Those Who Do Not Learn
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. If I did, I would have a MUCH nicer car.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(()()()()()()()()()()(()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Harry had found Hermione quickly after his release. After her discussions with Ireth and then Celebrian, she was in no mood for his immaturity. She had been very short with him, dismissing him from her presence. Now as she entered the banquet being thrown in honor of his birthday she felt very sorry for her actions. He saw her when she entered and approached her carefully. Harry didn't say a word. He simply extended his hand to her and led the way out onto a balcony off the hall.
"Harry, I'm…."
He put a finger to her lips. "Don't. It's my birthday so you're gonna listen to me. I know what happened today. I know Ireth is back and you got answers to questions you know you shouldn't have asked. And I know very well how you get when you feel bad about those kinds of things."
"I'm still sorry." She whispered as he pulled his hand away.
"I know." He leaned foreword and kissed her forehead. "You don't need to apologize to me."
"I know. But I still will."
"I know. Come on." He pulled her back into the party.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Ireth and the twins entered just as the meal began and sat near the end of the long table, pointedly ignoring all others around them. Hermione couldn't help watching her. Something about Ireth didn't seem anything like the elf she had known before her time in the forest. She didn't seem as restless and she seemed sad. Hermione had a feeling she had contributed to that. Her mother had always told her that sometimes it was best to let things be but she never listened. She always needed to know everything. She was always that child with the ill-timed question. For once in her life she realized how here need to know had hurt someone.
The meal was generally merry and most seemed to be enjoying themselves. When it seemed everyone had finished eating Gandalf stood and called Harry to the front.
"Well Harry," he clapped him on the shoulder, "I think it is finally time I gave you this." He pressed something into Harry's hand.
He looked down and saw the ring. It was silver, twin serpents entwined crowned with flowers. Harry looked up at Gandalf questioningly.
"This ring has ever been worn by the heirs of your kingdom and I think it only appropriate that it now go to you."
Though Harry was blissfully oblivious, Gandalf noticed the strange look he was receiving from two elves at the end of the table.
The banquet ended a while later. Gandalf was with Harry and Hermione when Elrohir and Ireth approached them. They both eyed the ring with a combination of awe and curiosity.
"That is the Ring of Barahir isn't it?" Elrohir gaped at the ring on Harry's finger.
The old wizard just gave him a smile and a laugh.
"After the battle of Pelennor we thought it was lost. We assumed the Rohirrim had taken it as a trophy."
"You should never assume things Ireth."
"How did you lose it?" Harry asked.
The elves looked at each other and led the way to another room.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Harry and Hermione settled into chairs when they entered the room. Gandalf stood in the back and watched over the others. Quietly Legolas and his dwarf friend slipped in beside the old wizard.
"For years there was peace. As long as the sons of King Elessar ruled Middle Earth was at peace." Elrohir began, "Then about 500 years after the great kingdom was reformed a king came to power. Like his predecessors he was wise and brave but. His queen had not borne him a child. He fell ill and died without an heir. The kingdom passed to a steward who named himself king."
"Why would Gondor pass to a steward?" Gandalf interrupted. "They were only to watch over the kingdom."
"Because," Ireth began to pace the room, "the queen was with child. The steward would watch over Minas Tirith until the child, male or female, came of age. We knew what power this man desired and we tried our hardest to hide the queen. I don't know how but he found us. He killed her and her newborn son and claimed the throne. He claimed the ring of Barahir to pass to his own sons."
"We took another guise and reentered the kingdom. I quickly became one of his trusted advisors. That is when I learned of his plan. He had heard the myths that as long as the white tree grew an heir still lived. Somehow he came to the conclusion that if he destroyed the tree he could destroy the line."
Gandalf was casting them strange looks. "How could the tree still live if the last heir had been killed?"
Elrohir looked to Ireth, asking her to continue.
"The queen bore twins. The younger we convinced the queen to allow us to hide. We gave him to a young couple who had that night lost their own son. If nothing happened then no one would ever need to know there was a second child. If something did happen…" She slipped from the room as she finished her story.
"The steward somehow though killing the tree would kill any heirs. Late one night he set the tree ablaze. He kept the fire burning for three days and nights before it was consumed. He dug out every last root and burned it."
Ireth reentered the room out of breath. "We've tried to make it grow for centuries." She held out the small white sapling. "It just won't. At least we saved it." She handed it gently to Harry.
"But how did the ring become lost?" Hermione asked.
"The steward was cruel," Ireth sat on the sofa, "but his son was worse. The old steward, at least, contained his cruelties to the people of Gondor. His son had a mind for conquest. He sought to rule all of Middle Earth. Unfortunately, he set his sights on Rohan. He mad it to the walls of Helms Deep before his supplies ran out. The horse lords were soon able to overtake him. They pushed his army back to Minas Tirith. Both armies lined up for the final battle at the Pelennor fields. The rohirrim rallied around the memory of Théoden the Great who had laid down his life for Gondor on the very field before them. The battle was terrible and when it was finished, the steward and his sons were dead and the armies of Gondor annihilated. Minas Tirith and Osgiliath were sacked and the people taken as slaves."
"It was the beginning of the end for Middle Earth. Small wars began to pop up allover the land. Within a century, men had reduced themselves to the Stone Age. Ireth and I placed spells to hide and protect some places. However, for the others it was far too late. We watched over the child we had hidden. We made sure he lived and the line of kings was secure."
"After and few centuries strange things began to happen. Men began to be born with the power of the wizards of old. Soon these new wizards began to form their own civilization with in that of men. You could imagine our surprise when the son of the heir showed these new powers."
"Eventually someone decide to form a school for the youngest wizards. We helped them build this place. We were wary but had hope for them when they chose a spot near where the river Isen once flowed to build their school."
"You allowed them to build a school on the ruins of Isengard?" the dwarf sprung forward but was restrained by Legolas.
"The men did not know the significance of the place. The stories of Saruman and Sauron had long since passed from memory."
"It made it much easier to watch over the heir. Elrohir and I entered a cycle of becoming teachers under different guises. Alternating one staying with the heir the other reinforcing and strengthening the spells we had placed. We always watched for wizards that could become like the dark lord."
"We had been afraid Grindelwald would be the one. Then he was destroyed. Then the first time Voldemort rose. We had feared him at first. When he killed James, we had no idea. We thought it was because he was an auror. He was closer than anyone else was to finding him. And then he was killed. By an infant, no less."
"I had entered into his service to watch over his actions. Then again when he returned."
"We took you when we realized what he was doing."
"But…" Harry looked at Elrohir slightly confused, "Sirius and Remus remembered you from school. If you two were alternating out how is that possible?"
"It would be suspicious if we just appeared out of nowhere. We each entered Hogwarts or another school as first years and continued through the schooling."
"We could never have known what Dumbledore became. If only we had…"
"You cannot blame yourselves. Even you do not know the hearts of men." Gandalf walked from the room silently.
Harry rose and reached down to Hermione. He nodded and led her from the room. The dwarf soon followed grumbling abut the foolishness of elves. Elrohir looked from Ireth to Legolas then back again. Slowly, silently he left the room alone. Legolas watched Ireth for several more moments before he sat at the end of the sofa. "I suppose we should talk." He whispered.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Comment, Criticisms, etc???
A/N: I know cliffhanger. It happens. I'll try to update as soon as I can but I can't promise anything until after the semester ends.