A new Frontier
Disclaimer: I own neither Harry Potter nor Lord of the Rings. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: When all is lost, four comrades seek sanctuary beyond the veil. They were in search for peace, but that was the last thing they got. Draco/Gabrielle. harry/Daphne. AU.
Rating: M for language, violence, mild adult themes and character death.
Author: tlyxor1.
A new Frontier
Chapter One
July, TA 3016
Consciousness came in one single burst of awareness, a habit born of too much time in the wild, too much paranoia, a decade of war and what have you. The sun was a fiery speck on the horizon, the horses were still fast asleep but Hedwig, an ever faithful companion, hooted lowly in greeting, floated down to perch on his shoulder and nibbled at the strands of his sable hair. She'd maintained her watch throughout the night and as it appeared, nothing of consequent had occurred during the quartet's slumbering hours.
Harry Potter detangled himself from his bonded, set to the task of rekindling their campfire and thought over the events that had led he and his companions to this brand new world. It hadn't been an easy decision to make, but when their last Order of the Phoenix stronghold had been raided and they had become the last four survivors of the resistance, it had appeared their only remaining option. It had been a last resort before then, an escape for the Order of the Phoenix if all went wrong, but with hope still lingering, it had never been seriously considered. No one had thought that it would ever really be needed. All of that had changed, however, and with nothing left to lose, the four began their preparations.
A week later, they'd entered the fabled veil of death without looking back, packs full of all that they'd need and could take with them, a small menagerie of animals and braced for most anything they were bound to come across. There weren't many reports of this world - Arda - but what they did know was that it was a dangerous place, not least due to the Dark Lord who'd fallen some two thousand years earlier.
Brought from his reverie as Draco stirred, Harry glanced up from the apple he'd been methodically slicing, nodded at his friend and slowly began to eat his meagre breakfast. Draco took a moment to check over Gabrielle's slumbering form, nodded to himself and deposited a filled kettle on the fire. He was rather disgruntled about their inability to use magic, but until they were all comfortable with the lay of the land, magic wasn't something they'd at all be comfortable with using. Harry, who'd grown up without, took it rather easily, but his companions weren't so adaptable. Harry himself found it rather comical, but Godric forbid he ever admit that.
"Any problems last night?" Draco queried. He'd gotten his hands on a pear and his hands were fluid as they sliced the fruit into quarters and then eighths, but his pale gaze was on Harry, expectant. Gone was the scorn and contempt from their early school days, but they were both far from the boys of their childhood. Many had thought it a frankly bizarre friendship, but neither had really cared much for others' opinions by that point. Harry was just grateful that the former Slytherin had made this journey with him.
"None," Harry answered, "Hedwig's gone to scout around. We need to make up a plan soon. We can't just wander forever."
Draco nodded his agreement and his gaze flicked to Gabrielle, still fast asleep, slender hand curled protectively over her distended belly. She was due in only a matter of weeks and harry was sure that they'd all prefer to be settled before that day came. They'd been travelling for days, however, and still no settlement had been forthcoming. Their hope - and patience - was wearing thin.
"The reports said that there were elven settlements here," Draco mused. "At the very least, you and Daphne would be welcome."
Reflexively, Harry reached a hand upwards and brushed over the tapered point of his ear. Even after floes to a decade, the reality that he was an elf still surprised him. it had come about as a magical creature inheritance on his sixteenth birthday, presumably from one of his ancestors, but with the knowledge that he'd not been the only one of his cohort to become something other than human, he'd not complained.
Particularly when it had brought him Daphne.
"Too bad we don't know where they are," Harry answered dully. Draco chuckled, poured himself a cup of tea and for a time, they sat in companionable silence. It was broken by the approach of a weary eyed Daphne, her white gold hair uncharacteristically mussed and her blue violet eyes on the trees surrounding them.
"You know," she mused, "I never thought I'd grow tired of the sight of trees, but lo and behold, I'm getting really bloody bored."
"What kind of elf are you, Greengrass?" Draco mock jeered. "Tired of the sight of trees, heaven forbid."
"I'll show you what kind of elf I am, Malfoy," she retorted, mockingly brandishing one of her daggers. They both laughed, she returned her blade to it's sheath at her belt and settled beside Harry with a smile for her husband. He returned it in kind, pressed a kiss to her cheek and offered her an apple that the elleth gratefully accepted.
"Should probably head out soon," Daphne mused, gaze on the lightening sky. "Don't want to stay in one place too long."
"Convenu," Gabrielle opined, slowly sitting up from her bedroll. She rubbed at her lower back with a grimace on her face, accepted Draco's offered hand to help her up and frankly waddled her way towards the small fire. Draco helped her down, Harry offered the blonde an orange and she ate it happily, eyes on the crackling flames. "What is the time?"
Before any of them could answer, Hedwig swooped in with a screech, Harry relayed her message and the companions - sans Gabrielle - whirled into a flurry of action. Packs were filled and tied to the horses, Gabrielle was lifted side saddle onto her mare, Draco and Harry unsheathed their swords and they waited in tense, anticipatory silence.
Harry and Daphne heard them first, far closer than either of them would like. Normally, their elven ears would allow for a far better range than that which had been provided them. They'd never been so disadvantaged before in the way of notice of strangers' approach. The sensation was disconcerting, at the very least. As a reflex, Harry drummed his fingers along the handle of his sword, cast a gaze towards his wife and received an assuring smile for his trouble. All would be well - they'd make certain of it.
A quartet of men entered into the clearing, clad in travelling garb and hoods raised, but weapons sheathed and hands open in what was (apparently) the multi-universal sign of peace. Harry and Daphne scrutinised the strangers beneath their cowls and both sheathed their weapons, considerably relaxed. Draco followed suit only a moment later, not having hesitated to trust their judgement.
"What might we do for you, strangers?" Harry asked, still wary despite not having deemed them a threat. He tilted his head curiously, his hair slipped behind his ears and two of the men pulled back their hoods without adieu. They were elves, Harry could see, and identical twins besides. harry and Daphne eyed them curiously, not having seen elves besides themselves before.
"We've been following your tracks," came the gravelly tone of one of the unknown strangers, "We ask what brings you so far north. Do you travel to Imladris?"
"We're lost," Harry said plainly, "We'd settle for any settlement, by this point." he gestured to his pregnant companion. "Gabrielle can't travel like this much longer."
The elven twins and their two companions agreed whole heartedly, introductions were made and before Harry really realised it, they'd suddenly acquired a quartet of guides to lead the way to Imladris, an elven valley in which they'd be welcomed with care, or so Elladan, Elrohir, Strider and Piper insisted. None of them protested the choice, however, weary of travelling as they were. And so their road continued, but as they walked, they each took comfort in the knowledge that their journey would soon meet it's end. They could soon lay down, rest their heads and for a time, not worry of the danger that had once followed them everywhere they went. It was a moment they each anticipated like they had anticipated no other and Harry smiled to himself, glad that he'd soon know the peace he'd desired for so long.
Translations:
Convenu: French, meaning 'Agreed'.