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Thank you all so much for sticking with me. I'm sure many of you have also found 2020 to be a special kind of torture. This year feels as though it has been many.
I want to express how grateful I am for those of my readers who have pointed out my mistakes in the Lore. Thank you so so much, while I am a fan I know that my level of knowledge is miniscule to the vast wealth of information left to us by Tolkien.
That being said, however, please consider from this point forward the following statement: I have thrown what was left of canon out the window. While I will still play on the character development and settings granted to me by these literary gods I have also come to the turning point in my story where everything is about to change.
Tolkien and Rowling (slightly miffed at her but oh well) still own all rights and I'll accept that.
"Ok, let's try to go over this again." Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose in exhaustion. Luna had attempted to pull all of her father's journals from various piles in his study, looking for any and all references to Radagast and Middle Earth. The unintelligible ramblings scrawled upon page after page was tiring for the trio as they poured over the books. "Radagast communicated with your father using a kind of mushroom tea that he would brew from the apothecary in Diagon Alley?"
The blonde nodded, slowly stirring her tea as she read over the journal in her lap. "Father would always brew his tea and go for a walk in the forest. I've already owled the apothecary to see if they still carry the type of Mushroom or had records of where to find it."
"We could always ask Neville, too." Ron lay on the floor in front of his wife's chair, an open book laying on his face as he'd given up reading it further. "If anyone knew of a kind of world bridging mushroom it would be him."
"How's that journal coming along, love?" Luna asked, looking at her husband with a gentle smile.
"Real page turner, dear."
Harry smiled at his friends. This reminded him of his school days. But the thought was quickly replaced. If it was truly like his school days Hermione would be here and would have already figured it out days ago.
"You said you met him before how did Radagast get here?" Harry flipped a few more pages in the book in his hand, still nothing indicating an answer to his question.
She shrugged. "It was very brief a meeting, and I was only a little girl. It was well before my Hogwarts days. I'm not sure how exactly he got here since I've yet to find a reference to specific travel to and from this Middle Earth."
The raven haired man set the book to the side, cradling his head in his hands. "I'll send a message to Neville. See if we can meet him at Hogwarts and go over anything he might find in the library there."
Ron sat up, his own journal falling to the floor. Looking quickly back to the book he suddenly slapped his hand on the page. "Look at this!"
Luna and Harry joined him on the floor, looking at an odd orb drawing on the page.
"What's a ... palantir?" The ginger asked.
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The morning brought a light mist through the forest, the dew drops glistening on the blades of grass along the shore of the Anduin. The fellowship had awoken with the dawn, their preparations beginning almost immediately. The elves had granted them several canoes to aid in their journey South to Argonath and into Gondor. The river would carry them the majority of their trek, they'd disembark once they were close enough to Sarn Gebir and continue South East to the White City
The highest ranking Elves met the party as they were loading the canoes with provisions, granting various gifts to the party. Galadriel and Celeborn offered their well wishes as they spoke with each of the members in turn. Each were given an Elven Cloak adorned with a Lorien Leaf brooch, to help shield them from unfriendly gazes.
As the King and Queen made their way down the line of companions Hermione's mind was elsewhere. Nenya was safely hidden in her bag on her belt but the intricate band caused her worry. Only Aragorn and Frodo knew of it in her possession but she felt as though it would have to come to light eventually that there were now two ring bearers in their party.
Galadriel had just granted the Light of Elendil to Frodo when she turned to the witch, pulling the brunette from her thoughts.
"Lady Granger I offer a gift of words. A thought for you to ponder. Your worth is not counted by the tomes you've read nor the magic you possess." Reaching forward the elf laid a hand over Hermione's heart. "It is here. You have touched the lives of countless in your own world and you will do the same here. This quest is merely another path on your journey."
The elf's hand glowed lightly as she pressed her forehead against the young woman's. "The plains are calling."
Hermione was confused. The plains of Rohan were west of their destination. They weren't going to venture that close to the horseman borders. She thought briefly of Eomer, how he and his kinsmen might be faring. Galadriel stepped back, bowing slightly before turning with her husband and departing back to the wood.
Boromir and Aragorn busied themselves with the three canoes, The Captain and Hermione would be in one boat with most of their provisions and Sam, Merry and Pippin with Legolas and Frodo with Gimli and Aragorn. She tossed her pack into the boat, steadying herself at the bow to climb aboard to her seat. Her magic seemed to call back to the wood, as though wanting to stay where the magic seemed strongest. She brushed it off, hoping that the ring on her person was not affecting her.
"You ready, lass?" She looked over to Gimli who was at the bow of the canoe beside her. Frodo sat behind the dwarf, offering the witch a gentle smile. He knew what was on her mind, the same that had been on his mind since they had departed Rivendell.
"As I'll ever be." She smiled politely.
"Well then, let's be off!" The dwarf thrust his axe into the air. "Onward, Ranger!"
Aragorn chuckled as he, Boromir and Legolas pushed the boats off from the beach into the river. The river's current was gentle through the remainder of the wood, the water lapping lightly as it carried them downstream.
The woods gave way to a more traditional forest that Hermione would have been used to seeing, green leaves without the speckles of magical starlight in the eaves. She kept a steady glance at the shoreline, knowing that their actions in Moria would've initiated whispers amongst the enemy. Any sign of trouble would call for swift action if they were to remain undetected on their journey.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" The Captain startled her slightly, she dropped her gaze from the trees to him.
"Of course."
"Lass. I have a younger brother. I know you are troubled." He sighed, pushing the oars along as their boat brought up the rear of their marine caravan. "Gandalf was a loss to us all, but I sense moreso to you?"
She was astonished at the observation. He had certainly opened up to her since their departure from Rivendell but this was almost... compassion.
"I've known Gandalf for a majority of my life. To lose him was to lose my family." She steadied herself, fighting back the sob wanting to escape her throat. "I thought I lost him once before... to have him back for only so brief feels vicious."
"We all grieve in our own way, Hermione. There is no right or wrong way for you to miss him." The Gondorian smiled gently. "You can always talk to us, we are your brothers here."
The words hit her like a train and the sob freed itself as she covered her mouth with her cloak. She had begun to feel that way, that her companions were becoming her family. Her wanting to protect Frodo last night was testament enough to that regard. She had worried that the sentiment would be seen as just that, sentiment. But his words calmed that worry instantly. They had her back as fiercely as she had theirs.
"If I can protect you from foes, whether by sword or comfort, I shall. You are my shield sister." He reached across the provisions, mooring the oar in it's cradle, and grasping her hand that rested on the pack behind her. "I know the others feel the same."
She nodded, squeezing his hand in return. She, Hermione Granger, was at a loss for words. The same man she had brought to his knees just weeks prior was now welcoming her as a comrade, not just in this battle but in any that they were to face in the coming days.
The ride continued, the bends of the river bringing them further from Lothlorien and closer to Argonath. The statues appeared around a bend, the Great Kings of old standing guard at the borders of Gondor, welcoming the companions as they docked their canoes along the western shore. They would cross the lake at dawn, under cover of the mist that would surely cover the water.
Making a small campsite kept them busy, Sam going straight to work with cooking a good meal over the small fire Gimli had chopped wood for. Hermione saw Frodo making his way apart from the others, towards a small outcropping of ancient ruins that she could barely make out in the trees.
Boromir laid a hand on her shoulder. "You should follow him. I will... stay back."
She looked up at him curiously. He hung his head in shame and leaned closer to her. "They closer we get to Minas Tirith the more I wonder if I can get the Ring to my father. I should... not be alone with the halfling."
Hermione nodded her understanding. This was not unexpected, she knew that he struggled with the call of the ring. She was grateful he trusted her enough to admit it.
"I will... brother." She smiled, patting his hand before following Frodo up the path.
What looked to, at one point in time, be a small courtyard unfolded before her through the trees. The Hobbit sat perched on a small staircase, the ring in his open palm. Hermione approached carefully, his expression not quite readable to the witch.
"Frodo?" She approached with soft steps.
"I do not know if I want to carry this anymore." He whispered. "He sees all, doesn't he? Sauron?"
She could feel the tension in his voice as he spoke the name the realm had come to fear. She'd seen this before with Harry and the horcruxes. The burden was wearing on the man before her and she could see the cracks beginning to show. Hermione sighed, settling herself onto the stair beneath him, bringing her eye level to the Hobbit.
"I won't deny that you have been given a terrible burden, Frodo. But I believe you are stronger than you think." She looked out over the trees, the lake barely visible through the brush. "You were the only one to volunteer, a Hobbit of the Shire. None of the others, for all their achievements in battle and in the high courts of the land, even entertained the thought. But you did. You knew what needed to be done and didn't hesitate to see it through."
He looked up at her, clearly her words resonating with him. "You really think that to be true, Hermione?"
She nodded ardently. "You remind me a lot of someone dear to me. He, too, faced an unimaginable task. But with the aid of his friends and those closest to him he overcame the obstacle. Just as I know you will, too. I won't let anything happen to you, my friend."
He smiled gently, placing the chain around his neck once more. "You are right. I must confess, I do not know if this journey is meant to continue with the fellowship intact. I feel... I may have to fare part of this quest alone."
Suddenly a horn echoed through the woods, birds startling from their perches all around them.
"Boromir." Hermione stood quickly, wand unsheathed in an instant. The clanging sound of metal armor and weapons filled the air. "They've found us." Looking back at Frodo she saw the ache in his heart.
Kneeling to face him once more. "I see it in your eyes, you mean to leave now, don't you?"
The Hobbit nodded slowly, sadly. Her heart broke at the sight. She knew he was right, their group was easily identifiable. He could slip away unseen and continue on to the East. To the shadow.
"I will draw them off, Frodo. Get to the boats!" She kissed his head and pushed him towards the shore as a few hideous creatures came into view. Pulling the dagger from its sheath she stormed the monsters, deflecting their swords as best she could while stunning as many of the enemy to the ground. The beings before her were no Orcs, they were something else. Something worse.
They growled and hissed at her, their heavy muscles swinging their steel with intense blows. She did not remain unscathed, a few strikes tearing her cloak and bruising her beneath her bracers.
The horn called again, driving her fiercely through the swath of enemies before her. Driving her blade through the neck of the last one in her clearing she ran towards the sound. Rounding a tall tree she saw Boromir protecting Merry and Pippin, an arrow protruding from his shoulder. The sight stopped her in her tracks.
Shaking herself back she followed his gaze to one of the creatures, a hideous monstrosity with a white palm mark adorning his face. She saw it knock another arrow into its haggard bow and she had no choice but to run at the monster, her wand aimed high.
"SECTUMSEMPRA!" She shouted, the white light leaving the tip of her wand as the spell collided directly with the attacker's neck. The ferocity of her emotions caused the spell to separate its head directly from its body as more wounds appeared, oozing a black matter that ran like molasses on its armor.
Running to Boromir she grabbed the arrow from his shoulder, pulling it sharply from his wound. He shouted in pain as he grabbed her and threw her behind the log that the Hobbits hid behind.
"You can't fight them alone!" She shouted.
"The others will come, get the Hobbits safe!" He yelled back, bringing the horn to his lips once more and blowing the call as he ran towards the oncoming enemy.
Having no time to think she quickly ushered the halflings away, pushing them forward as they, too, tried to aid the Knight who saved them.
"Go! Now!" She hollered, only looking back to stun those who got too close. Merry and Pippin gasped as they ran, their very lives depending on their speed. The brush was thick and their path untread through the forest. Hermione's mind raced as she could hear the sound of the others joining Boromir, Gimli's war cry echoing through the woods.
But she didn't see anything as a rock was thrown from behind, landing a blow directly to the back of her head and her world went black.
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"This palantir is only mentioned here, its one of the last journals that father kept mentioning Radagast." Luna's eyes scanned the page quickly, her steel blue eyes darting across the words. "Radagast called it an 'All Seeing Stone', a means of communication from his world."
"Like a howler?" Ron asked, looking over his wife's shoulder.
"No, Ron. Not like a howler." She sighed. "A touch more complex than a howler."
Harry studied the sketch on the page, a solitary orb that seemed to hold a liquid, perhaps. The etching showed the object on a table, not much scale to be shown for size. The drawing intrigued him, it reminded him of the marbles that Dudley used to throw at him as a child.
"Have you seen this before?" He asked Luna as she continued her study of the journal.
She shook her head. "It doesn't look familiar, but I am not sure how big it is. Also father kept many things hidden in his study, to this day I'm still not sure what all he possesses."
The auror stood, beginning to pace alongside the kitchen table. The Lovegood house was in shambles from their research, what had looked like organized chaos was now just utter disarray before them. The books and journals laid strewn across the floor, haphazardly opened to various entries. Now cold cups of tea sat on the side table or on the floor, their placement only showing where the group had been sitting at one point.
"What if we tried to summon it?" Ron inquired. "You know, accio it right to us?"
Harry looked over at him, his mouth agape. "Pardon?"
"Well, it's worth a shot, right?" The ginger shrugged, clearly not noticing that his idea had come as a shock to Harry and Luna. "What?"
"That's a very clever idea, love." His wife stood, kissing him softly on the cheek.
"Hey, I am known to have them... every once in a while." His chest puffed slightly with pride.
"You should be the one to try, Luna. It was your father who drew it." Harry suggested, pointing at the journal. "Hermione told me that summoning something you have never touched before can be dangerous. We should try it outside in the garden, that way if it comes flying through a wall we don't have to worry about taking cover from windows or doors."
The blonde nodded, sighing gently. "You're right. There's quite a few dangerous items in this house I wouldn't want flying at me."
The trio made their way into the Lovegood garden, amongst the dirigible flowers and various other plants that were foreign to the aurors. Neither Harry or Ron would ever exaggerate their herboligical knowledge, nor would they ever try. Standing near the bench on the far side of the yard Luna gently pulled her wand from her robe.
Clearing her throat she pointed it towards her childhood home and spoke clearly and firmly. "Accio Palantir!"
Instantly a crash was heard inside the house and not seconds later a black orb the size of a watermelon was flying through the study window towards them.
Ron and Harry grabbed either of Luna's arm and pulled the blonde to the ground as the ball flew past their heads and embedded itself in a nearby tree.
"I think she found it, Harry." Ron gasped as splinters of branches landed all around them.
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"Boromir!" Aragorn vaulted over a rock, coming to the aid of the Captain who cradled his left arm against his body, having abandoned his shield.
"They took Hermione and the Hobbits!" The Gondorian shouted over the sounds of steel on steel. He quickly made waste to the creature before him, kicking the lifeless body away from him as he stumbled towards the Ranger. "The enemy is retreating!"
"Then they got what they came for." Aragorn groaned in frustration. "Frodo and Sam have made their way across the lake. They will have reached the other side."
Legolas and Gimli joined them, both covered in the blood of the fallen foes in their wake. "We can still catch them if we leave now!" The elf turned towards the water but stilled when he did not hear the footsteps of his comrades behind him. Gimli stared at the ground, nudging something with his foot.
On the ground laid Hermione's wand.
"We cannot help Frodo now. But we can save our friends." Aragorn looked over at Boromir. "We must bandage your shoulder and prepare to move."
"Yes!" Gimli shouted, picking up the wand and running to the boats with Legolas to grab what provisions they could carry.
"I tried to save them, brother. There were too many and Hermione ended up saving my life. I failed her." The Captain's words were halted with the firm hand of Aragorn on his shoulder.
"We have not failed her. Or the hobbits." The northman pressed his forehead to his kinsman's. "We can still save them and we will not give up. We abandon no one."
Boromir looked him dead in the eye and spoke the words that Aragorn never expected to hear. "On your order, my King."
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Hermione groaned, a throbbing at the back of her head sending waves of pain with each beat of her pulse. She was moving, someone or something was carrying her over their shoulder, she could feel her arms dangling towards the ground, the small wooden horse stained with dirt and blood against her skin. She blinked her eyes as she lifted her gaze, not knowing what sight she would be met with.
She could make out the hobbits, both tied to two of the creatures they had tried to evade in the forest. Pippin was awake and made eye contact with her. His eyes lit up when he realized she was awake, the relief apparent on his face. Merry's head lulled from side to side with each stride of his captor, clearly unconscious. Hermione dared not to think worse than that.
She tried to gain an awareness of her surroundings but they were no longer in the woods, open field lay before them with outcroppings of large boulders scattered throughout the landscape. She could not see any sort of Road nearby so the chance of gaining her bearings off sight and the knowledge of maps alone would do her no good.
She did not see any of the others captured, hopeful that Frodo was able to escape and wasn't taken. She could tell that her sheathes were empty, she had no wand and no weapon but could not let herself panic. She only hoped that one of her companions had found it and that it was not destroyed.
"Please, he's sick. He needs water!" Pippin's voice brought her attention back to the halflings.
"Give him some medicine, boys!" One guffawed, passing a waterskin down the line. Judging from the smell of these monstrosities she doubted that the contents were water but wasn't able to find the strength to try to stop them. Her limbs felt heavy and she was at the very least concussed.
An oily liquid poured out over Merry's face, waking the hobbit as he coughed the liquid out of his mouth, gasping for breath. He looked around, relief also flooding his features at the sight of the witch and his cousin.
"He's fine!" The creature laughed. "Go!"
Hermione was jolted again as they continued on, their path dipping into a gorge. She saw Pippin lower his head and begin tugging on his cloak. It didn't take long before she could barely make out the sound of ripping fabric as he looked up with his elven brooch between his lips. He quickly spit the clip out over his shoulder, the leaf falling to the ground and glimmering in the mud.
She smiled weakly. 'Clever Hobbit' she thought before she was taken over by darkness again.
Hermione didn't come to until she was violently thrown to the ground and her eyes opened to only be greeted by the shadow of night. They had reached the edge of a dense forest, the trees old and their trunks wide. In her fog she almost wondered if she lay at the border of the Forbidden Forest until Pippin and Merry were tossed beside her. She crawled quickly, pushing through the pain and she hovered over the halflings, trying to look over them for any visible injuries.
"I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pip." Merry groaned. The cut to his forehead looked deep but Hermione could not see any signs of fresh blood flowing from the wound.
There was a flurry of movement around them as a few creatures, that the witch could identify as Orcs, ran towards the trees with their axes high. The wood groaned with each strike, yet the noise seemed to resonate deep within the forest. A breeze whipped against her skin, a force behind it she did not recognize.
"What's making that noise?" Pippin asked, looking at his cousin with concern.
"It's the trees." Hermione found herself answering with Merry.
"I'm sorry, what?" The younger hobbit looked between the two in utter confusion.
"Remember the old Buckland Forest?" He asked. "Folks said there was something in the water."
Nodding his understanding Pippin seemed to make the connection. "That made the trees grow tall."
"I think these trees may have done more than grow tall." Hermione whispered, looking behind her and away from the trees. Some sort of argument had started amongst their captors. An orc was watching them from across the makeshift camp. His gaze was filthy, the monster not even attempting to hide his leering glances.
Clearly one of his companions noticed.
"They are not for eating!" The bigger of the two shoved the orc. "We have our orders. Unharmed."
"They can live without a leg. Just a mouthful." He turned his eyes from the halflings to Hermione. "I don't recall the master saying anything of a she-witch being unharmed. We could have our fun with her, couldn't we?" The thought sent shivers down her spine and she put herself between the hobbits and their audience.
He was met with a blade to the neck and his head went flying through the air before coming to land before Pippin's feet. The creatures immediately began tearing their fallen solder apart and feeding on his corpse, a sight Hermione could barely stand.
But she knew this caused just enough of a distraction for a reckless plan that probably wouldn't work. "Go." She whispered. "Crawl to the trees." She reached forward with her bound hands and pulled their hoods over their heads, hoping the magic of the elves would still grant them safe from unfriendly eyes.
"Hermione, what about you?" Pippin asked, clutching her hand.
"Don't worry about me, now go!" She urged, pushing him away.
They made it a few meters before she felt a clammy hand grasp the back of her neck, turning her to face its owner. "Where are your little friends?!" It shouted, spitting in her face, nearly making her gag.
"You'll have to kill me first. Then what do you plan to tell your master?" She smirked, knowing full well any sort of uncooperative action would lead to her torture.
"I'll enjoy this." He leaned forward, rubbing his nose against her skin, making her recoil in disgust. "I will enjoy tearing you to pie-" His words were cut short with a javelin protruding from his chest, scraping Hermione's arm in the process.
His grip slackened and she scrambled away from his body, looking up to see a calvary approaching, their war cry echoing in the night.
"ROHIRRIM!" Her heart soared. The Riders of Rohan.
Looking around she found a downed axe nearby, blade up. She crawled to the tool, rubbing her bindings against the blade. Her skin was raw and she could feel her wrists bleeding from the friction. The ropes snapped free and her hands tingled with the freed circulation. Grabbing the axe as her only weapon she made her way into battle. Hermione did her best to avoid hitting any of the hoses, or their riders.
She couldn't let them find the Hobbits.
Swinging the heavy blade as best she could, the weapon weighing nearly half her, she felled many enemies in her path before finding herself face to face with a friend.
"Hermione?!" Eomer shouted, startled by the sight of the witch, pulling her quickly to him and putting himself between her and the creatures. "Get behind me!"
"Fine!" She yelled back in exasperation, dropping the axe and pulling the dagger from the Third Marshall's sheath, surprising the man. She quickly buried the blade to the hilt in the neck of a rushing orc, pushing the lifeless body away from her. Hermione could feel the warmth of Eomer as they stood back to back against their foes.
"Your magic would be useful here!" He quipped to her as he held off an orc's sword with his own.
"Really?!" She exclaimed. "Do you see my wand?!"
The riders dispatched the orcs quickly, losing two of their own in battle. Hermione found herself falling to her knees in exhaustion, Eomer instantly at her side, assessing her wounds. She felt such a calm by his presence alone, and felt the same comfort from him she hadn't felt since Rivendell.
"When did they capture you?" He asked, his fingers running over her skin tenderly as he checked her face and neck for any lacerations. "We've been tracking them since we first sighted them at dawn."
She shook her head, leaning into the friendly embrace. "Its been days, at least." Looking at the treeline she breathed a sigh of relief to not see any sign that the Hobbits didn't make it to the wood. "They captured me and two of my companions. I managed to get them away when you and your riders saved us."
"And Gandalf?" He asked. "Was he with you?"
Her shoulders shook at the name and she crumpled into his arms. "He's gone. He fell." She sobbed against him as he held her close, the thickness of his armor or no consequence to her as she clung to him.
"My Lord Eomer, we must depart!" A rider shouted.
"No!" He shouted back. "Pile the bodies and burn them. We will ride south east and make camp beyond the next stream."
The man looked down at the bloodied woman before him. "Ride with us, I will keep you safe and help you however I can. Let me keep you safe. Please."
She nodded against him, the tears flowing freely. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her to his horse. "Wait here. Stay with Firefoot." Placing her gently on the ground he was shocked when the horse instantly laid down beside the woman, resting its head gently on her shoulders as she clung to the stallion's neck.
"Get her water." He whispered to one of his soldiers, looking back at the witch. "I'll help gather the dead and then we move to camp."
Hermione felt the strong heartbeat of the horse as she leaned against it's strong frame. She had crumpled before Eomer, a confusing flurry of guilt and weakness overpowering her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a soldier gently place a waterskin beside her before stepping away without a word. She reached for the water, thankful for the hydration. She was exhausted in more ways than one and the liquid felt like fire down her throat. She coughed, almost startling Firefoot who did not dare move while she was on the ground.
"Come. You do not need to see this." She looked up at Eomer who had extended a hand to her. She took it with no question, feeling him pull her to him with ease. She noticed then that he had the ribbons she had given him tied to his cuirass, near his heart.
Firefoot stood beside the pair, waiting for his Rider and the Lady to mount. As he helped the witch onto the saddle he noticed the bracelet still fastened, yet frayed, on her wrist. As he pulled himself into the saddle behind her, careful not to press to close, he gently held her hand in his as he guided his stallion with the other.
"Rohirrim: Move Out!"
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