Those Who Do Not Learn

Chapter 14

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

Ireth sat in the garden in the late afternoon sunlight. Her book sat unread in her lap as she watched the small birds flitting about. In the several weeks since her latest argument with Legolas he had seemed to avoid her more than ever before. His recent behavior was quickly becoming the least of the things on her mind. Everything was changing. It felt as if there was something brewing just below the surface. She wasn't the only being that had noticed, the feeling that seemed to pervade the atmosphere. Rumors were beginning to spread. It was said that Gandalf had been returning to Middle Earth for decades. Gandalf had ever come and gone at his own will but now when he returned from his journeys he took long meetings with Elrond and Galadriel. Elrond himself seemed increasingly worn in recent months. Ireth was reluctant to speculate what was really happening. A large part of her mind suspected something but she refused to give it voice.

Ireth was drawn from her musings by the sound of footsteps on the courtyard behind her. She sighed heavily. "I haven't the will or desire to deal with you today." She called.

Legolas quickly approached and sat on the grass a short distance away. "Has anyone ever told said that you have the temperament of a dwarf at times?"

"You have many times." She answered wearily.

"I come to you under a truce." He raised his hands.

She sighed and waited for him to speak again.

"I have come to apologize for my comments several weeks ago.

She again sighed heavily. "I asked them not to say anything. I apologize for what ever the twins did or said they would do to you."

"No, Elladan and Elrohir have said nothing to me on this matter. Celebrian spoke to me. She said… She said that my cruelty toward you was unfair. That I had carried my grudge far too long."

"We are immortal. There is no such thing as too long."

"Almost two entire ages of the world is a bit excessive. I see that now. I long ago shed my tears for Idril. I had hoped I would meet her again here but I see that was not to be. We were friends once."

"As you said that was a long time ago."

"Yes and I blamed you for things unfairly."

"Not completely unfairly. I wanted to hurt Idril and she wanted to hurt me. Neither of us was more or less responsible but… we were far from innocent."

"You fought often but that…"

"No," she interrupted him, "there was something different that time. We both said and did things that were unforgivable. I used her weakness against her."

"You…"

"I have no excuse for what I did. I wanted to see her cry."

"You…You couldn't have know what would happen" he finally admitted. Neither responded for several long moments.

Ireth stood and crossed the distance between them. "Legolas,"

He scrambled to his feet.

"I accept your apology." She whispered before turning and running toward the building.

Late into the night Ireth couldn't rest. She kept turning Legolas' words over in her head. His shift in attitude was so extreme she couldn't help but suspect his motives. She also still couldn't believe the twins were completely free from guilt. Everything was becoming so strange. Something big was coming; she could feel it in her bones. Finally resolving to rest, Ireth let the sounds of the wind in the trees calm her nerves. She was just at the verge of sleep when there was a crash from her closet. Harry fell backward pushing open the door and collapsing in a heap on her floor.

"Harry?" She had expected to see Elrohir or his brother but not the prince. "What are you doing here?" she slipped from bed and pulled a robe over her night clothes.

He stood and brushed off the clothes he had become tangled in. "Elrohir sent me. You need to come now."

"Alright." She knew there must be something important for Ro to send Harry as a messenger.

He turned and led her back into the palace walls. The narrow corridor twisted and turned. At infrequent points small shots of light enter the hall giving view to the outside rooms. After the second stairway they descended she became completely confused about their location in the building. They turned a corner and found the small group huddled together.

"What are you?" she began in a whisper.

Elrohir jumped up and clamped his hand over her mouth. He pulled her over and motioned for her to look in the small hole they crowded around. Inside she saw the group that was gathered. Galadriel and Celborn were seated on the sofa. Elrond paced the area before the fireplace and she could barely see Gandalf seated in the corner.

She was pulled back and her friend placed a finger before his lips. She nodded and took a seat on the floor beside Hermione. As she settled in Legolas came round the corner, Gimli in tow. Ireth assumed the dwarf had been informed about their gathering as he leaned against the back wall and remained silent. Legolas and the twins exchanged looks and he knelt on the floor beside Ireth. She turned her head toward him and he cast a small smile. Everyone's attention turned toward the hole when Elrond began to speak.

Elrond paced before the fire. He had long predicted this day would come. He knew his people one day have to leave the peace of Valinor and return to Middle Earth. He had been certain since the day Ireth and Elrohir returned with the heir.

"You're sure this is the time?" he turned to Gandalf.

"Yes. I have done everything in my power to prepare the way. There are still many good people. Men who need the guidance of your people."

"Would they accept Harry as their king?"

"When he proves himself they will."

"You mean when he defeats Sauron." Elrond stopped pacing and faced the wizard. "If he even can."

"You must put faith in him."

"I have faith in him. But sometimes faith alone is not enough."

"If this is the path," Galadriel stood, "We must follow it." She calmly spoke.

All the room was silent after her pronouncement.

"Then it is settled." The wizard stood.

"Nothing is settled." Elrond turned back to stare into the fire. "We will begin preparations tomorrow."

Elladan motioned and the group gathered and filed away from the study. They finally emerged in Harry and Hermione's room.

"Wow." Harry fell into a chair around the table.

"So the rumors are true." Legolas leaned back against the now closed cabinet.

"What did he mean by if he can defeat him?" Hermione plopped indignantly in the bed.

"So what happens now?" Harry moved across the room and sat beside Hermione.

"I guess we go back to Middle Earth." Elladan numbly looked about the window.

Ireth and Elrohir took seats at the table and stared blankly into space.

"Hey, Hermione's right. What did he mean by if I can?" Harry sat up, insulted.

"Relax, Harry," Elrohir spoke, "He didn't mean anything by it. I think everyone is starting to believe Sauron is undefeatable. We've supposedly defeated him twice and yet…"

"But I've been destined to destroy Voldemort since I was a baby."

"There may not be anything left of Voldemort." Ireth look up from the table.

"What do you mean?"

All eyes shifted to Ireth. "I… Elrohir and I have talked about thin many times in the past years. We both had Tom Riddle as a student. He was a pathetic boy. Desperate, glory seeking, vengeful, and terrible with potions but pathetic. He was a mediocre student at best but he definitely had the hate in him to raise some hell. We never took him seriously as a threat. We thought he would avenge his mother, cause some trouble and eventually be killed by aurors in a blaze of glory. We watched him but…We never thought he had the power to be a serious threat.

"We think he was influenced. We think he delved far too deeply into dark magic in his quest for power. Sauron was very good at influencing the simple minded. He may have been feeding Voldemort power from the beginning. All while tying himself more and more firmly the poor boys very being. He obviously didn't count on your mother."

Elrohir smiled at Harry. "You mother was an amazing witch. There was something about her from the first moment she set foot in that school. You could feel it about her. A deep, overwhelming, good power. The spell she cast in that last moment… Even wee don't know he depth of the magic she was able to perform. And no amount of energy he could have channeled could have broken it. Only Sauron's power kept Voldemort from being completely disintegrated."

"But… the triwizard… I saw him."

"You saw his body. Chances are that was all that was left."

Harry was silent. His eyes clouded.

Hermione noticed the look on his face and stepped up. "I think we should all get some rest."

The elves nodded I agreement and retreated toward the secret passage.

"Harry," Ireth called back, "don't worry so much about this. We know nothing for certain." She disappeared into the wall and pulled the cabinet shut behind her.

Harry turned his head to speak but Hermione put a finger to his lips. She shook her head and pulled him back toward their bed.

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