Wow, there were some pretty awesome places listed: British Museum, National Museum in Singapore, Bali...pretty awesome places named!
I don't own Harry Potter or the Hobbit
Harry waited for Gandalf and Thorin to leave for their midnight meeting with Elrond before he teleported (or apparated, he couldn't quite decide which term he liked better or which one fit the situation as there was no chance of him splinching) out of the room. The dwarves had kept to their little balcony so that they could not be taken off guard and would have a clear shot to freedom as opposed to being cornered in a room. When Harry had received the adoption bead from Thorin, it took some convincing for Harry to remain with Gandalf, but it was Dori who was his strongest advocate.
"Thorin, he's still a tender young boy, he needs some comfort and a long time may pass before he can rest in a real bed." said Dori. "Won't due for him to be bent already in his tweens."
"Bent?" asked Harry curiously. But it didn't matter, Thorin had agreed at last, but on the condition that every night he would go and check in with Harry. Thorin had lingered for as long as he could before Balin came in and knocked, saying that they would have to hurry. Once Harry figured they were now far enough away, he leaped out of bed and threw on his more "regal" looking outfit. A long black robe with gold trim, a pair of shiny black knee high boots, and a simple yet soft white tunic. He had to hide these clothes deep in the pack and make sure that whenever he brought something out, he didn't let anyone catch sight of it…if they saw them, well…it wouldn't be all that bad, but they'd want to know why he had such "special" clothes. They already took the mickey out of Bilbo for his handkerchiefs and his brass buttons, no point drawing attention to himself.
But tonight was a special occasion, he wanted to make a good impression on the person he was going to be meeting.
Before he had come back to Middle Earth, he was told by Gandalf to meet one of the elves down at one of the reflection pools, in the opposite direction of where Gandalf was going to have his meeting with Elrond and the others. This was the only available time he would have to talk to the elf in private and set things into motion that he needed to be done, for the elf was quite a busy fellow and Harry was always surrounded by someone.
He teleported just before the reflection pool, just before where the corridor ends and the open area started. He paused and listened carefully, hoping to hear something, anything that could alert him to the presence of the elf he was hoping to see, all the while hoping that he wasn't too early. He heard someone humming a tune softly as they walked around the reflection pool...sounding suspiciously like the song he heard Bofur singing at dinner. Though he had only caught the tail end of the song, he recognized it and he couldn't help but smile. Seems despite the disapproving looks and glances, this one particular elf did not seem to mind the song.
He took a careful step out of the darkness and into the bright moonlight. The greenery in the garden didn't cover the entire area, it was more paths, ponds, small creeks and fountains than it was green, making it more of a water garden then it did flower. The waterfall that was towards the back of the garden trailed down in small creeks, with smaller waterfalls leading down to a large fountain.
And there stood the elf he was supposed to meet. Harry walked quietly up to him and when he deemed himself near enough, he cleared his throat.
The elf did not startle, but chuckled slightly. "I heard your footsteps, but I was not aware of anyone following me."
"Didn't really follow you, you and I had a planned meeting." said Harry with a cryptic smile. "Well, I shouldn't say it was planned, more like, it was ordained by time."
The elf turned slowly to look at him. It was Lindir.
"'Ordained by time'? What do you mean by that?" asked Lindir looking around at Harry with a confused look. He then blinked a few times at the finery that Harry was wearing, but said nothing.
"I won't bore you with the details and frankly, I would like to have this all planned out before dawn, or you and I will both be missed." said Harry. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a roll of parchment, with a wax seal of what looked like a rising sun.
"Here, this is from...well...why ruin the surprise?" he handed the roll of parchment to Lindir who looked at it with apprehension.
"What sort of writing paper is this?" asked Lindir looking at the scroll warily.
"Not nearly as heavy or durable as what you write here on, but it suits our needs." said Harry still smiling, he extended the parchment towards Lindir once again.
Lindir took the roll in his hand and turned it over to look at the seal, nearly dropping it when he saw the insignia.
"That...this..."
"The story that I'm trying to draw you into gets better when and if you open the book." said Harry sagely.
Lindir stared at the young man and with slightly trembling fingers, unrolled the parchment. As he read, Harry walked closer to the pool of water nearest them and sat along the edge, giving a floating lily pad a soft twirl.
It wasn't long after he had sat down that he heard Lindir speak again
"This… this is impossible; this cannot be..." whispered Lindir slowly.
"Stranger things have happened in this world...and in mine." said Harry smiling softly as he continued to manipulate the lily pad.
"You are...you are the King?" whispered Lindir. "King Meandenbor's reincar..."
"No... not a reincarnation, I've got my own soul as far as I know." replied Harry as he stood up. "In fact, I've spoken to his...spirit, so I can't exactly be in two places like that. Am I expected to do something to prove who I am? I wouldn't think that Gandalf in the fu...well...the Gandalf of the time to come, I'm still having a devil of a time trying to broaden my words, I'm used to much shorter sentences and getting to the point a lot faster…. I didn't think Gandalf would be so…dramatic as to ask for that."
Lindir looked warily at the young man before him. "You are acting somewhat differently now...but surely my Lord Elrond would have..."
"He would have...if I didn't have something to counteract his thoughts. I would have been discovered and it all would have been over far too soon." said Harry thoughtfully.
"What was it that impeded his discovery of who you are?" asked Lindir quickly. "And what about Lord Elrond's...well...prediction about your future?"
"What it is that kept my mind from being completely open to him is not that important as of right now, as it is something devised with a bit of magical ingenious thinking on the part of Gandalf and another wizard of the same style and charisma as Gandalf the Grey." said Harry.
"Charisma?" inquired Lindir.
"Ah...I suppose charm is the best word to sync...er...compare it to..." said Harry. "Bloody hell...it's going to take me forever to blend in seamlessly… As for my future...well, he said that my future in Arda was short lived. I don't live here, don't have any plans on living here... so he's not far off at all."
Lindir looked back at the letter and then up to Harry. "This letter says that I am to ask for proof of your rule..."
"I was afraid you were going to ask for that. I can't show you the definite proof, you're not of royalty, nor are you a wizard." said Harry as he looked over at the water. "All I can show you is a shade, the same sort of apparition that the people of Gondor saw when I arrived back after being held in Mordor."
"Mordor? You were held in Mordor?" exclaimed Lindir in horror. "What brought you to Mordor, there couldn't..." his eyes widened. "He couldn't return...he cannot..."
"I will say no more about that, and don't start spreading any rumors or theories, I advise you to not change my past, I'm having enough of a headache keeping track of all this time managing." said Harry.
Lindir said nothing, but continued to look at Harry with horror and disbelief.
"I'll ask also you to set aside notions of the future in that aspect, the Dark Lord is dispatched and he will trouble you no more...unless of course he can return as a spirit and if that happens...well, I promise to not scatter about the jewels... Speaking of which."
He continued to look out on the surrounding gardens and while his back was turned, small glittering lights slowly came into view. All varying of color and twinkling in the moonlight like captured stars that circled his head.
"This..." he gestured absently around his head. "Is the crown I wear."
Lindir stared at the colorful lights in wonder. "Are those the jewels?"
"Well, the colors any way. You aren't able to see the real things...but this is imposing enough for me. Do you want any more proof?" said Harry as he turned to face Lindir.
Lindir was quiet for a moment. "A question, if I may… about...the times to come."
Harry sighed. "As long as you don't try and change anything, I'll answer what I can."
"My Lord Elrond's daughter, Arwen. Does she find happiness? I know she has been melancholy since her mother left for the Grey Havens." asked Lindir.
Harry smiled softly. "Yes, she's happy...and a mother now from what I hear."
Lindir blinked and a warm smile came to him. "Indeed?"
"Yes, now...back to what the letter entails. The reason as to why I am coming out of character is that I want you to..."
Quite early the next morning, Gandalf came back to the room he shared with Fainas. He had a terrible sense of foreboding over Elrond's parting words. He wasn't positive as to the nature of his worry or what the worry really should have been directed towards.
Was it the quest with the Company and the possibility of reaping the wrath of legendary fire drake? Was it having Bilbo along, a creature of a very reclusive race of Arda that really didn't stray too far away from their safe haven of the Shire? Radagasts' report and the retrieval of a Morgul blade? Or possibly the inclusion of having young Fainas, despite his desire to keep him here for the duration of the adventure?
It was most likely all concerns that he should put his guard on against. He felt no guilt when thinking about the quest to reclaiming Erebor. If darker powers were to send an envoy to the dragon, with promises of even more wealth to add to his collection, what would stop the dragon from setting the entirety of Arda ablaze with dragon fire? No, this calamity had to be stopped before someone else could use the dragon for their own means, not to mention restoring a lost city of dwarves to their former glory and freeing the people of Laketown from the fear of the dragon. Also the rumored tyranny of the Laketown Master, a man who cared more for gold than the wellbeing of his entire town. Allowing the dragon free reign over any part of the land he choose, and the luxury of staying in the mountain would not do anyone any good, but only ill will.
As for the matter of Bilbo Baggins; having an untainted creature such as a hobbit going on what could be a bloody adventure was a travesty of course and one that he would much rather not have to do. But with all the heroes off across foreign lands fighting other battles or wars, burglary was the only fall back he had. A man's scent was far too well known to a dragon and would be eaten or incinerated well within three and a half minutes of arrival, and that was before he could enter the treasury. He did not want to bring an elf, despite his willing to defend the elf (if he had brought one) they would have spent a massive amount of time fighting as opposed to planning their strategy they would scarcely be able to begin the journey, and even then, elves are not so willing to match wits with a dragon. A dwarf, well, he may be well able to blend in to the lingering smells of a dragon horde, but they would hardly get any further than the front hall of the treasury without trying to take something and taking something that a dragon believes is his is to the equivalent of throwing one's self on one's own blade.
Now a hobbit, the scent of a hobbit has never crossed the nostrils of dragon for well over a thousand years and even that one only passed over the village of Hobbitton, taking one or two sheep as a sort of quick bite on its way to a wealthier land. A land where there were more jewels than pies. Hobbits were not known to have much love for jewels and a hobbit would merely pass it by to get to whatever task they had on hand, at the most they would only find them pretty stones to put in their gardens. No... a hobbit was their only chance.
The Morgul blade and the story that Radagast had shared with him, now that sent a shiver down his very spine and deep into his soul. He wanted very much to bring up that with Lord Elrond, but the time was not quite right, he would most definitely share with him this news before he would leave…when was another story. He would have to share the news soon, too long and they would be powerless to stop it, whatever it may lead to.
Fainas...now there was someone to bring about quite a bit of worry. He had heard about Elrond having seen no future for the boy. That was something he wished with all his might that he hadn't overheard. Elves and gossip, while they were not nearly as synonymous as hobbits and gossip, they did take part in it. They were speaking about how tragic it was, as if he were already gone to be with his ancestors. Thankfully, the young man was just beginning to learn elvish and could not understand the pitying glances they gave him, or perhaps…he was so used to them that he did not think much of them.
He knew that once that Elrond had seen the lad and had a chat with him, there was no possible outcome of this visit that didn't involve Elrond keeping Fainas here in Rivendell. It was by far the safest place for him and perhaps he could learn a bit more about Arda in the process, especially its history if Glorfindel kept treating the boy to lessons. He seemed to like the valley well enough, and he particularly enjoyed the kitchen and Elrond's cook Willadow. She especially had taken quite a shine to him and even told him she was going to teach a few of Elrond's favorite dishes to him.
Then there was the matter of him being adopted by Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain. Thorin had come to him first about the notion of the adoption bead days ago, and he was at first a little hesitant. He himself had planned since Bree to leave Fainas at Rivendell where he would be safe and he would come back to fetch him later when the business with the dragon was done. It then struck him the possibility that Fainas would flee Rivendell soon after being left behind, and would try to come and find them. He had a notion that the lad would feel abandoned if he were just dropped off and they went on, but with the adoption bead, it would be quite clear to the boy that they indeed do not want to leave him behind, but for his safety, they must. He was still a child, no matter what the lad said and even he said so himself that you came of age in his country at seventeen, he still had one year to go by his people's customs. But now he was adopted into a dwarven house, Thorin would have the final say of when he could leave the safety of home and hearth. Though, they were out in the wilds…home and hearth were some long ways off.
But why did he feel so worried? The boy was going to be safe and sound here until he returned, hopefully. What brought about this deep pang of concern where it came to Fainas?
He entered the room and saw Fainas fast asleep in the large bed that he was given, his arms draped across the soft blankets and his face lax and peaceful. Gandalf paused, there he was, possibly the rebirth of King Meandenbor: The King of the Dawning Sun and he was now secured in the Hidden Valley and protected by the House of Durin.
He would not lose him again, he could not.
Thanks for reading, please review!
Question of the Chapter: Is there any show that you've gotten hooked on lately and you just wait for the day that it airs a new episode?
Mine would have to be the Ace Attorney anime. It airs at 5 in the morning on Saturdays, it's now my favorite thing on a Saturday!