HP/LOTR crossover
Note: All notes, important or otherwise are posted at the top of the prologue. I will add more notes when I feel it is necessary.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT, AND WILL NEVER CLAIM OWNERSHIP OVER HARRY POTTER AND ITS CHARACTERS OR LORD OF THE RINGS AND ITS CHARACTERS.
Five: Most Unbecoming.
"So, you are a Princeling?" Harry said more to himself than anyone else. He smirked slightly when Legolas bristled at the comment. Haldir barely managed to keep a smile from his face.
"Do not call me that!" The Prince demanded hotly and Harry laughed.
"Why should I not call you that? It is what you are, after all. You are the son of a King; therefore you must be a Princeling. Correct me if I am wrong anyone, for I would simply hate to get on the bad side of royalty." His eyes were dancing with barely suppressed mirth but the grin on his face told all.
"I am the son of a King! Sons of Kings are referred to as 'Princes'. Or did that slip your mind?" Harry raised an eyebrow at the elf's brave attempt at sarcasm.
"Anger does not become you." He sighed dramatically. "Your being a Prince did not slip my mind, for how would I have come up with Princeling without first having Prince? I was once a Prince." He said wistfully.
"I strongly doubt you were any form of Prince." Legolas snapped, sneering at Harry. The latter clucked his tongue.
"Now that look certainly doesn't become you dear Princeling. And as for my being a Prince, well, it wasn't exactly official 'I'm royalty, I have the documentation to prove it' deal. It was more like a 'Prince of Gryffindor' deal and after that, it was 'Prince of the free people of Earth'. So in reality, I was two Princes in my life time… What?" Both Haldir and Legolas were staring at him with something akin to great shock and wonderment. "What?" He asked again.
"You were Prince of Gryffindor?" Haldir asked, a slight quaver in his voice. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Appointed by the masses. Nothing official." The Half-elf's eyes darted from one elf to the other in utter confusion. Why was his house name cause for quavering voices? "What's wrong? What have I done now?"
"Gryffindor is a legend in our realms." It was Harry's turn to be shocked this time.
"You're joking, right?" The Elves shook their head and the former Gryffindor took a deep breath. "Then I suppose it would do me no favours to mention I'm the heir of Gryffindor." He muttered beneath his breath before he thought through what uttering something like that would cause. He made a mental note to keep all things that were not meant for Elven ears in his mind.
"You truly are the Prince of Gryffindor." Haldir said, his voice barely above a whisper and laden to the brim with awe. Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes towards the heavens, vowing that when he saw his father once again he'd kick the deceased man's arse. Figuratively speaking, of course.
"Yes yes, what and not. Enough!" said the 'Prince' of Gryffindor. He mentally scoffed at the title. "Could I request one thing from both of you?" The pair nodded. "Keep this conversation to yourselves. Speak of it to no one."
"We shall." The Marchwarden said after a moment's silence, Legolas nodded his agreement shortly after.
Harry smiled at them his thanks for their discretion. His smile however, slowly grew into a grin as he turned his full attention to Legolas. The Prince looked at him with apprehension and a spark of fear, though the fear was quickly masked.
"Back to my earlier thought." Chimed Harry as he slowly advanced on Legolas whilst Haldir looked on, amused at his friend's antics. "Well, my wondering thought… Anyway, I was wondering exactly 'what' look would indeed suit our dear Elven Princeling." Said Princeling scowled dirtily at him, though it did nothing to deter his advance. "No no, that look certainly does not become you. Does it Haldir?" He called back over his shoulder. Haldir wisely remained silent with only a smile on his face.
"I have asked you not to call me that!" Legolas 'kindly' reminded Harry.
"That you did. But it doesn't seem like I have taken much notice now, does it?" His grin broadened when he received no reply. "Ah, I think I will enjoy discovering all the 'looks' that you possess my dear Princeling." With a wink, he turned around to face the Marchwarden. "Shall we depart?" He asked the elf with a bright smile. The elf nodded at Harry before turning to Legolas.
"We shall speak later old friend." He inclined his head and began to guide Harry towards the Lord and Lady's chambers.
It took half an hour to arrive at the chambers, on the way to which, the pair had ran into Dinendal, Orophin and Rũmil. The three patrol wardens had heard of Harry's 'training' session and they had each requested a spar with the new arrival. Harry, of course, not being one to ever refuse a good, healthy spar, had told each of them that he would gladly partake in a spar. So, after setting up a meeting time and deciding that the 'session' should take place in the training range, Harry and Haldir were once again on their way.
When they finally did arrive, both Lord and Lady rose graciously from their seats and stepped forward to greet them. Harry felt Haldir start to move away and called out to him. "Haldir, I would like you to remain here, if that is alright."
The Marchwarden looked sceptically at the Lord and Lady but after receiving two nods of approval, he nodded to Harry himself. Yes, he would stay, if only to keep Harry from attacking his Lord. All four elves sat down the seats provided and waited for the first to speak.
"Harry Potter, I would like to welcome you formally to the woods of Lóthlorien." The Lady began. "I am the Lady of this wood, my name is Galadriel and I, along with my husband Celeborn," she gestured to the regal elf beside her. "rule the lands that fall beneath the canopies of the trees of these woods." Harry nodded, thinking on what he'd just heard.
So, he was related to a Queen amongst Elves. He mentally snorted. It figured only he could grow up in school denying that he was in any way, shape or form, royalty, only to find out that he actually was royalty. He 'really' was going to kick his dad's arse when next he saw him.
He noticed that both Elves before him were looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for something.
"Oh!" the half-elf exclaimed, realising they were in fact waiting for him. "Sorry, got caught in a mental 'I-told-you-I-wasn't-but-it-turns-out-I-am' banter." They looked confused, he couldn't blame them. He was feeling a little odd himself. "Right, you're waiting for my explanations." They nodded. "Well, you see, it goes like this. I am Harry James Potter, son of James… you know, I don't actually know my Dad's middle name." He mused out loud before shaking himself back into focus.
"Well anyway… Son of James Potter. My mother's name was Lily Potter; though that wasn't the name she was given at birth. Her birth name was Anéthiel. She was adopted by two wonderful parents who raised her as Lily Evans." He paused to take a deep breath to keep himself calm. "So, let's recap things shall we?" He said; his voice clipped. "I am Harry Potter, son of Anéthiel, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. Tell me if any of this is getting through to you."
His gaze turned hard at the saddened look both Lord and Lady possessed. They were looking at him with deep regret that looked, and possibly was quite genuine. But Harry was not going to crumble and break down. Not now, not in front of them.
"When we gave Anéthiel to the Istar, we asked him to keep her safe. Here, her life was in grave danger and she could not defend herself as her sister could." Harry's curiosity cut her off.
"She had a sister?" Galadriel nodded an affirmative. "What is her name? And where does she dwell?" He asked.
"She goes by Celebrian and she lives with her husband and three children in Imladris." She answered, confused as to why Harry would want to know the information. The half-elf gestured for her to continue so she went on. "Your mother could not have stayed in this land; we did not have the means to protect her which meant the only option was to send her from this here to a place that was safe." Harry snorted out loud at Galadriel's words, causing the Lady to frown: an expression that must have been a rarity upon her brow as it was hardly distinguishable from a look of contemplation. "What part of my explanation do you find amusing, son of my daughter?" she asked him and Harry's eyes flashed.
"You think because you bore her through your pregnancy till the day you gave birth and then until you gave her away, you have the right to call her your daughter?" He demanded hotly, anger clearly evident. "You have no such right." He snarled. "And as to your question, I find nothing of your explanation amusing, merely ironic. You sent her away to be safe, yet all you really did was sent her to her death." He rose abruptly from his seat.
In purely a reflex action, Haldir stood also, ready and willing to protect his Lord and Lady but he faltered when Harry turned to look at him.
"Give me an image of Imladris." The half-elf demanded; his tone pleading. Haldir could see Harry was on the verge of breaking down so he did not object.
He held out his hand for Harry to take, closed his eyes and tried to come up with an image of the Elven Realm Harry had asked for.
"Harry, please remain here." The Marchwarden heard his Lord cry but before he could pass comment, he heard Harry's words.
"I will have your Marchwarden back soon, Ata'da." He sneered the last word before disappearing with Haldir, leaving Galadriel and Celeborn shocked and grief-stricken.
When Harry and Haldir reappeared, they were in a large hall. It reminded Harry of the Great Hall back at Hogwarts, save the ceiling of course. There was a large table running down the centre of the hall that reminded him of one of the house tables. Sat at the table were close to 25 Elves. They seemed to be sitting down to their breakfast, or they would be, had Harry not interrupted.
The soft laughter and gentle talk stopped abruptly when a loud 'crack' was heard. Every elf sitting at the table looked around just in time to see the Marchwarden of Lorien and a stranger appear out of thin air.
Ignoring the Elves for the moment, Harry turned to Haldir. "I forgot to ask before," He began, barely suppressing the sobs that were fighting their way to the surface. "Did she know about my mother?" Haldir was momentarily confused with the question but finally realised what his friend was speaking of.
"She knew." He answered. "The Lady could not hide her pregnancy." Harry nodded. He bit his lip in one final attempt to hold in his tears but the attempt was in vain. The first wave of sobs wracked throughout his body and his knees almost buckled at the sheer intensity.
Haldir quickly grasped Harry around the waist to help keep him on his feet as he cried. Harry buried his face in Haldir's shoulder, drenching the clean uniform with his salty tears as he continued to cry. Cry for his mother. Cry for himself. Cry for his new-found Grandparents… Crying for his sanity.
"Haldir." A soft voice caught the Marchwarden's attention and his eyes turned from Harry's dark hair to the Lord of the land they were currently in.
"Lord Elrond." Haldir said, his voice equally as soft. "I apologise for our abrupt entrance." The other elf nodded. "We wish to speak with the Lady Celebrian as soon as she is available." He explained.
"I am here." Another voice spoke up, clearly female. The crowd parted for the Lady of Imladris and she walked up to the pair that had just 'appeared' in the hall. "What is it that you want me for, Haldir?" She asked, her eyes never leaving the form in the Lorien elf's arms.
"Respectfully, my Lady, it is not I who wanted to speak with you. It is Harry." He nodded his head to the half-elf he was holding. The Lady before him looked confused, yet curious.
"I know no one going by the name Harry. How is it that he knows me?" She asked.
"You would not know who I am, Celebrian, for I myself have only just found out who you are." Harry spoke up as he turned himself around (not leaving the confines of Haldir's arms just yet) to face his audience. His eyes were red-rimmed and blood-shot and he did not look at all well.
"Who are you?" Another elf asked, stepping up beside Celebrian. He was younger than the lady he stood next to. Not by appearance, but by the age in his eyes. Harry could not be sure, but he suspected this elf to be one of Celebrian's children.
"I am Harry Potter, son of Anéthiel." He said simply. A stony silence washed over the crowd and it was some moment's before it was broken.
"Impossible!" The elf that was stood beside Celebrian exclaimed. "Atara, 'tis not possible!" he cried to the Lady beside him. Harry tensed and felt Haldir's arms tighten around him.
"Haldir, I will be fine." He said quietly and the arms released him, albeit reluctantly. He turned back to face the crowd who now seemed to be angered by his confession. He was curious as to why this was. He moved his right hand slowly to his left wrist and unsheathed the knife there. This action caused many-a-elf present to aim an arrow at him and when he realised that was the case, he halted his movements. "You claim my identity impossible, yet you do not allow me to offer proof." He said. "And I was under the impression the Elven community was a peaceful, trusting one. I'm half glad my mother was given the chance to grow up away from this place." With a flick of his right wrist, he pulled his knife out fully and held it out for the crowd to see.
"Had I wanted to harm any of you, you would be well and truly harmed." He cracked a smile at his next words. "Just ask my dear Princeling." He heard Haldir snort behind him, only to have covered it up with a cough.
"Princeling?" the young elf said, confused. Harry nodded.
"Aye, Princeling Legolas. Anyway, enough. You wanted proof of my identity; well here is my mother's knife. If you are as trusting as your reputation states, you should take me at my word." He handed the knife to Celebrian. "If you are smart, you will not put trust in one knife that could have been easily duplicated." He almost smiled at the raised eyebrows Lord Elrond and another dark-haired elf beside him possessed.
Harry bowed his head slightly in Lord Elrond's direction and handed his other knife to him. He then looked closely at the elf beside the elf-lord. He sensed that within this single elf were years beyond even Elrond's. In fact, the elf seemed to be 'as' old, if not older than Celeborn seemed. Whatever his age, Harry felt that this elf deserved the utmost respect from any and all he meets. He felt an odd sense of familiarity also, though he could not even begin to think where he may have met this elf.
He reserved to think on the matter later on.
Finally reaching a decision, Harry removed his sword from the sheath on his belt. He held the handle in the palm of his right hand and the flat of the blade in the palm of his left. He then held it out for the dark-haired elf to take and inspect. He added a bow of his head for good measure. The gesture did not go unmissed by anyone, especially when he was returned.
The elf took the knife, expertly handling it and inspected it thoroughly.
Harry moved back to Haldir and noted the questioning look in the Marchwarden's eyes. "What?" He asked, not sure – by the way the elf was looking at him – that he really wanted to know.
"Ask your dear Princeling?" He raised an eyebrow at Harry and the half-elf's face shifted from the anxious look to a look that screamed 'butter-wouldn't-melt'. Well, to Harry it did, and he knew it did. To Haldir it looked like one of the faux innocent looks he'd received on many occasions from one or both of his brothers. He was not impressed.
"He started it!" Harry defended himself, though no one there knew why save for the two newcomers.
"And how, exactly did he start it?" asked Haldir, not shifting his position or expression one muscle. He was worried though, when Harry's innocent look transformed into a full 'all-bets-are-off' grin.
"He was sneaking up on me when I was getting ready this morning." The half-elf declared cheerfully. Haldir was not satisfied with the simple reply.
"That does not explain why his face dons a 'most unbecoming' scowl whenever you are in the general vicinity." The Lorien elf countered. Harry crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow.
"You base your theory on the single meeting between myself and the cute Princeling-" They both heard a number of Elves cough to cover their very un-elf-like-snorts of laughter at his continuous use of the endearment said Princeling is known throughout all Elvendom to despise. "-you have witnessed?"
"I do." Haldir affirmed. "You have an air about you that one could easily love or be severely annoyed at, young Harry Potter." The warden grinned at the mock-scandalized look on his friend's face.
"I will just assume you possess the former." Harry stated.
"It varies." Haldir dryly noted. Elves were openly chuckling now. "But still, tell me what you did to gauge such a reaction from Legolas." The Lorien elf waited patiently for Harry to stop fidgeting and answer. This, of course, took the better part of a minute. The half-elf muttered something that no one could make out. Or at least, it seemed like no one.
The dark haired elf that Harry had handed is sword to cracked a smile at the words that caught his heightened hearing.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Haldir said, enjoying watching his new friend squirm.
"I pinned him to the trunk of a tree, stuck my knee between his legs to keep him in place and put my knife to his throat. When he wouldn't answer my question, I kissed him on the nose and apparated out."
The elf that had been stood beside Celebrian was laughing loudly at this, as well as a number of other Elves. Celebrian and Elrond were laughing also, but their laughter was a touch softer than the rest. The dark haired elf remained smiling, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"You kissed Legolas on the nose?" Haldir gasped through his laughter. Had anyone been paying attention, they'd been staring at the Marchwarden in shock for showing such merriment. He really did have a reputation for his emotions, or seemingly lack there of.
"Aye." Harry said merrily.
"What I would not have done to witness the look on his face at that moment…" The Lorien elf trailed off into fresh bouts of laughter.
Written by Messrmarauder (aka Ithil hin).