Chapter IX:

Antien didn't know where he was going but he knew he got there. He stopped at the practice ring for Legolas's class and just stared at the gate not really seeing it. He looked up and saw the field was mercifully empty. He closed the gate behind him and said the password, feeling the wards go up and walked to the middle of the field. He stood there for a moment fingering the ivory colored handles set to the shiny metal blades. The handles were far older than he could ever imagine and inlaid in them were symbols that he did not understand, symbols that Legolas said he would understand when the time was right just as the elven prince before him. Breaking himself of his musings, he took his stance.

He slowly went through each pose flowing between offense and defense and each time gaining speed. After a while, when that alone did not satisfy his anger, he started to envision opponents and obstacles in his path cutting down every one. He knew it was not the best way to deal with his anger, but he thought he was going to hit something every time he was denied information.

He started to feel sweat pour off of him with each leap, step, and lunge. He started to feel the burn in his lungs and he knew he was reaching his limit, but the anger and frustration was still there. He fell to his knees and sobbed.

… … … …

Locien sat in a tree in the forbidden forest thinking about his life and how he got there, then again the first time he entered the boarders of the forest it was because of Harry Potter and a detention he shouldn't have had. Then al that brought him tot eh moment when he would be willingly sitting on a tree branch waiting out the day. He didn't hear the rustling of Antien passing his tree but he almost fell out of his tree when he felt the strong elven magic appear out of nowhere. He jumped from the limb of his tree to the one next to it and to the next until he could see Antien practicing his form in the clearing below him. Locien smiled when he saw the grace of Legolas, the brashness of Estel and the mischievousness of the twins combined into his own unique style and yet it was the clipped nature of his movements that told Locien that the young elf-ling was pissed off. Locien reached out with his magic, bypassing the wards and gently touched Antien's mind.

Locien reeled back at the age and anguish in Antien's mind. 'I am almost too late,' Locien whispered. 'Oh, Valar, it is only a matter of time before this kills him.'

He watched as Antien dropped to his knees, the blades limp in his hands and sobbed. He longed to go down comfort him but the boy needed to let it go in order to last a little longer.

'He looks so much like Eldarion,' Locien thought. 'Yet so much more tragic.'

Locien felt a shift in the magic surrounding the boy and the field and he saw Legolas and Vayna standing there watching him as Locien was. Yet there was a magical change in the boy.

'He has reached his magical maturity,' he heard Vayna send him.

'His wizard's magic.' Locien sent back. 'He still has a long way to go with his elven magic.'

He locked eyes with the elven maiden. 'And you never got a chance.'

'I am at peace with my lot, yet now I regret not being able to See what he Sees.'

'Protect him, Locien, where I cannot.'

'Naneth?'

She smiled sadly before moving away the training field.

'Naneth?!" He didn't get an answer.

He worriedly turned to the still sobbing boy and watched over him until he returned to the castle hours later.

… … … … …

It was after dark when Antien returned to his rooms and even though he felt strangely refreshed, he was pleased to find he was alone. He stowed his blades next his bed and was about to head for a shower when he saw the note on his pillow.

Antien,

Missed you today and I hope

that you are feeling better. Your

parents wouldn't tell us what was

wrong. Anyway, there is something

that I have been meaning to ask you so I

hope to see you at breakfast tomorrow.

Always,

Alexa

Antien smiled and set his alarm so that he would wake him in time for breakfast, yet as he fingered his wand, something he used so rarely, he Saw a muscular yet heavy set man standing with a lovely brunet. They were embracing Alexa and Antien felt that he was Seeing her parents.

Antien shook his head lightly, set the alarm and headed for the shower.

… … … … …

The days leading up to the Christmas holiday ended up being a blur. He didn't know how he managed it, but he finished all the work he needed to even with losing two days of work time. It turned out that Alexa wanted to invite him and his family over for New Years. Antien was so caught off guard that he said that he would have to ask his father and that he would owl her.

It was then that he realized that he hadn't seen or heard from his parents since his stormed off. When he still hadn't gotten a howler by the weekend he asked James only to find out they had returned to Imladris to 'get ready for the Holiday,' but Antien knew that his father was just stewing.

Antien and his family stepped off the train onto Platform 9 ¾ and were greeted by Balan and Amariel with Estel and Rodwen nowhere in sight. Antien did not miss the looks that were shot his way, only prepared himself for the trip to Imladris, and walked purposefully through the gate. He didn't even bat an eye at the vision of carnage that was before his eyes before the telltale green light came at him and he fell into darkness.

… … … … …

He woke to shouting, though it took a few moments to understand what was being shouted.

'I don't want you anywhere near my son!' he heard his father yell.

'Then you will watch him die!' Antien thought that voice was Locien. Apparently, Locien shocked his father into silence because he spoke next. 'I was sent back for him. I am his guide as Vayna was for me.'

'Then let her teach him!' his father said in a desperate tone.

'You know it doesn't work like that,' Locien answered. 'Why are you so set against me teaching him? You do know that Voldemort killed me, not my visions, so what are you afraid of?'

There was silence for a moment, before Estel answered. 'I am afraid of losing him.'

There must have been something in his face because Locien said, 'Vayna saw something didn't she?'

Again silence until: 'She did.'

Locien's voice became urgent. 'What did she see?'

'She never told us, any of us Antien included, form what I can gather.'

Locien uttered a rather imaginative swear phrase and Antien was filing it away when he mother walked in. 'I trust you heard?' Antien nodded. Rodwen set the tea set on the bedside table and smoothed out the blanket as if waiting for something.

'Naneth?'

'They've been arguing back and forth since you were brought back from King's Cross by your aunt and uncle.'

'How long?' Antien asked.

'Three days,' she answered moving the tray to the bed so he could eat.

'It's getting worse,' Antien said pulling his legs in and ignoring the food despite his hunger.

Rodwen nodded. 'Everyone could see that but your father. I think this time we got through to him.'

The door opened again and Estel walked in and smiled after seeing his son awake, but the smile faded when Antien didn't return it. 'Ion?'

'I Saw war.'

'What?' both his parents asked, concern growing in their faces.

'I saw war. I walked out of King's Cross and saw people fighting. Green light hit me and that's when I passed out.'

'Talking about it is the first step,' a voice said from the open doorway. The three looked up to see Locien.

'But I don't always remember what I see,' Antien said ignoring his parents.

'It will get easier to remember as you develop your gifts.'

'What did you see?' Antien asked with child like curiosity.

'A great many things, mostly pertaining to the war against Voldemort.' His eyes misted over as if he was Seeing right then. 'But I have not Seen in a very long time.'

'Why?' Antien asked. He noticed that his father looked like he wanted to know as well.

'My gift was taken from me upon my death,' was the simple yet not so simple answer.

'Wait! What?' Antien asked. He turned to his parents. 'He died?'

His father sighed and sent for Lily and James. 'They need to hear this as well, ion,' he said to which Antien nodded though his siblings looked confused when they walked in. 'It's time that you know the truth of what happened at eh end of the War with Voldemort.'

The story started slowly and seemingly difficult for their father to tell, but surely it became easier both to tell and to hear. Even through that, his voice cracked when he talked about Rodwen falling and stopped completely when he told them of Locien's fall. By then end, the kids' mouths were hanging open and the adults had tears in their eyes.

'Why didn't you ever tell us?' James asked.

Estel sighed. 'I had hoped to forget. That is why we left the wizarding world.' He smiled sadly. 'But then you were born, James, and when you first showed magic we knew we had to return'

'Plenty of people are home taught…' James started.

'People with your talent?' Rodwen said. James smiled as he remembered the stories from his childhood. 'We knew that you needed to go to Hogwarts.'

'Besides a Potter has been going to Hogwarts for longer than she cares to remember.' Estel added laughing. 'Then we spent years learning the ways and magic of the Elves. We couldn't have taught you what Hogwarts could.'

'What of Antien?'

'He was born an Elf for reasons that we still don't know. We probably won't ever know.'

Locien looked like he wanted to say something at that but refrained.

There came a nock on the door and one the few elves that lived in Imladris stuck his head in the door. 'My Lord Estel?' he asked and the elf in question smiled and nodded his greeting. 'The rest of your family is demanding entrance, whishing to see young Master Antien.'

Estel looked confused. 'How is it that they were unable to get in before?'

'They said there was a charm on the door that shocked them if they tried to get in. Lord Balan said, "It was bloody painful."'

Locien chuckled. 'That was my fault.' Estel glared half-heartedly at him. 'You needed to tell them and there were going to interrupt. I spent far too long getting you to that point only to be sent back months because they wanted to see Antien.'

'We resent that remark, Locien," Vayna said.

'Even when you know it's true?' Locien countered. Vayna just retorted with something the younger family didn't understand, to which Locien smirked.

'You do realize that this means war, right?' Balan shot at Locien and Locien raised an eyebrow.

'Really?' Estel laughed knowing the dire straights that his brothers got themselves into throughout the years in their war of pranks.

Balan just nodded yet the mood changed when Locien turned to Antien. 'You will start your training the morning of Boxing Day.' He bowed low and left.

'Training?' James asked.

'For his sight,' Vayna answered simply before each of them started fussing over Antien and when Antien sent a 'help me' to whomever would listen, he only got a soft chuckle in return.

… … … … … … … …

Antien woke slowly Christmas morning only to be pounced on by an excited Lily, who was bent on waking every one individually.

'Wake up brother dear! It's Christmas!' she yelled joyfully before bounding off to wake her next victim. Antien only smiled and wrapped his dressing gown over his pajamas and headed to the family room.

He was walking passed by a window overlooking the grounds when he heard someone singing. He stopped in front of that window and realized he could see the waterfall that fed the valley's river and he could barely make out a lone person standing n the bridge. He or she was singing the most haunting melody that spoke of the pains and sorrows of an age gone by.

'Tis one of the ghosts of Imladris.' someone said behind him startling him.

'Ghosts?' he asked Vayna.

'So many years have passed upon this land and you are surprised that there are ghosts here?' she asked softly.

'Nay, but I am surprised I have not seen them before.'

'They only appear to those how have the sight, so maybe you just never noticed before.' She smiled at his disbelieving look. 'Come the family is waiting.'

Antien smiled and followed her down the hall to the fire warmed family room. There was a shout of welcome, he and Vayna were handed mugs of hot chocolate, and the gifts were distributed.

The morning passed rather quickly with each gift getting playful oo's and jokes. Then Antien opened his last gift at the same time as James opened his. Both of their eyebrows shot up in surprise.

'Ada?' James asked as he lifted the sword from bright wrapping paper.

'Stay your anxiety for a few years yet, ion. It is not Anduril.' Estel said with amusement in his eyes. 'I asked the elven smiths to craft this for you. It was supposed to be ready for your 17th birthday, but alas it was not. Though when the time is right, you will pass that sword down to your son for you will bear Anduril.'

There was a moment of silence as James examined the sword and it took a moment to realize that Antien wasn't paying attention. Locien swore as he quickly knelt in front of his charge and started speaking in an ancient form of Elvish to gently guide the young elfling back from his vision. Slowly his eyes cleared and he blinked for a moment before pulling his hand away from his gift.

'Antien, what did you see?' Locien asked quietly.

Antien took a breath before asking, 'Why didn't you sail?'

'Why didn't who sail?' Locien countered.

'Legolas and the rest of the elves,' Antien answered, before turning to Legolas. 'Why didn't you sail?'

The ancient elves looked between each other before Legolas sighed. 'What did the Valar show you?'

'Many things, but it mostly told me that you didn't sail when you could have. Why?'

'The simple answer is that my soul could not find peace in returning.'

'It was a turbulent time in our lives,' Vayna said, but Legolas waved her down.

'A great friend had died, Aragorn, the last of the Fellowship beside myself. Gimli had disappeared and was presumed dead by his own people. I couldn't find peace with sailing.'

The Elladan took up his part of the tale. 'My brother and I made an oath to the Telcontar line, to watch over and protect the family.'

'That is how we knew of Estel and his connection to Estel… the Elder… Aragorn,' Elrohir added, with a slightly confused face before shaking his head and continuing. 'Though through history Estel's descendants have develop some form of a hero complex worse than Aragorn's.' Estel smiled at that while the rest of the family laughed.

Yet after the laughter died, Vayna didn't voice her reason and Antien didn't ask because there was some sort of agreement between them. After a moment James asked what Antien got. Antien smiled sadly and lifted a tiny silver chain and lifted the Evenstar from the small box. There was a gasp from the Elder elves and a smile from Locien.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I started school at the end of August and it's a heavy workload but Have no fear chapter X is on its way.