~abc~ Talking with their thoughts.

&&&&&&&&&&

Looking at the forest Sheppard before him, Draco pushed himself to his feet. Grimacing at the feeling of cotton balls stuffed inside his skull, he walked over to Treebeard, who kneeled to get a closer look at him, and stared into the giant amber orbs. Reaching out a hand Draco placed stick-like fingers upon the tumbling growth of moss that looked like a beard.

If this was going to work, he was going to have to be polite and respectful. Two things he really did not feel like being at the moment. Thank Merlin, his sire had insisted on the old traditions and manners, as the lessons would provide a good base for him to start with. Taking a deep breath he reached out with his core to the ancient being in front of him. Willingly the foreign mind connected with his.

~We are lost, Sheppard, and far from our home. We can give you nothing but I ask you to shelter us, for beyond your wood there are those who would see us dead or worse. As we are now, we cannot defend ourselves in the outer world without great risk.~

***

Treebeard did not know what to make of the pale little elfling. Moments before the child had been in pain but now he willingly opened his mind to the Ent, whose mind was so much more vast than his own that it could crush him. Not only that but he had tried to literally crush him and his companion into mishmash of blood and broken bones. He knew the strength of his arms and had seen the tactic slaughter orcs four times as big as the small beings. Brave little Elfling…brave or stupid.

Staying very still so he did not startle either the pale one touching his face or the tense and watchful form of the green eyed child, he blinked in wonder when he felt the power emanating from the frail form before him. But why would the little one request sanctuary? The elves would be glad to shelter two of their own, though it would take time to contact the holds of the immortals. The wizards Saruman or Gandalf would also be willing to shelter them or take them to the holds themselves.

~Why do you wish sanctuary here, little one? The holds of the elves or those of the wizards would gladly shelter you. They would be far safer and much more comfortable for such small children than Fangorn. For there are creatures within my borders that would see you dead far quicker than anything in the outside world.~

The foreign power rippled for a moment before becoming still once more. The pale one's mind was searching for something. Waiting patiently, Treebeard was rewarded with image after image being projected into his mind and slowly the little one began to explain. The world revealed was strange and disturbing, the battlefields viscous and bloody. Children used as weapons and trained to be killers from a young age. Man and creature died without the touch of sword or dagger, merely a flash of emerald light and life was taken from them.

~We are not of Arda, Old One. Our world was torn by war and divided by blood. A great evil had descended upon our people…the one behind me was a great warrior who I fought against and in the end fought side by side with. We were fighting against one who called himself a Dark Lord and while we succeeded in killing him, our bodies did not survive the attack. We believed ourselves dead but when we woke we found ourselves alive and well in this clearing, looking as you see us now.~

Images of battlefields strewn with bodies and shimmering with strange lights flashed in the darkness behind his eyes. The two before him appeared in these battles on opposite sides sometimes and at others fighting shoulder to shoulder. But they were not the small elvish children he saw now. They were grown warriors and not only that, but they were of the race of men. Barely out of childhood they swept across many battles, killing and destroying without a moments hesitation.

~You battled with the power of the Istari, yet you were of the race of men.~

Treebeard's surprise caused his eyes to open suddenly, startling the dark one who moved forward as though to tear the pale one away from him. Lifting his arm, he made a placating motion with the limb, willing the small spitfire to remain calm. Strange that the dark one was so protective of one who, if the memories were truthful, had been an enemy for many years. The green eyed child must be very kind or very forgiving, the old Sheppard though. Probably both if the buried emotions of the pale one were any indication.

~We were but no more, it seems. But we are not like the Isatri. The gifts of magic were given to us at birth and our people numbered as many as the trees within your borders. We need time. Time and shelter to understand this new world and these new bodies. I know to you, this request might seem hasty and most likely unwise but Fangorn is the safest place in Arda for us, at the moment. Please, Old One, I beg of you. Give us this kindness.~

The pale one made an impassioned speaker, Treebeard mused. Should he grant the little one's request it would indeed be a hasty choice. But there were so few Ents left that moved through the forest as he did. Most did nothing but sleep or groom their leaves and bark if awake. It was doubtful that the two elflings would be noticed at all. And the soul of this one was pure, in the tortured way of a sapling hiding in the shadow of a mighty oak.

~Quite a speech, young one. Very well…you and you comrade may stay within Fangorn. But I tell you this, be wary in your time here and stay away from the ones you know as Huorns; for their anger is swift and does not distinguish between orc or elf, friend or foe. Traverse the borders cautiously for foul beasts often think to find safety beneath the boughs of my woods. Can you care for yourselves? I know not the ways men or elves rear their offspring.~

~My thanks, Sheppard. You need not rear us…we have been taking care of ourselves for many years. As for the Huorns, the sleeper behind me warned of the dark ones and their anger. My companion and I will heed both your warnings. Are we free to wander the forest and surrounding lands?~

~Of course, little one.~

The pale one's power rippled again…in an emotion Gandalf had once said was annoyance. The young Istari often became annoyed at the squirrels that stole his pipe weed when he visited Fangorn. Had he done something to upset his new charges?

~If you would, Old One. My name is Draco and that of my comrade, Harry. Please call us by these names, for my companion might chafe at being called little one, though we know it would not be said maliciously.~

So that was it! Treebeard felt a rumble of laughter swell up his trunk and burst out, causing the moss on his face to crinkle. Glancing over at the dark one, at this Harry…he let loose another chuckle at the child's perplexed expression. It made sense that ones such as these would dislike being called children, even if that was what they were now. The names they bore now, however, would have to change if they ever went to the outer world. They were foreign names and would draw attention as well as curiosity, something that Treebeard somehow knew the two would not welcome.

~Very well, young master Draco. I will do as you advise…though your need not be so formal with me. Simply Treebeard will do. I give you warning, though. Should you go out into the world, be aware your names will draw much attention.~

As the ancient tree withdrew from the link, keeping his eyes on a twitchy Harry, he heard one last thought escape the pale blonde. It was merely a whisper but it made him sad to hear such relief and happiness in the formal little elf for such a simple act as kindness.

~Thank you so much.~

***

Harry didn't know whether he felt annoyed at the whole situation or relieved that the tree had stopped trying to turn them into miniature piles of broken bones and ruptured organs. He was gong to go with a little of both. Of course he was still slightly pissed at Malfoy for not only starting this mess but for ignoring him completely so the git could practice Legimancy with an overgrown twig.

Huffily Harry decided that Malfoy wasn't about to be crushed and so was safe for the moment, if the booming laugh the tree let out was any indication. Plopping himself back to the ground, he sat indian style and stared moodily at the moss covered dirt in front of him. Stupid Malfoy…this wasn't what he had meant at all when he told the blonde to talk to a tree.

"Potter, pay attention!" Malfoy's voice barked at him.

Looking up, he saw both the tree and the blonde looking at him with expectant expressions on their faces…well Harry wasn't too sure what the tree's expression was. He huffed again when the blonde's face started to morph into an annoyed snarl.

"Pay attention to what, Malfoy? The grass growing? You and the giant weed having a silent conversation? You've been ignoring me for the last twenty minutes, why include me now…" he sulked.

He ignored Malfoy's aggravated sigh and went back to watching an ant crawl over a rock.

"Fine, Potter." Hiding his eagerness to be in the know, Harry lifted his head. "The giant weed as you call him, is Treebeard, the…warden as it were… of the forest we landed in. He is an Ent. The forest is called Fangorn and Fangorn is in someplace called Arda or Middle Earth, call it whichever you want. Incidentally, Britain doesn't exists in Middle Earth…nor does magic as we know it. Apparently, the Dark Lord's spell somehow transported us into an alternate universe and new bodies. Which are elven bodies that just happen to be barely out of the drooling stage , by the way. Are you paying attention now, Potter?"

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about?! These bodies look nothing like house elves! We just look like kids with pointy ears. And what do you mean magic doesn't exists? We've been using magic since yesterday!"

The blonde was insane, the sane part of Harry's brain said. But then again their situation should be impossible, yet here they were…talking to a walking, talking tree. Harry promptly told the sane part of his brain to shut up.

"If you had ever paid attention in Binn's class, you'd know this." Malfoy grouched.

"In our world there are many different races of elves, though they all descend from a common ancestor. There are the house elves that serve families and establishments, which are mostly shunned by the other species. Then there are high elves and dark elves, among others that I won't mention now. These new bodies most resemble the drawings of High Elves I saw in the Manor's library as a child. Basically they are a humanoid race that lives somewhere between five and fifteen thousand years."

The blonde paused for a minute to catch his breath, looking over at Treebeard for a moment before continuing.

"As for the magic aspect of things…magic does exist in this world but it is vastly different from the magic we use. On earth our kind was scattered across the globe and our population was somewhere over five hundred thousand. Here there are probably a total of five or six wizard in existence and that's it. These wizards call themselves Istari and unlike us, they don't use wandless magic or wands at all. They use staffs." Looking smug at the dazed expression on Harry's face, Malfoy finished his lecture.

"Did you get all that, Scar-Head?"

Malfoy enjoyed that, the pleased smirk stretching his lips said it plain as day. If it had been the other way around Harry was sure he would be too. But at the moment all he felt was slightly nauseous. He had come to terms with dying, not being given a second chance at life in a new world. He definitely hadn't thought he'd be given an immortal body or be literally alone with Malfoy for the rest of that eternity But maybe…

"Is there a way to get back?"

A flash of emotion crossed the blonde's face that looked uncomfortably like pity. Harry crumpled slightly.

***

Draco tried not feel pity for the other child but the feeling welled up all the same. Potter had gone to the final battle expecting to die for those he left behind, unlike himself. He had merely thought he was going to end his wretched existence and take Voldemort down to hell with him. To be given this second chance with no way back to his loved ones must have been a bitter draught to swallow. Shaking his head, he crouched next to Potter's bowed back. Putting a pale hand against the tanned shoulder, he worked to gentle his acid tongue.

"There's not enough magic in this world to return us and even together we're not strong enough to manage a spell like that. Most trans-dimensional spells are kept under lock and key in the Department of Mysteries, but the spell that took us here was a fluke. A mutation of our killing curses intercepting the erasing spell, so …we're stuck here for the foreseeable future. I'm sorry, Harry."

***

Harry felt sadness overwhelm his for a moment and even anger at Malfoy for comforting him, though he didn't know why. But both emotions left as quickly as they'd come. He hadn't expected to return from the duel with Voldemort, anyway, so his situation was still the same. Besides, a second chance at life was a miracle that didn't come along every day…even if it did have a bratty Malfoy attached.

***

Treebeard stood up as Draco comforted Harry, watching the solemn scene. Now that his business here was finished, he knew he should leave the two younglings to themselves.

"Hoom…huum…keep in mind, young masters. Should you need me merely call and I will come….hoom.

But for now I must away…huum…take care of yourselves and be cautious."

At the acknowledging nod from Draco, the old Sheppard set out for his home. As he went he whispered to the benign sleepers and semi-awake ancients that were his charges, asking that the two small beings be watched over and cared for should they need it. Somehow Treebeard knew the two young ones were important…how they were important he could not guess…but between them they shared the power to shape coming events to. To change the fates of all the races, even. He could only hope the roiling magic beneath their skins would be used for the better and not rot like that of others gifted with such strength.

***

"Now what, Malfoy?"

Potter seemed to have recovered from his momentary anguish. Thank Merlin for that…Draco hadn't known how much longer he could dealy with an angst Potter. It was hard enough keeping his tongue in check for a short period of time with the dark haired boy. He didn't want to try it for an extended period. He'd go soft and probably start liking Potter…a disgusted shiver rolled through his frame. Probably start acting all nice and friendly like...ugg...what a horrible way to go.

Now that the Sheppard had given them sanctuary, they were free to roam. Draco surmised the two of them could travel comfortably enough through the forest till they found a spot suitable for setting up some sort of base. The clearing they were in would have been perfect if it was a little larger.

"We should probably stay on the move in case our visitor from last night tries to pinpoint our location again. Maybe even see the closest border of the forest, if we can avoid the Huorns and orcs." he murmured.

Potter nodded then paused for a moment.

"First you need to tell me everything you know about our situation and secondly, what the hell are orcs? Besides you snapping random snippets at me, you haven't told me everything. We need to fix that before anything else." Potter frowned up at him.

Sighing as he sat down in front of Potter, Draco resigned himself to a very long conversation.

&&&&&&&&&&

Late, late, late...I know. Please be kind...my plot bunny tried to make a break for greener pastures but I dragged him back his tail(strange fluffy cotton ball that it is)...muahhhah.

Cough...erm...cough...ignore that last part.

;)