Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter or the Mists of Avalon. I do own about 25 action figures, 6 movies, many copies of books, etc. that relate to said books. But, as of now, I neither own nor am affiliated with LOTR, HP, and the Mists of Avalon.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get a chapter up! I had severe writers block for the first time in my life. Thanks again to natalie for reviewing!
--------------Tales of the Nine---------------------------------------------------------------
The Fellowship members didn't hesitate at all. They quickly jumped to their feet and grabbed the few belongings they had brought with them.
"You guys have to make for the woods," Hermione said. Ginny and Ron dashed up the shady tunnel as fast as they could, motioning for the Fellowship to trail them.
"The hobbits, Legolas, and Boromir shall go first," Aragorn said as he stood with Anduríl's bright blade flickering menacingly in the dim light. "Gimli and I shall follow you. Go now!"
Boromir, Legolas, and the hobbits sprinted out of the Shrieking Shack after Ron and Ginny. The sound of their pounding legs resonated in the shaft; each had his weapon drawn for whatever could happen. Breathing heavily, Frodo felt his feet hit the soil of the tunnel shaft, over and over. His mind was reeling. Who was coming for them? He decided that anyone who associated with that Umbridge character wouldn't be too friendly if they caught him. His grip on Sting tightened.
After what seemed like an eternity, they burst out of the bole of an old creaky willow. Ron and Ginny had obviously hit the spot on the trunk that caused it to stop thrashing about at whoever was nearest. Sam rested his hands on his knees and bent over; he was shortly accompanied by Merry, Pippin, and Frodo. Legolas was standing stock still while peering into the gathering dusk for any signs of hostile wizards approaching. He turned his head toward the castle; only to see Umbridge stride through the front gates with an entourage of about fourteen other wizards.
Aragorn and Gimli burst up out of the tunnel, raring for a fight. Aragorn turned to Legolas.
"What do you see, my friend?" he asked in a low voice.
"The children were right, she is coming," Legolas replied curtly. "We must seek shelter; they outnumber us, and we do not have an effective way of fighting them. The last time they had nearly the same number as we, yet with their wands, we were unable to damage them."
Aragorn nodded and sighed. They knew too little of this world, and therefore had no idea what those who lived here were capable of. He muttered, "Into the forest it is then!"
The other members of the company had been regaining their breath, but now they stood with grim and anxious looks upon countenances half hidden by the dark. The tense atmosphere did not dissipate when Aragorn told them to make for the cover of the woods. Umbridge and her band were approaching closer, and they had no intention of a rendezvous with the wizards. They quietly stole into the woods.
The children had been waiting for several minutes when the Fellowship actually arrived. The adrenaline rush had caused them to spend those minutes fidgeting worriedly under the cover of the trees. When the Fellowship, abetted by the elvish cloaks they wore, appeared around them, they could feel a cold wash of relief rush over them.
"I'm glad we got to you in time!" Ginny breathed happily.
"What are we going to do?" Boromir queried. "They will know we are hiding in here sooner or later." Thoughtful looks crept onto all of their faces, only to be gradually replaced by ones of despair. They had reached an impasse; they could only go so far into the woods before the centaurs found them, so the youths thought.
"Wait." Merry looked up as a smile attached itself onto his features. "We have to be by the edge of the lake tonight, don't we? I doubt we'll be around long enough to be caught." There were many murmurs of assent and wry grins that reflected the tension that had lifted.
Harry smiled with the rest, he was glad that they were comforted, but what if Umbridge found them first. He shook his head to clear his mind of that thought.
The troupe headed silently through the wood. They could hear Umbridge conversing with others in the distance, but as of now, they were unfazed by her. They skirted around to the far side of the lake, figuring that Umbridge wouldn't get there until later.
They finally broke free of the restraining darkness and headed out under the light of the crescent moon. There were gentle ripples on the dark surface of the lake. The moonlight seemed to rebound off of the surface of the lake, giving it an eerily dark beauty. The stars shone bright through the cloudless sky. Everyone was struck by the splendor of the sight. From his left, Frodo heard Legolas whisper, "Elbereth."
They all moved down to the edge of the lake and waited motionlessly, some standing, some seated with their feet against the edge of the water. They all knew, they would be coming, soon.
It was, surprisingly, Harry who spoke that fact first. "They're coming."
No sooner had the words left his mouth as he heard footsteps behind him. He spun around to see Legolas with a shaft aimed at the throat of the first pursuer, while everyone else stood with their respective weapons at the ready.
The man at whom Legolas' shaft was aimed had arms bent up in a sign of truce. Harry noticed immediately that in his right hand he clutched an atrocious lime-green bowler hat. The man was none other than Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
"What do you want?" Aragorn addressed Fudge roughly. The other people in his party stepped forward, wands raised.
"You are under arrest!" Fudge spat back. "If you want to avoid trouble, I suggest you come quietly!"
"What have we done?" Frodo cried incredulously.
"You have broken educational statute number 11089, which states that, 'Any person/persons not affiliated with a magical school or granted leniency by the Ministry of Magic may stay on said school's grounds'," Fudge said.
"Then grant them leniency!" Hermione stated. "They will only be here for a few more minutes!"
"Be silent, Miss Granger," sneered Umbridge imperiously. "They attacked students and have been hiding out in the Shrieking Shack for two weeks, Minister."
"They didn't mean to!" Ron burst out.
"Let's let them tell their story to us once they are safe at Azkaban, shall we? Hmmm?" Fudge suggested. He raised his wand marginally with his free hand, but stopped when he saw Legolas pull the shaft back to a good position to fire from.
Umbridge advanced towards them, her usual horrible toad smile firmly fixed on her face. She advanced upon the Fellowship with her wand raised.
As she stepped for the third time, she let loose a primeval howl of pain. Sam had snuck up and smacked her hard with the flat of his sword. She thrust her wand in his direction and began to say an incantation when both he and Frodo smacked her. She fell to her knees and Frodo hit her once more over the head for good measure, to make sure she didn't hurt anyone. She swayed and keeled over, unconscious.
After a few seconds stunned silence, Fudge roared, "Get them! Before they do anything else!"
He raised his arm and yelled, "Stupefy!" Legolas ducked his spell, but it hit Ron, who had been standing behind him, full in the face. Harry and Hermione yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" at the same time and the Minister crashed to the ground, immobilized by the full body bind. Another of the ministry representatives hit Gimli with the stunning spell before he was brought down by the hilt of Aragorn's sword.
"Don't kill anyone!" Ginny called out.
The words left her mouth as she ducked another stunning spell; it flew straight over her head and into the lake. She sent one back in the direction of her attacker.
Legolas had brought down two ministry goons and was still going strong. He had shot them, but had purposefully only hit their arms, which they clutched in agony.
The hobbits turned out to be a force to be reckoned with. Two ministry women and a man spotted them and labeled them easy targets only to be brought down with surprising ease.
One exceptionally bewildered ministry woman just pointed her wand and yelled: "Expelliarmus!", only to find that it worked wonderfully on the Fellowship members. While they were disarmed they could be hit far more easily. Soon, many more ministry goons were trying the tactic.
The Fellowship wised up to their plan shortly. Fortunately, a spell glanced off of Frodo's sword; it was resistant to magic, having been forged by the elves. The other hobbits were pleased to find that the same held true for their swords, though made by the men of Westernesse.
Finally, the ministry members surrendered to the Fellowship. The company had taken out all save five of them. Cornelius Fudge stumbled to his feet, the full body bind having worn off. He glared at the Fellowship and the children.
"I think," he snarled to the members of his party left standing, "that we need a bit more force. Don't hesitate to use the Unforgivable Curses, just capture them!"
"Crucio!" he bellowed. The spell hit Frodo square in the chest. The hobbit doubled up and cried out in pain. Sam became enraged. "Don't do that to him!" he said as he rushed Fudge. Fudge stopped the curse.
"Now, will you come quietly?" he asked, all traces of his former mild timidity gone.
Sam helped Frodo to his feet. "I'm all right, Sam," Frodo said.
Out of nowhere, another stunning spell came and smashed Fudge on the head.
Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall ran up to the scene. "What happened here?" Professor McGonagall asked as she looked at the battlefield. She let a small grin flit across her face as she saw Fudge.
"Well..." Harry began. He stopped before he got any further. A mist had risen off of the top of the lake, obscuring the surface. It was illuminated by the brightness of the moon and stars. The mist slowly progressed toward the shore, and a voice could be heard.
"It is time they were here."
At that, all of the Fellowship, the two Professors, the children, Umbridge, and Fudge were swept up in the mist. They heard a word being spoken, but it was unidentifiable. All that could be discerned was that it was clearly a word that held immeasurable power. The next thing they knew, they were falling once more through the mist.
A/N: Another cliffhanger! As well as my longest chapter thus far is complete! Tell me if you like it. If I get reviews, then I will post a new chapter. (Wow, I just found out what my geometry teacher was saying about biconditionals.)
-Note- The story will gradually become more centered on the main characters (Frodo, Harry, and Morgaine).
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get a chapter up! I had severe writers block for the first time in my life. Thanks again to natalie for reviewing!
--------------Tales of the Nine---------------------------------------------------------------
The Fellowship members didn't hesitate at all. They quickly jumped to their feet and grabbed the few belongings they had brought with them.
"You guys have to make for the woods," Hermione said. Ginny and Ron dashed up the shady tunnel as fast as they could, motioning for the Fellowship to trail them.
"The hobbits, Legolas, and Boromir shall go first," Aragorn said as he stood with Anduríl's bright blade flickering menacingly in the dim light. "Gimli and I shall follow you. Go now!"
Boromir, Legolas, and the hobbits sprinted out of the Shrieking Shack after Ron and Ginny. The sound of their pounding legs resonated in the shaft; each had his weapon drawn for whatever could happen. Breathing heavily, Frodo felt his feet hit the soil of the tunnel shaft, over and over. His mind was reeling. Who was coming for them? He decided that anyone who associated with that Umbridge character wouldn't be too friendly if they caught him. His grip on Sting tightened.
After what seemed like an eternity, they burst out of the bole of an old creaky willow. Ron and Ginny had obviously hit the spot on the trunk that caused it to stop thrashing about at whoever was nearest. Sam rested his hands on his knees and bent over; he was shortly accompanied by Merry, Pippin, and Frodo. Legolas was standing stock still while peering into the gathering dusk for any signs of hostile wizards approaching. He turned his head toward the castle; only to see Umbridge stride through the front gates with an entourage of about fourteen other wizards.
Aragorn and Gimli burst up out of the tunnel, raring for a fight. Aragorn turned to Legolas.
"What do you see, my friend?" he asked in a low voice.
"The children were right, she is coming," Legolas replied curtly. "We must seek shelter; they outnumber us, and we do not have an effective way of fighting them. The last time they had nearly the same number as we, yet with their wands, we were unable to damage them."
Aragorn nodded and sighed. They knew too little of this world, and therefore had no idea what those who lived here were capable of. He muttered, "Into the forest it is then!"
The other members of the company had been regaining their breath, but now they stood with grim and anxious looks upon countenances half hidden by the dark. The tense atmosphere did not dissipate when Aragorn told them to make for the cover of the woods. Umbridge and her band were approaching closer, and they had no intention of a rendezvous with the wizards. They quietly stole into the woods.
The children had been waiting for several minutes when the Fellowship actually arrived. The adrenaline rush had caused them to spend those minutes fidgeting worriedly under the cover of the trees. When the Fellowship, abetted by the elvish cloaks they wore, appeared around them, they could feel a cold wash of relief rush over them.
"I'm glad we got to you in time!" Ginny breathed happily.
"What are we going to do?" Boromir queried. "They will know we are hiding in here sooner or later." Thoughtful looks crept onto all of their faces, only to be gradually replaced by ones of despair. They had reached an impasse; they could only go so far into the woods before the centaurs found them, so the youths thought.
"Wait." Merry looked up as a smile attached itself onto his features. "We have to be by the edge of the lake tonight, don't we? I doubt we'll be around long enough to be caught." There were many murmurs of assent and wry grins that reflected the tension that had lifted.
Harry smiled with the rest, he was glad that they were comforted, but what if Umbridge found them first. He shook his head to clear his mind of that thought.
The troupe headed silently through the wood. They could hear Umbridge conversing with others in the distance, but as of now, they were unfazed by her. They skirted around to the far side of the lake, figuring that Umbridge wouldn't get there until later.
They finally broke free of the restraining darkness and headed out under the light of the crescent moon. There were gentle ripples on the dark surface of the lake. The moonlight seemed to rebound off of the surface of the lake, giving it an eerily dark beauty. The stars shone bright through the cloudless sky. Everyone was struck by the splendor of the sight. From his left, Frodo heard Legolas whisper, "Elbereth."
They all moved down to the edge of the lake and waited motionlessly, some standing, some seated with their feet against the edge of the water. They all knew, they would be coming, soon.
It was, surprisingly, Harry who spoke that fact first. "They're coming."
No sooner had the words left his mouth as he heard footsteps behind him. He spun around to see Legolas with a shaft aimed at the throat of the first pursuer, while everyone else stood with their respective weapons at the ready.
The man at whom Legolas' shaft was aimed had arms bent up in a sign of truce. Harry noticed immediately that in his right hand he clutched an atrocious lime-green bowler hat. The man was none other than Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
"What do you want?" Aragorn addressed Fudge roughly. The other people in his party stepped forward, wands raised.
"You are under arrest!" Fudge spat back. "If you want to avoid trouble, I suggest you come quietly!"
"What have we done?" Frodo cried incredulously.
"You have broken educational statute number 11089, which states that, 'Any person/persons not affiliated with a magical school or granted leniency by the Ministry of Magic may stay on said school's grounds'," Fudge said.
"Then grant them leniency!" Hermione stated. "They will only be here for a few more minutes!"
"Be silent, Miss Granger," sneered Umbridge imperiously. "They attacked students and have been hiding out in the Shrieking Shack for two weeks, Minister."
"They didn't mean to!" Ron burst out.
"Let's let them tell their story to us once they are safe at Azkaban, shall we? Hmmm?" Fudge suggested. He raised his wand marginally with his free hand, but stopped when he saw Legolas pull the shaft back to a good position to fire from.
Umbridge advanced towards them, her usual horrible toad smile firmly fixed on her face. She advanced upon the Fellowship with her wand raised.
As she stepped for the third time, she let loose a primeval howl of pain. Sam had snuck up and smacked her hard with the flat of his sword. She thrust her wand in his direction and began to say an incantation when both he and Frodo smacked her. She fell to her knees and Frodo hit her once more over the head for good measure, to make sure she didn't hurt anyone. She swayed and keeled over, unconscious.
After a few seconds stunned silence, Fudge roared, "Get them! Before they do anything else!"
He raised his arm and yelled, "Stupefy!" Legolas ducked his spell, but it hit Ron, who had been standing behind him, full in the face. Harry and Hermione yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" at the same time and the Minister crashed to the ground, immobilized by the full body bind. Another of the ministry representatives hit Gimli with the stunning spell before he was brought down by the hilt of Aragorn's sword.
"Don't kill anyone!" Ginny called out.
The words left her mouth as she ducked another stunning spell; it flew straight over her head and into the lake. She sent one back in the direction of her attacker.
Legolas had brought down two ministry goons and was still going strong. He had shot them, but had purposefully only hit their arms, which they clutched in agony.
The hobbits turned out to be a force to be reckoned with. Two ministry women and a man spotted them and labeled them easy targets only to be brought down with surprising ease.
One exceptionally bewildered ministry woman just pointed her wand and yelled: "Expelliarmus!", only to find that it worked wonderfully on the Fellowship members. While they were disarmed they could be hit far more easily. Soon, many more ministry goons were trying the tactic.
The Fellowship wised up to their plan shortly. Fortunately, a spell glanced off of Frodo's sword; it was resistant to magic, having been forged by the elves. The other hobbits were pleased to find that the same held true for their swords, though made by the men of Westernesse.
Finally, the ministry members surrendered to the Fellowship. The company had taken out all save five of them. Cornelius Fudge stumbled to his feet, the full body bind having worn off. He glared at the Fellowship and the children.
"I think," he snarled to the members of his party left standing, "that we need a bit more force. Don't hesitate to use the Unforgivable Curses, just capture them!"
"Crucio!" he bellowed. The spell hit Frodo square in the chest. The hobbit doubled up and cried out in pain. Sam became enraged. "Don't do that to him!" he said as he rushed Fudge. Fudge stopped the curse.
"Now, will you come quietly?" he asked, all traces of his former mild timidity gone.
Sam helped Frodo to his feet. "I'm all right, Sam," Frodo said.
Out of nowhere, another stunning spell came and smashed Fudge on the head.
Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall ran up to the scene. "What happened here?" Professor McGonagall asked as she looked at the battlefield. She let a small grin flit across her face as she saw Fudge.
"Well..." Harry began. He stopped before he got any further. A mist had risen off of the top of the lake, obscuring the surface. It was illuminated by the brightness of the moon and stars. The mist slowly progressed toward the shore, and a voice could be heard.
"It is time they were here."
At that, all of the Fellowship, the two Professors, the children, Umbridge, and Fudge were swept up in the mist. They heard a word being spoken, but it was unidentifiable. All that could be discerned was that it was clearly a word that held immeasurable power. The next thing they knew, they were falling once more through the mist.
A/N: Another cliffhanger! As well as my longest chapter thus far is complete! Tell me if you like it. If I get reviews, then I will post a new chapter. (Wow, I just found out what my geometry teacher was saying about biconditionals.)
-Note- The story will gradually become more centered on the main characters (Frodo, Harry, and Morgaine).