2
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Hermione would have told the Brown wizard that his theatrics weren't required, but she didn't think him quite right in the head, though one witch could only take so much screaming of "Thieves, spiders, and murder!". He had told her of what he had seen in Dol Guldur as they zoomed through the forest, Godric only too happy to follow behind the shouting wizard.
She had shivered upon hearing his tale of a necromancer - even in her old world, necromancy was one of the darkest arts, a magic only meant for those whose souls were as black as the death they toyed around with.
Upon Radagast's hundred and fourth bellow, yes she had been counting, they came to an abrupt stop, and Hermione peered through the leaves to see what had halted them. The sight before her was a curious one. Radagast had been the only human being she had seen since appearing inside her tree hollow, and now she was being faced with fifteen more. Several short, stocky figures, with the tallest about the same height as her, an even shorter, more lithe man, and then a very tall one clad in gray.
She strained to hear the conversation between the two wizards, catching onto Radagast saying that something was terribly wrong, then losing his train of thought. Hermione sighed, and stepped through the foliage, revealing herself and Godric. The men brandished their swords once more.
"The Greenwood is sick, Gandalf the Gray." she said, rolling her eyes at Radagast, who exclaimed "Oh, yes!", after prying the stick insect out of his mouth.
Like a switch had suddenly been flipped, Radagast composed himself, growing solemn. She allowed herself to phase the two wizards' conversation in the background, wondering when Gandalf would acknowledge her presence. Dismounting Godric was easy enough, though she felt the dwarves' eyes on her as she did so.
Narrowing her eyes, she could see that almost all of them had rope burns around their wrists, still red and raw. She approached the smallest one, who also happened to be the closest. Ignoring the fear that passed his eyes as they travelled from Godric to her, she held out her hands.
"May I see your wrists?" she asked patiently.
The hobbit, for that was what Godric had said he was, hesitated for a good moment before presenting his arms to her. She hummed in observation and circled her fingers around each wrist. Feeling the magic thrum within her and leave with her silent spell, she released him, opening her eyes again. Pale skin met her gaze and she nodded in approval.
"Do you think your friends would like to be healed as well?" she asked, loud enough to be heard by the rest of the company.
One by one the dwarves approached, starting with a pair of the youngest looking dwarves, one light haired and the other dark. Fili and Kili, they introduced, displaying their arms out for her. She smiled and nodded, before quickly healing them as well. Then came Oin, who watched in wonder at how the redness faded into clear skin, then Gloin, then Bofur, Bifur and Bombur, after came Ori, Dori, Nori, Balin, and hesitantly, Dwalin, who had been pushed by his brother towards her. The last dwarf, the tallest - almost as tall as she, and the most intimidating looking came last, looking, almost glaring at her with brilliant blue eyes framed with braids of dark black hair.
She reached out for his wrists, but he pulled them away, surprising her.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver up her spine.
"My name is Hermione, but I find I have many of those these days." she said frowning to herself, "Will you allow me to heal you?"
"Why?" he asked suspiciously.
"Why not?" she sniped, before sighing, "It is merely what I do."
After a bit more glaring that made her feel as if he were trying to cast a legilimens on her, he held out his wrists, which she grabbed a little more harshly than she would have. Seeing him wince as he healed quicker than he should have, she smirked and let go, standing to meet the new Istari.
"Well met, Gandalf the Gray. I have heard much about you." she said, nodding her head.
"I must say I cannot say the same for you, my Lady, for I know only of your name." the wizard admitted.
"Hermione the Green," she said again, "Or Oromiel, Aldariel, or Ráwen, whichever you prefer."
The wizard's brows rose higher and higher with every name she uttered. "A witch? Hmm."
Before she could ask what he meant by that. A haunting howl pierced the forest, bringing Godric to attention. The lion growled fiercely as the sound of something coming towards them drew nearer.
"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo the Hobbit asked, "Are there wolves out there?
"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf." Bofur said, wielding his axe.
Hermione sighed, wishing she had changed into her breeches before going on this expedition with Radagast. Of course she would have to fight. What else could she have been expecting?
Two gigantic wolf-looking creatures appeared out of nowhere, only to be quickly brought down by Thorin.
"Warg scouts!" Thorin said, "Which means an orc pack is not far behind."
"Orc pack!" Bilbo squeaked in alarm.
"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?!" Gandalf demanded of Thorin.
"No one." Thorin said.
"Who did you tell!?" the Gray wizard said frantically.
"No one, I swear." Thorin repeated. Hermione saw a look of disbelief flash across Gandalf's face.
"What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin asked.
"We are being hunted."
"We have to get out of here." Dwalin announced, as if it weren't obvious.
"We can't, we have no ponies!" Ori said in dismay, "They bolted!"
"I'll draw them off." said Radagast decidedly.
"These are Gundabad wargs, they'll out run you." said Gandalf, scoffing.
"These are Rhosgobel rabbits," the Brown wizard said this as if it were something of great pride indeed, "I'd like to see them try."
Hermione stood and mounted Godric. "I'll guard you." she announced.
"Guard us?" Dwalin snorted, "You're just a lass!"
Hermione laughed loudly, "And you're just a dwarf. Now that we're done pointing out the obvious, I suggest getting a move on?"
Radagast hopped on his sled, veering opposite to them as they began fleeing. Not a moment later, several more wargs appeared on his tail, some mounted by what she now knew were orcs, great, deformed creatures that looked like muscled trolls.
She followed behind the company, keeping her eyes open for anything as they ran. They followed Gandalf, hiding behind boulders one moment and running the next, all while watching Radagast distract the orc pack, who were hot on his heels.
She swore under her breath as they ducked behind a boulder again, gripping Godric's mane tightly with one hand. She almost missed the nod Thorin gave to Kili, but watched the young dwarf draw back an arrow and aim at the orc on top of the boulder.
Orc and warg came crashing at their feet, before any of them could react, or before the warg could get up, Hermione cast a stunning spell at the two creatures, making rendering them immobile. The company looked at her in shocked silence as she retracted her hand to lift a finger to her lips.
A swear left her lips as warg howling drew nearer.
"Move! Run!" Gandalf shouted once more.
They ran and ran until the pack started drawing closer, closing in on them. Several dwarves began shooting at the orcs, while Hermione frantically searched for Gandalf, who had disappeared.
She threw a curse at a warg that had come too close for comfort, sending it flying back into a boulder, where it crumpled into a heap.
"This way, you fools!" Gandalf shouted, his hat clad head peeking out from a large rock formation.
The company filed in, with Hermione and Thorin last. "Get inside!" she shouted at the dwarf, who was still chopping down wargs.
"You get in!" he shouted.
"For the love of all things dear, get inside!" she screeched, levitating the dwarf inside the cave and stunning an orc at the same time. She and Godric fell in after him. As soon as they landed she began chanting.
"Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri." the familiar shimmer of her wards came up, stronger than she was used to, sealing the cave entrance. One orc tried hacking away at it, only for the shield to - thankfully - meet the cursed metal and fling it back at the beast.
Out of nowhere, they heard the sound of a horn above them, and unceremoniously, an orc dropped into the cave and onto the ground where she and Godric had been standing not a moment ago. Thorin kicked the unmoving orc before plucking an arrow lodged into its chest.
"Elves." he said in distate, sending Gandalf an accusing glare.
"There is a path!" Dwalin announced, "Do we follow it or not?"
"Follow it of course!" Bofur decided, pushing past the, and into the light filled passage.
"I think that would be wise." Gandalf said, following the hastily moving company.
"Come now, Sir Bilbo," Hermione said, nudging the hobbit on the shoulder, trying her best to hide a smirk. "wouldn't want to be left alone, would we now?"
The passage led them to an opening filled with light, which they stepped out to reveal a magnificent sight. Hermione's breath was stolen from her just like when she had set her eyes on Hogwarts for the first time. This city, in all its splendor, could be described in only one word she could think of: magical.
"The valley of Imaldris." Gandalf said, "In the common tongue, it is known by another name."
"Rivendell." Bilbo supplied, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea." said the wizard.
"This is what you planned all along," Thorin scowled, "to seek refuge with our enemy."
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself." Gandalf admonished.
"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us." the dwarf spat.
"Of course they will! But we have questions that need to be answered." the Istari said, looking at Thorin pointedly, who merely hung his head in resignation. "If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact, and respect, and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
"Do I leave you here, Gandalf?" Hermione whispered, as she walked to the side of the wizard, Godric choosing to fall slightly behind her.
"Of course not, my Lady." Gandalf said flatly, "I have many questions for you as well."
Hermione sighed, knowing that if he was anything like Dumbledore, which the sparkle in his eyes said he was, the wizard would not leave well enough alone, so she fell into step, one hand on Godric, trying to find comfort.
"Is this what you had in mind, Godric?" she asked the beast.
The lion only grunted in reply.
They came upon the entrance to Imaldris, where they were met by a dark haired elf who Gandalf had called Lindir. Hermione studied the elf carefully, for it was the first time she had seen anything of the likes of him. The points of his ears peaked out from his long hair, and his fine tunic seemed to only brighten the light that was emanating from his being.
"Lord Elrond is not here." the elf said, eyeing the company one by one. His gaze faltered on Hermione somewhat, before falling onto Thorin.
"Not here?" Gandalf asked, "Where is he?"
Lindir was saved from replying by the sound of another elvish horn breaking the peace. The company turned to find several riders on horseback galloping towards them.
Thorin began shouting in Khuzdul, the Dwarvish language was foreign to her, Godric had once explained that the dwarves guarded their culture like a treasure, and to learn Khuzdul, one must have to ask a dwarf. Hermione got the gist of what he was saying though, as the company brandished their weapons. She bit back a snort, but could not control an eye roll as the dwarves fell into their formation.
The riders in elvish armour surrounded the dwarves, much to her amusement and Gandalf's worry. Hermione, who was standing next to the wizard, knew she should be more concerned, but it was quite difficult to be so when the dwarves tried so very hard to look fearsome as the elves circled around them.
"Gandalf!" the elf in the middle, who seemed to glow the brightest, greeted.
"Elrond! Mellon nin. Where have you been?" Gandalf asked in elvish.
"We have been hunting a pack of orcs that came up from the South." said the Elf-lord, as he dismounted from his steed, "We slew a number near the Hidden Pass."
The elf and wizard embraced in a manner that only hundreds of years of friendship could form.
"Strange for orcs to come so close to the border," Elrond said, shifting to the common tongue, for the sake of the others, most probably, "something, or someone has drawn them near."
"That may have been us." Gandalf said unapologetically, gesturing to the company. Hermione watched quietly from the sidelines as Thorin approached the Lord of Rivendell.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain." said Elrond.
"I do not believe we have met." said Thorin, if not a bit snappishly.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror, from when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed? He never mentioned you."
Hermione suppressed a groan. It became clearer the more time she spent around these dwarves that their leader was somewhat of an arse. Those were the worst types of leaders in her opinion.
"Light the fires. Bring forth the wine." Elrond finally said, once again switching tongues, after a heavy pause, "We must feed our guests."
"What is he saying?" Gloin growled, "Does he offer us insult?!"
Hermione chuckled, the soft laugh silencing all in attendance, "No Master Gloin," she said, smiling, "he offers you food."
As the dwarves consulted amongst themselves, Elrond turned to her, as if finally spotting the woman out of the fray and the huge beast of a lion at her side.
Hermione inclined her head respectfully, "Well met, my Lord Elrond. Allow me the honor of introducing myself. I am Hermione the Green. Thank you for the hospitality you have offered towards us."
The elf's brow twitched just a smidge - just enough for her to tell that he was surprised. He glanced at Gandalf for a fraction of a second before nodding.
"Of course, my Lady." he said, "Welcome, to Imaldris."
"Kind of you to invite us, we're not really dressed for dinner." Gandalf chuckled as they were led to dinner
"You never are," Elrond joked light-heartedly, "Though Lady Hermione seems to be."
She laughed, surprised to be included in his banter. She supposed her green gossamer dress was quite out of place amongst the leather and fur clad dwarves.
Almost immediately as they sat, with Thorin and Gandalf at Elrond's sides and her his opposite, they began conversing about blades. She smiled as the elf named Thorin's sword Orcrist, and Gandalf's Glamdring. The conversation came to a halt almost as soon as Elrond asked what their business was. To be quite honest, Hermione was keen to know herself.
But she let the silence pass normally, picking up a loaf of bread to feed to Godric, who grumbled at being fed bread again. She may have to let him roam to hunt soon. Her movement seemed to catch the Elf-lord's attention, as he turned to her.
"Forgive me, my lady, but I must admit, I know nothing of you, or your name." he said, nodding to her.
"Aye, neither do I." said Thorin, glaring at her again.
"Nor I." said Gandalf, before bringing a goblet of wine to his lips.
"I'm afraid no one knows anything of my name, except the Valar, the creatures under my care, and the trees of my wood." she smiled, "I have been, how you would say, reborn. I woke up a mere two weeks ago inside a hollow of a great oak tree in the heart of the Greenwood, with the ability to speak to both the trees and the animals. Before this day, I had not met a being of Middle Earth."
"What of your former life?" Gandalf asked curiously.
"It is but a memory." she said sadly. And truly it was, the sadness and pain were merely a whisper in the back of her mind, although the faces of her friends and family were as clear as day.
"You are Istari, then?" asked Gandalf, perplexed himself.
Hermione nodded, "Mother Oak calls me Oromiel, for she believe it was Orome who blessed me." she lifted her left sleeve to reveal what it hid, drawing the gaze of all three in front of her dawn. She heard Elrond suck in a gasp, Gandalf hum in thought, and Thorin remained silent. "I know not how my magic differs from the rest of the Istari. In my past life, I had magic as well, and I bring most of what I learned with me. Although what we called darker magic does not come to me without wearing me down. My healing is natural instinct, though, as well as my call on the elements. Other than that, I do not know."
"Curious." Gandalf said, eyeing the protrusion of her wand. "It seems to be a staff of sorts."
"My wand," Hermione supplied, "A conduit for my magic in my past life, vinewood and dragon heartstring."
"Dragon?!" Thorin exclaimed, deepening his glare even more, which she hadn't known was possible. "You have dragon running in your veins?"
Hermione recoiled, shocked by the sudden hostility. "What's wrong with dragons?" she asked, not seeing the hard shaking of Godric's head.
"What's wrong with dragons?!" Thorin almost yelled, "They are vile beasts, bringers of death and destruction, fell beings -"
"Thorin!" Gandalf admonished, silencing the dwarf altogether. "In this world, my lady, dragons are dark creatures, very dark indeed."
Hermione nodded in understanding, "I see. Well, in my past, we learned how to tame them,their heart strings are one of the strongest magical cores in our world. They roam free, though their fire still burns, but we have medicine for that, it's just fire."
"That's where we differ," Elrond spoke, "Dragonfire - it is the worst of all pain. It boils the blood and sears the soul - burning your very being."
Hermione quieted, somewhat put off by this new information.
"Do people survive when burned by Dragonfire?" she asked, trying to keep the curiosity out of her voice.
She saw Elrond and Gandalf share the quickest of glances, barely there, but there none the less. She wondered what that was about.
"It is very rare." Elrond said measuredly, "But not unheard of. Those who survive are scarred for life - and not just in the bodily sense."
Hermione frowned, looking deep in thought, "And you cannot heal them?"
Elrond and Gandalf shook their heads sadly, "It is impossible." said Elrond. "Many have tried and many have failed."
"I wonder…" she trailed off, looking at her wrist.
"Yes, Aldariel?" asked Gandalf, who looked very intrigued with her.
"My magic - it is different, that much I know." she explained, "And I have found that it is stronger here. Maybe I could find a way to heal the burns of dragonfire -"
Elrond smiled sadly, "You are welcome to try," he said, "But do not hope."
Hermione's brow raised in alarm at the words, "But Lord Elrond, hope is all we have."
"We are straying from what is important!" Thorin barked rudely, glaring at her, "Do you or do you not know how to slay a dragon?"
She frowned at the man, "I've never tried."
a/n: For those asking, will try to update once a week - no promises on what day. Thank you for the positive reviews! Keep them coming! The pairing will be revealed as the story goes.