Chapter Fifteen

Night lay on Trewalder. The town was divided within itself. Some wept; some comforted, and some revelled, singing, dancing and giving in to every repressed desire, seizing life whilst they still could. Yet, no matter which group one wandered amongst there was an unspoken tension and beneath it the stale stink of human fear. Malvine, unable to stand it or the crowds any longer, had climbed onto the roof of a house. Now, invisible from the street below, she stood beside the chimney stack and looked out over the town, and the river and meadows beyond. She sniffed as she looked down at the humans, shuddered and turned her gaze upwards to the stars.

'It is a beautiful night,' said a voice beside her.

Malvine inclined her head respectfully. 'Good evening, lord. What brings you here tonight?'

Death gave a thin lipped smile. 'My usual business.'

'You are here for the duel?'

'If one dies I must be there, and the aftermath.'

'Can Harry win?' Malvine asked.

'Yes.'

'Just yes?'

'I make no promises. I could not honour them.'

'Honour … I owe him a debt, you realise?'

'That is not my concern. A child dies below us. I am here for her. The time is almost here.'

'Good night, lord,' Malvine said. She turned away and he was gone. She stepped to the edge of the roof and leapt.

There was a knock at the door. Harry sewed the last rune onto his shirt, imbuing it with power before he looked up. 'Enter. Sorry about this,' he said, shrugging it on as he beckoned Malvine into the room. 'What can I do for you?'

'I fear betrayal tomorrow. It is unlikely the sidhe host will leave you alive if you kill their lord. They will be a headless snake, but their death throes may be enough.'

'I'll meet them as they come.'

'I will be your second. Enchant me, hide me so I may be close enough to guard you when they come,' she said.

'I don't know if I could cast a spell a fairy couldn't see through,' Harry admitted. 'If what Tom says is true …' He rubbed his brow.

'Harry, you want to defend these mortals?'

He nodded.

'Then let us be of one blood.'

'What do you mean?'

'Let us mix our blood. We have fought together. You saw my Mother leave this world,' she held out her wrist and ran a nail over it. A thin line of blood welled up. 'If we do this you may trust me as your own kin. You will be of my blood and I will take up your fight, if you fall.'

'Why?'

'Honour.'

Harry hesitated and gave a short nod. He ran his wand tip over his forearm, splitting the skin open. Malvine took his arm in her hand and pressed her wrist against his. 'One blood. One kind. Now I owe you protection, as you owe it to me. I will kill the hill-king, if need be. Now will you enchant me?'

Harry ran his hands through his hair. 'Yes, fine. I have no enchantments which could do it for sure, but if you take my cloak you'll be unseen. I won't have much need for it in this fight anyway.' He rummaged around for a moment and then passed her the silvery invisibility cloak. 'Now please, I need time to myself.'

She left, shutting the door. He pulled the Resurrection Stone from his pocket and turned it over in his hand, watching the solitary, circular scar on his palm. He turned the stone over in his hand again.

Before dawn Heather came to him, with Tom and Malvine. Tom's usual sneer was absent and he fidgeted as Heather laid out a set of leather armour, and a helmet wrought in steel and gold with garnets on the brows above the face mask.

'I have bespelled these as best I can. They should hold faster than steel till sunset. The helmet will allow you to see through any glamours he throws at you,' Heather said. She pulled a set of small glass beads from a pouch and laid them down beside the armour. 'These are bound with curses and spells. Scatter them or throw them, explosions, fire, concealment, and a few other things of that nature, are bound in them. This,' she added, placing a long dagger in its sheath on top of the rest, 'is named Fragarach. It was forged before the dark days. No amour may stop it, and flesh will melt before it.'

'Have you thought of a name for the sword?' Malvine asked as she offered him her blade and began to help him buckle on the armour.

'No,' Harry murmured. 'I think you might do that, once this is over. Thank you, Heather, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you.'

'Just kill him. That will be enough.'

'Would you both step outside?' Tom asked. 'I have a few words to say to him.'

Harry nodded and they left, shutting the door behind them. 'I'll be with you soon, Malvine,' he said.

'Harry,' Tom said, 'try not to die today.'

There was a pause. 'I'll do my best.'

'You do not have to do this. We could leave. I could put aside revenge, for now.'

'I spent some time … thinking things over last night. I think I'll be fine, no matter what happens. There are adventures I haven't had yet, but if it happens that I end up going off on one,' Harry stuck, unable to meet Tom's eye. 'Do the right thing, alright?'

'You'd better come back. I can't promise that.'

'Just try. You've a world to explore. You don't need to rule it. We've crossed worlds before, you can do it again. Just think of all the places to see. The next one will always be beckoning.

'Now, it's almost time. Be good, Tom,' Harry said, and to Tom's surprise the younger man clapped him on the shoulder and strode out of the house.

The clouds had parted and the sun gilded the snow in fire as Harry walked out of the gates.

'Do you remember my Mother's words before she died?' Malvine asked as the repaired gates were pushed to behind them.

'Not entirely.'

'Will you say them with me now? They are the battle prayer of my kind.'

'I would be proud to.'

'Lo there do I see my father,' she said, Harry repeating her words. 'Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers.' The snow crunched under their feet. 'Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call me, they bid me take my place among them, where the brave may live forever.'

The fairy waited, halfway between the wood and the town-wall. 'A fine morning, and I pretty speech,' Hyrne said. 'I hope you are ready to die.' He was dressed in scales of bronze, a half helm and a leaf-green tunic. He bore a long spear of green metal in his right-hand and a round shield in his left. His second stood nearby, dressed in a rusty-ochre.

'As ready as ever,' Harry said, lifting the visor. 'This is my second, the Lady Malvine.'

'Charmed,' Hyrne said. 'My second, Dun Mar. Well they've seen us here, so that is their task done. Be gone the pair of you, and we shall begin.'

'Not quite the rules as I know them, but as you wish,' he glanced to Malvine, 'thank you.' He clasped forearms with her and she turned to walk away.

'Any last words?' Hyrne asked.

'If I die, show mercy. Spare the people of this place. They had nothing to do with your enemies.'

'No. I asked for your last words, not meaningless pleas. There are no agreements between wolves and sheep.' The spear cracked down. The air crackled. Harry raised his hand, shielding his eyes. Electricity ran over his armour like water. Hyrne frowned.

Harry began to circle his opponent. A jab of his wand. Red light splashed against Hyrne's shield. 'Clichéd as this sounds, you don't need to do this.'

Hyrne ignored him and bellowed as he thrust his spear forwards. A hail of spears materialised from it. Harry ducked, rolling beneath them, slicing upwards. Hyrne spun away from the bolt.

He whirled his spear above his head, the blade became a blur. Harry shot a couple of curses. Hyrne tossed them aside, the spear's head catching them. The air rippled. The earth erupted in fountains. Harry leapt upwards, form shifting. A falcon swooped between the jagged rocks and landed. Harry crouched, ducking a fireball. He gasped as the air sizzled above him.

Harry flicked his wand up. The snow burst into flames. They closed around Hyrne, the scent of roses filled the air. Hyrne held his spear before him and the flames froze. A grunt and they exploded in shards. Hyrne gave a grudging nod of respect.

Spell followed spell, flying backwards and forwards. The air spat and the snow steamed and melted. Hyrne advanced on Harry, batting spells aside, forcing the wizard to retreat.

Harry bit his lip, drawing his sword as he forced himself to stand still. Blue ice lanced from his wand. Hyrne raised his shield. The blast shattered it and tore it from his grip. There was a crack and his arm hung limp. Harry brought his wand down. Dark motes of dusk filled the air and a wind wailed across the plain. Snow twisted in icy dust devils.

Hyrne raised his good arm against the attack. The black wind battered a flickering shield. The fairy gritted his teeth, as his arm reknit itself. 'This is dark magic you're throwing around, child!'

The air cracked behind him, and Harry stepped out of the ether. The black wind struck him from behind and Hyrne screamed as it tore through him. His shield faltered and fell.

Tom watched from the walls as a dark cloud enveloped Hyrne. The fairy's scream shattered the window panes throughout Trewalder, driving him to his knees. When he staggered to his feet Harry was alone on the field. A twisted lump of flesh lay at his feet. There was silence for a few seconds and then Harry began to walk back towards the walls. Cheers erupted from the spectators.

The cheers died as soon as they had started as Hyrne stood, flesh flowing back over his blacked bones. Claws stretched from his fingers. The spear flew to his hand and he roared a challenge. Harry turned. If he was surprised the steel mask hid it.

Harry swept his wand out. Oily flames flickered from the tip. Hyrne raised a fist and snow smothered the fire. He stepped forwards. Harry parried a thrust of the spear. A crack of his wand, a fiery whip lashed the air. Hyrne lunged again. Harry stumbled backwards. The whip and fire tangled, the shaft smouldering as Hyrne ripped it free.

Harry dropped the sword. He hurled the pouch of beads towards the fairy. Hyrne caught it in mid-air and the pouch exploded. Harry hurtled backwards. Stars swam before his eyes as he rolled over, summoning the sword.

Hyrne was engulfed in a ball of fire. Lightning snapped through the cloud. Mist billowed over the ground. Harry swore as his legs almost buckled under him and shot a string of curses into the fog. He whipped his wand around and icy warriors rose from the snow.

Hyrne emerged from the fire. His hair blazed with cinders as it billowed behind him. He charged towards Harry, glamours falling away. Curving antlers swept from his head. The icy golems moved to bar his path, but he smashed them aside. Hooves thundered over the frozen ground. Harry braced. A golden shield rose before him. Hyrne's spear clashed against it and bit through. Harry hurled himself aside. Too late. The spear struck him, hurling him into the air. He flailed, shifting into a falcon. He fluttered, thrown off balance and crashed into a snowdrift.

The spear caught him as he shifted back. Metal and leather screamed as it scored a scratch down his side. Harry lashed out. Hyrne staggered as blue blood blossomed from the curse's blow. Harry caught the spear with his sword, knocking it to the ground. Snow leapt up, pelting the fairy. He strode through it.

A savage stab drove Harry to his knees. He cried out. His arm shook as he raised a shield. He fell. A foot smashed into his face. A strap dug into his neck and snapped. He lurched and the helmet slipped from his head. He could taste iron. Blood filled his mouth. Sweat stung his eyes. He lashed out. Magic flared. Hyrne blocked it, catching his hand. Harry bit the fairy's wrist, tasting copper.

The ground fell away. He was thrown backwards. The spear slammed down into his side, again. It bit through the armour. He screamed, thrashing. Hyrne pulled the spear free. A snarl and the earth surged upwards impaling his wand arm. His wand fell from the nerveless fingers. He sobbed. On the walls someone shouted his name.

The earth rose into a pillar of stone. He dangled, like a puppet, from the rock. Hyrne stabbed him again, driving the spear into the open wound.

'See your champion!' The fairy cried, turning to the walls.

Harry fumbled at his belt with his left hand.

'See how he dies!'

He found the hilt of the dagger, Fragarach.

Hoots and jeers rose from the woods.

He drew it. His hand shook.

There was a hiss of cloth on snow.

He gritted his teeth and slashed down. The blade seared through his flesh and armour. It cauterised the wound. He fell to the ground. The stump hissed in the snow. His vision swam.

Tom watched, helpless as Hyrne began to turn. 'I betrayed you!' He voice rang over the plain.

The fairy paused. 'What?'

'I laid this trap for you.'

Harry pushed himself to his knees and held out his good hand. 'Accio.' The bright sword flew to his hand. He pressed it into the earth, pulling himself up.

'Tom …' Hyrne looked at the walls.

Harry plunged the blade through the fairy's back and into his heart. Hyrne stumbled. He looked down at the bloody blade in surprise. Harry wrenched it free. The fairy coughed. His skin sealed over the wound and then burst open again. He collapsed, face down, into the snow.

Harry staggered a pace and fell.

A howl rose from the woods. There was a rustle of cloth and Malvine threw back the cloak. She picked up Harry's sword and stood over him, facing the oncoming horde.

Tom swore as the fae poured out of the woods. 'I am going out there. Who's with me?' He leapt over the battlements. His cloak rose around him like wings as he soared over the pitted battleground.

Malvine met the woman who led the charge head on. 'Lo,' she shouted as her sword bit into the furs, 'there do I see my father!' The woman crumpled.

'Lo there do I see my mother!' She slashed another one down. 'And my sisters and my brothers.' Then they were on her. She hacked and cut, yelling out the words. 'Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning.' Blades flew from their hands. 'Lo, they do call me.' A man fell, his tendon sliced. 'They bid me take my place among them! In the halls of the fallen, where the brave may live,' a thrust and another fell. 'FOREVER!' Parry, grunt, thrust. She slammed a fist into a man. A backhanded cut caught another's throat. Heat rippled from her and they staggered back.

A throwing axe whirled towards her. She caught it. A breath and the metal rippled like water. She hurled the melting metal back into the fray and a beast howled, clawing at the sizzling metal. Bodies piled up around her.

A green light flashed past her and an attacker fell. A man stood beside her, a wand in his hand. Fire and light burnt at the tip, cutting down the enemy and he laughed as he did so. There were no more enemies nearby. She looked around, breathing hard. A thigh-high wall of corpses surrounded her. The townsmen had sallied out and open battle raged. Some of the fae must have fled at their leader's death, for the forces seemed well balanced. Heather was whirling through the fray, blades singing.

'Is he alive?' Malvine asked.

The man bent and touched his hand to Harry's throat. 'Yes, but barely. We need to get him out of here.'

'The town's in chaos,' said a woman with a scarred face. There were six others, around them; men and women dressed in the clothes of caravan guards. 'Folk have taken it into their heads to get revenge on their neighbours. We can't take him in there.'

'The docks then, we can get him onto a boat and across the river,' said a one-eyed man.

'I'll carry him,' Tom said. He bent and lifted Harry into his arms, cradling him.

There was a whooping cry from the woods and Malvine raised her head. 'Go. I will deal with this. I will meet you at the docks.'

Tom looked at her for a moment and then strode away towards the town. The others fanned out, forming a guard around him. Behind them there was the bellow of a huge creature and the hiss and roar of flame.

The streets were filled with men and women running. Smoke billowed from shop windows where fire arrows had struck true. Chains of buckets were being carried up from the river. The townspeople were oblivious to Tom as he carried Harry down towards the watergate.

'Don't you dare die on me,' he whispered. 'All will be well.'

He glanced at the slim girl who shadowed him. She turned pale each time he looked at her. He tore his eyes away, keeping his pace steady. Arrows whizzed through the air overhead. The air thudded under the beat of mighty wings and then in a blur of motion Malvine was by his shoulder, straightening her hair

'This way,' Slipper said, and she pointed to a wicker gate.

Tom pushed though sideways. He flinched as Harry's leg bumped against the wall and the boy groaned. The river lay before them, tugging at the bobbing boats. Rowboats lined the quay. A mist was rising from the banks as the Sun melted the snow and ice.

'Find something to make him comfortable,' he said. He laid Harry down on the cobbles, wincing as he examined the wounds. He waved the Elder Wand, cutting away the leather and exposing the mangled flesh. The scarred woman, tears running down her face, and the one-eyed man bundled something by him and smoothed a mantle over it in the bottom of a narrow rowboat. Tenderly they lifted Harry and set him down on the cloak.

'You can't save him,' Death said. He stood at the head of the boat, a long staff in his hand. 'You sold that power, and it is too late now. Someday I will return to claim you, it is in your nature to die, now that he is mine.'

'Shut up,' Tom growled. He pulled a sliver of leather from the wound in Harry's side.

Harry gasped. His eyes opened, the whites showing around the iris. 'Merlin ...'

'Shush, Harry, be still. You are going to be fine,' Tom promised. 'Vulnus confervo.' The skin shivered and sealed.

'And what about the internal bleeding?' Death asked. 'You are going to have to cut him open again to fix that.'

'Tom,' Harry whispered, 'did I manage?'

'Yes, yes. You did it.'

Harry's eyes closed and his head drooped. 'Good. Stop.'

'Come on Harry. Stay with me.' Tom glared at Death, 'I can still beat you. Malvine, give him the cloak.'

'It is too late for that Tom. My mark is upon him,' Death said.

Tom growled. 'Then I'll go all the way.' He shook Harry's shoulder's gently. 'Harry, I need you to stay awake. Here's your wand, I picked it up. Just disarm me, take my wand. Then you'll be the Master of Death. Remember the legend? I just need you to do this and it'll all be fine.'

Harry shook his head very slightly. 'Not now Tom. Too tired.'

'Malvine, persuade him.'

'Everyone meets the Last Friend in their own way. This is his,' Malvine said. She stepped into the boat and ran her hand over Harry's brow. She wiped away the sweat from the pale forehead and the thin lightning bolt scar. She tucked the cloak of invisibility beneath his head. Death knelt and whispered into Harry's ear. Harry smiled.

There were shouts from the town and Tom stood, stepping onto the quay for a moment. He caught a man who burst through the watergate. 'What's going on?'

'A mob of them are coming! I don't know what they want, but they're coming here.'

Tom threw him aside. 'They are coming for revenge.' He hesitated and turned to Malvine. 'Take him. Do what you can for him.'

'It's okay,' Harry murmured. His left hand gripped Tom's for a moment. 'The others are waiting: my parents, friends, Sirius ...'

'But I'm here,' Tom said. He turned away, tugging his hand from Harry's. 'I will come for you. If I have to conquer hell itself.'

Harry did not answer. Death untied the boat and pushed it away from the quay with his staff, into the stream. Malvine stood in the prow, sword in hand. Tom cast one last glance at it as it vanished into the mist. Then he turned to face the foe.

Finis

Hic iacet Harrius, magus quondam, magusque futurus.

A/N: No secret epilogues this time. That is the end. Thank you to all of you who read this story and an especial thanks to those of you who reviewed it. I hope you enjoyed it.

There may be small edits made in the future to neaten this story up, but you may at least be sure that you read the story in its entirety. There are no notes to add to this, it has flowed as I hoped it would when I first started writing. If you have any questions about it or the world feel free to ask. I do have copious pieces of extra information about the world itself.

Thank you for reading it. I've enjoyed writing it, but in large part because I knew that there were people to share it with.

Other stories in the universe include the two short prequels: The Devil's Dance (completed), Lord Voldemort Takes a Holiday (final drafting stages), the main story To Play the Devil (complete), and now a stand-alone which could be read as a sequel The Lord in the Mist (currently being posted).