Chapter 6
31 July 1990Sethrael lay on his stomach in the undergrowth of the forest trying to explain to Esha, a small green snake, what a birthday was.
"And when the full cycle of the seasons comes again, everyone celebrates the day you were born."
"But how do you remember what day you were born? You were very small."
Sethrael laughed. "I do not remember the day, but others tell me of it. And my godfathers come and bring me presents and cake, and they sing a silly song, and I blow out the candles and eat the cake."
"Why do you blow them out? Do you eat in the dark?"
"No, they are small candles, one for every full season of my life. I make a wish, and then I blow out the candles. If I blow them all out in one breath, my wish comes true."
"What do you wish for?"
"If I tell my wish, it will not come true. That is what my godfathers tell me, and they are Wizards, so they know all about it."
"Sethrael!" his father called.
"I am here, Daka!" he said, standing. "I will speak with you tomorrow, Esha. I must go now."
"You were talking to the snake again?" his father asked.
"Yes, Daka. Her name is Esha. She did not understand about birthdays."
"Your godfathers have arrived. They are waiting for you by the portal."
Sethrael frowned. "Am I to go there? I thought we were having my celebration here."
"We are, but I have a surprise for you and your godfathers first."
He followed his father to one of the trees that was a portal to the other realm where his godfathers were waiting for them. When he saw them, he ran to them and gave each one a hug.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" they both said together.
"How old are you today?" Sirius asked, pretending he didn't know.
"I have lived 10 full seasons," Sethrael said proudly.
Sirius gently yanked the long braid that his mother had plaited for him that morning. "So, you're practically an old man now, aren't you?"
"Not quite yet, Uncle Sirius. I am still a young man."
"Harry," Remus said. "Next year, when you are at Hogwarts, and someone asks you how old you are, you will have to tell them in years rather than seasons or they won't understand."
Sethrael nodded. "I will try to remember that, Uncle Remus. Did you bring me a cake this year?"
"We certainly did," Sirius said. "Elsbeth is keeping it safe for us while we see what your father has in store for us."
"It's a surprise!" Sethrael said. "I don't even know what it is."
Mithrael laughed. "Then follow me and you will soon find out." He placed his hand on the tree and whispered some words that no one else could hear. Then, he walked through the tree, as one would walk through the barrier at King's Cross Station to reach Platform 9 ¾.
Sethrael went next, followed by Remus and then Sirius. When they reached the other side, they stared in wonder.
They stood at the top of a hill looking down into a beautiful valley. A river ran through it, and in the center of the water was a tree-covered island. From atop the hill, they could see that two footbridges had been built, one on each side, crossing the river onto the island. On the other side of the valley was another hill, almost a mirror image of the one they were standing on.
"Where is this place, Daka?" Sethrael asked, looking around in wonder. His godfathers stood on either side of him, speechless.
"It is the Realm of El," Mithrael said.
His son looked at him in astonishment.
"What is El?" Remus asked.
"El is the Elvin word for Light. We are Children of El—Children of Light."
"This is the land where my first parents live?" Sethrael asked his father quietly. He did not want his godfathers to hear because they sometimes got emotional when speaking of his first parents.
His father nodded. "They live in the Summerland, which is in the Realm of El."
"Will we see them?"
"That is why we are here," Mithrael said. "They will meet us on the island. Come, now. Follow me."
They walked down a path leading into the valley and to the footbridge.
"Are they like ghosts?" Sethrael asked.
His father laughed. "No, they are like you. Ghosts are those who have chosen not to go to the Summerland."
"Why would anyone choose not to come here?" Sirius asked in amazement.
"Do you have the ability to visit the Summerland whenever you want?" Remus asked.
"No, we cannot visit the Summerland. We can only go so far into this Realm. But we must not come often or we will begin to long for it and for those who are here."
At last they reached the footbridge and began to cross over to the island. "Those who live in the Summerland cannot cross this footbridge into our realm," Mithrael said. "And we cannot cross the footbridge on the other side of the island into the Summerland. We must meet with them here on the island, which is a land between the Realms."
They entered the forest on the island and walked a well-trod path until they reached a small glade. There, standing in the middle of the glade, were Lily and James Potter.
Sirius was the first to reach them. Throwing his arms around James, he wept into his shoulder. Remus was not far behind him. He took Lily in his arms and hugged her as if he would never let her go.
Harry stood beside Mithrael, watching nervously. He did not remember his first Mother and Father. He did not think he would be comfortable hugging them the way his godfathers were.
After the reunion between friends, they all turned and looked at him expectantly. Harry looked up at his Dakara, feeling torn about whether to go to his first parents or stay at his father's side. No matter who he went to, he would feel disloyal to the other.
His Dakara smiled down at him. "It is time for you to remember," he said, sweeping his hand across his son's forehead. And suddenly Harry remembered everything—the way his life had been with his first parents, the love they had felt for him, and the night that he had lost it all. Suddenly, he found himself in their arms, all three crying tears of joy.
Mithrael watched the reunion, glad that he had brought them today. He knew how Sirius and Remus suffered over the loss of their friends, but he must make them understand that they could visit no more than twice a full season.
And it was time for Sethrael to meet his first parents. There was wisdom he could receive from them that Mithrael could not give. There were things his son needed to know about being a Wizard. Of course, his godfathers had taught him many things, but they did not have the wisdom of those who lived in the Summerland.
Time meant nothing in the Realm of El. Perhaps they visited for hours or perhaps days, but time did not pass as it did in the Realms of Humans and Elves. After talking, laughing, and sharing many memories, the Potters announced that they must go back.
"You can visit us again in 6 months," James told them as he hugged them each goodbye.
Sethrael hugged both his parents, then watched as they walked to the footbridge that would take them to the Summerland. When his parents reached the bridge, they stopped, looking down into the clear water.
"Wait," James called to them. "Don't leave yet."
Sethrael watched his mother walk into the river. She went under for a moment, and then came back up. As she walked out of the water and back to the island, he noticed that she was as dry as if she had never gone into the water. She carried something in her hand.
It was a sword.
When Mithrael saw it, he dropped to his knees and wept. This frightened Seth because he had never seen his father cry.
"Daka! Daka! What is it?" he asked. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," he said as he watched Lily carry the sword toward his son. "This is what our people have been awaiting for more than a thousand full seasons. It is part of the Prophecy of El."
Sethrael knelt beside his father.
"No, you must not kneel," Mithrael told him. "You are the Child of the Prophecy. The sword is for you."
Confused, Sethrael stood and waited for his mother to approach. She held the sword in both her hands, extending her arms toward him, waiting for him to take it.
"It is yours," she said softly. "It has your name on it."
Seth looked down and saw his name, Sethrael, etched in the steel blade. The cross-bar and pommel were gold. He took the sword by the leather grip and lifted it from his mother's hands. He raised the tip of the sword toward the sky, extending his arm as he imagined a great hero would hold his own sword to rally his troops. Suddenly, a bolt of lightening flashed down from the clear sky and touched the tip of the sword. The blade glowed brightly with a white light, temporarily blinding those who were watching.
When his eyes had adjusted, Sethrael found himself once again standing in the middle of a circle, but this time he was surrounded by elves. All the elves that had ever crossed into the Summerland were kneeling around him, staring in wonder at the beautiful sword. But before he could comprehend what this meant, they were gone.
His first parents were also gone, and he found himself standing on the island with his father and two godfathers.
Sirius reached down and helped Mithrael to stand.
"What just happened?" Remus asked, still shocked by what he had witnessed.
Sethrael began to quote from the prophecy:
. . . he draws his sword from the Realm of El.
And he will be a Prince among you.
You shall call his name "Touched by Light."
And his sword shall bear his name.
He shall call it
Sethrael.