Disclaimer: I don't own anything you'll recognize
A/N: It's been a long time since I've posted. I must say I have had some problems with this story. I was writing but I didn't know how to divide this chapter and it was starting to be a monster of a chapter. However I had not come to the part where I wanted to stop. SO I tried to divide it as well as I could, but it makes for chapters with not that much action.
So i will post chapter 35 and chapter 36 in one go as they were one to begin with. Chapter 37 is in writing as I write this.
None of these chapters are betaed for now. I will post edited versions as soon as possible.
Chapter 35: Darkness is spreading
A small rough summary of the situation:
Hermione has come to the Elfish world to help with Harry's recovery and was kidnapped as he and Teneb were training with the Xhan and Xhana. She was kept in a cell in a mountain and underwent some mental tortures.
Meanwhile at Hogwarts they are readying for the last battle. After the Halloween attack by several demons, the Elemental masters are teaching all those with the Elemental gift. The former Masters have started teaching, finally coming to grasp with the situation.
THe Vampires have agreed to help and have been hiding all the descendants of the Enchanter line to stop Volddemort from performing the ritual to open the Hell's gate.
In the ELfish world, after the Isles debacle where a part of their world nearly went underwater, following Geryan's (a high duke leading a rebellion ) decision to drain the nodes under them to power his attacks and enchantments for the siege of Horevald, Harry and Teneb chanelled some power to save them, nearly dieing in the process. They are now helping in the rebuilding, training and trying to convince the ELves, Magis and Elementals to help.
Last time:
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 soldiers 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…
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
They slowly walked back to their camp, the soldiers taking turns carrying the young witch.
Jihar met them to the Healing tents.
His face was grim as he saw the state the young woman was in.
"I just received a call from Horevald. The Athars will leave Kahera at noon for Horevald."
Hysten sighed. He really didn't look forward facing the human Athar and inform him of what had happened.
"What of our captives?"
Jihar smiled darkly.
"They were sent to Renskarn to be hold for interrogation and to wait for their trial."
Hysten returned his smile.
"Good, now let's go back, the Queen must be waiting for us."
They oversaw the dismantlement of their camp and left with the last group through a portal leading to Horevald.
They landed in the castle's courtyard and dismissed their men. The human had been sent to the Healing House and all they could do was hope that she wouldn't suffer lasting damages from her ordeal.
They headed for the Strategy room where they knew the Queen would wait for them despite the late hour.
She was sitting in a chair by the window overseeing the gardens, dressed in a simple outfit, a nightdress covering her form.
"You found her, then. How is she?"
Hysten sighed.
"Not well, she was found in an orcalk cell sealed by a Nightmare spiral as well as three minor ones," stated Jihar. They didn't have time to sugarcoat the situation.
The Queen massaged her temples, her fatigue obvious on her face.
"I assume that you caught those detaining her?"
Hysten nodded.
"They are interrogated at Renskarn as we speak. An Eldoiras, a Deiser and one of our men are supervising the process," he answered.
"Very well, have the conclusions sent to me as soon as possible. What of the human? Will she recover?"
Jihar shrugged.
"I do not know, your Majesty. I have yet to meet with the healers regarding her state. She was… not well when we found her," he added, trying to present the truth as gently as possible.
"You mean that she looked like she went through hell… Three days in a Nightmare spiral… We will be lucky if she comes out of it sane. Find Mind Healers to try to help her. Make sure they are the less prejudiced ones… We do not need her to get more mental scarring than needed."
The Queen shook her head, trying to find a way to get out of this situation.
"Have the Athars sent to me when they get back," she paused thinking something over. "Have Geryan come to see me when the Athars are there. He might learn something out of this debacle…"
Hysten repressed a small smile and nodded, before bowing and leaving the room, hearing the dismissal in the Queen's voice.
Valera crossed her hands and blew on them, trying to warm them. She looked outside and prayed for some peace.
The hours passed and she was shaken awake by one of the maids that had come to clean the room in the morning.
"Your Majesty? Are you feeling unwell?"
Valera blinked a few times trying to remember what she was doing in a chair by the window of her private audience room. As memories came back to her, she slowly stood up, gathering her night-robe around her body.
"I'm fine, Evira, do not worry.
The young maid nodded to her queen.
"Very well my Queen. Do you wish me to come back later?"
"No, no, do not mind me. I'll leave you to your work."
With that she walked out the room as Evira curtsied before her. She headed straight for her rooms and only left an hour later, correctly attired, her hair gathered in a bun on the nape of her neck.
She had still some time left before the Athars would arrive and needed to learn what had transpired from the human's kidnappers' interrogation.
She entered her office and found a folder waiting for her.
Opening it, she started to read through the summary of the culprits' declarations.
Two hours later, she closed the folder and tried to think of a way to right this situation. She knew she had to punish them but how to do so without creating an uprising among her subjects and the two other communities eluded her.
And there was also the matter of the Human world's situation…
A knock was heard on the door and she watch as her son entered.
She felt a swell of pride rise in her as she looked over Celen. Even though the past months had been difficult he had kept his head high, even after his father's treason and death.
"Mother? Are you well?"
Valera nodded tiredly.
"I will be, Celen. How are you?"
"As fine as can be expected," he answered, taking a seat in front of her. "Do you think she will recover?"
"I do not know… I'm waiting for the Athars to be back. They might be able to help with her ailment."
Celen looked at his hands as silence fell on the room.
"I might not like the humans as a whole that much and find them dangerous; but nobody should have to suffer through this… She looked so broken, Mother."
Valera stood up and went to place her hands over her son's shoulders.
"Do you need to talk about it, Celen?"
The young elf shook his head.
"No, at least not now, I need some time. Everything is a bit jumbled for now." Celen looked at her, his eyes conveying the turmoil that was unsettling him better than words could have.
Valera sighed.
"Will you accompany me for a walk through the gardens, son?"
Celen nodded gratefully.
"I would love to, Mother."
The two elves left the room and wandered through the garden, relishing in a small moment of peace shared between mother and son.
By noon, they parted. Celen went to eat with Djaryle and a few other friends of his while his mother went to eat with a few of her counselors in the Winter-room.
They were discussing some of the laws Valera wanted to implement as soon as possible when a soft knocking interrupted them.
They looked up as a servant introduced the two youths they had been waiting for.
"Your Majesty, Counselors, the Athars are there."
"Please send them in."
"Yes, you Majesty." The young elf bowed and left, coming back followed by the two young men.
Valera immediately spotted the difference. Not that it was difficult, everything in them screamed powerful.
She had known Teneb since his birth and considered him as a surrogate nephew. She had known he was powerful even given Elfish standard but the magic rolling around him was unsettling her.
He had not changed much spare a few silver hairs and way he carried himself. But if the power surrounding him was unsettling, the one surrounding the human was bordering on terrifying.
"Athars, I hope your stay at the Temple was profitable."
Harry and Teneb nodded, bowing to her.
"Indeed it was, your Majesty."
Valera repressed a roll of eyes.
"Take a seat please."
They sat down and declined the drinks offered to them.
"I'm afraid I don't have good news to give you, Athars."
Harry sent her an inquisitive look, his green eyes boring in her soul.
Pendragon's eyes.
Now she understood what the legend was talking about.
"What do you mean, your Majesty?"
"Your friend, Hermione, was abducted a few days ago by Rogue members of Geryan's troops."
Harry made to stand up but was halted by Valera's raised hand.
"Please Athar. We managed to get her back and capture her abductors. However, she spent those days in a Nightmare spiral coupled with leeching, dementia and anchoring spirals, sealed in an orcalk cell.
Harry slumped in his chair, face blank, internally blaming himself.
"How is she, Your Majesty?" asked Teneb, deciding that formality was more suited to the situation.
Valera stood up.
"I was waiting for your return before going to see her. Counselors if you will excuse us."
The three of them nodded to the counselors before heading to the Healing House.
The walk was a silent one. Harry was trying to think of what he could have done to prevent this and Teneb trying to think clearly while keeping the guilt coming from his blood-brother at bay.
"Harry, please, try to think clearly about this! There was nothing you could have done that would have changed things!"
"She came here because of me, Teneb."
"And she chose to stay here when you got better. Do not make yourself the cause of everything because you're not."
Harry nodded discretely to him and the pressure on Teneb's shields lightened.
They finally reached the Healing House.
Valera entered and got an apprentice to lead them to where Hermione was being treated.
Harry sat on her bed, and gently pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. She was pale, her face twisted in a pained expression as she shifted in her bed, mumbling in her drug induced sleep.
He turned to look at the Healer that had joined them.
He was an aged Earth Elemental with long dark green hair tied in a low ponytail. His hazel eyes went over Harry and the others.
From the expression on Teneb's face, this was not your everyday Healer.
"Master Mind Healer Orian… It's an honor I thought you retired."
"I did, Athar, but Ianthyl contacted me given the peculiarities of this case and its gravity."
Harry cut them.
"I apologize for my rudeness, Mind Healer, but I would like to know how my friend is and what can be done to help her."
Orian sent him a tight smile.
"I assume you are the human Athar."
Harry nodded and gave the aged Elemental a small bow.
"I am, Mind Healer. However I think that time is not to pleasantries or small talk."
Orian smiled.
"Indeed Athar. Well said."
He stepped closer to Hermione's bed.
"Your friend was caught in a Nightmare spiral. Despite the relatively short time she was submitted to this torture, the effects were amplified by the smaller spirals that anchored its effects and drained her of energy to fight against the Nightmare spiral. Being a human, her shields weren't adapted to fight the spell of the Spiral."
Harry nodded, taking everything in.
"She retreated in the deepest level of her subconscious to protect her inner being in a survival instinct. However the spiral left many scars behind and might have corrupted some of her memories."
"So, what can you do to help her," asked Harry, impatiently.
"We first stabilized her mind and have started to repair the tears in her mind and her shields as well as working on the locks that the spiral placed on her positive memories." He paused slightly, looking at Harry. "I would need to see some positive memories of yours involving your friend, Athar. It would help reinforce the truth to her mind."
Harry nodded, his reluctance at having someone enter his mind outweighed by his concern for Hermione.
"Once this is over, we will start trying to draw her out of her subconscious and make her realize the reality as opposed to the lies showed by the spiral. It will be difficult work but she has a chance to come through."
He looked around, his hazel unforgiving.
"Any positive presence during the sessions will be welcomed. I can assure you that all those involved in her treatment will not carry any prejudice against her that might set her back."
Harry sighed slowly.
"Very well, Mind-healer, I will trust you with her health. I will be at your disposition should you need me."
Orian nodded.
"Thank you Athar, if it is possible, I would like to see you tomorrow to extract some of your memories to help with her therapy would noon be agreeable to you?"
Harry nodded.
"I will be there."
There was a soft knocking and an apprentice entered followed by an elf familiar to all of those present.
"Geryan," stated, Valera, her voice cold.
"Your Majesty, you asked for my presence?"
"Indeed, Geryan. You specialized into mind Arts, didn't you?"
"I did." The High Duke frowned, not seeing where the conversation was going.
"Very well, then I have a case that requires your expertise, Geryan." She pointed to the bed, motioning to those hiding Hermione from Geryan's view.
The widening of the elf's eyes was the only outward sign of his surprise.
Cautiously, he walked closer to her and placed his hand over her forehead.
"A Nightmare spiral… linked through some minors ones…"
Hermione started to shift in the bed, his face scrunching in a pained expression as she shook it as if trying to keep something at bay.
Geryan immediately backed off.
"She's reacting to my magical signature. I assume you found her in the orcalk mines I told you about?"
Valera nodded slightly.
"I was part of those that created the wards over the different hide-outs in the mines. My magical signature must be part of them and she must have assimilated it to her ordeal… The tears in her minds are being repaired as we speak. I assume the healers are going to start on her positive reinforcement therapy."
Orian nodded.
"Indeed."
"You'd better start with memory that aren't tied at all with magic… they are those less likely to provoke a reaction. It was said that friendly and reassuring presence helped heal patients in that state in recent studies, as well as the use of lavender and mint oils to appease and renew the soul."
Orian looked thoughtful.
"I will look into this, High Duke, thank you for your input."
Geryan bowed respectfully before looking at the Queen.
"Majesty, we might never agree on some points, however I will never condone torture. I do hope the culprits were caught and will be punished accordingly."
"They will be judged by our courts and will face whatever penalties the court will give them."
Geryan pursed his lips.
"I do hope you'll insure the impartiality of the court, your Majesty. I will at your disposition to testify if you want me to."
Valera nodded pensively.
"I will keep you apprised of the situation,"
"Then, if your Majesty permits, I will take my leave for I have several matters to deal with."
Valera motioned to him to go as she looked at the Athars.
"Will you exact revenge on her kidnappers, Athars?" she asked looking pointedly at Harry.
Harry took a deep breath.
"You will have to thank the Xhan, Xhana and my guardian for my restraint." He paused, calming himself and his magic who wanted to lash out at those responsible for Hermione's torture. "As long as justice is served, I will not act against them."
Teneb placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it once in comfort. Harry sent him a grateful smile before turning to the healer.
"Am I allowed to come see her?"
Orian immediately agreed.
"Of course and the more you'll be able to come, the better it will be for her."
Harry leaned on Hermione's prone form and gently kissed her forehead.
"Sleep and heal, Hermione. I will be back later."
He then straightened himself and followed the others out of the Healing wings and to the Royal Family's quarters.
Celen, Djaryle, Kobalt, Opheria and Teneb's family were waiting for them there.
Harry watched with a small smile as Teneb was run over by his sister. Delia squealed as her brother twirled her around. Harry could see Teneb would be busy when she would be in age to be courted…
He bowed to Doryan and kissed Ysela's hand, greeting them.
"We are glad to see you well, Harry," said Ysela, smiling at her son's blood brother. "We were all worried for you."
Harry thanked them for their concern before going to Celen, not really knowing how to greet the Elf Prince. Celen seemed to pick on his hesitation and made the first move, clasping his forearm.
"Glad to have you back with us, Harry."
"Thank you, My… Celen." He corrected, seeing the prince glare. "Thank you for sending help to my world."
Celen shrugged.
"I just fulfilled my promise. If you must thank someone, thank Kobalt and Opheria. They were the ones to go to your world."
Harry turned to his and Teneb's Seconds and bowed to them, his right hand over his heart.
"My thanks to you both."
Kobalt and Opheria simply returned the gesture with a smile.
"You don't have to thank us. Your people fought well by themselves. They were also helped by the Vampires and the Goblins. We would have never been able to win had it not been for their help. Those Demons were Third rank…" said Kobalt.
Meanwhile, Celen and Teneb had sat done together and were talking quietly among themselves. Harry decided to leave them be and turned his attention back to Kobalt and Opheria, Djaryle watching them from her chair.
Harry slowly relaxed. After some time, he felt his sleeves being tugged.
Looking down, he spotted the young Delia.
"Look, I took care of both them!"
She proudly showed him the two small animated figurines he and Teneb had created for her when they had arrived at Horevald.
He smiled at her.
"That's very good, Delia. Would you like to learn a small trick?"
The young elf nodded eagerly.
Harry stood up and showed her to a corner, sitting on the ground, Delia settling in front of him. Quietly, he directed her through the simple motion of the little trick he wanted to teach her.
For the following hours, calm reigned in the room as Harry entertained Delia while the other discussed quietly of safe topics, staying clear of the varied issues that had still to be solved.
A servant came to announce that dinner would be served soon. All of them straightened up and headed to the Dining Room in small groups.
Harry was walking with Opheria and Kobalt.
"How are the Isles?"
Opheria smiled.
"The Isles are stable, the power flows were restored and except for a small shake, the situation is improving daily."
"What about the rebuilding?"
This time it was Kobalt that answered.
"Two wings, two phalanxes of soldiers and two teams of healers are still stationed there to help the islanders and protect them from several magical creatures that were either mutated or driven crazy by the power loss. The wounded are slowly returning home to help their community get back to its feet."
"Whose wings?"
"Moral's and Oceal's."
Harry nodded.
"I'll go check on the nodes to make sure they are completely stable and that the power flows haven't been damaged that much."
"Will Teneb go with you?"
Harry shrugged.
"It will be for him to decide."
"Count on me, Harry, I would like to see our handiwork too. After all, we put our life on the line for those Isles."
Harry smiled, glad to feel that their mental bond was still strong. With everything that had happened and the numerous shifts in their core, he had feared their bond would have been nullified.
As if sensing his thoughts, Teneb sent a mental chuckle his way.
"There is little than can break a Blood-brother bond, brother mine, save our wills or death."
Harry rolled his eyes and brought his attention back to Kobalt and Opheria.
Dinner was a quiet but for the first time of Harry's stay in the Elvish world, it was comfortable. The next week passed quickly.
Valera and Celen were busy dealings with the various clans and factions hounding them about their decisions or what they felt the two royals should do. After having gone to the Isles to check on the node and fulfill his promise to the snakes there, Harry parted his time between being at Hermione bedside, practicing with Teneb, continuing the classes Hermione had taught and helping Teneb with Demenor as to the help the Riders could provide as well as the training they should go through.
It was also then that Harry learnt of another role of what being an Athar meant.
Both Teneb and he had been called back to the Headquarters to help with several Dragons that had suddenly fallen ill, despite the Healer's effort to help. Not even their riders understood what was happening.
Athars had a keener connection to the Dragons than the other riders, however not even the past Athars still present at the Headquarters could understand what was going on.
Harry knelt next to the iridescent head of the Dawnris.
She had been one of the first to fall to this ailment and her health was quickly spiraling down. Seven more dragons: a Dusker, two Quears, a Dewat and Two other Dawnris were ill and an Azurean was looking like he had been contaminated by whatever was harming the Dragons. Some of their riders had to be sedated as their Dragons' state had unsettled them a great deal.
Harry shook his head and focused on the mighty beast next to him.
Gently, he placed a hand on her forehead, concentrating on her magic as they had excluded most of the other possible cause of illness, not that the Magical Dragons were prone to illness to start with.
Drawing on his own magic, he closed his eyes, only to open them a minute later, ignoring the movement of recoil from those around him as he knew his mark was glowing, his silver strands standing out more than usual and that his eyes must have turned completely silver and he used Magical sight, a trick the Xhan and Xhana had taught Teneb and himself.
He could see the magic in the Dragon. It made most of its being and was vital to its survival. He could see another magical entity growing in the Dawnris. Following the magical path around her body, he frowned slightly before shifting his gaze to the Azurean standing next to its mate as the two Dragons had mated recently.
It confirmed his finding. Going deeper, he reached the inner core of the Dragon and had to stop for a minute to get used to highly powerful magic surrounding him. It was intoxicating. Then he saw it.
Like a leech, a gross mass was throbbing among the core, obviously feeding on the Dragon own inner power, draining it slowly but surely of his life.
Approaching the mass, he watched surprised as it stopped its feeding, shimmering, and trying to melt in the magic around it to go unnoticed. Had Harry not been focused on it, he would have overlooked the faint shimmer in front of him.
Remaining absolutely still, and cloaking his own presence, Harry watched as the mass reappeared once more and started feeding again.
/What is this horror!/ Rexeran's deep mental voice echoed in his mind, disgust palpable in his tone.
/I would like to know… whatever it is, it will kill her if we do not do something/ sighed Harry.
Shielding his presence as Xhan Cyan had showed him, he drew closer to try to find from where this thing was coming. Sending a light probe, he saw the mass freeze and shimmer out of existence once more.
However Harry knew what he needed. Gently he withdrew from the Dawris magic.
Rexeran had appeared in the Healing rings used to patch up the dragons injured in fights.
Harry closed his eyes and let go of his magic. Opening his eyes, he blinked and found worried and impatient faces looking at him. Turning to look at Teneb, he saw that he was withdrawing from the Quear and would be back in a minute.
"I think I have an idea of what is going on. I'll wait for Teneb so we can share our findings," he said wearily.
Demenor nodded and motioned to the riders at his side to calm down.
/It is the planes, isn't it, Rexeran?/
The Sowaroc let out a low growl.
/I share your opinion, Astyan. However all the dragons have been told not to use the plans and shield from them. Even for those whose bond was frozen, the taint should not have touched us yet, unless it is darker and deeper than we thought and started to reach the third plane./
/I will have to go there to assess the damage./
/No, you can't!/
Rexeran panic inundated Harry.
/What is going Rexeran. I will need to go to the plane if I want to understand what is going on and try to help the Dragons./
/You must not! It is too dangerous!/
/How? I will use all the protection I need./
/You don't understand Astyan. This taint, it's like a disease. It spreads to everything that links to the planes, worms its way into their core and drain them dry to sustain itself. The moment you will reach the plan, you will be open to an attack and through you, they would reach immense reserves of power!/
/It won't be able to drain me if I shield myself./
/No shield save a protective circle will protect you. /
/Then I will have one gathered! snapped Harry, determined.
Rexeran seemed to sense his stubbornness and gave in.
/It was always useless to try to make you change your mind, Astyan. But I urge you to be careful. The plans are dangerous./
/I will be prudent, Rexeran. But I have to try to help those dragons./
/I understand that need, Astyan. However you are too important to risk your life or sanity carelessly./
Harry chose not to ask about those words, having bigger fish to fry for now. Teneb chose that moment to exit his trance and looked for Harry.
"It's the planes, isn't it Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"I think so, so does Rexeran."
Demenor frowned.
"What do you mean? What about the planes? All the dragons have forbidden everyone to access them and everyone was asked to stay clear of them by their spirit guides."
Harry racked a hand in his hair.
"The planes were being tainted by whatever ritual Voldemort and Luctan were preparing. My spirit guardian forbade me from going to them anymore as it was too dangerous."
A tall man with the typical appearance of a Fire-Elemental spoke up.
"What is going then?! Why is Sora so ill?!"
Teneb decided to answer.
"From what I could see on Quy, the taint is going deeper than our guardians thought and has managed to reach the Dragons."
From the frowns on most of the face looking at Teneb and him, Harry gathered that they didn't quite understand.
"What Teneb means is that this taint is leeching the Dragon Magic to feed itself and spread further. Your Dragons are dieing because their magic is being drained away."
Fire erupted from the rider's skin, making people take a step back. Harry had no time to waste for outburst though and quickly snuffed the flames out.
"We don't have time for your anger, rider Wean. You should focus your energy on Sora to help her and her dragonet."
Wean looked at him stunned before hurrying to Sora's side, gently petting the iridescent scales.
"What will happen to our Dragons?" asked the rider of the Quear, a lithe Magis woman.
/Rider Brynne/ supplied Rexeran.
"First we need to know what is going on the plans, rider Brynne."
The rider's face lightened and Harry saw the tell-tale sign of the beginning of a trance. He did not think and acted. Waving his hand, he blasted her straight in a pile of hay.
Immediately other riders shouted in anger but were silenced by the crackling magic surrounding Harry, his eyes darkened in anger.
"SILENCE!" shouted Demenor. "Athar- " He was cut by Harry who glared at Brynne.
"Did you not listen to me! Didn't I say how dangerous the plans were now! Do you know what would have happened had you reached the First plane?! This taint would have spread through you. It would have drained you dry in a matter of minutes!"
"But…"
"The only way I will try to go to the plan will be through a protective circle of five to shield me."
/Calm down Harry, he's just worried… /
Teneb placed an arm on Harry's shoulder, calming through their Brother bond.
"Rexeran and Gae will call on other dragons and place the dragons being drained on a stasis. This will freeze all magic until we find a way to help them." He paused and looked at Demenor.
"I'll leave you to arrange for a circle to be gathered. It would be better is Harry is the one to try since human minds are not as susceptible to mind Arts as Elvish ones. I will be one of the anchors. You need to find four more, open-minded enough to be able to focus on Harry and shield him. We will both take care of the circle's set up."
"Where will you set it up?" asked Demenor, mentally going through names of potential candidates through his mind.
"In Darkana. It is the safest place around here and its power will be an added bonus," explained Teneb, brushing away dirt from his tunic. "We'll set up the circle, be ready in two hours."
Demenor nodded and watched as the two youths headed towards Darkana. He looked at those present, in particular the other Athars.
"I'll call for Lyrom and Yranne from the Temple and I'd like you Questra and you Niom to help them if you feel you will be able to do it."
A small thief-like built elf, with a scar marring his right cheek, shot a look at a tall dark skinned Earth Elemental woman.
"Why us?"
Demenor sighed.
"Both of you are Athars, so Darkana will be able to help you more easily and both of you are specialized in Mind Arts while Lyrom and Yranne are more skilled at Magic Manipulation."
"Questra?" Niom asked, expectantly.
The woman gave a slight tilt of her head.
"I will do it."
Demenor thanked them before leaving to call for Lyrom and Yranne.
Rexeran eyed the two Athars.
/I want to warn you both, Athars. Teneb and Harry are important to our races. There is much more at stake than the lives of dragons. I will not allow them to come to any harm. Consider yourself warned. /
Questra bowed before the Sowaroc.
"I heard and will heed your warning, mighty Sowaroc. Know that I have no ill-thought towards your bonded. Like him I wish to help the Dragons."
Rexeran let out a snort with a small cloud of smoke.
/Then you should ready yourselves, Athars, I would advise some meditating and anchoring. You will need to be as strong as you can be for this to work. /
Questra and Niom bowed before him then left for Darkana to ready themselves while Demenor went to call for the Deiser and Doija.
Two hours later found most of them in one of the more shielded room of Darkana. Harry and Teneb were adding the finishing touches to their set up which was composed of intricate circles within circles, runes spread around at a seemingly random pattern. Chalk, wax, blood and ashes were used to draw and as the different participants took their place, they were careful not to disrupt the lines or runes.
Harry and Teneb had discarded the classical pentagram formation as Harry didn't trust all of them not to hold back.
Questra, Niom, Lyrom and Yranne, both of the latter dressed in full Deiser and Doija regalia, were placed on a half-circle, with Teneb as their center. He would channel them and anchor Harry, shielding him through their combined power.
Demenor was overseeing them from the viewing room.
As they concentrated, the room started to hum with magic, Darkana adding her own weight to protect her Athars…
However Harry noticed nothing of it as he let himself fall in a trance, feeling the presence of the others surrounding him protectively.
As he finally reached the first plane, he nearly recoiled in shock. He was caught in a dark grey thick fog. It was oppressing weighting on him.
Concentrating, he tried to shift the plane's landscape to no avail. None of the spirits or guardians which were usually roaming the plane could be seen.
The plane was unnaturally still. Ill at ease, Harry started to move through the plane, not able to shake off the feeling of being slowly surrounded.
Drawing on his own power he spread his senses to try to get a fell of what was going on.
He nearly recoiled in horror as the fog seemed to thicken around him and coil like tendrils of smoke started to run up his legs ensnaring him.
Yelping he jumped away as the burning sensation the tendrils left in their wake. Deciding not to spend one more second than what was needed on the plane, now understanding what his guardian had meant when he had forbidden him to come back, he focused once more and spread his senses once more, ignoring the burning sensations of the smoke. He had to understand what was causing this. Shifting to magical sight easily as he was on the plane, he was able to see a giant pool of wild roaring dark power.
He shuddered at the evil reeking from the magic. He had felt true Dark Magic while studying under Terio. The dwarf had shown him several weapons that had been infused with Dark Magic making them extremely powerful and destructive.
He had had Harry wield them, despite the young man protests.
Terio had quickly shut him, snapping that Dark was not evil. It was just a branch of magic that was more wild and prone to be used for destruction, having an affinity for chaos while Light magic preferred to be used for order… He had tested a sword, a bow, a crossbow, darts, throwing stars, knives and finally a pair of daggers. Reluctant at first, he quickly discarded the sword, darts, knives and the bow. However, he took to the stars and daggers. Terio had gifted him the set. While they did not feel as natural as his personal set of weapons, they were extremely effective. He had never used them except for training as the magic they contained was quite wild and responded well to intent. The daggers were poisoned and could act as conduct for Dark Magic should he decide to use it.
However, this wasn't dark. It was pure evil. The pool was growing steadily and large tendrils were spreading round tainting the plane. He saw three tree-like tendrils shooting upwards and shimmering out of view and knew that the soul plane had been tainted as well. Focusing on the pool, he tried to get a feel of the magical signature.
Things went so fast, that Harry hadn't time to react. As soon as his power probed the pool of power, it reared up and shot at him, drowning him in its depths.
Harry felt tendrils of magic coiling around his legs and arms tugging him around. Struggling to free himself, he started to panic when he felt his own power being drawn.
TENEB !
His last thought before blacking out as pain worse then ten Cruciatus at once shot through him, was that at least he got what he wanted as to who or what was behind this taint.
oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo
Teneb was feeling Harry's unease that kept growing as he looked through the plane. Even through Harry he could feel the taint that permeated the Spirit plane. Suddenly there was a deep fear that struck him before Harry cried out in his mind.
TENEB!
Eyes widening, he watched as Harry's body slumped to the ground, twitching slightly.
Immediately, he started to chant and drew on the power of the circle, calling on all the participants, weaving a protective shield around Harry's spirit quickly as he felt his friend's strength decrease.
Focusing all the power he felt thrumming under his fingers, he sent it to surround his fellow Athar. He could feel resistance against his magic and drew on Darkana to help them. Slowly as if swimming through mud, he felt the power he had sent to reinforce the shield they had originally set up.
Finally he felt the resistance give and the shield flare, cutting Harry from whatever had been hurting him.
Harry's body stopped moving and Teneb rushed to his blood brother's side.
"Harry?! Harry!"
He shook him lightly.
Green eyes opened and looked at him, slightly unfocused.
"Harry?" asked Teneb, deciding that mental-speech might be easier on his friend.
" 'neb"
"What happened?!"
"… 'ired"
Harry's eyes closed as his breath evened.
"He's only drained. He will be alright once he will have rested," said Yranne who had crouched next to Teneb and scanned Harry.
"How long?" asked Teneb.
Yranne shrugged.
"I can't say for sure. I would say at least a day given how low is energy levels are."
"We can't wait that long," stated Demenor who had joined them. "We must know what is going on!"
Yranne shot him a withering look.
"His magic is replenishing itself faster than I have ever seen already, I can't do anything more. He will wake up when his body allows it."
Meanwhile, Teneb had grasped Harry's forearm and started speaking his Blood Brotherhood pledge.
"Ilan ory sianter" (United by mind)
"Ilan ory saroll" (United by soul)
His forearm and Harry's were surrounded by a soft golden glow which quickly spread to Harry's whole body.
"Desen hela athia" (Death or life)
"Lith tarx jomi" (linked through all).
The glow slowly subsided, both of the blood-brother mark glowing one more time before going back to their scar aspect.
Teneb placed both hands on the floor, feeling faint.
"Teneb? Are you alright?" inquired Questra, having noticed the young elf growing pale, a thin coat of sweat covering him, his breathing coming out ragged as if he had run for hours.
That got the attention of the others that turned to look at him.
Yranne immediately went to him, scanning him as she did so.
"Demenor, are they Blood brothers?"
The older elf frowned.
"What does it had to do with this?"
Yranne glared.
"Everything! Now, are they or not?!"
Teneb shook his head slightly.
"I- We are… brothers."
Yranne's demeanor softened.
"You called on your bond, didn't you?"
Teneb could only nod making the Doija sigh quietly. She placed both her hands on each side of his head.
"Sleep and rest youngling, I will guard your dreams."
"But-…"
"Sleep," she said softly, using her own power to induce his rest.
She went to Harry's side and checked on him, smiling a little at her readings.
She turned to look at Demenor.
"Teneb used his own link to young Harry and shared his own power to boost his recovery. They should be both awake in three hours."
The leader of the Headquarters nodded, having no choice in the matter.
Yranne smoother her robes and turned to Lyom then Demenor.
"If you do not require our assistance any longer, Rider, we need to return to the temples to warn our superior of this. We will ask you to tell the Athar that the Xhan and Xhana would like to be informed of their findings."
The elf smiled a little.
"I will see that the Athars hear of this, Yranne."
That said, Yranne drew up her hood, followed by Lyom, both their faces hidden from view.
Only those that had purified at one of the temple were allowed to see their faces, meaning all the members of the temples, the riders, most of the mages, scholars and a few high ranking member of the royal army.
Demenor and Niom bent down and picked the two Athars, carrying them to a chamber close by and resting them on two beds before leaving, Questra and Niom flying back to the Headquarters to check on the ill Dragons, Demenor to a warded room to make a call to Horevald to warn the Queen of what was going and have her scholars and researchers look at what might be going on.
Three hours later, he sent some people to go see how the Athars were and bring them to the communication room. He had to wait about half an hour before they entered the room. Both of them still looked quite tired, and Demenor wished he could have let them rest. However it was not to be.
"Harry, Teneb."
The two youth nodded tiredly and took a seat at the table.
"What happened?" asked Harry, raking a hand in his black locks, tugging on a few knots.
"Well after you fell unconscious and Teneb helped you along, the Doija put you to sleep. They requested you to contact the Xhan and the Xhana at the earliest convenience."
Teneb closed his eyes and sighed.
"We will do so once we're done there… Have you been able to talk with the Queen?"
Demenor nodded.
"I was, she set all her scholars on this but was waiting for you to wake up to supply some more information."
As he explained this, he tapped a few crystals before placing his hand over the largest one in the center of the table.
Harry could feel the power running between the different crystals and watched impressed as a ray of light shot up and unfolded like a large fan, revealing several people.
"Demenor?"
"My Queen. The Athars are here."
"Good, Teneb, Harry, we all hope you'll be able to clarify this situation. You already know Reald, Halan, one of the Magis Elder, Kesle, My Prime Herald, Geryan and Faeral, the representative of the Afiwea."
"The Elemental Council" mentally supplied Teneb.
Harry nodded.
"Pleased to meet you all," he stated, echoed by his friend.
Valera smiled tightly at them.
"I think we'll forego the pleasantries, Athars, can you explain us the situation?"
Harry massaged his right temple.
"Alright, after checking on the dragons, I knew that something was draining their magic and life force. I scanned them further and could see that whatever was going had something to do with the planes and the fact that my spirit guardian and Teneb's had forbade us to go back to the planes, warning us that something was spreading there and tainting it."
A few people on the Queen's side started to talk in hushed whispers.
"I decided to check on the Spirit Plane by myself protected a circle of five. Doija Yranne, Deiser Lyom, Athars Questra and Niom as well as Teneb were part of it."
He paused, collecting his thoughts.
"I reached the plane. It seemed dead, filled with some kind of fog that coiled itself around you and burnt. I shifted to Magical sight and noticed that this … fog seemed to come from a huge pool if I can say so of power that was shooting three spires upwards to the soul plane. I can only assume that the soul plane has been tainted too and through it the third plane which could explain why Dragons are being affected."
He stopped, trying to stop the slight trembling of his hands.
"I probed it to get the magic's signature. As soon as I did so, it attacked me and would have managed to annihilate my spirit and drain my magic had Teneb and the others not been there. He called on the circle power and managed to bring me back. He then used our blood-brother bond to share some of his power with me."
Silence followed his words. As what he explained started to sink in, he saw the faces of the ones sitting by the Queen pale.
"Did you get the Magical signature of this taint, Athar?"
Harry nodded.
"I did, however, I would prefer that you looked at it by yourself. If what I think I sensed is true, you won't believe me without sensing it by yourself first."
The Fire Elemental raised an eyebrow.
"And how can we be sure that you won't tamper with the memory of what you sensed."
"I hope that my oath as a rider will be enough. However I suspect that it won't. Then I hope that having Demenor extract the memory from my mind and send it to you will be enough to ensure my truthfulness, Representative Faeral."
The Elemental nodded curtly.
"It will, Athar."
Harry nodded to Demenor. He felt a light probe to his outer shields. Gently, he felt the presence seek the memory of what he had experienced on the plane, ignoring everything else, not that Harry would have allowed the elf to snoop around without retribution.
Demenor nodded to Harry as he withdrew from the human's mind. A silver thread came out of Harry's temple and was directed by Demenor towards the main stone.
Everyone watched as the memory played out for all to see, being able to feel everything Harry had.
A few recoiled in shock upon seeing the swarming magic tainting the planes.
Reald was pale as a ghost as was Halan. Kesle and Geryan's faces had turned to stone. Faeral seemed shocked and horrified, too young by Elf terms to understand what the others could.
"Luctan," whispered Halan, "but how?"
Reald turned to Harry.
"There is a second signature… I've already felt it while in your world… It's that Dark Lord warring in your world, isn't it?"
Harry nodded.
"That's what I felt. I wasn't sure about the second signature, having only felt it once beforehand."
Faeral turned wide eyes to Halan.
"You mean that Luctan is back?!"
Halan frowned.
"I sent you a messenger to warn you of his return."
"We thought you weren't serious! He was Banished! How could he have been brought back?"
Halan's lips tightened with annoyance.
"Everything was explained in the message I sent the Afiwea."
Faeral snorted.
"How could you expect us to believe that a mere human had brought back the Dark one? It was ludicrous!"
Harry rolled his eyes, drawing an amused smile from Teneb.
Valera raised her hand.
"We are not here to cast blame; I assume that one of the power signature if from Luctan and the other from that human Dark Lord."
Reald nodded.
"Indeed, but it shouldn't have been possible."
Valera frowned.
"Explain yourself, please."
Reald nodded.
"As you are all aware, I and most of the scholars in Horevald researched in depth the ritual this Dark Lord wanted to perform."
Kesle cut him.
"What was this ritual, Prince Reald?"
Reald sighed.
"This Voldemort came by Djaira's journal and managed to translate it."
Kesle nodded grimly.
"The Hell's Gates opening. I assume steps were taken to prevent this from happening."
A look of annoyance crossed Reald's face at Kesle patronizing tone.
"We studied this ritual in depths, Prime Herald. It was next to impossible for him to complete it. Without Luctan's blood and the blood from the human Enchanter's line, he can't perform this ritual!"
Kesle looked back at the frozen memory.
"Given this taint, I would say he is quite close of completing it, Reald."
"But how could he get the blood?" asked Valera.
Halan sighed.
"If that human managed to bring back Luctan and give him a body, then he most probably has got some of his blood. As to the human blood, are you sure that he couldn't trace back the Enchanter's descendants?"
Reald shrugged.
"The Enchanter lived millennia ago when all the races where still cohabitating. After the Parting, we did not bother tracking his descendant. Maybe those of Ynris might know more since they remained in contact with the human world for longer than most of us."
Valera shook her head.
"Even we cut all contacts from the human world. The Enchanter's line was followed until about one millennia and a half ago. Since then they were lost through time. Given the short life span of human and how fast they can reproduce, they might be anywhere."
Harry cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him.
"Despite Prince Reald's reassurance, I looked into the Enchanter's line. The Diary the Queen Valera gifted me allowed me to know what had become of the Enchanter's heirs until Pendragon's time. To sum up a long story, sixteen human lines descend from Him. Six of them ended during the Middle-Ages, three modified their names and were lost. Seven lines are still alive in the human worlds. All of them carry the Enchanter blood, no matter how diluted it is."
Geryan frowned.
"Does this human know of them?"
Harry shook his head.
"I don't think so, but it only a matter of time before he does. And then if he kills enough people he might be able to obtain undiluted Enchanter blood," stated Harry. He had no illusion about this. Voldemort had enough materials and access to knowledge to be able to trace back the different lines given time. It was not a matter of if but of when. Harry could only hope that Adrien and his companions had managed to spirit everyone out of the Dark Lord's clutches.
Geryan snorted.
"Then we need to make sure that he will never find then, even if it means bringing those lines there or killing them."
Several startled looks were shot his way.
He rolled his eyes.
"I do not like humans more than I did before, but between having to suffer through their presence and having this ritual completed, I'll take the lesser of those evils."
Harry smirked.
"You won't have to suffer more human presence, High Duke. I was approached by Adrien of the Vampires and he told me his people were hiding all those carrying Enchanter blood. They do not want Voldemort to complete this ritual anymore than us."
He chose to ignore the appalled looks that met him as he spoke of the Vampires.
Valera was the first to shake off the shock.
"Well, then, if you could make sure that they will stay hidden until we can find a way to stop this ritual…"
Harry bowed his head.
"I will do so."
Halan spoke up.
"I'll have some of my mages try to locate the origin of this magic."
Teneb looked bewildered.
"I did not think you could sense magic beyond the veil."
Halan shot him a benign smile.
"One Magis alone wouldn't, however a circle of seven should manage."
Harry nodded at him.
"It would be most helpful. I will provide you with maps of the human worlds if you need them."
"It would be most helpful indeed," stated Halan, "I can only assume that the lands' configuration changed since we were last in contact…"
"It did," confirmed Harry. "I will have it brought to you as soon as possible."
Valera smiled gratefully at him before speaking up.
"Does anyone have something to add? No? Athars you will be back to Horevald soon?"
"We should be there by noon tomorrow," answered Teneb.
"Very good, we'll speak of this further then."
The communication closed down. Sighing, Harry slumped in his chair, rubbing his temples.
"Painful?"
"No," he shook his head a little, wary of worsening his headache, "well nothing a good night of rest won't cure."
Teneb sighed, I'll follow you on that. I feel positively beat…"
Demenor repressed a small smile.
"Go rest, Athars, I'll handle the riders of those Dragons that were touched by this taint."
The two youths stood up and bidding Demenor good evening, they left for their respective rooms in Darkana. As Harry looked through his bag, he was thinking of way to warn the Vampires of what he had learnt. They had to make sure all the families were kept hidden. Voldemort couldn't be allowed to get to them.
However he had no mean to contact them.
Hedwig was being cared by Hagrid and he didn't know of other ways to contact someone he didn't the location. Then he spotted Terio's gift and smiled. He took the pendant in his hand and opened it, watching as the flame flew out. It gave out a definitively disgruntled feeling of having being kept inside for so long.
"Terio" Harry called out. The flame wavered a little.
"Who is it?" asked a gruff voice, annoyed.
"Terio? It's Harry…"
"So you finally remembered me?" Harry winced at the reproach hidden in the question.
"Terio, I… I'm sorry, I should have called you sooner."
"You should have. Even if our sources tell that that you have been quite busy when you were not in a comatose state, you could have find some time to speak with me."
Harry sighed.
"I'm sorry… I had so many things on my mind that I just didn't think…"
"Yes, from what your guardian told me you're not one for thinking much before diving head on."
Harry blushed.
"I'm not- "
"You're impulsive like most humans…It must be because of your lifespan. It's so short it doesn't leave much time to thinking. However I heard that fault tended to disappear with time."
Harry repressed a snort but knew better than to reply.
"How are you, Terio?"
The dwarf let out a sharp laugh.
"I should be the one to ask you this. This was a nasty business in the Isles and we were evacuating our population when you managed to stabilize the nodes. How did you do it?"
Harry fingered his silver bangs.
"Teneb and I channeled Darkana's power while the Xhan and Xhana channeled their temples' power. We managed to fill the nodes enough to get the power flows there stable."
There a small silence.
"Of all the stupid things to do!!"
Harry took a step back, his ears ringing.
"Terio…"
"Did those Elves fried whatever good sense you had in that bird-brain of your? Whatever possessed you to try something like this?"
"Terio, I'm fine."
"Fine, I'll believe that when elves will stop eating grass. If your brain wasn't fried before, now I'm sure it is! No one should be able to channel that place's power and no one did since the Ancients' time when the first nine riders were riding the First of the Dragons."
Harry shrugged.
"Well Teneb and I did channel some of it and survived… I wanted to warn you of the taint of the Magical planes. It's started spreading and is affecting the dragons."
There was a small silence before Terio spoke up again.
"We feared something like that when our most ancient enchantments started wavering."
Harry felt himself grow cold.
"Are they falling?"
Terio let out a snort.
"No, Dwarf-made enchantments are stronger than that. They were immediately reinforced and will hold for now. What is going on? Knowing you, you should be in the thick of it."
Harry sighed.
"Not by choice. However I think that Voldemort-"
"That Dark Lord of yours?"
"Yes, I think he is about to accomplish a ritual."
"Which one?"
"Apparently one attempted by someone called Djaira."
Harry couldn't understand what was then said, but from the tone of the voice and the various grunts that it wasn't polite conversation material.
"I'll take it she isn't a favorite of your race."
"That- " he broke of in a series of expletives once more "was trice cursed by our race, cursed once for betraying our trust, cursed twice for killing fifty of our children, cursed thrice for trying to go against the laws of Magic by trying to call back what should forever be forgotten."
"Not a favorite indeed."
"You could say that. It was one of the only cases where all the races agreed to something. She was judged by a jury of representatives from each races and condemned to Death for her crimes. How close is this Veldomo" Harry had to refrain from smiling "to perform that ritual?" The young man sobered up quickly.
"Very, from what the elves told me, he is only lacking one key component and then it will only be a question of when and where."
"And what of this component? I do hope it is well hidden."
"They are or so the Vampires told me. He needs a vial of blood of the Enchanter, whoever this guy might have been. Adrien told me they were going to spirit away all the families carrying that bloodline."
"I do hope that giant bat did something right for once."
"Me too. Do you know of a way to warn him of this development?"
Terio laughed.
"So this call was not completely disinterested, human… But I forgive you. I have something better to propose you. Some of my leaders are meeting Vampires in two days' time regarding a new command of weapons from their community. They have wanted to meet you for a while now and Old Adrien should be there."
"So will I then."
"Where should you be then?"
"Horevald probably."
"I will send you instructions. Make sure you'll be alone."
"I will."
They both talked for a few more minutes before Harry ended the communication and went to sleep.
The morning came too quickly.
Rexeran and Gae came to Darkana and together, riders and Dragons traveled back to Horevald, Demenor having the situation well in hand.
They arrived at Horevald and climbed off the dragons' back.
"Rexeran, can we spend some time together later on?"
The Sowaroc, placed his huge head at Harry's level.
You don't have to ask, I will wait for you here when you are done.
Harry gently fingered the dragon's head.
"Thank you Rexeran…" Even Teneb could understand all the things implied in those three words.
This time they had to explain the situation before the whole council.
The Queen had them gather in the Council room. Harry and Teneb had to stand on a stage before four stands filled with representatives from the four Elf casts as well as the Magis Elders and representatives of the Afiwea.
Harry was a bit unsettled about having to talk to all those people, most of them who were less than well-disposed towards him.
He kept his head high, not letting them see how much they were affecting him. Once they had finished their report, the Queen thanked them before allowing them to leave the room. As Harry passed through the doors two guards were ready to close on their backs, he could hear an explosion of sounds and the counselors shouted to try to make themselves heard, the different factions gathering together.
Harry looked at Teneb, rolling his eyes.
"I wouldn't like to be in that room for anything in the world," he stated.
Teneb snorted.
"No kidding, I really don't envy father, Valera and Celen."
Harry smiled.
"True, I'm going outside to meet with Rexeran."
Teneb nodded.
"Alright, I will go see my mother and Delia."
Harry agreed and made his way outside.
The Sowaroc was walking for him and together the two of them walked away from prying eyes, the dragons looking quite awkward on the ground for a creature which was so grateful in the air. However it did not take away the powerful aura surrounding him, his golden scales gleaming in the winter sun.
Through their bonds, Rexeran told him of the History of the Dragons and their riders, of their legends and the heroes of old.
They stopped under a crop of tree overlooking a small cottage next to Horevald. Rexeran folded his legs under him as he let himself rest on the lake's shore, Harry sitting down, his back resting against the Dragon's chest, his eyes closed, listening to Rexeran mental voice, enjoying this moment spent with his Dragon as he was starting to think Rexeran as his. It even worried him sometimes. Rexeran was a proud and free creature, who was he to think of him as his.
/ It is as it should be, Astyan. /
"What?"
/ I will be yours as you will be mine. Our minds will be one. That's what a true bond is. /
Harry looked up at him.
"You mean you can hear my thoughts?"
Rexeran offered him a Draconian smile.
/ No, if I wanted to, I am powerful enough to bring down your shields but that would not be our bond. For now, our bond only allows me to hear thoughts which are linked to our bond and us. The rest will come with time. /
Harry let his head fall back to rest against the dragon's body.
"Tell me more about the Old Times."
Rexeran picked up his story telling where he had stopped.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Teneb had gone to visit Harry's friend. He found her surrounded by four people, two of them wearing the pale green robes of apprentice healers.
As he drew closer, anger spread on his face.
"Hair…"
"I know, but it's strange how closely to us they are built."
"You're kidding Peyra! Look at that face, those features! It's nothing like ours. Those humans are so massive, no refinement. But well, it's not like they are refined in anything they do."
"What happened to her?"
"I something to do with mind magic, I think…"
The three other laughed.
"Those humans! They are so weak, it's pitiful. Can you believe that they need sticks to use their magic?"
"Really?"
Another was watching fascinated as Hermione started shivering a little, drawing herself in a tight ball.
"What is she doing?"
One of the apprentices shrugged.
"Don't know, how can you say with them?"
The fourth one fingered her hair.
"What about that stick?"
"Yes, I'll show you. I think they placed it there…"
Teneb chose to step in, knowing that wizards didn't like other people handling their wands without permission.
"Can I ask what you think you are doing?"
The four youths turned to look at him.
"A-athar Teneb. We-… er I mean, we were checking on the patient."
Teneb snarled.
"So all four of you are experienced Mind Healers. Well, I think I will watch you during this session then, Athar Harry will be glad to know his close friend is in good hands."
The two apprentices paled while the two others were looking for ways out. It was obvious they had nothing to do here.
Teneb crossed his arms, his eyes cold.
"I will ask my question once more. What are you doing here?"
"I would like to know the answer to this question too, apprentices," stated someone behind them.
The two apprentices bowed so low Teneb was sure they were going to fall to the floor.
"Master Healer Orian, we-…. I mean, we were…"
The second one tried to explain themselves.
"Master Healer, we were just… showing our friends how close to us human are. This is the first time that a human is living among us. We-…"
The old Healer raised his hand sharply, anger showing on his face.
"You thought you would bring people here to gawk at a torture victim, a Nightmare spiral's torture victim at that. By behaving as mindless simpletons you just reduced all our work for the past week to nothing. I do hope you at least enjoyed the entertainment."
The two apprentices had turned an interesting shade of green going to white with red blotches.
"Leave us, your Masters and myself will deal with you later when a proper punishment would have been chosen. As to you two!" He turned to the other two youths who had started to follow the apprentices out. "Don't think you are not in trouble for this. This is a restricted Mind ward and you were never among those allowed to enter this room."
"But…"
"You don't have any excuse!" snapped the man in a quiet whisper. "I know who you both are and I know your parents. I also have a fairly good idea of what punishment I will ask for you. If you wanted to see humans, you will see humans. Now get out of my sight."
They did not wait for him to say anymore and all but ran out of the room.
Teneb went to sit next to Hermione trying to use his own magic to soothe her.
Orian came closer too and started to exude calmness.
"Athar, can you recall a memory from your friend and retell it to her as you view it in your mind… Choose a happy carefree one."
For the next half an hour, Teneb remained in Hermione's room, helping Orian calm her mind and try to undo whatever harm had been done.
Once the young woman was sleeping, they both left.
"How is she doing?" asked Teneb as they entered in the private gardens of the Healing Houses.
"Better than we expected, Athar. She's proving to be quite resilient. We hope that she will make a full recovery. Both your and Athar Harry's contribution has helped greatly. She also reacted well to our positive therapy. Later in the afternoon, we will try to have her take a tour of the gardens."
"You think she will do it?"
Orian shrugged.
"She has reacted well to Healer Xaelle and young Mirya and allows them to touch her. We are optimistic."
Teneb nodded.
"I will try to be there as will Athar Harry though I cannot make any promises."
"His presence would be a great asset. However I will ask you to tell young Djaryle not to come. No matter how well intentioned she is, her visits are doing the young lady no good. It even seems to distress her."
Teneb frowned upon hearing this.
"I didn't know she was visiting lady Hermione. I will talk to her."
They parted way as Orian went back to his office while Teneb went to look for Djaryle. He finally found her in the Library.
Stopping by her he spoke up.
"Djaryle, I need to talk to you."
"Alright," she moved some books aside to leave him some space.
"In private," he added tersely.
"Oh… Is there a problem?"
The elf shook his head.
"No, at least I don't think so."
She shot him a puzzled look but stood up and followed him outside and to a small room.
"So, what is going on, Teneb? Why all this secrecy?"
Teneb looked at her searchingly.
"Why have you visited Harry's friend? You barely know her so your presence can't be that reassuring to her even from what Healer Orian told me, it even distressed her."
Djaryle looked down.
"I just wanted to help, Teneb. I didn't know I was doing more wrong than good."
Teneb shot her a hard look.
"Don't give me that, Djaryle. You might not be that strong of a receiver Empath, but you could not have ignored her distress. Even the thickest non Empath would be able to see it."
"I did not, Teneb. What are talking about? You know very well that I'm only an Empath emitter!"
"You have eyes, Djaryle."
"I just wanted to help her, Teneb!"
Teneb shook his head.
"You're not telling me everything. I know you Djaryle; I thought you could trust me."
Djaryle sighed.
"Teneb, I can't tell you. Please, just know I'm doing this for the good of everyone. No one will be hurt. It's a task my family has been carrying for generations."
Teneb looked outside.
"It has something to do with Harry, isn't it? That's why you were so friendly with him? It was more than genuine open-mindedness."
"I can't tell you."
"You don't need to. You should be careful. If there is one thing Harry positively hate it's to be manipulated, particularly if you're using his friend. Tread carefully and do not involve me in this. Just know I'll be watching you," there was a tired and disappointed edge to Teneb's voice.
None of them said anything for awhile then Teneb left.
Djaryle looked outside, sadness overwhelming her. Was she really doing what was best? She steeled herself. She couldn't go back now. She had to trust in her Father's vision and in her family's legacy and the secret that had been passed down to her. They would understand in time.
oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo"°"oxo
Teneb went back to his family's quarters where he found his mother alone, playing her harp as she looked outside.
"Teneb! You're back. How are you?"
"I'm fine, I'm just so tired…"
She smiled at him.
"Sit down, Teneb."
The young elf complied, tacking his head in his hands.
"What is the matter?"
"It's getting too much for me, being Athars, the ritual this human is close to performing, the animosity because of my friendship with Harry. Do you know that spare Celen and Djaryle as well as three others nobody has sent word for me or come to see me? And now I just discovered that Djaryle is using the human witch to manipulate Harry…"
Ysela put down her harp.
"I'm afraid there is little I can do about the problems linked to your title Teneb. Power has always excited resentment, greed and envy. Your friendship with young Harry is just the pretext they chose to justify their actions. As to young Djaryle… Valera and I will talk with her."
"But…"
Ysela carded her hands in his hair as she used to when he was an elfling.
"Shh, I wouldn't involve myself if I didn't believe it is needed. Your friend is extremely powerful. Should he lose control of it, the consequences would be dire. Young Djaryle is playing with fire and we might be all burnt."
"Harry wouldn't loose control like this, he wouldn't harm anyone."
"No?"
Teneb thought back to what had happened when Najira had nearly raped his friend, how close they had been to be killed.
"He would… not willingly but yes."
"He is of Pendragon's blood."
"What?"
Ysela sighed.
"Valera told me she had given him Pendragon's journal and that he had been able to open it."
"What does it have to do with all that is going on?"
Ysela smiled sadly.
"Valera and I aren't sure, but Pendragon's line was one of the few human lines that our ancestors watched over and asked their descendants to keep track of. They just wrote that their blood held great powers that would come to light once more after centuries of having sleeping dormant in the members of this line."
Teneb frowned.
"How could she be sure he was of his line?"
Ysela looked at him fondly.
"You don't remember the legends I told you when you were a little?"
Teneb furrowed his brows.
"You mean the one about the men gifted with eyes of emerald?"
Ysela nodded.
"But green eyes are common, or at least not that unusual."
"Not that shade of green, Teneb."
Teneb closed his eyes.
"What does it mean, mother?"
Ysela shook her head.
"Like most of those of Ynris, I only know of the Legends. A lot of secrets are surrounding that line and only two families knew a bit more. Valera's was gifted the diary and asked to watch over the line and maybe other tasks. The second one was Djaryle's."
Teneb leant back.
"This is such a mess."
"Don't worry Teneb, I'm sure everything will clear itself when time comes," she said brushing his hair.
Mother and son remained silent, both enjoying the other's presence and the calm of this moment for as long as it lasted.