A/N- This story might move at a quicker pace than my first story, I haven't decided yet. But, my goal is for it to be longer than the first one. Review! –Phoenix
"Hermione?" Harry gasped as he stared at the young woman in front of him.
The young woman's beautiful brown eyes let a couple tears escape as she nodded. "Hello, Harry. Cormamin lindua ele lle (my heart sings to see thee)," she whispered.
On his shoulder, Kex snapped out of the initial shock first and quickly climbed down Harry before bounding over to the table where he tackled a small form covered in fur. After a second of confusion, Harry realized that it was Ivy and she was greeting Kex with just as much affection as Kex was using with her.
Unable to bear being parted any longer, Harry sprinted forward and pulled Hermione into a hug and squeezed her tight, afraid to let her go.
"Hermione, my Hermione," he cried over and over. "You're really here."
Hermione returned the hug and cried into Harry's chest. "I've missed you, so much. I'm sorry that I couldn't get word to you over the summer."
Harry cupped Hermione's cheeks with his hands and desperately brought his lips down onto hers in a passionate kiss.
When they were forced to come up for air, Hermione found herself engulfed in a very tight hug from Neville who picked her up and twirled her around while Sage howled ecstatically.
"When did you get back?" he asked enthusiastically.
Hermione laughed and as soon as her feet were on the ground she pressed herself back against Harry, as if she couldn't bear to be apart from him. "I got back an hour ago," she said. "Luna has been filling me in on everything that has happened."
Harry kissed Hermione's hair and pulled her close. "Please don't ever leave me again," he pleaded. "I couldn't live through it again."
"It was hard for me too," Hermione sniffed as she looked away. "Why don't we sit down and I'll tell you about my summer and you can tell me about yours."
They all readily agreed and they went to the sitting room where they were joined by Dobby, Winky, Willowsong, and Robin. After Hermione took a few moments to give Robin a big hug and to share ecstatic congratulations for Dobby and Winky and their pregnancy, she sat down next to Harry and immediately took his hand in hers.
"Where to begin," Hermione sighed as leaned into Harry. Ivy leapt up on the couch and stretched out her legs.
"How about the beginning?" she asked amusedly. "Start from when we went into the forest."
Hermione nodded and, if possible, pressed herself into Harry even more. "I guess that the best place is the beginning. After Ivy and I crossed the border into the Forbidden Forest…"
Tears still running down her cheeks, Hermione ran over the border, not exactly knowing what to expect. One second she was running towards the dark and gloomy forest and suddenly she was running into a room that was encased in natural light.
"What on earth?" Hermione gasped as she forced herself to stop before she ran into the wall.
She gaped as she looked around the room that she was in.
The best thing that she could think of was that she was standing in a sort of meeting room. There were piles of fur that were arranged in a circle with one pile looking more comfortable than the rest. There were assorted weapons on the walls and Hermione had to stop herself from stroking one of the bows, remembering the sad end of her own bow.
"This is the room of the Council," a soft voice said behind her.
Hermione spun around and found herself staring at the most beautiful woman that she had ever seen.
The woman wore a bright green dress with leather arm guards that went from her hands to her elbows. Her ears were pointed and her eyes were a clear blue while her pale skin was free of any blemishes. Around her neck was a simple braided cord that went through a wood ring.
Just looking at this beautiful woman, Hermione felt compelled to sink to the floor. She dropped on her knees and stared at the ground.
Who is this woman? she thought shakily. For someone of such beauty, I can also sense great power from her as well.
The woman chuckled, as if sensing Hermione's internal struggle. "Rise my dear," she said with her soft voice. "You have no need to kneel before me, my champion."
Hermione's head snapped up. "You're the one who saved me during the attack," she stated.
"You saved yourself," the woman responded. "I merely reminded you of what you already possessed."
Hermione pushed herself up. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled kindly. "I am Arya, Queen of the Elves. And you are now in my village. Come," and with that she turned and walked out of the room, forcing Hermione to get to her feet and stumble after her with Ivy right behind.
Queen Arya led Hermione out of the building which, to Hermione's surprise, was carved into the side of a mountain. The village itself was on the outskirts of a lush forest with a river that flowed on the side. Scattered throughout the village there were numerous huts that were about the same size as Hagrid's home back at Hogwarts. Hermione noticed that there were homes built in the trees as well and it wasn't until she got a closer look that she realized that the branches on the outside of the tree actually made stairs to lead to the top.
Throughout the village, there were numerous elves going about their day. Some elves carried fishing gear and went towards the river while others hovered in what Hermione could only guess was the market. Hermione noticed that only male elves wore tunics and pants while the female elves all wore dresses.
"Our village is small," Queen Arya said as she walked among the village, stopping to greet a fellow elf here and there. "Most of my people live among the trees. Only myself and my guard live in the mountain, which serves as a safe-hold should danger, arise."
"Queen Arya," Hermione began hesitantly. "Do only male elves train to fight? I don't see any female elves wearing clothes suitable for combat."
Arya chuckled in amusement. "Women are free to be warriors in my village," she said. "While more men than women enter our army, the option is still there. I trust that this insecurity comes from past experience?"
Hermione bowed her head. "I guess I'm just used to being told that I can't do something because of how I was born," she explained. "My parents were muggles so I'm considered a lower-class magical being because that and I'm a woman so I couldn't be considered a goblin warrior like my fiancé."
"It is a difficult path to walk, the path of a woman warrior," Arya said sympathetically. "Even if a woman chooses to fight, that fighting spirit usually dies with the birth of her first child."
"I never thought of it like that," Hermione admitted.
They walked through the village and Hermione noticed that Queen Arya seemed to know all of her subjects. In fact, they weren't even surprised to see a human walking amongst their numbers. A few of the women actually curtsied and a couple men bowed slightly. Hermione felt her cheeks warm up with her blush as she graciously returned the elves' greeting.
Queen Arya observed her subjects treating Hermione with respect with a small smile on her face. After the tour was over, Queen Arya led Hermione to the Queen's Quarters in the mountain. The room was modest, nothing like Hermione was expecting. There was a bed in the center, a closet, and a basin room that was tapped into the river so there was running water. But, what impressed Hermione the most were the array of weapons that hung off of the Queen's walls.
"I am not a helpless queen," Arya remarked in amusement when she caught Hermione ogling the weapons on the walls. "In this village, the right to be called Queen or King does not come from blood in our veins, it comes from the deeds that we have done for the village. In the depths of our mountain is our treasure, and it is that treasure that declares who is most worthy to lead the elves."
"Why were you chosen, if I may ask?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
Arya took in a breath and stared at the wall, as if she was staring at a memory. "It was to be my husband to be the next King," she said softly. "But, he was slain in combat by an enemy ruler. I was chosen in his place because I defeated my love's slayer and therefore ending the war. But, there is not a day when I do not wish that I were not queen, for that would mean that my beloved husband would still be here with me."
Hermione looked at the floor uncomfortably and Ivy anxiously clawed at the floor. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Hermione whispered.
"It is not a secret how I came into power," Arya said somewhat bitterly. After another deep breath, her pleasant smile was back. "My people do not oppose a human being among us because they know that you are their champion. It will be my task to train you in true elf magic. You may be familiar with house elf magic, but that is merely a fragment of what you are capable of. You shall be my apprentice. I have arranged for you to live in an empty hut in the forest, for you will feel closer to nature that way. But, also I have arranged a bodyguard to be with you at all times."
"I can protect myself," Hermione objected gently.
Arya chuckled. "I know that my dear. But, these forests are not completely safe. You will be guarded by my most promising soldier. In human biological years, he is about your age. In reality he is considerably older."
Hermione bit her lip nervously. "He?"
"Yes. You two will live together. I shall teach you elf magic, but he shall teach you elf combat," Arya said in a tone that would not tolerate any objections. "He has my complete trust and will treat you with respect in your shared dwellings."
"I feel weird about the idea of sharing dwellings with someone other than my fiancé," Hermione said softly. "I don't want to be unfaithful."
Arya looked at Hermione with understanding. "You will need to get used to sleeping among men," she said sternly. "You are a woman warrior, and on the battlefield and in the camp, warriors are not pardoned for their gender. If you don't want to be unfaithful to your betrothed, then simply don't be unfaithful. Now, I shall equip you with your weapons."
Hermione looked up and her eyes brightened. "I used to shoot with a bow that was goblin made, but it was broken during the battle."
"For now, you will use one of my bows," Arya ruled. "Along with an elven blade. While goblins forged weapons are stronger and sturdier, elven weapons are more compatible with magic. At the end of your training you will make your own weapon of choice. But, that is not for some time."
They spent an hour fitting Hermione for the perfect loaner weapons. Arya had even more weapons than Hermione realized in her chambers. She wanted Hermione to use a weapon that the Queen had forged herself seeing as Hermione was to be the Queen's apprentice. In the end, Hermione was equipped with a short blade and a long bow along with an empty quiver.
When Hermione had her weapons, Arya took her to the tannery where Hermione was given her new outfit. She was given breeches, boots, and a tunic along with some undergarments and wrappings for her chest. She was also given a simple set of night clothes. When she left the tannery, she had three outfits for training, a simple yet elegant dress for formal occasions, and her night clothes.
Arya led Hermione past the outskirts of the forest and deeper. Not so far that Hermione couldn't see the mountain or the village, but far enough so that she was somewhat isolated.
"You will be doing a lifetime of training in a short amount of time, you will need the privacy," Arya explained.
They came to a stop at a rather tall, old oak. There were sturdy branches on the outside, leading up to the top where Hermione could make a medium-sized hut.
"That will be your home for the duration of your stay," Arya said. "Go and get settled, your bodyguard will be here shortly. He will explain your weapons and physical training schedule. But, you will report to me as the sun rises and the sun sets for your magic training. Meals will be private between you and your bodyguard unless told otherwise. I know that this seems overwhelming, but rest assured my dear, you will quickly grow accustomed. Before I go," Arya took off her necklace and placed it around Hermione's neck. "That necklace will get you entry to the mountain, and therefore me. Please take care of it though, that was my husband's bonding ring."
Hermione touched the wooden ring, eyes wide. "Are you sure?"
Arya nodded and turned to leave. "Welcome to Tel'Ranaemyn (The Lost Hills)."
After the queen had left a stunned Hermione and Ivy alone in the forest for a while, Hermione sighed and clutched her package of clothes and items to her chest and looked at the branches.
"Ready?" she asked Ivy.
Ivy looked at the tree anxiously. "I can't climb those branches, my legs aren't long enough."
Hermione grinned. "No worries."
She put her package down on the ground and shifted into Beauty. She then picked up her package of belongings with her teeth and waited for Ivy to climb onto her back and secure herself. Then, Hermione beat her wings and easily flew up the great height and landed on a balcony where she quickly put down her burdens and shifted back.
The hut was simple, but after living in Potter Manor for so long, Hermione didn't mind the change. There were two single beds, both on opposite sides of the hut. In the center of the hut was a piece of rope and hanging from it a curtain so that they could pull the curtain and get some privacy. There wasn't a basin room, but there was a pump that Hermione saw connected all the way to the bottom of the tree and to a small pond that wasn't too far off from her new dwellings.
Hermione quickly unpacked her few belongings and changed into one of her training outfits. It felt weird wearing the elven clothes, but they were comfortable and breathable. Hermione awkwardly tied the blade to her belt before admiring the beautiful bow that she had been given for training. The lack of arrows would be an issue; Hermione had never made her own arrows before.
While Hermione admired the bow, Ivy climbed on the bed and exclaimed at the animal pelts that lined the bed.
"I don't know if I feel comfortable sleeping on this," Ivy said worriedly. "It's like sleeping on a cousin's corpse."
Hermione smiled sympathetically. "Try not to think about that," she suggested. "What are your impressions of Queen Arya?"
Ivy shrugged and yawned. "I'll feel better when we get a routine going. How do you feel about living with a guy who isn't Harry?"
"Not great," Hermione admitted. "But, I love Harry and I won't be unfaithful to him."
Hermione felt Harry's absence like a thorn in her heart. She hated the terms that they had departed with. Even though she knew that Harry wouldn't cheat on her, seeing him kiss Ginny had brought back the insecurities that she thought had long left her.
The Heir of Salazar Slytherin wasn't what some people thought of as beautiful. With her untamable hair, bookish tendencies and bossy personality, she didn't expect anyone to bother looking her way. But, when she was with Harry, he looked at her as if she were the only girl in the room. She loved him, and he loved her. But, nothing was ever simple in their lives.
It was only when Ivy barked a warning that Hermione was snapped out of her thoughts. Immediately she gripped her new blade, though she didn't know how to wield it, and crouched in a defensive posture as whoever was outside continued to climb the tree.
Her visitor climbed into her new home and Hermione found herself gaping at her protector/teacher/roommate.
He was tall and muscular, which was only accented by the fact that he wasn't wearing a shirt. He had light-brown hair that was pulled into a ponytail. The pointed ears that Hermione had come to associate with every elf, had a bronze earring in one. His eyes were blue-green and had slits. On his back he carried a rucksack, bow, and a full quiver, and tied to his belt was a sheathed sword. Everything from the multiple scars to the sweat that made his chest shine screamed that he was a warrior.
When he saw Hermione in a defensive posture with a sword in hand, he chuckled.
"Your stance is awful," he laughed as he went to his side of the room and tossed his rucksack on his bed. He put his bow and quiver on the wall with much more respect before he went back over to inspect his new pupil.
He walked around her a few times, assessing the state that she was in, but Hermione couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The only man who had ever really checked her out this much was her fiancée.
"You tried to use a goblin stance with an elven blade," he pointed out. "I was informed that you studied with a goblin briefly. If you hope to become an elven warrior, you will have to make your body forget the goblin teachings."
Hermione nodded in understanding and awkwardly sheathed her sword. "I never got much training with swords," she admitted. "I'm much more proficient with a bow."
"You will learn both," her roommate said coolly. "Just because you're the 'elves' champion' doesn't mean that you will take the lazy way out."
"Excuse me?" Hermione said indignantly with her hands on her hips. "I never take the easy way out of anything! Who do you think you are?"
The elf looked a little surprised at her defensive outburst. He wasn't used to a woman talking back at him. While women were more than welcome to become warriors in the village, they were still respectful of the men. A woman having an outburst at a man was almost unheard of, and it was not something that he had ever experienced personally.
"I am your mentor," he said dryly. "And I command respect."
"Respect is earned," Hermione shot back.
They glared at each other for a few tense moments while Ivy glanced anxiously between them.
"Maybe you should start again," Ivy suggested gently. "Introductions are a good place."
Hermione glared at Ivy for a second before she sighed heavily. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said. "I've come to learn from you and Queen Arya in the ways of the elves." She bowed slightly, but she didn't break eye-contact.
The elf looked at her with curious eyes before he nodded his head. "I am Liam," he said. "I am a warrior of Queen Arya's and I have been given the duty of protecting you and teaching you. You will be put through vigorous training and you will not get it easy just because you are a woman."
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Hermione said with a grin.
Liam nodded curtly and went to unpack his belongings. "Hopefully you won't change your mind about being our champion," he remarked. "You start at dawn."
Hermione had to stop herself from throwing up for the third time as she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.
She had been training for a week, and it was the worst week that she had had ever since her parents were murdered.
Training started at dawn every day. Liam escorted Hermione to Queen Arya's dwellings for magic training. The Queen was very strict with training and had high expectations. Training started as soon as the sun started to rise. Morning was focused on meditation and feeling the magic of the earth. Night was dedicated to tapping into that magic.
No matter where Hermione went, Liam was right there with her. When she was with Arya, he was training not even twenty feet away. When she was resting, he would be in the house, keeping an eye on her. Liam took his job as protector very seriously.
When Hermione wasn't training with Arya, she was training with Liam. He would lead her to the nearby field and would instruct her through physical fitness first then basic swordsmanship. She was still holding onto the way that Harry had taught her to wield a blade and Liam wasn't impressed. Because her ability with a bow was already so great, he didn't do much work with it other than when he had her use it during their spars. He even taught her how to make her own arrows and promised her that she would be able to make her arrows stronger as her training with the Queen progressed.
Hermione pushed herself to her knees and feebly grabbed her blade. She forced herself to stand and inhaled deeply to clear the dizziness from her head.
"That was rather poor," Liam remarked from his position ten feet away. He had his sword out and looked almost bored.
"I'm trying," Hermione panted. She held her blade in front of her and glared at Liam. "Try me," she challenged.
Faster than she could follow, Liam was right in front of her and disarmed her, leaving her with a cut on her wrist and her blade on the ground out of reach.
"You will not be ready," Liam sighed. "The elven way of fighting relies on speed and instincts as well as skill. I fear that as a mere human, you lack these abilities. A human will never be able to fully master elf swordsmanship."
Hermione glared at him. "I have to master it," she said passionately. "The world won't fall into balance if I don't!"
Liam sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair. "I am aware of your predicament," he said. "But that doesn't make it easy."
Before Hermione could respond, Liam was pushing her behind himself as he resumed a defensive stance.
"What is it?" Hermione asked worriedly.
Without turning his head, Liam replied, "We've got company. Stay behind me and do not intervene."
Hermione glared at the unsaid assumption that she couldn't protect herself. But, the way that Liam's body was tensed made her keep her mouth shut.
The woods that bordered the field that they trained in were quiet. They were too quiet, Hermione realized.
Suddenly, a loud bellow erupted from the woods and a couple of trees were broken in half. On the far side of the field, Hermione could see a pair of angry red eyes that were over ten feet high. Slowly, the beast stepped into the open and Hermione felt her heart drop to her stomach.
"A minotaur," she gasped in disbelief. "You have a freaking minotaur in your woods."
The minotaur was over ten feet high. He had the head of a bull and the body of a man, and he looked downright mad.
He charged across the field at ferocious speeds towards them. Liam held his sword in a strong grip and charged forward to meet him. When the minotaur was only a few feet away, Liam dropped and did a dodge roll, slashing the minotaur's legs with his sword as he went. The minotaur roared in rage and made a move to kick Liam with his hooves. Hermione winced as she saw the hooves graze Liam's ribs, knowing that Liam would be sporting a few good bruises at best.
"Liam!" Hermione called out worriedly.
All of her exhaustion forgotten, Hermione raced forward to help her mentor. Liam gaped at her in amazement, though Hermione didn't know if it was her bravery or stupidity that shocked him.
Hermione drew her preferred weapon, her bow, off of her back and quickly put an arrow to it. She aimed the arrow before letting it fly. The arrow flew right into the minotaur's shoulder.
A loud bellow erupted from the minotaur's lips and he quickly tossed Liam aside before charging towards Hermione.
"Hermione!" Liam shouted.
Ignoring whatever pain he must've been in, he gripped his sword and leapt at the minotaur. He climbed the minotaur's back and quickly stabbed the minotaur in the back. The minotaur screamed in pain and threw the elf warrior off. When the minotaur was distracted, Hermione loosed another arrow. This one embedded itself in the minotaur's abdomen, but the minotaur didn't even seem to notice it.
"What the hell," Hermione panted. "Can nothing kill that thing?"
"Get out of here," Liam ordered from his spot on the minotaur's back. "I will take care of him."
Before Hermione could retort, the minotaur reached back and grabbed Liam. With all of his strength, he threw Liam to the ground and kicked him right in the stomach. Liam grunted in pain and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Seeing the minotaur attack Liam over and over made Hermione clench her fists around her bow in fury.
I wish I had my wand, she thought desperately. All that I can think to do now is to use elf magic.
Using house-elf magic, she conjured a small ball of light in the palm of her hand and threw it at the minotaur. The minotaur bellowed in shock more than anything else and flew back ten feet. Hermione kept throwing these light balls at the minotaur, pushing him further and further back. But, with the adrenaline wearing off from the initial attack, Hermione found herself once again becoming absolutely exhausted and had to drop to her knees and try to force herself not to pass out.
Taking advantage of Hermione's exhaustion, the minotaur roared and started charging towards her. Unable to move, Hermione could only gasp in horror as the minotaur grabbed her around her waist and lifted her off of the ground. The minotaur squeezed and Hermione screamed in pain as her ribs started breaking.
"Hermione," Liam coughed. With a grunt of pain, he forced himself to get to his feet and sprinted towards them. He stabbed the minotaur in the knee with his sword and ducked when the minotaur took a swipe at him. "Hermione," Liam shouted. "Shoot your bow! Fill it with magic and fire!"
Hermione was all too willing as it was getting too difficult to breathe. She quickly put an arrow to the bow and filled it with magic. She was so panicked that she didn't even realize how she was doing it until the arrow was let go and embedded itself in the minotaur's eye. With an ungraceful thump, Hermione fell to the ground and was pulled aside by Liam as the minotaur's body fell to the ground, dead.
"Are you alright?" Liam demanded as he anxiously laid her on the ground and felt her ribs. "Can you breathe fully?"
"It hurts a little," she admitted. "But what about you? You were kicked by that thing."
Liam gave her a small smile, something that he hadn't done before. "I've been through worse. I'm more concerned for your wellbeing. Can you make it back home? I'll send for Queen Arya to come heal you."
Hermione gave a little 'tut' and forced herself to stand. She wobbled a little and Liam immediately steadied her. "We both need healing, and I'm the one to do it," she told him. "Let's go to the river."
The pair slowly made their way to the river. When they arrived, Hermione instructed Liam to remove his shirt while she removed hers. When Liam was bare-chested and Hermione with her chest wrapped, she led them to the edge of the slow-paced river before she waded in, gasping at the cold.
"Are you coming?" she asked through chattering teeth.
"How is this supposed to help?" Liam asked skeptically.
Hermione laughed and submerged her body so that only her head was above water. "Queen Arya instructed that I am to heal my injuries and yours if anything occurs unless either of us is dying. Since neither of us is dying, then I am the one to heal us."
Liam shrugged, winced, and then followed Hermione into the water. When he was right next to her he submerged his body and sighed in relief as the cold water helped his aching bones.
"So, have you learned how to heal?" he asked, interested. "I'm not gifted with magic, so I have never been able to heal."
Hermione nodded and carefully put her hands on Liam's abdomen. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Her palms glowed a pale green and surrounded Liam's body. After a few seconds, the green vanished and Hermione let out a breath of relief.
"You have quite a few breaks, but no internal bleeding, I can heal that," she said with a smile.
Unable to resist, Liam gave her a smile of his own. "Elf bodies are considerably stronger than human ones," he said smugly. "You didn't think that I'd let a couple minotaur kicks kill me, did you?"
"I should have known better," Hermione laughed. She took in another deep breath before she focused on healing their injuries.
It was a lot easier to heal in cold water at this point in her training. The cold water helped to focus her mind and worked almost as a conduit for her magic. It took ten minutes to heal Liam's body as best she could. The breaks were healed, but he would undoubtedly be sore for a couple days. When he was done, she worked on herself. She only had a broken rib and some internal bruising which she quickly fixed. By the time she was done, she was almost falling asleep in the river. Liam easily picked her up and carried her out of the water. He then secured Hermione's bow and quiver on her back before he helped her on his back.
He slowly carried her back towards their home, but he didn't mind. Even as Hermione fell asleep on his back within a couple minutes, there was still a small smile on the young elf's face.
"You surprised me, Hermione," he whispered. "Maybe training you won't be so bad after all."
A/N- I found a site that has elven phrases which is what I'm using as a source. It's not like speaking elf is a course that you can take in college lol. And yes, I am making minotaurs into a species instead of just one being in my story. Review! –Phoenix