Authors Note
Huge thanks to all those who have reviewed, positive feedback and ways I can improve are always welcome.
Many thanks to Charlie for looking this over.
Still don't own either The Hobbit or Harry Potter or any related media, unfortunately, if I did I would not be at school.
Chapter Three - Of Family and Wizards
It took two months to contact Gandalf and another three for him to get to Greenwood, by which time Elizabeth was well and truly healed. Thranduil and Legolas had grown quite attached to the little Istar whose mere presence seemed to brighten whichever room she was in, which is what lead to Thranduil asking to speak with her and Legolas the day before Gandalf arrived.
"You can't catch me, Legolas," Elizabeth shouted behind her as she burst into the room.
"Get back here, Beth," Legolas called from where he was jogging behind her, obviously letting her get ahead of him. He proved how easily he could catch up with her when in a sudden burst of speed he swept her into his arms and began tickling her, causing Elizabeth to squeal.
"Okay, you win, just please stop," Elizabeth begged.
Thranduil smiled at the two of them before clearing his throat, "I hate to interrupt but there is something I would like to discuss with you two."
Releasing Elizabeth, who was still recovering from the tickle attack, Legolas turned to his father.
"Good morning, Ada, what was it you needed to talk to us about?"
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Elizabeth smiled.
Carefully hiding his nervousness behind a smile Thranduil gestured for them to sit before beginning to talk.
"It has been a very long time since the presence of a child has graced these halls and yet I find I would not go back to those empty halls if I could prevent it." Legolas seemed to realize where this conversation was going while Elizabeth just looked confused. Thranduil continued, "I wish to adopt you, Elizabeth, I would be your father, Legolas your brother, and this would be your home for as long as you wish it."
Elizabeth looked down twisting her hands on her lap as she considered what he was saying before whispering, "I don't have the best luck with family."
"We will not be anything like the Dursleys, Dilthen er, we will not change just because you are family. I promise we won't hurt you," Legolas told her carefully.
"I want a family that cares," Elizabeth said quietly still not looking up.
"And we will be that if you let up. You can take some time to think about this if you wish," Thranduil told her.
"No, I… I want to try this," Elizabeth decided.
"Then welcome to the family, nin -iel," Thranduil announced.
Any further conversation was interrupted by a loud growl from Elizabeth's stomach which caused Elizabeth to blush and Legolas to chuckle; the paperwork and announcements could wait.
"I think anything else can wait until the little one is fed," Legolas stated, unknowingly agreeing with his father's thoughts. He was overjoyed that she had agreed, for he had always wanted a little sister, now that he had one he would just have to keep her safe. That didn't sound too hard.
The next day, while Elizabeth was playing with Legolas after lunch, an elf approached them. "Your Highness', Mithrandir has arrived and is waiting in the throne room," they said.
"Thank you, we shall be there soon," Legolas claimed, motioning for them to leave.
"Legolas, who is Mithrandir?" Elizabeth asked confused.
"It is one of the many names of Gandalf the Grey, he is an Istar like you are and we hope he will be able to teach you how to wield your magic," Legolas answered as they began the short journey to the throne room.
"You're getting rid of me aren't you?" Elizabeth asked as tears began to form in her eyes.
"No, of course not, little sister, we just want you to be able to learn how to use your magic, it is a part of you after all," Legolas tried to reassure her.
But Elizabeth did not believe, "No, you're lying. Why would you want me? No one ever wants me," she cried not paying any attention to what the colours were trying to tell her, "Please don't leave me," she begged and her magic reacted to her distress, sticking their hands together so that Legolas could not leave her. Elizabeth blinked when the colours around their hands shifted and tried to release his hand to work out what was going on but no matter what she did she could not peel her hand away. Realizing that it was probably something she had done, she began crying again and tried apologizing, but Legolas was so busy trying and failing to calm her down he did not have time to try decipher her words.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to and now I… I can't undo it," she managed to whisper.
"What did you do, Beth," Legolas asked gently, glad that the hall they were in was a little used one and remained empty.
Elizabeth raised their hand and showed him how it was impossible for them to release them, her lip quivering as though she might start crying again.
"It is alright, you did not mean to and I doubt it is permanent," Legolas said hoping to prevent more tears, "if you want we can talk to Gandalf and see if he can undo it." Elizabeth just nodded because though she did not want to leave her new family, she did not want to spend every second with Legolas. And so the prince and princess walked hand in hand to the throne room where their father and Gandalf were waiting.
Gandalf observed the Greenwoods princess, Elizabeth, as she entered the throne room, curious about the young girl that was apparently the newest member of the order of Istari and yet was so different from the rest of them. Young Elizabeth was also watching him, with eyes red from crying, something that concerned both Gandalf and Thranduil, although she also appeared fascinated by the air around him, how odd. Deciding that she was probably nervous he knelt down in front of her to give her more of a sense of control, before introducing himself, though not with his customary greeting as that would probably just confuse the poor dear.
"Greetings, little one, I am Gandalf the Grey it is a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Elizabeth and I am not little, you're just unnaturally tall," Elizabeth declared causing Legolas to once again chuckle at his sister's antics and earning a smile from Thranduil and Gandalf.
"Of course, Your Highness," Gandalf replied ignoring her mutter of "Elizabeth". "Now I have been told you require my help, do you not."
"Umm, yes, we do," Elizabeth's response was barely audible and she barely managed it before nudging Legolas to get him to explain.
On the way here there was a small misunderstanding and Beth's magic reacted to it rather oddly," Legolas told Thranduil and Gandalf slowly, before pausing to look at Elizabeth and make sure she was okay.
Out with it no need to drag this out the sooner you tell me the sooner it can be fixed," Gandalf demanded.
"I stuck our hands together and I can't undo it," Elizabeth said quietly
"What do you mean stuck?" Gandalf asked
"She means that it is impossible for us to release the other's hand," Legolas replied.
"And this was a complete accident?" he checked and at their nods, he continued, "I have never seen anything like this before."
"But will you be able to undo it? Because as much as my children care for each other I doubt they will appreciate being forced to spend every second of the rest of their life together, especially once Elizabeth has grown up," Thranduil asked, his patience wearing thin in regards to the wizard who refused to hurry up.
"I do not know, this may be beyond my abilities," he informed Thranduil before turning his attention back to the prince and princess, "May I examine your hands, please," he requested.
Legolas looked between Elizabeth and Gandalf before extending the hand that was clasping his little sisters.
Elizabeth was worried, not by the man in front of her called Gandalf but by the fact he did not seem to believe he could reverse whatever it was her magic had done. She felt panic begin to build as he shook his head as if he had decided he could not help. Desperately, Elizabeth wished she could release Legolas because though she did not want to leave him she also did not want to ruin his life with her constant presence nor force him to keep her around. In her panic, her magic rose to fulfil her wish, shocked she watched as once again a light grey swirled around their hands. Wondering if Gandalf had actually found a way to reverse it but concerned she might have just made it worse, she focused on her hand and was delighted to find she could move it again.
Legolas noticed her movement and began uncurling his fingers before thinking for a moment and merely adjusting his grip on her hand. Elizabeth looked at him in confusion, after all, she had half expected him to snatch his hand away and want nothing to do with her ever again. What Elizabeth did not know was that Legolas had realized that that was what she thought he would do so as a silent promise that he still wanted her around and was not going to leave her he didn't let go. Thranduil and Gandalf both noticed their newly rediscovered ability to move both hands and it surprised them as they knew they had not been lying nor had Gandalf done more than look at them.
"Thank you, sir," Elizabeth said, Thinking Gandalf must have done something to undo her mistake.
"Do not thank me, my dear, for I did nothing, that was all you," Gandalf replied startling Elizabeth. "Tell me, young Elizabeth, what were you thinking when you reversed the spell?"
Unsure Elizabeth glanced at Thranduil and Legolas before quietly saying, "I was wishing I could let go of Legolas," carefully making sure not to look at Legolas so that she would not see the hurt she expected to flash across his face.
"And before, when you attached the two of you, what were you thinking?"
"I don't know, I didn't want him to leave me," Elizabeth told him.
"Interesting, it would seem that your magic was attempting to fulfil your wishes without being controlled. I have never seen anything quite like this before but it would be an honour to help you learn how to wield your power," Gandalf announced, it was good finding things you have never encountered before, especially at his age. It stopped you getting too arrogant, in his opinion.
"I don't want to leave," Elizabeth whispered but everyone heard it.
"And you won't have to, nin -iel, Gandalf will come here to help you, and I refuse to allow you to leave without being able to defend yourself first," Thranduil told her firmly, not wanting her to doubt his words.
She nodded, though it was obvious that she did not fully believe him, but it was a start.
Authors Note
This chapter took longer than I would have liked what with school and illness but it is finally here even if I am still not 100% pleased with it. Thank you, everyone, who has responded to this story in a positive way. I will attempt to make this story more regular in updating but we will see. On another note I have a tumblr for this story where I will post ideas, when I update, and answer any questions, so please check it out ()
Sindarin in this chapter:
Dilthen er- Little one
Nin -iel - My daughter
Translations according to /elvish