Disclaimer: I still own Kalina and Taren. I hope by now you all realize that I don't own anything other than that.

Chapter 3: All for One, and One for All

Kalina poked her head into Dumbledore's office. He was pacing in front of his desk. Taren was seated, watching Dumbledore warily. Actually, Taren looked a little dizzy. Dumbledore must have been pacing for a while. Kalina took pity on him and stepped fully into the office. Taren whipped his head around to look at her, and Dumbledore stopped pacing so abruptly that he tripped over a rug and went tumbling head first over one of the chairs placed in front of his desk. As Taren and Kalina dumbly watched in amazed horror, Dumbledore popped up from behind the chair.

"I'm fine." Dumbledore assured them. "Actually, I meant to do that." He gave them a measuring glance to see whether or not they believed him. As each elf raised one eyebrow in silent unison, Dumbledore sighed and his shoulders sloped. "All right, so I didn't. You might humor an old man, mightn't you?"

Kalina shrugged. "Why did you want to see us? Professor Snape was not at all pleased that I had to leave class early."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Wouldn't you like to sit down? Perhaps you'd like some tea."

Kalina shook her head. "I'll stand."

Taren, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "I don't think she needs any more caffeine anyway." Kalina glared at him, but he just smiled slightly. "I think you've made it painfully obvious that you have bad news. Why don't you just go ahead and tell us?"

Dumbledore hung his head, peering out at the elves from beneath his bushy eyebrows. "I'm afraid I do have bad news. It seems…" Taren and Kalina looked at him expectantly. "Well, I'm sorry to say that…" Kalina made an impatient hand motion. "Well, the truth of the matter is…I just don't know how to say this." Dumbledore circled his desk and sat down. He leaned forward to place his elbows on the desk, his hands folded. "Here's the gist of it. Your situation here has changed. Unfortunately for all of us, the rest of your fellow elves have run into some problems of their own back on Middle Earth. Nothing immensely serious," he hastened to reassure them "It's just that, at this time, the two of you are all that they can spare. And since the rest of the elven army isn't coming to help defeat Lord Voldemort, the task has been left up to the two of you." Taren and Kalina were stunned. Since traveling to Hogwarts, they had heard terrible stories of this 'Voldomort'. He had done so much evil, and was incredibly powerful. How would they be able to defeat him?

Dumbledore gave them a rueful grin. "I know exactly what you're thinking. How could you possible defeat someone as evil and powerful as Lord Voldomort? Simple…you are unlike anything that Voldomort has ever faced before. You say how can you defeat him…I ask, how could Voldomort, a mere mortal man, defeat two elves?"

Taren gave Dumbledore a grin of his own. "That was a very stirring speech. Now, maybe if you spoke with a little more conviction, we'd believe you." Dumbledore shrugged.

"It was worth a try. Look, it's not like I'm asking you to do this alone. I'm more than willing to provide you with some help. We have, in this very school, a trio of students that has defeated Lord Voldomort time and time again. Unfortunately, they were never able to destroy him. I think that, if you worked together, you would have an excellent chance of winning."

Kalina looked at Taren. "That was a much better speech. Not quite as rehearsed of course, but it definitely held some conviction. Why, I'm almost convinced he means it."

Dumbledore glanced at her. "That's because I do." Taren, who had looked at Kalina when she spoke took a fleeting look at Dumbledore.

"We'll need a minute to talk this over." Dumbledore nodded and quietly left the office, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Well? Taren looked expectantly at Kalina.

It is our duty. We were sent here to stop him. Sure, this has become a little more complicated than we first thought it would be, but that responsibility hasn't changed. Taren nodded his agreement to Kalina's statement. And also… Taren watched Kalina expectantly. Gandolf asked us to do this; to help these people. If at all possible I would like to fulfill his wishes. He is our friend, and he has helped us. It is only fair that we return the favor.

Besides, Taren added, we kind of like these people. Kalina glared at him.

We do not. You may, but I am different. Taren nodded knowingly. I am aloof, and I feel no affection. Especially not for humans…remember that. Taren snickered. Stop that! Kalina smacked him on the shoulder.

Taren cleared his throat. So what do we say? Besides 'yes' I mean. He hurried to add. I mean, do we tell them that I convinced you, or that you convinced me?

Kalina glanced at the door thoughtfully. You convinced me…Remember, I don't like them.

Right Taren said sarcastically. His shoulders slumped. I can't believe they left us here…all alone… His voice broke off.

Kalina crossed to Taren and put her hand on his shoulder. We're not alone. We have each other, and Dumbledore says he will help us too. Taren placed his hand on top of Kalina's. They were still posed like that, a silent tableau of solidarity, when the door opened once more. Dumbledore, and three young people came through the doorway.

Dumbledore, his eyes raised at the scene in front of him, began the introductions. "This is Harry, Ron, and I believe you already know Hermione," he said as he gestured to a dark-haired boy, a red-headed boy, and the girl who they had met upon their first arrival at Hogwarts. "These are the three students I was telling you about. They should be of great help to you." The two groups stared angrily at each other as Dumbledore stood placidly in between them. Ron was the first to speak.

"What do we need them for?" He demanded with a jerk of his head toward the two elves. "We've done bloody well on our own in the past. No need for these two to butt in." Hermione put a restraining hand of Ron's arm.

"No, Hermione" Harry spoke up as he noted Hermione's action. "Ron's right. We don't need them."

Hermione, always the voice of reason turned to the two boys. "Professor Dumbledore thinks we do, and that's good enough for me. We have come close to loosing so many times in the past, I for one think it would be wonderful to have some help."

Taren, whose hand now gripped Kalina's to make sure she didn't reach for any weapons, turned to Dumbledore. "Are the children going to keep arguing for a while, or can we actually accomplish something. Because, if they're going to argue, I'd like to go take a nap." Kalina's arm relaxed.

"Yes, and I would love some caffeine," she added with a pointed glance at Taren.

"Children!" Ron protested.

"What would you know about Lord Voldomort?" Harry demanded. "You sit there, all smug and superior…I bet you've never had to watch anyone you cared about die!"

"Everyone calm down" Hermione shouted above the din.

"Yes, thank you Hermione," Dumbledore said. "I believe everyone should just calm down and listen. Perhaps if we took turns speaking and tried acting our ages? Hmm?" His piercing gaze swept the room, silence falling behind it.

"Well," Hermione spoke logically, "obviously as six years we'd," she gestured to herself, Ron, and Harry, "would be the oldest in the room…barring Professor Dumbledore of course."

"Incorrect," Kalina replied with a smug grin. "Elves live longer than mere humans…"

"That doesn't mean you're older than us" Harry spat out.

"You're what? 17 years old?"

"Yeah," Harry grudgingly replied.

"Well," Kalina stated, "I'm 312. I think I win." As looks of utter disbelief crossed the faces of the three human students, Taren spoke up.

"Not quite, Melgitura, it just so happens that I'm 315. That means that I win." Kalina gave Taren a look of irritation and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Just be thankful, Kalinatura, that I like older men." A look of horrified disbelief crossed Kalina's face. "I can't believe I just said that." She turned to the other four people in the room. "Did I just say that?" Dumbledore, Ron, Harry, and Hermione all nodded. Taren looked thoughtful.

"Kalinatura…a name ripe with possibilities." He muttered with a sly look at Kalina.

Oh God. Was Kalina's only answer. Taren winked at her, and she smacked him on the shoulder with her free hand.

"Ow!" He protested, letting go of Kalina's captured hand to rub at the sore spot. "You sure are doing that a lot tonight."

"I definitely think we missed something." Hermione said to an equally mystified Ron and Harry. Ron blinked. Harry shrugged.

"Anyway," Kalina spoke as she dragged her eyes away from Taren's, "You're wrong on one account, Harry…well, maybe more than one, but I only know about the one at the moment…" Taren cleared his throat. Kalina jumped and gave him a nervous glance then returned to speaking to Harry. "Umm…where was I? Oh yeah. Taren and I have both seen good friends die. We've killed enemies. Death is a part of war, and our world has been at war for a very long time."

Hermione nodded, "I knew that" she stated with a superior glance at the two boys. "I read the books."

"Of course you did" Harry muttered.

"315?" Ron asked as he stared blankly into space. Hermione sighed.

"He'll get over it," she said turning to the elves. "Sometimes things just shock him and he needs a little while to catch up." She turned to Ron. "Yes Ron, they're older than they look. Dragons live longer than humans, why can't elves?"

"Hermione," Harry reproached her. "You're trying to use logic…with Ron. Do you really think it's going to work?" Hermione shrugged.

"It was worth a shot." She looked at Dumbledore. "What now?" Everyone looked at Dumbledore.

"Well, Lord Voldomort seems to be taking his time. Whatever he's planning won't happen right away. I suggest the five of you take some time and get to know each other. In the meantime, I'll keep in contact with the elves, see if they can figure out a way that Lord Voldomort can be defeated for good."

"That makes sense," Hermione stated.

"315?" Ron asked.

"Works for me," Taren agreed with an easy shrug.

"Fine," Harry muttered.

"Umm…" Kalina edged for the door. "Why don't you four work on that. I have to go…to that one place, to do that one thing…so…yeah." With the last word, Kalina bolted for the door and was out of sight before anyone could speak.

"What the?" Harry broke the question off with a quick glance at Dumbledore. "Where's she going?"

"To that one place, to do that one thing," Hermione helpfully repeated before doubling over, holding her stomach as she giggled uncontrollably.

"315?" Ron asked. He shook his head. "Okay, I'm over it…wasn't there two elves in this room?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm…" Taren stared thoughtfully at the doorway Kalina had disappeared through, a pleased smile on his face.

Author's Note:

Sorry it's been so long. I lost direction in this thing…again. I honestly think I'm back on track now. As you can see, I took the plot in a new direction. Now, there will be no elven army riding in to save the day. Kalina and Taren will have to find a way to triumph without them. I fully realize that my fictitious problem that the elves are dealing with in no way coincides with the book. I realize that after all the action in LOTR was over the elves left middle earth. However, it suited my plot change to have that elven problem, and as I am the author, it is my right to make things up…even if they make no logical sense. So there.

I also took this chance to develop the relationship between Kalina and Taren a little more. A note that may help you understand their little interplay better: The translation website I use has the elven word 'tura' meaning master. 'Megiltura' means 'swordmaster' and 'Kalinatura' means 'light master' (which I thought fitting for an elf that uses magic). Anyway, if you didn't translate the whole word, 'Kalinatura' could mean 'Kalina's master'. Obviously, Kalina didn't think of that before she spoke, and is now completely embarrassed. Tehe. (No, Dreamstrifer, there will be no S&M in this fic. Thank you so much for corrupting the poor innocent readers.  )

I know this chapter is extremely short. It's only real purpose is to switch the plot, allow the elves to meet HHR, and develop Kalina and Taren's relationship that little bit that I already described above.

Ciao! Dobre Ytka