the prince of the golden woods

by blackphoenix4ever

When Voldemort attacks Harry brother is hailled as the BWL. Lily and James disown Harry in favour of his brother. 16 years later Harry return to Hogwarts and to Siris. One day after he, Draco, Sirius and Severus exit the bank and are hit by the AK, and wake up in Arda, where Draco and Harry join the fellowship...

9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9- Into the wilds

The weeks leading to the departure were hectic. Elrond had send many scouts and finally have found a safe window for departure. The eleven companions were ready. Few days ago, Sirius and Severus had departed toward Lothorien after wishing to the two young elfs good luck. They were a little scared for the boys, but knew that they were well protected. Viridis and Draco were excellent fighters and also they had their familiars and could transform into nundus, which were one of the three most dangerous animals to wizards next to dragons and basilisks.

Frodo was nervous. After few weeks of rest and relaxation, it was time to depart toward Mordor. He heard his name called and looked and saw Sam and smiled. His faithful companion was very nervous and he was worried if he had everything for his journey. The two friends heard a commotion and turned to see the three elfs that were coming with them. Next to them were the Lothlorien horses and they were wandering what to do with them.

- I know that it can be risky, to be easily spotted by the enemy with them, but you know as well as I that the horses will be helpful- sed Viridis
- How?- asked Legolas
- Number 1: scouting, Number 2: alarms if there is danger their senses will tell them long before we know of it and we can prepare accordingly, Viridis horse is bred too fight and I pity the wolf that will come across it. That horn can gut it without any problem. Also if we cannot outrun the danger two of you and Frodo can mount them. One of you with Frodo, the other one, I think is best that is you Legolas- at that time Gandalf, Boromir, Aragorn and Gimli had joined them.
- Why the elf?- the dwarf asked stiffly
- Because Legolas can fight long and short range- sed Viridis- I think if we found ourselves in such a situation, the best people on the horses with Frodo will be Legolas and Aragorn- sed Viridis
- Why Aragorn?- asked Gandalf
- Because we know that the three hobbits will be safer with us. The pursuers will be after the ring. Gandalf you are magically the strongest of all of us, but you are not as agile with the sword, because you are magician first and swordsman second. Gimli you are a dwarf which are fabled for their endurance in battle, Boromir is strong, his heart is in the right place, but the Ring may prey on his insecurity and he may overpower Frodo and take the ring. Draco and I are elfs that can do magic. We lack Gandalf experience but we are the strongest in our generation from where we come from. We are also some of the best fighters in Lothlorien according to Haldir, who is the military commander of lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. Legolas is the best marksmen in Mirkwood so he will not have a trouble protecting Aragorn and Frodo, and finally Aragorn, the commander of the Dunadden, excellent fighter and most importantly the Ring will have difficult hold over him. Let's face it, if there is trouble the hobbits will be unable to outrun it. We need the horses- finished Viridis
- What if someone scout us, they will be dead give a way- sed Aragorn
- Not necessarily, when we are moving it should be fine, but when we are resting they won't be around us. I am sure that some horses have escaped Rohan or farms. Horses are social animals, it will be more suspicious if they were spotted to be only one animal than to be two, after all, one horse generally means that a single rider is nearby and enemy scouts will be alerted and look at the area more. Two horses may be ignored-explained Draco
- You have though this through- sed Legolas with a smile
- Yes, we have, why deprive ourselves of an advantage if it can help us- finished Viridis- after all we are taking with us a pony, that will be carrying almost everything thus making us slower. As Gandalf sed we need speed on our side and Estel and Orion will give us that if needed. So it is decided both horses will come with us.

The day of departure has finally come. Frodo looked at the central courtyard. Next to him were Merry and Pippin. Not far from him was Sam with Bill the pony. The animal had much of their gear on its back. Gandalf was next to Elrond and both men were talking. Gimli and Boromir were discussing something between them. Aragorn was saying goodbye to Arwen and Legolas was looking over his weapons. He heard clicking noises and turned his head and saw Viridis and Draco coming with Estel and Orion. The horses looked different, Estel did not have her horn with her and Orion was brown.

- what happened?- asked Frodo and everyone looked at the horses
- Call it a little extra insurance to go unnoticed, brown will fade into the surroundings - And what about the horn?
- It is still there, just I had hidden it, after all not many horses in here have horns, so are we ready to go.

A full week has passed since the group has left Rivendell. The hobbits in the group were already tired. Sam could not imagine more tiring experience. Hobbits were not meant for long walks like this. Fortunately for the hobbits, they could rest on the horses. These were the smartest animals that he had seen. They instinctively knew where was the safest passage through the rivers, could hide in plain sit if necessary and thanks to them the Fellowship has passed unnoticed by a pack of large wolfs.

Viridis and Draco were a little bit worried. This adventure was going up to well for now. They knew that if something was going well, then the shit was going to hit the fan hard and fast. They always patrolled together. The Fellowship did not know but every night either one or both of them transformed into their nindu forms and hunted for wolf packs. A few nights ago they have destroyed a huge pack of about 20 wolfs. The next morning they were dead tired and were not as alert which has not gone unnoticed by Aragorn or Legolas. Elf and man started to watch them closer. One night disaster struck. The horses were cautious all day which made the group a little bit uneasy, but Gandalf dismissed the animal nervousness as nothing to worry about. Legolas and Aragorn started carefully to observe Viridis and Draco. After all they were the ones who best knew their mounts and noticed that the two elfs became more alert and more nervous as the day ended. When the night came, the group prepared itself for sleep. Everyone but the three elfs and Aragorn had forgotten the nervousness of the day. The two friends noticed that the younger elfs had taken all tack from the horses are were fitting them with armour over the legs, face and over the mane and back. No one noticed the change in the horses, due to the colour and craftsmanship of the armour. Legolas and Aragorn have not seen anything like that and came closer to them. Viridis saw them and threw something at them.

- What is this ?-asked Aragorn
- Armour- sed Draco
- What kind of armour, from what it is made?- asked Legolas
-It is very light and very strong, only six were ever made here for people and four for horses. The material is nearly impossible to find on Earth. It is a combination from basilisk hide from a 1000 year old basilisk for flexibility and dragon hide for toughness.
- Wait, did you say dragon, from where do you have it- asked Aragorn
- Yes, this is Hungarian horntail a specie of dragon from where we came from. This and the Ukranian Ironbelly are the most dangerous dragons breeds that we know of and their hides are the strongest. We had a limited supply and are unable to make for all of the fellowship, but to tell you the true only you two have the body type and flexibly for an armour like this. Gimli is used to his armour and he knows how to fight in it. Frodo has a mithril armour under his shirt, which I am told that it is the strongest material in Middle Earth so no worries there, Boromir is used to his armour and Gandalf and the three hobbits doesn't need one.
- Why are you so nervous? - asked Legolas
- We have been followed by a large group of wargs throughout the day- sed Draco
- How many do you know?- asked Aragorn
- We have been scouting most of the day, at least 30 to 35 but maybe more.A few days ago me and Draco killed a group of 20-sed Viridis
- Here some weapons for you two- Draco give them two daggers
- We have already weapons- sed Legolas
- These daggers are crafted from goblins back home. These goblins are like the dwarfs here, the craftsmanship is one of a kind. Their weapons have an interesting properties. They can absorb substances and make the blade stronger. Our blades are like that. These weapons have been sprayed with the poison of one of my allies. His poison when cut can kill in around 1 to 2 minutes. Do not worry, we have the antidote with us. Just one small cut is enough to kill you, use them on the wargs
- We will be attacked soon, so prepare yourselves- sed Draco
- What are we going to do
- Zephir is watching the camp right now, Draco wolf and my poisonous friend are patrolling the forest as we speak. Me and Draco are like skin changers and we can turn into animals. That is how we make our rounds at night and how we killed the group of 20. Also in that form call us Midnight and Ghost. You will know which is which. In the next moment Viridis made a noise for the four of them to be quiet and looked in the night before making a signal to Draco and another one for Aragorn and Legolas to prepare their weapons. Then he and Draco transformed into the biggest cats either of them had seen. The one of the left was black and had green eyes and the other one was yellow with black spots and had silver eyes. Both cats shoulders were at Aragorn elbow and their canine teeth were 6 inches long. Each claw was at least 5 inches or maybe more. Both animals were fierce looking and elf and man were glad that they were on their side. They pitied the ward who came across Viridis and Draco. Both cats faded into the night. The hunters had become the hunted. Elf and man looked at each other and returned to the group.

Gandalf looked up when he saw Aragorn and Legolas returned and noticed that their posture and behaviour has changed. Both were more alert and they were carefully drawing their weapons as if to clean them. He decided to investigate, and were were Viridis and Draco?
- what is going on?- he asked quietly
- We are being stalked by a large pack of wargs- answered Aragorn just as quietly- the camp is being protected by Zephir and few others as well as two giant cats one black one and one that is yellow with black spots. These cats are Viridis and Draco
- What are we going to do? - asked Gandalf
- Prepare Boromir and Gimli. As well as the hobbits. Tell them to go in the middle back to back. Then us four will form the middle perimeter our back to the hobbits. Zephir and the other animals will be in front of us. They are the second line of defence. The first are Viridis and Draco who as we speak are hunting the warg. We do not know in what condition after all both of them will be and it is better that we are at our best- sed Legolas. As he sed that a huge roar was heard following by a second one and cries of pain.
- What was that?- asked Frodo
- That were wargs or at least the cries were. The roar I have no idea-sed Gandalf- hobbits in the middle back to back. Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and I are in front of us.
- These roars were Viridis and Draco, do not worry- sed Aragorn.- just be prepare to fight if needed

As he sed that the clearing was brightened by Zephir dragon fire. The group saw a black wolf that was attacking the wargs, but the most impressive animals by far were the huge snake and the two cats. These three animals were the most dangerous ones. The two cats one black and one yellow were monstrous. They were ripping the wargs to shreds. Their teeth were passing through the animals body like nothing, the claws were bloody. Some of the wargs, the lucky ones managed to escape them with their lives before unfortunately falling pray to the biggest snake that the group was ever seen. The animal was at last 60 feet long, with teeth as long as a dagger dripping with poison. Only just a nick from them and the wargs were dead soon after. Some of the wolfs died without any injuries. They just fell dead after looking at the snake or breathing the air coming from the cats mouth.

Soon the battle was over. None of the wargs died from a wound inflicted by the Fellowship swords. Most of them were unrecognizable as anything that was previously alive. They were just some bags of bones and nothing else much. The group turned its gaze toward the two animals. Both cats were bloody and all their muscles were trembling from fatigue. In the next instant both animals transformed and in front of the Fellowship Viridis and Draco appeared before a smile graced their faces and they felt into darkness.

The next time they opened their eyes they found themselves on the back of Estel and Orion and Aragorn and Legolas were supporting them.
- how long we were unconscious- asked weakly Draco
- Ah, good you are awake- sed Gandalf- we were getting worried and you were asleep for 2 days.
-Ok, lets take a break- sed Aragorn for the joy of the hobbits

The group made camp on top of a rock formation that had good cover and a good view of the surrounding area. The horses were liberated and the camp was made before a watch was decided. Sam and Frodo were resting and preparing the food for everybody, while Merry and Pippin had an fast sparring lesson with Boromir and Aragorn. Gandalf and Gimli were smoking while the three elfs were watching the horizon with the help of Zephir. Few hours into the watch Legolas saw a black cloud that was moving toward them and sounded the alarm. Everyone stopped what they were doing and started to move faster. Aragorn took Frodo and hid behind a rock, while Boromir took Marry and Pippin and hid under a bush. Gandalf took Sam and Gimli and hid behind a bolder. While this was happening Legolas, Draco and Viridis were hiding all signs of the camp. After they had covered everything Zephir landed and the three of them mounted the Night Fury, before the dragon flew into the clouds. An hour later the group was together again and their were heading toward Caradrass.