Chapter 7 - The Gorsedd Wars
Harry awoke and coughed. He was lying on a cold stone floor and the air smelled stale and heavy. His body ached and he was stiff from having been sprawled on the hard surface. For a few moments he lay still and listened for signs of trouble. There were confusing noises echoing from nearby of hammers, whips and screams. Harry had no way of knowing but he was actually hearing the same noises that Block and Hagrid could hear at the far side of the cavern. He slowly lifted himself off the floor noticing that someone had placed an old rough blanket over him. That seemed odd.
He sat up and as his eyes became accustomed to the dim light, he took in his surroundings. He was in a cave with a smooth paved stone floor and an arched roof that was cut from the natural stone. At the widest end of the cave there was a gate of heavy iron bars and in the other direction the cave became smaller and smaller until the roof met the floor. To one side, there was a pile of blankets and rags but other than that, there was nothing else in the cave. Harry lifted himself up onto his feet. He was unsteady at first and every part of his body seemed to be sore. He shuffled rather than walked over to the iron bars. The bars were almost as thick as his wrist and were set close to one another. As soon as he took hold of the bars, he realized that they were solid. He pulled and pushed but there was no hint of movement. He instinctively reached for his wand which he found tucked into his belt as normal. He was surprised to find it still there however. If he had been captured then surely they would have taken his wand from him.
Without wasting any time Harry pulled out his wand and cast Alohamora to open the gate.
Nothing happened. It wasn't that the spell had not worked - he hadn't managed to cast a spell at all. He looked closely at the wand to confirm that it was his and it was. He tried again without any result. He tried other basic spells and none of them worked. He could not understand this and it was a great shock to find that he couldn't cast any magic. Over the past year at Hogwarts he had mastered his magical powers to a considerable degree and the loss of that power cut him deep.
He surveyed the passage beyond the bars and noted that other openings lead off the main walkway. Each opening had a barred gate but in most cases the gate was open and in many of the other caves there were ancient looking wooden barrels sitting side by side.
Harry heard a noise from the passage - there was someone coming. He hobbled back into his cave and waited in the shadows. The noise grew louder and a troll came into view rolling one of the barrels. The troll looked fully-grown and more like the troll that Harry, Ron and Hermione had encountered at Hogwarts than young Block who Harry had befriended. Harry decided to keep quiet and observe. The troll soon departed having delivered its barrel.
Harry's head spun with dizziness. He was imprisoned alone and in the hands of someone evil. His magical powers had gone and he felt extremely weak. He realized that he needed to sit down again.
Harry staggered across the small cave to the blankets and crawled under the topmost ones.
The blankets beneath him suddenly came to life. Harry jumped up in alarm and ran as best he could to the barred entrance. He started back at the pile as a short stocky creature emerged. The first thing that Harry noticed was a lot of hair - even more than Hagrid. The creature had masses of ginger hair including a long beard.
'Who's that?' said a low voice aggressively, 'what are you doing in my house - be off with you - clear off or I'll have ye oot with the toe of me boot'.
Harry noticed that the figure wasn't wearing any boots and found the short fellow slightly amusing. The hairy figure unexpectedly started stalking round the cave occasionally peering intently into the shadowy corners and muttering things like 'can't be too careful' and 'oh dear! Tut-tut.very dusty.'
Then he marched up to Harry and stamped to a halt.
'Murdo MacDonald reporting that all equipment present and correct and ready for testing Sir,' and gave Harry a bright stare.
Harry was bemused and unsure what to do next so he simply said, 'er.thank you.'
Murdo MacDonald spread his feet slightly and relaxed.
'My name's Harry, Harry Potter,' said Harry and he held out his hand.
The dwarf shook Harry's hand and said, 'pleased to have you back Sir - it's been a long time.'
'I don't think we've met' replied Harry.
'I know that!' barked Murdo, 'do you think I'm mad? One cog short of a cuckoo clock? Not firing on all cylinders? One pie short of a picnic?'
Harry laughed, 'no, no, I'm sure you're as sane as the next person.'
'Well that's alright then' snapped Murdo.
Murdo looked Harry up and down and said, 'you look like you've been in a bit of dust up.'
Harry looked himself up and down and realised that he was a bit of a mess. There were grazes on his arms and his clothes were torn in several places as a result of his adventures over the past few days.
'When did I get here?' asked Harry.
'Well, it was a wee while ago - maybe a day and a bit since they brought you in' said Murdo.
Harry suddenly recalled his capture and the dragons, 'who, or what, brought me here?'
'Well it was them big trolls - two of them that I don't like the look of and the man in the cloak. He came with them but he didn't stay long.'
Gradually Murdo was becoming more calm and lucid as the conversation continued.
'How long have you been here?' asked Harry.
'Hmm. very good question,' said Murdo, 'I've been here' he waved his arms wildly in a wide arc, 'for scores of years but I've been here,' and he pointed into the cave, 'for about four weeks. They caught me you see - there I was looking after the old master's things - keeping em all well oiled and ready to go - and bosh! They got me. Like a rat in a sack' said the dwarf with a fierce look in his eyes. 'Wait 'til I get out of here and the boss returns. Then they'll wish they'd stayed clear of the mines of Sca Fell Pike.'
Harry got the impression that the dwarf was slipping back into madness so he tried to keep him thinking about simple things, 'so, you're a dwarf - I didn't know there were dwarfs left in these parts.'
Murdo laughed, 'Ha! Hahaha! I'm the last - the others went but Murdo stayed and glad he was. King of the mountain am I and Campbell was glad of me help. He should be back soon.'
But then after a moments reflection he said sadly, 'oh..no, he's gone.'
Murdo then started whistling to himself and seemed to drift off into his own thoughts.
Harry began to feel very unsteady again. 'Do you mind if I take some of these blankets?' asked Harry, 'I don't feel well. I could do with a rest.'
'Make yourself at home. Share and share alike. Chocks away. Start engines. Full throttle,' answered Murdo and he bowed and waved Harry towards the blankets.
Harry rolled into the bed and passed quickly into a deep and troubled sleep. While he slept visions drifted into focus in his mind......
At first, he was standing in his cell staring across at the barrels stacked on the other side of the tunnel. Then, in his dream, he floated closer to them and he was suddenly sucked into one of the barrels.
For a moment it was dark then images started to form - violent scenes of massed armies. At first the images were fleeting and confused but soon they coalesced into a clear picture of war and fury and destruction on a huge scale. This wasn't like a normal dream however. It seemed as if Harry was present, able to observe, but not involved. Not actually able to feel anything of his surroundings but he could see and hear.
He stood among an army that was gathered in a huge circle comprised of giants, dwarves, men, horses, chariots, drums and tents and carts. There were makeshift barricades and Harry stood among a small group in the centre of the throng. The atmosphere was grim and around him were what seemed to be the elders of the various groups - a dwarf clad in leather and iron, a giant with a brown tunic and cloak, several wizards and witches. All looked weary and bedraggled. At the centre of the group a thin and frail wizard stood supporting himself on his staff. Only his keen blue eyes betrayed an inner strength that shone fiercely as he spoke to all those around him. He started to talk; 'soon now, the Gorsedd will fall upon us. We must hold our ground until noon when the sun reaches it highest point we can then unleash the power of the henge and smite our enemy. All of you must understand that we cannot hope to prevail - they outnumber us by a ten to one and everyone of us they kill increases the power of their twisted form of magic. Our only hope is to lure them onto this field and use the henge to destroy everything. I must remind you that if they take the stones before mid-day then it is they who will be able to harness the power of this place and they will become invincible and darkness will fall over this world. Go now and muster what is left of your armies - if we win this day our ancestors will live in peace free from the Gorsedd and their slavery and sacrifices. It all now depends on us. Go now brothers and sisters.'
The gathering departed and each returned to their kind offering words of encouragement. The army began to stand to the barricades in silence.
The midmorning sunshine warmed the field and birds looped and darted in the warm summer breezes. A low drum beat sounded slowly from beyond the horizon. It appeared to be coming from all sides then, all around, the horizon was filled with a massed army.
'Here they come!' shouted the old wizard and horns sounded in the small camp.
They were surrounded by the advancing hoards and dragons appeared above their foe carrying dragon riders of the Gorsedd
The Gorsedd army stopped its slow advance.
There was a moment of absolute silence then a single burning arrow was sent forth from the attacking army and on that signal they charged. Immediately the wizards and witches around the henge with Harry began to cast spells towards the oncoming army. All manner of spells were being cast, green, blue, yellow and red bursts of light sprang from their wands and then the dwarves and giants charged forwards using non-magic weapons such as bows and arrows and spears and axes. The defenders wore blue robes and carried flags and banners showing a blue bird on a white background. It appeared that this army was fighting a desperate last stand against an evil army.
They were gathered about a circle of huge standing stones that was made up of upright columns with monoliths laid across their tops spanning each to form two concentric circles. The stones were so perfectly finished as to reflect the battle scene around them in their mirrored finish.
The foe that poured in on all sides of the battlefield was a vision that left Harry amazed and appalled. An army of white haired people with red cloaks and glowing red eyes fought with wands and staffs. Some rode on dragons and the majority of them ran on foot. There were so many of them that they surrounded and engulfed the other much smaller rag-tag army. The defenders fought valiantly and for a short time they held their ground but the Gorsedd were too strong and they were driven by a mad fury - desperately striving to reach the stone circle for the rising sun was almost at its highest. The shadows cast by the standing stones were now very short - very soon it would be mid-day. There were but a few of the smaller army left defending the standing stones and they fell back into an ever tighter circle until at last they were using the outer ring of stones as a last barricade.
'Stand fast! Stand fast!' cried the frail old wizard in a booming voice of amazing power. The few remnants of his army fought with fury and desperation - there was only a matter of moments to go.
At last, the old wizard stood atop an altar in the centre of the circle. He raised his staff skywards and yelled words that Harry could hear plainly over the battle, 'OMEGA RECANTO! PORTEN INCENDIO! OMEGA RECANTO! PORTEN INCENDI! MORTE - MORTE - MORTE!'
About him, the air started to swirl and twirl. His army turned and watched and all let out a mighty cheer - this was the end for them but they had won. Nothing could stop the power that they had now unleashed. The wind howled ever more violently - quickly the nearest including the old wizard and the remains of his army were sucked up into the barrel of a whirlwind and were carried skywards. The nearest of the foes in white and their dragons followed. The wind grew stronger and soon the whole battlefield was being sucked into its power. The Gorsedd turned to flee but they could not. Both armies were torn from the ground and disappeared into the hurricane and all became mixed in a spinning blur of red and white and blue and black. Finally, the storm reached a huge crescendo. Harry stood amongst it, untouched but covering his ears. Suddenly the storm imploded in on itself and there was a mighty explosion of light and power and then silence.
Harry was completely alone. The field was empty apart from a few of the standing stones that had not fallen as both armies had disappeared. Harry registered in his dream that he was seeing stone-henge roughly as it was in modern-day picture books. The remnants of the smaller army had sacrificed itself using some massively destructive magic to end the battle. The air was still and from the sky thick black ash started to fall settling all over the land. Harry held out his hand but the ash simply passed straight through him. He was there in spirit only.
Finally people arrived and using brooms, shovels or their hands began scooping the ash into barrels. They wept as they worked and tears streaked their ash-blackened faces. Meticulous care was taken to clear all of the ash. They filled barrels, which were sealed and carted away. As the carts disappeared over the horizon swooping flocks of bluebirds circled and looped over the field.
Harry awoke and sat up with his eyes staring wide - for some reason he to was crying and there were tears on his cheeks. He wiped his eyes and peered through the bars across into the cave opposite from where he was imprisoned. The barrels sitting there were the same that he had seen in his dream. The spell that he had heard was amazingly powerful and destructive - such power even Voldemort could not have unleashed during his reign of terror.
Harry somehow knew that his dream wasn't simply the random creation of his imagination and subconscious. He had recalled something real from long ago - the final moments of some terrible war between good and evil that had culminated with the destruction of both armies. Harry knew now that the barrels contained the residue of the battle long ago. The reason for collecting the ash was unclear and Harry had no idea why the barrels could be at all important now but he realized that the barrels must be part of Harbaxen's plans - in what way though he couldn't begin to understand.
Harry awoke and coughed. He was lying on a cold stone floor and the air smelled stale and heavy. His body ached and he was stiff from having been sprawled on the hard surface. For a few moments he lay still and listened for signs of trouble. There were confusing noises echoing from nearby of hammers, whips and screams. Harry had no way of knowing but he was actually hearing the same noises that Block and Hagrid could hear at the far side of the cavern. He slowly lifted himself off the floor noticing that someone had placed an old rough blanket over him. That seemed odd.
He sat up and as his eyes became accustomed to the dim light, he took in his surroundings. He was in a cave with a smooth paved stone floor and an arched roof that was cut from the natural stone. At the widest end of the cave there was a gate of heavy iron bars and in the other direction the cave became smaller and smaller until the roof met the floor. To one side, there was a pile of blankets and rags but other than that, there was nothing else in the cave. Harry lifted himself up onto his feet. He was unsteady at first and every part of his body seemed to be sore. He shuffled rather than walked over to the iron bars. The bars were almost as thick as his wrist and were set close to one another. As soon as he took hold of the bars, he realized that they were solid. He pulled and pushed but there was no hint of movement. He instinctively reached for his wand which he found tucked into his belt as normal. He was surprised to find it still there however. If he had been captured then surely they would have taken his wand from him.
Without wasting any time Harry pulled out his wand and cast Alohamora to open the gate.
Nothing happened. It wasn't that the spell had not worked - he hadn't managed to cast a spell at all. He looked closely at the wand to confirm that it was his and it was. He tried again without any result. He tried other basic spells and none of them worked. He could not understand this and it was a great shock to find that he couldn't cast any magic. Over the past year at Hogwarts he had mastered his magical powers to a considerable degree and the loss of that power cut him deep.
He surveyed the passage beyond the bars and noted that other openings lead off the main walkway. Each opening had a barred gate but in most cases the gate was open and in many of the other caves there were ancient looking wooden barrels sitting side by side.
Harry heard a noise from the passage - there was someone coming. He hobbled back into his cave and waited in the shadows. The noise grew louder and a troll came into view rolling one of the barrels. The troll looked fully-grown and more like the troll that Harry, Ron and Hermione had encountered at Hogwarts than young Block who Harry had befriended. Harry decided to keep quiet and observe. The troll soon departed having delivered its barrel.
Harry's head spun with dizziness. He was imprisoned alone and in the hands of someone evil. His magical powers had gone and he felt extremely weak. He realized that he needed to sit down again.
Harry staggered across the small cave to the blankets and crawled under the topmost ones.
The blankets beneath him suddenly came to life. Harry jumped up in alarm and ran as best he could to the barred entrance. He started back at the pile as a short stocky creature emerged. The first thing that Harry noticed was a lot of hair - even more than Hagrid. The creature had masses of ginger hair including a long beard.
'Who's that?' said a low voice aggressively, 'what are you doing in my house - be off with you - clear off or I'll have ye oot with the toe of me boot'.
Harry noticed that the figure wasn't wearing any boots and found the short fellow slightly amusing. The hairy figure unexpectedly started stalking round the cave occasionally peering intently into the shadowy corners and muttering things like 'can't be too careful' and 'oh dear! Tut-tut.very dusty.'
Then he marched up to Harry and stamped to a halt.
'Murdo MacDonald reporting that all equipment present and correct and ready for testing Sir,' and gave Harry a bright stare.
Harry was bemused and unsure what to do next so he simply said, 'er.thank you.'
Murdo MacDonald spread his feet slightly and relaxed.
'My name's Harry, Harry Potter,' said Harry and he held out his hand.
The dwarf shook Harry's hand and said, 'pleased to have you back Sir - it's been a long time.'
'I don't think we've met' replied Harry.
'I know that!' barked Murdo, 'do you think I'm mad? One cog short of a cuckoo clock? Not firing on all cylinders? One pie short of a picnic?'
Harry laughed, 'no, no, I'm sure you're as sane as the next person.'
'Well that's alright then' snapped Murdo.
Murdo looked Harry up and down and said, 'you look like you've been in a bit of dust up.'
Harry looked himself up and down and realised that he was a bit of a mess. There were grazes on his arms and his clothes were torn in several places as a result of his adventures over the past few days.
'When did I get here?' asked Harry.
'Well, it was a wee while ago - maybe a day and a bit since they brought you in' said Murdo.
Harry suddenly recalled his capture and the dragons, 'who, or what, brought me here?'
'Well it was them big trolls - two of them that I don't like the look of and the man in the cloak. He came with them but he didn't stay long.'
Gradually Murdo was becoming more calm and lucid as the conversation continued.
'How long have you been here?' asked Harry.
'Hmm. very good question,' said Murdo, 'I've been here' he waved his arms wildly in a wide arc, 'for scores of years but I've been here,' and he pointed into the cave, 'for about four weeks. They caught me you see - there I was looking after the old master's things - keeping em all well oiled and ready to go - and bosh! They got me. Like a rat in a sack' said the dwarf with a fierce look in his eyes. 'Wait 'til I get out of here and the boss returns. Then they'll wish they'd stayed clear of the mines of Sca Fell Pike.'
Harry got the impression that the dwarf was slipping back into madness so he tried to keep him thinking about simple things, 'so, you're a dwarf - I didn't know there were dwarfs left in these parts.'
Murdo laughed, 'Ha! Hahaha! I'm the last - the others went but Murdo stayed and glad he was. King of the mountain am I and Campbell was glad of me help. He should be back soon.'
But then after a moments reflection he said sadly, 'oh..no, he's gone.'
Murdo then started whistling to himself and seemed to drift off into his own thoughts.
Harry began to feel very unsteady again. 'Do you mind if I take some of these blankets?' asked Harry, 'I don't feel well. I could do with a rest.'
'Make yourself at home. Share and share alike. Chocks away. Start engines. Full throttle,' answered Murdo and he bowed and waved Harry towards the blankets.
Harry rolled into the bed and passed quickly into a deep and troubled sleep. While he slept visions drifted into focus in his mind......
At first, he was standing in his cell staring across at the barrels stacked on the other side of the tunnel. Then, in his dream, he floated closer to them and he was suddenly sucked into one of the barrels.
For a moment it was dark then images started to form - violent scenes of massed armies. At first the images were fleeting and confused but soon they coalesced into a clear picture of war and fury and destruction on a huge scale. This wasn't like a normal dream however. It seemed as if Harry was present, able to observe, but not involved. Not actually able to feel anything of his surroundings but he could see and hear.
He stood among an army that was gathered in a huge circle comprised of giants, dwarves, men, horses, chariots, drums and tents and carts. There were makeshift barricades and Harry stood among a small group in the centre of the throng. The atmosphere was grim and around him were what seemed to be the elders of the various groups - a dwarf clad in leather and iron, a giant with a brown tunic and cloak, several wizards and witches. All looked weary and bedraggled. At the centre of the group a thin and frail wizard stood supporting himself on his staff. Only his keen blue eyes betrayed an inner strength that shone fiercely as he spoke to all those around him. He started to talk; 'soon now, the Gorsedd will fall upon us. We must hold our ground until noon when the sun reaches it highest point we can then unleash the power of the henge and smite our enemy. All of you must understand that we cannot hope to prevail - they outnumber us by a ten to one and everyone of us they kill increases the power of their twisted form of magic. Our only hope is to lure them onto this field and use the henge to destroy everything. I must remind you that if they take the stones before mid-day then it is they who will be able to harness the power of this place and they will become invincible and darkness will fall over this world. Go now and muster what is left of your armies - if we win this day our ancestors will live in peace free from the Gorsedd and their slavery and sacrifices. It all now depends on us. Go now brothers and sisters.'
The gathering departed and each returned to their kind offering words of encouragement. The army began to stand to the barricades in silence.
The midmorning sunshine warmed the field and birds looped and darted in the warm summer breezes. A low drum beat sounded slowly from beyond the horizon. It appeared to be coming from all sides then, all around, the horizon was filled with a massed army.
'Here they come!' shouted the old wizard and horns sounded in the small camp.
They were surrounded by the advancing hoards and dragons appeared above their foe carrying dragon riders of the Gorsedd
The Gorsedd army stopped its slow advance.
There was a moment of absolute silence then a single burning arrow was sent forth from the attacking army and on that signal they charged. Immediately the wizards and witches around the henge with Harry began to cast spells towards the oncoming army. All manner of spells were being cast, green, blue, yellow and red bursts of light sprang from their wands and then the dwarves and giants charged forwards using non-magic weapons such as bows and arrows and spears and axes. The defenders wore blue robes and carried flags and banners showing a blue bird on a white background. It appeared that this army was fighting a desperate last stand against an evil army.
They were gathered about a circle of huge standing stones that was made up of upright columns with monoliths laid across their tops spanning each to form two concentric circles. The stones were so perfectly finished as to reflect the battle scene around them in their mirrored finish.
The foe that poured in on all sides of the battlefield was a vision that left Harry amazed and appalled. An army of white haired people with red cloaks and glowing red eyes fought with wands and staffs. Some rode on dragons and the majority of them ran on foot. There were so many of them that they surrounded and engulfed the other much smaller rag-tag army. The defenders fought valiantly and for a short time they held their ground but the Gorsedd were too strong and they were driven by a mad fury - desperately striving to reach the stone circle for the rising sun was almost at its highest. The shadows cast by the standing stones were now very short - very soon it would be mid-day. There were but a few of the smaller army left defending the standing stones and they fell back into an ever tighter circle until at last they were using the outer ring of stones as a last barricade.
'Stand fast! Stand fast!' cried the frail old wizard in a booming voice of amazing power. The few remnants of his army fought with fury and desperation - there was only a matter of moments to go.
At last, the old wizard stood atop an altar in the centre of the circle. He raised his staff skywards and yelled words that Harry could hear plainly over the battle, 'OMEGA RECANTO! PORTEN INCENDIO! OMEGA RECANTO! PORTEN INCENDI! MORTE - MORTE - MORTE!'
About him, the air started to swirl and twirl. His army turned and watched and all let out a mighty cheer - this was the end for them but they had won. Nothing could stop the power that they had now unleashed. The wind howled ever more violently - quickly the nearest including the old wizard and the remains of his army were sucked up into the barrel of a whirlwind and were carried skywards. The nearest of the foes in white and their dragons followed. The wind grew stronger and soon the whole battlefield was being sucked into its power. The Gorsedd turned to flee but they could not. Both armies were torn from the ground and disappeared into the hurricane and all became mixed in a spinning blur of red and white and blue and black. Finally, the storm reached a huge crescendo. Harry stood amongst it, untouched but covering his ears. Suddenly the storm imploded in on itself and there was a mighty explosion of light and power and then silence.
Harry was completely alone. The field was empty apart from a few of the standing stones that had not fallen as both armies had disappeared. Harry registered in his dream that he was seeing stone-henge roughly as it was in modern-day picture books. The remnants of the smaller army had sacrificed itself using some massively destructive magic to end the battle. The air was still and from the sky thick black ash started to fall settling all over the land. Harry held out his hand but the ash simply passed straight through him. He was there in spirit only.
Finally people arrived and using brooms, shovels or their hands began scooping the ash into barrels. They wept as they worked and tears streaked their ash-blackened faces. Meticulous care was taken to clear all of the ash. They filled barrels, which were sealed and carted away. As the carts disappeared over the horizon swooping flocks of bluebirds circled and looped over the field.
Harry awoke and sat up with his eyes staring wide - for some reason he to was crying and there were tears on his cheeks. He wiped his eyes and peered through the bars across into the cave opposite from where he was imprisoned. The barrels sitting there were the same that he had seen in his dream. The spell that he had heard was amazingly powerful and destructive - such power even Voldemort could not have unleashed during his reign of terror.
Harry somehow knew that his dream wasn't simply the random creation of his imagination and subconscious. He had recalled something real from long ago - the final moments of some terrible war between good and evil that had culminated with the destruction of both armies. Harry knew now that the barrels contained the residue of the battle long ago. The reason for collecting the ash was unclear and Harry had no idea why the barrels could be at all important now but he realized that the barrels must be part of Harbaxen's plans - in what way though he couldn't begin to understand.