Whispers Of Truth

Chapter 2: Gathering the Army Pt. 2

Avalon, the Island of Fruit Trees. Home to the nine sisters of magic, and final resting place of the great King Arthur, a land of sunlight and beauty.

"Do you think this place will do Hedwig?" he asked the owl perched upon his shoulder.

Hedwig hooted and ruffled her feathers, Harry chuckled and he continued through the forest, the scent of sweet apples tickling his nose. Beneath his feet, Avalon hummed in welcome, around him eyes watched him. Some wearily, others in awe.

"I agree, it will do nicely" he said, lips curling into a smile when emerged from the forest and came up a stone bridge that lead to upward stairs, "let us inform our hosts of this".

"Erm Mister Potter?"

Harry stopped and looked over his shoulder at the Pack, then at Zy and Nathan who was holding up an unconscious Fenrir between them.

"I prefer Harry if you don't mind" Harry said, "we are almost there" he then added, "there is nothing to fear"

"But our Alpha is still—"

Nathan trailed off when Harry walked toward them, behind him the Pack shuffled nervously. Harry stopped when he stood in front of the unconscious Alpha, he reached up and ran his fingers through the thick grey hair.

"It's best this way" he said, "easier on the body, trust me on this, please"

Zy and Nathan jumped when Harry locked eyes with them, then after a quick glance at each other, nodded at the Chosen. Acknowledging the decision, Harry continued on crossing the bridge pausing to look at water running underneath before continuing on, going up the stairs that lead to the castle. When he arrived the large castle door, he knocked politely, waited for the door to open and stepped in with the wolves following behind him.

"We've been expecting you, Child of Truth"

Harry smiled at the nine who stood in waiting before them, "Oh?" he then said curiously

"Your arrival has long since been foretold" said one.

She was the oldest of the women and equally beautiful, hair long, flowing and dark. Green eyes told of wisdom and power. She had many names, and according to history she was either good or evil, she was Morgan le Fay.

"Thank you for welcoming us here" Harry said, with a bow of the head. On his shoulder, Hedwig also lowered her head.

Morgan and her sisters bowed their heads in return, "It is an honor to have you" Morgan said, "and your guests"

"Hello" said Nathan, while Zy waved awkwardly with his one free hand

"And the other residents?" Harry then asked.

"We explained the situation to them" said Gliten, "they understand, some have offered their assistance, while others…prefer to be left alone"

"Understandable" Harry said, "now, if it's not too much trouble, is there any place where Greyback can rest more comfortably, I do believe Zy and Nathans' arms are getting tired"

"Yes, please follow me" said one of the sisters named Cliton

None of the other sisters and Harry said anything about the fact that the whole Pack followed.

"Would you like to rest as well?" Morgan asked.

"Not at the moment, thank you, there is still much to do" Harry said, "please tell the Greyback Pack that I have gone out and will be back soon, perhaps with more guests."

"As you wish"

Harry bowed to the woman then he left the castle.

~.~

Darkness is feared, feared because of the monsters hidden within. Waiting to strike, however, the real fear for darkness is for what the monsters truly are.

The truth of self.

Darkness revealed the true us, the one we hide in the light, barely seen within our shadows.

"Much like these halls Hedwig"

Preached on his shoulder, Hedwig hooted softly.

The old stone is cool to the touch, and the shadows around them shifted.

"You are a long way from home child" purred the shadows.

"If I look for it, I can find home again" Harry said, "that is a truth"

"And what do you know of truth?"

"I know many things about it I suppose, if you don't mind, I have a request"

"And what could you possibly ask of us?"

"I wish to speak with your father"

The shadows laughed, "You are in the wrong place child, the Dark Prince doesn't live here"

Hedwig clicked her beak when the shadows darted playfully close, ruffling her feathers in annoyance, Harry brought up his hand to soothe them as he spoke, "I'm well aware of where the Dragon resides, and he is not the one I wish to speak with. I want to speak with your father, Ambrogio."

The shadows hissed, and drew threateningly closer, "You should not know that name" they growled.

"And yet I do" Harry hummed as he watched the shadows come closer, "I mean no harm" he then said, "I merely wish to talk"

The shadows growled and hissed, Hedwig hissed and clicked her beak in warning.

"Peace, my Hedwig" Harry soothed as he rubbed white feathers, "peace, Children of Shadows"

"You will soon know it child" said the shadows and lunged.

"Enough!"

The shadows disperse at the strong voice, and curled around the owner of the voice much like a big cat.

"Hello Ambrogio" Harry smiled.

"Harry Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World, and now, the Chosen" Ambrogio bowed his head, "I apologize for my children, they are still young. New to the world."

"I did not mind" Harry reassured, "however I do not think Hedwig feels the same way"

Hedwig shrieked in agreement, body puffed up in annoyance, "My apologizes Lady Hedwig" Ambrogio said, amusment in his eyes.

Hedwig clicked her beak at the shadows before settling down with a huff, Harry chuckled and got his hair tugged in retaliation.

After whispering to them, the shadows uncurled themselves from their father and slinked further into the temple, though not before Harry saw them take human shape. Ambrogio walked toward the Chosen, and offered his arm to which Harry took.

"Now, to what do I owe this visit from the Chosen?" he asked as they walked down the hall.

Harry smiled knowingly, "I have a request of you, Ambrogio, Lover of the Moonlight ,Cursed Being of the Gods and Father of the Undead"

They come to a door, it glided open and the two walk inside. The burning fire place made the room warm, the décor was a mix of white and dark greens. There was a cello, obviously old and obviously well taken care of.

"Do you still play to her?" Harry asked as he was escorted to comfortable cushioned chair to sit, Hedwig flew off his shoulder and perched herself onto a dresser.

"You know I do" Ambrogio answered, "would you like something to drink? Food? I'm sure we can find something edible"

"I am fine, thank you"

Ambrogio sits down in the chair across from Harry's, "Now, what is this request you wish to ask of me?" he then asked, though he already knew what it was, Harry Potter was not his first Chosen.

Harry looked at him, took in the handsome features, dark hair and darker eyes. Finally he smiled, "how is Vlad?"

"In America with his current lover, and living in sin according to the local priest" Ambrogio sighed at the thought of his first and favorite child, "you would think after all these centuries he'd had calm down by now, especially since he was once a royalty"

"It is because he was of royalty that he acts the way he does, worry not. Vlad will be fine"

"Is that Truth?" the Vampire asked curious.

"One of many"

Ambrogio chuckled, not at all bothered by the vague answer, "When the first war started," he then said, "the Dark Lord came to Vlad. Promising revenge over those who wronged us, equality in the new world"

"He was not aware, that in a mortal life, Vlad was ruler; but in the immortal life, he is the subject."

"All of my children find it amusing that both worlds think Vlad is the first vampire, the father of us all."

"No one knows the Truth" Harry nodded, "of your love, your suffering, and you take full advantage of it"

"Of course"

Harry hummed, eyes flickering to the door for a moment, then back at the vampire, "Will you reject my offer of union" he then asked, "as you did the Dark Lord's?"

Ambrogio took a moment to answer, "I've met many Chosen though my life, rejected all but two. One brought peace, the other, brought war and death. What will you bring?"

"When we are given the choice to know Truth, we either emerge broken or whole. Either way, we have the understanding. What we do with it, we do with a free will and a path. The one who brought war and death was broken, however so was the one who brought peace. In the end, the path taken is for one goal. Truth"

"Why did I expect a straight answer" the Vampire sighed in almost defeat.

Harry tilted his head just slightly, "You remember what this world of magic was once was, you have seen the changes, seen what had been done and what will. Can you say that it is good?"

"No" Ambrogio said softly, "no, my children have been persecuted and hunted down because of the life we live, whether through their own choice or not. Is not moral and good in their eyes, eyes that have forgotten that once we stood side by side, protected each other; that their magic is only possible because of us. The ones they call monsters. I cannot blame some of my children for their hate, nor can I blame them from straying, and I can understand why Greyback joined the Dark Lord"

"For all they claim to be of higher intelligent, of power. It is merely a mask, and hidden behind it, is fear. And we both know what fear can do"

"And can you stop it? Fear?"

"No, fear will always be there, because it is needed. For all the bad it has done and will continue to do, there is also good that comes with fear. However, I can delay it, put it to sleep for a time."

"And that is why you need me?"

"And you're children"

"So there will be war and death then"

"I hope not, but if that is the path they chose then I cannot stop them. I would like you with me if it happens. I need the shadows, the darkness after all, shows ones true self"

Having met more than a dozen Chosens over his lifetime, more than anyone in this world, Ambrogio can say that there has never been a child. And for all the Truth and power he held, Harry Potter was just that, a child. He never had the experience the other Chosens had, in a sense he was the purest of them all. Siding with him could be he and his children's downfall, or their road to a Golden Age. But did he want to take that risk? Was the reward worth it?

Thinking about his children, how many have died, or live in fear. Others turn to hate because of it, are never safe, Ambrogio realized that yes, it is worth the risk. Still, he needed to know one thing.

"If I give you our loyalty, will I regret it?"

"I cannot grantee that, for the paths are many" said Harry.

"Then what can you grantee?"

"Truth"

~.~

When Fenrir Greyback opened his eyes, he understood.

"Alpha!"

Fenrir blinked when suddenly his vision was filled with his relieved Pack.

"You're finally awake" Nathan sighed happily.

Fenrir grunted and started to sit up, Zy and Nathan helped him while the rest of the Pack backed away to give him space.

"How long have I've been out?" Fenrir asked as he got out of bed, looking around the room, "where are we? And why does it smell like apples?"

"For a few hours, the Chosen, brought us to Avalon, then left" Zy answered, "one of the priestess escorted us to this room"

Fenrir nodded, and then looked at his Pack, the Pups were asleep in a nest made up of pillows and blankets. While the adults looked a bit stressed, however he was sure that was because of him being asleep for so long. The room itself was elegant, and looked very much lived in, as though a Pack of wolves had taken resident.

"She gave us one room?" he then asked though he was sure that wasn't the case.

"No, the priestess, Cliton, told us this whole wing and it's rooms were for us to use freely. But we felt it was better if we stayed in this room with you until you awaken."

"Ah"

"Alpha?"

Fenrir looked at the female who spoke, she came close, eyes worried, "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes" he reassured, nuzzled her forehead, "I'm fine"

"What did the Chosen do to you?" Zy asked, "he said that it was easier on your body or something"

Fenrir looked at his Pack who all waited patiently for him to answer, finally after he sat down, he spoke. "He showed me Truth, showed me what had to be done so that we could prosper and live the life we want. He showed me that I needed to change"

"What do you mean?" asked one of the males.

"Many things, which I wish to discuss with Potter to get a better understanding of. Is he back?"

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in" Fenrir said.

"I'm pleased to see you have awaken, Alpha Greyback" Morgan said as she came in, "I trust that your sleep was enlightening"

"It was, what do you want?"

"The Chosen had returned, and asked that you and your Pack join him and the other guests for dinner" Morgan said, not at all bothered by the Werewolf's rudeness.

"We will be there, anything else?"

"Yes, do you have any food preferences?"

"We're Werewolves, anything that's meat and bloody with do"

"I will let the kitchen know"

~.~

Morgan led Fenrir and his Pack to the dining hall, where food was hot and waiting on a long elegantly table. Harry was already there sitting at the head of the table with Ambrogio a seat down to his right, with a female vampire next to him. The eight sisters were also sitting down.

"Your seat, Alpha Greyback" said Morgan, "is a seat down from the Chosen on the left, everyone else may sit where they wish"

"Hello Alpha Greyback, it's been a long time" Ambrogio greeted when they sat down.

"Ambrogio" Fenrir greeted back, "how is Vlad, still causing terror?"

"Unfortunately, yes" the vampire sighed, while the female vampire, named Sophie giggled.

"How was your sleep Greyback?" Harry asked, before drinking from his goblet, he discovered it to be wine with an unsurprisingly hint of apple in it.

"Peachy" the Alpha said as he pulled one of the many cooked turkeys toward him, he broke off a leg with his hand and ate.

"Will more guests will be arriving?" Thitis asked, before taking a sip of her stew, she and her sisters not at all bothered by the Werewolve's terrible table manners, or the loud Pups.

"Yes" Harry nodded, smiling when Hedwig stole a drumstick from Nathan's hand, "I hope they will be here tomorrow"

"Why does this blood taste like apples?" asked Ambrogio looking down at the goblet he had just drank from.

The nine sisters giggled.

After dinner, Harry asked Fenrir to join him for a walk in the courtyard.

"The sisters tell me that your Pack stayed with you while you were asleep" Harry said, as he sat down on a wooden bench that was against the wall, "I apologize for any stress I caused"

"It's fine" Fenrir grunted as he leaned against the wall.

Harry watched as the Alpha looked up at the sky, he too looked at the sky and waited.

"You already know this, but, Werewolves have a hard time conceiving with each other." Fenrir spoke, eyes still on the sky, "more often than not, the Pup is stillborn. The fact that we have so many born wolves in the Pack is a blessing. We bite humans because we want, need to survive. And children, for all their fragility, are the best candidates. However, it never was like this, in the old world, wizards and witches didn't fear us. In fact they used to be Pack, use to be mates; and our Pups were born alive and healthy."

"Now, it is taboo" Harry said softly, "you are hated and feared, no longer loved. And in turn, you hate and fear them. Cause chaos"

"It wasn't like we tried the other way, many Alphas before me tried the peaceful way. It doesn't get far, and some have even given in and taken that poison Wolfsbane¸ to be accepted."

"Do you blame them? The wolves who wish to be accepted by those who are quick to condemn them"

"Sometimes" Fenrir admitted.

"And now? After seeing Truth?"

Fenrir took a deep breath, then after a moment sat down next to Harry, "I know now, that I need to do things differently, to get back what once was. I also know it will take time, and a patience that I have little off"

Harry's lips curled up, "Then, I will help you, if you want it"

Fenrir looked at him, surprised, "Can you do that?" he asked, "help me I mean. From the stories, the Chosen for all that they do good or bad, never stray into the people's personal lives."

"It was a path Merlin walked"

"….Oh"


A/N: In Arthurian legends, Morgan Le Fay had eight sisters. Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Cliton, Tyronoe, Thitis and Morgause. She is the chief among her sisters and King Arthur's healer; she also takes King Arthur to Avalon to be "healed" after his last battle. There isn't much on the eight sisters beyond them being related to Morgan Le Fay.

Avalon is the legendary island in Arthurian legend, it was the place Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was taken to recover from his words.

As for Ambrogio, to make a long story short, he fell in love with Selene who later will become the goddess of moonlight. Got cursed by the sun god Apollo, so his skin burned in sunlight, made a deal with Hades, and lost his soul to the underworld.

Got cursed by the goddess Artemis, so sliver will burn him, then after she took pity on him blessed him to as good as hunter as her. And now he is a vampire, and considering the timeline, POSSIBLY the first.

For more info on Ambrogio to this website: gods - and - monsters . com and click on vampire origin story

Next chapter: "Hello Hermione"

Glad you guys enjoyed the previous chapters and I hope you enjoyed this one, Review Please!