Chapter Eight: The Healer Elf:

Severus had gone to sleep in Minas Tirith that much he knew. He woke in Mordor, or so it seemed. He was laying on the floor of a chamber in Barad-dur and Sauron was over him. Now he was understanding why treading the paths of the dead was hazardous to one such as him. He felt himself lifted off his feet and looked on Sauron with horror, how could he not? He cried out in terror and tried to get away but he found himself questioned over and over, he knew nothing of the ring nor who had it or where it was. He knew if he did he would have given it to Sauron already. He could not fight back, and he knew he was to die here. Yet something was holding Sauron back.

The vision if that was what it was seemed to be fading and Barad-dur was fading, the heat and foul smells were replaced by quite and coolness. Severus found himself lying on a cold stone slab. Elrond was there, quietly chanting over him. Severus was clad only in his linen shorts as he had gone to bed on a warm summers night in only those. He found he was bound by ropes made of fine braid that glowed in the dim light of the chamber. These were not hurting him and seemed to only be holding him to keep him from harming others.

Elrond walked to a side table and pure a goblet. He walked back over to him and gave him the goblet to drink. Severus sat up as best he could and looked at the clear drought that he knew was a healing potion. He sniffed but could not tell what it was, it was not human magic but elf magic and he knew it would help him to drink it. For a moment he felt something wanting him to refuse but knew this would help him greatly. Severus drank deeply and he felt himself more connected to this place. Elrond placed his hand on Severus's chest over his heart and something shifted in Severus, something that made him feel more relaxed.

"This is why treading the paths of the dead should be done by those called." Elrond said and at a look from Severus, "I do not blame you, you have showed great courage and strength."

"Why am I bound?" Severus asked even though he had a feeling he knew why.

"You were trying to flee to Mordor, your friend Radagast stopped you but barely." Elrond said, "I had you brought to this chamber, you were speaking the black speech, forgive me but I had to bind you."

"I did not harm anyone?" Severus asked.

"You threw Gimi across a room and he is not happy with you for that, give him time, he might forgive you but he is a dwarf." Elrond replied, "Sauron wants you, but he will not have you, you did not pass judgment to be taken by him."

"How did you do that?" Severus asked. "Judgment, is that normal here?"

"It is rare, and no, it takes great power, only a few times have I done so, you are the fifth, lady Galadriel has done more." Elrond replied. "It is never done with out at least two judging and it is only done in extreme situations."

"Such as mine." Severus said. "You should have destroyed me."

"Why? You passed, you are here because you did, you are redeemable because you wish to be." Elrond said.

"Are you a god?" Severus asked.

"No, not I." Elrond laughed, "I am an elf who wants the world to be happy, free."

"But such power." Severus said.

"Yes, what would you have me use it for?" Elrond said, "should I be another Sauron? I dislike suffering and my children deserve better than suffering."

"I am not one of your children." Severus said feeling a sadness at that.

"You could be, I shall treat you as such." Elrond said with such kindness Severus wept, "you do deserve kindness, and you have had such little of I that I can see."

Severus watched as Elrond walked to fill a basin with water. He studied the elf lord, he was tall like all elves his hair was dark his ears pointed and he had no beard. He was clad in robes of blue silk and walked as if he were on air, like every elf Severus had seen. He came over with the basin and took a cloth and bathed Severus's with it. Severus felt like a child being tended to by a parent. Severus felt better for it and lay still a reprieve from the suffering he had been through. He felt as if Elrond was a tender father tending to his son and he did not feel worthy of this care. He relaxed and lay still and a t peace.

It was not to last, though he felt stronger he soon found the chamber he was in fading and he was back facing Sauron, yet this time he was more ready and when Sauron came to attack he cast light from his hands to stay the shadow before him. He was thrown back and once more was back in the chamber. Elrond was finding it hard to keep him there and then Severus knew what he had to do. Yet he was without a wand, how could that work? He never knew any who could cast a Patronus Charm without a wand. Yet he was in middle earth and had to try, he thought back to the happy times in his life and then willed the light to come into his hand.

"Expecto Patronum!" He cried out but nothing happened.

"Try again." Elrond said gently, "you can do this, you are far stronger than you think."

"It hurts." Severus said, and it did, everything hurt.

"You can do this princeling, you are the only one who has the power now." Elrond said, "I have done what I can."

"Expecto Patronum!" Severus said and a small white wisp came out of his hand.

"There princeling, try once more." Elrond said.

"Expecto Patronum!" Severus said more forcefully.

The spell came forth from his hand and the room became lighter, and more wholesome. The ropes that bound Severus glowed and helped him, they were there not to harm him but to bind him from hurting himself. Sauron did not try to harm him again and Elrond was impressed. Middle earth was to become a mortal realm fully, this he knew. It was why the elves, or most of them were leaving middle earth, those that remained would have very long lives but no more would they be immortal, they would taste death. Elrond and his kin had to leave as the age of men had come, as it always would have, he knew this for ages and was partly the reason he had lived in Rivendell for so long. He quickly unbound Severus as he saw he was not going to be harmed by Sauron any more and he was fully here.

"I need to go." Severus said.

"Not to Mordor, that path is not for you." Elrond replied.

"Minas Morgul, I need to speak to Aragon." Severus said.
"He has been gone these six days." Elrond said, "he should be close to the black gates, I had to fight hard to keep you here and away from Sauron as best I could."

"That long, well thank you." Severus said, "I think I can use my form here."

"You will wish to eat and dress before hand." Elrond said.

Severus found his raiment and dressed putting on his armor and surcoat over it, he took the lembas wafer and ate that and then was given a pack with food in it and cooking pans. Though he was not sure he would use the latter he found it nice this was in here, it was a common soldier's pack and he donned it before he put his cloak on. He put on a helmet and looked out over the lands to Mordor so far away and yet far closer than he liked. He knew in the world of muggles one could drive there in four hours but here it would take a few days at least to get there. In his Raven form it would take him four hours as well.

"You have done well, I thought you weak and was not sure of you." Elrond said.

"I would have given him the ring." Severus said, "if I had it."

"I know, but it was not for you nor your quest." Elrond said, "but you can free Minas Morgul and make it Minas Ithil again, you have the power, it shall be yours in time."

"It will need renovation, I am used to that." Severus said remembering his little house on Spinners End, "however I have never fixed something as large nor in such need of repair before."

"You will find you have the skills to do so." Elrond said.

He placed his hand on Severus's shoulder and Severus stiffened, then realized Elrond meant him no harm. He felt strength come into him and he knew he could fight as needed and he would win, he had to. He would make sure middle earth was safe as he could and he would go and fight as needed. Elrond gave him a kiss on his forehead as a blessing of sorts and then took a gem from his robes and placed it around his neck. Severus looked at it and marveled at it, this would offer him protect and he looked up at the great elf lord before him.

"Go with my blessing Severus son of Tobias of house Snape, but do not venture past Minas Morgul!"

"Yes my lord Elrond." Severus said.

"Go, this battle you have power to win." Elrond said smiling at him.

Severus bowed low and left and Elrond looked at him as he took his form and flew off. Man was stronger than elves, mortality did that to one he supposed. Soon the ring would be destroyed or this world would. Severus was going too close to Mordor for his comfort but what choice was there but to send him on a noble quest and hopefully distract him from the ring. For it pulled on him too though he did not know it, and he would not know where it was until the end. Elrond had a feeling as to where the world would go, that Sauron would be defeated but there was a chance he would not. He closed his eyes and saw two small figures fighting up the side of a tall mountain and fear flowed through him. This then was the hope of middle earth, on two hobbits far stronger than any elf or other could be.

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Sauron wants to rule all and Severus would be a great addition to his power, but Severus is not fully of middle earth and so he can fight back. Though with help from Elrond here. Elrond is a master healer and here he has done just that with Severus. He sees Severus as a child, one who is brave and noble but still a child. In fact he sees most of men as his children as he is half elven himself and is related to the kings of Gondor, and Aragon is really his so many great nephew. Given how old Elrond is he really is more a father figure to everyone here.

Anyway do review please!