Harry Potter and the Price of Freedom
By Becca
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise and little you don't. all Harry Potter characters and places belong to JK Rowling and all Lord of the Rings characters and places belong to JRR Tolkien. I'm just borrowing them.
Summary: HP/LOTR CrossoverRated for later chapters Harry's life in the Wizarding world comes to an end yet he is given a second chance to find happiness in another world inspired by Ithilhin's crossoverAim Pairing: Harry/Erestor/Haldir
Notes: Ugh! Sorry this took so long, but I've been trying to write on chapter six for a while and realised that you didn't even have chapter three yet, and then my computer had to go in the shop and everything to be wiped and then I had to find what I had of this story again and save it to my computer. So yeah, I promise the next chapter wont be so long, and for those reading the other stories on this account, I'm gonna try and update them too.
Chapter Three
Harry spent the next forty-eight hours in his room alone, reading through the tomes before him and memorising each and every map. In the two short days he'd been more or less devoid of company, he had learnt everything he could from the resources provided. Though the majority of his time was indeed alone, he had had the odd visitor now and then. The twins had offered to show him around the land and Erestor had been along to schedule the first of their training sessions.
Not having had the particular need to sleep, nor the desire, he found himself exploring Imladris under the light of the moon and her children. As he walked, he realised that he hadn't seen Aldóra since he had first arrived. He felt a pang of guilt stab at him for ignoring her and although he had no doubt that she was being treated well, he resolved to go see her this night… just to make sure. A horse she may be, but she was as smart as a Gryffin.
He smiled at the thought as he stepped out into one of the many gardens that lined the Main house of Elrond's grounds. He let his eyes roam over the mountains that surrounded the Elven safe haven before returning his attention to the stars. It truly was a beautiful night for one wishing to take a stroll. Out of a habit he had yet to break from, he wrapped his cloak tighter around his body to keep out the cold he knew he couldn't feel.
He was amazed at how silent this land proved to be. And yet, it wasn't compressing like he had expected it to be. It didn't suffocate him; instead, it was calm, peaceful and, for lack of a better term, just right. Imladris was a breathtaking place, Harry thought as he found comfort in his solitude.
If he was to be completely honest with himself, he would admit that the only reason he had been avoiding the sleep require to put him back at full strength was because he found he just couldn't cope with the dreams. Sure, it was thrilling to be able to see is home world every now and again; to be able to see how his family and friends were. But every night? Every time he closed his eyes?
It damn near kills him inside to see them crying over him. It pains him like a knife in his heart to not be able to reach out and touch them, share their sorrows and their joys. But perhaps the thing that hurt him the most, the thing that ate away at his soul was how easy it was for life to carry on when he wasn't there.
He found himself wishing he had somehow managed to bring his journal with him, if just so he could sit down and write his feelings as poems. It had been the only thing that had kept him sane during the war. Though he supposed he could always start a new one here. After all, this was a new world, a new life – Still, how he was expected to forget about his home and be happy was beyond him, especially with those dreams.
The old wizard Gandalf reminded Harry of Dumbledore a lot, especially when it came to avoiding a straight answer. It was most frustrating but then again the elves weren't much better either and now he came to think about it, he himself hadn't given a straight answer since he came here…
Never would he fit in here though, not in this world. The lands were too different, he was too different; the way he thought - hell! Even the way he moved.
He could feel someone watching him again but he paid them no mind. People always watched him when he left his rooms here, be it in curiosity or distrust, either way, he felt their eyes.
He wandered down the stream for a minute before he finally came to what looked like stables. He pushed the door open slightly and then slipped into the darkness. His eyes adjusted immediately and he saw Aldóra poking her head out over the top of the door that held her in her compartment at the far end of the stable house. He looked at the other horses curiously as he passed them but then came to a stop in front of his.
"Hey girl." he whispered quietly and smiled as she nuzzled her nose against his cheek "How do you like it here hmm? Comfy?" he asked and laughed again as she snorted "My Aldóra, you are truly a beautiful being aren't you?" he said amused
"That she is." said a voice behind him and in the blink of an eye, he had the elf pressed against the wall with a dagger to his throat. Harry blinked as he saw the amused face of one of the twins, Elladan. He arched an eyebrow and then pulled back, placing his dagger back in his belt and bowing slightly
"Forgive me, you startled me." he said before turning back to his horse and stroking her head softly. Silence fell among them again as Harry kissed her, in between the eyes "As lovely a gift as you are my dear Aldóra, we shall have to see just where the fools stole you from and return you to your home. I imagine you are from the Kingdom of Rohan?" he asked and sighed as she just looked at him
"Why must you return her? She was a gift to you and 'tis plain that you love her." Elladan spoke up again and Harry smiled
"Because as powerful as the Valar are, they are too lazy to just conjure up a horse that just so happens to have a saddle and all the supplies she and any rider could possibly need. No, they would have called her from her home and she would have answered whether she had permission by her owners or not. For all I know, she may just have run and I will be labelled a thief amongst the Rohirrim people. It is too soon for me to make enemies and besides, I cannot stay here much longer, I propose to leave when I have learnt what I can from Erestor, I do not mean to impose any longer than necessary." he said and then turned to leave
"Walk with me?" Elladan asked and Harry looked at him before nodding curtly. They walked under the stars aiming for nowhere in particular and then started to climb up. When they were stood on a ledge of the mountains, Elladan waved down to his home land. "A beautiful place this is, a peace hangs here that cannot be compared and yet, one can never get enough." The twin said smiling and then he turned to Harry
"Erestor, my brother and I plan to travel through the lands to visit our kin, as soon as your lessons were complete. But, each day, we learn that there is more to you than we once believed and we feel Erestor will be teaching you for a long time before he is content in the knowledge of you. If you mean to leave here, why not join us? You would not be imposing. Quite the contrary in fact; I believe we would thoroughly enjoy your company." He said slowly and then shrugged elegantly, a soft smile still tugging at his lips and a twinkle in his grey eyes
"You feel like you are imposing here and you feel you can never fit in with our people for what you are, for what has happened to you in the past and yet, where are you to go? One cannot wander around these lands alone; simply waiting for the day one dies. You were brought here to live amongst us and to find happiness, how can you do that if you have no place you can call home? For me, my heart will always be here in Imladris, but I love to travel, to see how others are living." He said and glanced up at the stars and his smile widened.
"My father has made it clear that you are welcome here. Both he and myself believe Imladris is where you are meant to be. It was no question of circumstance that you travelled in this particular direction, to this household when you were nearer to our kin of the woods." he said and put his hand on Harry's shoulder again "Travel with us, see the beauty of this world through the eye of its homeland kin, one who has dwelt here since birth and knows all sights, sounds and locations. Learn all and learn more. You are part elf, you deserve that right. I will leave the offer open to you, think on it my friend, there is no rush." he turned and left then and for the first time in days, Harry found himself truly smiling again as he watched him go.
Harry watched, barely concealing his amusement as Erestor tried very hard to restrain himself from pulling out his hair. The entire day had been spent, trying to get Harry to learn the languages of middle earth, they were only on the common language of the elves and already the chief councillor was frustrated. The twins, who had decided to try and help, sat muffling their laughs in the corner as Harry succeeded in winding up the one person no one could imagine irritated. When Harry decided he should stop mocking though, he grasped the language fairly easy though he felt like a fool speaking it.
He grasped the basics of the language by dinnertime and so as they paused, the chief councillor was lost in his thoughts, trying to decide which question he should ask first. True the session wasn't over yet but Harry had been feeling guilty over his taking the piss and had granted him two for this one day. Harry waiting, slightly apprehensive over what would be asked but the twins were looking on with curiosity, this being intrigued them as much as they intrigued Harry.
"Your parents, you said they were…" Erestor spoke up eventually and Harry nodded, a blank mask pulled over his features instantly, knowing what was coming "What happened? I mean, the night they died, where did you go?" he asked quietly and both the twins stopped laughing and just looked between their oldest friend and their newest, unable to believe that had been the first question.
"I was a year old, the dark lord Voldemort was in his prime, during his first reign of terror as it was called. Parents went to work, fearing to leave their home but even more terrified of returning in case they found the dark lords mark over their home and their family dead. Nobody survived when Voldemort decided he wanted to kill them, it is still feared to speak his name now, you will never understand the terror he placed on humans and wizards in general." he said slowly, his brow furrowed as he thought of the best way to answer this question
"Voldemort decided he wanted James Potter and the baby Harry Potter dead as it had been prophesied that the son of the parents who had defied the dark lord three times would be his downfall. A spy for the light in his ranks warned the potters and they were placed under a series of enchantments and spells that meant they could not be found by anyone except the person they entrusted this secret with. They chose a friend who had been by their sides since their school years. Said friend betrayed them, Voldemort found them, he killed my father instantly with a curse that none have survived, that there was no counter for and then he came for me in my cot where my mother was waiting."
"My mother placed an enchantment on me containing the one thing that Voldemort did not understand, love. She did not have to die so when she begged him to take her and leave me, he killed her and the love of her sacrifice for me strengthened the enchantment and formed a barrier around me. The Dark Lord knew nothing of this of course and so he cast that same killing curse at me, unexpectedly, the curse was rebounded, I survived what no others had, Voldemort's soul was torn from his body and he fled, bidding him time, he was not yet defeated. As for me, I was taken to my mothers adopted sister and her family, needless to say, said sister, my aunt hated everything to do with magic, hated her sister, my mother and therefore hated me." he finished with a shrug and then smiled at the looks of horror on their faces.
"I was a year old, and while it grieves me that my parents are lost, I know that when the time is right I will meet with them again and therefore I await that day and forget my sorrow." He added, the four of them sat in silence for a while before Erestor stood and again the lessons began. By the end of the day, Harry had the common tongue of the elves mastered as if he had spoken it all of his life, which surprised them all.
As the days went on, Erestor moved through the other languages until Harry had mastered them all and in return, Harry had explained how his magic worked, what a school was, what happened in his first year and had described his two best friends in detail. The councillor drank all of this information in and yet the more questions he asked, the more he wished to know. The twins often joined them for Harry's lessons and helped when he struggled with something but other than that, life went on as normal as it could.
Every night Harry contemplated the offer he had been given weeks ago by Elladan and he found himself actually wanting to accept. The more time he spent with the three elves, the more he grew to like them and the more he came to refer to each of them as friends. They shared information about themselves in exchange for his and it seemed they were teaching him now just out of the kindness of their hearts. Though Erestor was running out of light topics to ask of his questions and he knew the others he could think of were painful but Harry was anticipating them and was going to answer truthfully, just as he had promised. One came to him by surprise though, nearing the end of a lesson, this time on the different races
"The scars. I saw you had many on your back when Lord Elrond and I were treating your wounds. How did you receive them?" he asked and Harry cringed, unable to hide it but he shrugged elegantly
"I told you once that my aunt and uncle hated anything to do with magic and hated me, they had – attempted to beat it out of me. Others are from the times Lord Voldemort managed to capture me and had his fun" he said and sighed before turning back to the book he had been reading, trying to ignore the looks on his friends faces. Eventually, Harry managed to stop the memories that flickered through his mind and actually concentrate on the book whilst the others went back to whatever it was they were doing.
Middle earth was definitely and interesting place, Harry thought as he read through yet another book he had been assigned to read. The twins were with their father today and so it was just him and Erestor. He glanced up from the book and noticed with satisfaction that Erestor was leaning back in his seat, one leg lazily draped across the other with his own text resting happily on his lap. The elf steadied the book with one hand, whilst letting the other wander up to his mouth, grazing gently against his lips. Full lips. Lips that Harry had been noticing more and more lately.
"Are you hungry Erestor?" He asked the dark-haired elf with a grinning voice and a seemingly curious expression. Said elf glanced up from his reading, confusion in his eyes and Harry smiled innocently. "You seem to be teasing yourself with your fingers I thought you might be hungry." He did not bother to mask the double entendre and smirked at the disbelieving look he received "Perhaps my fingers would taste better? You can try my lips too if you like."
Erestor stared at him before shaking his head and going back to his book. Harry laughed softly to himself but he couldn't help but think that he would rather like to try those lips against his. He shook his head and dragged his eyes away from the beautiful elf, forcing himself to concentrate on the task at hand. Some time later, he stretched and put the book away before standing up. Erestor was watching him and appeared to have been doing for some time now and Harry fought the blush off his cheeks
"Walk with me?" the elf spoke up eventually and Harry nodded, allowing himself to be led out under the stars. They walked in silence, just enjoying the beauty of the night. Erestor though was lost in his thoughts, he had been scrapping for the most important things to teach the boy but it proved that the minor things he had missed were also needed and yet the twins were anxious to get on with their journey, after all, it wasn't often Erestor traveled with them
"Have you made your decision?" he asked after a while and Harry mulled over his answer for a minute, really, there were no other options, he could either go with them or go off on his own, whilst he had studied maps intently during his stay here so that he hopefully wouldn't get lost, it would be nice to have company and so he nodded slowly
"I have. I would be honored to join you, if you are sure that it will be no trouble" he said quietly, looking at his feet and Erestor nodded
"No, it would be no trouble at all, we would enjoy your company" he replied and Harry smiled softly and looked around again, nights always seemed to be so beautiful here. When back in his home world, he remembered them to be of grief and despair, constantly wondering what the next day would bring, what terrors would befall them.
"What troubles lay on your heart so Harry? What dampens the light in those eyes?" Erestor asked after a few minutes of studying the man besides him carefully, because that is what he is, a man. That was about the only thing the elf was certain on when it came to Harry. Harry sighed and surveyed him carefully before forcing a smile
"Do not trouble yourself with a boys wandering thoughts Erestor, as that is all it is" he said quietly and then smiled sincerely as the elf nodded, not pushing any further. A while longer, they both retreated back to their rooms to try and get some rest. Harry slumped back into his chair and read for a while until he fell asleep with the book in his hands
Erestor returned to Harry's room the next morning for the start of their lessons, when he didn't get an answer, he cautiously pushed the door back and stepped inside, struggling to keep a smile off his face when he found the boy asleep in his chair. He shut the door behind him quietly and sat down in what was fast becoming 'his' chair, taking this time to study the boy without being studied at the same time.
His skin was almost as white as snow, much paler than the average elf. His face looked so smooth that one almost wished to reach over and stroke his cheek; his body was slim yet looked to have some well-defined muscles. His hair was as soft as silk has sheen and his entire being just seemed to scream, "Hug me, kiss me, nurture me." Attractive just didn't seem to fit when paired with the beauty he saw before him nor did stunning or striking, he wasn't sure there had been a word created for someone such as Harry.
Erestor watched as a tongue darted out to wet those lips that were as red as roses and looked as soft and smooth as velvet. His eyes trailed down to the book held loosely in those fingers and he gently took it and placed it on the table just as Harry shifted. He let his eyes drift to the half unbuttoned shirt and swallowed hard as unbidden to him, an image of just what the boy looked like under it popped to mind, scars and all, had he really been looking that intently when he and Elrond healed him?
He blanched immediately in shock as that image turned into what he imagined the boy, man, would look like without any clothes and he dragged his eyes back up to Harry's face guiltily, startled when he saw those glowing emerald eyes fixed on him, and a smirk tugging at those rose lips. His mask of indifference took over immediately as he fought back the blush that was creeping up his neck, hopefully he succeeded and he looked away as Harry stretched and picked the book back up.
"Mornin' to you too." Harry said, grinning wickedly behind the pages. He had been awake since the moment the elf stepped into his room but when he felt those eyes on him so intently, he couldn't open his eyes for the life of him. Erestor cleared his throat awkwardly
"I have informed the twins about your decision. They are making the arrangements as we speak. They plan to leave in three days time, if that is ok with you." he said, managing to find his voice. Harry nodded, feeling only a little bit guilty for embarrassing his friend. They slipped back into a comfortable silence and then Erestor looked at him again "Tell me of your love?" he asked, unable to stop himself and Harry looked at him closely before he nodded and pushed the book back down.
"Severus was a teacher at my school. For five years he had loathed me with a passion and didn't bother to hide it. He thought I was just a stuck up brat who was spoilt beyond believe at home." he said slowly and then smiled slightly "It was half way through my fifth year when I had returned from training with the elves and had Occlumency lessons, he saw some of the beatings in my mind and then everything he thought about me came crashing down. We started talking civilly and in just a few months, we were lovers." he smiled and closed his eyes, remembering how it felt to be in his lover's arms
"Severus was the first to have shown me any type of physical affection, apart from the hugs by my best friends mum. This was different; this was someone who liked me for me, not as a child's friend who happened to be famous. He showed me how it was to be held, to make love…everything I had missed out on, he gave to me. I loved him unconditionally and he returned him. He gave his life trying to protect me, as I would have for him." his smile faltered for a minute as he remembered and he swallowed hard
"It was hard to lose him but it was even worse having to mourn alone. No one had known of our friendship, let alone our relationship. None of my friends mourned his loss, they whispered about it, they gave their respects to him but they did not hurt as I did. The only person who understood was Albus, he had suspected of us and when he had found me refusing to eat and getting little sleep, he was the one who had to put me back on my feet so to speak and show me to live again." he stopped as he realized he had perhaps said more than he wanted too and couldn't bring himself to meet the elf's eye, instead he turned back to the book and stared blankly at the page.