"Italics" - Elvish, Sindarin
'Normal' -thoughts to one's self
'Italics' - thought speak (thought speak only applies with Galadriel)
Chapter 3
Victoria set in front of her mirror in her room. Arwen was behind her, brushing her long jet black hair. The night dresses they both wore still grated on her mind as girly, but overall she had grown used to this new form. That was in no small part due to the sapphire ring that rest on her left hand. Its intrinsic light seem to shine gently in her mind, providing solace from past hurts and clarity of her thoughts. Victoria was grateful for the ring and calm it brought her, but she couldn't understand why Elrond would give up Rivendell's best protection. Galadriel must be held in high esteem for him to follow such a request. Here in Imladris, Vilya was safe. That would not be the case when she eventually left.
She had been here two months, training with a sword, learning another language, and going over every spell she could remember. Besides the lightning, which she attributed to the magic of Middle Earth and perhaps her body change, and a new decent skill at conjuring, which she attributed to the Elder Wand, she would have to rely on the spells she learnt at Hogwarts, horcrux hunting, and watching older wizards.
"Your hair is beautiful, Victoria. You should let me braid it in one of the elven styles." Arwen leaned down to smile at her friend in the mirror. "What troubles your thoughts, my friend?"
"This ring. It is a great help to me, but I fear it lost in battle to the darkness should I die." Harry looked down at Vilya, remembering the day Elrond gave it to him.
"This is Vilya, the Ring of Air, and it is now yours to bear, Victoria."
"Err, have you actually worn this, because the last guy I knew who put on a magic ring lost his hand and later his life." Harry felt no dark magic in the ring, but that didn't mean it didn't have any.
"I have worn it since the day it was given to me by the Elven-King Gil-Galad." Elrond made a gesture with his hand for Harry to put the ring on.
"If you say so, my Lord." Harry wondered if he would ever get used to speaking as if with dignitaries as he slipped the ring on his left hand. 'Oh, wow,' Harry thought, 'I feel like a taken a weak calming potion.'
"What does it do?" Harry asked with awe in his voice. "It was made with the purpose to heal and preserve, both the wearer and the growing things around them. But you may find your ability to control the skies increase, Wizard of the Storm. It is not called the Ring of Air without cause. Long have a worn and used the ring to hide and protect Rivendell from the eyes of orcs and spies."
"Will this make Rivendell vulnerable when I leave? I don't want anyone else to have to sacrifice anything for me." Too many had died so that he could defeat Voldemort.
"I am not so weak that all my abilities lie with a ring," Elrond said, raising an eye brow at Harry. "And do not worry, my patrols will find any orc party before they can hope to find the hidden valley of Imladris."
"I feel less depressed about, er, my situation with the ring on. " Harry spoke as he twirled the Elder Wand in lazy circles.
"You are different than the other wizards. The first to be young, the first to be a woman, and the first to use a wand instead of a staff." Elrond gazed at the wand curiously. "Galadriel said you wield your magic as easily as we breathe. Would you mind showing me some of your magic?"
Harry, thinking of the Weasley twins' exit from Hogwarts under Umbridge, drew a circle in the air saying, "Expecto Patronum." White light burst forth from the Elder Wand, but did not form into the shape of Prongs. Something bird-shaped formed before flying around the room, letting out spherical waves of white light, before landing on the back of Elrond's desk chair. Both Harry and Elrond gazed at the large ethereal white bird that now stared back at them. Harry thought the bird looked like an eagle, but he wasn't sure.
"That was a beautiful display of magic. Thank you, Victoria," Elrond said after the patronus faded away.
"Er, yeah, no problem. Thanks for the ring. If you don't mind I would like to return to my room" Harry felt tears in his eyes. It didn't surprise him that his patronus changed, but he felt like he just lost another connection to his parents and home.
"Please, take as long as you need to rest and recover. Not all ills are physical, but they too heal with time."
"You will not die, Victoria. You processed great power before you received the ring, before you acquired the wand, and before you arrived here in Middle Earth."
Victoria held the Elder Wand up in front of her face. Somehow after holding the wand in her left hand while holding a sword in her right training with Arwen and practicing all the spells she could remember left handed, the wand began to feel like it was her wand. Maybe the proximity to Vilya was having an effect.
"Your skills with the sword have also improved. In battle with a sword in one hand and your wand in the other, you will be a force that cannot be ignored."
"Better than when we first started. I can hold my own against you a third of the time now. It still feels strange to be holding my wand in a fight, even for practice, and not using magic." Victoria felt like her magic was a part of her, like a battery in her soul ready to be used.
"I would rather not have to dodge lightning bolts just to teach you swordplay, my friend."
"I would never harm you, Arwen. You have been a true friend to me since we met." Victoria felt Arwen hug her from behind. "Being your friend in not a hard thing. Even if you wizards are unpredictable."
"I feel like something soon with pull me away from Imladris. Something of importance. Or maybe I'm just feeling idle when I could be helping out on patrols of the land with your brothers. Do you leaving Imladris often, Arwen?"
"No, after mother sailed west, father has always kept me close," Arwen said, letting out a sigh. "Rest now, Victoria. Tomorrow is another day of training."
Victoria awoke hearing someone call her name, twice. Setting up in bed, she looked around and saw no one.
'Victoria,' came the sweet voice of Galadriel in her mind. 'I am glad you are now awake. Gandalf the Grey rides north up the Old South Road, making for the town of Bree. My mirror has shown me also that Thorin Oakenshield will arrive at Bree at the same time. It is a curious meeting, indeed. I would like to suggest that you join with Gandalf on his chosen quest, whatsoever it happens to be.'
'Do you really think he will trust me if I just ride up to him asking to tag along?'
'I will explain to him a sixth wizard has come and that I would like for you to travel with him to explore this new world you find yourself in. My trust in you and his own curiosity will lead him to accept. But you must ride east ere the sun sets today if are to meet him.'
Victoria jumped out of bed to gather her things and dress in her wizardly clothes and armor. She felt excitement like she wouldn't have expected run through her at the prospect of an adventure. 'I need to speak to Elrond quickly if I'm leaving today.'
'Make all haste. Lord Elrond will provide you with all need while traveling. May the Valar watch over you.'
By noon, the elves had secured provisions and three more sets of black clothes, stuffed away in a leather backpack. Victoria stood next to a beautiful black horse that was to be her's for her travels, with only Elrond and Arwen near by.
Elrond moved foward with a poach that jingled like it was filled with coins. "You may need this in Bree to find yourself room and board or to buy more provisions."
Victoria walked over to Arwen, hugging her only friend in this world. She pulled back curious when Arwen only returned the embrace with one hand. Arwen smiled before bringing her left hand from behind her back. In it she held a long slender sword.
"I do not think my sword will see not much use here with me, father will keep me even closer now that Vilya rides with you. The thought of my sword protecting you gives me comfort." Victoria took the sword from Arwen, hand running over the dark wood of the handle, decorated with gold inlays. She grabbed the sheath with her other hand, drawing the blade out a few inches to see grey steel with more gold patterns spiraling up the blade. Victoria whispered, "Thank you," before stepping back.
"Thank you both. I can not hope to repay your kindness."
"Do not worry over much, Go now with the good will of the elves of Imladris. Safe journey, Victoria. Follow the road west, over the Ford of Bruinen. It will take you to Bree." Elrond bowed and stepped back as Victoria mounted her horse, and with a last look at Rivendell, she started out the path to the southwest.
By nightfall she reached the Ford of Bruinen. Galadriel said haste was need so Victoria chose to ride through the night. She noticed the area she was entering was called Trollshaws on the map she duplicated from Elrond's study, 'Not a very encouraging name.' Pulling out a flask and her wand, she took a sip of Miruvor and casting a Notice-Me-Not charm on herself and the horse, she brought her horse to a gallop, trying to get out of these dark trees and hills as fast as she could.
Stopping occasionally to water the horse, dropping a few drops Miruvor into the transfigured bowl, hoping it would help the horse as much as it did her, Victoria reached the Last Bridge by sunset the next day. Making camp under a lone tree off the road, Victoria pulled out an apple from her backpack, duplicated it a dozen times and returned it to the pack. Feeding five of the apples to her horse while casting a Cleaning Charm on both of them, she set another five on the ground if the horse wanted them later, keeping two apples for herself. Victoria set up the protection wards and conjured a mattress on the ground, laying down and munching on her apples before drifting off to sleep.
Three day she traveled west on the Great East Road. Although she thought Weathertop looked cool, the land was nothing but brown hills,a few small trees and a deserted inn.
As she approached Bree's South East Gate, Victoria saw a figure in grey on a brown horse moving up the Greenway. 'If that's Gandalf, I'd rather talk in private before we both enter the town,' she thought now galloping to meet the grey wizard before he reached the gate.
Getting closer, Victoria had no doubt this was Gandalf. He looked like Merlin in grey tattered robes and a larger hat in the same style as her's.
"Hello, Gandalf," she called, bringing her horse to a stop. "I've traveled from Rivendell to meet you. Do you mind if we talk a minute before entering the town?" she said breathless after a day's ride.
"Hello, my dear. Victoria the Black, if I'm not mistaken. The Lady Galadriel said you would find me and that I should bring you along in whatever trouble I'm getting up to. How did she come to know my purpose here, I wonder?" Gandalf said kindly, dismounting his horse. Victoria followed his actions, and moved to stand before him. She could sense magic flowing through Gandalf like he was a focal point of convergence of the ambient energy of Arda. Victoria made a mental note not to piss him off.
"Galadriel saw you and a man named Thorin arriving at Bree at the same time in her mirror and thought it curious."
The old wizard nodded, "Ah, I should have guessed. Please, tell me of yourself and how you came to be in Middle Earth." But Victoria was only half listening, seeing a ruby ring on the wizard's hand.
"You're the one Círdan gave Narya to," she said before she could stop herself. Gandalf stared at her before looking down at her hands. "Yes, it appears you have much to tell me before we go to meet with Thorin Oakenshield, who is a dwarf of Erebor, not of the race of Men.
It started to rain as Victoria and Gandalf made their way to Bree. The pair of wizards walked down a dark street towards an inn, called the Prancing Pony if she remebered correctly from Gandalf. Victoria told Gandalf the short version of her life before and since arriving. She left out the switch in gender, only Galadriel and Arwen knowing that secret. She didn't mind being a girl now, but also didn't want to be asked any awkward questions. Gandalf had said nothing of his potential adventure, saying she would find out all in their meeting with Thorin.
They entered the inn with Victoria openning the door, indicating Gandalf should enter first. When he did, Victoria stepped inside and tapped Gandalf on the back with her wand casting a Drying Charm. Doing the same to herself, she was about to stow the wand in her robes when she took in the atmosphere of the pub on the lower level of the inn.
Most people, and little people Victoria noted, seems merry enough and very drunk. But a few sat in dark corners, their gaze all pointing toward a man shorter than most, but also looking more hardy and stronger than most. She guesses this must be the dwarf, Thorin Oakenshield, they were to meet. His face was aristocratic and handsome, like Sirius before Azkaban, but with none of the humor or mischief.
The probable assassins seemed ready to make their move, when Gandalf strolled forward with Victoria in toe and sat at the table with the dwarf.
"Mind if we join you?" Gandalf said smiling down at Thorin.
Gandalf put a hand on the shoulder of a passing waitress. "We'll have the same," gesturing to Thorin's food and drink.
"We should introduce ourselves. My name is Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey." Gandalf turned toward Victoria, but before he could say anything Thorin replied, "I know who you are, but not your companion."
"My name is Victoria. Victoria the Black. I am a wizard both like and unlike Gandalf." She smiled what she hoped was a kind smile and waved slightly at the dwarf.
"You speak in riddles the same as a wizard," Thorin said with a small, unkind grimace on his face.
"What's the point of being a wizard if you can't be mysterious?" She replied, giving him a real smile.
Trying to bring things back on track Gandalf said, "We'll now, this is a fine chance. What brings Thorin Oakenshield to Bree?" Gandalf spoke as if this was just a coincidence, two important figures meeting by coincidence.
Thorin sighed looking down at the table before rising to meet Gandalf's eye, "I received word the my father had been seen wandering the Wilds near Dunland. I found nothing."
"Ah, Thrain," Gandalf said sadly. Thorin looked at Gandalf blankly before saying, "You think him dead. Like everyone else." Gandalf tone turned soft, yet darker. "I was not at the Battle of Moria."
"What happened at the Battle of Moria?" Victoria asked, wondering where that food was.
"The dwarfs tried to take back their ancestral home of Moria. Orcs had colonized it first. The dwarves won a hollow victory before the Gates of Moria," Gandalf said solemnly.
"Thror was slain. My father led a charge towards the Dimrill Gate. He never returned. But he was not amongst the dead at the battle's end."
"Thorin, its been a long time since anything but rumor was heard of your father."
"He still lives. I am sure of it," Thorin stated with conviction.
"Thorin, if your father still lives, I'm sure myself and Gandalf can help." She thought this might buy some good will with the dwarf, but Gandalf shot her a small look, clearly indicating he thought Thrain was dead and any search was futile.
Turning back to Thorin, Gandalf said cautiously, "The ring your grandfather wore, one the the seven given to the Dwarf-lords many years ago, what became of it?"
"I saw my grandfather hand it to my father before the battle."
"So Thrain was wearing it when he..." Gandalf paused here consider his word. "When he went missing"
At Thorin's nod, Gandalf didn't seem to like the answer. "That's that, then."
"Here you are," said the waitress coming up with two plate and two mugs and setting them on the table.
"Finally, I feel like I could eat a whole dragon." Victoria failed to notice the odd glances she received as she dug into the food.
"I know my father came to see you before the Battle of Moria. What did you say to him?" Thorin said after a few seconds of staring at the Black Wizard.
"I urge him to march upon Erebor, to rally the seven armies of the Dwarves, to destroy the dragon and take back the Lonely Mountain. And I would say the same to you. Take back your homeland."
"Wait, you have dragons in this world too? And you want to kill one? With only two wizards?" Victoria said in surprise.
"This is no chance meeting, is it, Gandalf?" Thorin said looking between the two that sat across from him.
"No. It is not. The Lonely Mountain troubles me. That dragon has sat there long enough. Sooner or later darker minds will turn towards Erebor," Gandalf said softly. "I ran into some unsavory character whilst traveling on the Greenway. They mistook me for a vagabond."
"I bet they regretted that," Victoria said laughing, starting to feel the ale she was drinking.
Gandalf pulled a rolled up parchment from his robes and opened it, sliding it toward Thorin saying, "One of them was carrying a message. It is Black Speech. a promise of payment, for your head. Someone wants you dead."
"Thorin, you can wait no long, you are the heir to the Throne of Durin. Unite the armies of the Dwarves. Together you have the might and power to retake Erebor. Summon a meeting. Demand they stand by their oath."
"They swore that oath to the one who wields the Arkenstone. That jewel now rest with Smaug, if you have forgotten."
Victoria looked up from her food to see the assassins deciding Thorin and his new companions weren't worth their lives and left.
"What if we were to help you reclaim it?" Gandalf said with a small smile.
"How? The Arkenstone lies half a world away at the feet of a fire-breathing dragon."
"Yes, it does. Which is why we're going to need a burglar," Gandalf's smile growing wider.
"This is a crazy plan, Gandalf. You want to send one person into Erebor against a dragon. Atleast let me go in."
"The dragon will be sleeping my dear, all the burglar will need to do is retrieve the King's Jewel. And I fear you or I may be drawn away from the company, perhaps when we are needed most." Well, that was textbook vague.
"What could be more important than reclaiming Erebor and killing a dragon that may be used against us later?"
"Even the very Wise cannot see all ends. And a darkness beyond Smaug is moving again, I fear."
"You're starting to sound like Galadriel," Victoria said, shaking her head with a smile on her face.
"High praise, indeed. Now, I have a burglar in mind. The little fellow lives in Bag End, in the town of Hobbiton. Is Hobbiton marked on your map, Victoria?"
Victoria withdrew her wand and the shrunken map, enlarging it. Gandalf looked on impressed at the display. "Yes, seems like a two day ride on the road west out of Bree."
"Yes, exactly that. I will set a mark for the dwarves to find Bag End. It will be a blue rune at the bottom of the round door. Thorin will likely arrive with the dwarves that will travel with us at the end of April." Gandalf paused as they moved toward the stable where their horses were being tended. "Might I suggest you stay here in Bree until the end of April, say April 24th. You could use that time to practice infusing the ambient magic into your spells, and you could think about which spells may prove useful on the road ahead. You certainly use your magic in the most amazing ways, like shrinking that map for storage. Your spells may make our journey a little easier."
"That's not the worst plan I've ever heard. But what is today's date anyway?" Time seems to past in strangle ways in Rivendell and she never thought to ask the date.
"Today is March 15, 2941 of the Third Age, by the Shire Calendar" Gandalf said, continuing on."The north Chetwood Forest to the east of Bree would serve you well as a quiet spot to practice."
"And March has 31 days in it in this world, right?"
"Yes, it does," said Gandalf as they arrived at the stable.
"I should go ahead and pay the stable and the inn for my stay here." Victoria reached in her pack for the sack of coins Elrond had given her, putting it into one of her robe's pockets.
Gandalf, upon arriving at his horse, turned and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I have many things to attend to before we meet at Bag End. It has been most interesting and a pleasure to meet you. I think I shall be glad before the end of this that Galadriel sent you to me at this particular time." Gandalf withdrew his hand and moved to mount his brown horse.
"I'm glad to be here, even if this will end badly."
"Why do you say that?" asked Gandalf from the top of his horse.
"The motto of my old school was Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus."
"What does that mean?"
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon."
A/N: I gave Vilya to Victoria because I want her to be in most ways Gandalf's equal and partner until she meets Tauriel. And I do think it was wise of Cirdan to give Narya to Gandalf. He certainly puts it to good use. One reviewer stated a displeasure at Victoria being paired with a dwarf, like I said in the this first chapter, if this isn't gen it's going to be femslash with Victoria/Tauriel. Victoria may be a girl and maybe not fine with it, but she is getting used to it. But most of how she thinks is still Harry, just with a clearer mind with Vilya and the horcrux gone. Most travel times I give are based off the big Middle Earth map I'm using and google telling me horses can travel 40 miles in a day. I consider elven trained horses to be better, so I always kinda round up if it comes between 2 or 3 days. Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favorites.