Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the wonderful world of Harry Potter or LOTR.
-Chapter 5-
It has been well over four days since their arrival to Imladris, and yet still no word from the search party on the whereabouts of Hermione. Celebrian was about this close to tearing all her hair out before jumping on a horse herself to search for her dear friend. The worry is doing nothing for her heart. It is only through kind words and reassurance from Lord Elrond that she has any sanity left. Day after day she spend her time pacing back in forth in front of the gates to the great city, hoping to catch a glimpse of that curly, golden-brown hair. But to no avail. With each passing day, her worry became dread and dread became somberness. Did her friend fall victum to those orcs? That single thought repeated in her mind like a mantra and an insurmountable guilt weighed on her mind. She should have stayed with Hermione! Stayed and fought, rather than run like a coward! Like that, Celebrian mentally berated herself as she waited once again at the gates.
An hour passed. Then two. Then four. Still no sign of her friend. Until finally, she hear the whickering of a horse. Could it be? Celebrian stopped her pacing and held her hands to her heart. Hope finally dawned on her as she stared intently down the road. In the distance, she saw a shape. A shadow, moving at a slow pace, increasing as it got closer. And to her joy, it was a horse – Hermione's horse! But when it got closer, her heart dropped and her stomach became nauseous. There she was, unconscious on top of her horse with bruises and blood soaking her clothes and hair. Three black, grotesque-looking arrow protruded from her back. Burn marks were present her scorched clothes. Celebrian acted fast and lunged forward, sprinting to her friend.
Upon reaching the horse, she calmed him before reaching for Hermione's face and tried waking her. "Ai, Herminoe! Melon nin! Wake up! Please, open your eyes!" (My friend!)
Hermione only moaned in response, a good sign that at least she had heard her. Celebrian grabbed the reigns and quickly guided the horse back through the gates and into the city.
"ELROND! ELROND!" Celebrian shouted in desperation.
Hearing her shouts, Lord Elrond came rushing out into the courtyard. Upon seeing his guest bloodied and charred, he quickly and gently took Hermione off the horse before rushing her to the healer's wing. After depositing her on the bed, he turned to Celebrian.
"Forgive me, but you must wait outside while we work, Celebrian." Elrond said before he turned back to his patient.
As Celebrian was being ushered outside by the other healers, Elrond got to work.
"Ceven dhaer, anno vellas lin enin 'raw hen…" a light glow surrounded Hermione as his healing powers reacted to his chant. (Great earth, may you give your strength to this body…)
-Three days later-
Elrond had done his best at healing Hermione physically. But her unconscious state was mostly due to her emotional and mental scars. Whatever she had went through was horrible enough to cause her fae to retreat within itself for protection. All he could do now was to coax her fae with his own to return to the light and with the help of Celebrian, they were well on their way to bringing Hermione out of her dormant state.
The sun had already risen and it was close to midday. Celebrian was once again beside Hermione's bedside, working on some embroidery when all of a sudden she heard a moan and some blankets shift. Celebrian looked up in hope and saw Hermione's brows scrunch together as she slowly awoke. Celebrian quickly got up to notify a passing elleth to relay to Elrond that Hermione was finally waking. She then returned to Hermione's bedside and grabbed her friend's hand.
"Hermione! Oh thank Eru you have finally woken! I have been worried sick, melon!" Celebrian cried.
"C-celebrian…?" Hermione's voice was scratchy and hoarse from lack of use.
Celebrian quickly went to a table on the side and poured water into a glass before bringing it back to Hermione. She slowly slipped the water as she tried to focus her eyes. When she felt her throat has been lubricated enough to talk, she pushed the glass away.
"Where am I…? What happened…?" Hermione asked.
"We are in the realm of Imladris. Do you not remember what happened?" Celebrian asked in concern.
"Ah, you are awake. We have been worried for you, Lady Hermione."
The two elleth turned to the newcomer. Elrond walked in with a warm smile and gave her a once over with his eyes.
"Welcome to Imladris, though it is unfortunate at the circumstance of how you arrived." Elrond teased. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore, my lord. And exhausted." Hermione smiled slightly.
"Do you remember what happened on your journey?" Elrond asked.
"I remember…" Hermione frowned.
-Flashback-
Hermione watched her friend ride towards Imladris before turning back to face the enemy. She looked to her sides at Calanon and Voronwe and nodded, receiving acknowledgements in return.
"Sy telir…" Hermione pulled out her sword. (They're coming…)
"Gurth enin goth!" Calanon shouted as they finally made contact with the enemy. (Death to the enemy.)
In all her years being here in Middle-Earth, this was the first where she had ever had contact with a real enemy. Sure, she may have trained with the best warriors in the Galadhrim, but she was not entirely sure she was prepared for this. None-the-less, there was no use in thinking that now as she slashed and cut her way through orcs. She was not sure how long his had been going on, but no matter how much she killed, it seemed like the enemy's number was never-ending.
Hermione turned to look at her companions to see how they were faring. Calanon was fine, but Voronwe was starting to get overwhelmed. Seeing this, Hermione quickly changed direction and started cutting down orcs to get to Voronwe. Just as an orc was about to cut him from behind, Hermione leaped in to block before cutting off its head, black blood spraying her clothes.
"Le hannon, hiril nin!" Voronwe shouted over the cries of battle. (Thank you, my lady.)
Hermione only had time to nod as she tried to block another attack.
"We cannot last like this much longer! There are too many of them!" Hermione shouted.
Even for an elf, the enemies were too much. She could tell it was taking a toll on them. At this rate, they will not make it to Imladris. She would never be able to see Celebrian's smiling face. She would never be able to return to home Lothlorien to spar with Haldir and his brothers.
Home…Since when did she start considering Middle-earth as her home? The faces of all the friends she had made over the years, all the connections…that's right. This has become her home now. Her world. And she had found a new family. She never noticed that over the past fifty years, her heart had lightened. She had finally been able to leave the ghosts of the past behind and became renewed.
And with that thought, a fire lit in her core. This is her home. These are her family. And she will protect them!
A glow started surrounding Hermione that emanated a warm heat. And that heat grew hotter and hotter before it started scorching anyone and anything that touched her. Hermione's eyes glowed white and her body moved on it's own, as if it already knew what she wanted. Round and round she spun, swinging, cutting. And with each enemy cut down, they burned. Fire like nothing Calonon nor Voronwe had ever seen swirled around her. Burning all their enemies to the ground. She looked like an elvin goddess surrounded by holy fire as she swept through their enemies like nothing. Fire as hot as the sun burned around them and they could only stare in shock and awe. Until the only one left standing was Hermione in flaming glory and fire licked at her without burning her. She then turned to her companions with those white glowing eyes before they closed and she started to fall.
Calanon ran forward and caught her in time. He looked to Voronwe in shock before he lifted her up and put her on a horse.
"We must make haste to Imladris!" Calanon said as Voronwe too got on his horse.
-End Flashback-
Hermione sat in shock as the memories of the battle came back. She was surrounded by fire! Yet there was no sign of burns on her anywhere! And then another important thought broke her out of her shock.
"Calanon and Voronwe!" Hermione looked to Elrond.
He smiled. "They are well, though worn. They arrived not long after you as it seemed your horse was eager to get you to safety."
Hermione sighed and relaxed, knowing that her companions were safe.
"Hermione, did you ever have this power before…?" Celebrian asked.
Hermione frowned. "No, in my world, magic was not used that way traditionally. We had to channel our magical cores through a focus – our wands. Though there are wizards and witches who could perform wandless magic. But that itself is very rare for you need an immense amount of magic within you and the mental capacity to control it without a focus."
"Your…world?" Elrond asked.
Sighing, Hermione went to explain her origin and what she had been through. It was no longer a memory of pain to her and she easily explained and answered any questions Elrond had.
"But if you were never able to perform this sort of magic before, what changed?" Celebrian asked.
"Perhaps, it is the will of the Valar? You have been blessed with a new life as an elf and in your time of need, it seems like they have bestowed upon you a gift." Elrond explain.
"Perhaps…" Hermione muttered.
"There is one who may have more answers to your questions." Elrond mused.
"And who would that be?" Hermione asked, piqued. If she could learn as much as she could about this new gift, perhaps it would give her an insight to why she was brought to this world and what her purpose was.
"Gandalf the Grey is an Istari. I believe you would consider him a wizard in your world. He has been on this plane for many centuries and has travelled far and wide. He may hold the answers which you seek." Elrond explained. "I shall write him and invite him here to have an audience with you."
"That would be most appreciated, Lord Elrond. You have been a most accommodating host." Hermione smiled.
"It is no bother. You are a dear friend of Celebrian's and a ward to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. You are most welcome here." Elrond smiled before he left the two elleth to talk.
When he closed the door, Hermione immediately turned to Celebrian with a teasing smile.
"I see why you like him now." Hermione laughed.
"Ugh! Not even a day and you are already teasing me about this! I have proof now that you are most definitely well…" Celebrian rolled her eyes.
The two elleth laughed and spent the rest of the day talking. Hermione, glad that her friend had made it to Imladris alive and well and Celebrian, relieved that Hermione had finally awoen from her comatose state.
With the newfound gift Hermione has now acquired, it seems like things are starting to roll into action in Middle-earth. But like with all things, there is always a catch.
A/N: Whelp here is the new chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Please review! It really helps to know what your feedback is!
~lalune30
