The group: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Aragorn, Nira, Legolas, Haldir, and three other elves, acting as Nira's guard set out for the white city. After two days, they were making good time on their journey. Without warning, their horses became uneasy and would go no further. They all seemed to back away from a central point, but none of the riders could see what triggered the fear.
"I've been here before," Nira said quietly.
"It's a forest," one of her guard commented. "They all feel like that."
"No, I really have been here before. This place doesn't bring back the pleasantest of memories."
They heard the pounding of hooves and shouting of men drawing near, and then running passed them far inside the line of trees. Nira finally saw what had frightened the horses. She slid off her horse and walked over to Pippin's saddlebags, pulling out a piece of salted pork.
"Hey," Pippin complained. "That's mine."
Nira ignored him and stepped toward the trees. The group behind her shifted uneasily as a creature none had ever seen stepped into the clearing. It was a skeletal creature with black leathery skin and wings. It had beady black eyes and a sort of beak.
"Stay away from it, Nira," Haldir warned.
She ignored him and stepped closer to it slowly. It caught her eye, looking apprehensive. She held out the salted pork in her hand, whispering to the creature.
"It's a horse," Gimli snapped. "It won't eat meat."
No sooner had he spoken, and the creature took the food offered to it. Nira stroked the beast's head, whispering softly to it.
"It's called a thestral," she told them absently. "You can only see them if you've seen death. It appears we found our way back to my world. This could be a problem."
"Why is that?" Frodo asked.
"I don't exactly know how to get back."
"How did you come to Middle Earth in the first place?" Merry asked.
"I fell, very Alice in Wonderland if I do say so."
The rest of her group looked at each other, trying to figure out what Nira meant by 'very Alice in Wonderland.' While she stroked the thestral, it spread its wings and jumped into the air. She smiled as the creature flew away.
"If what Gandalf told me is true," Nira said out loud, but thinking to herself, "time in Middle Earth passes five times as fast as it does here. It's been roughly fifteen months since I left here, in Middle Earth time. So it has only been three months here. Three months since the end of term would mean it's about time for school to start."
She pulled herself back into her saddle and turned her horse in circles. She saw a severed rope tied to a tree nearby and smiled. She looked through the trees and urged her horse to start walking.
"This way," she told them. "I know someone who can help us."
They set off, their horses trotting through the trees. They found the edge of the forest and looked out over the sloping lawn. The sun was high in the sky, and they saw groups of kids lounging around. Nira looked out and saw some people she knew.
"Don't expect to be liked or believed," she told them. "Let me do the talking. Don't do anything stupid. Don't provoke them. Don't say anything to anyone unless I tell you. My world just ended a war. There will be hard feelings toward any newcomer. Their war was very different than yours, so don't assume anything. And keep the swords and arrows to a minimum. When they see you, they will most likely laugh. Don't let on to who I am. I don't know if I'm ready for my world to know about me yet."
She led them out of the line of trees, the rest of them following closely. They caught the attention of a few students, then more. She heard them whisper and laugh at her group. She also heard snide comments about the hobbits.
"The Muggles must really be interested in the ruins they see," a Ravenclaw said to her friend. "That is all they see. They can't even see us."
Nira turned and looked directly at the girl, who gasped.
"I think they can see us," she hissed to her friend. "Expecto Patronum. Go tell Professor Potter that there are intruders that may be able to see us."
The silver fox that fell out of the tip of her wand shot off. Nira saw Aragorn rest his hand of the hilt of his sword. She shot him a warning look, and he stopped. Before they could go any further, teachers hurried out of the castle, wands drawn.
She smiled slightly, seeing Harry in the lead. Nira got off her horse and stood in front of the group as Harry stopped a few feet away from her.
"Who are you?" he asked harshly. "Why are you here? How did you get passed the wards?"
Nira just looked at him smiling before saying, "We are travelers from a distant land. Our business is our own. We wish to speak to whoever rules this castle."
"You will," Harry replied shortly.
Nira turned back to her companions. Harry seized her arm roughly, stopping her. She glared at him, as the elves notched arrows, Aragorn drew his sword, and Gimli shifted his ax.
"Stand down," Nira snapped at them.
They followed her orders, hesitantly. She tried to pull away from Harry, but his grip tightened. He pulled her away from her group, making her stumble. She regained her footing easily, being an elf, and drew a dagger from her belt. She pressed it against Harry's neck, his eyes wide.
"Touch me like that again, Harry James Potter," she growled, "and you will lose your hand."
"Hermione?" he whispered, dropping her arm.