Title: Princess of Mirkwood
Author: Zannna
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I *sniffle* do not own LOTR, the characters, or the plot. Middle Earth was the brilliant brain child of none other than the king of fantasy JRR Tolkien. I also do not own Harry Potter, the characters, or the plot. All that is Harry Potter belongs to the amazing JK Rowling. I do however, own Lithariel, Mithelena, and Vialnen. Please do not use them without permission. ^_^
AN: Hi! So, I like changed the end of chapter four twice. I didn't mean to, but after I changed it the first time, my muse got *really* angry and beat me over the head for hours. Finally, after trying to get to sleep for a really long time, and not being able to do to the constant bludgeoning, I decided to scrap the new idea, and go back to my original inspiration. Thus I changed the end of chapter four twice. I am going to post the new ending when I post this chapter so, please go back and read from the carriage ride on. Thanks!
Oh, and by the by thank you to my one and only reviewer for the last chapter Vana Everyoung.
Chapter 5
Snape took Lithariel to a side door to enter The Great Hall. He grasped the doorknob, and turned it opening the door for Lithariel. She was led into the Hall, all thought was pushed away as she took in the scene before her. The ceiling looked as though it were the night sky, complete with stars and the moon. There were floating candles above all the tables, and banners were hanging from the ceiling with the house crests on them above their respective tables, and one above the front table with the Hogwarts crest. There were hundreds of mortal children sitting at four long tables, and the Professors were sitting at the head table at the front of the Hall.
Snape led Lithariel to a chair that sat behind, and to the left of the head table facing the audience. She thanked him, and sat down regally with her ankles crossed beneath her chair, and her hands folded in her lap. The rest of the students, except for the first years, were pouring in the double doors at the opposite end of The Great Hall. It was then that Lithariel noticed something rather odd, most of the male students, and some of the female students, started staring at her the minute they caught sight of her.
As they continued to stare, Lithariel looked towards the head table. She saw Hagrid come in , and take a seat. She grinned at the memory of the discussion that she, Dumbledore, and Snape had had about how Hagrid couldn't keep a secret 'to save his life' or something to that effect. It was consequently decided that Dumbledore would put a spell on Hagrid. Hagrid couldn't communicate in any way to any one about Lithariel, except Lithariel herself. The only thing that he could say about her to any one else is that she was a sixth year transferring from Beuxbattons.
Lithariel looked towards the double doors at the other end of the Hall as they opened, and all the first years came flooding in. She didn't pay much attention to the sorting ceremony because she was looking around the Hall watching all the people that were staring at her. It was making her mildly nervous. And an Elf hardly ever gets nervous, so that's saying something.
Lithariel was brought out of her daydreaming when Dumbledore stood up, and started talking. "We have one more student to sort before we can eat. She is a sixth year transferring from Beuxbattons. May I introduce Lithariel Macleod." he said, and made an elegant flourish to where Lithariel was seated.
Lithariel stood, and gave her best royal curtsy to the crowd. She then walked slowly forward, and sat on the stool beside where Professor McGonagall was standing. Professor McGonagall then put the Sorting Hat on her head. Lithariel didn't hear anything for a long time she just sat there in the silence. She didn't really want to be in any house more than another, but she would rather not be in Slytherin. Everyone at the Slytherin table gave her a weird feeling. One she didn't like. The silence was broken when a small voice whispered in her ear, " You seem familiar. Very familiar. Hmmmm. Let me think..... Oh yes. Yes I remember now. Are you by any chance related to Legolas Greenleaf my dear?"
Lithariel was truly baffled by this, but answered all the same. "Yes he was my grandfather. How did you know?" she thought back at the hat.
"He was part of The Fellowship of the Ring, and so was I."
Lithariel closed her eyes so that she could concentrate better on what the hat was saying. She then asked "What in the name of the Valar are you talking about?"
"No need to get testy. Did you by any chance know Gandalf the Grey? Or White it really depends on when you knew him."
"I have never met him, he sailed West before I was born. But I know of him. I have heard many tales of the great Mithrandir. Why?"
"I was his hat." said the hat in a very dignified tone. Then his voice went fairly quiet, and sheepish as he continued, "Well until he changed from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White. I was greatly offended when he abandoned me for that arrogant, egotistical, pompous white hat."
Now Lithariel understood, and actually felt a little bit of pity for the poor thing. She wondered how he went from being Mithrandir's hat to being the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, but thought better of asking. The hat seemed awfully chagrined about the whole thing.
"I'm sorry about what happened to you, but I rather need to be sorted now." thought Lithariel to the hat politely.
"Well, since you are Legolas' granddaughter, and seemed to have inherited his courage and honor there is only one place for you. It was nice to meet you Lithariel."
"The pleasure was mine."
The hat didn't reply to her, instead he screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Cheers went up from the Gryffindor table, and groans came from the males at all the rest. Professor McGonagall removed the hat, and Lithariel stood and walked uncertainly towards her new house's table. She spotted Hermione, and walked towards her.
"May I sit with you Miss Granger?" Lithariel asked cordially.
"Just Hermione is fine, and of coarse you may." Hermione replied, as she scooted over to make room for Lithariel.
Lithariel sat down, and Dumbledore announced the beginning of the feast. Lithariel looked down the table past Hermione, and noticed that Ron, Harry, and the twins were talking in hushed voices in between mouthfuls of food.
"I wonder what they are up to?" Lithariel said quietly.
"Oh, they're planning some sort of big ruse for Malfoy. That's why they went to talk to Fred and George on the train, and why I didn't go with them." answered Hermione even though Lithariel's question wasn't really directed at anyone. "I don't plan to be anywhere near them when this goes down."
"That seems a wise decision." said Lithariel, although she did not know who 'Malfoy' was.
* * *
The rest of dinner consisted of polite chit-chat, and Hermione explaining some critical things that you really should know if you planned on attending Hogwarts. Lithariel thought the food was remarkably good considering. She had two very flavorful rolls, a slice of 'Roast Beef' which was good if very mild tasting compared to the meat she normally had, i.e. Venison, Pheasant, Hare, Wild Boar etc., and something called 'Mashed Potatoes'. She was encouraged to try the 'Pumpkin Juice' and did, but decided that she totally and unequivocally detested it. She had water instead, and for desert some Apple Pie.
After dinner they left The Great Hall they walked through many halls, and winding staircases until they came to a portrait of a well endowed lady. One of the twins, George?, went up to the portrait and said in a low voice "Unicorn nose hair." The portrait swung open to admit them. Lithariel lifted one eyebrow in amusement at the password, and walked through the portrait hole.
"I'll show you to the sixth year dorm" said Hermione.
"I thank you" replied Lithariel.
When they reached the sixth year dorms they noticed that there were no empty beds. "That's odd" said Hermione. They walked back outside the door, and saw two girls rushing up
to them.
"Partivi, Lavender what is it?" asked Hermione.
"There's an extra bed in the fifth year dorm, I think that Lithariel is supposed to bunk with us!" said Partivi excitedly.
And sure enough as they entered the fifth year dorm they saw a new bed on the far end next to the window. Lithariel saw her trunk at the foot of the bed, and smiled. 'Dumbledore must have thought it better for me to be in the less crowded fifth year dorm next to a window, than in the sixth year dorm without one near by.' thought Lithariel.
"That is my trunk, I guess I am going to bunk with you." said Lithariel to Hermione, Partivi, and Lavender. Lithariel was beginning to be able to pick up fairly easily on some of the 'slang'. Thus the reason she said 'bunk'.
"Well then, let me introduce you. Lithariel this is Partivi Patil, and Lavender Brown. Partivi, Lavender this is Lithariel Macleod." said Hermione.
They all talked while they got ready for bed, and Hermione introduced the rest of the fifth year girls as they came in, and some of them joined in on the conversation. Lithariel climbed into her four-poster, and pulled the curtains at the end of her bed, and on the left side of her bed, shut. She left the ones on the right side of her bed open so that she feel the moonlight.
When she was fairly certain that all of the other girls were asleep, she got out of bed, put on her slippers, and her cloak, which she had fished out from the bottom of her trunk. She walked stealthily, as only an elf could, following the shadows so as not to be seen. She left Gryffindor tower, and ghosted through the school, and out the front doors. She quietly called to Vialnen, and moments later she was riding towards Mirkwood.
When she got there she ran directly to her room, and her weapons chest. She opened it, and got out the weapons roll she used when she moved her weapons. She unrolled the long strip of leather across her bed. It was about four feet wide, and six feet long, with special straps for each of her weapons. She put her sword, her grandfathers daggers, her throwing daggers, her quiver of arrows, and a few other killing and defense devices, in their respective places. She then folded the edges over approximately six inches towards the middle on each side, and rolled the weapons bundle. She tied it shut with the attached leather straps. She got out her longbow and laid it beside her now packed weapons, and reached back into the trunk to get out several more strings for it. She put them in the bottom of a pack.
Lithariel went into her bathing chamber, and got some of her soaps, lotions, and conditioners. This particular batch she had made 200 years earlier, and smelled of Lavender, and other various oils she had in her cellar. She took them back into her sleeping chamber, and put them in the pack with the strings for her longbow. She then got her mirror, brush, and comb set she got from her Grandmother, who got them from her home in Lothlorien, and placed those in her pack as well. She had several sets, but this one was her favorite.
She walked over to her dresser, and got out several sleeping gowns, a plain close fitting tunic, a pair of tight leather trousers, and some things for her hair. She brought the tunic, and trousers just in case of an emergency in which she would need to be able to fight, and move more freely. As for the hair things she got many different sizes, and lengths of leather ties; And myriad of various clips, barrettes, and decorations. She set these things on her bed, and then went over to her wardrobe. She got out two gowns, one very elegant, one less so but still formal. When she and Snape had been in Diagon Alley she had looked at several pairs of dress robes, and subsequently decided that she would just use one of her gowns, and one of her cloaks for hers. On the way back to her bed she selected two cloaks. One to match each of the dresses, and several pairs of slippers.
Lithariel put all of this into her pack then walked over to her balcony, and sat down on a bench. She knew she should do this, that it would help her learn many new things, but she was still slightly apprehensive. Mithelena came bounding into the room, and rushed over to her master, and best friend.
Lithariel chuckled softly. "Hello Lena. It is good to see you as well." she said softly, in elvish, to her wolf who's tail was gyrating wildly. Lithariel kissed Lena on the nose, and rubbed her head, ears, and neck affectionately. Mithelena kissed (AN: for those of you who don't have dogs, when I say 'kissed' in relation to anything K-9 it means the same thing as 'licked') Lithariel on the cheek. "I love you too Milady," said Lithariel "but I must now return to the school." Mithelena wined softly. "I know my friend. I will call you if I need you. And remember, if you need anything you can go to Hagrid. You and Vialnen both. He will groom you, and help you with any problems you might have. He can also come and get me if needs be." Lithariel kissed Lena on the cheek as she got up.
Lithariel walked back over to her bed, and picked up her pack, bow, and bundle of weapons. She walked back down to Vialnen, and strapped the leather bundle, and her bow to her faithful horse. She then shouldered her pack, and mounted. Vialnen had her back to the castle in a matter of minutes. Lithariel dismounted, took off her pack, strapped her weapons and bow to her back. She turned to Vialnen. "I thank you." said Lithariel as she stroked her strong neck.
Lithariel picked up her pack, and made her way back to her dorm. She put her bundle of weapons in the false bottom of her trunk, along with the extra strings for her bow. As for the longbow itself she magically stuck it to the bottom of her bed, out of sight, but in easy reach. She finished unpacking the rest of her things. She put her soap etc. into her night stand to the right of her bed, and she put her brush and mirror set on top.
Lithariel sighed, and took off her cloak and slippers. As she slid back under the covers she thought 'I better get some rest, for tomorrow is sure to be a big day'
* * *