Chapter Three: I Firmly Believe an Explanation is in Order!

Title: Lord of the Forest

Rating: T

Pairings: Harry/Legolas

Warnings: Slash, mild gore, language, some angst, a touch of depression, and OOCness. A bit hard to avoid with an immortal Harry, though.

Summary: The grief after Harry's friends' deaths threatens to overcome him. With nothing and no one left, he slips into a new world, where he can start over. There he discovers he plays quite an important part... Harry/Legolas; powerful!Harry; Harry centric. Written for CasheyHooray1.00's challenge.

AN: Hey guys! Whew, it's been a while, eh? Anywho, no excuses this time, just couldn't find the energy or inspiration to do anything. Beginning of summer does that to you though, I suppose. XD

DISCLAIMER: Honestly, I'm not sure why I keep writing these things. I'm obviously NOT Rowling or Tolkien.

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Last Chapter:

The Ent, Treebeard, stared at him again for a while. "I suppose. But your magic has changed, my Lord, like my brethren in the Autumn, like the clouds and sun shift, like the small chick to the soaring eagle. Yes, your magic– your life force, the blood that runs through your veins– has changed along with your world. You are now Highest of Branches, Prince among Leaves, King of Kings and Lord of Life. All the creations of Illúvatar shall acknowledge your power, and the Children of Yavanna will bow before you… As the Eldest Ent, it is my responsibility I bestow upon you your power and grace and all that can aid you during your leadership. Welcome to Middle-Earth, Lord of the Forest." Treebeard gave a low, creaking bow, but Harry was to dazed to notice. He could only produce one thought:

Oh Merlin, what have I gotten myself into?

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Harry shook himself fiercely, but still only managed to give Treebeard a slightly dazed look. "Okay… So… Lord of the Forest… right…" Harry shook his head again. "… What exactly does that mean?"

Treebeard thought for a moment. "You are King of Forests and Prince of the Meadows. You are the highest power among the Living, and therefore all the Living bow to you."

"Yes, okay, I got the whole 'King/Princey thing. But what does that entail? What do I have to do? Who are the 'Living'? Is that everyone living right now? Oh for Salazar's sake, I don't want to be a hero again! That's what this is about, isn't it? I'm going to have to be another martyr? C'mon then, tell me what I have to do. I might as well get this over with, huh…? Am I going to have to die this time as well? Cause that really sucked last time. And then I come back, and everybody's dead! Well it won't happen this time. I will be prepared. Now, tell me what this is all about." Harry stared at the Ent; face calm in an attempt to mask the slightly frantic look in his eyes and the slight slurring of his speech. Harry might have been just a little bit upset about having his 'peaceful life' plans usurped. (Had any of Harry's previous friends seen him then, they all would have gotten the hell out of dodge, because a 'calm' Harry in a potentially upsetting situation was just the calm before the storm; but Harry wasn't thinking about that, oh no, because that would have brought up memories of fights and make-ups and an ultimate bond of friendship which had just brought him pain pain pain)

Treebeard looked a little stunned and the tiniest bit amused. He also seemed a bit overwhelmed by the speed at which Harry talked. Or, at least, as overwhelmed as a living plant can be. "Many questions go unasked, many answers remain unfound. Secrets stay buried only due to ignorance. It pleases me to see that that will not be happening during your rule, my Lord." A small flicker of humor danced through Treebeard's calm gaze. Harry lowered his head and grinned a bit sheepishly.

"The answer you seek is not a simple one, and not one commonly entertained in the minds of even the wisest Elves. Deep waters have been explored; mountains crossed, and yet both turn out surprises of the strangest sort. Your answer is the same. It's possible design shifts and twists as often as the breeze changes course. You are Magic, my Lord, Magic and the Valar have chosen you to guide life in this world. You are the highest of the Maia; yet separate from them. This cannot be changed. But the path of this magic, its intent and the way you direct it will; with age and wisdom and injuries and heartbreak. Now that you have traveled here, my Lord, the process is irreversible."

Treebeard paused and allowed Harry a bit of time to sort through the barrage of information.

A Lord?! Harry questioned himself frantically. A Lord of Life Magic?! Just my luck… Harry pushed the more confusing thoughts into the background and focused on simpler topics.

Such as Elves, even though Harry made a mental promise to avoid them. They sounded a bit too prissy and powerful for his tastes. He'd like to avoid any conflict with creatures that could mortally wound him, thank you very much.

They sound a bit like Draco… Harry mused. Or, at least, like him until his mother died. The unforeseen death of Draco's mother had shaken the proud Malfoy heir. His ultimate decision to switch loyalties had resulted in many lives being saved. Harry remembered seeing some of the premature worry lines of Draco's handsome face smooth out with that knowledge. Those marks always nagged at Harry; they reminded him of a time when Draco would have bemoaned their existence. He had been glad to see them relieved, even if only for a short time. Their absence had made him hope for something better, something happier… Maybe a new life, where relationships weren't shrouded with bitterness or the urgency brought on by knowing your life wasn't guaranteed another day…

Shaking himself once again out of his thoughts, Harry asked his question. "Who are the Elves? What's so special about them?" He thought fondly back to his elves: small, desperately loyal creatures, they were.

"They are as old as the Ents and Entwives. They taught us to speak and they befriended our forests. They were favored by the Vala Oromë and fought many great battles against the Dark Lords of Middle-Earth. They are fair and wise, graceful and very powerful as a race… the Elves cannot age and are not affected by sickness. They can be killed on the battlefield… And some Elves die of grief or sadness… You must understand this, my Lord, when dealing with Elves: they are an extremely empathetic people and have strong family bonds. They love all beautiful things and inherently despise evil." Harry listened to Treebeard speak and was entranced. He was seriously tempted to go out and meet them, if not for the lingering thought of their power and Treebeard's warning about their strong attachments. Yes, Harry thought, Perhaps it's best just to avoid meeting anyone at all. That way is safer.

He ignored the little voice in his head that questioned safer for your body or your heart?

"Will they come far into the forest?"

Treebeard gave a thundering chuckle that shook the ground. "You may see them on the outskirts, but not many beings venture here. The Ents have given the forest a reputation, my Lord. And rightfully so… the Ents defend their own as well as wolves and the elements…"

Treebeard continued to speak of the Ents and Entwives ("Oh, how happy they will be to learn of you, dear King!") and the other races of Middle-Earth ("There are Dwarves who work with stone and Man who dominates the land…") while Harry listened intently. He was, quite frankly, very surprised that he was not overreacting to all of this. But, when he looked deep into himself, he noticed that his magic (which had been angrily raging through him after his inheritance) was suddenly soothed.

Harry smiled happily and glanced up through the emerald leaves to a cloudless sky. His hair fluttered with the breeze that danced through the branches of Ents and trees alike. The air was crisp and clean and cool.

Harry grinned.

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So, basically a filler chapter. I'll probably skip a few years with the next one, what do you guys think? What do you want to happen next?

Love ya! ;)

-MC

6/24 Edit- I did a lot of filling out on this chapter, so even if you've read it already, you might want to go back and take a look. Because its getting pretty late, I'll edit the last chapter tomorrow and then post the fifth chapter either by Friday or sometime this weekend, hopefully.