Titanium

Author's notes: I am so sorry it's taken this long. I really don't have much of an excuse, other than I was going through an extremely brutal break up, and I pretty much just lost all will to do anything let alone write. I can't express how terrible I feel for leaving you all hanging, but I'm thankful for those who have stuck around and waited. Neville is pretty much extremely OOC, I wanted to express a very changed Neville Longbottom, and show just how much losing one's world can change a person. Please don't send any flames in that regard. Also, terribly sorry about the grammar or if the styles seem to clash, I'm trying to regain myself. - CAS

Chapter Seven: Power of Kings

Characters: Neville Longbottom. Location: Kingdom of Fate

Neville hadn't exactly been overly excited about the fact that he was now standing alone with a man who had sent his family hurling into a new world, almost completely naïve to what the world that they were being cast into. Neville wasn't the brightest Wizard, hell he wasn't even the brightest man, but he wasn't by any means stupid. He had taken into careful consideration what he was to do when it was his own turn. He was still considering, even as he stared down the Master of Fate with distrust and slight contempt in his eyes. He didn't like being separated from his friends, not after everything they had been through, even if it was going to lead them to their mates.

The years he had spent with Harrison, Sirius and Remus had done very well for him. Once he had been convinced that using his father's wand was actually harming his magical core he had been fixed with a custom wand (13in cherry wood wand with a willingly gifted unicorn hair core) his power, and confidence had increased by at least double. He had started training and had worked for months on becoming the wizard he was born to be, that cunning, intelligent, powerful wizard that fate was almost begging him to be. If only he could have been that way from the beginning, he knew that if he had grown up with his parents, and not his suffocating Gran things would be different. If he had been supported, not stunted maybe he could have been more help to Harry from the very start.

"I suppose it's my turn then, Master of Fate?" Neville questioned softly, his voice holding a calm almost innocent form of knowledge, it was odd how even after all those years he could still come off as naïve and maybe even a bit childlike. Of course there wasn't really anyone out there aside from his now separated family who really knew what he used to be like, or what he was really like.

"It appears so, King of Lions." The Master said with a small smile that held hints of amusement. The master had watched the Wizards since their births; he had blessed each of the men for this single purpose, to aid in the salvation of Middle-Earth. He had honestly been pushing limits, even if he was fate's master, there was only so much he was actually allowed to do. He had worried that changing the future with these four men would be too much for the time stream to hold, but he was seeing now that he was actually completely wrong.

"Unlike your friends, Sire, You'll be sent much further away from your mate. For that I apologize, the wait will be hard, but I'm more than sure you of all people can handle it." He said gesturing Neville toward the area in which he had decided he would give Neville some advice. "Imladris, or Rivendell as it is known in the common tongue, is an Elven city. It is the last homely house east of the sea. It is known for its extreme beauty, as well as its location in a deep valley, making it essentially a vital stronghold, and almost completely hidden to the world." He said calmly eyes locked with the Lion as he showed memories of people and sights located near and in Rivendell. "Due to the magic I used sending off your friends, you may have a bit more of a hike ahead of you. Hold strong, you will be reunited with friends, and united with your mate very soon!" His voice started to fade as he felt as if he was being hooked by his navel and pulled through a small tube. "Speak only with Lord Elrond or his children about your past and your powers. I have sent him a vision of your arrival; do take haste, King of Lions." The man murmured soothingly into his ear as the world exploded into color.

Even in his new form he never was graceful, he felt himself plummeting to toward the earth at a break neck speed, and honestly wasn't sure he would be able to stop before he hit the ground. Thankfully, his gracelessness and horrid luck saved him once again, half way down his crash course he hit into a full mass of trees and found himself crashing through a blur of green and brown to barely soften his fall with a tangled mess of branches, splinters and a small pile of leaves. He hit the ground with a groan, laying still but whimpering in a heap on the forest floor.

He allowed himself a moment to compose himself, allowing his head enough time to stop pounding, and his ears enough time to stop ringing before he even dared to open his eyes. When he did finally lift his eyelids and allow himself to take inventory of himself, and the small pack that had fallen after him and landed directly on his chest. The first thing he did was summon a reflective surface to take in his changed appearance. What he saw was honestly, surprising to him.

His hair had grown in length, it now rested well below his shoulders, hitting the middle of his back it graceful dark colored waves. His eyes had gone from a bright hazel to a color that closely resembled sunshine through a glass of Firewhiskey. The golden glow was something animalistic, but so human all at the same time. His face was thinner, though not unhealthily so; his body was lean with muscle rather than malnutrition and starvation from thin rations. He looked like something out of a myth, tall and devilish, eyes full of mischief, but also full of power. His magic felt more in control, like it was more connected with this world. The thing that startled him the most was when he brushed his hair past his ears was the fact that his ears were now arched into delicate and beautiful points rather than the rounded tips he was used to.

He also took notice to the clothing he was wearing, he briefly wondered how he hadn't noticed the change of wardrobe until that very minute, but he tried not to dwell on it too long. He had a simple tunic on, it was a light forest green that seemed to blend with the trees around him, he had on a pair of well fitted tan leggings, and a pair of boots that briefly reminded him of something that an English rider would wear, they were tall and thick, and a lovely shade of chocolate brown. He had on a thick wool cloak in a soft green, only a few shades off from his tunic that seemed to consume his entire body, hiding him from view, it was long and nearly touched the cool fresh earth beneath his feet.

He took notice to a large long-sword that also hung from his belt, there was an inscription on the base of the blade near the hilt that was written in a swirling and ethereal looking language that he, unfortunately, could not read. It was a beautiful blade that was thus far stainless, it looked well cared for, but it had obviously been used in great battles by how the metal looked aged. The hilt was a cherry and walnut combination, swirling into a comfortable and breathtaking grip that fit in a dark scabbard in a leather that was only a few shades off from matching his boots. It had to be one of the most beautiful looking blades he had seen in his entire life. He hoped his knowledge in the art of sword play would do such a lovely blade justice.

After quite some time of staring at himself and his blade he realized what he was doing. He put the surface away with a flushed face and shook his head. He continued in his search through his pack before It was then that he finally took notice and looked at the world around him he saw a beautiful sight. The land was like nothing he had ever seen before in his life, and that was saying a lot. Neville might have been sheltered as a child, but after his gran died, and the marauders took him in his horizons had broadened to an unspeakable level. But even the hidden grotto in the forbidden forest had nothing on the visual scene he had before him. He found himself slowly wondering toward the edge of a cliff that was between him and what could only be the most breathtaking site known to man.

The city looked like it was one with the valley that it was nestled in. The pale stone arches looked one with its foundation; Neville could see the green foliage of ageless trees and timeless gardens. He could see the tops of building, blending almost perfectly into the nature, a set of waterfalls gliding gracefully into the stream that flowed from the base of the city. It practically oozed peace, and Neville found that an extremely attractive attribute to the war torn veteran.

The breeze seemed to be a cool and calming balm on his body, brushing against him; it swirled around him in colors and in shapes that he couldn't even imagine, the magic in this world, in this valley was so free, it was so innocent and untainted that Neville couldn't stop himself from letting bursts of his own magic out to play with the wild magic. He allowed himself to open up to the play, letting bursts of light interact with the subtle swirl around the area, and a boyish grin was settled on his face.

It had been quiet, so comfortable that he almost didn't feel the shift in the air. He almost didn't sense the tension that was until he heard the sound that he would not ever forget the metallic clang of metal on metal, the sounds of battle. Without even thinking his body moved, shifting into his Animagus form without a second thought, knowing he could do more damage in the massive beast's body. It is that Animagus form that got him his name really, when his flesh melted into the sleek golden pelt for the first time, and he shook out his mane with little a thought, the entire house found it fitting that he, the only lion Animagus since Godric Gryffindor himself be called "King of Lions". His body was massive, even for its species was it large his paws were the size of a dinner plate, this he knew as Harrison often teased him by calling him "big foot" or "Plate boy" though he hadn't understood why until he had accidently stepped on a dinner plate and it was all but devoured by the sheer size of him.

His stride practically devoured the ground as he ran flashes of green as he flew closer to the sounds of battle. He was practically seething as he exploded into a clearing not far away, his large hulking form naught but a streak and a shadow. It was then when he came upon the scene, a scene that was one he would not soon forget. What had obviously once been a small caravan was now obviously a scene out of his nightmares. There were large gnarly snarling beasts with almost as equally as frightening riders going after what was the remainder of the group. Obviously they had been almost to the heavenly site before they had been ambushed by the creatures. It was obvious that the only survivors were a small group of unhuman looking creatures.

As someone who had just finished a battle not but a few days ago, Neville wasn't overly enthusiastic about diving right into another one. But as he watched the disgusting humanoid creatures practically engulf the surviving group of fae like creatures he could not stop himself from stepping up further into the clearing. With a snarl that soon rolled into a full body roar, he launched himself into the frenzy, and the chaos that followed could be counted as one of the most interesting reactions to his Animagus form he had ever seen. The fae like creatures, which he would later identify (though not in the presence of said beings) as the equivalents of High Elves were stunned at the creature that had come to their aid. But one thing was certain; this creature was not to be trifled with.

After all, there was a reason Neville Longbottom became the King of Lions.

TBC

Author's Note: I'm a terrible person, I know! Because you won't hear from Nev for another 2-3 more chapters! On the bright side I have more time to be on my computer now, so my writing will be coming much faster now! I apologize this post wasn't longer after making you wait so long, but at least I updated!

(Happy belated holidays everyone!)