Delusional
Jessylane318
"Harry Potter?"
He didn't turn around, but instead continued to practice the levitation charm, dragging boulders off the side of the mountain to place them in a large pile before himself. Far more exhausting than levitating simple feathers into the sky.
A hand pressed against his head, and Harry pulled away, surprised to see Elrond's daughter before him. She still looked beautiful, her face one of eternal youth, and her black hair, untouched by the frost of age, falling about her eyes. She looked troubled, and Harry could hardly bare to see it upon one normally so serene.
"Yes, lady Arwen?" he asked, bowing his head slightly. He felt empty now, his anger having been long spent.
"Come inside before you catch chill, child." She grabbed at his hand and pulled him with her as they walked towards the huge city. Or rather, the overly large prison.
"I'd rather not," he whispered, lowering his eyes and coming to an abrupt halt. She stopped and stared, as though looking through him and into his soul. It unnerved him, reminding him strongly of Dumbledore with his twinkling eyes.
"My brother did not mean to upset you, Aistari." Harry didn't know what she had called him, and didn't care. He closed his eyes and leaned forward. He knew Elladan hadn't meant it, but it had hurt all the same. "Estel has asked them both to look after you in his absence. They both agreed to protect you, and when you lit your hand with fire, they were scared."
"Elves don't get scared," Harry disagreed. He had listened to Bilbo's stories and Aragorn's as well, of elves riding off to battle and performing heroic deeds, brave and awe-inspiring.
Arwen laughed, the sound like a tinkling of many bells. "Alas, but if only! To think such things... We have hearts and flesh to feel, just as you mortals, even now I fear for Aragorn and Frodo, should the fellowship fail..." She trailed off before beginning again, eyes misty. "You scared Elladan and Elrohir very much today."
"I'm sorry..." he whispered, feeling foolish for thinking such things and for letting the elf's words get to him. The fellowship was in danger and here he was thinking only of himself—since when had he become so self-centered?
"There is nothing to forgive, Aistari. Now come, let us return for it is most cold here and Bilbo the hobbit has something to give you, so he says."
Harry nodded and let Lady Arwen lead him back into the city and to Bilbo's quarters. The hobbit as well as twin elves were waiting for him there. He bid the lady farewell with a clumsy bow and watched her smile and leave, patting his head lightly. When she'd left ear-shot, he found himself with an earful of apologies.
"Forgive me, Harry Potter."
He watching the two bow in a purposefully gawky and ungainly way that, despite their elegance, somehow destroyed his own sour mood.
"I understand," Harry replied evenly, making certain to keep his voice neutral. "You didn't know."
"It should not matter," replied Elrohir, black eyes dark. "However, we have spoken with Bilbo and decided that if you must be willful and leave the safety of Rivendell, then we shall not stop you."
Harry felt his heart leap. He could still go! He'd almost thought the elves would try and stop him, not that it would help. Harry was determined to help the fellowship either way, he would prove himself!
"However," his joy faded instantly, replaced by suspicion. A catch, as usual. "In return for keeping our silence, we shall join you." He felt the shock immediately, like a punch to the belly and found himself speechless. Seeing this, the elf plunged onwards. "We shall follow you until we are sure you are close enough to join them, and at that time, shall return to the wilds."
"But-"
"It is the only way," interrupted Elladan sternly. "We promised Estel to protect you. We will not stop you, but we will not break our promise with Estel either."
Harry nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Very good," broke in Bilbo making Harry jump. He had forgotten the old hobbit was there. "I have prepared your maps and bags." He winked at Harry with a grin. "Three shall ride at dawn!"
The elves each smirked to themselves and Harry had to hide a goofy grin of his own. He was getting to go! He would be able to help! He would prove he wasn't childish or stupid. He would! That night, Harry could hardly contain his excitement as he went to bed.
Harry rose at dawn, relentless.
Hooded by the swiftly fading night, they left Rivendell with only a whispered goodbye to Lady Arwen as she kissed each farewell, slipping Harry a scroll before striding away. It was then, Harry realized their were only two horses.
"To prevent trouble," explained Elrohir as he tightened the saddle on his horse a good ways away from Rivendell's gates. "And so Ada doesn't think we're involved."
"Ada?" Harry asked, climbing on the large beast behind Elladan.
"Father," Elrohir explained patiently as they begun to ride out.
"He won't be mad at you, will he?" inquired Harry, uncertain. He didn't want to get the twins in trouble. They both laughed quietly at his concern.
"How thoughtful of you, little one," replied Elrohir with a grin. "But he will be no more angry than Estel." Elladan then too grinned, watching Harry wince. "Worry not for us though, Estel shall likely be more angry with you. Are you sure you do not wish to turn back, it is not to late?"
Harry shook his head, determined. No, he would prove his worth, he wouldn't be just left behind! He wasn't some pathetic child or useless wimp!
"Very well. Let us make haste, brother! We have twelve days to make up and more distance than I should like. Hold tightly, Aistari, let us run!"
The group rode for several hours, sometimes at a fast gallop and sometimes a rapid canter. They filled the days with lessons in Elvish, where Elladan and Elrohir both refused to speak in English, pointing to things and naming them before suddenly quizzing him on their names: orn (tree), ondo (stone), anar (sun)... The nights, however, were filled far more pain.
While the horses rested, Harry faced each brother with his heavy sword, ignoring his sore and chapped legs so he might learn to wield a blade—one of which both elves remarked as dirty beyond belief. The first night they made him scrub it clean while beginning the lessons, agonizing over how to respect a blade and it's proper care.
The nights afterwards, Elladan attacked ruthlessly, which usually ended with Harry on his arse, completely sore all over.
"Move your feet!" shouted Elladan, coming forward and swinging low. Harry only barely managed to block the blow before it was coming for his head. He shifted sideways, breathing heavy as he pulled the blade, Gryffindor's sword, up to block.
"Surely your not tired already?" asked Elrohir, taking a swig of water and munching on who-knows-what (some stupid leaf, most likely). "How will you ever defeat the orcs if you can't carry your blade for a small ten minutes?"
The green eyed wizard glared in the elf's direction but said nothing.
A knife pressed against his throat and he knew he'd lost again, letting his focus wander.
"Dead."
"So I see..." Harry acknowledged, the pressure of the steel close to cutting the skin.
"You will not see if your attention wanders in battle! Your enemy shall cut you down, and rightly so. Pay attention and move your feet!"
"Alright," Harry grumbled, pulling away from the metal and towards the other side. Muscles aching, he dragged the sword upwards in the correct defensive position before driving onward. They did not stop practicing until Elrohir made supper, where Elladan attacked him once more while he ate.
He fell asleep listening to the elf's lectures on etiquette, to tired to finish chewing or swallowing.
Harry woke with a start, feeling someone shaking him awake. Blurs of brown and black obscured his vision, the light of the fire flickering across the unrecognizable face. He grabbed the glasses thrust into his hand, and pushed them against his nose, wiping something wet from beneath his eyes.
"Harry!" He felt his face pressed against Elrohir's chest and heated with embarrassment. He wasn't some baby that needed mollycoddling! He tried to push away, but the arms that wrapped him were to strong and he himself, to sore. "It'll be alright..."
He stifled a groan. What was the elf talking about? Why wouldn't he just let go?
"Don't worry young one, it was just a dream. You needn't fear it anymore. You're fine." Harry glared at the strong leather armor pricking his body and tried to ignore the stirring in his gut. He didn't remember the dream, and so he hardly need consoling. He wasn't some baby, or even worse, a girl!
"I think he is well enough now, Brother," snickered Elladan in the shadowy treetops. Harry wondered how long he'd been watching. Twisting his wrist expertly upwards, he pointedly ignored the angry, painful yelp that came after ignition of magic sparks. Waiting for Elrohir to release him, the boy gave a nervous half-smile and attempted to ignore the red in his cheeks.
"Thank you Elrohir," Harry whispered, his stomach still flopping about at the contact. As he returned to sleep, he couldn't help but smile at the foreign feeling of fingers weaving through his hair.
"We are drawing close," stated Elladan, bent over the hidden remains of a campfire. "They can not be but more than two days ride ahead."
Elrohir nodded silently, his grip on the reins tightening. He looked to be battling over something, but Harry could hardly distinguish what.
"Then we had best make haste," replied Elrohir from atop his steed. Harry frowned but said nothing. six days on the road with the two of them had taught him better. Instead he leaned forward, resting his body against Elrohir's back.
The nightly practices had become far more intense, with each passing session, sometimes both elves would begin attacking while Harry could only try with futility to block them all.
"Rest," he thought he heard Elladan whisper, dragging his own fingers through Harry's unmanageable black locks. However, when he managed to look over, the aloof elf was already far ahead, scouting the area once more.
Harry shut his eyes and let sleep grasp him.
The horses suddenly halted, and Harry looked up in surprise and confusion. Why were they stopping? Surely it wasn't time for lunch yet, the sun had yet to make it even half-way across the sky!
Elrohir swung easily off the horse in front and Harry blinked silently, utterly bewildered.
"Come young one," smiled Elrohir, the more openly kind of the brothers.
"What's happening?" He asked, still in a daze.
"This is where we depart," answered Elladan simply, his voice neutral and his lips set into a frown as he sat still, obviously waiting for Harry to get off.
"Already?" he asked with something akin to reluctance. "But we only just began! Surely it is a little further?"
"No, young one," smiled Elrohir as he pulled Harry nimbly down from the horse. "Your path is forward and ours is behind. Surely you do not wish to return to Rivendell already?"
He was tempted to say yes, just to stay with the annoying elves a little longer, but he somehow managed to shake his head. The twins shared identical smirks before leaning down and kissing his head.
Elladan grabbed Harry's sword and the make-shift leather sheath they had created for him and helped to put it across his back. Hardly easy access, but better than carrying it in his arms with the risk of destroying some unsuspecting limb. Elrohir then helped Harry with his pack, shifting it slightly and patting his head with a cheerful smile and a fancy bow.
"Farewell and safe journey, Harry of England." Murmured the two each in turn.
"The fellowship is still a good walk ahead. If you eat while you walk, and rest little, you should make it by nightfall to their encampment. Or, perhaps even beat them to it," explained Elladan, pointing out the way while Elrohir handed him some food.
And with that, they threw themselves upon their horses and rode back the way they came. Never looking back.