Lord Of Night - Part Two

by Writing Shop 12

The vampire of Dol Guldur has finally found his place in middle earth. He has his mate, his children, his lands, and plenty of friends. But how will he react when dark forces rise in Mordor and the fate of the world he has grown to cherish is suddenly put in peril? Read and find out.

1. Chapter 1

Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.

Note: I've had a few people questioning why Harry can't sense the ring. To that I say, he's not actually looking for it. He knows other magic rings exist, so why would he assume this particular one is so evil when he never even comes into physical contact with it? Hell, the thing was around Gandalf via Bilbo for literal decades and the old man had no idea what it really was.

Chapter One - A Long Expected Party

Several decades had passed since the events of the Lonely Mountain and, as tended to happen in such circumstances, life had gone on. However one thing would never change for many, the joy of a large party. So it was that a cart found itself meandering down the main lane of the Shire with a load of fireworks in the back and two men in wide brimmed hats sat in the front. They were having a grand old time, smoking their pipes, laughing at some story or other, and really just enjoying each other's company, when they found themselves brought up short by a playfully stern looking hobbit on a rise overhead.

"You're late." He declared with crossed arms.

The younger man of the two removed his pipe from his lips and looked up at one of his favorite hobbits in the world. "Wizards are never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor are they early. They arrive precisely when they mean to."

The hobbit winked down at the man and replied, "But you're a vampire, so does that argument even really work for you?"

"Watch me turn your hair blue and then ask me that question, lad." the man returned, only for the smaller being to laugh heartily and throw himself at the two of them.

"It's so wonderful to see you, Uncle Harry! And you too, Gandalf!"

"Hmph." The older man grumbled. "I certainly feel a little slighted to be second in your regard, but I'll let it pass this time." The smile on his lips belied his gruff tone. "You didn't think we'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday did you?"

"Not at all." Frodo answered as he settled himself between the two riders and got comfortable as the horse carried on pulling their cart. "But why are you traveling together? And where is Aunt Tauriel?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The vampire waved his pipe, "The gray wizard carries the best pipe weed."

Gandalf chuckled merrily at that and replied, "We actually do enjoy each other's company, and we'd not talked for a while so we decided to share the trip. Tauriel will be arriving via portkey later this evening."

"She wanted to give the Driders a bit of last minute instruction before leaving. Heaven help us if Luna's orders were the last they heard." Harry shrugged. "So how have you been, kid?" It seemed everyone was a kid to him these days. Getting older sure was interesting.

"I'm good. Not a lot has really happened around here to change that. Sam took over for his dad manning our garden and lawn, the Green Dragon has introduced a new series of ales, and Merry and Pippin are still causing all manner of trouble throughout the Shire."

At Harry's satisfied laugh, the little one continued, "Because of all the pranking tools you made for them you've officially been labeled a 'troublesome man' by the townsfolk."

"Oh really? What do they call Gandalf?"

"A disturber of the peace."

"What?" Gandalf almost dropped his pipe in surprise. "Just for my actions with the dragon? But I barely did anything except push Bilbo out the door."

"Hm, I seem to recall someone splitting a rock to incapacitate some trolls, an act that charbroiled my face by the way, engaging in an attack on Dol Guldur, assisting in the deposing of an Elf king, and helping to murder a mother fucking dragon."

"Language Harry."

"You're not the boss of me, Gandalf. That would be a fiery lady with a great ass."

The conversation/argument carried on in a similar manner the rest of the way down the road, and Frodo was enjoying every minute of it, until he took note of Sam waving him over in a nearby yard. He probably wanted to ask for advice on how to talk to Rosie again. So he levered himself to his feet, swung to the edge of the cart and said, "Gandalf, Uncle Harry, I'm glad you're both back."

Gandalf waved the lad off and proclaimed, "So are we, dear boy. So are we."

In the hobbit hole in the ground that was Bilbo's home, the birthday hobbit was finally getting down to working once more on his book when there came yet another bothersome knock on his round door. Getting more than a bit fed up with all of these constant interruptions, and without Frodo to turn people away for him, he impulsively yelled out, "No thank you! I have no need or want to receive any more well wishes, suggestions, or distant relations!"

From behind the wood he could swear he heard sniggering followed by an old voice asking, "What about very old friends?"

Now Bilbo would recognize that voice anywhere. He immediately ran to the door, but before he could open it a younger sounding, and even more welcomed, voice cut in, "Now hang on there, old man, I'll have you know that I'm still in the prime of my life."

There was a sigh, followed by, "You are immortal, my friend, which means you are always in the prime of your life. Being old has nothing to do with it, and I'll remind you that you are almost a good century in age by now so old you indeed are."

Sounding more than a bit miffed, the other male countered with, "Yes, well at least I'm young in both spirit and appearance. I know for a fact you could choose to look like anything you want, yet you choose to come across as a creaky old man. What's your excuse there, Gandalf?"

Deciding to halt two of his closest friends before they could really get into their usual good natured bickering, Bilbo yanked the door open and smiled warmly up at the two big men. "Gandalf? Harry? Oh my friends it is good to see you!" He was quick to hug both around the waist before dragging them inside and offering all manner of food and beverage. The gray haired man abstained of course, but Harry was always good for a drink, and today proved no different. Within an hour the two of them were feeling verrrryyyyy good. Especially because the vampire had brought a good helping of dwarven mead with him.

The hobbit had just finished confirming to them both that he was indeed still planning to leave on his next expedition and Gandalf had some thoughts. "Do you plan to tell Frodo?"

"Not in so many words, but I've written a letter and he'll find it after I've gone. Goodbyes have never been easy for me." Bilbo moved philosophically over to the window and stared out at the greenery of his homeland. "I think Frodo is still in love with the Shire. Its fields, woods, and streams. Yet adventure is still rooted in his heart, even if it hasn't yet bloomed. If I told him now, he'd likely come with me, but he isn't ready for that yet." He meandered back to his seat and took another sip of his wine. "You'll keep an eye on him for me won't you?"

"Two eyes," Gandalf agreed, "as often as I can spare."

"I'm a bit busy with my own affairs, but I'll still stop by on occasion." Harry agreed.

"I am grateful."

"You still haven't mentioned where all you plan to travel. Just that you want to get back out into the world." The vampire noted.

"I want to see mountains again, Harry, mountains, and then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book." The hobbit looked down, "And I worry I won't get another chance if I don't go now."

"Oh pshaw," The vampire waved a hand, "You have decades more ahead of you at my guess. You barely look older than when we first set out for the Lonely Mountain."

The hobbit chuckled mirthlessly and slipped one of his hands into his vest pocket. "I'm old, fellas. I know I don't look it, but I feel it, down deep in my skin. Like butter stretched over too much bread. I need a holiday, a very long holiday, and I do not think I'll be returning from it. In fact I mean not to."

Conversation carried on as it normally did from there, and eager to bring their little friend out of the funk his thoughts had taken him to, the wizards dragged him out to his yard bench to share a smoke. "One hundred and eleven." Harry blew a smoke ring that turned into a leaf on the breeze, "I must say, Bilbo, you are incredibly well preserved for a man of your age."

"I've had a good life." The hobbit agreed before blowing a ring that the leaf passed through.

Gandalf blew a steady stream of smoke that became a boat, sailing over leaf and ring alike. "And there is much left of it to live I am sure."

"Gandalf, Harry," Bilbo said around the stem of his pipe, "this is certainly going to be a night to remember."

Several Hours Later

And what a night it was. Massive tents, an entire yard given over to kegs of ale and platters of food, Gandalf was lighting fireworks off left and right, a band was playing a hearty jig for a dancing crowd, and there was a mountain of gifts that Bilbo was delighting in passing out to the youngsters of Hobbiton. He'd made it clear that he wanted no more gift for his birthday than to see the children's smiling faces. Everywhere one looked was merriment and happiness and Harry was loving every second of it. Damn but hobbits knew how to party.

The vampire was enjoying a fine pint of Shire ale when a coin in his pocket noticeably heated up and with a popping sound he suddenly found his lap full of a smirking red haired elf. "Why hello there, oh mate of mine."

"Hello, Harry." Tauriel kissed him deeply before licking her lips. "Oh, Shire ale. Gimee!" At once she seized his tankard and downed a healthy half of it.

"You've been spending too much time with Luna."

"No such thing." The elf preened. "By the Valar this is good. We really should purchase a few barrels for the tower."

"If we did then Selene would drink them all in a single day."

"Ah, true. Are we sure our daughter isn't an alcoholic?"

"Oh yes, she's simply a connoisseur. She knows what she likes and enjoys it in bulk, but never to excess. Think about it, have you ever even seen her drunk?"

"Now that you mention it, I have not." The woman's eyes perused the reveling crowd and commented, "This is even bigger than his hundredth birthday."

"Well he has to spend all that gold on something."

"I'm not complaining." The elf hopped easily off his lap and pulled him up by his hands. "Now come dance with me."

"As you command, my dear."

Meanwhile, Frodo was having a grand old time watching Sam dance around with Rosie. He'd had to push him into it, but now that he had the girl in his arms he seemed happier than he'd been in weeks. His friend really was smitten.

As if his thoughts had been broadcasted, a purring voice said, "That boy is certainly smitten, isn't he?" At once Frodo had launched himself across the table and embraced the speaker in a flying hug. "Selene! It's so good to see you!"

Chuckling merrily, the woman set the hobbit down and said, "It's good to see you too, little friend."

Frodo released the woman and stared up at one of his best friends. She was of medium height with silver hair, tan skin and emerald eyes that held blood red pupils instead of black. She often claimed that the silver hair came from her Aunt Luna (the running theory was that having Luna in Tauriel's head at the time of conception had transferred a couple traits), the skin from her mother, eyes from her father, and her well defined biceps from her own martial training.

"Is Belmont coming?"

"I think he's already getting into the food. Damn that brother of mine but he always thinks with his stomach."

"Naw," Frodo defended his other friend, "he just knows that the best vegetables in the world come from the Shire. That reminds me, have you tried the steamed mushrooms yet?"

"Mushrooms?" Selene's eyes grew round and she led her small friend away from the dance floor. "Tell me more."

It was a short time later that the pair reached the feasting pavilion and sure enough they found a muscular young man with the same eyes, hair, and skin tone as Selene. The difference came in the serious expression that never seemed to leave his features. He had a tray full of sampling plates before him and both Frodo and Selene nabbed one before sitting down across from him.

"Hey!"

The woman waved him off, "Oh come off it, Belmont. Are you really going to deny me and Frodo your mushrooms?" She and their friend put on the puppy dog eyes and the original sitter was done for.

"At least leave me one." He grumbled goodnaturedly as everyone dug in. When they were finished he asked, "So Frodo, what is new with you?"

"Not really anything. The Shire is quite boring compared to Dol Guldur. Though I am reasonably sure that Bilbo is plotting something crazy."

"So the usual?"

"No, this is something different. He's been secretive, jumpy, and he locks himself in his office for hours at a time. It's strange even for him. Normally he plots his mischief out in the open so I can get in on it."

"Hm," Selene thought it over, "that is strange." She had fond memories of her Uncle Bilbo teaching her how best to prank her parents. The true genius of his pranks was that everyone knew it was him but could never outright prove it. Normally he loved regaling people with his tales of pranking brilliance, but to keep it all hidden?

"I wouldn't worry too much about it." Belmont waved off their worries. "What's the craziest thing that could realistically happen?" He swallowed his words moments later when the sky was filled with the visage of a massive flaming dragon swooping down straight for them. "Well there's that. Duck!" The three ducked down under their table as a whoosh of air announced the strange monstrosity's passage, and they peaked back up over just in time to watch it rise back into the air, compress in on itself, and explode in a cavalcade of remarkable fireworks.

"Do you think that was what Bilbo had in mind?" He wondered.

"Nah," Selene gestured across the lawn where Gandalf had the wriggling forms of Merry and Pippin by the ears. "Looks like our resident troublemakers merely got trigger happy with Gandalf's stockpile."

A Short Time Later

"Well boys, there were three things you did majorly wrong tonight." Harry mused as he stepped into the dishwashing tent with his arm around his mate's waist.

"Harry!"

"Master!"

The two troublemakers shot away from their buckets, knelt before the vampire and began to genuflect in an exaggerated fashion. "We are not worthy! We are not worthy!" Harry Potter had been something of a mentor in the fine art of pranking ever since they were tweens, and it was safe to say he'd left an impression. It had actually become something of a contest between him and old Bilbo. Which of them could create the better team of pranksters. So far the hobbit had proven the more effective surprisingly enough.

Harry laughed heartily at the sight and waved his hand in a 'get on with it' gesture. "Alright, back on your feet, boys. As I said, you did three things wrong. First, you stole from Gandalf in the first place. Did you think he didn't have ward triggers to alert him that someone was messing with his cart? He knew you took the firework and allowed it to happen because it was funny. Second, you didn't stick the explosive in the ground first to control its aim. That dragon swooped way lower than it was meant to and scared several older hobbits half to death. Third…. You didn't invite me to help." He pouted, earning a light shoulder slap from Tauriel.

"Harry! We're supposed to be berating them."

"I know, but come on, that looked like so much fun!"

"It really was." Merry spoke up, earning a raised brow from the elf that had him shutting right up.

"Well, I'm just here cause I think you've learned your lesson and Bilbo is about to make his birthday speech. We wouldn't want you to miss out on that." So saying, Harry waved a hand and every dirty dish remaining floated into the air before flitting into an assembly line where an animated series of brushes and towels saw to their cleaning. "Come on, you don't want to insult your host with your absence." The hobbits didn't need to be told twice as they scurried out of the tent like hounds were on their tails.

Tauriel leaned on his shoulder as they calmly walked back out to await Bilbo's presence on the raised platform ahead of the gathering crowd. "You are just a big old softy, aren't you, Harry?"

"Say that to all the people I've eaten."

"You've eaten me and Luna and we both still say it."

"Fair enough. What can I say, I've got a weak spot for troublemakers."

"A fact that our daughter has exploited on more than one occasion. Did you know she turned Carmilla's chest bindings polka dot pink last week?"

"That was her? The driders were in an uproar trying to find the culprit."

They continued their banter for another five minutes before a healthy round of applause started up and the host of the evening took his place upon the platform. "My dear people, my dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, and Grubbs, and Chubbs, and Burrowses, and Hornblowers, and Bolgers and Proudfeet!" The crowd roared their appreciation of his acknowledgement. "And even the Sackville Bagginses, I welcome you all back at last to Bag End. Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!"

"Happy birthday!" The crowd cheered.

"I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am. Yes indeed, I shall not keep you too long. I know our fine barmaid Rosie has opened another keg and everyone is keen to get a fresh tankard out of it. I have called you all together for a purpose. Three purposes in fact.

First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that eleventy-one years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

Secondly, to celebrate my birthday. I should say: OUR birthday. For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew, Frodo. He comes of age and into his inheritance today.

Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an announcement! I regret to announce that, though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you, this is the end. I am going now. I wish you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye." An instant later the well preserved looking hobbit disappeared and the crowd erupted into shrieks of shock and surprise.

Meanwhile a certain vampire and his two children were thinking this was the greatest prank they'd ever seen. Bilbo had summoned half the Shire to his party, insulted a great chunk of them to their faces, and then vanished before they could get a word in. Genius! However the crowd seemed fit to riot so Harry and Tauriel made their way up to the platform in Bilbo's absence. By now the two were a well known duo in Hobbiton, so everyone trustfully quieted down to hear what they had to say.

"Alright, I think it's fair to say we've all been suitably pranked by our resident disturber of the peace, Bilbo Baggins." The crowd chuckled gladly at such a statement and he continued, "That being said, his absence doesn't mean we can't continue to party! So why don't we raise our mugs and say a grand old thank you to Bilbo for providing us with this splendor, and though it did not end the way we thought, we can give thanks for the smiles on our faces. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" The crowd began to chug their ale, and the fine atmosphere returned to them all.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Harry." Frodo said as the vampire returned to his table. He noticed his kids had also arrived, but where was Thorin? "I don't know what got into Bilbo's head with that speech, but people seemed about to riot for a second there."

"It was nothing, Frodo. Now, Tauriel tells me Sam's got a girl he's sweet on. Can you point her out?" The hobbit got a wicked grin on his features and pointed across the way to where the gardener was dopily ordering his fifth ale from the red cheeked barmaid. "Oh we can have some fun with this."

Elsewhere

For his part, Bilbo was feeling quite good about the direction his night had taken. He'd avoided any uncomfortable farewells, gained assurances from his friends that Frodo would be looked after, and made off toward his next great adventure with no one immediately the wiser. Of course there'd been that nasty bit of business with Gandalf, but he felt much lighter now that it was done with. His ring would go to his heir and he was free at last to finish writing his book before his end came for him. Yes, he could feel time making its slow way to catch up with him but he was finally ready to meet it on his own terms.

"Going somewhere?"

The hobbit jumped in place in the middle of the road. "Who's there?"

"Forgotten me already, old friend?"

From the shadows of a nearby hole in the ground emerged a stranger of about Bilbo's height in a hooded cloak. He only needed to look at the glowing red of his eyes to know who it actually was. "Thorin! Oh my friend, I was wondering where you'd got off to." The hobbit at once embraced his dwarven comrade and slapped his back amicably. "Where have you been?"

"Here, waiting for you." The dwarf laughed merrily. "Harry said you'd likely be making a run for it and I thought you might like a friend on the road. At least as far as Rivendell."

"I'd be most gracious for that, Thorin. The road can be a lonely place as you know."

"Indeed. After you, birthday boy."

Some Time Later

"I can't believe he's gone." Frodo muttered from his seat by the window. He and his friends had returned to Bag End a short time ago only to find a gray wizard brooding by the fire and the man of the hour long gone. Harry had told them brooding was Gandalf's default setting and just to let him be. Thus it was that they'd all made some midnight snacks and were just lounging around the home. The Potters had decided to spend the night.

"Oh do not fret, Frodo." Selene rubbed his shoulder soothingly. "I'm sure he'll come back someday. Worst case scenario he settles somewhere new and our dad makes a portkey so you can go visit. You just need to give him time."

"He talked for years about going. I never thought he actually would."

They were broken from their musings as the gray wizard suddenly rose from his position. "I need to go."

That got all of their attention. In the chair next to where Gandalf had just been, with Tauriel securely on his lap, Harry said, "Come off it, old man, you've only just arrived, same as us. You can give whatever has you stressed at least another day."

Retrieving his staff and hat, the old wizard replied, "I'm afraid it cannot. I have a… thought, clanging like a bell in my mind, and I know I will have no peace if I do not see to it at once."

Suddenly serious, the vampire demanded, "Is it something that demands my attention as well?"

"No, or rather, I am not sure yet. I'd rather not worry anybody until I have a definite handle on this thing. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening and think little of my ramblings. I am old, as you keep reminding me."

"Well, if you're sure." Harry didn't like it, but in the end he knew that Gandalf was not Dumbledore. If he needed to know something, the bearded man would tell him. He just had a nasty habit of wanting to be completely sure of his topics first.

"I am. Now where did I rest my pipe?" He moved his gray head from left to right, and stopped as he noticed a large hand offering it to him. "Ah, thank you, Belmont." The young man handed it over easily and wondered casually if he might get one like it for his birthday that year. "Perhaps, young man, perhaps. As long as your mother promises not to shoot me for making another man in her family a smoker. Now, see to your family and I'll be on my way."

Thus it was that Gandalf the Gray rushed off into the night, hoping against hope that his theory was wrong.