AN – Thanks to those of you who've reviewed, and those who've shown interest by marking this story for update alerts. Wish the numbers matched, but at least someone is interested!

All conversations in this chapter are in Elvish.

PHOENIX and DRAGON: Through the World Gate

Chapter 3

Harry lay quietly as the voices came closer to where he lay, closing his eyes and relaxing so he looked as if he were asleep when two men finally reached his bed. He'd learned that if his uncle thought he was asleep when he checked his cupboard, sometimes he wasn't punished. He'd gotten quite good at it, so he easily fooled the two men who stood over him now.

"Not much of him is there, Awel." Naf Ianwdd scowled down at the small child. He was a tall slender elf with a slight limp from an injury he received from a human wizard during the last Dark war. He had no love for humans in general, and was one of the most vocal of those wanting the world gate closed.

Awel, on the other hand, had a lot of respect for the humans. He'd lived for a number of years in the Birchwood Grove at Cwm Gwaun while he studied human medicine, and had even done an internship in a large hospital in Aberdeen. He knew humans had their faults, but he'd enjoyed the company of the ones he'd gotten to know, both wizard kind and muggle.

The healer sighed as he pulled Harry's blanket higher, tucking it carefully in so the boy wouldn't kick it off. The night was cool, and there was going to be frost by morning. "He was in bad shape when Myrddin brought him in, and that was after he'd healed him enough to move safely. Two broken ribs, a skull fracture and concussion, some internal bleeding and bruising on both of his kidneys, a separated shoulder and broken left arm, and both bones in his right arm were broken sometime in the past and healed without being set. I had to re-break them so they could heal properly…," he stopped as Ianwdd gasped in shock. "Not to mention a slight case of pneumonia, a strep infection in his throat, infection in some of the cuts on his back, severe malnutrition, dehydration, and bruises over most of his body."

"I didn't know it was that bad," Ianwdd murmured, slightly ashamed of his fervent refusal to allow the boy to stay. "Myrddin was right to protest, the child needs more time to heal before we send him back." Elves treasured their children since so few were born, and to harm a child was one of their most heinous crimes. Abuse such as this was unknown to their culture, and he simply hadn't realized how badly the boy was injured.

Awel ran his hand slowly through the air above Harry's body, a blue glow following his hand as he scanned the boy's condition one last time before he retired to his bed. "I've healed most of the damage, but he's still weak and it will take time for him to be completely well."

"No, I'm not going to change my mind. I'm sorry for him, but he doesn't belong here," Ianwdd said as Awel looked at him hopefully.

"What about Etain's prophesy?" Awel asked finally, raising one delicate eyebrow as he realized the boy was only pretending to sleep. He reached to run his hand gently through Harry's silky hair, soothing him with his magic until he felt the boy relax, not surprised when the child pressed into his touch. Goddess knows he'd likely never known simple kindness, let alone love, from an adult. "I'm not sure why Myrddin is so convinced this boy is part of it, but he's seldom wrong about his interpretations. Etain said the seers circle was looking for the boy, so surely we could wait long enough for them to confirm if he is the one?"

"They will be here for the solstice; we will speak of it then." Ianwdd sighed as he looked down at the human child. "Perhaps we can return him to a safer place than where he was found, maybe with one of the wizarding families in Cwm Gwaun or Godric's Hollow." He shook his head at the cruelty humans were capable of and quietly left the healers hall, leaving the healer behind with the troublesome child.

Awel nodded to himself, stroking Harry's hair one last time as the boy slipped into sleep. "I hope there is a safe place for you child, if you must return to your world," he whispered. "You already have a great deal of power, and there are those who will use you if they can, but I promise you I will do my best to keep you safe."

"Harry? Can you hear me?" Gavin sat cross legged in the dream meadow, feeling the sun warm on his head, watching as a bright orange butterfly fluttered past, dipping and rising in the soft breeze. The meadow was mostly from a memory of a place Myrddin had brought him when he was two years old, although they'd both added bits of other favorite memories later, and it was a safe and calming place for them to meet when they dreamed together. He'd been waiting for Harry to join him for quite a long time, but he knew that sometimes it took awhile for them to be able to talk to each other here.

"I'm here Gavin," a soft voice answered from behind him, and Gavin turned to see Harry walking towards him through the deep grass, moving easily with no sign of injury or bruises, his body strong and tanned as it would have been if he'd never been abused. Harry stopped to watch the butterfly, and then joined Gavin on the soft ground. "Healer Awel and another man came to see me and I listened to them talk. I don't think they knew I was awake. Do you know about a proffsy? Something about seers and circles?"

"My Grandmother Etain is a seer. Seers see things that haven't happened yet," Gavin explained as he leaned back and straightened his legs, wiggling his toes to knock an inquisitive lady beetle off. "A prophecy is what they call it when they see something. Sometimes what they see won't happen for a long time, and sometimes it is like a puzzle and they have to figure out what it means, so they all think about it at the same time, and that's what they call a circle." He stretched, and then lay back on the grass to watch the puffy white clouds drifting overhead. Harry soon joined him, truly relaxing for the first time since he'd come to Cymru. "Grandfather says there's one about me, and I think you are in it too. It sounds real important, and he was really unhappy about the Council wanting to send you back."

"Healer Awel said I may not be safe if they send me back, even if they don't take me back to my Aunt and Uncle." Harry sighed unhappily and wiped a tear from his cheek. He had hoped his life was going to be better after Gavin and his grandfather had rescued him, but it seemed fate had decided he didn't deserve to have a family.

"We need to do the brother pledge tomorrow night then." Gavin closed his eyes as Harry rolled to put his head on his shoulder, and pulled his brother closer. "It will be alright, Harry," he promised softly. "Go to sleep, we'll talk in the morning."

AN – I've had some questions as to how to say some of the names in this story, so here's my (best guess) guide as to Welsh pronunciation. Profuse apologies to any native speakers, there's only so much you can do with online lexicons and dictionaries. I would love it if someone with more knowledge could correct me where I make mistakes!

Myrddin (My + rr + thin)

Etain (Eh + tine)

Ianwdd (Ee + an + oothe)

Awel (Ow + el (or?) Ah + uh + el)