Chapter 15: The Lost Line

Harry nearly choked on his own tongue hearing what Ginny said! His head snapped around, to gape at her open mouthed.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Ginny, Allia had also frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.

"The Lost Line!" Allia gasped, attracting the attention of the trio of elves who had been escorting them.

"WHAT? What did you say Commander?" The leader of the trio, Elune, asked her in disbelief.

Allia shook herself, and turned to them.

"Ride immediately to the Palace. Tell them the Lost Line has been found." She told them.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, as she watched the three riders tear off down into the valley.

"Ginny," Harry began, his eyes still wild. "When our people retreated into the forests, they kept track of all the families that remained as human. All except one. One of the families that remained behind was lost, and we were unable to find them. If you can see the city, then you must be an elf, and if you are an elf, then you must be from the Lost Line, or we would have known."

"So your saying I'm an elf?" Ginny asked in shock. "What about Ron?"

"Well, if you're an elf, so is he, except its too late for him to transform, but it's not too late for you. When is your birthday again, I forgot." He asked.

"January the third." She said.

"Damn, well that's convenient!" He said, now smiling.

"Wait," Ron interrupted. "So your saying I'm an elf? And Ginny's gonna have pointy ears?"

"Yup, she'll get her pointy ears on the third, if she wants that is." He said, looking at her questioningly.

"Of course!" She said, nodding her head vigorously.

Harry smiled. Inwardly, he was beyond relieved. He had not wanted to think about what would happen between him and Ginny, when she grew old, and he remained young. Elves were very long lived, some living to as much as five hundred years. He hadn't wanted to consider the thought that he may have gone through if he had lost her to old age. Now he didn't have to worry about it.

"Great!" He said. "Now, let's not delay this anymore. Allia?"

Allia nodded, before moving to the two adults with them. Harry in turn, moved towards Ron and Hermione.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

"Don't worry." He said reassuringly. "We're just casting the spell so you can actually see the city. Another benefit of it will be that it enables you to understand Elvish.

The two waved their hands quickly across the eyes of the others, and the spell was cast. The city was revealed to them.

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The group descended to the valley floor, and entered the city. They noticed several small groups of armed elves as the passed.

"Harry, who are those elves?" Ginny asked, as she pointed at a passing trio.

"Those are the Sentinels. They are the ones responsible for patrolling the city, and the nearby forest, and ensuring no dangerous creatures get too close to the city. They also have several of our non-elven allies amongst their number, including centaurs and faeries." He said.

Ginny nodded, and continued to look around as they made their way deeper into the city.

Suddenly, a small figure burst from the shadows of a nearby tree, shrieking shrilling.

"Emrys!" The figure called, before tackling him to the ground.

Harry laughed as he felt himself thrown to the ground.

"Hello you little twerp!" He said, as he quickly flipped over, and began tickling the figure beneath him.

"Nooooooooooo!" The young elf, a girl, laughed, trying to squirm away. "Please! Stop!"

"Hmmm." Harry said, as he leaned back. "Should I stop?" He seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "Nope!" He said, the started tickling her again.

The others watched this for a few moments, before Allia intervened.

"Emrys, you really must let her up. For one, we need to get to the palace, and secondly, she looks like she needs to breathe!"

Harry nodded, before standing up, pulling the young girl up with him. She looked to be about seven.

"Everyone," he said, turning to the others, "I'd like you to meet Evelyn, my cousin. Evelyn, meet Albus, my grandfather, Remus Lupin, Ron, Hermione and Ginny."

The young girl looked at each in turn, before her eyes stopped on Ginny, a mischievous look in her eyes.

"So Emrys," she began, "when ar-" She was interrupted by Harry clapping his hands over her mouth.

"What?" He asked, looking at the others who were looking at him shocked. "She has a loud and rather annoying mouth, and whatever she had been about to say can't have been- Ouch!" He cried, pulling back his hand. "She bit me!"

Evelyn looked up at him, smiling innocently.

"Would I do such a thing?" She asked sweetly.

"Yes!" Chorused Harry and Allia together.

Evelyn stuck her tongue out at them.

"Twerp." Harry said, looking down at her affectionately. "What brings you here anyway?"

"Oh Emrys, I have the best news! Mum's pregnant! I'm gonna have a baby brother!" She said happily.

"Really?" He asked, and she nodded her head eagerly. "Cool!"

"We really must be going Emrys." Allia said. "You two can catch up later."

Harry nodded. "Run along now, Twerp. I'll see you later."

Evelyn nodded, before dashing back the way she had come.

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When they arrived at the palace, Ginny was shocked by the size of the crowd that had gathered at the building before them. It seemed that there was over a hundred elves there, all apparently eagerly awaiting their arrival. She could hear them talking loudly.

"Is it true?"

"The Lost have been found?"

"The Prince found them!"

"He found them. That means it must be him!"

"He is the one!"

As they approached the crowd, the whispers and discussions quieted, as all the gathered elves tried to see them.

"Harry, what's going on?" Ginny asked him out of the corner of her mouth. "What were they talking about?

"Umm, nothing Gin, don't worry about it." He said quickly, before gesturing for them to follow him up the stairs leading up to the doors of the Palace.

She stood still for a moment, watching the others move away with narrow eyes. Harry was hiding something from her again. She could tell. And whatever it was, she was certain it was a big something.

She hurried to catch up with the others.

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Harry led them through a grand hallway, to a doorway guarded by a pair of elves in battle uniform. As he approached them, the two sentries drew their swords, and with a flourish, knelt and saluted Harry with their blades.

Harry nodded to each of them, before pushing open the doors, leading them into the room beyond.

Ginny gasped at the beauty of the room they entered. Gorgeous wooden pillars led up to a raised dias, upon which rested two thrones, carved beautifully from vibrant, richly hued wood. Upon those thrones sat two regal looking elves, with half crowns upon their brow. She realized this must be the King and Queen.

Harry led them to the foot of the dias, where he knelt before the seated figures. The king stood.

"Get up Emrys." He said, smiling. "So tell us, how have you been?"

Harry smiled as he straightened. "I have been well. You?"

"We're good. So tell us, who are these fine people you have brought with you?"

"Well first is my great-grandfather, Albus Dumbledore." He said, gesturing for Dumbledore to step forward.

The king greeted him regally. "We have heard of your deeds even from here. Your actions speak well of you."

Dumbledore nodded, before stepping to the side, as Harry signaled to Lupin to step forward.

"This is Remus Lupin. One of my father's best friends." Harry said.

The king nodded. "Ah yes, the infamous Moony. We have heard much of you, from both Emrys, and Allia. Perhaps we should watch our backs with you around?" The king asked with a grin. "Especially with what Emrys plans to do on the New Year. We could be in for some trouble."

Lupin smiled nervously, nodding, his eyes alight with hope.

"Next we have Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, my best friends."

The king nodded at each briefly, before turning his eyes to Ginny. Harry moved to her side and smiled at her.

"This is Ginny Weasley, whom I love with every fiber of my being." He said, looking at her lovingly.

"Yes, the one with whom you share the Lorinagalea. It is an honour to meet you." The king said to her. "I am glad Emrys has found someone to love."

"I am too." Ginny said.

"And we now hear that you are an elf?" The king said, looking from her to Harry.

"That's what Harry tells me anyway." She said, while Harry nodded his head.

"Then we must arrange for your entire family to join us here, for if you are an elf, so are they." The queen said, speaking for the first time.

"I'm sure they would love to come." Ginny said.

"Now, we shall have people escort you to your quarters, so you can get settled in. Tonight, we shall hold a banquet to officially welcome you to Falandais." The king said.

Several elves emerged from the shadows, and led them, except Harry, from the hall.

The king and queen rose, gesturing for Harry to join them. The king spoke first.

"The High Counsel was called as soon as we heard of the Lost Line's return. They want to discuss the verification of the Prophecy."

Harry nodded. He'd been expecting this as soon as he'd realized Ginny was an elf. He sighed. Why him? Why did everything have to happen to him?