Chapter 12

Harry stared at the necklace, expecting it to rise into the air as it normally did.
Nothing happened.
Eowyn looked at him.
"Harry? What's wrong? Why isn't it...?"
Harry looked down at the necklace helplessly. He didn't understand.

The silence hung between them for a moment longer, before Eowyn spoke again.
"Harry?"
Harry would not look at her. For some strange reason, he felt ashamed.
Suddenly, he heard Eowyn rise next to him as three men rounded the corner and began walking towards. At least, Harry had at first thought them to be men, but now knew that only one of them was. The second was an elf, and the third was a dwarf.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were walking towards them.

Eowyn smiled at them as they drew near and halted before them.
"So, as you can see," she said. "He has returned."
Aragorn nodded.
"Hello again, Harry Potter. I now feel I can introduce myself properly to you."
Harry grabbed Eowyn's necklace from the floor and handed it to her. He looked at the four friends before him, and had never felt so much an outsider.
Aragorn reached out, and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. He stared into Harry's eyes, and this time, neither of them looked away.
"Welcome," whispered Aragorn.
He released Harry and stepped back.
Harry exchanged a nervous look with Eowyn, but she smiled reassuringly at him, and beckoned him forward to the others.
Legolas stepped forward.
"I understand that Gandalf has now told you everything," he said in his clear, calm voice. "Welcome. I am Legolas, a Mirkwood elf."
"Hello," said Harry, suddenly managing to find his voice in the face of this friendly stranger. "I suppose you know enough about me, too. I'm Harry...Harry Potter."
Legolas nodded at stepped back, as the dwarf moved forward.
"I am not one for standing on ceremony," he grumbled. "Hello. I am Gimli the dwarf. I know you are Harry."
He stepped back abruptly. Harry did not know what to say or think, but suddenly noticed that Eowyn seemed to be holding back a laugh, Legolas was smiling, and even Aragorn appeared to be grinning behind his hand.
Harry could not help it. He smiled with the others.

Aragorn took his hand away from his mouth and addressed Eowyn and Harry.
"I have sent for some food...would you care to join us?"
Eowyn looked at Harry.
"I would be happy to," she said. "Harry?"
She pulled him back for a moment.
"Do you want some time alone?"
"I - no," replied Harry, surprised to find that his reply was honest. "But where would we eat?"
"Well...normally meals would be held in the main part of the fort, I suppose..." replied Eowyn slowly. "But if you would prefer..."
Harry nodded.
"I - I'm sorry, Eowyn, but I just can't face too much company at the moment...not until I know more about what I mean here. I am sorry...but can we eat in that room...?"
"The room where we slept this evening?" enquired Eowyn.
"Yes," answered Harry. "But it would be good if all five of us could be there...if that is not too much to ask."
Eowyn smiled.
"Of course not."
She stepped away with him, and spoke briefly with Aragorn. Then she turned back to Harry.
"Come," she said. "We can return to the room. Aragorn will be there shortly."

Harry nodded, and in his mind thanked Eowyn with all his heart. He could not express his gratitude with words.
Eowyn walked back with Harry, as Legolas and Gimli remained briefly to speak with Aragorn. She looked at him curiously as they walked.
"What?" asked Harry, noticing it.
"Nothing," replied Eowyn half-heartedly. "It's just that..."
"What?" Harry repeated.
"That magic...that you just tried to do. It didn't work."
"No," said Harry abruptly. He found that he did not want to talk about it.
"Why did it not work?"
"How should I know?" Harry replied angrily, raising his voice. His temper rose suddenly and unexpectedly as he glared at Eowyn, who stepped back, startled and afraid. He didn't know what was happening, but his anger bubbled ferociously and he wanted to shout with all his might.
Suddenly Harry yelled as his scar seared with pain. He clapped his hand to his forehead and fell to the floor, feeling his anger melt away to be replaced with horror and panic.

"Harry! Harry!" he heard Eowyn calling, seemingly from so far away. He tried to turn his head towards her, to answer her, but he seemed to be drifting away, flying through space and time...
A scene hardened in front of him. Harry reeled in terror, trying to back away, but no movement was possible. Before him, he saw a huge volcano, bubbling, burning, surrounded by huge, flying monsters that reminded Harry of pictures he had seen of dinosaurs in his youth in the Muggle World. And then...nothing could have prepared Harry for this...he saw it. Positioned on what was obviously a huge, tall tower, was a huge, flaming, lidless eye, just the one...watching him...forever watching him...and laughing through its bodiless form...

Harry heard shouting...petrified yells, he tried to move away from the staring orange eye, reach out his hands, help whoever it was...