Chapter 3: Getting to Know You
Sairina heard the familiar crackle as the mirror portal sealed up behind her. She let her trunk fall to the floor with an undignified thunk and set her CleanSweep 350 (The latest in racing broom advancement) on top along side her owl cage which held her sooty owl, Luithaur. She then took the pins from her onyx locks letting them cascade down her shoulders and collapsed upon her bed, not even bothering to change out of her school robes. She was dead tired and there was nothing anyone could do to get her out of that bed.
At least that was what she thought until she heard a sword being unsheathed.
She sat up abruptly only to be pushed back down by a powerful grimy hand. A second hand then placed a sword at her throat. She examined the sword from her vantage point. It was wider at one end and tapered lightly as the length reached the hilt. While Sairina had little experience with swords, she had read countless books on them while she locked herself in her library. This, without any doubt in her mind, was the sword of a corsair. When she allowed her gaze to drift up to her attacker's face.If there had been any doubt in her mind that her attacker was a corsair, it was erased right then and there.
His face was tanned, like leather, full of lines, creases, and scars. His eyes were a dark hazel, rimmed with yellow, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. His dark hair was in disgustingly filthy dreadlocks (it looked as though it had never been washed). He was sneering at her, exposing the fact that he was missing several teeth, and his beard was scraggly and uneven. All in all, Sairina decided, the guy was pretty terrifying, and that now would be a good time to panic.
She clawed fiercely at his hand but it was to no avail. He just laughed harshly, pushing the blade closer to her throat.
"If I was you," he growled in a voice that sounded like sea salt being grinded, "I'd be stopping that right about now." Sairina complied unwillingly, "Good. Now yous are going to be getting me that there seeing stone, or else your throat and my blade wills be having a little accident, if you catch my drift . . ." Grabbing her now by her hair he yanked her from the bed and shoved her in the direction of the door. She stumbled and fell scraping her hand and knees on the stone. She could feel his gaze piercing through her.
"Perhaps I'll be having my way with you once you get me the . . ." He never got a chance to finish, for at that moment the king entered sword drawn. In one step he was between his daughter and the intruder. In one swing the intruder's head was separated from his body.
Sairina knew her father was a great fighter. She had heard the bards and read the tales of the one ring and the fellowship. She knew that during the whole journey he had to kill in order to survive. But reading about her father's valiant battles and seeing him take the head off a person were two entirely different things. Sairina couldn't handle the thought and emptied the contents of her stomach onto her bedroom floor.
The room smelled so foul that if Sairina had anything left in her stomach, it would have been quickly dispelled. The roomspinning fastand she couldn't see straight. She could feel her father's strong arms gently picking her up and whisking her away to another room. After navigating the halls for an eternity, her father stopped walking and entered a room. He laid her down upon the bed and Sairina could vaguely hear people scurrying about.
"Bring all of her belongings here," her father said commandingly, "she need not return to that other room anymore." Then the world went completely black.
Sairina woke later to the smell of athelas and several voices conversing.
"Mellonnin," said one airy voice, "I know she is a curuni, but she should be taught to fight with a weapon if her magic were to ever fail her. Even the lady of the Golden Wood knew how to wield a knife and bow." The world began to come into focus.
"It is not only that, Legolas," her father said, "This was only one of a hundred attempts to gain possession of the palantir. While she may know how to defend with a sword and bow, that won't stop the attacks from coming." She heard a sigh and felt her bed dip as someone sat on the right edge, "I do not want anymore of my children seeing what their father is capable of, like Sairina. I fear she has been scarred to deep for my abilities to heal." Sairina felt the bed dip again as another person sat upon it.
"We need to hide the palantir somewhere," her mother said, "but I fear that the White Tower is the only place in all of Middle-Earth to hide it." Silence overtook the room.
"Hogwarts," Sairina croaked opening her eyes further, "You can hide the stone at Hogwarts." The four people in her room looked at her.
"Thank you for your idea," her father said kindly, "but they will still think it is kept in the tower."
"No," Gimli spoke up breaking his silence, "Not if they see the stone leaving the White City." A wide smirk broke out upon his face and upon the face of Legolas as well.
"A decoy," Legolas said, his smile growing wider, "Gimli and I will do it. We'll leave tonight." Her father jumped up and began adding to their plan making.
"Why have only one," he began, "when you could have several? Spread several of these decoys across the lands; try to avoid inhabited area if you can. We'll take the true stone to Hogwarts tonight." Preparations were made very quickly and before the night had grown too late, Gimli and Legolas rode from the city with rumors following them that they were bearing the palantir of Barad dûr.
As they rode from the city, Elessar had gone up to the tower and retrieved the true stone. Upon returning to his daughter's room he found that she ad the portal already open and a familiar man standing and talking to his daughter. At first (as it had been when he first met the man) he believed it to be his old friend, Gandalf. Shaking his head, he knew his eyes were deceived, because the true Gandalf had sailed for the Undying Lands years ago on the last ship. Still, there was something familiar about the glimmer in his eyes . . .
"Is that the stone?" he asked pointing to the seemingly bundle of cloth the king held. Elessar snapped out of his reverie.
"Yes," he said following the wizard as he motioned to follow through the portal, "Sairina, my daughter, can you keep this open?" She nodded silently and the two left. The returned several moments later, the stone no longer with them. Her father thanked Dumbledore again and the portal closed.
"Now, my dear," he father said turning to her, "as to the matter of training you in weaponry . . ." Sairina had a sinking feeling it was going to be a very long summer.
/0/0/
Sairina collapsed upon her bed, exhausted. She had spent the entire day in training with her father and annoying older brother. She had been vigorously training for the past month and a half; with her skills improving only slightly, making her thankful that she had been born a girl and not a boy.
It was true to say that her skills with a bow were formidable, but nowhere near their "full potential" as Legolas kept saying. Her skills with twin daggers were dismal. Yes, she could swing them around, hoping to hit something, but she "was lacking control" as Legolas had said. Honestly, she wished he was still out riding through Middle-Earth hiding fake palantir instead of harassing her fighting skills.
Sairina sat up and was rubbing her sore muscles when she heard a familiar tapping noise. She quickly jumped up (in the process of making her muscles sore even further) and raced to the ornate mirror and said the password while making a waving motion. The mirror dissolved away and in flew her owl, Luithaur, carrying two envelopes. Sairina picked up the familiar heavy parchment of her Hogwarts envelope and opened it, browsing through the list of supplies. Setting it down, she picked up the other lighter envelope and recognized the curly hand writing.
Hey Sai!
Have you gotten your letter yet? I have. We finally get to go to Hogsmeade this year, and there is loads of stuff to buy! I was wondering if you wanted to meet up in Diagon Alley and go shopping. My parents are planning on taking me August 15th if you wanted to join us. Oh, and my parents said that it would be alright for you to stay with us the rest of the summer and that they would take you to King's Cross Station with me so you don't miss the train for a third year in a row. Ha, ha. Ask your parents and see what they say and then write back as soon as you can!
Sílo Anor bo men lín, (May the sun shine on your road.)
Lily
Sairina smirked when she saw the farewell. Lily seemed to be picking up on Sindarin quickly. Many of the letters over the summer had been spent teaching Lily the basics of Sindarin and establishing her vocabulary. She was flourishing quite well, but in teaching Lily Sindarin, many questions were being asked.
I tried looking for books on Sindarin at the library, but it seems like it is spoken nowhere . . . Looking at the words I tried to see if they were related to any Latin or Greek roots, but they are nothing alike . . . Sai, is there something you're not telling me . . .
Sairina had heard it all, and she knew Lily was bound to figure something out. That's why she needed to go to Lily's house. She needed to tell Lily who she really is.
There were several reasons for Sairina's reasoning. First was that Lily would figure it out anyway. Second, Lily had been completely honest with her and she felt bad withholding the whole truth from her friend. Finally, she was thirteen now which was a big to-do in Gondor, especially since she was a princess.
It is Gondorian tradition for the children of the king and queen to be crowned and named official heirs when they turn fifteen and succession goes in the order of birth in case the eldest should for some reason die. At the age of thirteen, however, the daughters must name who is to be their lady-in-waiting. Sairina was thirteen, and had been for several weeks, but was avoiding the question of who was to be her lady. She wanted to visit Lily so she could ask her.
Sure, she could have explained it all in a letter, but this is one of those things you almost need to do in person.
"Ada? Nana?" she asked peeking into their master bedroom. The room was vast, but decorated simply with many potted plants.
"Yes, Sairina," her mother said looking up from her weaving. Sairina hesitated and then decided to get it over with.
"CanIgotoDiagonAlleywithLilyandthenspendtherestofthesummeratherhousewithherfamilyIpromisetobegoodandnotcauseanytroubleprettyplease?" she said in one breath and looked curiously at her parents. Her father's shoulders shook with silent laughter and her mother smiled kindly.
"Yes, you can," her mother said (her father muttered, "Oh dear, Legolas isn't going to like this . . ."), "but remember you are on your best behavior. By the way dear, have you named your lady-in-waiting yet?" Sairina cursed silently in Rohirric (she was pretty sure her mother didn't understand it, but her father did because he continued to shake with silent laughter).
"Well," she began, "I had one person in mind, but I'm not sure if you'll approve or if she'll accept." Sairina looked intently at her feet.
"Allow me to guess," Her father began lightly, "is it Lily?" She nodded without looking up. This caused both her mother and father to laugh.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. I would like to meet her first. She will be like kin once you name her, and all we have heard is your praise, so I believe it is only appropriate if we me her first," her father reasoned.
"How about you bring her to your brother's crowning ceremony," her mother suggested, "We can meet her and then announce the news in conjunction with your brother's crowning." Sairina thought for a moment.
"His crowning is during the Winter Solstice celebration is it not?" she asked and her mother gave an affirmative nod, "Then we should have no problem with classes, for it occurs during the Christmas Holidays." Her mother looked at her curiously.
"What is this 'Christmas'?" she asked. Sairina could only shrug.
/0/0/
"Sai!" Lily cried as she ran towards her friend and embraced her. The two girls laughed and began to talk animatedly about their summers. Actually, it was more Lily talking and Sairina listening. The two worked their way through the crowded street towards Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore. As they were entering, some one ran into Sairina, knocking her down.
"Watch it mudblood," a familiar sneering voice spat. Severus Snape was glaring down at her. Sairina picked herself up off the ground and dusted her clothing off, returning his glare the entire time.
"You know what?" she asked straightening her shirt, "You could do with a lesson in manners." With two quick steps she had Snape doubled-over begging to be let go. Apparently, Legolas' lessons had been getting through to her. She released Snape and he ran off into the crowd.
"How did you do that?" Lily asked amazed, "I almost didn't see you move!" Sairina grinned sheepishly.
"I'll explain later," she sighed, "let's go get our books." The two girls entered into the bookstore.
"Which extra classes did you sign up for?" Lily asked as they each grabbed a copy of the required Potions book.
"I'm taking Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Ancient Runes," Sairina said, "So ten subjects in all. How about you, which ones did you pick?"
"I chose Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures," Lily responded, "So ten as well."
"You girls have gone completely daft if you are taking ten subjects this year!" an exasperated voice said from behind them. They turned and unsurprisingly found the Marauders standing behind them looking as cocky and arrogant as ever.
"What do the four of you want?" Lily demanded coolly. James sauntered over and wrapped his arm around Lily's waist.
"I was hoping you would go to Hogsmeade with me the first weekend," James said in the most seductive voice a thirteen year old can manage. Lily proceeded to laugh at him and shove him back towards his friends.
"If I had the choice between choosing you, and kissing the giant squid," Lily said her voice elevating, 'I would rather kiss the squid!" She turned and stormed down the aisle. Sairina laughed and turned to follow Lily.
/0/0/
Sairina wore that smirk for the rest of the day, even while riding in the terrifying automobile to Lily's house. When they arrived Sairina fell in love with the house. It wasn't a huge home, it paled in comparison to her family's palace in size, but the atmosphere was so quaint and perfect. The simplicity made it beautiful beyond compare, but after seeing her house, Sairina was worried even more about Lily's reaction.
Supper was the most delicious thing Sairina had ever had in this world. It was an interesting noodle dish called Spaghetti. While the dinner was excellent, the dinner conversation wasn't so. When Sairina entered the Evans' home, she came to the quick realization that Lily had an older sister, a cruel older sister. She also realized that supper would be eaten with this sister and her suitor, perhaps the widest man Sairina had ever seen.
Sairina also learned very quickly that these two wanted to have nothing to do with magic.
"Mother," Petunia, Lily's sister, said kindly, "can you please pass the bread?" Her mother looked at her strangely.
"Why don't you ask Lily?" her mother inquired, "It's right next to her." The pleasant look dropped off Petunia's face into a vile scowl.
"Because I don't like talking to her type," Petunia said coldly, "They're just so unnatural." Both Lily and Sairina stiffened visibly. The entire meal was punctuated with these remarks by both Petunia and her suitor.
"I can't believe you can stand living with her!" Sairina exclaimed after dinner when the girls sought for refuge in Lily's bedroom.
"I learned to deal with her remarks long ago," Lily said, "She just jealous because I can do something she can't. Do you have that problem with any of your siblings?" Sairina looked thoughtful for a moment as she helped Lily with the sleeping bag she was unrolling.
"Not really," Sairina said eventually, "my little sisters adore me, but my older brother annoys the bloody daylights out of me. Him and his friends . . ." She looked at Lily who was looking at her expectantly.
'Well,' Sairina thought, 'it's now or never.'
"Before I tell you anything more about my family, Lily," she began, "I have a confession to make . . ."
"I haven't been telling you the whole truth about myself. Yes, it is true that I come from another country, but it is not a country in this world. I come from a land called Gondor, it lies in the realm of Middle-Earth, which does not exist in anyway here. I get to Hogwarts through a mirror that my great-grandmother left me before she sailed to the Undying Lands.
"Middle-Earth once had massive amounts of magic in it. It was the Eldar, or elves, who possessed it, but their days of being the dominant power in the world faded and they all left, save for a few. My great-grandmother, my grandfather, and my mother are elves. My mother chose to stay with my father, a mortal man, instead of sailing with the rest of her family." She paused to register Lily's reaction thus far.
"I don't see why you had to keep all that hidden," Lily said shrugging her shoulders, "I think it's interesting, Sai."
"There's more," Sairina interrupted, "My grandfather wouldn't have let my mother stay with my father until he claimed what was rightfully his and fulfilled his destiny. My father is the king of Gondor." Lily's eyes bulged slightly.
"Well, then," she said, "I guess that would change things a bit. So since your father is a king that makes you a princess correct?" Sairina nodded. "What exactly was the reason for hiding this again?"
"My parents felt that I would be safer if people didn't know if I was royalty," Sairina explained, "but I have grown to know you and feel I could trust you with anything. Can you forgive me for hiding this?"
"Of course!" Lily exclaimed, "But you have got to tell me everything." The two girls laughed and Sairina began to tell Lily about Middle-Earth. The girls were awake well into the night as the princess told the tale of the ring bearer and the one ring. Lily listened with rapt attention and by the end had tears silently slipping down her face.
"That had to be the most beautiful and inspirational story I have ever heard," Lily sighed, "So what is everybody doing now?"
"Well," Sairina began, "Faramir and Eowyn got married shortly after my mother an father did, and they have one son, Elboron.Faramir was made Prince of Ithilen and carries out his Steward duties there. Eowyn has since given up her wild streak and has become a wonderful wife and mother. She often spends her time in the houses of healing in Ithilen aiding the healers there.
"Eomer wed as well. After becoming such close friends with Prince Imrahil, he was introduced to his only daughter, Princess Lothiriel. The two developed a relationship based on their friendly banter and eventually wed. They have one son, Elfwine, and another child on the way.
"Sadly, though, Prince Imrahil died this past winter. The city of Dol Amroth lost a great leader, but his position was replaced by his eldest son, Prince Elphir, who is equally strong as a leader. He and his wife have one son, Prince Alphros.
"The lords, Legolas and Gimli, continued to explore all corners of Middle-Earth for a fair number of years. Gimli, however, finally settled down in the Glittering Caves of Rohan, and Legolas tends to dwell in the gardens of Ithilien since most of his kindred have left for the Undying Lands. Legolas can sometimes be found as a silent shadow to either my father or my elder brother.
"As the tale tells, Frodo, the hobbit, did leave with the elves, but his kindred are still active. Sam, Pippin, and Merry all married hobbit women and have lots and lots of little hobbit children running all over The Shire.
"Finally there is my family. My mother and father happily married shortly after the defeat of Sauron and have been having children ever since. As of yet there has only been one boy, my older brother, Eldarion, and there have been seven girls born to my mother and she is yet with another child . . ."
"Wait," Lily interrupted, "You have nine children in your family?" Shock was painted boldly on her face.
"Well," Sairina began, "As of right now it is only eight, but it is soon to be nine. Like I was saying it goes Eldarion, myself, Faer, Elwen, Hallien, Brennil, and the twins Laereth and little Mirien."
"Wow," Lily murmured, "and there is another one on the way? Amazing. I think you've answered most of my questions, except one. What are trastahíl?" Sairina laughed.
"The question isn't what they are," Sairina explained, "It's who they are. Trastahíl is Sindarin for 'troublesome heirs'. The group is comprised of the four boys who are the heirs of the great seats of power in Middle-Earth."
"So it's Eldarion, Elfwine, Elboron, and Alphros?" Lily asked as Sairina nodded.
"They delight is playing pranks whenever they are together," Sairina continued to explain, "There was one particular summer when they were all together and they play over a hundred pranks on the lords and ladies of the court, thus earning them their nickname."
"They sound strangely familiar," Lily said as her eyes widened.
"Aye," Sairina said as realization dawned upon Lily, "You only have to deal with the Marauders for a few months; I've had to deal with them my entire life. Don't worry, though, you'll get to deal with them shortly." A sly smile spread across Sairina's face.
"What do you mean, Sai?" Lily inquired arching one eyebrow.
"Well," she began, "it is court etiquette that upon a princess's thirteenth birthday she chooses her lady in waiting. I have been thirteen for a little over a month and a half now, and I don't have a lady selected yet . . ." Lily caught on quickly.
"Of course I will, Sai!" she exclaimed and both girls began to laugh.
The final weeks of the summer raced by too fast for both of the teens, and before they knew it they were standing in front the portal for Platform9 ¾. Sairina, having never been there before, looked wryly at Lily.
"It looks pretty solid to me," she said readjusting the things on her cart, "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Lily said firmly, "Now, follow me." Lily walked straight up to the barrier and then . . . gone. Sairina couldn't believe it. She just vanished! Dispelling all her logic and common sense, Sairina shrugged and she too marched straight into the barrier. Everything faded to black for a split second, and then Sairina found herself in front of a large crimson train which bore bright gold letters declaring that this was the Hogwarts Express.
"Wow," was all Sairina could muster before she felt someone grabbing her sleeve and pulling her towards the train.
"Come on," Lily said excitedly, "Let's find and empty compartment." They had no trouble in this task, for they had arrived rather early. After selecting a compartment towards the back quarter of the train, the girls began to load their things.
"I meant to ask you," Lily said hoisting her trunk into the overhead space, "What is with the stick?" Sairina paused in stowing her broom and owl cage and looked at the "stick" in question.
"In the world I come from," she began to explain as she put away her broom, "wizards and elves are the only ones who can wield magic. Elves do it through the earth, so their powers are fairly limited. Wizards, on the other hand, have a wider variety of powers which they channel through a staff, much like in this world, wizards and witches need the aid of wands." Both the girls had finished loading their things and were now sitting, Sairina with her staff in hand.
"This was a gift to me from the white wizard, Gandalf," she explained letting her fingers lightly trace over the runes, "He crafted it from the wood of a Mallorn tree from the Golden Wood."
"What's that?" Lily asked pointing to a notch in the wood. Sairina smiled.
"Here's the amazing thing," she said as she pulled her wand from her sleeve. The wand slid perfectly into the small opening in the staff, "I believe that he and my great-grandmother and grandfather knew that I would come to this world for training. Not only is this perfect for my wand, but my wand itself is made from Mallorn wood, and its core is the hair of Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond." The girls continued to talk, uninterrupted for some time when they heard the train whistle blow and the train lurched forward.
"So how long is the crowing ceremony?" Lily asked sitting back.
"About an hour, I suppose," Sairina replied, "But we will stay for three days of the break. There are various other functions and competitions that will require our attendance, including the Solstice Feast. That reminds me, the first Saturday of the term, you and I must go to my home."
"Why?" Lily inquired excitedly.
"The seamstress needs to take your measurements so you will have something to wear during the festivities. I dare say that if you were to wear anything from this world, people would think strangely of you." The girls laughed lightly and Lily challenged Sairina to a game of Wizard Chess. Halfway through their match, the compartment door slid open and in strode the four Marauders.
"Can't they find someone else to bother?" Sairina muttered in Sindarin. Lily laughed.
"What's so funny Evans?" Sirius demanded eyeing the girls warily. The girls proceeded to ignore them and continued on with their game. Undaunted by the fact that they were being ignored by the two girls, the boys pressed on. James sat down right next to Lily and put his arm around her shoulders. Lily stiffened visibly causing Sairina to laugh.
"I am such a generous person, Lils," James said pulling her close, "I am going to give you another chance. Come to Hogsmeade with me; I'll be sure to make it worth your while." Lily's face turned as red as her hair. Sairina bit her finger to keep from laughing out loud. Lily cast a knowing glance at her.
"If you don't kill him, I will," Lily spat in perfect Sindarin. Sairina couldn't help but laugh out right.
"See what I care," she said between fits of laughter, "That'll just mean Ravenclaw will have better odds of winning the Quidditch Cup." She continued to laugh while Lily fumed silently.
"J-j-james," Peter stuttered, "I think we'll be needing to leave now." James nodded solemnly and stood up. The boys then began to file out of the compartment. As they were leaving, Sairina made eye-contact with Remus. For the briefest moment she saw a full moon illuminating the night sky and heard a mighty howl. Then it was gone along with the Marauders.
Odd Sairina thought to herself. This foresight thing was tricky to control.