4.2
I ended up following the river after all, albeit a few up off its surface. It was the only way I dared use the antiquated broomstick. Even if I wasn't paranoid about flying broomsticks suddenly becoming normal everyday broomsticks midair the way it jittered and swayed randomly would have made me nervous. Thus I flew at a moderate pace just above the water to maintain maximum safety.
While it was largely for safety reasons, it was also common sense to follow the river's path. Rivers tended to run into the sea and there were few places more amenable to civilization than the banks of a river by the sea. I was deadly curious to see what form it might take. Seriously, the curiosity was driving me to claw at the wood. My surprisingly sharp fingernails were leaving divots in the wood and I could swear the broom was not liking it but I kept doing it. I suspected it was a cat thing.
It was obvious that this world was less developed than Earth. No roads save for one dirt path at a ford I passed that could have been made by wild cattle or the like; no dams or airplanes overhead or exhaust fumes from cars and factories carried across the world by the wind. Still, that didn't preclude the possibility of some advanced, isolated society of sapients somewhere in Arda that either hadn't invented combustion technology or had moved beyond it.
I half hoped it was giant spiders. As much fun as it would be to uplift the talking spiders living in the woods I was also interested in what sort of technology and culture they'd come up with naturally. Still, part of me still had a soft spot for humanoids. That little bitey dwarfy-elfy creature I'd thrown in the river before had left a sour taste in my mouth but it might not be the only humanoid on Arda. The items it had carried were far too fine for any of its species to create. With their small stature and speed its species likely excelled at thieving from some other, smarter species. I just had to find them.
After another disgusting sip of polyjuice I munched on some cheese I'd taken from the kitchens. I urged the broom to go faster as I passed over a vast marsh. I was starting to realize just how big a world was when I didn't have access to cars and airplanes and trains. The worn-out cushioning charms built into the broom didn't help anything either. I really needed to learn apparition one of these days. Though that did run the risk of my screwed-up magic splitting me into a million tiny pieces…
While it was night at Hogwarts it was early morning here. The mists were burning off and I could see vast sky-scraping mountains to the right and an infinite expanse of trees to the left. I'd have to visit those mountains someday, they were too impressive not to experience in person. I was ninety percent sure it was fall in Arda though and it would be viciously cold that high up. Then again, skiing down those virgin slopes might be fun. A little time-turner use and I could learn how to ski by tuesday. Hopefully the going rates on ski instructors wasn't too high.
While the mountains were beautiful it was the forest that truly drew me. I could tell there were wonders yet to be discovered in there, a vast untouched wilderness waiting to be explored. I wondered if the spiders nested throughout or if there were areas even they dared not tread.
Another two hours passed and the knapsack full of goodies I'd tied to the end of the broom was rapidly depleting. The broom itself had grown no more comfortable with time but it was nothing compared to the itching restriction of my own body. Each hour spent under the influence of the potion made me more cognizant that this was not my skin. It was clear that I'd have to complete my animagus training if I wanted to permanently walk on two legs again. The too-small body I was stuffed into felt more and more like a tiny coffin over my real body.
I took one last sip of polyjuice before putting the half-full bottle back in the knapsack. One more hour and then I was taking a break, assuming I didn't turn around by then. I'd gone a good hundred miles or so already and come across nothing but otters and deer. My only discovery was that I was likely in the northern hemisphere since after traveling due south for hours it had warmed up considerably. Of course with varying weather and the midday sun I couldn't be too sure. I felt I really should start mapping Arda. I wondered how the radius of this planet compared to Earth. If it was the same it would add credence to the theory the portal involved a temporal rather than spatial or dimensional shift.
My breath caught as I looked up from deep waters of the river to see a mass of gold. Drawing closer it resolved into millions of golden leaves, impossibly luminous. I slowed as I neared the golden wood. It was a beautiful sight, and full of life as well. Unlike the dark woods to the left of the river this forest was far from shy. It grew right up to the river, squirrels dancing through the branches as the occasional nut fell into the waters below.
I came upon a turning point after a time. The main river continued alongside the forest while a tributary flowed down from its depths. I supposed it was worth a looksy. If I found a little glen amidst the ancient gold-leafed trees it would be perfect for a picnic. With a light heart I altered course, broom headed up the smaller river.
"Aiyeeeh!" I cried as a net fell atop me. I struggled and fell into the river, broomstick almost eager to cast me off. I struggled as the waters rose above me, unable to swim with my limbs bound. Then as my fear hit its summit I felt myself lifting - no, being lifted. Upside down and drenched I was met by a pair of remarkable eyes framed by silver hair.
"Mana gar- mín hi?"
End 4.2
A/N
"Mana gar- mín hi?" → What have we here?
Hmm, this is now my longest fanfic. Unfortunately far from the most popular.
Is it just me or is my chapter spacing entirely arbitrary?