AN: As before I own nothing you recognize from LotR or HP.

This chapter is a bit shorter than the previous two, but I didn't want to destroy the feel that end of this chapter has.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Lord Elrond stood on the balcony of his study from where he and his friend Gandalf the Gray could watch how Luna and Neville practiced archery under watchful care of their elf tutors.

"Which each passing week they grow stronger Gandalf. They could become our great allies."

"You must remember they are not from this world and should be sent as soon as possible back to their home world. They should head to Gray Havens and into the West before they catch Saurons attention." The aged Istari spoke leaning on the balcony railing while smoking his pipe weed, his face betraying some concern.

"Be that as it may, something has changed Gandalf. I had a feeling those past few weeks that darkness in the East has grown stronger... far stronger than it should have at this time. I have sent word of this phenomenon to Galadriel and she too have felt it." Elrond's voice was firm and as he spoke he turned his head to look at the gray wizard.

"You must teach them about Middle Earth's sorcery as it is their main strength and now it lays unused, wasting away."

Gandalf closed his eyes for a brief moment and sighed sadly. He knew of the growing darkness but it wasn't as much of a concern as the Elf Lord was portraying it at least as far as he knew. He and Saruman were enough to take care of that problem. But he also knew that Elrond would ask him to train the young ones every time he would be in Rivendell if he refused now.

"Very well then. I will explain it to them but the final decision is theirs to make." Gandalf said standing straight and headed into the building with Elrond not far behind as he took a last glance at the practicing travelers only to see Luna hitting middle of her target. After two months of practice they were on par with well trained human archers.

Not an hour later the trio was siting in one of many rooms the house had to offer, this one was circular with high windows from witch they could see the entrance to the valley of Rivendell it also was decorated mostly in leaf motives. The doors leading to an adjacent room opened and a figure eerily similar to Dumbledore walked in. He was supporting himself on a staff and that allowed them to guess that this was the Gandalf they were told about. It was the first time they saw him, as he arrived in middle of their archery practice or a kitchen raid in Ron's case.

"Welcome I am Gandalf the Gray and as I was told you were somewhat expecting me." He sat across from them in a comfy looking armchair that the teens saved for him as they picked the sofa.

"Yes we did. I'm Ron Weasley and those are Luna Loovegod and Neville Longbottom." The red head answered and introduced them.

"We were told you were a wizard so are we. That's why we were waiting for your arrival for the last two months." Said Neville.

Meanwhile Luna just kept staring at Gandalf with a frown on her forehead.

"There is more to you than one could possibly see." After she said that she just smiled and returned to being her dreamy self.

The Istari laughed lightly at Luna's antics.

"Yes, yes there is. But for now lets focus on you three. I will start with the obvious, your magic will not work the same way here as it did in your home. Here it's a matter of will power, intent and the most important one, Valars' blessing which is represented by an Istaris' staff. I don't have doubts that you don't lack the first two, but the last you don't have. For now at least." He said as he looked at them or rather in their eyes, as they say the eyes are the window to the soul. And Gandalf couldn't find any major flaw in theirs as they responded with courage and determination to his stare.

"How could we get such a blessing?" Neville asked with interest in his voice. They had bits of information on Valars' thanks to their reading at the Rivendell library, so none of them were clueless with what they were dealing with.

"Through a test of sorts. But first answer me this, are you willing to tie your fate with the fate of Arda? Fulfill any duty given to you no matter what hardship could it bring?" Gandalf now spoke with seriousness in his voice. He even sat a bit more straight.

"And what about returning to our home? Would this... mess things up?" Ron asked with concern in his voice. He did leave a loving and sometimes annoying family behind. And it wasn't only him, he knew.

"This could cause some trouble but I'm not certain. Only Valars' will know that. One thing I'm sure is that you will have to face the Valars' anyway, as only their power is a certain way for you to go home." As the gray wizard spoke some of the resolve seemed to leave Ron and a thoughtful look emerged on his face.

"I will tie my fate with that of Arda." Said Luna almost as soon as Gandalf finished speaking. He expected that kind of answer from her.

"And isn't there another way to use our powers? Maybe something like Lord Elrond did?" It was Ron once again. Neville just sat there and listened engrossed in his own thoughts.

Gandalf looked at the read head with a stone face and unreadable look.

"Rings of Power do not grant true sorcery and it's a treacherous way. If you ever get caught by our enemy and the ring becomes exposed to Saurons twisted thoughts for too long, you will be lost. Sentenced to servitude as long as Dark Lord exists."

His little speech dampened Ron's mood significantly. Neville leaned forward and looked at the Istari with serious look.

"As much is I would like to be able to use my magic again I don't think any of those methods are worth it. Isn't there any other way to at least allow us the use of some fraction of our power?" His expression went from serious to hopeful.

"Well... I suppose I could teach you how to talk to animals... If you would like." It was one of the talents Gandalf was proud of and it did require the miniscule amount of magic. With how powerful those three were the magic that just leaked from them uncontrollably would be enough for that specific skill. The trio perked up when they heard about that.

"It could be useful... even very useful in some cases." Neville stated with a small smile.

"We will be grateful if you would teach us that skill." Ron said, maybe not with a smile but with some relief that at least he would be able to do some magic.

Gandalf just nodded his head and leaned back in his armchair looking at the trio with contempt. He had concluded his business with Elrond already, it was a minor thing really... He knew that the Elf Lord had some plans for them but he couldn't allow them to be around elfs all the time if they were to stay in Middle Earth. This entire conversation was spoken in Westron so he knew they were ready.

"I will teach you in the time it will take to journey from here to Lothlorien."

"But I thought that Lord Elrond wanted us to join the patrols?" Neville asked with surprise in his voice.

"Yes he wants it. But I think you will benefit more if you journey into the countries of men. Surely you read and heard about Gondor and Rohan? We will take the road through the Gap of Rohan and I would suggest you head for this country first. You could go your separate ways and then join together once more when I will be finished with young Luna's trials and training in Lothlorien in a couple of years at the borders of Lady Galadriel's lands."

The trio looked at each other as they came to a decision.

"So when do we pack?" Asked Luna cheerfully.

"Right now would be a good time. I will be waiting at the gate." Gandalf stood up and left the room, on his way out the trio saw as he patted his robes in search of something and grumbled when he couldn't find it.

When the Istari was out of sight the three of them raced out to their rooms to pack for what would be their first true and long journey.

Harry sighed in frustration as yet another try to move the pendulum smoothly ended in it swinging wildly. In the past two months it always ended like that, he would concentrate on what he wanted to achieve, tried to regulate how much power flowed through him and... more often than not nothing happened other times it just smashed into walls of the chamber. He even tried the indirect approach when Hermione pointed it as a possibility but to his chagrin that worked even worse.

"I have enough of this. This isn't going to work!" He almost screamed and at the end he almost shuddered at the sound of his voice. Lately both he and Hermione noticed some minor changes as they delved deeper into the darkness.

For example... Every time he was resting the thoughts of his former life would come to him, memories and feelings. And more times than not he despised his past self for how week he was, how dependent on others he had become... how he didn't see the suspicious circumstances surrounding his life. He even loosened his control over his hatred but not the point of becoming like Voldemort. He wouldn't do that... ever. On a side note, he had to admit that Voldemort's quote 'There is no good or evil, only power and those to week to seek it' begun to appeal him, given his current condition.

"I still think we should try the indirect approach to this." Hermione's voice had become as cold as his, but hers had an undertone of cruelty.

Harry turned around to face her. Every time she wasn't here to practice sorcery for the past two months she spend dueling with orcs, goblins and corrupted humans. Now they feared her even more than any other Nazgul and to show her their respect the orcs had made her some ornaments from bone. She attached them to her crow like helmet giving her a bit more... shaman like look. He had to admit they fitted.

"It doesn't work Hermione."

"Maybe not until now but I had some sort of... epiphany. Saurons theory said that Charms will not work. But this exercise is like Charms. Another thing, sorcery here is will and intent based. For us it was Transfiguration that required those two the most. So I say we try to not move the sphere literally but... replace the stone and iron with the air and vice versa bit by bit to create illusion of movement." She was annoyed it had taken her so long to come to this but they had a lot of other things on their minds as of late.

"You know how draining this would be?" Harry asked with a bit of ridicule in his voice.

"And taxing on our minds... It's a hard thing to do I will admit that. But it would explain why sorcery in Middle Earth is so uncommon. It's just too hard to master for most beings if this exercise is anything like the real thing." Hermione said and after that she pointed her left index finger with the ring on it at the pendulum. He turned to look at the sphere and the chain attaching it to the ceiling. It started to move slowly it's movement however was anything but smooth. It traveled only few inches, before it started to swing loosely. Harry once again looked at Hermione, her robed figure leaned forward.

"It's harder than I thought... As if something is trying to restrain my magic. Try it."

So he did. After that they tried to move the sphere for a couple next weeks which resulted in them being able to move it by almost two feet and bring it somewhat slowly to a stop which in turn leaved them drained of most of their energy.

On one of their turns, the Witch King observed them silently. They made progress.

"Good. You have finally done it. Any observation on that?" The Nazgul pointed with his hand at the pendulum.

"It will be useless in battle." Said Harry.

"Not quite but only the simplest sorcery could be used in heat of a battle. If you haven't read anything in this archive it's time you started. Most of it is rubbish but now you will be able to discern between it and facts. Also tomorrow come to my chamber." Without anything more to say the ringwraith just left them alone.

"Do you ever wonder what happened with the rest of us?" Hermione asked when they were digging through some old scrolls, their steel gauntlets scratching the wood of tables and bookshelves.

"As they're not with us... They probably landed in a safer place than we did."

"You know that someday we may find them, possibly as enemy?" Although she talked Hermione never stopped looking at the scrolls.

"Yes. Your point is?" Harry asked dropping the scroll he was reading to look straight at her.

"My point... What if we are given orders to kill them?"

"Then we shall see if we can bend the orders, how strong Saurons will actually is."

Hermione finally looked up.

"And if we fail?"

"Then we are truly lost..." Harry's voice had that kind of edge in it that signaled the end of discussion as he really didn't want to think about it.

Next day they were again in that cathedral sized chamber. They headed to the dais on which was the Witch Kings throne. He was not sitting on it, he was standing near the doors on the left wall.

"Come inside. Our Lord wishes to speak to you." He entered to side room.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and guessed that the other was also wondering how they were going to speak with Sauron. They could feel him, his will in the rings but to actually speak with him?

As they entered they immediately saw the pedestal on which a black, polished orb rested.

"This is a Palantir, one of the seven seeing stones. Our Lord is in the control of another stolen from kingdom of Arnor ages ago. You only have to touch it." The Nazgul then retreated into one of shadows in this dimly lit room.

They both red about Palantirs, but to see one... Without any more hesitation both of them touched the orb. Inside it a spark of orange light appeared and started to stretch to fill the orb with the image of The Eye. As it formed Harry and Hermione were pulled into a mind scape of raging fire, before them was the lidless eye that struck fear in many.

"I can see that your training is mostly complete... That is good as I have a mission for you."Sauron's voice seemed to come from everywhere. They knelt and bowed before their Lord.

"You will head to Harad to secure alliances that were once made between their tribes and myself. If some tribe will try to rebel, kill them... Set them as an example to the potential traitors. After you're done with it head back to Barad-Dur."

"It will be done my Lord." Hermione answered for both of them and with that they found themselves staring at a fading image in Palantir.

Harry looked at her and she just nodded her head. Without any other word they both stormed out of the room as they felt the will of Sauron emanating from their rings, urging them to carry out his order. Their robes billowing behind them menacingly.

Just under an hour from that event the gates of Minas Morgul opened as two black riders left the city in haste, galloping on their horrid mounts to fulfill their mission and lay part of the foundations for the coming war.

Neville looked at the stars in the clear night sky, one star in particular drew his gaze to it. It was brighter than any other and seemed to inspire hope in him and a sense of longing he couldn't understand or explain. So with a sigh he looked down, to the small camp they have made.

Luna was sleeping despite how loud Ron snored and Gandalf was sitting on the other side of the small fire they made, smoking and gazing into the flickering flames.

The boy stood up and approached the older wizard, he sat down beside him.

"Gandalf, that bright star. What is it?"

The Istari looked at him and then a the mentioned star.

"It is a star of legends, Earendil. A sacred star, one could call it. It's a symbol of hope to all faithful to the Valars."

"So what's the legend about that star?" Neville could honestly say, he was curious.

Gandalf looked thoughtful for a few minutes, before he started his tale.

"In an age long past evil more powerful than Sauron was threatening Middle Earth. Morgoth a fallen Valar. He is the source of all darkness on Arda till this day. His power was so great that the humans and elves could not defeat him, only keep his armies at bay. But that to was destined to fail at some point in time. They all knew it and feared that day. So a half-elf by the name Earendil sworn to find a way to the West, to beg for Valars' help. But he failed many times, before he met his wife which was saved by one of the Valars that takes care of the seas. She brought with her a remarkable item. A Sillmaril. It is a jewel in which is encased the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, the jewels are all that remains of the Trees, as Morgoth destroyed even them. With the Sillmaril with him and his wife by his side Earendil sailed to the West and with the power of the jewel he finally succeeded. The Valars answered hie pleas and declared war on Morgoth. It was the last of great battles after which the black enemy was thrown away and locked beyond our world. It is said that for his deeds Earendil was granted everlasting life of an elf and on his ship Vingilot sails to this day through the skies, with the light of Sillmaril shining as a beacon of hope."

As he finished Gandalf took a long breath inhaling smoke from his pipe.

"Thank you for telling me it was interesting." It was the only thing Neville could came up with at that moment, he was still thinking about the tail he heard. It did explain few things he felt.

When Nevill finally fell asleep his dreams were filled with visions of sea, stars and a land far too beautiful to be real.

The next day the four of them spent riding in a leisure pace towards their destination. Gandalf told them they were approximately five days of such travel from the border of Lothlorien. In the mean time they were exercising their ability of talking to animals by steering their horses without the use of reins or any strength, just words. It was going rather smooth now, it wasn't all that hard really. The old wizard just had to show them how to fill their words with magic, and how to word their commands as they couldn't be to sophisticated. Practice was the key to success in this ability especially when it came to trying to understand the animals.

When they approached the tree line of a forest Gandalf showed them they should stop.

"Here we are at the border of Lothlorien. It is time to say goodbye for now. Luna when you are ready just ride into the forest, elfs will great you and show you the way." He said and rode into the forest.

The trio looked at each other with a bit of sorrow on their faces.

"It will not be that long Ron, Neville..." Luna said with a small smile on her face.

"Yeah... We know. Take care of yourself, ok?" Ron said with a smile of his own.

"You too, after all the kingdoms of men are a bit more dangerous places."

"We will. I think... you should go now..." Neville said with a sad expression.

Luna just smiled innocently at Neville, before she told her horse to slowly ride into the forest.

"Bye." She said quietly and a bit sadly, after she waved at them before she disappeared in the tree line. She would miss them greatly but she didn't want to show that much in front of them so it wouldn't be as hard for them.

The boys looked as she was swallowed by the shadows of forest before they turned their horses in the direction in which was Edoras.

"So what now? We both ride to Edoras or do we split even further?" Ron asked with a subdued voice.

"I thought about riding to Minas Tirith, to Gondor. And maybe to see the sea..." Neville confessed to his read head friend with a guilty look on his face.

Ron just sighed with resignation.

"It's your choice mate. I'll not force you to anything."

After a long silence Neville finally come to a decision.

"I'll ride with you to Edoras... But I will stay there for a day or two then I will ride further, to Gondor." Ron just nodded his head hearing that. What else could he do?

The rest of their travel was uneventful and their arrival at the city of Edoras wasn't as exciting as one could think. In the next two days Ron arranged his longer stay in the midst of Rohirrim. And at the dawn of their third day in the city boys said their goodbyes, before Neville left to Minas Tirith.

R&R Please.

I think that in maybe two to three chapters I will start meddling with the main plot of LotR. It depends on how well I will want to describe the "travel time".