A/N: Thanks to everyone who sent in reviews and or comments. I'm trying to something different with this. That is, write a decent crossover story. It's up to you, the readers, if I succeed. So let me know
Chapter 5: A Short Rest
The next two days went without incident for Thorin and Company. The weather had gotten better, but everyone seemed to feel that the further they went, the closer they got to danger. They camped under the stars, but they were still going to sleep hungry. Despite what they had gotten from the trolls cave, things were still tight food wise, and being late May, it was still far to early for berries and nuts, so all they could do was tighten their belts until they got to Rivendell.
It was mid day on the forth day since their encounter with the trolls, when they saw a large hill in the distance which seemed to have the ruins of a castle on it. "What's that Gandalf?" Harry asked, pointing to the hill.
"That is the ruins of a watchtower that was known of old as Amon Sûl. The hill is called Weathertop." Explained Gandalf. "It was built in the second age of Middle Earth, and at one time it stood over one hundred feet tall. But now all that remains is a ring of stone where the base was."
"The second age?" Luna asked. "What age is Middle Earth in now, if the tower is from the second?"
"This is the third age of Middle Earth Miss Lovegood. The second age lasted for 3441 years, and ended with the fall of the Dark Lord Sauron at the hands of Elendil and Gil-galad. This is the year 2941 of the Third Age." He told her.
"It kind of reminds you of Stonehenge." Harry said after staring at the ruins for a while. "Doesn't it?" he asked Luna.
"It does a bit." Luna replied. "They're both about the same age, but the Henge still has a lot of magical power in it. This is just rubble. Still it would be interesting to explore it. Do we have time Gandalf?"
"Alas, no my dear. Maybe on the way back. But for now, with the food as low as it is. I want to get to Rivendell as soon as we can." Gandalf answered.
-=ooo000ooo=-
That night they camped by the edge of a river. The group had been much happier that night, because they had a good meal. A deer had jumped out of the bushes at them that day and crossed their path unexpectedly. Both Harry and Luna had drawn their wands in an instant, and Harry had fired off a cutting curse before he even realized he was doing it.
The spell hit the deer cleanly in the neck and killed it instantly.
The dwarves had just stood there and stared at him, mouths open. Gandalf however, just looked thoughtful. He had believed Harry and Luna when they told him about the war they had gone through in their world, but he also believed that they had exaggerated their roll a great deal. But now, after seeing how fast they had both reacted, he wasn't so sure.
It was only Bilbo that seemed to be a bit frightened by what he's seen. Like Gandalf, he realized that Harry and Luna had reacted instinctively, and he began to wonder just what kind of people these two were, and what they had gone through to make them react as they did.
He was still thinking about this the next day, and not really watching where he was going. He had just been following behind the dwarves, when he looked up and saw them. Mountains! "Is that the mountain?" he asked the dwarves. "The one we're headed for?"
"Of course not!" said Balin. "That is only the beginning of the Misty Mountains. We have to get through, or over, or under them somehow before
we come into Wilderland beyond. And even then, we're still not even half way there. It's a deal farther to the Lonely Mountain in the East where Smaug lies sleeping on our treasure."
"Oh." Bilbo said. Disappointment clearly in his voice, and he again thought of his comfortable chair in front of the fire back in his Hobbit hole.
Now Gandalf had taken over leading them. "We must not miss the road, or we shall be done for," he said. "We need food, for one thing, and a safe place to rest-also it is very necessary to tackle the Misty Mountains by the proper path, or else you will get lost in them, and have to come back and start at the beginning again (if you get back at all)."
"How bad are the mountains?" Harry asked him. He had been awe-struck when he first saw them. They looked like they were even bigger than the North American Rockies, and they seemed to stretch from horizon to horizon.
"There are trolls, and goblins that live deep in the mountains." Gandalf told him. "The trolls are much like the ones you saw earlier, and unless we're surprised by them, we shouldn't have too much trouble with them. It's the goblins we have to worry about. They're fierce, very dangerous, and they detest dwarves and men." Then looking at both Harry and Luna added, "If we come across them, don't hesitate to use your wands. If you do, you might not get a second chance."
"We understand." Luna said solemnly.
"How far are we from this Rivendell you're been telling us about?" Harry asked him.
"Not far now. Hidden somewhere ahead of us is the valley of Rivendell where Elrond lives in the Last Homely House. I sent a message to my friends there just before we left Hobbiton, and we are expected."
But it was nightfall the next night before they found it. There were moths fluttering about, and the light had become very dim, for the moon had not yet risen, when they came to the edge of a steep fall in the ground so suddenly that Gandalf's horse nearly slipped down the slope.
"Here it is at last!" he called, and the others gathered round him and looked
over the edge. They in the valley below, they could see lights, and hear the sound of hurrying water in rocky bed at the bottom, and the scent of pine trees was in the air.
It took them some time however to transverse the trail down into the valley. For one thing it was very steep, and with only the light of the moon to help guide them, very dangerous. This was made easier when both Harry and Luna pulled out and lit their wands, and Gandalf, seeing this, did the same with his staff. But still, they had to be careful.
Eventually though, they all made it safe and sound to the valley floor. The air had gotten warmer as they got lower, and the smell of the trees had gotten stronger. Finally they came to a stream. "This is the Ford of Bruinen. It marks the boundary of Rivendell." Gandalf told the group.
Harry could hear faint singing in the distance, but they were too far away for him to make out the words. As they crossed the ford however, he felt them pass through a ward. A very powerful one. He look up and saw that Luna had detected it as well. "There's very strong magic protecting this valley Harry."
She whispered to him. "The wards are even stronger than the one's around Hogwarts."
"I know." He replied. "I felt them as we passed through. I'd hate to be an enemy trying to cross them."
-=ooo000ooo=-
As the troop rode up to the main house, they were met by a tall figure, dressed in green. "Welcome to the Valley Master Gandalf," he said with a bow, and then turning to Harry and Luna added "And welcome to you also Mr. Potter, Miss Lovegood. Master Elrond is expecting all of you up at the main house. Please follow me."
With that, the figure strode off towards the house, with Gandalf and the rest of the group following. Harry pulled his horse up next to Gandalf as they were riding and asked in a low voice. "Ah, Gandalf. This may be a stupid question, but is that an elf?" Indicating the green clad figure they were following.
"Indeed yes." Gandalf replied. "But I thought you would have known that. Didn't you tell me you had elves in your world?"
"We do." Harry answered, "but they don't look anything like him. The elves
In our world are short creatures, with big eyes, and bat like ears. These elves look more like regular people than the ones in our world."
"Well the elves have been here since the beginning of the second age, and they mostly keep to themselves, and though there are exceptions, they only meet men when they have no choice."
Harry looked questionly at Gandalf when he said this.
"It's because the history between the two peoples hasn't been the best." Gandalf explained. "Men feared the elves because of their power, and the elves found men to be largely untrustworthy. The same is true of their feelings for the dwarves, though to a greater extent."
"So should we really be coming here if the two peoples don't like each other?" Harry asked.
"Not to worry Mr. Potter. Thorin's ancestors, the dwarves of the race of Durin, while they usually avoided the elves, never had any real disagreements with them. They just preferred to keep to themselves. As well, Lord Elrond is known as the Half Eleven because is half mortal, and is far more tolerant of dwarves and men than many other of his kind. "
"And what about Luna and myself?" Harry asked.
"Unless you give him cause to do otherwise, he will treat you both as any other guests in his house. Do not worry Mr. Potter, you will have naught to worry about while under his roof. It's only after we leave and start through the mountains that we will have to be on our guard."
Harry pondered this. He didn't know anything about these people, but would ask Luna what her impressions of them were. He had come to realize that she had an insight into people that he could never match.
-=ooo000ooo=-
As Gandalf had promised, Harry didn't find anything that made him worry about either his or Luna's safety. They were shown to their rooms, and after resting and washing up, soon themselves, Gandalf, the Dwarves, (and Bilbo) seated around a huge table. At the head sat Elrond. He was regally dressed, and at first glance appeared to Harry to be in his mid forties, but it was when he looked in the mans eyes that he saw just how far off the mark he was. This man was hundreds of years old. Maybe even thousands. But in his eyes he also saw both kindness, and immense strength. So much so that the last of his worries disappeared.
After their meal, which Harry noticed was completely vegetarian. (he found out later that Elves didn't eat meat for any reason) they all retired to a large room that was lit only by a huge fireplace. "This is the Hall of Fire" said Elrond. "A fire is kept lit here year round, and usually people come here to read, or listen to music or poetry, or even just to think. But tonight we will hold our meeting here." He told the group. "Gandalf has told me of your quest to regain the halls of your grandfather, and to destroy the dragon Thorin Oakenshield. I will assist you in any way that I can."
Thorin bowed his head slightly and replied "I thank you Master Elrond, for any assistance you can give us."
"But I must admit, I was very surprised when Gandalf told me of your two companions here." Indicating Harry and Luna. "In the last 5000 years, there have been only 5 of what you would call Wizards, who have come to this land from Valinor. And yet, here are two not sent to us by the Valar, but from another world entirely. How do you come to be here?" he asked Harry and Luna
"We both fought in a great magical war in our world," Harry began, "and after vanquishing out enemy, we were both hurt deeply both in mind and body, and wished for someplace to rest, away from war. A magical portal or doorway opened in the place we were staying, which took us here, to Middle Earth where we met Gandalf on the Western Road."
"And how were you, both so young, involved in this war?" Elrond asked.
At this point, Luna picked up their story. "We were both students at a school of magic. Harry had a prophecy made about him before he was born saying that only he would be able to defeat a great dark lord that would try at take over our world. In the end he fulfilled that prophecy, and killed Voldemort in magical combat. But not before many of our friends were killed in battle, including by betrothed." Luna hung her head as she said the last part, tears silently trickling down her face.
Harry whipped his head around at this last part. "Betrothed?" he asked her.
Luna nodded. "Neville asked me the night before…the night before the final battle." She replied, her words hitching in her throat.
Harry pulled her into a hug, and held her as she cried for her husband that was never to be. Harry looked at Elrond and Gandalf and silently mouthed "Excuse me." And then led Luna over towards the fire and some of the large throw pillows that were scattered around it. Gently he guided her down onto one, all the time not letting go of her.
Gandalf, Elrond, and the dwarves all watched this, concern on their faces. The dwarves had come to like Luna a great deal on their trip. Mainly because when they were feeling the most depressed, she could usually get them to laugh. They had had no idea she was hiding this much pain, and silently thanked their gods that she had Harry.
While Harry was holding onto Luna he saw Thorin take out the map of the Lonely Mountain Gandalf had given him at Bad End, and while he could see that Elrond was clearly reading something, he couldn't hear was the Elvin Lord was saying. He also saw him walk over to a window and hold the map up in front of him and read something else out to the group. But what it was didn't matter right now. He could find out later what he read. Right now Luna was more important. After a while he noticed that she seemed to have gotten herself under control, and that it had taken her far less time than in the Room of Requirement. "I'm sorry Harry." She finally said. "I keep falling apart on you. You must think I'm as bad as Cho."
"As bad as Cho? How did you know about that Luna?" he asked her.
"Everybody in Ravenclaw knew about it, cause she told everyone who would listen. I don't know if she was more upset that she had lost Cedric, or the fact that you didn't appreciate the honor of be chosen to replace him."
"Replace him? Cedric? Luna, what are you talking about?" Harry managed to sputter.
"I think that after Cho lost Cedric she decided that you would make the best replacement. That whole crying thing after the DA meeting was an act to get you to feel sorry for her and hopefully fall in love with her. I would have said something, but you seemed to have seen through it for yourself, so I didn't."
Harry thought about this for a few moments, anger flooding into him at the thought that Cho had been trying to manipulate him into a relationship, but almost as soon as the anger flared up in him, it subsided. Cho was dead. One of the near thousand that had died defending the castle that day. Whatever sins she may have committed, she paid her penance for. Harry looked into Luna's eyes. "Luna, I could never think you were like Cho. You are the single most honest person I have ever met, and if you have to cry again for the people you've lost, then I'll be here to hold you. All it means is that you're a caring and loving person. You wouldn't react that way if you weren't."
Harry saw another tear trickle down Luna's cheek as he said this, but he also saw that she had gotten her control back. "Thank you," she whispered, "for being there."
"That's what friends do Luna." And gave her another hug. "Now, what do you say we go over and see what our host has been telling the dwarves. He looks like he's examining Gandalf's sword."
Luna nodded, and they got up and started over to the group. As they approached they heard Elrond telling Gandalf that the sword he now held had been named Glamdring, and that it had been made in Gondolin for the High King during the Goblin Wars. As they approached Gandalf asked "Are you feeling better Miss Lovegood?"
"I'm better, thank you." Luna replied with a smile. "I just start thinking now and then about everything that's happened, and it gets to be too much," She paused, and then looking up at Harry added, "but I have a good friend to help me when that happens."
"That is good." Said Elrond. "Nobody should be alone to deal with grief."
"So," began Harry, "what were you all talking about. I saw Master Elrond examining the sword you got from the trolls cave Gandalf."
"Indeed." Said Elrond. "I was most surprised by it. This sword and the one carried by Thorin were both made thousands of years ago near the end of the first age. They were thought lost long ago."
Harry looked at the sword in Gandalf's hand. It could have been made yesterday. He thought. There isn't a mark on it. I wonder if it's like the Sword of Gryffindor? "This reminds me of a sword from my world. It was made over a thousand years ago for one of the founders of my school, yet, like this one, it looks like it could have been made yesterday." Harry told them. "Maybe you could take a look at mine as well Master Elrond. I got it from the same hoard as the others, and it's very unusual. It's blade it all black."
As Harry was saying this, he had unbuckled the sword he wore and now held it out, still in it's scabbard to Elrond, who had started to reach for the weapon. But upon hearing about it's blade being black, he stopped, and just stared at it.
"Is there something wrong." Harry asked him.
Elrond didn't answer, but slowly took the sword, and after a moment of what looked to Harry like trepidation, he slowly drew it from it's scabbard. The blade was as black as he remembered, but in the better light of Elrond's house, he saw that it too bore no marks of wear.
Elrond turned the sword over in his hands, examining the blade and hilt very slowly. Almost is if he were afraid to touch it. Finally he re-sheathed it and handed it back to Harry. He was silent for a long time before finally saying. "This sword was one of only two made by the Dark Elf Eöl. According to legend, it was made from iron that "Fell from the sky as a star.""
"A meteorite?" Luna asked.
"I am not familiar with that word." Elrond replied.
"In our world, it means a rock that falls to earth from space…or from the sky." She added.
"Then yes. The iron used to make this blade came from…space. As you put it. The first sword is known to have been destroyed. It was called Gurthang, The Iron of Death. But it's brother blade disappeared from these lands and was never seen again, until today."
The silence in the room was absolute. Finally though, it was Harry that broke it. "Master Elrond. You said the sword was made by Dark Elf Eöl. Does this mean the sword is cursed?"
"No, not cursed. Nor is it an evil weapon. But it's nature is dark, and it will take one of much power to wield it. But for someone who has the strength, it will be near unbeatable."
"Great." Muttered Harry, thinking of theElder Wand. "Now I have the Elder Sword to go with the Elder Wand. A matched set." He was silent for a few moments, thinking about the sword. Finally he asked Elrond, "How will I know if the sword will submit to my will…if I'm strong enough I mean?"
"Draw the sword…Gandalf, you do the same with yours, and cross both your swords as if you were going to begin a duel. You will feel the blade start to fight you for control Mr. Potter. Do not let it. You are the Master."
Luna watched as Harry slowly drew the weapon from it's scabbard, and then doing as Elrond instructed, held it up in front of Gandalf and waited. Gandalf drew Glamdring, it's bright blade shining in the firelight. "Whenever you are ready Mr. Potter." He told Harry.
Harry simply nodded, and then after taking a deep breath, crossed the black sword with Glamdring. Luna saw immediately the look of strain that came on Harry's face as the sword tried to bend him to it's will. She watched as he fought against it. Finally after what seemed to her to be hours, Harry lowered the sword. "It has given me it's allegiance." He said weakly, and passed out.
-=ooo000ooo=-
When Harry awoke, he found himself in a soft bed, sunlight streaming through curtained off windows. He pulled himself into a half sitting position, and groped around for his glasses. He found them on a small table next to the bed, and after putting them on, saw that Luna was curled up asleep in an overstuffed chair next to his bed. A light blanket covering her. "Luna?" he managed to croak out.
Luna woke at once. "Harry, you're awake. Elrond didn't think you'd wake for a few more days."
"Water." He managed to croak out through his dry mouth.
Luna got up and poured him some water from pitcher on the table. He started to drink it slowly, until to goblet was empty. "Better?" she asked.
"Much." He answered, his voice nearly normal. "What did you mean by a few more days?"
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked
"Ah…fighting with the sword for control. I won…then nothing till I woke up this morning. It is morning, right?"
"Yes it's morning." Replied Luna, "But you've been asleep for two days."
"Two days?" Harry asked, confused.
"Uh huh. Elrond's people brought you here after you blacked out. He says it's because of the strain you were under fighting the sword for control. But that when you woke up you'd be all right. How do you feel?"
"Better." Harry answered, "Like I've had a full nights sleep."
Luna nodded. "Good." She said, and started over to the windows and started pulling the curtains open to let the sun fully into the room. Harry saw with a shock that she was wearing a simple cotton night dress, and when the sun hit her full on, he saw that she was also wearing nothing underneath it. He felt his heart stirring at this sight, but it was the stirring of something else that really got his attention. He closed his eyes thinking Merlin this is not the time for this. She's still mourning Neville. It's not fair to her, or him. Got to think of something un-sexy. Something horrible, something…something...Snape and Umbridge tongue kissing in the Great Hall! Snap and Umbridge tongue kissing in the Great Hall! …Snap and Umbridge AND Filch in a three way on the Gryffindor House Table! With a sigh or relief, the feeling passed. Be good." He said softly to himself.
While Harry was fighting for control of his other sword. Luna, who had her back to him while she was opening the curtains was smiling to herself. She sensed immediately that Harry had noticed her lack of attire under the night dress, and the problem he was currently having. She still loved Neville, loved him deeply in fact. But she was also a far more practical person than many gave her credit for. Neville was gone, and while she would always remember what they had shared, and always have a place in her heart for his memory, she also knew that she was falling in love with Harry. Probably the only other person she could have fallen for. But she also knew that Harry could be denser than Ronald at times, and there was also the fact that he likely felt guilty. Like he was betraying Neville's memory for thinking about her like that. Sometimes nobility can be such a pain in the arse. She thought with a slight sigh.
She finished opening the last of the curtains, and then turned back to Harry. She saw that he wasn't looking directly at her. "Now that you're awake Harry, I'm going to go change. Breakfast should be ready in about fifteen minutes. I'll meet you there?"
"Okay Luna. I'll be there as soon as I've washed up and dressed." He replied, trying to keep his voice steady, and his eyes focused on something other than Luna. He waited till she had left the room before flopping back down in the bed, hands over his face. "Merlin help me." He said.
-=ooo000ooo=-
In the end, they stayed three more days in the hidden valley. The Dwarves had wanted to leave the day after Harry woke, but Elrond had insisted that they stay at least two more to make sure Harry's was back at full strength. The Dwarves didn't like it, but they agreed.
On they're last night in Rivendell, Gandalf and Elrond were sitting alone in the Hall of Fire. "Mr. Potter is a remarkable young man, more powerful than any child of man that I have ever encountered," He said to Gandalf. "and Miss Lovegood is not far behind him. But her power is different somehow. I don't understand it."
"Nor do I." replied Gandalf, drawing a mouthful of smoke from the pipe in his hands. "But there is also no evil in either of them. In fact, I've only ever met one other person like them."
"One other?" asked Elrond.
"Aragorn." Gandalf replied simply. "Can you imagine what the four of them could do for Middle Earth if they were together?" he asked.
"I do not wish to discuss Aragorn and Arwen Gandalf." Elrond said with a frown. "I have told him the conditions under which I will allow them to marry. Until and unless that comes to pass, I do not wish to discuss it."
"As you wish." Gandalf replied, bowing his head in a conciliatory manner, and then took another long drag on his pipe.
-=ooo000ooo=-
Then next morning they were all packed. Their food supplies re-stocked by the elves, and they had also got another pack pony. Unknown to the Dwarves though, Harry and Luna had asked for and gotten extra food which they had shrunken and put feather light charms on. In fact, they were carrying as much food between them as all the Dwarves had in their packs and on the ponies. They didn't want to take any chances with another pony falling in a river.
With a final thank you and goodbye to Elrond, they set out again on the Eastern road, the Misty Mountains looming far in the distance.
-=ooo000ooo=-