It was Thursday, November 17, and Ginny was heading back with Galdor, and two other elves. They had taken the Express, Ireland's version of the Knight Bus, to Dublin, and Fenian Square. By the simple method of leaving the hoods up on their robes, the elves passed easily as fellow wizards. They were clearly strangers, and Ginny was acting as their guide, so it was assumed that they were tourists.
The easy part was retracing their steps to the warehouse. The hard part was convincing the supervisor. When he had finally relit the fire that day, the first thing though was a dementor. The British Ministry and the Republican Government were still in an uproar. The Minister of Magic claimed his men were following escaped criminals, and the dementor was sent through as a defensive measure. The Minister apologized for not realizing that they were entering Irish territory. Arguments followed about treaty infraction, but the Republican Parliament, in a secret meeting, banned all magical cooperation with Great Britain until a full investigation was made.
None of that really mattered as far as the supervisor was concerned. He had been no more than five feet from the fireplace when the dementor appeared. He wanted nothing to do with Ginny or elves or anything. "I'll tell you this much," he said, "for the way those British are acting, I think you were right to get away. But I won't do no more to help you."
Galdor removed his hood, and the man stared, as did several house elves. He chose the house elf closest to the man and said, "Cuio Mae, Hen."
The young male elf said in a startled reply, "Mae Gowannen, Einior."
"What's that you're talking?" the man asked in surprise.
"I merely asked the boy how he was," Galdor said. "He told me he was fine."
"Boy?" The supervisor asked.
"They're children," Ginny said, waving her hands to include all the house elves. "These," she added, pointing to her companions, "are adult elves."
"I have been talking with one of the children," one of the other elves said, "She likes you and says that you have taken very good care of them. We thank you for this."
"You're welcome," the man said, stunned. He shook his head and muttered, "Children, of all things." He looked back at Galdor and added, "It does explain a lot, you know."
"And, will you help us?" Galdor asked.
"I'll talk to the warehouse manager," The supervisor said, "I can tell you no all I want, but for something like this I can't say yes."
The affair became more complicated and more simple very quickly. The supervisor returned with the manager, and another man, who introduced himself as Eamon Finn, Republican Magical Liaison. He pointed out that as they were elves, Ginny's friends were a separate species of intelligent beings. Consequently, they had to make their requests through the government. "It is almost one o'clock," he said, "and the delivery to Hogwarts is not until eleven fifteen tonight. Please, join me for lunch, and we will discuss this."
Retiring to a private room at a nearby restaurant, the Liaison officer and the elves talked while they ate, telling each other as many of the facts as they knew. Eamon Finn was mostly on the receiving end but he also revealed some things of his own.
He knew about the ring, but did not truly believe it until he received the message earlier that elves had arrived at the warehouse. The truth of the stories explained a great deal about the actions of the British Ministry. It also explained Eamon's familiarity with elves. He had done his homework.
Finn also knew about the attack on Hogwarts, but could tell them nothing. Irish-British relations were at a standstill. 'Friends' in Britain could find out almost nothing about the school, except that is was still in operation, with about half the number of students. Owls also came back without delivering the letters given them.
Galdor laid out his plan, but Eamon stopped him flat. No method to sneak in would work. The entrances to Hogwarts were well guarded, especially the delivery route. He looked sharply at Ginny when he said this. Galdor told Mr. Finn that their plan was not that simple. Their intent was to gain entry, but the initial ruse would work without fail. Too many precedents made that possible.
An agreement was made to give it a try. Then the Liaison officer brought up a second subject. Leaders of the Dwarvish community in Ireland have asked for a meeting. A delegation from Gringotts Bank has asked for one as well. They have reacted respectfully for a joint meeting, since the subject was the same: What was the intent of the Republican Government in view of the current crisis, and does it relate to the rumors about 'The Ring?'
Galdor responded by commenting on how history repeats itself. He suggested the use of an owl, and directed Eamon to send to Cirdan the Shipwright a detailed explanation of why the request is being made. They, as well, were seeking to contact the dwarves. He added that Cirdan was quite likely to offer his own halls for such a meeting, because, in this, history was indeed repeating itself.
*
As the time approached, everything was made ready. The house elf assigned, jumped through with a complaint against a Hogwarts elf named Winky. If Winky was sent to his masters to respond, then he, Coru, would stay until she returned. When the deliveries were finished, a house elf did come back, and it was Winky.
"Winky is bad elf," she said, ringing her dirty robes, acting as servile as she could.
"You have no need to carry on so, little sister," she was told, "I am Galdor, young Henuin. Ginny Weasley has told us about you, and we asked for you, to seek your help."
"I see no friends with you," Winky/Henuin said.
"The manchild had a long day. Sleep took hold of her, and we thought it best to leave her. And young Baralas is so caught up in his studies, we dared not ask him to come, and strain his heart with two desires."
"Then ask, but call me Winky for now, least I forget myself when I return. I carry the secret of what I am becoming, and it is hard enough."
Galdor admired the young elf, for daring him to call her such a childish name. "I will call you friend, then," he said, leading her to a safe place to talk. He had one day to learn all that he could, and to decide what to do.
*
The room appeared crowded. Galdor and his companions listened to Winky as she retold her story to the others, prompting her at times to give further details. Eamon Finn was not pleased with what he heard. His superior was outraged, as well. It was a concealed tragedy. They had heard Ginny's details of the attack on the school by the British Minister of Magic. That the intended quarry escaped was luck, as was the escape of the Weasley girl.
They were told of one Colin Creevey being seized, and taken to an unknown location. The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, one of the most respected men in Magic, had been arrested, and sent to Azkaban, which had become a British fief. Some students had been permitted to leave, mostly those from the oldest families, but the others were kept as virtual prisoners, confined to the grounds, and not permitted any uncensored communication. Ministry agents guarded all the entrances and the Forbidden Forest was being patrolled on regular intervals.
The elves made much of Azkaban, and repeatedly asked questions about it. When Galdor had finished asking his questions, he gave a few answers of his own. The Dementors were known to elves. In the common tongue, they were called Barrow Wights, foul wraiths who ate the souls of their victims, who would in turn become wraiths as well. He then made a simple offer. Help them to free the school, and they would destroy the Prison of Azkaban, and take charge of the prisoners.
Discussions continued until nearly nightfall, when an agreement was finally reached. The Republic would indorse the independent action of the Telari Elves. They would prepare themselves to issue statements to all the appropriate governments. Eamon Finn smiled, saying they would make the world groan under the weight of their justification. They would also actively participate in the effort to free the students of Hogwarts.
Their plan was simple. When the Elves launched an attack on the Prison, Representatives of the Irish Government would accompany them as observers. Once Albus Dumbledore was freed, they would approach him about political refuge. IF he agreed, the plan followed thus. Hogwarts, the school and the grounds, would be enfolded, and moved. In its place would be a large grassy field. The only question was where to put the school. Eoman Finn, after overcoming his surprise that such a thing could be done, recommended a very safe, yet very visible place.
That night Winky returned, and Coru (an alias, meaning cunning) came back to the warehouse. He had detailed plans of Hogwarts, given him by the kitchen elves, many of whom, he said, had made a decision. Galdor looked at the house elf, and noticed that he had made his decision as well. It would make for an interesting situation that he hoped to take advantage of.
Ginny happily went to bed rather than stay up to listen to the planning. She had nothing to contribute any more. Her purpose in coming had been to been to guide the elves to the warehouse, and to make the initial contact. She was welcomed to join any meetings, but felt out of place. As a result, she was surprised when she awoke the next morning to find Mr. Finn waiting for her.
"I must talk with you, privately," he said, showing her into a room with two other people, a man and a woman.
"Privately?" Ginny asked.
"Without your friends present." Eamon clarified.
The woman identified herself as Mrs. White, and asked Ginny to verify information for her. Ginny told them her full name, address, date of birth, and such. Then the woman asked more specific questions. Ginny recounted how she had fled the school, and found the elves. "Have they tried to take advantage of you, in any way, or offer anything that could be considered a bribe?"
The question scared Ginny. "No," she answered, then added "Yes. They wanted to know how we used wands in magic, and they gave me this." She showed them her wand. "It has a Kirinki feather as its core."
The quiet man was suddenly startled. "That bird is only found in the land of the Valar," he said, suddenly.
Eamon Finn noted "Mr. Quigley is here as our Tolkien expert. He as likely as not knows more about elves than you do."
"They needed to know," Ginny said, sticking to the subject. "They didn't force me to do anything. They explained their need clearly and honestly, and asked for my help. You could call the wand a bribe. I call it a gift."
"About the boy," Mrs. White said, "How is he?"
"Better," Ginny said, "He still misses his mother, but he is learning to smile again, and he has learned how to swim."
"That is unusual," the woman retorted, "Our interviews with friends of the family clearly showed that the boy had a great fear of water."
Incensed, Ginny replied, "Well, he learned the hard way that sometimes you have to fight your fears."
"I have never known an easy way to learn that lesson," The woman said, with a sad smile, then turned to Eamon Finn and said, "I see no problems."
"What does she mean?" Ginny asked.
"She means that I now have to talk to you as an official member of the Irish Government," Eamon said. "As Director of the newly formed Department of Elvin affairs, I am authorized to inform you that you are recognized as having legal status in the Republic of Ireland, and by the authority of the government, you are to be placed in the care of the Telari Elves of the Grey Havens until such time as you can be returned to your family, or until you reach your majority. Do you have any objections?"
"That's what this was all about?" Ginny said with a laugh. "Why did you have to do all of this?"
"Politics, my dear," the woman answered, "Now, any attack on you is an attack on the Irish Government, and an act of war, if we want to go that far. We will inform the British Government about this, and, hopefully, your parents. Also, you are here legally, and cannot be forced to return without a judicial review. I don't think the British are prepared to explain themselves, yet."
"I'm just a pawn in your game, then," Ginny said.
"I will admit that you are being used as a piece in the game we are playing," Eamon told her with a smile, "but you are definitely not a pawn."
*
"Things move swiftly," Cirdan said, meeting the group when they returned to the Grey Havens. "The Ringbearer has been found, rescued from his enemies, and by all accounts, still has the ring."
"Please," Ginny asked, "How is my brother?"
Cirdan's words were anticlimactic to the look he gave her. That look had told her everything she needed to know. "He was not with the Ringbearer. Your Friends were with him, Hermione Elvellon, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. I hope that is some consolation." Then he had to ask, "What is the problem, Child?"
"You said two things I don't understand?" Ginny said. "Hermione's last name is Granger, and Malfoy is not a friend of anyone."
Cirdan smiled at Ginny's concern, saying he did not know about Malfoy. "All three were found unconscious, and severely wounded. When they awaken, everything will straighten itself out. As far as your friend Hermione, Elvellon is a word in our language which means, Elf Friend. It is a compliment rarely given. Baralas gave it to her in response to her efforts to free them, an effort he admits failed because of the house elves' own ignorance."
Ginny laughed, remembering Hermione's efforts to get everyone to wear S.P.E.W. buttons. She had to explain herself, to everyone's amusement. Then Cirdan became serious. "As humorous as it may have been at the time, Ginny, it did have an effect on Baralas, and we thought his saying such a thing to be hasty. However, one of the party is a half-grown hobbit who claims to be her protector. I was told that he insists on referring to her as The Lady Elvellon. When he was questioned about it, he removed his shirt, revealing many recently healed scars, and would say nothing else."
Galdor started to ask what that meant, but Cirdan stopped him with a motion of his hand. "We will find out all we need to know, soon enough. A meeting has been arranged with the dwarves, to be held in the next week. We will meet in the place of memory to Lost Rivendell, since that is where the Ringbearer is. We must make our plans quickly."
*
The plans for the assault on Azkaban were made. Eamon Finn, and his new assistant, Quigley, became regular visitors to the Havens. "We have some very good news, on several fronts," Finn told the Council of Elves. "On the political front, we have unofficial support from almost every government we dared contact, and official support from at least two governments. We have also received, through unusual sources, a request from the British Government for proof of wrongdoing on the part of any of their ministers. They know what's up with their Ministry of Magic, but they don't have anything they can use."
"And they are asking you to do their work for them," Dal Dagda said in disgust. "The problem is obvious, only they're all too afraid of each other to say anything."
"Please, Sir," The Irish Deputy said, "They are English after all. They pride themselves on their laws, and they insist on 'proper form.' We'll do their dirty work for them, if that is what it takes to set things right."
"Then you will accompany us?" Dal Dagda asked.
"Yes," Finn said, "and not as observers. Those of us who will go, go with the intent to fight."
Dal Dagda smiled, as did several of the elves present. "It is good to have allies amongst the race of men, again. May you make your ancestors proud."
"Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting," Eamon Finn said, hoping his pronunciation was correct.
"You quote the Ringbearer to us," another elf said, "I take that as a compliment."
"I know it was in the book, but I thought it appropriate to our meeting," Eamon said modestly.
"I have not read the book you speak of," the elf said, "I was speaking from memory."
Eamon paled slightly as he suddenly understood more clearly the concept of immortality.
*
Ginny paced and turned in her room on the night of the assault on Azkaban. Too many things ran through her mind. Cathal had come to her room, and fallen asleep on her bed. He was aware that something was going on, although he did not know what. He knew though that he did not want to be alone.
Finally, they began to return, elves and men, bringing what few wounded with them. Ginny rushed out to meet the crowd, and laughed in delight to see Albus Dumbledore.
She ran to him, hugging him as the first familiar sight she had seen since she arrived at the Grey Havens. In his delight and relief, he returned the hug. "It is nice to know that my students are so fond of me, Miss Weasley. Is anyone else here?"
"No, sir," She said, unable to stop smiling, "only Baralas and I. I know Hermione and Harry are safe."
"And Frodo, our hobbit friend?"
"Yes, Sir," Ginny answered, then her face paled. She looked at the wounded who had been brought back. There were only a few. One was Galdor. He was lying on the floor, staring at nothing, his face completely blank.
"What happened?" Ginny asked, as all happiness vanished from her face.
Albus followed her gaze. "He was very brave," the wizard told her. "When the dementors realized what was happening, they started to kill the prisoners. He was one of the few who ran ahead to save as many of us as they could. Dozens of the dementors perished before they encircled him." He looked to see Ginny crying, and added, "He saved the lives of many people, some of whom did deserve saving. Colin was one."
Ginny broke away from Albus's grasp. She ran to her room, sat in a corner, and cried until she fell asleep. When she awoke, she was still on the floor, but with a blanket and pillow. Cathal had snugged himself under her arm, and was sleeping next to her. She kissed him, as she got up, straightened her hair, and went out.
Ginny wandered the halls with no apparent plan, her main thought was simply to walk. It was not her intention, but when she came upon the room where Galdor was lying in a bed, unmoving, she could not help but enter. He had not changed since Ginny first saw him, except to become more pale. The elf who was with him said that it was only a matter of time. Ginny nodded her head, then asked for some time alone, grateful when the elf left.
She stood there watching her dying friend. The men who had met a similar fate were already dead, and could be mourned. But Galdor and his fellow elves, lingered as death came at a slow pace for them.
"You were my first friend when I came here," she said to the dying elf. "I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you. It was just a crush and I had thought I had outgrown them, but you looked so beautiful to me."
She blushed, thinking about what she had said. She remembered how he made it a point to help her when she tried to learn his language. She would show the spells she knew the elves would always grasp it at once, and do it better, then Galdor would always make a comment, or suggest something, to show that what she was doing was important.
"You made me feel special. You even made it a point to embarrass me once, just to see me smile. I liked you for that. You made me your friend, even though it would only be for a little while, for you. I owe you so much. Before I met you, magic was something to learn, spells to cast. You taught me that magic comes from the heart. It isn't the words at all, but the intent. You told me that if I understood what I wanted to do, with a clear mind, I would not need words."
When she had finished speaking, Ginny pulled out her wand. She said nothing and made no gestures, concentrating only on the spell she wished to cast. Her body began to glow in a soft golden light. She placed her hands on Galdor, and the glow spread to his body. The elf watching from the doorway came up and placed a hand near to Ginny. Her face showed her understanding of what the girl was trying to do, and that she did not have enough strength to do it alone.
"Cathal," she called, and the boy, always following Ginny, stuck his head into the room. "Run as fast as you can," She told the boy, "Call everyone you find to this chamber as quickly as possible. We are healing Galdor."
As the boy ran off, shouting already, the elf placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder, replenishing her, as she replenished the injured elf. Ginny barely noticed as the first elves joined in, linking to the healing source. All she knew was that her own life was slipping from her, and then she was being filled with enough strength to continue. At one point she felt the spell reach its completion and raised her hands from the elf's chest. Ginny then noticed at least two dozen elves were with her, and understood that they had helped her succeed. As she sank into a chair in exhaustion, she heard Galdor say something. She would have to ask him what it meant, later.
*
Ginny awoke again, and it was night. Albus Dumbledore was sitting by her bed. Next to him, dozing in a chair was Colin Creevey, looking thinner than she remembered.
"I was hoping you would wake up during our watch," Dumbledore said to her. Looking over at Colin, he added, "I think its time to wake someone else."
Colin stirred at some gentle prodding, and beamed in a wide-awake smile when he saw Ginny. "You look smashing," he said, adding with a smirk "I wish I had my camera."
"How are you, Colin?" she asked, "I heard what happened."
"It wasn't that bad," the boy lied, "besides, I had a very nice gentleman to keep me company, and that DID help. The bad part was at the end, when the dementors began attacking us, but your boyfriend took care of that. He saved my life."
"And mine, I must admit," Dumbledore said, "I would not have left Colin without fighting to help him, and I would not have had the strength to hold out against so many."
"Who's my boyfriend?" Ginny asked.
Colin went red in the face. "I thought you . . . From what I heard . . . They said . . . " His voice trailed off and he looked to the headmaster for help
"It was just gossip we heard," Albus said with a smile, "Colin misunderstood."
"Elves don't gossip," Ginny said strongly, "Colin, what did you hear?"
Grinning without meaning it, He said, "When you healed the elf . . ."
"Galdor IS alive!" Ginny said with excitement, then slid back in embarrassment at her outburst.
Colin smiled, saying, "Yes, you healed him. Remember? But what everyone is saying is that when you healed him he said something, I don't remember what . . . "
"Melethril," Ginny said, "I remember that."
"Then you know," Colin said. He added with a laugh, "You don't know, do you?"
Albus gave Ginny an indulgent smile and asked her if she knew what the word meant. When she said no, he whispered the answer into her ear, restraining his urge to laugh as the girl turned bright red. The word Galdor had uttered upon regaining consciousness meant 'beloved.'
"That can't be true," Ginny said, wishing it was, then berating herself for giving in to her fantasies. "He was grateful for my saving his life. That's all." She said the last part, knowing it was the truth. Elves do not fall in love with fifteen-year-old girls.
*
"Are you serious?" Cirdan asked his friend.
"You know that I am," Galdor said, "otherwise we would not be having this conversation. If she chooses, I will make the choice to be with her. The fact that she healed me, and showed us how to heal the others, is the proof I needed to be sure."
"She will not believe you," Cirdan told his friend, "She does love you, but as a child, and she knows this. She will not accept you, because she healed you. She will believe that your offer is misplaced."
"Perhaps," Galdor replied, "But there is time, and time enough. She is still too young in her culture to make such a choice, and the children of man do change. I will stand by my choice, however, because I do know her heart, and I know her heart will convince her mind."
"If you are right. We will know soon enough," Cirdan said. "You will take her to the ship, then."
"It has been arranged. The boy, Cathal, will come with us as well. If the fishing boats seek to follow, we will return the boy to them. They know of us as spirits. If they wish to know of us as flesh, the boy will be their guide."
"I will see you, then, at the appointed time," Cirdan said. "We will discover if we can still perform great magic."
*
"Sean. Michael. Wake up," the old man shouted to his sons, "the ghost ship is coming out of the bay."
The two boys, both in their forties, woke their own sons, and they ran to the ship to prepare to sail. Other ships owned by their neighbors were also being readied. To follow the ghost ship always meant good fishing.
Faster then you would have thought, Sean was steering his father's boat out of the harbor, smiling that they were the first to leave port. His nephew, Little Sean, brought him some coffee, and stood to watch the ghost ship. At eighteen, he was the youngest of the crew, with three years experience under his belt.
"It's turning," Little Sean said.
Sean looked up and saw he was right. The ghost ship had turned, and was steering a course toward his own boat. He cut back on the engines, and let her drift, waiting for what would happen next. The boats behind him began to slow as well, and Sean noticed most of the crew blessing themselves, and heard muttered prayers around him.
The ghost ship came along side, and a strange man with glowing hair hailed his crew. Leaving his nephew at the helm, he went to the port side to greet this man.
"We ask pardon," the strange man said. "We have a child of your race, an orphaned boy, and we need to find someone to care for him. Can you be of help?"
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Sean muttered in disbelief, "Ye said our race. If ye don't mind my being so bold, what race are ye."
The strange man smiled and said, "Your fathers knew us as the people of Danaan. We are commonly called elves, by most of the race of men in this age. I am Dal Dagda."
Sean blessed himself. The Tuatha de Danaan were here in front of him, with Dagda, himself, as captain of the ship. "My lord," he said carefully, "We do remember you, Sir, and your people, and with respect. We did not know it was you that we followed."
"Thank you," Dal Dagda said, "It has been a great many years since I have talked to men. I am happy that your memories are so long. But I must ask, will you help us with the child."
Cathal walked up to Dal Dagda, nervous and trying to be brave. Sean looked at the lad and asked. "Is that Cathal Shea, the one who went missing last month?"
"He has been in our care, since his mother went away," Dal Dagda said, noting that every man on the boat blessed himself on hearing that. These would be good people, if they would agree.
"I'll have to let the boy decide," Sean said, then turned to Cathal. "It's a sailor's life, lad, if ye come with me. And it's a hard life too. The sea can be very unforgiving to a careless man. But ye'll live good, and eat well, and ye'll have family to count on."
Sean couldn't help notice how the boy's eyes lit up when he mentioned being a sailor. The boy had made his decision, then and there. Then the boy asked a question that surprised and delighted him: "Will I have time to visit my friends?"
"Ye will, lad. We'll make time if we have to," Sean said. The boy said a few quick goodbyes, and was passed over along with his belongings.
"I'm your Da now, Cathal, if you like?" Sean told the boy as he held him.
Cathal replied with a grin, "if you like . . . Da."
"Excuse me," called a new voice from the elven ship, "I am Eamon Finn, with the government. I need to know the boy's new last name."
"MacManus," Sean called out.
"And I've a question before ye leave," the old man called out, pushing his son, and new grandson, aside, "It's about the fishing."
The elves gave him the coordinates, and the ship sailed off. As Cathal stood with the man who would be his father, Little Sean asked the boy about the red-haired girl that he saw. He was delighted to find out she was human, and only fifteen, but then Cathal told him she was taken. When the boats returned to the harbor in the morning, their holds were bulging.
*
"Will Cathal be happy?" Ginny asked.
"I think he is happy already," Albus told her, "Are you happy?"
"About what," Ginny asked, "You and Colin are safe. The British government is getting rid of Cornelius Fudge. I'm on my way to see Harry and Hermione. And, on top of everything else, I have someone who says he cares about me. I should be happy."
"It is your brother," Albus said. "We are trying to find him, and Dennis Creevey, but we are having problems. They appear to be hidden from us, almost as though they had a secret keeper. We thought we had found a lead on Dennis, but it was a blond boy with the same first name."
"I'm sorry to here that," Ginny said.
"You shouldn't," the headmaster told her, "The person who checked on the boy contacted the ministry. Had it been Dennis, he would have been reunited with his brother already."
"I remember when I was a little girl," Ginny said, "and I was frightened. My mom would give me a big hug, and we would talk about what scared me. Then, everything would be fine, again."
Ginny looked up when she heard Professor Dumbledore sigh. "I remember when I was a little boy, Miss Weasley. It was amazing what a hug, and a few words could do. I think the worst part of my childhood was when I realized that a hug would not banish my fears anymore."
They watched the stars for a while, then Albus excused himself to go to bed. "Are you coming?" he asked, "You did not sleep very much last night."
"I'm fine," Ginny said, "I'm just not tired, yet. There's too much excitement. I'll sleep for a week after tomorrow."
Albus nodded, and went to his bed. Ginny had not slept a full night since she had healed Galdor. She had barely slept four hours the night before. He wasn't worried, but he was concerned. She was young and a lot of things had happened to her in a short time. He glanced back and saw that Galdor had taken his place. "She shares his glow," Albus thought as he watched them. A sudden though struck him as he watched the two of them, and he smiled to himself. "They will make an interesting couple," he mused as he lay down. He fell asleep, smiling, and dreamed of elves and mothers' hugs.