I'm feeling a lot better, took me three weeks but I'm back!
I don't own Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.
Dumbledore made his way slowly through Castle Valor, keeping his wand at the ready just in case of...anything. He had heard so many different stories about Castle Valor, some he considered rumors, but the rest...they just had to be stories. If the king was indeed gone, then perhaps he could go through the mythical library that was said to be in this castle. He could find a cure perhaps in one of those books.
He could also try and find The Celestial Fountain, the waters in that blessed pool is supposed to have the healing powers of a thousand phoenixes, an absolute cure-all. Then his mind strayed to the Balance Orb. If the balance was out of...how did the youngsters put it, out of whack? He could try and set it right.
"No! I must not touch that, I must not get near that!" thought Dumbledore fiercely to himself. "Harry, I must find a cure for Harry, at all costs. Harry, remember Harry..."
He climbed the stairs and looked slowly around, the palace. He could hardly believe it. Though it had to have been uninhabited for almost over three quarters of a century, no dust was on gathering on any of the surfaces. He walked slowly onto the first landing, turned and continued upwards to the next one where the second floor was. He took one step on that staircase...
Creak!
Dumbledore froze, as if a sharp and painful shock went through his body. If someone was here, and nearby, they were sure to have heard that. He was not disappointed.
Suddenly he heard music, a faint but beautiful music. He couldn't pinpoint the instrument used, it was as if...the music would change if he tried to discover it's instrumental origin. His body moved against his will and followed the music. He knew following something that could possibly be a trap was the height of foolishness. But his body gave him little choice in the matter.
He allowed his body to lead him up several flights of stairs that were not there before, down corridors that appeared out of nowhere but were decorated with the lovliest of paintings and statuettes. Dumbledore marveled at their beauty, and wondered if these were the originals, and if all the museums in all the world possessed mere copies.
His body stopped suddenly in the presence of a large golden door. The door had jewels decorating the edge of the door, thirteen different stones, each going in the same pattern around the door. Dumbledore wanted to look and examine the stones on the door, but they were pulled out of his sight.
The door opened towards him and inside was a great and glorious throne room. Despite the gloom of storm outside, it didn't rob the room any of it's beauty. The walls were covered with rich tapestries, and the room was lined with statues of several Famous Witches and Wizards: Merlin, Morgan Le Fay and countless others. Towards the back of the room, he saw his own.
The music still continued as he walked slowly up to the throne since he had entered the throne room, he seemed to regained control of his body so he walked up to his own statue. It was most flattering, he saw himself in a pose that he could no longer do at his age. His wand was raised and his knees bent, dueling an invisible foe. Or so he thought was invisible, Dumbledore turned his head slightly and saw a sort of illusion, of Gillert Grindelwald.
Dumbledore looked around, he had the unyielding urge to examine each statue and see what illusion each would show him. Then he saw one statue that captured his eyes, and drew it to him. He walked towards an ever changing marble statue.
A small baby boy with a scar on his forehead, a young boy flying a broomstick after a solid gold snitch, the same boy grabbing the face of a bald man with two faces. The same boy lying against a wall, with a fang sticking out of his arm and a dead basilisk at his feet. The boy, a little older, casting a stag patronus, surrounded by hundreds of Dementors,. Then, yet older still, a boy facing a dragon, and then the same boy, dueling a cloaked figure.
It was Harry, this statue was an ever altering statue, not able to choose which form suited him perfectly. Dumbledore reached out to touch the statue's cheek, of Harry dueling when the statue changed once more. This one Dumbledore could not place the origin. The pose was of him wielding a great sword, and a bag of jewels in his hand.
He heard a noise and looked towards the direction in which it came from, the throne... The throne was a tall silver chair with fur over the sides to provide comfort to the seated monarch. Though, no one was seated on it at that moment.
But the vacancy was not long lasting. Very slowly, a ghostly shape solidified and lounged majestically on the throne. Dumbledore recognized the man from so many decades ago, though the man was now merely a specter, he didn't look as if he had aged a day.
Instinctively, he kneeled before the king and bowed his head.
"Who are you, and why have you invaded my castle?" asked the ghostly King Meandenbor, the voice echoing off the walls of the room.
Dumbledore looked up and stared at the ghost in shock. So close, he was so close to learning what was ailing his Harry. He must find out what it is!
"I asked you a question, boy. I suggest you answer." said King Meandenbor.
Boy? He hadn't been referred to as that for over a hundred years! But now was not the time to be debating his age and certification of adulthood. Dumbledore could tell the King was furious, furious at being disturbed, and he could not blame him.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I came to ask you for...for answers." said Dumbledore humbly.
"Ask for answers? Well then, ask your questions, then be on your way out of my castle." said the King waving his hand dismissively.
"Many thanks, your Majesty. You see, sire, I have a student under my care; he's been struck down with a strange and peculiar ailment. I was hoping that you could help me find a cure." said Dumbledore, his eyes pleading with the departed ruler for some sort of miracle cure.
"Mysterious ailment? Tell me, Dumbledore, what are his symptoms?" said the King leaning back in his chair.
Dumbledore didn't bother asking him how he knew his name, now was not the time, he glanced at the staute of himself and smirked at his own mindlessness. He was, however, overjoyed that the King had decided to help him. "We found him on the floor in Hogwarts, his body riddled with cuts and gashes. He has not woken up since we've then." said Dumbledore still kneeling on the floor.
The ghost leaned forward on his throne. "Has he developed any more injuries?"
"Yes!" said Dumbledore excitedly, the King must know what to do! "Yes he has, but those go away after a short while. They seem to heal themselves without any help from us, but the original wounds are still present."
The king looked thoughtful. "Describe the boy."
"He's kind, as kind as a spring rain. Gentle and innocent as a baby kitten and yet brave as a tiger and fierce as a dragon guarding it's lair." said Dumbledore proudly. Completely forgetting that he could easily show the boy to the King as his statue was close by the throne. He hoped by telling the King what Harry was like would prompt the King to help him in any way he could.
"Fascinating, Now could you tell me what he looks like?" said the King with an amused smile.
"Oh, of-of course. He's about, well, five feet eight inches know. Black hair..." said Dumbledore.
"And eyes as green as a shimmering emerald." said the King softly, looking over to the statue with a fond smile.
"Yes, that is him." said Dumbledore, he said looking over to the statue himself. Then he looked up quickly. "Is there anything we can do? To wake him up?"
"There is nothing, nothing you or anyone else in this world that can do anything." said the King.
"This world?" asked Dumbledore. "What other world are you talking about?"
"You needn't worry about that now. What you must be sure to do is protect the body the boy left behind." said the King. He stood up and Dumbledore could almost feel the power radiating off the ghostly ruler. "I will take care of the other thing that needs to be protected."
"What is that?" asked Dumbledore.
"The means that sent the boy to where he resides." said the King.
Dumbledore stood up and looked at the man with a uncertain look. "You mean to tell me that he's in two places at once?"
"I will send you back to the fallen boy's side, you place your strongest guards around the boy." said King Meandenbor. "I will see to his conscious form."
"If I may sir, is he your heir?" asked Dumbledore, he hoped to convince the man to leave his young charge be. Allow him to, if it all came out the way he hoped, live a life of peace and simple comfort. The comfort and peace he had be denied the boy's entire life.
"He was forced into a test, if he can pass my test then yes. He will be considered, if not then he might have learned something at least." said King Meandenbor.
Dumbledore stared, his hand itching towards his wand. Ghost or not, how could this man just do that? Dumbledore admitted that he caused Harry more trouble than Harry could ever deserve, even if he were to be the devil incarnate. He wholeheartedly promised that Harry would no longer suffer by his hand, and that he would protect Harry with everything he had.
"You can put your wand away, I'm taking care not to have him killed. Though he's holding his own on quite admirably." said the ghost with a smirk.
"Can I help him? In any way?" said Dumbledore. "That other world you spoke of, may I join him?"
"At this point, you might be more of a hindrance than a help." said the King. "And from what I gather from the boy's thoughts, he would strike you on sight." he added with a smile. "He would not kill you of course, but he is not pleased with you at this moment."
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Harry followed the tall elf up the winding staircase, a staircase that wound around the tall tree. The forest was lit with an ethereal light that seemed to just enhance the beauty of woods. He heard music, not like the music that led him to each stone, but a sorrowful song. If Harry had to hazard a guess, it was a funeral dirge.
"What is that, they're singing?" asked Harry as he followed Celeborn up the stairs.
"A song for Gandalf." said Celeborn somberly. "Would you like me to speak it in the common tongue?"
"No, thanks. I don't think I could take it." said Harry, looking heartbroken.
"You were fond of him." said Celeborn. It wasn't a question, but an observation.
"Yes sir. "I didn't know him nearly as long as the hobbits, or Strider, but I did really like him. Like a Grandfather."
Celeborn stopped in his tracks. "Do you not have one of your own?" he asked without facing the young man following him.
"Not that I'm aware of." said Harry shrugging. "They must've died before I met them."
Celeborn fell silent. "Not to know the wisest of your family, most unfortunate. But surely your children will benefit from your mother and father's wisdom." he continued upward the stairs.
"No they won't. My parents are gone too." said Harry continuing after the elf once more. "Never knew what they were like personally."
Celeborn stopped again, but this time he turned round and faced Harry with sorrowful eyes. It was a moment till he spoke again. "I see."
They continued on in silence until they reached the end of the steps where there was a landing. Harry looked around and saw that it had several soft benches, a small fountain at one end, and a table of fruit beside it. There, sitting on one of the benches was a beautiful blonde woman, tall and fair. Harry was strongly reminded of Arwen.
"This child, is my lady Galadriel." said Celeborn walking over and sitting beside Galadriel.
Harry bowed low, remembering what Strider told him to do if he should meet this woman.
"Estel has taught you well." said Galadriel with a smile. "Come, sit with us, I want to hear all about you, and your adventures."
Harry looked at her eyes, but then looked down.
"Would you feel better, child, if we summoned Aragorn to sit with you?" asked Celeborn with a smile.
"Thank you sir, but, I'll be alright." said Harry sitting down on a nearby bench.
It took the rest of the day for Harry to tell his story to the two elvish monarchs. They only stopped him for clarification on some points, but not nearly as often as the hobbits and others at Rivendell had done. Harry had just finished speaking of the elf that tried to take his pouch when Lord Celeborn spoke again.
"Yes, we've heard of that." said Lord Celeborn. "He has been reprimanded for trying to take that pouch, when it was forewarn to us what you were carrying."
"You knew about the pouch?" said Harry.
"Indeed. Word was sent to us from Rivendell, and Lady Galadriel told each of the wardens of the borders not to investigate in any pack that came their way by the Fellowship." said Lord Celeborn. "But it seems that the temptation of curiosity was too great for some."
"Where is the pouch now?" asked Harry quickly.
"Aragorn has it." said Lady Galadriel. "He swore he'd protect the pouch."
Harry smiled softly. "He would too."
"Now child, what do you know about you predecessor?" asked Lady Galadriel.
"My predecessor?" asked Harry confusedly.
"King Meandenbor." said Lord Celeborn.
"He's not my predecessor, is he?" asked Harry.
"You are his chosen one, if you can hear the music that leads you to the stones." said Lord Celeborn.
"But he doesn't know who I am! He's been gone for...over a thousand years hasn't he?" said Harry.
"You would be surprised what the spirits of the past can do child." said Lord Celeborn.
Harry pondered the words carefully, predecessor, he didn't like the sound of that. "But, I don't think I'm really 'King' material. I can barely keep myself out of trouble; I don't want to even think about me running a country."
"It's not just a country, this entire world, and from what I can tell," said Lord Celeborn with a kind smile. "Your world as well."
"You have got to be kidding me." thought Harry shaking his head. "I don't want to be king of anything! I just want to get home!" he said out loud.
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galardriel looked at each other in shock.
"I've got enough on my plate with Voldemort, and trying to find these stones. I don't want to worry about a two worlds on top of that!" said Harry forgetting his manners. All he wanted was a nice, calm, normal life. Running the two worlds was on the list of things he didn't want!
"Dear child," said Lady Galadriel. "We do not want you to do something you do not wish to do. But do not cast aside this path that lies ahead. It may be that someday you will wish to take the enchanted throne."
Harry snarled down at the ground. "Don't bet on that." said Harry. "I've already been thrusted into a job I half-heartedly didn't want back home, I really don't want this one."
"Besides," said Harry angrily. "Where was my world when I was kicked around by my family? Their so-called Boy-Who-Lived, who was declared a hero for something his mother did! Where was everyone when I needed them! They expect me to save them, well I want some equality here!" shouted Harry loudly.*
Lady Galadriel's eyes were holding the faintest traces of tears.
"You've had a long three days, child, would you like to rest a bit, we can take up this conversation another time." said Lord Celeborn. "Rest easy child, you will not be forced into a role that you do not wish. An unhappy ruler could soon become a tyrant. I am not saying that you will." he added swiftly.
Lord Celeborn stood up as well Lady Galadriel. Harry stood up right away and bowed low to the both of them, not wishing to disrespect them any further than he already did. "I will show you to your chambers." said Lord Celeborn.
"Is it near where Strider and the rest of them are?" asked Harry.
"They rest at the forest floor, near the fountains, you reside in the treetops." said Lord Celeborn.
"Why am I up there and they're down there?" asked Harry.
"You were in the process of healing, dear boy. And besides, my Lady and I have taken a fondness to you." said Lord Celeborn. "Your eyes," he said lifting the long bangs out of Harry's eyes. "are quite beautiful, it reminds us of our forest in springtime."
Harry blushed slightly.
"Our fondness is why we have given you your own quarters. Do not worry, if you wish to see the rest of the Fellowship, I will take you there, tomorrow. Alas tonight, it may be best if you rest."
Harry yawned, he was exausted, and just from his outburst.
"You're entire being agrees with my decision." said Lord Celeborn with a smile. "Come, it's time that you rested once more."
*I was toying with that outburst, I want to put it in my first story, just haven't found the right time yet
Please Review and...
QUESTION of the CHAPTER! Hopefully I didn't ask this already, What was your favorite candy when you were young?
I loved those candy dots on that paper. Took me five years to find those things and I found them at a Hobby store of all places! I also love Razzles, the candy that turns into gum, I found those once again in a gas station!