Chapter 10

Smiling, Hadrian rode down the arched bridge into Imladris. Seeing Elrond up ahead, he called out "Lord Elrond, it's good to see you." Spinning around in shock, Elrond spotted Hadrian trotting towards him. After Hadrian had dismounted and sent his horse to the stables, Elrond pulled him into a tight hug as he said, "it's been too long. I haven't seen you since the coronation on your 95th birthday five years ago."

Before Hadrian could reply, an old dwarf with white hair and a pronounced stoop said, "Yes, lad. You will have to tell me how you got crowned at 95 when the elves claim 100 is the age of adulthood." Laughing, Hadrian bowed to King Nairn and replied, "Despite our long lives, we have comparably short childhoods. So back during the age of the trees, the elves decided that an elf would be classified as a young adult at 90 but have a guardian to keep an eye on them and not interfere unless asked to help the elf adjust to adulthood."

Smiling up at Hadrian, Nairn replied, "That would make sense. You must come to visit the Dwarrowdwelf at some point. It would be remiss for you not to visit." Bowing in respect, Hadrian replied, "I would look forward to exploring your kingdom, King Nairn." Nodding in satisfaction, Nairn slowly walked away leaving the two elves to wander through the gardens of Imladris.

As they walked through the gardens, Elrond asked, "What are you planning to do now that you have finished your training to become the High King of the Noldor and Sindar?" Smiling softly, Hadrian looked off into the distance as he said, "In general, elves are pretty self-sufficient; only needing the guidance of a High King during times of war."

Pausing for a moment, Harry turned to face Elrond as he said, "I have been researching many things during my education and have discovered that more elflings were born when the elves had a strong unified kingdom to go to, like Gondolin, Nargothron and Menegroth."

Nodding, Elrond replied, "I would have to look at the birth records to be certain but I believe that is true. However, the darkness seeping from Mordor is a big reason too." Sighing, Hadrian quickly checked that there was no one in hearing distance before in a hushed whisper, said: "Cirdan discovered that when Sauron tried to control the rings of power, he left a small taint in them that helps to spread the darkness. I have made it my mission to collect and destroy the rings but until I have all of them, I will keep them in a blood rune book that only myself can open."

Paling dramatically, Elrond asked, "How can you be sure?" Checking for any eavesdroppers again, Hadrian replied, "The ring Narya was given to me by Cirdan and when I sealed it away in the pure mithril blood rune box, elves all over Middle Earth reported that they felt the call of the sea less."

Taking a deep breath, Elrond whispered, "I swore on the Valar never to reveal the location of Nenya however, I can give you Vilya." Removing Vilya from his hand, Elrond held it out to Hadrain. Quickly, Hadrian pulled the mithril box from a pocket and placed Vilya into its slot next to Narya.

Snapping the box shut, Hadrian smiled in thanks to Elrond as the whole of Imladris seemed to become more vibrant and alive; the soft call of the sea that both elves felt fading even more. Turning, they continued to walk through the gardens as Elrond asked, "How do you plan to get the last elven ring, the seven dwarf rings and the nine human rings of power?"

Smiling in a self-deprecating way, Hadrian replied, "Not entirely sure yet but, Sirius and Severus volunteered to look out for them while they travel around Middle earth." Nodding in approval, Elrond fell into contemplative silence as they made their way back.

The next day, Hadrian was seen eagerly checking the courtyard in between his trips to the library and his study. Around five o'clock in the afternoon, Sirius and Severus rode into Imladris. Smiling, Hadrian rushed down to meet them asking "So, how was your trip to Lothlorien?"

Pulling Hadrian into a tight hug, Sirius replied, "It was great. Lady Galadriel has some interesting books on your side project. Also, we could feel a taint nearby but were unable to locate it." Nodding, Hadrian stored the information away for later and asked, "Severus, are you going to apprentice under Elrond for healing after your travels?" Nodding, Severus replied, "Yes, I am hoping to learn from the best." Their conversation carried on as they made their way into the private wing and late into the night.

After some internal debate, Hadrian decided to move around the elven settlements ensuring that he understood what was going on in each settlement; all the while searching for the other rings of power.

As the years past, Sirius and Severus tracked down and located 2 of the dwarven rings of power and brought them to Hadrian. Rumours of their disappearance included Sauron locating them and dragons eating them in fits of greed.

On Hadrian's 150th birthday, Galadriel approached Hadrian and said "For the last century, I have been watching you grow and flourish and I am proud to call you my king. Also, I must confess that Elrond told me about your quest to remove the taints, as you call them, from Arda yet I have not given you the last of the elven ring of power for fear that the Golden woods of Lothlorien will fade without Nenya, whose power I used to growth the golden trees"

Stopping Galadriel from continuing, Hadrian said, "There were many objects of power before the rings. Maybe you should look into them." Smiling in relief, Galadriel bowed before presenting him the ring. Quickly placing Nenya into the rune box, Hadrian smiled as the call of the sea faded a fraction.

Decades pass in the blink of an eye. Hadrian buckled down on his research for the location of the great elven cities, even searching through the libraries of man. The only hitch is that while the dwarfs were eager to show off the Iron Hills and Erebor, they refused to let any man or elf learn Khuzdul or enter their libraries for fear that they would learn dwarven secrets.

During a trip to the Greenwoods, Thror, King of Erebor, quite rudely summoned Thranduil. Curious, Hadrian agreed to come with. Upon entering Erebor, Hadrian felt a strong sense of greed, madness and darkness emanating from the throne room. Slowly, they walked across the large walkway towards Thror; the light of the Arkenstone glowing above his head.

Looking down from the walkway, Hadrian realised that they were right above a mine. Quietly so not to allow the dwarves to hear, Hadrian said, "Did they think let's see how many death traps we can fit into the new throne room before they built it?" A small smirk curled the edge of Thranduil's mouth and a guard behind Hadrian giggled.

After walking for a good five minutes to reach Thror's throne, they arrived. Hadrian approached the throne and bowed his head while Thranduil and the rest of the company approached Thror and bowed from the waist with respect. Curious, Thranduil asked, "What is so important that you called upon the Woodland realm to come to Erebor?"

Ignoring Thranduil, Thror looked down at Hadrian and in a loud voice that echoed through the cavern said "Why do you not bow to me in my own Kingdom, elf? Do you think of yourself so highly that you believe you are above me; the High King of the Dwarves, possessor of the Arkenstone?"

Raising an eyebrow in disbelief, Hadrian replied, "Do you think of yourself so highly that you believe you are above me; Hadrian, High King of the Noldor, High King of the Sindar, Prince of the Vanyar, Ruler of two thirds of the elves in Arda and an heir to the other third?" Sneering, Thror ignored Hadrian's question and called out "Bring me the jewels."

Thorin, the young prince walked nervously towards his grandfather and opened the small case revealing glowing gems of starlight. Taking an involuntary step forward, Hadrian said, "Those are the starlight gems that my grandfather, Elwe, had imbedded into his throne before the sacking of Menegroth. During which they were removed and given to my other grandfather Gil-Galad and then lost in a raid during the last alliance."

Before Hadrian could ask how the dwarves had found them, Thror snapped the box shut and said, "Yes, they are rather valuable to the elves, aren't they? Well, they're mine now. You should have taken better care of them while you had them." Turning, Thror opened the box and placed the gems on a pedestal, an ugly sneer on his face. Looking up at Thror, Hadrian considered keeping his warning to himself before his eyes landed on Thorin; a silent apology in his eyes convincing him to say, "I would change your ways, Thror. Or your greed will bring destruction down upon you."

Silently fuming, Hadrian and Thranduil left Erebor stormed through Dale. Their anger was so evident that the Lord of Dale wondered if they were about to be in the middle of a war. Once they were in the Greenwoods, Thranduil asked: "What are we going to do?"

Sighing, Hadrian replied, "Nothing. We will watch and wait as the last time the dwarves were this greedy, they awoke a Balrog." Nodding, Thranduil looked off into the forest and said "Yes, I imagine the greed and darkness emanating from the Arkenstone would attack one of Morgoth's foul beasts."