Disclaimer: I don't own anything you'll recognize.
A/N: Long time… I know I say the same thing every time. Well I hope you'll enjoy this chapter though it might not be one of my best. It wasn't one I was particularly eager to write so it might show… I'm much more interested in the coming chapters…
Then I must warn that I had to change a few things. Apparently FF now refuse to recognize some of the signs I was using for the Dragons speaking or for mental talks between a dragon and his bonded so now
/words/ means a Dragon is speaking
>words> means mental talking between a Dragon and his bonded
Anyway, enough with me rambling, and off with the story…
Chapter 34
In the end there is still hope...
It had been two days since Harry had woken up and the healers had finally deemed him well enough to have visitors. The day after he had awakened, the Queen had asked to have him sent to the Healer houses in Horevald since his security would be better assured there.
They had used the permanent portals linking the different Healers houses. Even then, the journey had been taxing on him and Teneb and Hermione had been briefed several times not to tire him.
He was lying on his bed, looking bored to tears. However he perked up upon seeing them enter. He frowned when he noticed Hermione's presence.
"Hermione!"
Hermione was at his side in a few quick strides and hugged him tightly.
"Don't do this again, Harry, I swear if you ever pull something like this again, I-I-I…."
Harry looked at Teneb helplessly.
After a few minutes, once he was sure Hermione had calmed down enough, he pulled away a little.
"It's not that I don't like being hugged, Hermione, but I would like to know what happened. Last time I checked humans were not welcomed here…"
Teneb sat next to Harry, smiling a little at his blood-brother, relieved to see him awake.
"Valera asked for one of your friend to come. Celen chose her," he told him.
"Oh… How long was I out?"
"About three weeks… We're the 24th of November" said Hermione, settling in the chair next to the bed.
"The Isles?"
"Saved, the channelling worked and they are stabilized though it will take years before the magical currents are completely restored."
Harry leaned back against his pillows, a small smile on his face.
"Good… and Geryan?"
Teneb frowned a little.
"I don't really know. I've been awake for a week now. Celen and everyone are trying to get the situation under control, in particular regarding the Geryan's case"
Harry his low lip, thoughtful.
"So I won't have to finish my duel with him then…"
Teneb shook his head.
"I don't think so. I think he and the Queen came to an agreement."
Harry nodded, relieved, the sun playing with the silver highlights in his hair and shining on his two white streaks.
He took a white strand and look at Teneb.
"We'll have white hair before everything is done if it keeps on."
"I hope not… Though the girls might find it appealing, you never know."
A soft cough cut them.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear the last part," said Hermione smiling a little.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"How are you, Hermione? How is everyone?"
Hermione's face fell a little.
"I'm better now that you're awake and I hope that everyone is alright."
Harry frowned.
"What do you mean by hoping? What happened?"
Hermione sat.
"Voldemort attacked on Halloween. He sent several high ranked Demons to Hogsmeade."
Harry closed his hands on the covers as Hermione carried on with her story.
"The Prince sent us three wings of dragons, the Vampires and Goblins helped, but even then, Hogsmead was destroyed by a huge fire and we lost several people, including students."
Harry's head shot towards her.
"Who?"
"From Gryffindor: Angelina and John, a fifth year."
Harry closed his eyes, breathing slowly.
"You couldn't have done anything for them, Harry. Nobody could have…"
The young Athar, nodded shakily.
"Anything since then?"
"Nothing significant. There are raids on Muggle villages and Light Families, but nothing out of the ordinary."
Harry raised an eyebrow at the last part.
"They are… nothing out of the ordinary?..."
Hermione started to play with the hem of her sleeve.
"I don't know if you are aware of the situation in our world Harry, of what is happening in the Muggle world, Harry… Raids have become a common occurrence…"
"That's not a reason to treat them as such, Hermione!"
Hermione frowned.
"Doing so allow us to stay sane, Harry. If we started to think about all the deaths, we would be sent straight to St Mungo after a month."
"How is it going, then, I never had the time to ask about the Muggle situation."
Hermione bit her low lip.
"England is the worst off. Most of the Muggle have either been relocated to underground compound structures, or shipped to America, Asia or Africa."
"It is that bad?"
"It is Harry. They took the Muggles by surprise and came up with a kind of shield to stop bullets and an enchantment that acts like a shock wave and stop bombs… They used poisons that they slipped into water supplies to kill as many Muggles as possible."
"How are the muggles reacting to everything?"
"They … most of them are afraid, Harry and resent magic. They haven't seen any magic except for the curses the Death Eaters use. They have been more and more groups forming that kills wizards on sight be it Death Eaters or not. We even had to take away some children that had started to exhibit accidental magic. Their parents had reacted strongly against it…"
Harry bowed his head.
"Then what will happen when this is over?"
Hermione sighed.
"I have no idea… I think we'll try to segregate ourselves, break every bridge. No matter how much I loath the very idea of doing so, the Muggles will never accept magic after this war."
Teneb cut in, seeing how depressed this was making the two humans.
"I think you should concentrate on the present, both of you. When will you be allowed to leave, Harry?"
Harry shot Teneb a smile.
"You're right, I was told, I should stay here for two more days so they can make sure that everything is alright and then I would be able to leave with the orders to take it easy."
Teneb nodded.
"I'll help you. It took me several days to get my powers under control. Even now, I have trouble with the strength of my spells."
Harry tightened his lips.
"I know. I felt something change with my magic."
"The Xhan and Xhana helped me; they offered their help to you too."
Harry's eye widened a little.
"I'll be a fool to refuse…"
He turned to Hermione who had been listening to them.
"What do you do with your time, Hermione? I don't think you stayed unoccupied the whole time."
The witch rolled her eyes.
"I worked on my duelling and what I was taught in hand to hand fighting. Teneb gave me a hand with some of my projects… I was working on a new set of enchantments based on runes diagrams.
Harry shot a surprised look at Teneb.
"I didn't think Elves used Arithmancy…"
"We don't, but I seem to have a feel about it, the runes feel right when placed a certain way…"
Hermione huffed and raised her hand.
"Alright, I concede. You were right about the hexagonal setting, but I was right about the order."
Teneb just sent her a smug grin that made her frown deepened. Harry thought it wiser to break them apart before Hermione resorted to magic.
However he didn't even need to as the door opened to let Celen enter. The Prince sent Harry a smile that the young wizard returned though a little hesitantly.
"Good to see you awake, Athar…"
"Harry," said the young man.
Celen looked at him expectantly.
"Call me Harry, Prince."
"Only if you will call me Celen, Harry."
"Agreed, Celen."
Teneb smiled widely at Harry.
"I came here to tell these two that lunch is about to be served."
Hermione stood up and hugged Harry once more.
"I'll come by later, rest well."
Teneb clasped his forearm to Harry's.
"See you soon, Harry."
For the two following days, Harry stayed in the Healing wing, reading books Teneb had brought him, meditating to try to sooth the magic raging through him.
He could feel his channels had widened considerably and were now wide open, letting the magic flow unchecked through him. Through meditation, he slowly started to tame his core. He could feel his had been changed thoroughly, though he couldn't really grasp how.
After a last check up, the healers finally deemed him fit to leave their care.
Dressing in a loose tunic and pants, he walked out and through the corridors, looking for Teneb and Hermione.
He met several Healers, Deisers and Doijas before being called loudly.
"Harry!"
He turned and saw Teneb walking quickly to him.
"You're free then I see."
Harry nodded, smiling.
"I'm sick of always ending in the hospital. Where is Hermione?"
"Hysten asked her to teach him and some others how to achieve the animagus transformation. They should be here…" He started to walk out away, followed by an amused Harry.
"She didn't tell me… It must have slipped from her mind. Why didn't you teach them how to do it yourself?"
Teneb laughed.
"You really think I would have volunteered to spend hours instructing them when I had someone ready to do it in my place."
Harry shook his head, feeling more rested than he had ever felt before.
"Here it is!" said Teneb stopping in front of the door.
Harry smirked at him and waved his hand in front of him, turning the door in a one way glass, allowing them to see inside, but not those inside to see them.
"Let's see what they are up to."
They found Hermione standing in front of a half-circle of soldiers, showing how to transfigure body parts to change their shape, colour, length.
"How long have they be training?"
"A few days, she started back at the manor with the men Hysten had sent there to protect us and Hysten himself. I've been helping her with the potion to reveal their forms."
Harry watched as his friend started to walk through the Elves, Magis and Elementals, and frowned a little as he watched her interact with them.
"Let's enter, I need to speak with her..." he said abruptly, ending the spell allowing them to see inside.
Knocking on the door, he opened it and stepped in.
"Hello, Hermione, Prime."
"Harry! You're up!"
Giving her a strained smile, he nodded.
"Yes, and I thought Teneb and I would come and give you a hand."
Hermione frowned.
"I did not know you had achieved the transformation."
Harry raised an eyebrow and with a pop turned into his feline form, followed shortly by Teneb. They moved a little before turning back to their bodies.
"Impressive…" said Hermione, trying to remember the attributes linked to big felines.
"What were you doing?"
"Self Transfiguration, the potion will be finished in a week."
For the next hour, they helped the soldiers transfigure their limbs, reversing them to their original states when they were unable to or stuck in the middle of a change.
Teneb's input was particularly appreciated as he could explain with first hand knowledge how the changes should go and how the magic had to be slightly tweaked to be used by Elves.
Finally, it was time for lunch and Hermione called the session to a hand.
Harry motioned to Teneb to go.
Once Hermione and he were alone, he asked Hermione to lock the door and cast a privacy ward.
The young woman frowned.
"Is there a problem, Harry?" she asked as she performed the spells.
"I just need to discuss something in private, Hermione."
A minute later, she finished her casting.
"There, it should hold, now, what did you want to talk about?"
Harry sat on a chair and looked at her and looked at her with emerald piercing eyes, remaining silent.
"Harry? Are you feeling well? Do you want me to call healers?"
Harry shook his head.
"I was just trying to understand your behaviour, Hermione."
His old friend frowned at that.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you realize how badly you are acting towards those soldiers? You are talking to them like they are simpletons."
"What!"
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"I saw you Hermione."
"I was just trying not to let them walk on me!"
"And in doing so you acted like Malfoy would have, arrogantly and snobbishly. I though you above such a thing, Hermione."
"I did not, Harry! You didn't hear what they called me, the curses and insults I got daily."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"I lived a year among them without having the Queen or the Prince's protection, Hermione, so I think I have a fairly good idea of what you're talking about," he said bitterly.
Hermione grew silent.
"I just wanted to shut them up and show them what I was made up, that I wasn't a mere human pet of the Prince like I heard some of them called me."
Harry sighed.
"Don't sink to their level, Hermione. You won't overcome centuries of resentment and prejudice in a few days. Hell! We will probably never see it ourselves, but maybe our children or grandchildren will."
Hermione looked at her hand, worrying her lower lip.
"They are just so blind, Harry! They are disregarding whole areas of Magic because it is not tradition to study those Arts!" she snapped.
Harry shook his head.
"Only you, Hermione. Only you, Hermione would be rattled about this, but have you tried to interest yourself to the areas they had researched in depth?"
He chuckled as she shot him a puzzled look.
"If they don't want accept your knowledge, then, it's their loss. However that doesn't stop you from learning about what they know and further you researches by using their own knowledge. I'm ready to bet they will even be eager to show it to you, in a desire to make them look superior. Take advantages of this!"
Hermione's lips turned into a slight smirk.
"How Slytherin of you Harry…"
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Don't let Snape hear you, he might have a stroke. As to the others, just ignore them. Act as if they don't exist. They will see their mistake one day."
"It's more easily said than done…"
Harry stood up.
"Just think on it, Hermione, it would be after all the mature thing to do." He walked to the door.
"Can you lift your spells, please; I don't want to try my luck at any casting right now. Knowing my luck, I would probably end up blowing the wall."
Hermione unravelled her spell work in a few seconds and soon they headed to the Dining room, both of them thinking on that was waiting for them.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Teneb was sitting next to Celen and was talking to his friend. He had spent many days during the past week talking with his friend, something he had not done for a while and now realized he had missed.
Djaryle was sitting in front of Celen, an empty seat to her right, just as there was an empty space to Teneb's left.
Finally, he saw his friend and the brown-haired witch enter and walk to them.
Harry pulled out Hermione's seat before going to sit besides Teneb.
Servants started to bring the meal and small talk was made over the course of the meal. Teneb watched amused at how Hermione behaved before leaning on Harry.
"You talked to her, didn't you?"
Harry nodded.
"I think she was quite lost as to how to act here. I just cleared a few things…"
Teneb smiled.
"It will certainly make things easier for us if she can behave a little less coldly."
Harry sent a wry look at his friend.
"It would make it easier if the 9/10th of the population of this place got their heads out of their…" he didn't finish his sentence, remembering the company he had.
Teneb raised his hands in surrender.
"Can't deny the truth here."
They went back to their lunch. Once it was over, Harry excused himself and went out to the gardens. Careful not to exert himself too much, he kept to a sedate walk, enjoying the fresh crisp air around him. It had rained recently and the smells were exacerbated. He reached an open space and went to sit on a bench, thinking back on everything that was going on.
He stayed there for long moments, relishing in the peace he was feeling. It had been a long time since he had been able to laze around and enjoy a moment of calm.
/It has been long since I last saw you that peaceful, Astyan… /
Harry looked to his right, a smile breaking his face.
>It is good to see you Rexeran>
He used their mind link, enjoying this closeness to his bonded. It had been long since they had last seen each other.
The Huge Golden Dragon lowered his head to touch Harry's chest.
/I know/ he said, sensing the young's man thoughts. /But there will come a time when we will enjoy our bond./
>I hope so, Rexeran, I hope so,> said Harry, petting the large head. >You were with me, weren't you? I could sense you…>
/I said I would stay with you through thick and thin, Astyan and I will keep my word./
Harry sighed.
>What happened to me, Rexeran?>
/Nothing that shouldn't have happened, Astyan./
>It feels so strange, all this power, it nearly seems unnatural, Rexeran, nobody should have so much power.>
Rexeran let out a deep rumbling sound.
/Astyan, this is your power, your magic, there isn't anything unnatural to it./
Harry raked a hand in his hair.
>I feel like I'm some sort of Voldemort. I wasn't meant to be that powerful…>
/What are you saying? You didn't steal this power; it was given to you and gained through experience… You were meant for this Astyan./
Harry let out a small laugh.
>I don't really like the idea of being manipulated, Rexeran, and I fell like I'm being led to something, that I'm being shaped into something I'm not!>
Rexeran offered him a draconian smile, devotion filling his eyes.
/You are who you are, Astyan. Nothing will change this, nor will make me abandon you./
Harry let himself be surrounded by the warmth emanating from the scale Rexeran had gifted him with nearly a year ago.
"Thank you, Rexeran, thank you…" he whispered, leaning against the scaly body.
/Come fly with me, Astyan, it has been long since we last took to the skies…/
Harry looked to the cloudy sky with longing. It would probably start to rain again soon, but he couldn't bring himself to care. It had been so long since he had last flown. He shot a look to the manor.
"Yes, but the Healers…."
/What they don't know can't hurt them and I'll be with you…/
Harry gave the matter two seconds of thought before smiling and standing up.
"Then let's fly, Rexeran."
The golden Dragon crouched down, allowing Harry to climb on his back more easily. Once the young wizard had settled himself, the Sowaroc sprang in the air, opening his wings wide.
Teneb watched from the window, smiling at the joy he could feel through his blood brotherhood bond.
"He shouldn't be tiring himself like this…" said Hermione, clearly a bit peeved at her friend for disregarding the healers' advice.
Teneb shrugged.
"I think he needed that, Hermione."
"But…"
"Hermione, Rexeran is with him and will let nothing happen to Harry while he will be under his care," stated Teneb, a bit annoyed at the young woman's pushiness.
Hermione shot him a searching look, making Teneb realized how worried she had been for her friend.
"I'm sorry, I forgot you don't really know what a rider bond entail. Harry couldn't be safer for now."
Hermione nodded slowly, worrying her lower lip.
"I-I'd like to apologize for my behaviour… I-Harry talked to me and… he was right on some point, I shouldn't have acted like I did…"
Teneb bowed his head a little.
"I think there is responsibility on both sides, but I'm not really the one you should be apologizing to…"
She pursed her lips.
"I can't say that thought makes me happy,"
Teneb let out a small laugh.
"Hysten is a good man and he chose the people he brought to you for those lessons. You might be surprised…"
Hermione mock-curtsied.
"Then I look forwards it."
They watched in silence as the golden spot in the sky swerved in and out of the clouds, diving, rolling.
"Could you teach me about wandless magic, Teneb?"
Teneb raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.
"I had been wondering when you would ask."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Let's say that someone talked some sense in me."
Laughing, Teneb offered her his arm.
"I'll show you some books and get you started."
Harry only came back for dinner and quietly stepped in the dining room.
He paused a little upon spotting Hermione talking animatedly with Teneb and two other people.
"… but it was said in a Treaty of Wandless practice, that you needed an internal focus."
A middle-age looking Elf answered her.
"That's true, Lady, but as Carth stated in his works, a focus can help you access your magic, but it will hinder your casting by making you dependant. It is better explained in Holdan's treaty."
"Where could I find it? I'm nearly done with Carth's treaty and I thought his works brilliant but a little subjective."
The elf smiled.
"It's true, but his work is accurate. Holdan's treaty is quite complementary to Carth's. I'll lend it to you after dinner and I'll look forwards your comments. I had never thought of this approach."
"It will be a pleasure."
Harry sat next to Teneb who was watching Hermione with an amused expression.
"What happened?"
"She finally asked me to teach her wandless magic and I took her to the library."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"And how do you explain this?" He pointed to Hermione and the two elves.
"She started on some books and started to hound me with questions, half of them I didn't even understand. So I took her to Tean and Kher. They are scholars leading the research here. Apparently, they hit right off. You should have heard them. I couldn't understand a word of what they were talking about."
"That's Hermione for you," said Harry with a smile.
"How was flying?"
Harry's smile would have lit up the whole room if the torches hadn't already done the work.
"It was… it was like going home."
Teneb nodded.
"I know, I felt the same when Gae took me out. I trust Rexeran dampened your magic until you could get your control back."
Harry nodded.
"He's using our bond to control it."
"I will help you with it tomorrow. I found some good exercises and a safe place to practice."
"Tomorrow at dawn?"
Teneb made a face but nodded, knowing they were less likely to be bothered that early in the morning.
The rest of the dinner passed quietly and Harry went to rest, feeling tired, having not recovered completely from his ordeal.
The next morning passed in a blur as Harry practiced under Teneb's watch and started on gaining back his control over his magic. They had their lunch brought to their room and only left it in the evening, tired, but happy with their progress.
For the rest of the week, the two of them kept to themselves and to their dragons, working on their control under the watch of their bonded,
They spent their evenings with Hermione, Celen when he wasn't attending meetings, and Djaryle.
Harry didn't know how to act around the female elf. On one hand he felt like he could trust her with everything, while the other part of his mind was questioning the reason behind this trust and was wary of Teneb's friend.
They were coming from one of their training session when they met a herald.
The man stopped in front of them and bowed.
"Athars, I was asked by the Xhan and Xhana to bring you to Darkana, they wish to speak with you.
Teneb and Harry exchanged, both wondering what this was about.
"If you could wait for us while we go warn some people about this, we will follow you."
The herald nodded.
"I will be in the hall," he said before bowing again and leaving them.
Harry looked at Teneb.
"Do you know what's this is about?"
Teneb shrugged.
"I have no idea. I know they wished to help with our training…"
Harry stayed silent, pondering in this summon.
"Why do I have a feeling that it is more than just something to do with our training?
"Probably because it is… Come on, no point in trying to guess. We might as well warn my father we are leaving."
An hour later, they both left the manor and reached quickly Kahera. Two priests were waiting for them and Harry was pleased to see that Erin was waiting for them. Leaving their horse in the yard with the stable hands that had been asked to care for them, they were led inside the Powers' Temple to be ushered inside the core chamber.
The young wizard looked around. The room was bare. Except for the drawings and runes carved in the granite walls, there nothing to ornate the room. Harry looked at the carvings but couldn't decipher them.
"Those date back to the Ancients' era. Their language has been lost to the ages…"
He turned to look at the two adults standing up in front of them.
"There is only one other room like this one in our main temple. All the other core's rooms were created later on and do not bear those markings and blessings."
Harry nodded respectfully to them.
"Somehow I don't think you called us to give us a history lesson," he said, smiling.
Cya returned his smile with a far away look.
"Indeed not, Athar. Luan and I felt that you needed some guidance on the path you are taking."
Teneb looked at them inquisitively.
"I thought you weren't allowed to interfere in conflicts out of our world."
Luan nodded.
"That is true, young elf, but our Gods gave us their blessings and allowed us to lend you our help."
"You will need our teaching, Athars. We have Seen some of the futures that might occur," stated Cya, face grave.
Harry looked at them closely.
"And what did they entail?"
Cya offered him a small smile.
"You know that visions of the far future are not reliable, Athar. The smallest action can modify them."
Harry shrugged. It had been worth a try.
"This room was built to allow the Xhan and Xhana to channel our gods' power without harming those around us. Nothing can accidentally escape it once its power is awakened."
Harry and Teneb nodded, understanding how such a room could be useful.
"We can sense the change in your core, we felt the power you possess increase as we expected it to do after such a trauma but though you gained quite a good control back over it, we do not feel you truly know how to wield it…" said Luan in a gentle tone.
"We know what it is to possess and channel that much power and that is why we are offering you our help."
Harry and Teneb shared a glance then bowed together, hands crossed across their chest.
Cya and Luan returned their salute.
"Very good Athars, we will need you to wear your torque."
Harry opened a pouch he had taken to use to store the various pieces of jewellery he had been gifted with, there was his rider ring, the locket Terio had given him and a bracelet. Taking the torque, he clasped it around his neck and turned to the Xhan and Xhana.
Cya and Luan nodded silently.
"Now sit down," said Luan, settling to floor crossed-legged.
"I want you to empty your mind, clear it from all thoughts. Fill it with peace, calm," Cya's voice was hypnotizing, and Harry felt calm invade him. He resisted it. The warning from his guardian was still fresh in his memory.
"We can't go in a trance! The plan is not safe."
Cya turned to him, eyes wide opened and Harry repressed a shiver. Cya's eyes had turned completely white, shimmering with power, her aura as well as Luan's had spiked violently.
"You will be under our protection and guidance, Athar. You have our word," Cya said, her voice slightly disincarnated.
Harry nodded and allowed himself to be swept in a mild trance by the Xhana's voice as she kept speaking. However he did not reach the Spirit plan as usual, but seemed to float in a thick mist. Looking around he tried to clear his surrounding only to make the mist wrap more tightly to him.
A small whisper echoed round him, like the sounds of a small breeze. It grew louder and soon Harry could make out words and a shape appeared through the mist.
He went down on a knee.
"Solyen…"
The shape solidified a little but still remained blurred. A laugh rang like bells in this void.
"Rise, Athar, you do not need to kneel before me."
Harry obeyed, but dare not look this being in the eyes. He did not know who or what it was, but he wasn't about to anger something that had enough power to smash him like a mere bug.
He felt something warm tilt his head upwards.
"You need not fear me, Astyan. We have been friends for long…"
"What?"
The Shape seemed amused.
"You will remember soon enough, Astyan, but for now, I have a lot to teach you."
Harry wanted to ask more. It was not the first time that people talked to him as he had known them a long time ago. He wanted to know why. He had the detestable feeling that they all knew something he didn't and he hated that feeling.
"Forget it for now, Astyan and focus on the present time."
The mists swirled around him, making his mind fuzzy.
"We have little time, Astyan and much for you to learn… You will understand one day."
What followed would only be a blur to Harry as knowledge was drilled in his mind.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Hermione gently closed the manuscript she had been reading. It really was fascinating… So many new fields to explore… Looking at her watch, she realized she would be late for the Animagus training with Hysten and his men if she didn't hurry up.
Gathering all her notes, she carefully put them back in her bags and went to put all the books she had taken back to their shelves before walking out of the Library. On her way out, she saluted Tean. She had enjoyed talking with them over the past week.
She turned right and started on the staircases thinking on what they would do today.
They had all progressed nicely and would drink the potion in a few days once they had finished fine tuning their control and accelerated the transfiguration.
She reached the right floor and headed on her left. She had barely taken a step that she was caught from behind, a cloth covering her mouth and nose the strong smell hitting her.
She tried to fight back, trying to twist from her captor's grips, kick him. She called on the wandless magic Teneb had been teaching her during the past days though she had made little progress.
Given the cry from the aggressor she had to have hit something. Her triumph was short-lived as a second pair of hand grabbed her and roughly pinned her face against the wall. Concentrating on her Animagus form, she started to shift.
But before any major changes could have occurred, her head was yanked back by the hair.
"Don't even think of shifting or I'll put you down like the animal you are, human."
Panic filling her she nodded slightly, feeling drowsier and drowsier and the drug imbibing the cloth started to make its way through her system.
Through the fuzziness invading her mind, she reminded her pendant and tried to focus on it until it became impossible to do so and Darkness claimed her.
When she came back to her sense, she was laying on cold stones. The air was damp and made her shiver slightly.
"I think our guest is waking up, Vala," said a masculine voice.
Someone walked close to her and a boot nudged her roughly, pushing her on her back.
"Indeed, she is, Orien… Aren't you, pet? Come on, open your eyes, we are dying to meet one of your people."
Hermione thought it wiser to still pretend to be unconscious.
"I said to wake up, human," said the one called Vala, pinching her arm.
Hermione opened her eyes wide and scurried to her feet and went to find her wand in one of her holsters.
"Don't go looking for your stick, human," said the male tauntingly.
Hermione looked up and saw him waving it in the air.
"Give it back to me," she snapped, trying to sound confident, but not preventing her voice from trembling.
"I don't think so," said Orien, looking closely at the wand. "So this is what your people came up with to use magic… Pitiful," he sneered.
He turned to Vala.
"But, Vala, it seems like we're being terrible hosts. We forgot to introduce ourselves and our friends."
The door behind them opened and several others made their way inside. There were elves, Magis and Elementals, all of them wearing a black and dark grey uniform with a rune embroidered on their right breast in silver.
"Our friends and both of us were part of Geryan's army when he opposed the Queen and her foolish plan. But he folded in front of the Athar and has gone back to that Ynris bitch. But we know we are right. Your people bring nothing but troubles and pain in his wake. And we will make sure that the Queen renounces her plans and step down."
Hermione stared at them, disbelief clear on her face.
"You are mad, all of you! You won't get away with it! They will find me!"
Orien laughed.
"Keep telling yourself help will come, pet, if it is what will keep you alive. But I can assure you nobody will find you…" retorted Vala.
They all made their way to the door. Orien stopped suddenly and sent a wicked smirk at the female standing next to Hermione. He took the two hands of the wooden stick and snapped it in two clean parts before throwing them to the floor.
"I don't think this will be of much use to you, pet…"
Hermione didn't say anything, leaning on the wall, one hand clutched to her chest as a stabbing pain erupted in it, knocking the breath out of her. Vala smiled coldly.
"Sweet dream, human."
They all left, the door closing behind them.
Hermione blinked, trying to come up with everything that had happened while taking deep breath to try to push the pain of the backlash away. She slowly walked to where the pieces of her wand laid.
She gathered them and put them in her pocket, maybe someone would be able to salvage something from it. Once she was sure she could stand steadily she started to check on her cell. It was about six by six meters made of stones. They were damp and in some places covered by moss. No windows, no cracks between the stones. The door was made of some kind of metal without any opening.
"Hermione…."
She whirled on her heel trying to see where it had come from.
"Hermione…"
"Where are you?"
"You left us, Hermione… You killed us…"
Hermione's eyes widened as her surroundings shifted to her parents' house. However the house was in ruins, smoke and fire still swirling around her as she walk in the living room. Looking up, she saw that the ceiling had disappeared and that the Dark Mark was in the sky, snake swirling out of its mouth.
She walked in the kitchen only to find the mutilated body of her father.
"Dad! Dad!"
She leaned on him and screamed as he opened his bloodshot eyes.
"You killed me, my own daughter!"
"No, no no no no…"
"If you had been normal, nothing would have happened..."
Hermione pulled away and run upstairs, unable to repress a scream as she found the violated corpse that had been her mother sprawled on the floor.
"Mum! NO!"
"Murderer…You abandoned us, Hermione. You left your parents to die…"
"Shut up, shut upshutup!" She brought her hands to her ears and closed her eyes. "You're not real, you're not real, you're safe."
"You left us…"
Hermione curled in a small ball as the disfigured bodies of her parents kept on blaming her. Then the scene faded away only to shift to Hogwarts, but it was a burning Hogwarts with Death Eaters swarming the place, killing and violating students left and right.
One after the other, her worse fears played in front of her, again and again, every time more morbid details being added to the picture. Hermione tried to raise Occlumency shields, to resist this attack, but her protections seemed to crumble away as time passed and she grew more and more drained. How much time had passed, she didn't know but to her it seemed to drag forever and ever. Finally she couldn't find the strength to resist anymore and was swept away inside her darkest fears, retreating further and further inside her mind, unable to cope with those visions.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Hysten looked at his men with a proud smile. They were in their prime, trained to be the best physically, magically and mentally.
As soon as he had been put in charge of the Queen's elite he had culled out all those who had bought their way in and recruited his men on harsh criteria. He could vouch for their loyalty. Having the human teach them had been a gamble on his part and at the start he had thought he had made a mistake as the girl had acted haughtily causing unrest among his men. However as soon as her friend had been released, her behaviour had changed. She apologised for her attitude, a fact that had helped a lot. Since then, he could say that those lessons had been useful.
He looked around: his men were having fun transfiguring his limbs while waiting for the young human to show up. That in itself was a bit strange since the young woman was usually first to arrive.
Suddenly he felt his necklace heat up. Looking down he saw it pulsating with a purple light, meaning his human charge was in danger. Then the signal died out.
Worry seeped inside him. He knew the human or Hermione as she had said to be called would no call on him if she couldn't defend herself.
"Everyone, spread in the castle in teams of two and search it for Lady Hermione or any hints as to her location. Go!"
He motioned to his second to follow him as the left the room. They didn't have to search long. After a few minutes, Hysten was called by some of his men. He arrived to see the bags the witch carried everywhere with her, books spilled on the floor. There was some blood on the stone wall and a strong smell was floating in the air.
"Zariax," he muttered darkly.
"Tyam, choose three men and examine the scene, report anything, any residue that might give us a hint as to who kidnapped Lady Hermione or where they took her. Sezyanne, take all the men you need and question all the people that might have noticed strangers in the castle or people behaving oddly. June, you and four men will check the wards and check the list of people that passed them. Report all that might be suspect."
Immediately the Elites parted, some using their communicators to call reinforcement. Hysten activated his own.
"Jihar?"
There a few seconds of silence before the General answered.
"Yes?"
"Hysten speaking, we have a code two"
"Who?"
"The human."
Followed some graphic cursing that Hysten chose to ignore. Finally, the general seemed to calm slightly.
"Any witness?"
"No, nor is there any hints as to the culprit."
"Where is the Athar?"
Hysten thought for a few seconds before recalling the Eldoiras' arrival.
"At Kahera with Teneb. The Xhan and Xhana required their presence."
"For how long?"
"We weren't told, at most a few days."
Jihar grimaced.
"Then we should get to it quickly, I will warn the Queen."
"She can't have been taken more than a few minutes ago. Have someone check on every portal that was opened or for any power surge inside the castle."
"You think they could have been keyed in?"
Hysten frowned.
"I prefer to cover all the possibilities. Get some men to read the Wards to know who came in and out today."
There was a pause.
"Alright, the Queen has screeners working on the human magical signature, they want you to come as soon as possible to follow the tracking the charm you have on the human."
"I'll be there as soon as possible."
"I'll meet you there."
"Understood"
Hysten cut the communication. Then, after making sure all his men were assigned a task, he headed for the Screeners' wings.
Screeners, Seers, Empaths and Telepaths of the higher levels were living in special quarters in a particular wing of the castle.
These rooms had been heavily shielded to protect the over sensitive minds of these men and women. They rarely went out and when they did, it was with thick shields and a dampening potion clouding their senses.
Hysten reached the doors leading to their wing. He took one of the necklaces hanging on the walls and put it on. This was compulsory for all the visitors in order to protect those living there.
He placed his hand on the door and waited for someone to let him trough. A few moments later, the doors parted and he stepped in.
"Hysten, we were waiting for you to begin."
The Queen looked stressed. She led him in a small circular room. Its walls were made of smooth white marble; in the middle, there was a table made of marble too and engraved with several runes to allow the magical energy to flow around and through it. Several cushioned armchairs and chairs were placed around it, three of them occupied by Screeners.
Valera motioned to him to take a seat as she sat next to one of the Screeners.
"If you would give us the stone anchoring your tracking charm on the human?" asked one of the screeners.
Hysten took off his necklace and handed it to the Magis. He watched with a morbid fascination the thin gloved hand place the necklace in the middle of the table.
The Screeners always put him ill at ease. Maybe it was the pale translucent skin that spoke of years of staying indoors, or the fact that they kept their eyes hidden behind a black bind tied to the back of their head.
Those thoughts were pushed out of his mind as he watched the three screeners concentrate and focus their power on his necklace and the tracking spell linking it to the young witch.
Their surroundings started to fade and instead of the white room, Hysten was flying over the land. Looking under him he tried to find where they were.
Spotting tall mountains, he had his answer.
Meyan was the only land where there was such a chain of mountains that particular. There were several abandoned mines in those mountains dating back to the time when Dwarves and Elves had been allies. Elves rarely needed raw materials in abundance and so scarcely went to the mines.
They closed on the mountains and started to over above a specific area.
Hysten recognized the Alken's Deep, The Dark Twins and Lunai's Passage. This area was one people tended to avoid. There were many stories surrounding this area, stories about revengeful spirits, creatures that roamed the abyss of the mountains…
Then the landscape faded back to the white walls of the Screeners' room.
"We can't go any further, you're Highness. The orcalk mines are blocking our senses but the human is being kept in this area."
The Queen nodded slowly.
"Is there a way to get around the orcalk interference?"
The Magis Screener shook his head.
"It would require more power and we wouldn't be able to channel it."
Hysten stood up and bowed to the Queen and the tree Screeners.
"You already helped us more than you know. Your Highness, if I might be excused?"
The Queen nodded and Hysten hurried out of the room and out to meet Jihar. They needed to search the mountain, and needed to do it quickly before something happen to the Athar's friend.
Three days later, they had not made much progress.
The area was a maze of caves, tunnels filled with creatures or traps. They had barely searched a tenth of the area and there hadn't been a single hint to where the human was being detained.
As the sun started to set, he oversaw the change of teams and made sure all were equipped. Once that was done, he and Jihar used a portal to travel back to Horevald where the Queen was waiting for their results.
He waited for her outside of the audience chamber. People started trickling of the room, talking in hushed whispers, making Hysten smile.
The four parties had been shaken by the King's destitution and the fact that his wife had turned not to be as lax as his husband in regards to their power plays in the background. They were still greatly unbalanced by Valera's decisions but the Prime knew that they would regain some of their footing and make things difficult for the Queen.
He stepped inside and noticed that Geryan was still talking with her, Doryan standing by her left, Celen at her right.
"Prime?"
He straightened himself.
"Your Highness?"
"Was there any progress?"
"Nothing, your Majesty."
The queen went to sit down on the throne and took her head in her hands.
"She must be found quickly, Hysten. The Athar will not take her disappearance lightly."
"I've assigned all my men except for those guarding you and more than half of Jihar's on this task. We're doing everything we can to make sure she is found."
A soft cough cut him and he realized Geryan had still been present.
"Excuse me, you Highness, but is something the matter?"
Valera eyed him warily, debating whether or not she should tell him of their current predicament.
"The human friend of the Athar was kidnapped yesterday. The Screeners managed to track her down to Alken's Deep and the Dark Twins."
Geryan looked back to the Queen, face cold.
"And you think it justify such a deployment of men and means?"
Valera stood up and looked down on the former High Duke of Meyan. She had named one of his distant cousins in his place.
"I would do so had it been an Elf, an Elemental or a Magis that had disappeared, Geryan!"
"But she's just a human! What harm will it do?"
Hysten kept silent, though he knew many thought so but wisely kept silent.
He had come to appreciate the young human female and had been amused by her thirst for knowledge. However she was still young, even by human standards and lacked the experience and level-headedness age would bring with it.
"What harm? She is in a world unknown to her, surrounded by people that would not mind seeing her gone as you just prove and was taken by people that aren't likely to mean her good! She's just a child, Geryan!"
Geryan scoffed.
"She's a human; she had nothing to do here to begin with."
Valera sneered.
"I'm glad to see friendship has so little value in your eyes."
Geryan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"She came upon my demand and out of concern for her friend that had been sent in a coma while helping us."
"The Athar has awakened more than a week ago. She had no longer any business here," retorted the Elf.
Valera shook her.
"I see it's useless to try to make you see reason."
Geryan nodded.
"I think we will have to agree to disagree on this issue, Valera."
"Unfortunately."
Geryan bowed sharply and walked towards the doors, he stopped as he was about to leave them.
"Where do you say they had track her?"
Valera looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
"I thought you didn't care, Geryan?"
"Don't be an idiot Valera. I could care less about your little human pet. However I do not wish to be implicated in this."
"And how would you?"
Geryan was silent for a few moments then spoke up.
"I had a base in one of the orcalk mines near Alken's Deep. I thought it to be a strategic location since the mineral blocked magical senses. I will give its coordinates to the Prime." He whispered a few words to the clerk that was assigned to write down everything that was said during audience. The young elf nodded and quickly wrote it down.
Valera nodded to the man.
"You have my gratitude, Geryan."
The Elf shrugged.
"That means nothing Valera. I just despise kidnappers more than humans…" he said before walking out.
Valera turned to Hysten.
"Check on those coordinates immediately. I don't think Geryan has anything to do with this. However one of his supporters might have decided to act."
Hysten nodded and bowed. He was about to leave when the Prince's voice stopped him.
"Prime? If my mother allows it, I would like to come with you."
Hysten glanced to the Queen who seemed torn.
"Celen…"
"I think it would be good for the men to see the Prince help them, Valera," said Doryan. "However, the Prince will have to be escorted. He is not to be left alone."
Hysten nodded, though he could see the idea didn't go well with the young elf. He wasn't very happy with the idea of doing some baby-sitting either. He knew the youngling had been trained but he had never had to fight.
Valera sighed.
"Very well, but be careful, Celen."
Hysten bowed low to the Queen, went to the clerk to take the coordinates. He then walked followed by the Prince. They reached the Portal chamber in silence and travelled back to Alken's Deep.
Hysten tried to repress the chills this place was giving him. There must be some truth to the stories going on about these mountains.
The moonlight was casting moving shadows that gave the illusions of spectres roaming the grounds. He could see the torches of the soldiers searching the grounds.
"Follow me, please, my Prince."
He headed to the main tent where they kept in communication with the various team searching the area.
He stepped in and went to Jihar.
Everyone present bowed as the Prince entered. Celen nodded and watched as the Prime approached the large map and examined it closely.
"Who is closer to this place?" he said, checking on the paper he was holding in his hand.
A soldier answered him quickly.
"Elite Carenyl, 1st class Hyron and 2nd class Gaes and Fiona, Prime."
Hysten nodded.
"Call them and tell them to meet us here." He pointed to a spot on the map. "I want four men ready to leave in five minutes."
He motioned to Celen to follow him to a smaller tent.
"You need to change, my Prince."
He eyed the Prince's clothes then handed him a dragon skin armour plate to put under a black shirt he handed him. He then gave him a warm tunic doubled with black fur.
"Stay close to us and don't take unnecessary risks, my Prince."
Celen nodded as he finished closing his shirt and put on his tunic.
"I will also ask you to obey my orders once we will be out there. I mean you no disrespect, but the situation…."
Celen held up his hands to calm the older Elf.
"I'm well aware of the situation, Prime. You won't have to fear disobedience on my part."
Hysten nodded and left the tent.
Meeting with the four other men that were coming with them, they started to make their way to the place Geryan had given them.
It wasn't an easy task as they had only the moonlight to help them guide themselves. More than once they tripped over rocks or nearly fell. Finally they met with the team waiting for them.
Quietly, Hysten informed them of the situation and they entered the web of tunnels running through the mountains.
They lit their torches and made their way down the bowels of the Southern Dark Twin.
Celen shivered as some water drops hit him.
The tunnel was dark; their torches were casting shadows on its walls that were starting to play on the Prince's mind. He was growing more and more nervous as time passed. All the stories he had ever heard about those mountains were coming back to his mind and he walked a little closer to the soldier at his side. Not that he was scared… He was just… cautious.
They had placed silencing enchantments over themselves and the silence was straining Celen's nerves. It was too silent.
He could see the veins of orcalk running on the walls on the tunnels, appearing, disappearing only to reappear a few meters further. Sometimes the whole wall seemed to be made of it. Celen had only seen so much orcalk once in his life. It had been when his mother had taken him to visit the prison. All the cells' walls had been covered with it. Before that, the young prince had only seen it used for some shields and a few other pieces of weaponry.
Those tunnels were reminding him of the prison.
He reported his thoughts on the situation at hand. They had gone deeper in the mountains and Hysten was using a small little device to guide the group, carrying it in his palm.
Suddenly they stopped. Celen barely avoided hitting the Elemental in front of him.
"They are here. Battle Formation."
Hysten turned to Celen.
"I would prefer you go back to the camp."
Celen opened his mouth to protest but didn't have time to do so.
"But somehow, I don't think you will," added the Prime with a tight smile. "I'll ask you to stay by my side and to be careful. We do not know how many they are inside."
The Prince nodded.
Hysten turned to look at his men, feeling proud of them as he saw they had formed teams of two: one to shield, one to attack. This was the traditional way to attack when in small numbers.
"We don't want to raise their suspicions. So I want everyone to keep a low profile. Spread out in this area and take down everyone you will meet. There will be time later on to interrogate them. Do not waste time in useless questionings."
"Understood, Prime."
The soldiers bowed and started to move away, shadows among the darkness. All of them left their torches against a wall, not willing to announce their presence for a bit of light.
"You were taught some shields, weren't you?"
Seeing the nod of his prince, the Prime continued.
"I will ask you to shield me then, Your Highness."
Celen squared his shoulders, a determined look crossing his face.
"Lead the way, Hysten."
The Prime smiled and headed straight ahead, Celen on his right, slightly behind him.
For a few minutes they did not meet anyone though they could hear people talking near them. Hysten suddenly flattened himself to the wall, tugging on Celen's arm nearly sending him kissing the stone ground.
"Umbra"
A grey veil fell in front of Celen eyes as they were both cloaked by shadows.
He watched with wide eyes as three people passed before them talking among themselves, laughing.
"How long do you think it will last?"
One let out a high pitched laugh, making Celen assume it was a female.
"I bet it would not see the end of the week and you Kraïn?"
"Scum like her is resilient. I think it will hold until the Solstice."
The three laughed before walking away.
At least we know for sure she is here.
Celen nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Hysten voice in his head.
Telepathy, my Prince.
The young elf blushed, embarrassed.
Hysten took off the charm cloaking them then resumed their walk.
They met another group, but this time, Hysten sprung to action and with a few well placed spells and enchantments, the four people were tied, gagged and placed in a corner under an invisibility spell.
They are former followers of Geryan…
Celen looked to one of the unconscious soldiers. They were dressed in dark, grey and silver with a rune stitched over their right breast.
How can you say it?
Hysten pointed to the rune.
It was altered slightly, but you can still see the original design.
They met five other soldiers wearing this uniform and took them out in the same way.
They continued to walk but having met nobody for ten minutes, they stopped and Hysten contacted his men through his communicator that had been slightly altered to be able to function in the orcalk mine.
"Apparently they met little resistance, except for a few cases."
He approached the stone to his mouth and spoke but was cut as a spell narrowly missed him.
Celen immediately cast a triple shield over them and went into a defensive stance ready to counter whatever their opponent might throw at them.
A furious exchange of spells followed, several of them hitting the walls and roof of the tunnel making large chunks of stone fall from them.
Still deflecting the spells coming their way, Celen shot one to the pieces of stone lying on the ground and levitated then before shooting them to their opponents.
It seemed to be their downfall. Distracted by the rocks, they missed a few spells shot at them and were soon bound and gagged on the floor.
Hysten looked at Celen. Blood was trickling down his face from a shallow cut on his right temple, testimony of a cutting curse.
"Good thinking there…" he sighed, wiping the blood out of his eyes.
He checked that none of their prisoners had been too greatly hurt, before looking up.
"Very well, gather all your prisoners and bring them to the cave situated at 3.4.4.5."
He cut the communication and turned to Celen.
"Well, looks like we have a few people to fetch."
Fifteen minutes later about Twenty-five people were gathered in a medium-sized cave lit by torches. Their gags had been taken off, but they had been put under a silencing charm.
Hysten looked other them and lifted the spell keeping them silent before speaking up.
"Very well, you have played and lost. Now, I want to know where Lady Hermione is."
Silence met his question.
"You know you will tell, me eventually, so why not make this short and easy for all of us?"
A female Magis let out a sharp laugh.
"You really are full of yourself, Prime."
Hysten just sent her a cold glance.
"And you are?"
"Shut up!" snapped a male Elf at his comrade.
The Magis rolled her eyes at him.
"Don't be an idiot, Orien. You know very well that we have nothing left to loose."
"Vala…"
"Orien," she mimicked mockingly.
Hysten waved his hand, silencing them again.
"I want two of you to guard them. You have permission to knock them out should it be needed. I want everyone else to search this whole place. Find her."
As everyone spread out, Hysten took his communication stone and quickly informed Jihar of the situation as well as asking for people to come help them search and take the prisoners to holding facilities.
It took them several hours before they managed to spot the entrance of the cave in which the human was locked. Hysten and Jihar hurried through the tunnels to where several of their men were gathered. Pushing through them, he reached a wall of orcalk with several marking engraved on it in spiralling patterns.
Hysten followed them with his finger, muttering in his breath.
"A sealing enchantment… Leeching…"
There was a small pause his eyes widened.
"A Nightmare spiral…" Gasps followed his declarations. Hurriedly, he read the other markings and ordered everyone to step back.
"My Prince?"
Celen walked to his side, curious.
"How can I help, Prime?"
"I trust you received some training in High Magics and how to break spirals?"
Celen nodded, face darkening slightly.
"I will need your help. The nightmare spiral will require my entire focus. You will have to take care of the three minor spirals here," he pointed to a small spiral on the right and to two others on the left.
"You can count on me, Prime."
Hysten nodded and focused on his magic, starting to glow. Strings of magic started to shot from his finger tips and hit the wall. Celen followed his example and soon both were focusing on the spirals. The orcalk was opposing their magic, providing a natural barrier against magic.
Slowly the markings started to glow. But it took about ten minutes for some of the marks to fade, thus breaking the spirals when it should have only taken one at most.
The wall shimmered and slid down revealing a small cave.
Hysten was leaning on the wall, panting. Breaking those spirals had taken a lot from him and from the Prince as the young man was wobbling on his feet.
But he wasn't about to back down now. Taking a torch from a soldier, he stepped in the cave.
"Lady Hermione?"
Frowning, he turned slowly, trying to spot the human.
A muffled sob caught his attention and he turned on his heels. He finally saw here. She was huddled in a shadowed corner, holding her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth, muttering and sobbing at the same time.
Slowly, he walked to her as she was a frightened creature.
"Lady Hermione?"
Straining his hearing, he managed to catch a few words.
"… all dead… sorry… no, don't…"
Crouching next to her, he could see that the three days she had spent here had taken their toll on her. She looked dehydrated. She was dirty; her hair was one tangled mess and she sported several cuts and many scratches on her arms, legs and face mostly.
"Lady Hermione…"
She didn't seem to hear him.
Sighing, he waved his hand towards her and caught her as she slumped against the wall.
Carrying her in his arms, he made his way outside, a little unsteady on his feet as exhaustion caught up with them.
Many soldier looked at him and the human with pity and a little horror shining in their eyes. One of them stepped forwards.
"Prime?"
Hysten looked at him with a cool look.
"What, Carenyl?"
The Elf shifted a little.
"I-I can carry her if you wish."
Hysten shot him a piercing look.
"It is a long way back to the camp, you won't manage it alone."
Another soldier stepped forward.
"I will help."
"And so will I."
"And I."
Several soldiers and members of the Elite volunteered.
Throat tightening, Hysten nodded and gently handed the human to Carenyl.
Perhaps there was hope for them…
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To be continued…