Before going into the routine apology, I want to thank all my reviewers for
sticking with me!! I was fretting over whether you'd want to read any more.
Yes, I have returned, after a terrible ordeal that involved non-stick frying pans, a couple of Rangers, and a horde of Mary Sues, that still weighs heavily on my heart.
I hereby dedicate this chapter to you. yes, you who are reading this- just my little 'Thank You'!!
Celeborn regarded the assemblage gravely. Harry shifted slightly under his gaze, dismissing a fleeting thought about everyone in Middle Earth having piercing gazes. He was grateful that he'd never met Lady Galadriel; according to the Hobbits, she was worse than everyone else in the matter.
"Perhaps, Harry Potter," he said, looking right at him, "You will enlighten me as to your- strange- history, for it may answer some doubts that are in my mind."
Harry swallowed. He'd sort of expected this. Taking a deep breath, he began, telling his story to his knees most of the time- that gaze got unnerving after a while. When he'd finished, Elladan and Elrohir smiled at him, and Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Fred and George Weasley for some reason. Celeborn nodded thoughtfully, as though weighing the whole thing in his mind.
There was a long silence, and for Harry, it was a huge relief when the Elven Lord addressed Aragorn. Harry'd made up his mind to refer to the King by that name. The man had way too many names for him to effectively keep track of! After 'Strider', 'Elessar' and the 'Duna- something', he hadn't been surprised to learn that the King was called 'Estel', too.
"To tell you all that I know in connection with this would take well over an age," Celeborn said, "but I trust you will be content with what I can tell you now.
"The answers lie in times long before the rise of Sauron, before the forging of the One.in the time of Sauron's master, in fact. Morgoth Bauglir, Lord of Darkness."
Pippin let out what could only be defined as a frightened squeak, and Hermione gave small gasp. She'd apparently found a book in the Library that she could read. Harry decided to question her thoroughly about it when he got the chance.
"Ease yourself, Peregrin son of Paladin," Celeborn said, "He is imprisoned until the coming of the End, and I do not foresee it in our time."
"It was Morgoth who unleashed many of the Evils that walk our lands," he continued, "Orcs, Trolls and Dragons, all work of his dark hand, crafted within his fortress of Angband. I remember well the terror among us during those years when the banes of the living were let loose."
"You. remember?" Hermione asked timidly. "My Lord, wasn't Morgoth's time several Ages ago?"
Celeborn smiled at her, "Yes, child, I remember- I am well nigh ten thousand years old, the world was young in my day, and it was in the fair realm of Doriath that I dwelt." that note of sadness was in his voice again- and there was a far off look in his eyes, "But I divert. of all of Morgoth's works, known to only the Wise is of the Talismans he crafted within that fortress."
"Talismans?" the Queen Arwen queried.
"Morgoth made them in secret for he did not trust even those allied to him. He told only Thu, his lieutenant- later to become Sauron the Abhorred. He was the only one who knew of the Talismans. When the White Council took his fortress of Dol Guldur, they found ancient records there, written in the hand of Sauron himself."
"Could they be what this Voldemort is after?" Legolas asked.
"The Talismans were, perhaps, the root- the inspiration- for the One Ring, for they made the wielder immensely powerful- and indeed could be what he wants," Celeborn replied.
"You said 'they', Lord," said Faramir, "there are more than one?"
Celeborn nodded. "And for many purposes as well. The manuscripts found in Mirkwood spoke of several, but alas, we do not have them in our possession. If any were retained, they are with the White Council, none of whom remain on this side of the Great Sea. All I know is that there are some so strong that even a Halfling could rule Arda."
The Hobbits had on expressions that clearly said that they wouldn't do such a thing even if they were paid for it.
Harry shot a glance at Hermione and Ron; the latter seemed to be furious over something. Harry had to think only for a moment to figure out what it was- Malfoy had called Hermione a 'Mudblood'- a very serious offence in the wizarding world. Hermione, however, was chewing on her lip, thinking about the problem at hand, apparently.
"Is there anything that may tell us more?" Aragorn asked.
"Actually," said Elrohir, "Elladan and I have managed to find something in father's stores."
"We wanted it to be a surprise for you, grandfather," said Elladan.
"Indeed?" Celeborn asked, a shadow of a smile on his lips. "What is it that you have found?"
"It was a crumbling manuscript," Elladan replied, "and there was writing in father's hand on it. describing objects of great power and potency. I think it may be concerning these Talismans you speak of."
"It may," said Celeborn, "Continue."
"Little made sense on it, father must have been in a hurried mood, but there were verses- not written by him I am sure, for it is not in our style, and it was not in the Elven tongue either."
Elrohir took it up from here, and recited in his clear voice,
"As doors, not windows unto the world,
Standing two on either plain
To serve the will of he who commands
And give him what he seeks.
Two worlds shall unite under darkness unknown
Two kingdoms shall fall to terror.
The night will ensnare all the unwary
The power of evil shall rise supreme."
In the silence that followed, Harry felt a tiny tickle at the back of his mind. It was like an itch he just couldn't reach, and he tried to ignore it until-
"That verse!" he cried, jumping up, "It was in my dream! A voice was saying it! The bit about the darkness unknown and all that!"
"That answers my question, then," Legolas said, "Voldemort is here for the Talismans."
"Which leaves us with two problems," said Faramir. "The first being to find out where they are and what they do, and the second to get to them before him."
"Nay, we cannot be so sure," said Gimli, "How are we to know that they are not already in his possession?"
"If they are as powerful as Lord Celeborn says," said the Lady Eowyn. "Then we would already be in dark times, master Dwarf. It is possible that this Lord Voldemort has not yet found them."
"Or he is waiting for something," said Aragorn thoughtfully.
Suddenly Hermione slapped her forehead, startling everyone. Realising what she'd done, she went very pink, but recovered quickly.
"Begging your, er, excuse me, my Lords and Ladies," she said, "But I think I may know something." she hurried to Pippin and whispered something in his ear. The Hobbit looked puzzled, but led the way out of the room with a quick bow to the persons inside.
Harry looked at Ron, who'd stopped fuming to look bewildered. He had a feeling that they both knew where Hermione had gone, though, for even in a strange new world, there was one place Hermione Granger would find everything she ever needed- the library.
Hmm? The Talisman idea's slightly corny, and sounds way too much like the One Ring, I know, but these are 'different' talismans! And, if you're thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking, you're probably right. You were thinking that, weren't you? * Sorry, school's fried my brain to a slight extent *
Anyway, next chapter will be up sooner than you think! I hope! : )
Yes, I have returned, after a terrible ordeal that involved non-stick frying pans, a couple of Rangers, and a horde of Mary Sues, that still weighs heavily on my heart.
I hereby dedicate this chapter to you. yes, you who are reading this- just my little 'Thank You'!!
Celeborn regarded the assemblage gravely. Harry shifted slightly under his gaze, dismissing a fleeting thought about everyone in Middle Earth having piercing gazes. He was grateful that he'd never met Lady Galadriel; according to the Hobbits, she was worse than everyone else in the matter.
"Perhaps, Harry Potter," he said, looking right at him, "You will enlighten me as to your- strange- history, for it may answer some doubts that are in my mind."
Harry swallowed. He'd sort of expected this. Taking a deep breath, he began, telling his story to his knees most of the time- that gaze got unnerving after a while. When he'd finished, Elladan and Elrohir smiled at him, and Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Fred and George Weasley for some reason. Celeborn nodded thoughtfully, as though weighing the whole thing in his mind.
There was a long silence, and for Harry, it was a huge relief when the Elven Lord addressed Aragorn. Harry'd made up his mind to refer to the King by that name. The man had way too many names for him to effectively keep track of! After 'Strider', 'Elessar' and the 'Duna- something', he hadn't been surprised to learn that the King was called 'Estel', too.
"To tell you all that I know in connection with this would take well over an age," Celeborn said, "but I trust you will be content with what I can tell you now.
"The answers lie in times long before the rise of Sauron, before the forging of the One.in the time of Sauron's master, in fact. Morgoth Bauglir, Lord of Darkness."
Pippin let out what could only be defined as a frightened squeak, and Hermione gave small gasp. She'd apparently found a book in the Library that she could read. Harry decided to question her thoroughly about it when he got the chance.
"Ease yourself, Peregrin son of Paladin," Celeborn said, "He is imprisoned until the coming of the End, and I do not foresee it in our time."
"It was Morgoth who unleashed many of the Evils that walk our lands," he continued, "Orcs, Trolls and Dragons, all work of his dark hand, crafted within his fortress of Angband. I remember well the terror among us during those years when the banes of the living were let loose."
"You. remember?" Hermione asked timidly. "My Lord, wasn't Morgoth's time several Ages ago?"
Celeborn smiled at her, "Yes, child, I remember- I am well nigh ten thousand years old, the world was young in my day, and it was in the fair realm of Doriath that I dwelt." that note of sadness was in his voice again- and there was a far off look in his eyes, "But I divert. of all of Morgoth's works, known to only the Wise is of the Talismans he crafted within that fortress."
"Talismans?" the Queen Arwen queried.
"Morgoth made them in secret for he did not trust even those allied to him. He told only Thu, his lieutenant- later to become Sauron the Abhorred. He was the only one who knew of the Talismans. When the White Council took his fortress of Dol Guldur, they found ancient records there, written in the hand of Sauron himself."
"Could they be what this Voldemort is after?" Legolas asked.
"The Talismans were, perhaps, the root- the inspiration- for the One Ring, for they made the wielder immensely powerful- and indeed could be what he wants," Celeborn replied.
"You said 'they', Lord," said Faramir, "there are more than one?"
Celeborn nodded. "And for many purposes as well. The manuscripts found in Mirkwood spoke of several, but alas, we do not have them in our possession. If any were retained, they are with the White Council, none of whom remain on this side of the Great Sea. All I know is that there are some so strong that even a Halfling could rule Arda."
The Hobbits had on expressions that clearly said that they wouldn't do such a thing even if they were paid for it.
Harry shot a glance at Hermione and Ron; the latter seemed to be furious over something. Harry had to think only for a moment to figure out what it was- Malfoy had called Hermione a 'Mudblood'- a very serious offence in the wizarding world. Hermione, however, was chewing on her lip, thinking about the problem at hand, apparently.
"Is there anything that may tell us more?" Aragorn asked.
"Actually," said Elrohir, "Elladan and I have managed to find something in father's stores."
"We wanted it to be a surprise for you, grandfather," said Elladan.
"Indeed?" Celeborn asked, a shadow of a smile on his lips. "What is it that you have found?"
"It was a crumbling manuscript," Elladan replied, "and there was writing in father's hand on it. describing objects of great power and potency. I think it may be concerning these Talismans you speak of."
"It may," said Celeborn, "Continue."
"Little made sense on it, father must have been in a hurried mood, but there were verses- not written by him I am sure, for it is not in our style, and it was not in the Elven tongue either."
Elrohir took it up from here, and recited in his clear voice,
"As doors, not windows unto the world,
Standing two on either plain
To serve the will of he who commands
And give him what he seeks.
Two worlds shall unite under darkness unknown
Two kingdoms shall fall to terror.
The night will ensnare all the unwary
The power of evil shall rise supreme."
In the silence that followed, Harry felt a tiny tickle at the back of his mind. It was like an itch he just couldn't reach, and he tried to ignore it until-
"That verse!" he cried, jumping up, "It was in my dream! A voice was saying it! The bit about the darkness unknown and all that!"
"That answers my question, then," Legolas said, "Voldemort is here for the Talismans."
"Which leaves us with two problems," said Faramir. "The first being to find out where they are and what they do, and the second to get to them before him."
"Nay, we cannot be so sure," said Gimli, "How are we to know that they are not already in his possession?"
"If they are as powerful as Lord Celeborn says," said the Lady Eowyn. "Then we would already be in dark times, master Dwarf. It is possible that this Lord Voldemort has not yet found them."
"Or he is waiting for something," said Aragorn thoughtfully.
Suddenly Hermione slapped her forehead, startling everyone. Realising what she'd done, she went very pink, but recovered quickly.
"Begging your, er, excuse me, my Lords and Ladies," she said, "But I think I may know something." she hurried to Pippin and whispered something in his ear. The Hobbit looked puzzled, but led the way out of the room with a quick bow to the persons inside.
Harry looked at Ron, who'd stopped fuming to look bewildered. He had a feeling that they both knew where Hermione had gone, though, for even in a strange new world, there was one place Hermione Granger would find everything she ever needed- the library.
Hmm? The Talisman idea's slightly corny, and sounds way too much like the One Ring, I know, but these are 'different' talismans! And, if you're thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking, you're probably right. You were thinking that, weren't you? * Sorry, school's fried my brain to a slight extent *
Anyway, next chapter will be up sooner than you think! I hope! : )
