AN - All conversations in Bold Italics are in Gobbledegook.

All conversations in italics are Elvish.

PHOENIX and DRAGON: Through the World Gate

Chapter 11

The twin's sixth birthday came all too quickly, and it started off with a surprise.

"Hurry up and get dressed Gavin! I want to go look for the raspberry leaves Awel wanted so we can be back in time for our party." Gwydion called out from the dining room, voice muffled because he had a piece of toast stuck in his mouth. Gavin walked in, fully dressed, and started laughing when his brother ended up on the floor because he was jumping on one leg while he attempted to pull his second boot on.

"It would have been quicker if you'd just sat down to put on your boots!" He reached down and took the toast out of Gwydion's mouth and then took a bite out of it, holding it out of reach when his brother grabbed for it. "Come on, you said you were in a hurry!" Gavin took off out the door with the toast, Gwydion on his heels in full protest, his boot still untied.

"Hey! That was mine!" Gwydion complained as he finally caught up, still grumbling about the stolen toast. He at least, remembered to grab the collecting baskets as he ran out, so he threw one to Gavin.

Their path took them to a meadow at the edge of the deeper forest to the north of the village. A thick tangle of raspberry brambles filled one end of the clearing, the fruit just coming ripe. The boys picked berries for several minutes, eating their fill of the warm fruit as they filled one of the baskets with berries and the other with leaves, then sat down in the shade to rest. It was still only mid morning, but there was only a trace of breeze and the summer sun was already heating up the woods.

"You haven't been sleeping very well at night," Gavin said, glancing at his brother with a worried expression. "Are you having bad dreams again?"

Gwydion shook his head, slapping at a buzzing fly with irritation. "I've been having strange dreams every night for the last week…" He leaned back against a fallen log and started shredding a piece of loose bark, not sure how to explain what had been happening. "I'm walking along the edge of a forest, not doing anything really, when all of a sudden I see a huge black wolf looking at me."

"Were you scared?" Gavin asked, fascinated by the thought. He loved animals, and their grandfather thought he might be developing the beast speaking ability, although they wouldn't be sure that's what it was till he was older. Gwydion was already able to speak with snakes, and there was a possibility he could eventually speak with all reptiles, including dragons such as the green ones that were sometimes seen in the higher hills. "How come I didn't dream it too?" The twins shared their dreams quite frequently, something they both enjoyed.

Gwydion shrugged, and continued with his story. "No, for some reason I'm not scared; it's like I'm supposed to be there or something. The first time, it just looked at me for a long time then it walked up and sniffed me. I stroked its fur, and it just let me, then it sort of told me to follow it. That's when my dreams got really strange…when I started to follow it I turned into a wolf too!"

Gavin's mouth dropped open in surprise, and then he started asking questions too quickly for Gwydion to even understand.

"Hush!" Gwydion finally had to put his hand over his brothers mouth to shut him up for long enough to answer. "If you'll be quiet I'll tell you!" Gavin huffed in annoyance, and then settled to listen.

"The wolf led me through the forest for hours, showing me how to follow the tracks of deer by scent, where rabbits would pass on their way to a meadow, how to find water by smelling for it…lots of things. It seemed like I understood what it was saying too."

Gavin made an impatient gesture, telling him to hurry up with the story, so he continued. "Each night I've done different things, learning all about being a wolf…only I don't think it was really a wolf. I think its Lord Herne."

"What's it like, being a wolf?" Gavin asked curiously. The thought of a wolf being the Lord of the Hunt wasn't surprising to him; they'd had a number of dreams in the past, where their Liege's had taken them places or taught them something. The only one they'd told about their dreams was Dylluan, because he'd questioned how they sometimes knew things he hadn't taught them yet.

"It's strange. I can't see colors, but it doesn't matter, because everything has a different smell. There are so many smells…it's like the wind talks to you, tells you where everything in the forest is…you can even smell the ocean sometimes if the wind is from the right direction." Gwydion looked up when Gavin didn't jump in with a comment as he usually would, and discovered that his brother was staring past him into the forest with wide eyes.

Gwydion turned quickly to see what had caught his brother's attention, and came face to face with a large black wolf. The wolf's mouth was open in an unmistakable grin, its eyes bright with mischief. "So, you weren't just a dream?" The wolf shook his head, unmistakably saying no.

Gwydion stood slowly and stepped closer, reaching out to touch a soft ear. "Is the part about changing into a wolf real too, sir?" Gavin tensed when the large predator woofed softly, but relaxed when the wolf lay down and made no hostile moves. "I'm not sure I can do it for real though, will you help me?" The wolf woofed once more, so Gwydion knelt on the ground in front of it, turning back to look over his shoulder at Gavin.

"Tell Grandfather I may be a bit late for the party…my Lord has something he wants to show me?" Gwydion asked his twin softly, an odd expression on his face, half fear and half excitement. He turned to look into the wolf's eyes for a moment before continuing faintly. "Lord Herne says he will bring me back before dark."

"Ye…yes, I'll tell him," Gavin stuttered out finally and watched with fascination as Gwydion stared into the wolf's eyes for a short time before finally nodding. It was one thing to speak with a deity in dreams, quite another for one to show up in person, so to speak.

"I understand, my Lord."

Gwydion seemed to shiver as if with cold, and then he hunched over and his form blurred. Sitting in place of his brother was a grey wolf cub with bright green eyes. Its soft puppy fur was just starting to change to the rougher coat of an adult, but it was already the size of a full grown grey wolf. The black wolf rose to its feet and stepped forward to nuzzle the cub, then licked it gently across the nose before turning to reenter the forest. The cub started to follow, then turned back suddenly and ran to Gavin, its tail wagging excitedly. It licked him once on his chin before running to where the much larger wolf waited with an amused expression on its face. They moved out of sight quicker than Gavin believed possible.

Gavin left the woods at a run, and finally found his grandfather talking with Awel in the Healing Hall a short time later. He dropped to the floor at their feet, panting badly for a moment before he could speak. "Grandfather! You'll never believe what Gwydion is!"

"Don't you mean where Gwydion is?" Myrddin asked, laughing at how excited Gavin was. "Where is your brother anyway? Didn't you go get the raspberry leaves Awel wanted?"

"No! I mean yes, we went for the leaves, but something happened…Gwydion's a wolf!" Gavin explained excitedly, an ear to ear grin on his face. Myrddin and Awel stared at the boy in confusion.

"Gavin, you're not making sense. Where's Gwydion?" Awel finally noticed the baskets Gavin had brought back with him; one was full of fresh picked berries, the other the raspberry leaves he had needed, so obviously the boys had done as they were asked.

"I'm trying to tell you," Gavin huffed, frustrated that he wasn't getting them to understand. "Gwydion's a WOLF!"

Myrddin sighed. He appreciated the boy's imaginations, but sometimes they got a bit wild. "Alright, tell me about what happened when you went for the leaves," he asked patiently.

"We went like you asked us to, and we found the brambles and picked berries for awhile, then got Awel's leaves," Gavin paused to make sure they understood, than took a big breath and continued. "Gwydion was telling me about the dreams he's been having, about being a wolf because a bigger wolf was showing him how, and it sounded like a lot of fun but I think I'd be scared too, and then the same wolf came for real and Gwydion said it was Lord Herne and then he turned into a wolf just like in the dream, and he licked me on the chin, and then he ran off into the forest," he somehow managed to say without taking a single breath. "He says he'll be back before dark though."

'Did Gavin just say what I thought he said…,' Myrddin thought in shock. He sat down on one of the beds, his mind blank. 'Lord Herne? Turned Gwydion into a wolf?'

'A wolf! That's not possible…,' Awel thought, his mind going blank. 'Lord Herne?!'

"What dreams, Gavin?" Myrddin finally asked, picking the only part he had really understood out of what the boy had said, his mind still in shock. Little boys didn't just turn into wolves…

"Gwydion hasn't been sleeping very well lately, he said he'd been having weird dreams every night for the last week, but he didn't want to talk about them, I guess because Lord Herne said not to tell anyone," Gavin explained, rolling his eyes at the two adult's lack of understanding. "Then today we were sitting and talking, and the same wolf came. It was the biggest wolf I've ever seen, and it was black. I've never seen a black wolf before." Gavin paused as he thought about how odd it was to see a black wolf. The only wolves found in their area weren't nearly that big and were grey, like the one Gwydion had turned into. They were really shy and avoided people, so nobody saw them much.

"Anyway, Gwydion talked to the wolf, and then I guess he showed him how to turn into a wolf for real, just like in the dreams, because then Gwydion shivered and went blurry and then he was a wolf. He was just a big cub, and he's grey, not black, and he had really big feet." Gavin stopped, slightly confused by his own explanation.

"Gwydion, I mean, not Lord Herne," he explained to his grandfather and the dazed healer with a grin, hoping they would understand this time. "He said Lord Herne would bring him back before dark."

Awel sat down on the bed beside Myrddin, both blinking in shock. "A wolf?!" They both asked in unison, trying to get their minds around the idea. Being able to speak to animals was fairly common, but Elves just didn't turn into one…although it was supposedly possible for wizards to do so. This was going to take some getting used to.

"Do you think Lord Herne will teach me to change into an animal too?" Gavin asked hopefully, his expression dreamy as he imagined what it would be like. "I think I'd like to be something that flies…" Myrddin and Awel just looked at him with wide eyes.

The large grey owl winged silently through the owl post entrance of a large white building, landing on one of the perches in the receiving area of the mail room. A small goblin carefully removed the roll of parchment from its leg and read the label with surprise before hurrying out, intent on delivering it as quickly as possible. Several minutes later, a goblin in an important looking office was opening it, an expresion of irritation and pleasure warring on his face. Every time he got a letter from this goblin, it meant trouble for someone...

To Chairman Ragnok, Clan Gringotts

From Battle Leader Ripthroat, Clan Bogrod

"Ragnok, my old friend and adversary! I hope this letter finds you well, with your enemies groveling at your feet and your gold flowing like water.

I am writing to tell you of two rather extraordinary visitors my clan hosted recently; two children by the names of Gavin and Gwydion Emrys. They spent a number of weeks with us, and I found them to be of great interest. Their magic is strong, and they are accepting of all beings, no matter the form. They have even learned to speak Gobbledygook, with a fair accent as well, given that they are elves.

The two I speak of are the younglings who caused so much disruption in the magical balances when they performed a blood bonding on the solstice a year and a half past.

What the elves neglected to tell us at the time, is that they were marked by the hand of the Lord Herne and Lady Donn and swore an oath of fealty to them. They are also counted as priests among the elves, even at their young age, and have been taken as Centaur Friends for actions that saved one of the stargazers young.

The reason I mention this is that one of them should be familiar to you, by name if nothing else. He was a wizard born named Harry Potter before he was brought to Cymru from the human world; he was adopted to the Emrys line and given a new name after the bonding. If the rumors I've heard are true, he was of some importance to the wizards? I would be interested to hear your viewpoint on the events that carried this child to prominence at such a young age.

I spoke with his adopted grandfather at great length while they were visiting and decided to write to you of his concerns. Myrddin Emrys, who should be well known to you from past dealings, was concerned that his grandson's inheritance from his original family might be taken from him if the wizarding world decides he is dead. It might be prudent to prevent this from happening; I feel it could be profitable to be in this family's good graces in the coming years. By our laws, the child by the name of Harry Potter still exists, whatever his current name or appearance, and our laws supersede those of the wizards in matters such as this.

Why should you get involved in this you ask? What does this have to do with the Goblin clans? Quite a lot, I fear. I recently learned of a prophecy one of the Elvin seers gave; it mentioned both boys, and said that they would be instrumental in the coming battle against the Darkness. The Elvin prophecy ties in well with two we found in our own clan's scrolls; all three speak of Darkness overtaking all, if these children fail in their fight. Our records hint that your clan has at least one similar prophecy?

I don't believe it is coincidence that the Potter child is reported to have vanquished the dark lord who was running rampant in the human world. The words of our seers lead me to believe that the evil isn't dead, however, merely weakened for a time. I fear for us all if this evil is allowed to spread unchecked when it returns, because I have no doubt it will affect both your clan and those of us who remain in Cymru.

Need I remind you what happened the last time the Darkness crept over our lands? Two clans are no more, their bones buried in their collapsed tunnels, and the rest of us were damaged so badly we are only now regaining our former greatness. I am not suggesting we join a side in this battle; merely that we lend our assistance where we can, especially when we can gain from it as well.

Think on it.

May gold fill your tunnels, and misfortune visit your enemies like a favored relative.

Ripthroat

AN: I'm happy that everyone seems to be enjoying the story, and I'm glad to say there will be more coming soon.