DISCLAIMER – This story will contain mild slash. Please do NOT flame me. If you do not like the story then PLEASE find one more to your liking. Bitching and moaning at me will not change my plot. The characters will more than likely seem OOC. As this is my story and I am writing it, then I can do this.
DISCLAIMER 2 – The characters are owned by JK Rowling. I would like to meet Daniel Radcliff and accept his marriage proposal, but that won't happen. Neither is me making money off of this story or going to jail for claiming what isn't mine.
DISCLAIMER 3 – Krynn and all of its characters are the property of TSR. Tracey Hickman and Margaret Weiss are co authors of the Dragon Lance books along with their families and friends. I do not own them either, but I would love to visit Krynn.
NOTE – There will contain some cursing in this story. There will contain mention of slash and possible love interests. Sirius will still be dead, but Cedric will still be alive. There will be mild bashing of some of the more aggravating characters to me. One last time, I ask that if you do not like this story then find yourself one that is more your style. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews that you are giving to me.
Chapter 11 – Xak Tsaroth
The following day saw the party ready to head out. Many of the others were there to wish them luck in their endeavors. By the time that breakfast was over with, Harry and his party had mounted their booms and had taken flight. Hermione and her small party were also ready to go.
It was hours later when they reached the outskirts of Qualinesti. Porthios was in the area with his party of warriors to greet his brother and the inhabitants of Pax Tharkas. Gilthanas led his party to an area where they could clean up after the flight and refresh themselves with water and nectar and such. Porthios was eyeing Harry and Cedric with disdain the entire time. Lauralanthalasa was there talking with Tanis and Harry while this was going on. Harry was on edge watching the future leader of the elves glaring at him. He finally had enough and as the Speaker of the Sun arrived, he let loose on Porthios.
"What in the hell is your problem?" he asked the stately elf. "I have never met you before today and I do not take kindly to your obnoxious attitude that you are projecting to me. If you have something to say, I wish you would do so and get it over with. You are aggravating the hell out of me and I wish you would knock it off."
Gilthanas and Lauralanthalasa were both staring at their elder brother with shock on their faces. Porthios was not one to behave in such a disrespecting manner. Cedric and Minerva were also glaring at the older elf in disgust having watched his growing attitude for a while.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Solostaran. "Why are you being antagonistic and disrespectful to our guests? They are here by my invitation and deserve common courtesy."
"They are blasphemous," snapped Porthios. "They are obviously together and they wear the symbols of the gods that have been lost for centuries. They should be shot and hung where they stand for their atrocity to our ways and the memories of the old gods."
"STAND DOWN," snapped Solostaran. "They are not doing anything that should concern you. I, for one, am glad to see the ancient symbol of the gods once more in the world. As for them being together, that is NONE of your business."
"I think what has you so upset is the fact that, it is us, that are wearing these symbols and not you," snapped Harry pointing at Porthios angrily. "As far as anything else that pertains to us, it is NONE of your business and I would appreciate it if you kept your nose out of it."
Solostaran watched as Porthios got angrier with Harry. The Elven Prince pulled his sword and proceeded to threaten Harry. Tanis, Riverwind, and the others of Harry's party took offense to this. Harry flicked his wrist and Porthios was upside down hanging in the air. With a second flick of his wrist, the sword that was used was nothing more than a twig.
"All soldiers are to stand down IMMEDIATELY," snapped Solostaran. "Lord Potter if you would be so kind as to release my son, I would appreciate it. Gilthanas has vouched for your good deeds and our scouts have informed us that everything that you have done in the area has been for the betterment of the land. For that, you have my gratitude as leader of the Elven people. Trust me when I say that my son will be punished for his actions."
Harry walked up to Porthios and released his spell. He stood the elf up and glared in his face.
"I have taken on a blue dragon named Azure and won allegiance from him," said Harry furiously in the face of the stoic elf. "I have taken on two red dragons and I am still here to tell the tale. One of those red dragons is my new ally. I have also faced Verminaard and beat him like a homeless beggar and taken his seat of power. I have ousted the Lord of Palanthas and appointed a new leader in that area. I have beaten the guardians at the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas and took it for my own. I have fought with the god of the Dark Moon and am still alive. IF you EVER pull another weapon out on me, it will be the last thing that you ever do. Consider this your first, last, and only warning on the subject."
"You WILL make amends to Lord Potter," snapped Solostaran to his eldest son. "This is not a request but a command. Never before have I been so disappointed in your actions. You would do well to remember your place."
"Is that Worm Slayer strapped to your side?" asked Laurana pointing to the now in view sword. "That sword has been lost for centuries. When Gil said that you had it, I thought he was mistaken."
"The Elf king gave it to me," said Harry smiling at the pretty princess. "Gil is my friend and I am glad to have met you all. I apologize for my actions regarding your other brother, but I don't like to be threatened. I am a Cleric if Paladine and my mate is a Cleric of Mishakal. If the gods are not judging us, then no one else has the right to do so either. I speak with, and talk to, all twenty one radiant beings and I have earned their respect. I think that if I can accomplish that, then an elf prince can give me the same common courtesy."
Harry turned to Solostaran and gave a bow of respect to the leader of the Elven nation. What surprised everyone in the clearing was that Solostaran returned the bow in the same courtly fashion. It was as if two friends were giving each other the acknowledgement of rulers of equal status.
"When you are done with your mission in Xak Tsaroth, I would love to have some of our people go and start rebuilding," said Solostaran looking for a place to sit down.
Minerva grabbed a couple of branches and transfigured them into a table and chairs for everyone. Many of the elves in the glade had never witnessed the magic that Harry and his group had, but they were delighted by it none the less. Everyone sat down and the conversation began in earnest.
"I will be sending a group of my people that are specifically trained in stealth and fighting skills," said Solostaran. "Gilthanas has told me that he will be with you. What are the plans that are underway and how can we further help you succeed in your mission?"
"First and foremost," said Harry. "We are going to protect the Temple if Mishakal from the black dragon that is in residence in the city. It is a request from her Divine Holiness and we are doing that mission above everything else. From what we know of the area, it is inhabited by her, draconians, and gully dwarves. Flint and Narcissa are taking a trip to Hill Home and are talking with the dwarves about sending people over once we succeed and have them assist in the rebuilding of the city. We are not foolish enough to think that we can do everything on our own. We see this as a way for the races that live in this area to have a common ground with things. My people have the ability to apparate to locations that we have already been. In other words, we turn on the spot and disappear from where we are and appear where we want to. When we are at the city, we will have others come to us so that they can get the feel of the place. When we finally evict the dragon and her minions, we will have all, of MY people visit the place a couple of times so that we can go back and forth once all of our peoples are in the area and working together. Hopefully once we are done, the mountain dwarves will send those that wish to work with us, out to assist with the clean up of the land as well as start their own trade routes with the city."
"You are an amazing young man," said Solostaran impressed. "Not many would venture into unknown territory and work to clean up and area so that others could live their lives comfortably. My elves will assist you in clearing out the draconians that are in the area."
"That is Harry for you," snorted Minerva. "He likes to help everyone even if it makes him sick in the process. He has saved all of those former slaves of Verminaard and he has half of them living with us and working with us. The other half went to the High Clerist Tower with Elistan. Now we are building houses left and right to make sure that everyone has a place to live before winter sets in."
"My dear old besom," said Harry with a grin. "I have seen you doing the same thing. You are in no position to tease me when you are just as guilty of that as I am."
"What did you call me twerp?" she asked pulling out her wand. "You have exactly two seconds to run before I transfigure some of your body parts into something else."
Harry laughed in her face, but took off running. The Elven Royals were sitting there with shock on their faces.
"Speaker," said Tanis while the others laughed at the due. "Never fear. They do this all the time. It is their way of showing that they love one another. Each person that lives with Harry loves him and he loves each of them with a fierceness that is unrivaled by anyone."
"It seems that he brings out the youth in these people," observed Laurana. "She has to be old enough to be his grandmother. How is it that someone so young is held in such high esteem between them?"
Tanis spent the next hour relating all of the information about Harry and his group to the Elven Royalties. The three that hadn't heard this story before were amazed that in the seven months that Harry and his group has arrived on this planet that they had accomplished so much. It was amazing to hear some of the feats that Harry and his friends had done. By the time that Tanis was finished, Harry and Minerva had arrived back arm in arm laughing with one another.
"So what is the plan?" asked Harry with a smile. "Are we going to be heading out soon? We have a dragon to evict and draconians to herd before us."
So everyone sat down together and hashed out a plan. Supplies were called for and when everyone had what they needed, they all left. They were going mostly by ground as they wanted the elves to keep up with them. They worked together to plot the ground and decide how they were going to clean up the roads that led to the lost city.
Within a couple of days, they hit the swamps. The elves took to the trees as they were more comfortable in that aspect.
"We are going to need to build up the roads to be able to come and go between this disgusting stuff," observed Harry pulling out his wand and giving it a shot. "If we transfigure some of this dirt into cement, it will hold up better than just using a dirt path."
Harry, Cedric, Minerva, Bill, and Dora took out their wands and started to get to work. It was not long before they had a good mile done. They settled down to rest a bit later.
"We don't have to do it all now," said Minerva. "Now that we are here, we can always come back later and finish it."
"You are right," said Harry thoughtfully. "We have a mile started. Between us, the dwarves, and elves, we can get a good decent road built along this way that will connect a meeting point that is comfortable with everyone and doesn't encroach upon anyone's territory as it were."
"I think that we can send one of the messengers back to my father and tell him of our thoughts," said Gilthanas motioning to one of the scouts. "This way he can send some of our engineers out and begin working on a road that will meet up with this one that we have created and get it started from the edge of Qualinesti lands to here."
A map was quickly drawn by Minerva and sent with the scout to show the Elven King where they built the mile road. Not long after that, they group all stood and began to make their way deeper into the swamp. Occasionally, they would stop long enough to make a cement path in the swamp for easier traveling.
Within a week of leaving the lands of Qualinesti, they arrived on the outskirts of Xak Tsaroth. Quietly they whispered to each other as to what they were going to do.
"Gil," said Harry. "I need you to get your warriors to split off into groups of five and start harassing the draconians. Let them stay outside of the city. We will deal with what is happening inside the city. I don't want any of your people getting hurt in this mission. Their jobs are to make sure we don't get ambushed from outside forces."
Gilthanas nodded his head and turned to give the elves their orders. Harry was given command by the Speaker, but he felt uncomfortable instructing a race of beings that were far older than he was. Harry turned to his own group.
"Neville, I want you to stay outside and start gathering plants that you think will help us and have a good chance of surviving our greenhouses," instructed Harry. "Ask Gil to post a couple of guards around you. Dora, I want you to stay with him and protect him at all costs. If either of you have any trouble, call for Dobby and he will take you to safety."
Neville and Dora nodded their heads and made their way to Gil. Harry looked at the rest of the group and made his decision.
"We are going to stick together for now," said Harry. "When we find the temple, Goldmoon, Riverwind, and Kingsley will stay there to defend it while the rest of us go in to find the dragon. With us being a smaller party, we can get inside and around easier than if we were to bring a large contingent of warriors with us. Gil, you have the option of staying with Goldmoon or joining me. You are not mine to command."
"I will help defend the temple," said Gilthanas. "Once we have it under our control, I will help my soldiers defend it on the outside while the others defend it on the inside."
Everyone nodded and then got to work. They headed into the outskirts of the city carefully and quietly. Harry and the others cast Silencing and Disillusionment Charms on everyone so that they were not seen or heard easily. From there, they went in. They encountered small pockets of draconian warriors and dispatched them easily. Bill quietly and quickly searched the remains for steel and other valuable items.
With an efficiency that made even the elves admire, Harry and company made their way into the city with minimal hassle. Each time they ran into patrols, they dispatched them quietly and efficiently. Soon they found the well that was in the courtyard. Riverwind was pale as he felt the effects of the dragon that was housed below. Harry and Bill quickly waved their wands to ease the effects. Goldmoon was entranced by a particular building.
"There it is," she whispered pointing. "That is the temple. Mishakal is guiding me and Cedric. It is very beautiful. Shall we head inside?"
Harry sent everyone ahead before he dropped his charm and nodded to Gil. The elf waved in understanding. Harry turned on his heel and entered the sanctity of the temple.
"Here is where we split off," said Harry. "Raistlin, Cedric, Dobby, and Aunt Minerva, you will come with me. The rest of you let the others know where we are going. I am being guided through those doors and I think our entrance into the city is just beyond."
The others nodded and then Harry led his small group through the door. At first all they saw was another room. On the other side, Harry opened another set of doors. Before them was an old set of stairs.
"This is the Path of the Dead," whispered Raistlin. "I have read about this in my studies. It leads to the Hall of Ancestors. It is where the kings of Xak Tsaroth were laid to rest."
"Can you guide us through this?" asked Harry curiously studying the area they were traversing. "It seems really old."
"Don't forget that this city was built during the age of Dreams," said Raistlin. "I am unable to guide you through this as the city is not the same as it was before it fell down the side of the mountain."
"Oh well," said Harry with a grin that made everyone cringe. "We will just have to figure it out as we go."
"Do me careful Harry," said Minerva in exasperation. "I think you hung around with Tass to long. This is not a picnic you know. We are here to fight draconians and a black dragon."
"Chill Minerva," said Harry using a term that floored everyone. "Where is your sense of adventure? "So far we have found something that is very old. We also have the opportunity to see what other things we can find out and improve upon."
"I knew I was going to regret coming on this trip," she muttered under her breath to the amusement of the others. "Bloody fool is going to get himself killed."
Harry grinned as he moved forward to examine what was going on. A large group of gully dwarves raced passed them at one point and Harry and his group all looked around curiously at this.
"Well," he said. "It looks like our source was correct and there are tons of the little creatures here. I wonder where they are going in such a rush."
"We go see bosses," said a female gully dwarf standing in the shadows. "We go up and they go down. We go down and they go up. You see. Our turn soon."
Harry knew that like the house elves, you would not get a clear answer to any question. So he went quietly to the edge and looked around. Other gully dwarves were all patting him as he passed by. He smiled to each of them and arrived at his destination. His eyes got large and his anger built while he watched some draconians using a whip on the gully dwarves. The lead draconian made to swing the whip when Harry muttered a spell and banished it. The draconian looked around in confusion for a moment before it started to yell at the dwarves again. Harry flicked his wand a second time and hit the draconian with a blasting hex. Before his comrade could do anything, Harry silenced it with a Cutting Curse.
Harry waved to his companions to come forward. He pointed at the female gully dwarf and Raistlin stopped long enough to ask her to join them. It was not long before the draconians that were in the area were wiped out.
"What is your name little one?" asked Raistlin.
"Me Bupu," she said. "What you need?"
"We need you to show us around down there," said Harry pointing to where the pot was going. "We need to find the dragon and the other bosses. Can you help us find them?"
"You want dragon?" she asked in astonishment. "Me can show you. She down there."
"Oh yes," assured Harry. "I would love to meet the dragon. She has a lot to answer for. So will you show us?"
"You come," said Bupu. "Me show you. It easy."
Harry and his group all walked with the gully dwarf. She gave out a few orders to the other dwarves and gestured for Harry and his group to get in the pot. As they were heading down, another pot was rising that was full of draconians. Harry and Bill grinned as they pulled out their wands and made short work of them. Harry cast a charm on the chains to freeze the pots for a moment as Bill and Minerva summoned the money pouches of the draconians. When they were done, Harry released his charm and they headed to the bottom. It was not long before they were in gully dwarf central. There were hundreds of the creatures everywhere. Some of them were sickly and Harry and Cedric paused long enough to heal a few of them. Soon they came to the edge where the whole was there. The waterfall went down. Harry and the others shrugged as they got out their brooms and when everyone was secure, they flew to the bottom.
"That fun," said Bupu. "We do again?"
"Maybe another time," said Harry kindly. "Right now we need to start making sure we get rid of all the bosses and the dragon. When we are done, we will make sure to give you another ride."
Bupu smiled at Harry as she grabbed Raistlin's hand. From there, she brought them to an open space. The noise from the waterfall made it hard to hear, but that didn't bother anyone in the slightest.
"Where are we?" asked Harry to Bupu.
"Great Plaza," she answered pointing one way. "High Bulp that way. Dragon other way. Which way you want?"
"We want the dragon please," said Harry. "You don't have to come with us, but we would like to get her out of the city so that you and your people can live here in safety without her hurting anyone anymore. We will be sending word back to the elves to send in warriors to make the bosses go away also."
Bupu grinned at Harry as she led them to where they could enter the inner domain of the dragon. It was not long before Bupu started to tremble from the dragon fear. Raistlin was clutching his medallion is much the same manner. The effects were less thanks to the hard work of Filius and Severus. However, it was not enough to dismiss the effect entirely. Thus Raistlin was acting like he was extremely nervous.
"You don't have to come any further if you don't want to," said Harry to the red robed mage. "We can go on and deal with this if you want to look around a bit. You have your portkey if you want to go back home when you are done."
"I don't think any of you will be going anywhere," said a cold voice behind them. "It looks like I have caught the intruders on my own. Verminaard will be so pleased. MIDNIGHT!"
With that the darkness surrounded the group. Harry and the others all latched hands so that they knew where each other was.
"Is that the best that you can do?" asked Harry amused. "That parlor trick will not work on me. I am a Cleric of Paladine."
"I know who you are foul cleric," snapped Onyx. "I will b able to eliminate you as well as the Cleric of Mishakal standing next to you as well."
"On no," said Minerva. "You should not have said that. He doesn't take kindly to anyone threatening the life of his mate. You will be lucky to make it out of here alive."
"I am not scared of him old woman," snapped the dragon. "He is a mere boy and yet he leads you all around like sheep. Verminaard will be pleased when he hears that I have captured and destroyed you."
"Verminaard is no longer on this continent," said Harry in a voice that made the dragon pause and shiver. "My companions and I have bested him and Ember. Matafleur is our new ally and you have just made a grievous error in threatening my mate. I will have your horns for that."
"Shield your eyes," said Minerva to the rest. "I think I know what he is about to do and it wont be pretty."
"LUMOS MAXIMUS," screamed Harry. With that, the hall was filled with bright light. The dragon screamed in agony as it pierced her sight. She was trying to get the spot out of her eyes so that she could attack Harry and his group. She spit a mouthful of acid in their direction only for Harry to stop it in mid flight and send it back into her face. As she was not hurt by the acid, she started to chant in the language of magic. Raistlin was also chanting and let loose with a few magic missiles. They hit Onyx in the face causing her to lose the casting. Harry, Minerva, Cedric, and Bill all had their wands trained on the dragon. It was not long before she was not only bound, but silenced as well. Harry made sure that her mouth was sealed closed so that she could not spit any more acid at them.
"Now you listen here," hissed Harry in parseltongue. "You will be leaving this city before the night is over. You will do so on your own power, or as a corpse. The outcome means little to me. You have lost. The discs of Mishakal are now ours and we will have them. Verminaard let that little secret out before he was banished from this continent."
The dragon looked at him in surprise. She had never heard of a human speaking the language of dragons. What surprised her more than that, was when Queen Takhisis and the Valiant Warrior, the Platinum Dragon, appeared before her. Harry turned to the deities and bowed to both of them.
"What happens from here is totally up to the two of you," said Harry wearily. "One way or another, she leaves this city to never return."
"Please release her," said Takhisis. "I will talk with her. She should have paid attention when she was told you were in the area."
Harry waved his wand and the dragon was released.
"One wrong word or intake of breath and your life is forfeit," said Harry to the dragon. "I am not playing games here."
"You will leave this land," said Takhisis coldly to her dragon. "You will head to the Taladas lands on the other side of the globe. Be fortunate that I let you live. Mercy is weakness. However not following orders is treason. You are to report to Verminaard on the other continent. You will receive your order when you arrive."
Onyx was not ready to give up. Many of the chromatic dragons revered the Dark Queen, but not all of them were willing to listen to her. She opened her mouth and made to spit her acid upon Harry when he raised his wand and hit her with a Severing Charm. Her head split open and she died immediately on the spot.
"I apologize for killing your pet, but I did warn her," said Harry turning back to the Dark Queen. "Now she will be used for potions ingredients as well as armor."
"It is nothing more than she deserved," said Takhisis coldly. "Do what you will with her remains. I have no time for deceivers or mutiny. So long Lord Potter."
With that, she faded away. Paladine raised his hand to Harry and blessed him before fading from sight himself. Harry turned to his companions before he raised his wand and with a fluid swish, he sent it back to Pax Tharkas for harvesting.
"Well," said Harry. "Shall we go and get our treasure? Something tells me that the draconians are already pulling out of the area. We will be able to have an easier time here in this city with the forces of the Dark Queen now in full retreat."
With a laugh, the group made their way into the lair of the dragon. There was treasure everywhere.
"Certain things will go to certain people," said Harry. "The Discs of Mishakal will go to our temple of course. Raistlin can have his book. Plus he will get a portion of the goods. We will not let you just have a book. You can have some of this gold when it is transfigured into steel."
"You are indeed a gracious person," said Raistlin humbled.
With that, the group all made their way and started to bag the treasure. It was a couple of hours before Raistlin found what he was looking for. Harry had already found the discs and had them in a special bag. When they were all done, the group made their way to the upper levels of the city. After thanking Bupu graciously for her services, they left enough treasure for the gully dwarves to have some and headed out.
Upon returning to the temple, they told the others what occurred.
"We had better head back to Pax Tharkas soon," said Harry. "Others are going to be wondering why there is a black dragon corpse in the middle of the courtyard. We want to make sure that they know that we should harvest it."
"Why don't you head back home and let them know what is going on?" suggested Cedric. "This way we can start heading back and periodically created roads and such that will let people go back and forth without having to traverse the swamps."
"That is a good idea," said Harry. "I will be back in a few with some people that can help with the transfiguration of the harder areas."
With that, Harry turned on the spot and apparated away.
AUTHOR'S NOTES – I will end this chapter right here as I have other things that I want to do. What did you think? I will work some more on other things picking up where I left off right here.