to have their wings but they seemed to enjoy talking with their sharp fangs visible.

"Duke Corvil wanted us to get you fitted out from the armoury so you'd better hurry and get up." They told them all as they charged around the room almost pulling them out of bed. "No, don't worry about your armour. Oh, that's nice armour Master Frodo. You'd better keep hold of that."

Frodo was still half asleep when he was tugged down the hall in little more than his cotton under-trousers along with his three friends following the four Lamia boys into their common room. Legolas, Gimli and the Gondorians were nowhere to be seen and they hadn't seen Gandalf or Harry since dinner the night before.

"We do need our clothes if we're going out there." Merry whined childishly even though they were all much older than the boys.

"We know you need clothes, but you've got new ones waiting over there. Duke Corvil says you're not to have anything but the best." One of the boys grinned at Frodo and started to help him tug an exquisitely tailored shirt over his head. The arms were strong material yet the torso section was smooth and flat and felt like velvet. "But Duke Corvil said we were to guard you and keep you safe."

"But we're going to Harry right?" Frodo asked before taking the leather trousers from the boy and pulling them on himself.

"Well he didn't say not to but he said to keep you away from the battle." The boy conceded before helping Frodo put his dwarven made Mythril vest over his head and smooth down his shirt underneath. "But he might be angry with us if we took you there."

"Well we're going and you can't really stop us." Pippin told the boys sternly.

"Oh we could." The boy helping Pippin grinned a predatory look and Frodo found himself raising his shoulders slightly as if to guard his neck. The boy helping him grinned as he saw the moment but the other boy continued talking. "But taking a look from the upper tower will be alright. Duke Corvil will be up there for most of the battle and it'll be safe."

"What about the rest of our friends?" Frodo asked.

"The Elvin Prince and Dwarf?" Frodo's boy asked. "And the...Gondorians?"

Frodo nodded but another boy spoke, Frodo realised they were a very close-knit group. "They're down on the outer wall. Nobody expected the Gondorians to offer their help but it's nice of them."

"Can we go down there?" Merry asked.

"Nope." His own boy shook his head. "We can't get down there. We don't have wings yet, we're only thirteen. The older boys are all down manning the inner equipment but all the younger ones like us are up in the upper city. The Lamia brought them all up last night."

"We could ask one of the older Lamia for a ride." Pippin mused.

Frodo's boy shook his head. "They won't give one to you. They have orders not to allow you off the upper city and they won't go against Duke and Lord Corvil. Everybody knows your faces. The only way off this mountain for you is to jump."

Frodo sighed and sat to pull on a new pair of boots before he checked himself over. He'd been given a thin Mythril helmet that almost felt like cotton and Mythril guards for his lower arms that acted like shields. The others had all been given another sword but he could use Sting easily enough if it came to it.

"You all look every part the Vampires." Frodo's boy grinned. "Just have to grow you some teeth to go with it. My name's Peter by the way."

"George."

"Dalamy."

"Kentar." Frodo blinked at the introduction but introduced his own friends by himself. Kentar continued. "Time to go. It's almost dawn and the fighting will probably start after the Blaze."

"Blaze?" Pippin asked.

"When the city lights up when the sun hits it." Dalamy grinned. "I love it but it's supposed to look more impressive when fires are lit around it. It looks like its burning."

"Let's hope not." Frodo muttered. Peter grabbed his hand and soon they were being yanked up through the city. They stopped to eat breakfast and found it odd that the Lamia boys ate with them but that was explained away by George when he explained that they didn't drink as much blood as the adults and could sustain themselves on normal food instead.

They were led up a seemingly endless staircase that the four boys seemed to find absolutely delightful but when they exited the top the four Hobbits collapsed to the floor in exhaustion. "Boys." An amused voice hissed through the air and their four guides went tense as Harry appeared between Peter and Kentar holding their shoulders under his arms. Frodo suddenly saw the amount of reverence Harry's people held for him. "You were supposed to bring them up here gently, not kill them."

"We're not tired." Kentar complained looking up at Harry mischievously.

Harry lifted him by the scruff of his neck and clicked his fangs beside his ear before kissing him lightly on the side of the head. "You, Kentar, are not a Hobbit." He put Kentar back on the ground before turning to smile at the four Hobbits. "You all look very nice in Lamia armour. You are the first in eight hundred years to be given our armour, it is yours to keep and wear it with pride."

"We will Harry." Merry nodded as he forced himself up onto his feet. "What's happening?"

"The sun will soon hit the city." A voice announced to Harry making the four Hobbits and their four guides jump around in surprise. The one called Archie walked out from the shadows at the far edge of the platform and Frodo finally looked around seeing all of the Nuuruhuine were standing around the edge of the platform in front of a fine Mythril web.

"Come here Pippin, Frodo." Harry asked and opened his wings. "Merry and Sam go to Archie. And you four go to one of the Nuuruhuine."

"What's happening?" Frodo asked but did as told.

"You remember that bright light at the beginning of the Blaze when we were watching it before?" Frodo nodded. "It originates from this tower. You are standing on over five hundred tonnes of Mythril and this place burns so brightly it will blind anyone whether you shut your eyes or not. Our wings will protect us from the glare."

"A few seconds." Alex announced and wrapped his wings around himself and Peter. Kentar, Dalamy and George disappeared behind the darkly coloured wings of the other Nuuruhuine before the wings closed around the other Nuuruhuine. Harry's black wings closed around himself, Pippin and Frodo just before a bright light flooded the area shinning through even the dark feathers of Harry's wings though not with enough power to blind them. Harry held onto the two Hobbits gently in case they tried to take a peak but they took his warning to heart and stayed still.

The light faded after a few minutes and Harry released the Hobbits to stare at the glowing Mythril around them but Harry was already walking over to the edge of the tower to look around them.

"Look, that looks like the Elvish for the Shire." Sam suddenly cried from where he was looking at the web to the south.

"Then the Shire lies in that direction." Alex told him bluntly though he was standing next to Harry.

"And look, there's Bree next to him. And here's Rivendell!" Pippin cried.

"And Minas Tirith and Edoras!" Merry exclaimed.

"Merry, Pippin." Harry said quietly. "Hush, please. It's starting."

Merry and Pippin came up to his sides rather meekly but Harry wrapped an arm around each of them to tell them he wasn't worried. A gasp of fright escaped from Pippin and then Merry as they noticed the army surrounding Dras Arget. It was a hundred times or more the size of that which Sauron had thrown at Minas Tirith and they both started shaking.

"We're safe right, Harry?" Pippin asked.

"Yes." Harry told them even as Alex wrapped an arm around Frodo and Sam in the same manner.

"They have bridging units." Vesser told Harry pointing out at the long wooden contraptions that looked almost like Siege Towers except they were at and odd angle and were huge. "They'll be tipped off the edge and will catch on the walls of the chasm and give them a path."

"They're already the priority target. If they get even one of them across the battle will take to the walls." Alex sighed.

"I'll deal with the platforms if they get one across." Harry told them all bluntly.

"No, you won't." Alex told him. "We can afford to lose a few men on the walls before the bridge it blown apart but you need to conserve all the strength you can."

"Alex..." Harry shook his head.

"No. Not this time, Harry." Alex shook his head. "Trust the defences to do their jobs. We'll deal with anything that gets passed them."

"Nothing will." Vesser assured him. "The city is built for this day."

"Ok then." Harry nodded before raising his wings. With one down beat he'd disappeared up onto the ridge along the top of the surrounding web. "People of Morchaint!" Again his voice was barely above normal yet it echoed over the whole city. "This is the day. Two days are up and this is the last day Nacraemeus will see. Show them what the greatest city in Middle-Earth is capable of." His wings thudded once loudly before he raised his voice. "Let them burn!"

A roar spread across the city as people cheered and it had barely faded before a series of unmistakable sounds was heard throughout the city. All around the city, on the upper level and the lower, metallic siege engines came to life and with a tremendous whine projectiles were being launched into the sky. Before they'd hit the ground the same engines were firing again.

It was like a wave when they struck deep behind the enemies front line and the explosive wave lit up all around them as a wall of flames sky rocketed sucking in air as it wiped through the enemy Undead.

Horns sounded through the enemy ranks and almost as one they surged forwards. There were no skirmishes, no waves, they simply came as one, throwing everything they could at Dras Arget as the city answered in kind. A horde was most effective when used as a whole and Nacraemeus knew it. The only fear Harry had was that Nacraemeus would out manoeuvre him. That he had some kind of plan that would beat Harry.

The siege units rolled forwards creeping closer to the walls. "How many Jesu?" Harry asked seeing his friend counting them carefully.

"Forty nine bridging units, twenty Oliphont mounted weapons. Eighty-five catapults, sixteen Dragons. Hundreds of siege ladders which can breach the chasm." Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were staring at the Lamia in shock as he spoke.

"What about anything we haven't see before?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so." Jesu shook his head. "It's all pretty standard stuff. The same sort of stuff he gave to the Gondorians when they attacked Edoc'sil a thousand years ago."

"Keep an eye out, all of you." Harry ordered.

As they watched the outer wall defences attacked. A ring of fired barrels exploded against the front lines but it was clear they were aiming mostly at anything resembling a siege weapon. "This is wrong." Harry frowned as he saw the first line of bridging units go up in flames. "This is too easy."

"And that's a problem?" Merry asked.

"Nacraemeus isn't a fool, Merry." Harry told him. "He never wastes anything."

The catapults of the Undead army attacked before the second line of bridging units were destroyed and explosions struck the outer wall and even within the city where flames leapt up. "They have Naphtha." Alex muttered.

"It won't turn the tide." Harry told him. "Order the batteries to destroy their catapults. Nacraemeus should know better than to bring extra fire with his army. It's always his downfall."

"Ironic." Alex muttered.

"He always did love fire." Harry sighed in agreement. The batteries targeted the Oliphonts and the ground catapults next and the secondary explosions simply added to the turmoil in the army below.

The Hobbits watched in shock as the flames raged in the plains around the city as well as within. This was a battle far beyond what they'd expected. "Harry." Archie spoke up. "The walls are taking heavy arrows."

"This is wrong." Harry shook his head. "I'm waiting for the other play."

"We seem to be winning." Sam muttered.

"That's the problem." Harry sighed. "We seem to be winning. Nacraemeus will have an edge."

"I'm going to go down there and talk to Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli. See what they think." Harry announced. "The rest of you get to the walls and keep your eyes open."

The others nodded and as one leapt into the air. Harry turned to the four Lamia boys and their four Hobbit charges. "You should be safe up here, the Dragons don't seem to be bothered with the upper city but at the first sign of trouble get down off the platform." Harry told them. "And boys," he added to the Lamia. "You're in charge of protecting them but get down to the older guards if you get any trouble."

"Yes, Sir." Peter nodded. Harry nodded.

"Harry? Tell the others to be careful." Frodo requested.

"Sure." Harry nodded and slipped backwards towards the webbing. Shadows seemed to creep up around him and Harry disappeared into the blackness that shouldn't even be there. The others blinked in shock at where he'd been.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Harry reappeared from the shadows in the blistering heat of the outer walls. Gandalf was standing clear of the edge but he turned to Harry in shock. "You're powers are growing. You haven't used that power in a millennia."

"Why do it when you can fly or walk?" Harry asked. "The Nuuruhuine are up looking for the other shoe to drop."

"I was wondering that myself." Gandalf muttered as he backed away from the edge. "Their bridging units are gone."

"And we're looking at around eighty-thousand dead on their side already." Harry sighed. "Only forty minutes into the battle. At this rate of attrition Nacraemeus will lose by default before midday."

"He has to be hiding something but I can't sense anything." Gandalf grumbled. Harry shook his head but walked up to the edge of the Gateway tower where they were standing. The launch point behind them was silent as there were no major targets to hit within its range now that the bridging units were gone.

"If he was going to use bridging units as his only way of breaching the walls he would have used hundreds of them, not this measly amount." Harry glared out over the battle. Or slaughter really but it was then that he noticed something. There were the inner fires from where the siege engines were which were now fading and the outer fires from where the siege engines were attacking the catapults but the middle range field was really untouched and he could see troops forming up there. All Undead.

"Crap!" Harry spun on the spot and raised his voice! "All engines, mid range!"

Horns blared out from the tower and Harry struck out with the same message mentally to anyone that could handle it but he was already too late, it would take too much time to realign the siege engines and the wall mounted weaponry didn't have the range. "Wall mounted weaponry open fire extreme range!" He shouted instead. The metallic crossbow like machine on his own tower came to life but still it wouldn't be enough.

Harry turned back and saw his mistake. Nacraemeus' plan had worked, whatever that plan would lead to. He'd drawn Dras Arget's considerable attention away from the midfield, first with the bridging units and then with the catapults using Naphtha to force Harry to attack them. Thus leaving the central staging area hidden and ignored while he grouped his attack. As Harry watched, Gandalf grabbed his arm in question. Harry turned to him. "He drew our attention away from the mid range and those Undead aren't normal."

As the hundred thousand Undead lurched forwards Harry studied them. They were clearly created from the bones of others since they were all skeletons but they had abnormally long rear legs. As they ran Harry saw the power behind those legs. The first range of weaponry struck. His siege engines behind the walls lit up the rear of the suddenly running troops and the wall mounted weaponry struck the front ranks but a hundred thousand were too many. When they didn't slow as they approached the chasm Harry drew his swords and his mind thrust around him yelling out his order both mentally and physically.

"To arms!" Harry yelled. "Reinforce the wall!"

Lamia leapt up from the city landing on the wall even as the Undead horde leapt row after row from the edge of the chasm. In seconds the entire length of the wall was dotted with thousands of Undead even as more landing on top of their own fellows. Luckily the towers themselves seemed to be out of range of their leaps. Harry leapt down onto the wall between his tower and the next and his eight short swings of his swords knocked ten of the creatures back over the wall and into the chasm.

One landed on his back from its leap but his wings sent them flying. "Harry!"Archie called. "We're moving all the Lamia to the walls but there's another fifty thousand of those things coming up on the wall."

"Guard the gate, they'll try to open it." Harry ordered.

"I'm already there."Alex told him.

Harry killed perhaps a hundred in the space of a few minutes and knew that a member of the Nuuruhuine would be at each section so instead of moving to another he simply helped defend this section. With the towers still firing at the approaching Undead that could leap the chasm they at least had a chance. Harry caught a glance at the plains and growled at the fifty-thousand still surging towards the chasm and over it.

"They're through on section eight!" Lex reported. "In the city. And section nine!"

"We'll move riders there." Archie reported. He always coordinated.

Harry sighed knowing they didn't stand a chance like this. They'd have half the city under hordes of those Undead in minutes. Harry leapt into the air and lightning crashed across the front of his own wall sending all the Undead their tumbling back again. "Naphtha down the chasm!"

"Harry!" Archie gasped in shock. It was the river of oil and Naphtha at the base of the chasm that fed the city.

"Do it!" Harry roared his voice spreading out again. His orders impossible to refuse. Barrels of burning Naphtha were quickly thrown off from the tops of the tower and down into the darkness. Harry settled to killing more of the Undead for almost twenty seconds before a rush of air made them all tumble as air was sucked down into the chasm before with a might roar fire leapt up all around the city burning the leaping Undead from the walls in a torrent of air that burnt the outside of the wall and melted the rock on the other side turning the edge of the plains into a lake of fire.

Over the roar of the fire they cleared the city and the walls secure in the knowledge that nothing else could get through that wall. It had its risks though and the top of one of the towers was quickly abandoned as the Naphtha there ignited and only a few seconds later it exploded ripping the top away from it. The other towers began to thrown their own Naphtha barrels over into the fires to be rid of them but another two went up. It was better than being overrun though.

"Harry!" Gandalf shouted as he, Gimli and Legolas came around him once the wall was clear and the Lamia headed for the city to clear it.

"Let's get away from that fire." Legolas suggested barely audible over the rush of sound. Harry led them down away from the wall and into the city where the streets were filled with burning Undead and not a few dead horses and their Vampire and Lamia riders as well as a few Lamia. Harry gritted his teeth but walked through it. The wounded were being treated and moved further into the city while every hideaway was being searched. In ten minutes Harry was on the Highway through the city in the wide market area and Archie and Alex found him there. They had grim expressions.

"I know, Harry." Archie sighed. "It had to be done. Casualties are around five thousand on our side, almost all of that from those last Undead creatures." He spat the last part.

"Lex has gone up to the tower to have a look at Nacraemeus' army and see what he has left and what he's doing." Alex told him. "He'll report to us when he knows."

Harry rubbed at his head but felt Lex there a few moments later. "It looks like he's regrouping. I spotted him out in the open once, staring at the fires."

Harry told that to the others before speaking mentally again. "What of his numbers?"

"There's about a hundred thousand left out there. Half of that has to be his Necromancers. I don't see any living soldiers but he's got about ten large Undead cats around his headquarters." Lex told them.

"He's down to about a fifth of his strength." Harry told Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and the really tired four Gondorians that joined them. "Where is Avoten?" Harry asked seeing one missing.

"He was with us on the wall when the Undead hit. He got knocked off into the city. His wounds are extreme." Another told him. "He'll be dead within the hour. We've done everything we can."

"We can do one more thing for him." Harry told them over the steady roar of the fires.

"I think we should offer it." The man nodded. "We have come a long way since travelling with you."

"I think it may go down better from Calamy or Denver." Harry pointed out. "You know them as well as you do each other."

The men nodded. "Do you know where either are?"

"I'll call them." Archie nodded but he didn't really move as his mind reached out. He could find either of them easily enough while concentrating on the conversation.

"So, we ride out and kill them all?" Gimli grunted hefting his axe.

Harry looked at him strangely for a moment before grinning happily. "Not quite, my good friend." Harry told him. "This battle is now out of your hands."

"What?" Gimli growled like he'd just had his favourite toy taken away.

"Gimli," Harry sighed. "Can you fly?"

"Of course not, but I see no reason for that to make a difference." Harry sighed and took the dwarf by the shoulder and turned him to the rising flames on the other side of the wall.

"I could order the bridge lowered through that if you'd like to try." Harry offered. Gandalf chuckled.

"How long must we wait?" Legolas asked.

"Two months or so." Harry told him bluntly. "There is a river of oil down there that allows for a chain reaction of kinds. It'll have to burn itself out. It'll get less in a few hours. The Lamia will attack in an hour and I'll go for Nacraemeus."

"I had hoped to assist you." Gandalf sighed. "I am confident I can stand against Necromancers."

"I shall take Gandalf the White." Alex told Harry. "I feel he may be needed."

"Just keep yourself safe." Harry told him sternly. "And no, you two. You will not be going." Harry told Legolas and Gimli. "You've both done more than you needed to and I'll always be grateful but your place is here with your people. Please report to your Kings and tell them that the Lamia will attack in one hour."

"Very well Harry." Legolas surprised Harry by hugging him gently and Harry even got a strong slap on the back from Gimli. "Be safe."

"I'm not quite done yet." Harry grinned before turning to Archie. "As soon as the lower city is deemed clear have all Lamia fit to fight assemble in the upper city."

"Ok, Harry." Archie nodded. "Gandalf, will you come up with me?" Harry asked. "I think the Hobbits may be rather worried up there." Gandalf chuckled before accepting a tight hug from Harry. They'd flown like this before a few times but not in recent years. Harry's ascent was rather easily compared to before. With so much hot air rising Harry barely had to work to gain enough altitude to land on the tower. In fact he had to fully collapsed his wings to stay firmly on the surface.

Harry turned to Lex once he'd set down. "We attack in little less than an hour. Make sure all the Nuuruhuine are fed and ask a donor to come up here please?"

Lex nodded before slipping down the stairs rather than flying because of the hot winds whipping around the tower. "Are you ok?" Frodo asked. The Hobbits and boys had been crouched down together against the eastern section of the web clearly so the Lamia could make sure they didn't get caught in the winds when they first started.

"We are fine." Harry told him.

"How did Nacraemeus do that?" Sam asked looking in awe at the three quarter ring of fire that surrounded the wall.

"Nacraemeus didn't." Harry told them all. "We did. There is a river of Naphtha at the bottom of that chasm. We ignited it to stop them from overwhelming us."

"Were they winning?" Frodo asked.

"Yes Frodo, for a moment they were." Harry told him truthfully. "Nacraemeus is a brilliant strategist and he'd have to have gotten close in this battle. But at the moment his forces are crippled. The Lamia will attack shortly as we are the only ones that can leave the city at the moment."

At that moment a young soldier entered. A seventeen year old human brought up to protect the children. He nodded at Harry and touched his throat telling Harry where's he'd prefer to be bitten. Harry knew that now that the flames were burning the men and fighters that weren't injured would be offering their blood to heal or feed their Vampire and Lamia brethren since their job was more or less done.

Harry glanced at Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin with a raised eyebrow. They glanced at each other and shrugged as one. "We don't mind." Pippin told him.

"Thank you." Harry nodded. He offered his arms to the man who stepped in close. Harry kissed him on the forehead to show he was grateful to him for offering. "What is your name?"

"Max." The young man told him.

Harry gently held the back of his neck and lightly bit into his neck with sharp teeth. Max groaned and sagged into Harry who wrapped his left arm around his waist to hold him against himself.

Most of the time Lamia and Vampires did this away from the Rohirrim, Gondorians, Dwarves and Elves purely because of the rather intimate effect between feeder and donor. It was much more pleasant for the donor when they didn't fight it and when the taker of the blood was more intimate with the donor. The difference between holding them up in an embrace and grabbing their throats made all the difference in the experience. Harry drunk what he needed before pulling away. He kissed the spot over the neck gently and waited for it to heal over before pulling back.

Max smiled at him looking rather dazed with wide eyes. Harry slowly sat him down against one of the pillars around the web and Peter and Kentar sat at his sides to make sure he was okay. Harry turned to the rather shocked Hobbits. "There's nothing really bad about it is there?" Sam pointed out logically. "It can't be if the donor enjoys it."

"It is a different experience for those that don't choose to become donors." Harry told them. "If they struggle or are afraid then it can hurt. There are laws dictating that no blood can be taken involuntarily unless in dire circumstances."

"So, he'll be okay?" Frodo asked looking at the young black and silver robed Morchaint soldier.

"I will be fine, Master Hobbit." Max assured him. "I have been a donor a few hundred times before."

"There are limits but it is up to the donor to dictate what they are capable of giving." Harry told them with a smile at the young man.

"It sounds interesting." Sam pointed out. "Maybe we should..."

"You can talk to Max about it if you'd like." Harry told them. "But no offering until I decide if it's a good idea."

Merry flashed him a small smile. Harry turned out over the city as Archie reached for his mind. "The city is clear, Harry." Archie told him. "Lamia are beginning to form in the upper city."

"I have to go." Harry told the Hobbits before turning to Gandalf and offering his arms again. Gandalf nodded and soon Harry was gliding down to deal with things with the Lamia.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Harry and almost twenty thousand Lamia spiralled up into the sky. There was another ten thousand in the upper city that would come if needed but that number should be enough to distract the hundred thousand out there enough for Harry to take on Nacraemeus. Even so they stayed above the clouds so they weren't seen by the Necromancers waiting for something to happen. When Harry ordered the attack they dove rapidly down into the centre of  Nacraemeus' camp. Fire leapt up around the camp as the fire elementals set light to as much of the army of Undead as possible.

Twenty thousand wasn't much against a hundred thousand but they had speed and their flight as a massive advantage. The Undead couldn't be surprised but the Necromancers were instantly in a panic as winged forms began falling among them. Before they even realised what was happening the Lamia had killed at least one Necromancer each which easily put the battle in the Lamia's favour.

Harry landed smoothly with Alex carrying Gandalf on one side and Archie and Jesu on his other. The other Nuuruhuine were causing serious damage around them leaving the area around them rather empty as they searched out the most powerful of the Necromancers and more importantly their age old enemy.

They also had to face the remaining Dragons in the Undead army but it was one of them that caught Harry's attention to the point that he sent a blast of magic at it that tore through its wings. It was a weak spell since he knew it would do no damage but the Dragon vanished a second later leaving somebody that Harry hadn't seen himself in centuries.

The battle exploded into action around them as the Necromancers threw everything they had left at the Lamia and they held up only because of their higher numbers. Horns rang out from the city in encouragement as Harry squared off against Nacraemeus. He knew he had to do this alone but knowing Nacraemeus he wouldn't keep to the same rules.

Harry wasn't disappointed either as before he could think of attacking the ground under Harry, Gandalf and Alex erupted upwards and a great beast tore through the dirt trying to get at Harry. Harry slashed at it even as he leapt up into the air. It's tail broached the ground within the fighting armies and swept through ranks of Lamia and Undead as well as their Necromancer masters.

It took Harry all of five seconds to dig deep into the beast and burn in from the inside out but it was merely a distraction. He found himself separated from the rest of the Nuuruhuine but this way he didn't have to worry about anybody else. He spied Nacraemeus through a few dozen Necromancers and he blurred forwards killing half of them on his blades before he snapped the necks of two. The last few died as he blasted the ground from around him sending them flying into the air. Nacraemeus was backing away through the battle, heading towards the open battle ground between the overrun camp and Dras Arget. He threw everything he could in Harry path but Harry knew he was trying to weaken him and used only what energy he needed to use to get through.

As he broke free of the battle he felt the air ripple and had to roll under an Undead cat that leapt at him with broken teeth. Another rolled him across the floor but Harry killed the two easily enough as he came to his feet and kept following Nacraemeus. By the time he'd killed another four cats and finally stopped in front of Nacraemeus they were being watched from the upper city and the spires in the city. Close to fifty thousand people would witness this fight. A fight to end all fights.

Nacraemeus' first strike was unbelievably powerful. One moment he was shuttering his eyes and waving his arms to the side under a thick black leather robe and the next the floor was gone, blowing up into the air along with Harry and tones of burning molten rock that burned at Harry's wings as he caught himself on his wings to hover in the heat formed from the attack. He smacked out his wings to rid the flames burning his feather before slowly settling on the ground using his magic to cool the rock enough to stand on.

Nacraemeus sneered at him with fanged teeth and attacked again. The blast of sickly red magic made Harry blur and twist to the side to avoid it. His wings rose into the air and thudded again as his magic blew up around him lifting molten rock and debris around him before the entire lot hurtled down onto Nacraemeus blasting him backwards. Harry was on the tail of his strike and he sliced deep into his side with one of his swords. The magic on his sword tried to kill him like it did with the Undead but eventually failed as Harry leapt back to avoid a magical strike from Nacraemeus that burnt the air.

As Harry watched the wound healed over. "You're nothing to me anymore, Corvil!" Nacraemeus hissed, his voice was nothing like it had been so long ago. There was no heart left at all. Harry steeled himself to his task and released all of his magic for use. The air rippled all around them, burning what was left of the battle as it reached up like an inferno. Harry attacked from the midst of it striking with all his speed and strength using everything as he used his swords to beat aside Nacraemeus' hasty slashes. His hate of the man growing with every memory of what he'd done.

A flash of Hermione stumbling through the Corvil home with a dagger in her hand, risen from the dead after Ron had killed her in a bout of anger. Neville stripped of most of his skin and flesh in a magical strike while he defended his home and family from Undead. Neville's twin sons mangled in a burning home. All done by his old friend. And much more. It all fed Harry's attacks to the point that the ground under Harry rippled and began to turn over. Fire began to rise from the burning ground as Harry slashed at Nacraemeus.

Nacraemeus managed to get only two attacks in. One turned Harry's left arm into a bloody mess and mangled his bones. Harry dropped his left sword but shut off the pain. The other cut through his right wing and shredded the skin holding his feathers.

Fed by his pain, memories and the thousands of people Nacraemeus had killed recently, Harry struck a solid blow straight through Nacraemeus' chest. The sword sunk hilt deep and even before Nacraemeus had realised what had happened Harry spun on the spot and delivered a solid blow with his foot against the hilt, crushing the handle through his chest.

Nacraemeus fell backwards to the floor with horror written across his face. The magic collapsed into Harry and he knelt at Nacraemeus' side and pulled his sword from the mess that was his chest. There was no way to heal from that blow, not even a Lamia could. "You've become a Shadow, Ronald Weasley." Harry sighed, his voice carrying across the suddenly silent battlefield. "You don't even remember your own family. Perhaps now you will be face with them and I hope the shadows eat what's left of your soul." With a strong shove he put his sword through the Necromancer's neck, killing the little of his life that was left to him after two millennia.

Harry left his sword in Nacraemeus' neck before he stood wearily. He staggered as he turned only to see rank upon rank of Lamia watching him. Their own battle was finished. As one they knelt, even his own Nuuruhuine. Harry lifted a hand to gesture them up but the movement never got completed. He staggered forwards and in a rush of movement both Alex and Lex were holding him between them.

"I'll live, Alex." Harry assured him tiredly. He knew he needed to reassure his lover.

Alex kissed him gently before turning to the Nuuruhuine that were standing around them. The rest of the Lamia were still on their knees and Harry knew they wouldn't rise until Harry was returned to the city. No Morchaint citizen would stand and watch a wounded Nuuruhuine, especially Harry. They either helped him or paid their respects to the sacrifice they'd have made to become injured. "Get his swords and then drop Nacraemeus into the chasm."

Archie nodded and he, Jesu, Patia and Nicole moved away to do just that. The rest turned to head back to the Lamia to begin throwing the entire dead army into the chasm after Nacraemeus. Harry let his lover and Lex slowly fly him up into the air until they were clear of the chasm before flying him into the city. As they flew over the lower city all of the Morchaints there knelt in reverence even as a hushed silence pervaded everything. Even the roar of the fires even now consuming Nacraemeus fell into background noise.

They set down on the promontory and the two helped him walk through the upper city to the same kind of hushed silence. Harry stopped them in front of the Citadel doors and forced them to let him turn around. "Nacraemeus is dead. The city should be cheering." There was almost a minute of silence to this before Harry nodded respectfully to the city as a whole and the thousand people in front of the Citadel before he turned and headed into the Citadel. The cheer that went up from first them and then every other citizen of Dras Arget was immense and Harry smiled weakly at Alex and Lex.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Alex and Lex took Harry to the Chamber of the Ancients as it had been dubbed in recent centuries knowing that in here Harry could have a little bit of privacy while he recovered. A human woman arrived a few moments after them and quickly came to Harry with the offer of her wrist while Harry sat wearily in one of the chairs that sat in front of the great Mythril casks around three sides of the room. It was a simple chair of black granite but it had no back which was what he needed right now. Alex stayed at hand in case Harry got lost in his feeding. It wasn't likely but still a possibility.

Harry took what he needed and instantly the pain began to fade and he came more awake as his magic was partly replenished. He didn't want to risk feeding again that day even with his exhaustion. "Thank you." Harry told the woman who nodded before backing out of the room. Harry had kept his mind tightly under lock and key throughout the feeding so she was less affected than Max had been earlier.

With the fresh blood working in his system Harry let Alex and Lex work along his right wing. His bones were intact but there was a torn tendon and a large tear through the membrane that would take months to fully heal over. It took a lot to force a hole through a Lamia's wing membrane. An arrow at close range or a sword would puncture it but a small hole healed over in a day or so. Harry would have to leave his wings out for a long time to get them to heal properly.

As for his arm that was in a worse state. The skin and flesh were not in a good state and his radius was snapped clean through. That would heal easily with the new blood but he'd have to keep it immobile for a few weeks for the skin to heal over.

A knock sounded at the door while Lex was cleaning off his arm and Alex was working on his wing and Harry called out for whoever it was to enter. A guard entered but shut the door behind him before approaching. He bowed and Harry told him to rise. "My Lord. The Hobbits are asking to enter and the White Wizard, Elvin King and Dwarven King are being flown up by the Nuuruhuine. They wish to see you."

"The Hobbits can come in." Harry nodded. "As can the four boys with them. You can let Gandalf and the Kings enter also."

"My Lord. There are a lot of people that are worried about your health." The guard told him carefully.

"You may spread the word that I'll be just fine." Harry told him gently and gave him permission to leave. The man saluted him and left with a smile ready to spread the word to his friends.

Harry spent the next few hours in the Chamber of the Ancients with the four Hobbits, the Lamia boys that were still watching the Hobbits, Gandalf, the Elvin King, Dwarven King, Legolas, Gimli and almost all of the Nuuruhuine. It was rather late in the afternoon when Harry announced he was heading for his bed. Alex followed him carefully and the others went out to join the cleanup of the lower city.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day – Shadow Citadel

The room's five thousand seats were filled to capacity with humans, Vampires, Lamia, Elves and Dwarves. In the centre seats sat the Elvin King, Dwarven King, Gandalf and the Nuuruhuine while the front row of seats held the Hobbits, Legolas, Gimli and the five Gondorians including one freshly turned into a Vampire. Calamy and Denver sat with him to reassure him. The entire place was lit not by reflected sunlight but a rather eerie red glow of the surrounding fire reflected through the windows and by the Mythril statues.

Harry walked slowly down the steps at a slow pace knowing that the general chatter had died as soon as the Vampires, Lamia and Elves had sensed his presence enter the room. His left arm was tightly strapped across his chest in a sling and his wings were against his back though the tear in his right wing was easily visible. He reached the bottom and looked around the audience.

"Firstly let me congratulate all of you for the effort you put into this war. Dras Arget still stands with minimal damage and I am proud of the country that myself and my friends created so long ago." There was a cheer for his words. "I'm afraid I am still rather tired and there is much to decide or tell you in this session so I will be abrupt."

There was a round on nods as they respected his wish. "We have defeated Nacraemeus and his army but we have not destroyed the threat completely. I say that we band together as one, Morchaint, Elf, Dwarf, Rohirrim and Gondorian and wipe the Necromancers from Middle-Earth."

There was a cheer of agreement from the Morchaints in the crowd and Harry turned to the Dwarven and Elvin Kings. "Our loyalty is already pledge to this war." Thorin told him. "We'll march where you ask us too." There was a thump from the Dwarves as agreement.

"You also have our skills and bows." Thranduil, Legolas' father, told him regally.

"Then word will be sent to all our allies to meet with their armies with all due haste at the Lake of the Old Forest Road." Harry announced with an air of finality.

"How do you propose we leave this burning jewel of a city?" Gimli asked from the sidelines using a new term that had been floating around Dras Arget that day.

"Ships have already begun transporting supplies and horses down the bay. We'll ship troops out of the city that way." Alex spoke up. "It'll take time but once on land we'll meet up with the South-western Highroad and follow that down to Bree and the Great East road to Rivendell. We'll pass through the mountains there and destroy anything left in goblin town as we go. Then follow the Old Forest Road to the River Running."

Harry nodded to show he agreed and there were no complaints. Harry nodded and held up his right hand. "Thank you again. Finally we're at a point where peace may finally come to this world."

The cheers followed him and the Nuuruhuine from the room. Harry felt a weight lifted from him that he'd carried with him for as long as he'd been alive. Finally, for the first time he had no personal enemy he had to face. He felt...like he could finally change the world.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter