"Look, I'm updating Destiny's Heroes. It's a miracle. I've had no internet but I finally am able to since I'm on someone else's computer. I actually rewrote this chapter several times because I just didn't like it so I hope you all enjoy. Saira"
-Strength-
Exams came and the year was coming to an end. The Elves and the others spent most of their time studying, which was hard since Saira wasn't getting any better. Legolas hardly left her side. Thranduil had everyone with enough intelligence to check anything for a cure. Term was ending for the rest of the Elves and Liz was quite eager to go home. She'd refrained from always talking about everyone else's problems and allowed Voron to take care of her as much as he wanted. At first she didn't like it but she adapted. Dmitri was distraught and Liz didn't need her powers to tell her that but he hid it well by flirting with other girls. Aranel was nowhere to be found outside of class and in class she refused to talk to her friends. And to top it off, Harry wasn't trying in Occulemency and continued having his vision-like dreams.
Suddenly, in Saira's mind, everything ceased and all was calm but she had had such moments before and it all ended up with her being forced back again. But this time a scene was created around her. She was sitting in the middle of Mirkwood waiting for the pain to come again but it didn't. Sun shone down through the trees and Saira felt herself smile. But being so long feeling other's fear and pain gave her slight amnesia and she wasn't quite sure where she was or who she was for that matter.
Saira got up and began exploring this familiar place expecting it to be a trick of some sort and send her back into the catatonia of visions. She found herself at a pool with crystal clear water.
"You loved it here. I miss the look on your face when you'd see it"
Saira spun around and saw a boy emerging from the trees. He stopped and leaned on a tree trunk and Saira recognized that black and red hair. She knew his voice and those deep eyes. She knew him and did not fear to approach him. She touched his face and immediately retracted her hand because he was cold to the touch.
"Who are you?" she said straining to remember
"Visions sure do a number on you but to have so many has twisted everything. I doubt you could even tell me your name but I will tell you mine. It's Ita"
"I've seen you before"
"I should hope so. I was lucky enough to call you my own for a short time."
"But not now?"
"No, the key to your heart is and always will be Legolas. Unfortunately he's unable to enter your mind so here I am"
"It hurts to remember. Are you here to help?"
"Come with me"
Saira hesitated and he started walking without her. He led her down the river of her mind until they came to an area covered in ivy and moonflowers. Saira didn't understand and looked at him confused.
"By the edge, see what you can find"
Saira walked up and found a marble slab covered in the growth of nature. She pulled it away until she could read it"
"You're dead," she stated quietly as if she already knew.
"I was leaving to seek out my father. You watched it. I died in your arms. Can you not remember?"
"In my mind I have seen thousands of deaths of nameless faces. They are all of different races and times. There are deaths going to happen that shouldn't. I can't keep track. But the more I look at you, the more returns. I remember your face. Of all the ones I've seen, yours sticks out like the sun in a black universe. I remember the blood, the vision, ...the grief. I remember that day for I could have died myself."
"Good, we're making swift progress" he said heading away from his grave
"What happened? I mean, what caused the incessant---" Saira grabbed her head but Ita quickly came over and put his hands on the side of her face before her world went black. He forced her to look at him.
"I am anchor. Look in my eyes and you will not see anything but what you want. Understand? You choose what you see. Curses can be broken"
"But what happened?"
"A number of things. Something could have been slipped to you, or you were cursed in your sleep. Only the goddesses know for sure and I am but a familiar messenger"
"How can I remember?"
"Your soul has been severed from your mind and your soul is a key factor in memories. Could be why you forget little things here and there but the fact that it's not gone is what keeps your long term memories and that you have kept up strength though it may not seem like it. Since you were cursed though, your mind has been weakened. But now we must find a connection. Perhaps a memory that trigger the rest."
"That could take forever"
"Lucky, for you, that's all I got"
There was a blinding light and then all she could hear was his voice.
"We'll start small" Ita snapped his fingers and they appeared in the land of Hyrule but Saira didn't know that's what it was. "This is a part of your mind. A memory. Recognize anything?"
Saira watched her life. A beautiful brown haired Elf was running through a village during a storm carrying a child. She kept running and Saira began to follow still lacking in remembrance.
"Who is she?" Saira asked as the woman died after speaking with the enormous Deku Tree.
"Inola Trinity. Your mum"
Saira looked at Ita striving to remember. She turned back to her memory but in that brief turn they were back in the village watching a new memory. There was a young blonde haired boy. Saira's younger memory self followed Dmitri into the Lost Woods. Saira didn't follow this time because she knew they would come out again and they sure did but her skin was blue as a berry.
She blinked and it switched again to where she was saying goodbye to the blonde boy. She watched herself push him past the barrier and then try to reach for him. She remembered the twinge of pain.
"That's...that's Link?" Saira asked as that name came to her
"Right. You'd see him one more time before he'd leave for seven years"
"These scenes are not helping. I know Link and...and I know the other boy is someone close to me but nothing more is coming."
"Let's try something more recent then"
Ita snapped his fingers again and she began watching her life traveling Hyrule, and then going to Hogwarts. But suddenly she stopped him at one point. She was in Legolas' room.
"I remember this," she said as she watching the following scene.
"I promised," she cried. "I promised to remember, damn it!" she yelled for no apparent but with a notion that at least someone would hear her.
"Like I said. Legolas is the key to your mind and heart," he said
"Oh Ita!" Saira said now that she remembered everything. She threw her arms around him and cried. He wrapped his arms around her and seemed to be trying not to cry.
"Shh" he said
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. "You have no idea of the guilt I've harbored and endured"
"Stop. Just stop right there. I know what you've felt. Be at peace for no blame should befall you. You've not the reason I died. I knew form the beginning that your heart yearned for him. My task is done. Your soul and mind have been restored and when you wake visions will not barrage you. They will be normal or whatever the goddesses consider to be normal."
"Wait" Saira hugged him again and kissed him on the cheek before he disappeared smiling. Saira held back her tears as he disappeared into nothing.
"It's so unfortunate that his life was taken at such a young age"
But the words weren't Saira's. She turned and was filled with happiness for Serenity stood before her.
"Hello"
"Hello and goodbye. You need to wake up. The school year is over in a few days, and there is still much to do before the end. We cannot waste any time. Legolas is no use if we are out of commission."
"Goodbye" Saira said before waking up. However after so long of being bed ridden and constant visions, she could barely lift her head up. She used what strength she had to summon a mirror and check to see if the runes were gone. She could always hear everything said while she was out. To her relief they were gone. Her head ached but it wasn't nearly as bad as having visions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was just too much.
However, just when she thought it was over, her head started hammering with the vision pain. She was riding across the fields of Middle- Earth with Liz and her white hair. They saw a city on the side of a mountain and Liz said, 'Gondor.' Saira saw a flash of Elledan then everything ceased.
"Ita, I thought you said they were over" Saira hissed as if he could hear her.
"Any improvement?" Saira heard Thranduil say outside her door.
"No. She'll wake up for brief seconds but the longer she is like this, the weaker her mind becomes and the less of her own memories or advice to her friends is heard. Liz was mentioned every time but recently she said something about a death that hasn't even happened. She can't tell the difference anymore"
"She'll come through"
"Will she?"
"Yes" Saira said loud enough so their speech stopped.
Slowly the door opened and Saira watched a pale Legolas appear in the doorway. He had severe dark bags under his eyes as if he hadn't rested in days. He saw Saira smile up at him and he just couldn't believe it and slumped to the floor. Thranduil walked past his son and up to Saira. He looked her over quickly.
"It's a miracle"
"Not really. I've just got a few friends upstairs"
Legolas went over to Saira and sat gently on the edge at a loss of what to say. Saira used what little strength she had to push herself upright. She put her hand on the side of his face as if to reassure him and show that it was real.
"I'm better," she said. "But tell me.... how much homework do I have to make up?"
Legolas snapped out of it with a grin that Saira happily returned. She put her arms around his neck and he pulled her close on the brink of tears Saira was already crying.
"How?" he said
"Ita"
"What?"
"Ita came to me and gave me the strength to beat the cruse. I'd also forgotten myself but I promised I'd never forget." Saira said, "Tell me though, what's been happening while I was gone"
Legolas told her how much time had elapsed but figured she'd rather read the numerous letters her friends sent. Dmitri had sent the most by far and Liz next. But as she looked at the dates, after a certain point, Aranel stopped completely and there was no mention of her in the others' letters.
But the letters were quite informative of the happenings at Hogwarts and reading them tended to help Saira get her strength back. However everything seemed to be slowly falling apart. The start of it was both Liz and Dmitri's letter about Hagrid's newfound brother, Grawp. Umbridge was not improving much and Dmitri seemed to have taken up the Weasley twins' slack causing as much trouble as he could but had yet to be caught because everything was just blamed on Peeves.
Saira wrote a long letter to each of her friends, which gave her a cramp in her hand, but the pain was miniscule compared to what she'd undergone. She made sure to gloat about the fact she didn't have to take the exams until alter. She went downstairs despite Legolas' request she stay in her room and gather her vigor. She went to find Lenwe because she knew he wouldn't rat on her. He was one of Legolas' better friends but Saira had become well acquainted too especially because he'd known Serenity.
-Liz received a letter from Mirkwood and feared the worst but before she even got a chance to open it, Dmitri burst into the common room and kissed Liz, and threw his arms around her dancing in circles.
"Dmitri, what the hell are you doing?!" she yelled pushing him onto the floor where he laughed and kissed the letter in his hands.
"She's okay! Thank Din, Nayru, and Farore she's okay!"
"What?!" Liz ripped open her letter and cheered. She pulled Dmitri up and they hugged and danced again. "She's okay...sit," she said suddenly stern.
"What?"
"What the hell happened between you and Aranel?"
Dmitri sighed deeply then ran his hands in his hair purposely messing it up
"I honestly don't know"
"What do you mean? What happened the night she walked out?" Liz demanded
"Well we were just talking. She'd been real distant but I thought nothing of it. Thought her dad was bugging her again. But then I started talking about Saira and how much I loved her like a sister. That's when she got up and yelled, 'But not me' and stormed out. What did I say? She knows I care for her"
"Did you say anything else?"
"No! I don't get it"
Liz knelt in front of him.
"I don't have my powers but I still carry some skill. Aranel might be confused and there's no doubt n my mind that she's jealous of the connection between you and Saira. She knows a part of you belongs to her and always will"
"I'm going to get her back"
"I know you will"
--"Feeling better?" Legolas asked as Saira stood by the window
"Still weak but better. Got a letter from my friends. Liz says she's scarred for life because Dmitri kissed her he was so happy" Saira smiled "Legolas?"
"What?"
"Catch me"
Saira's knees buckled and Legolas caught her before she would have hit the ground. Her vision was normal but more painful than usual in her state. She saw Harry go through a door and enter a room of odd devices. Voices were all around but Saira couldn't understand. Saira stepped around Harry who was watching a horrific scene of Sirius getting tortured by Lord Voldemort. But suddenly Saira was getting a different point of view. Voldemort was not in the hall but in a chair somehow manipulating Harry's thoughts. It ended and Saira used all her strength searching the room for a piece of parchment.
"Saira! Talk to me" Legolas said stopping her
"I understand now. I know why my visions are right. Harry's aren't real and Voldemort found out. He's putting false scenes in Harry's mind and Harry doesn't know. He's going to do something rash"
"Wait. What?"
"Voldemort is putting scenes in Harry's head to lure him"
"Calm down. I'll take care of it. You need to rest"
He left and Saira took advantage of his absence to go see someone. She ventured along down the river until she reached the ivy-covered grave. She used magic to clear it and using her old Kokiri magic, she made roses and moonflowers grow to add color. Red, since it was Ita's favorite color. She sat on her legs and traced his name with her finger.
"Vedui" she said aloud. "I don't know why, but I haven't been able to bring myself here. I guess a part of me still feels like it's my fault you left. Maybe you'd still be alive but things still would have been hard. I wish I could have loved you the way you loved me. Guess life isn't fair, but I know that all to well because your life was taken needlessly and I swear one day I will avenge you"
Saira sat for a long time talking, knowing somehow Ita could hear her. When the sun had set, the moonflowers bloomed filling the air with its sweet scent. She said goodbye and headed back where she spotted Legolas reading in his window.
"Saira?" she spun around and looked at Lord Thranduil walking toward her
"Yes milord?"
"How are you?"
"Could be better"
"You've endured much recently but I hope it has not discouraged you in any way"
"On the contrary it has only spurred my need to see the end of this"
"Good. Go rest"
Saira returned to her room and fell asleep to the soft breeze. However it wasn't really a dream and wasn't quite a vision either. She was seeing the present as it was happening and she couldn't wake up. It began with flashes of all her friends. Liz, Dmitri, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and even Aranel were down in the dark room Harry had been dreaming of and they were venturing into new ones.
They reached a room of glass robs but everything started becoming black until there was a scene with everyone fighting masked people. For a moment it focused on Liz, Dmitri and Aranel because they were up against Isilwen whose look was completely different than Saira remembered. Her skin was dark and gray and her hair solid white and now she was in her true Drow form. Aranel was knocked unconscious and Dmitri attacked in unison with Liz.
Saira didn't see the outcome of that fight because her sight was steered to where Sirius fell into a veiled archway. It switched again to a duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort. Suddenly Saira woke up after witnessing everything her friends were going through that she was missing. She's been a prisoner once again in her mind and the fear of those scenes mixed with that notion made her shake and pant with cold sweat upon her brow. It was still early and the sun had not yet risen. She knew immediately that whatever Legolas tried to stop Harry's fake visions had failed.
Saira closed her eyes and ran her hands through her hair but when she opened them again she was not in her room but Ganondorf's throne room in a painless vision. She closed her eyes and rubbed them hoping it would go away but it didn't.
"Not now!" she yelled
But no one could hear her. Ganondorf was sitting on the throne. Saira walked up and tried to hit him but her hand went straight through. She backed up angrily and yelled out.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" she shouted darkly. "You've made my life hell!"
The large metal doors to the hall creaked open and Evangeline strode in. Saira noticed she wore detached sleeves no doubt to cover up the scar Saira inflicted but Evangeline still wore that familiar malicious smile.
"Milord there's someone here to see you," she said
"Who is it?"'
"May they enter?" Evangeline said wanting it to be a surprise by the tone of her voice.
"Fine"
"My king Ganondorf, I present you the Lord Voldemort of the earthen realm"
This got both Saira and Ganondorf's attention. The snake like Voldemort walked in wearing a black cloak and beside him was Bellatrix Lestrange. Saira had seen her in the Daily Prophet.
"Well, well, well" Ganondorf said slowly in his gruff voice. "Look what the tektite dragged in" he laughed. "What brings the great Voldemort to my castle?"
"I seek an alliance"
"I offered. You declined. Why should I offer again?"
"My dear Bella has informed me about the young Seer girl" Voldemort said "I can help you in that area"
"We don't need it" Evangeline broke in
Voldemort looked at her with contempt and she just returned the sentiment
"She's still a threat if I'm not mistaken"
"I beg to differ The Seer is trapped within her own mind. And forgive me if I like to toy with my prey" she said rudely
"You're out of line!" Bella yelled
Evangeline looked towards her approaching slowly
"Tell me, would you be quite so brace without that wand?"
Bella stood silent
"Puny human. Both of you!"
Voldemort attempted a curse but Evangeline was quicker and deflected it with her own Elvish spell. Bella then tried to use her wand to tie up Evangeline with ropes but she just grabbed them mid air and they turned to ash. Looking straight at Bell she raised her hand and Bella rose into the air imitating Evangeline's hand movements. Evangeline pinned her to the wall and probably ready to kill her when Ganondorf finally intervened
"That's enough my dear"
Evangeline dropped Bella to the ground
"As you can see Lord Voldemort, Evangeline is quite capable of killing the young Seer but my goal is not to kill her."
"Do your ambitions stop with Hyrule alone?"
"No, I will rule them all. My minions are already claiming Middle- Earth as we speak. I only lack Earth"
"Earth is mine for the taking. An alliance between us would make the process quicker"
'I agree but to quote a young adversary, 'I do not know you therefore I do not trust you.' You'll need to prove yourself"
"But—"
But Saira never learned because someone started shaking her. She was thankful in a way but almost wanted to see what happened. She stared at Tarowyn who was leaning over her
"Saira!"
"I'm here. I'm awake"
"You had a horrified look. Were you sleeping?"
"Uh, no. How much school is left?"
"Barely a week. However you'll be riding for Rivendell with his lordship tomorrow"
"Why?"
"Lady Eriathiel will be there along with your other friends. Lord Elrond is calling a meeting to decide which nations will attend the convention in Earth for our defenses."
"Thank you" Saira said "Have any letters come for me today?"
"One"
"From?"
"Albus Dumbledore"
"But he's not headmaster anymore"
"He was reinstated last night"
"What does he want?" Saira asked getting out of bed and putting on a robe
"He wanted to tell you that you must take your OWL exams at the beginning of next year. He advises you study hard over the summer"
"Wonderful"
-Strength-
Exams came and the year was coming to an end. The Elves and the others spent most of their time studying, which was hard since Saira wasn't getting any better. Legolas hardly left her side. Thranduil had everyone with enough intelligence to check anything for a cure. Term was ending for the rest of the Elves and Liz was quite eager to go home. She'd refrained from always talking about everyone else's problems and allowed Voron to take care of her as much as he wanted. At first she didn't like it but she adapted. Dmitri was distraught and Liz didn't need her powers to tell her that but he hid it well by flirting with other girls. Aranel was nowhere to be found outside of class and in class she refused to talk to her friends. And to top it off, Harry wasn't trying in Occulemency and continued having his vision-like dreams.
Suddenly, in Saira's mind, everything ceased and all was calm but she had had such moments before and it all ended up with her being forced back again. But this time a scene was created around her. She was sitting in the middle of Mirkwood waiting for the pain to come again but it didn't. Sun shone down through the trees and Saira felt herself smile. But being so long feeling other's fear and pain gave her slight amnesia and she wasn't quite sure where she was or who she was for that matter.
Saira got up and began exploring this familiar place expecting it to be a trick of some sort and send her back into the catatonia of visions. She found herself at a pool with crystal clear water.
"You loved it here. I miss the look on your face when you'd see it"
Saira spun around and saw a boy emerging from the trees. He stopped and leaned on a tree trunk and Saira recognized that black and red hair. She knew his voice and those deep eyes. She knew him and did not fear to approach him. She touched his face and immediately retracted her hand because he was cold to the touch.
"Who are you?" she said straining to remember
"Visions sure do a number on you but to have so many has twisted everything. I doubt you could even tell me your name but I will tell you mine. It's Ita"
"I've seen you before"
"I should hope so. I was lucky enough to call you my own for a short time."
"But not now?"
"No, the key to your heart is and always will be Legolas. Unfortunately he's unable to enter your mind so here I am"
"It hurts to remember. Are you here to help?"
"Come with me"
Saira hesitated and he started walking without her. He led her down the river of her mind until they came to an area covered in ivy and moonflowers. Saira didn't understand and looked at him confused.
"By the edge, see what you can find"
Saira walked up and found a marble slab covered in the growth of nature. She pulled it away until she could read it"
"You're dead," she stated quietly as if she already knew.
"I was leaving to seek out my father. You watched it. I died in your arms. Can you not remember?"
"In my mind I have seen thousands of deaths of nameless faces. They are all of different races and times. There are deaths going to happen that shouldn't. I can't keep track. But the more I look at you, the more returns. I remember your face. Of all the ones I've seen, yours sticks out like the sun in a black universe. I remember the blood, the vision, ...the grief. I remember that day for I could have died myself."
"Good, we're making swift progress" he said heading away from his grave
"What happened? I mean, what caused the incessant---" Saira grabbed her head but Ita quickly came over and put his hands on the side of her face before her world went black. He forced her to look at him.
"I am anchor. Look in my eyes and you will not see anything but what you want. Understand? You choose what you see. Curses can be broken"
"But what happened?"
"A number of things. Something could have been slipped to you, or you were cursed in your sleep. Only the goddesses know for sure and I am but a familiar messenger"
"How can I remember?"
"Your soul has been severed from your mind and your soul is a key factor in memories. Could be why you forget little things here and there but the fact that it's not gone is what keeps your long term memories and that you have kept up strength though it may not seem like it. Since you were cursed though, your mind has been weakened. But now we must find a connection. Perhaps a memory that trigger the rest."
"That could take forever"
"Lucky, for you, that's all I got"
There was a blinding light and then all she could hear was his voice.
"We'll start small" Ita snapped his fingers and they appeared in the land of Hyrule but Saira didn't know that's what it was. "This is a part of your mind. A memory. Recognize anything?"
Saira watched her life. A beautiful brown haired Elf was running through a village during a storm carrying a child. She kept running and Saira began to follow still lacking in remembrance.
"Who is she?" Saira asked as the woman died after speaking with the enormous Deku Tree.
"Inola Trinity. Your mum"
Saira looked at Ita striving to remember. She turned back to her memory but in that brief turn they were back in the village watching a new memory. There was a young blonde haired boy. Saira's younger memory self followed Dmitri into the Lost Woods. Saira didn't follow this time because she knew they would come out again and they sure did but her skin was blue as a berry.
She blinked and it switched again to where she was saying goodbye to the blonde boy. She watched herself push him past the barrier and then try to reach for him. She remembered the twinge of pain.
"That's...that's Link?" Saira asked as that name came to her
"Right. You'd see him one more time before he'd leave for seven years"
"These scenes are not helping. I know Link and...and I know the other boy is someone close to me but nothing more is coming."
"Let's try something more recent then"
Ita snapped his fingers again and she began watching her life traveling Hyrule, and then going to Hogwarts. But suddenly she stopped him at one point. She was in Legolas' room.
"I remember this," she said as she watching the following scene.
"You know what's fun?"
"Hmm?"
"Hammocks? Where did that come from?"
"I don't know" Saira stood behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "I just like them. Even better with more than one person."
"You know sometimes I don't get you"
"I'm a mystery to all" she said starting to rub his shoulders.
"That is true" He stopped her and pulled her around in front. "Promise me something?"
"Anything"
"You'll never forget who you are"
Once she heard Legolas say that every memory came flooding back and her surroundings suddenly became eerily calm. She fell to her knees panting."I promised," she cried. "I promised to remember, damn it!" she yelled for no apparent but with a notion that at least someone would hear her.
"Like I said. Legolas is the key to your mind and heart," he said
"Oh Ita!" Saira said now that she remembered everything. She threw her arms around him and cried. He wrapped his arms around her and seemed to be trying not to cry.
"Shh" he said
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. "You have no idea of the guilt I've harbored and endured"
"Stop. Just stop right there. I know what you've felt. Be at peace for no blame should befall you. You've not the reason I died. I knew form the beginning that your heart yearned for him. My task is done. Your soul and mind have been restored and when you wake visions will not barrage you. They will be normal or whatever the goddesses consider to be normal."
"Wait" Saira hugged him again and kissed him on the cheek before he disappeared smiling. Saira held back her tears as he disappeared into nothing.
"It's so unfortunate that his life was taken at such a young age"
But the words weren't Saira's. She turned and was filled with happiness for Serenity stood before her.
"Hello"
"Hello and goodbye. You need to wake up. The school year is over in a few days, and there is still much to do before the end. We cannot waste any time. Legolas is no use if we are out of commission."
"Goodbye" Saira said before waking up. However after so long of being bed ridden and constant visions, she could barely lift her head up. She used what strength she had to summon a mirror and check to see if the runes were gone. She could always hear everything said while she was out. To her relief they were gone. Her head ached but it wasn't nearly as bad as having visions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was just too much.
However, just when she thought it was over, her head started hammering with the vision pain. She was riding across the fields of Middle- Earth with Liz and her white hair. They saw a city on the side of a mountain and Liz said, 'Gondor.' Saira saw a flash of Elledan then everything ceased.
"Ita, I thought you said they were over" Saira hissed as if he could hear her.
"Any improvement?" Saira heard Thranduil say outside her door.
"No. She'll wake up for brief seconds but the longer she is like this, the weaker her mind becomes and the less of her own memories or advice to her friends is heard. Liz was mentioned every time but recently she said something about a death that hasn't even happened. She can't tell the difference anymore"
"She'll come through"
"Will she?"
"Yes" Saira said loud enough so their speech stopped.
Slowly the door opened and Saira watched a pale Legolas appear in the doorway. He had severe dark bags under his eyes as if he hadn't rested in days. He saw Saira smile up at him and he just couldn't believe it and slumped to the floor. Thranduil walked past his son and up to Saira. He looked her over quickly.
"It's a miracle"
"Not really. I've just got a few friends upstairs"
Legolas went over to Saira and sat gently on the edge at a loss of what to say. Saira used what little strength she had to push herself upright. She put her hand on the side of his face as if to reassure him and show that it was real.
"I'm better," she said. "But tell me.... how much homework do I have to make up?"
Legolas snapped out of it with a grin that Saira happily returned. She put her arms around his neck and he pulled her close on the brink of tears Saira was already crying.
"How?" he said
"Ita"
"What?"
"Ita came to me and gave me the strength to beat the cruse. I'd also forgotten myself but I promised I'd never forget." Saira said, "Tell me though, what's been happening while I was gone"
Legolas told her how much time had elapsed but figured she'd rather read the numerous letters her friends sent. Dmitri had sent the most by far and Liz next. But as she looked at the dates, after a certain point, Aranel stopped completely and there was no mention of her in the others' letters.
But the letters were quite informative of the happenings at Hogwarts and reading them tended to help Saira get her strength back. However everything seemed to be slowly falling apart. The start of it was both Liz and Dmitri's letter about Hagrid's newfound brother, Grawp. Umbridge was not improving much and Dmitri seemed to have taken up the Weasley twins' slack causing as much trouble as he could but had yet to be caught because everything was just blamed on Peeves.
Saira wrote a long letter to each of her friends, which gave her a cramp in her hand, but the pain was miniscule compared to what she'd undergone. She made sure to gloat about the fact she didn't have to take the exams until alter. She went downstairs despite Legolas' request she stay in her room and gather her vigor. She went to find Lenwe because she knew he wouldn't rat on her. He was one of Legolas' better friends but Saira had become well acquainted too especially because he'd known Serenity.
-Liz received a letter from Mirkwood and feared the worst but before she even got a chance to open it, Dmitri burst into the common room and kissed Liz, and threw his arms around her dancing in circles.
"Dmitri, what the hell are you doing?!" she yelled pushing him onto the floor where he laughed and kissed the letter in his hands.
"She's okay! Thank Din, Nayru, and Farore she's okay!"
"What?!" Liz ripped open her letter and cheered. She pulled Dmitri up and they hugged and danced again. "She's okay...sit," she said suddenly stern.
"What?"
"What the hell happened between you and Aranel?"
Dmitri sighed deeply then ran his hands in his hair purposely messing it up
"I honestly don't know"
"What do you mean? What happened the night she walked out?" Liz demanded
"Well we were just talking. She'd been real distant but I thought nothing of it. Thought her dad was bugging her again. But then I started talking about Saira and how much I loved her like a sister. That's when she got up and yelled, 'But not me' and stormed out. What did I say? She knows I care for her"
"Did you say anything else?"
"No! I don't get it"
Liz knelt in front of him.
"I don't have my powers but I still carry some skill. Aranel might be confused and there's no doubt n my mind that she's jealous of the connection between you and Saira. She knows a part of you belongs to her and always will"
"I'm going to get her back"
"I know you will"
--"Feeling better?" Legolas asked as Saira stood by the window
"Still weak but better. Got a letter from my friends. Liz says she's scarred for life because Dmitri kissed her he was so happy" Saira smiled "Legolas?"
"What?"
"Catch me"
Saira's knees buckled and Legolas caught her before she would have hit the ground. Her vision was normal but more painful than usual in her state. She saw Harry go through a door and enter a room of odd devices. Voices were all around but Saira couldn't understand. Saira stepped around Harry who was watching a horrific scene of Sirius getting tortured by Lord Voldemort. But suddenly Saira was getting a different point of view. Voldemort was not in the hall but in a chair somehow manipulating Harry's thoughts. It ended and Saira used all her strength searching the room for a piece of parchment.
"Saira! Talk to me" Legolas said stopping her
"I understand now. I know why my visions are right. Harry's aren't real and Voldemort found out. He's putting false scenes in Harry's mind and Harry doesn't know. He's going to do something rash"
"Wait. What?"
"Voldemort is putting scenes in Harry's head to lure him"
"Calm down. I'll take care of it. You need to rest"
He left and Saira took advantage of his absence to go see someone. She ventured along down the river until she reached the ivy-covered grave. She used magic to clear it and using her old Kokiri magic, she made roses and moonflowers grow to add color. Red, since it was Ita's favorite color. She sat on her legs and traced his name with her finger.
"Vedui" she said aloud. "I don't know why, but I haven't been able to bring myself here. I guess a part of me still feels like it's my fault you left. Maybe you'd still be alive but things still would have been hard. I wish I could have loved you the way you loved me. Guess life isn't fair, but I know that all to well because your life was taken needlessly and I swear one day I will avenge you"
Saira sat for a long time talking, knowing somehow Ita could hear her. When the sun had set, the moonflowers bloomed filling the air with its sweet scent. She said goodbye and headed back where she spotted Legolas reading in his window.
"Saira?" she spun around and looked at Lord Thranduil walking toward her
"Yes milord?"
"How are you?"
"Could be better"
"You've endured much recently but I hope it has not discouraged you in any way"
"On the contrary it has only spurred my need to see the end of this"
"Good. Go rest"
Saira returned to her room and fell asleep to the soft breeze. However it wasn't really a dream and wasn't quite a vision either. She was seeing the present as it was happening and she couldn't wake up. It began with flashes of all her friends. Liz, Dmitri, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and even Aranel were down in the dark room Harry had been dreaming of and they were venturing into new ones.
They reached a room of glass robs but everything started becoming black until there was a scene with everyone fighting masked people. For a moment it focused on Liz, Dmitri and Aranel because they were up against Isilwen whose look was completely different than Saira remembered. Her skin was dark and gray and her hair solid white and now she was in her true Drow form. Aranel was knocked unconscious and Dmitri attacked in unison with Liz.
Saira didn't see the outcome of that fight because her sight was steered to where Sirius fell into a veiled archway. It switched again to a duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort. Suddenly Saira woke up after witnessing everything her friends were going through that she was missing. She's been a prisoner once again in her mind and the fear of those scenes mixed with that notion made her shake and pant with cold sweat upon her brow. It was still early and the sun had not yet risen. She knew immediately that whatever Legolas tried to stop Harry's fake visions had failed.
Saira closed her eyes and ran her hands through her hair but when she opened them again she was not in her room but Ganondorf's throne room in a painless vision. She closed her eyes and rubbed them hoping it would go away but it didn't.
"Not now!" she yelled
But no one could hear her. Ganondorf was sitting on the throne. Saira walked up and tried to hit him but her hand went straight through. She backed up angrily and yelled out.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" she shouted darkly. "You've made my life hell!"
The large metal doors to the hall creaked open and Evangeline strode in. Saira noticed she wore detached sleeves no doubt to cover up the scar Saira inflicted but Evangeline still wore that familiar malicious smile.
"Milord there's someone here to see you," she said
"Who is it?"'
"May they enter?" Evangeline said wanting it to be a surprise by the tone of her voice.
"Fine"
"My king Ganondorf, I present you the Lord Voldemort of the earthen realm"
This got both Saira and Ganondorf's attention. The snake like Voldemort walked in wearing a black cloak and beside him was Bellatrix Lestrange. Saira had seen her in the Daily Prophet.
"Well, well, well" Ganondorf said slowly in his gruff voice. "Look what the tektite dragged in" he laughed. "What brings the great Voldemort to my castle?"
"I seek an alliance"
"I offered. You declined. Why should I offer again?"
"My dear Bella has informed me about the young Seer girl" Voldemort said "I can help you in that area"
"We don't need it" Evangeline broke in
Voldemort looked at her with contempt and she just returned the sentiment
"She's still a threat if I'm not mistaken"
"I beg to differ The Seer is trapped within her own mind. And forgive me if I like to toy with my prey" she said rudely
"You're out of line!" Bella yelled
Evangeline looked towards her approaching slowly
"Tell me, would you be quite so brace without that wand?"
Bella stood silent
"Puny human. Both of you!"
Voldemort attempted a curse but Evangeline was quicker and deflected it with her own Elvish spell. Bella then tried to use her wand to tie up Evangeline with ropes but she just grabbed them mid air and they turned to ash. Looking straight at Bell she raised her hand and Bella rose into the air imitating Evangeline's hand movements. Evangeline pinned her to the wall and probably ready to kill her when Ganondorf finally intervened
"That's enough my dear"
Evangeline dropped Bella to the ground
"As you can see Lord Voldemort, Evangeline is quite capable of killing the young Seer but my goal is not to kill her."
"Do your ambitions stop with Hyrule alone?"
"No, I will rule them all. My minions are already claiming Middle- Earth as we speak. I only lack Earth"
"Earth is mine for the taking. An alliance between us would make the process quicker"
'I agree but to quote a young adversary, 'I do not know you therefore I do not trust you.' You'll need to prove yourself"
"But—"
But Saira never learned because someone started shaking her. She was thankful in a way but almost wanted to see what happened. She stared at Tarowyn who was leaning over her
"Saira!"
"I'm here. I'm awake"
"You had a horrified look. Were you sleeping?"
"Uh, no. How much school is left?"
"Barely a week. However you'll be riding for Rivendell with his lordship tomorrow"
"Why?"
"Lady Eriathiel will be there along with your other friends. Lord Elrond is calling a meeting to decide which nations will attend the convention in Earth for our defenses."
"Thank you" Saira said "Have any letters come for me today?"
"One"
"From?"
"Albus Dumbledore"
"But he's not headmaster anymore"
"He was reinstated last night"
"What does he want?" Saira asked getting out of bed and putting on a robe
"He wanted to tell you that you must take your OWL exams at the beginning of next year. He advises you study hard over the summer"
"Wonderful"