SF552014: Okay before everyone gets the pitchforks and torches I'd like to say I was MIA for the last year for a multitude of terrible and great reasons most of which I'm pretty sure no one wants to hear about so lets just say its been one of those types of years and if you've had one of those types of years you'll know what I'm talking about if not then wait til you have one. YOU'LL HATE AND LOVE IT! Yeah also sorry about this chapter not being as long as any one would like it to be but I had to get something posted so everyone wouldn't start trying to steal all my stories. Sooooo here's the 1st chapter of any story I've posted in a year and the 6th chapter of
Dark Time, Bright Hope
Chapter 6: Discovery, Confusion, Hope
It was a terrible situation for everyone. The Fellowship, besides Harry, had no idea what they were up against with this "Voldemort" person but everyone even the Hobbits could feel the evil that rolled off of the man in thick waves. Harry however knew what he would be fighting. He'd spent so much time training so he could fight against him. Because of this Harry knew that there would be no way for the other to fight Voldemort and survive. He would have to keep Voldemort busy while the others dealt with the orcs and fake dragons.
"Well Harry, here we are once again; face to face in a situation that neither fully understands besides the fact that we are meant to do battle until only one wizard remains," here the newly regenerated Voldemort paused to cast his gaze upon the group Harry was now a part of, "But lucky for you that battle shall not be today. Instead I have come to retreave the ring. Give it to me."
"Playing lapdog now? Retrieving for your master now? How the tide has turned." Harry spat. The older man did not raise to the bait as he had expected. Instead he simply cracked a smirk.
"Say what you will boy. Things are not that black and white any longer. Now give me the ring or watch as your friends die one by one. It'll be like the good old days." The Dark Lord raised his hand and the orc's and dragon remakes began to shift into an attack ready position.
"Tom, Tom, Tom. You'll be dead before that ever happens again!" The younger wizard said forcefully as he flung his arm out before him repeatedly sending jet after jet of different colored spells toward the five dark creatures. They were blocked by a shield the other wizard conjured.
The Orc's sprang to attack the Fellowship, battle cries tearing from their throats. Immediately Bomir, Legolas, Aragon and Gimli reacted by standing infront of the Hobbits; prepared to keep them from danger with their very bodies if need be. As the Fellowship clashed with the orc's Harry fought Voldemort.
"Do you truelly think you can defeat me boy?" taunted the adult wizard, "Just because Dumbledore decided to do those wonderfully terrible things to you does not mean you can stand against me and hope to win." And with that the talking was over and the two wizards began volleying spells at one another increasing in strength until both wizards spells were hitting trees and the like with the strength of cannons.
Harry made sure to keep half an eye on the Fellowship so he could protect them from the flying spells when needed. They seemed to be having slight difficulty killing the four orc's & their modes of transportation that had accompanied Voldemort. They seemed to be much more intelegent and skilled than the other orc's they had previously encountered within the Mines. However, Harry could not fully focus on helping them because of Voldemort. It he took more of his attention away from the Dark Lord then either he or one of his friends would die, and he could not allow that to happen. So the Boy Who Lived instead refocused his attention to the other wizard. If he could just get him to retreat or better yet die, then he could help the others.
Harry began to redouble his efforts trying to drive Voldemort back. As the two moved in their dance of destruction Harry noticed that Voldemort was beginning to slow. At first he simply chalked it up to simple magical and physical exhaustion but soon he realized that could not be the reason. He wasn't the Dark Lord Voldemort for nothing, he wouldn't be so tired so quickly. Soon the answer hit him like a tone of bricks.
Slowly Harry began to sneak closer to the man being very careful to keep high alert as spells missed him by centimeters. Once he was within a few feet of the other man, Harry thought of the most powerful cutting spell he knew and cut Voldemorts head from his shoulders. The body did not spew blood or fall to the ground. Instead it turned to mud and fell to the ground with a wet flop. Harry wasted no time and turned toward the rest of the Fellowship seeing only one standing orc & dragon, hurled two killing curses and killed them both.
The youth lit all the bodies on fire before moving towards the Fellowship. They each wore a look of curiosity as they itched to ask Harry of the man. Harry ignored the looks and attempted to continue onward in the direction they had been walking originally. His process was stopped as he was forced to his knees by a blinding pain in his abdomen. His last conscious thought was if the fellowship could survive with orcs and those rider bearing down on their necks.
Orc's were the last thing on the minds of the other 8 people as they rushed to Harry's side. They rolled him on to his back where his cloak fell open to reveal and large gash on his abdomen. Quickly Bomir, Aragon and Legolas began to undress and clean the boy and the wound so they could wrap it with make shift bandages.
Gimli and the hobbits sat wondering how exactly the wizard had obtained such a wound. Frodo didn't have to think long before he rememebered back in the cave when Harry had saved him from the mountain troll. His cloak had been closed but in a strange way and since then he hadn't opened it; this was why. He hadn't wanted anyone to know… Frodo felt tears well in his eyes before spilling down his cheeks. He'd yelled at Harry that day, for Gandalf's death even though the elder man had willingly walked to his fate. Frodo felt terrible. Not only had he blamed Harry for Gandalf's death but now he might have to watch him die aswell… Could he possibly have been a worst person?
The entire Fellowship watched as Harry rested after being bandaged. Aragon was worried for everyone. If they didn't move soon the orc's would be upon them and then it would be impossible to stop them, with only four to truly fight and five to protect. But he knew that they couldn't move the boy just yet without the possibly of his wound worsening and leaving him was simply not an option. So they would simply have to wait until the boy awaked to formulate a plan.
It wasn't until much later that night that Harry awakened. The stars were bright contrasts against the dark black sky as harry opened his emerald eyes. The light of the moon bathed the area allowing medium visibility. Harry turned his head searching for his companions. Sam and Frodo lay side-by-side next to him, stressed expressions on their faces even as they slept. He watched them for a moment as they slept before he turned his face to the opposite side. Merri and Pippin lay on his other side also side-by-side half out of their blankets and lightly snoring. He gazed at them worriedly for a moment. Harry wasn't sure they understood the situation they were in yet. In a way Harry hoped they never did so they could retain that innocence that comes with ignorance of the horrors of the world. Yet at the same time he knew they would die if they didn't realize soon.
Looking past them Harry saw the remaining four members of the Fellowship sitting in a circle. They looked to be having an important conversation judging by their serious expressions and hand motions. The young wizard decided he needed to be apart of the conversation. Slowly he began to raise stifling moans and sounds of pain as he stood and made his way over to the other four men. Silence blanketed the men as he drew near and slowly lowered himself to the ground. Harry looked at each and nodded his greeting.
"How is your wound? Are you in pain?" Aragon questioned.
Harry touched his make shift bandages. "I am fine. I apologize for taking up so much time. We need to keep moving if we're to avoid the orcs on our tail. In my current condition I'm no good for much. My magic is accelerating the healing process and since is so severe most of my magic is being sapped." He paused for a breath. "The only real option we have is for me to transport everyone at once. I only have enough magic to do it once and then I will have to rest for at least two days. So where ever you choose to go make sure its far." Silence met Harry's statement as everyone tried to think of a logical place for haven.
"There is a place.." the blonde man began, "It is a village of Elves. They live within the tree tops. There we may seek refuge from the orcs."
"How long will they allow us haven?" questioned the dark haired ranger.
"A few days maybe?" the elf responded.
"Are we seriously thinking of staying in trees!?" Gimli exclaimed in a harsh whisper.
"Do you have a better idea?" Bomir questioned
"Well no…but a tree!" the others shot the smallest member of the fellowship a dead pan look and ignored his protests.
"As I've said I can only move us once. Is this the only place we can seek refuge? Is it even guaranteed?"
"I am more than certain. If we were not wanted there we would already know." The elf explained criptically.
"We leave at dawn then. For now Legolas take first watch and we switch every two hours until dawn. Choose who you will for second watch." And with that the meeting was over and everyone went to sleep.
Harry and Legolas were left as sole watch over the makeshift campsite, bathed in the soft glow in the moon. Harry attempted to stand however his abused abdomen had other ideas. As he tried to stand pain flared across his stomach and raised a small pain filled groan from his throat. Legolas was instantly at the other mans side pushing him back into a sitting position.
"You must not further injure yourself!" the pointed eared man said forcefully with a gentle undertone. "We need you to heal sooner not later."
Harry laughed slightly and let the other man fuss over him for a moment. "Do you know that I spent more than 7 years being fussed over by a nurse, a healer, and I used to hate it but oddly I don't mind it when you do it." The older man was thankful for the semi darkness as his cheeks heated and colored into a light blush, no one had ever said such a thing to him.
"It is the least I can do for letting you retain such a wound and walk with it." This simple sentence was said with such sadness that it wrenched at Harry's heart.
"You act as if it was your fault I stepped in front of that spear or that it was your fault I told no one I had such a wound and continued on with it. You can not change the actions of others or predict them so do not blame yourself for them." The young wizard lay down on the unrelenting ground before speaking one last time. "I do appreciate you trying to blame yourself however. It shows you truly do care."
Luckily the younger man had fallen asleep because Legolas was struck dumb as he wondered why he had said such a thing. 'You are definitely an interesting man Harry.'
And that was the 6th Chapter of Dark Times, Bright Hope. Please everyone review. Reviews I read are what give me the muse to keep writing even when I can't post. So please have some mercy and review, review, review! THANKS!
-SF552014
