A/N: There is a sex scene at the start in the way that I believe is allowed using FF's guidelines. I placed and author's note saying where the main part of the chapter starts for those who don't want to read the first part of the chapter.
Chapter 5: The Goblin's Trial
(A/N: It may not be much on the fanfic version but this opening part is a sex scene.)
When Harry started to wake up the morning after their broom shopping trip, he felt a weight of some kind on his chest. He opened his eyes and blushed. There before him was Ranni's "Dark Moon" bared and on full display. It was even more incredible than he thought it would be and he intended to further investigate her divine butt in all the ways he could.
Her pale globes of flesh were a good mix of firm and soft. He could feel the warmth to them as he held Ranni in place and heard her gasp of breath. Harry then spread her pale cheeks. Ranni's back entrance was a very sexy sight to him. Her asshole was darker in coloration and made for a very sensual contrast to her otherwise lovely pale skin.
Harry gave a hum of arousal as he decided it would be a shame not to take advantage of the opening his Love Eternal gave him. Ranni shuddered in arousal of her own as she noticed her Elden Lord's mighty erection grow before her eyes. She too decided it would be a shame not to take full advantage of this moment, even if it seemed to already go a way she didn't first fully intend. She simply wanted to give Harry a kinky and sex morning wake-up. It seemed she under estimated her own sexual desires.
[-] [-] [-]
As Ranni finally removed her mouth from Harry's cock, she received a last few spurts on her tongue while some struck her face and hair. Ranni shook in another orgasm as she appreciated how thick and strong the taste of Harry's cum was. She also loved the feeling of his hot cum on her face and hair. Her, a princess, a goddess, wearing a man's hot and sticky cum was a very naughty and wonderfully humiliating feeling.
Ranni rolled her naked body off Harry and to the side to catch her breath. She gave a very naughty smile as she noticed Harry's cock was still very much ready to go. "Truly. The stamina of an Elden Lord is something to behold," she said in a breathy and sultry voice.
Harry couldn't help but give a cocky and slightly perverted grin as he looked her over. He couldn't describe how wonderful he found her fully bared pale skin covered in sensual sweat. He looked to her dark blue pubic hair. He would describe it as wild but slightly tamed. The sweat on her smooth and flat stomach glistened beautifully in the morning light. Her sizable breasts with fully erect dark pink nipples rose and fell with each breath.
His eyes were then immediately drawn to her face. He'd swear his cock hardened even more seeing her sexually flushed face adorned with strands of sticky white. There was even some in her erotically disheveled and messy dark blue hair.
Ranni looked to him with bright and lust filled blue eyes as she asked, "Does mine Love Eternal approval of the Goddess belonging to him?"
Harry without a care for where they had just been seconds ago, leaned in to capture her lips. Ranni was surprised by his kiss, but she had no hesitation in fully taking it. Knowing what she and he had both been just doing made it all the better. It was a naughty and dirty kiss nevertheless filled with love.
When Harry again removed his lips from her own, he said, "Does that answer your question?"
Ranni gave a lovely dazed nod.
"As you can tell though," Harry continued. "I'm not finished yet."
The lustful desire and hunger returned to her electric blue eyes. "Then let us test the legendary stamina of a Tarnished who earned the status of Elden Lord," she said to him in a voice deepened by lust.
Harry gave her a cocky grin. "I fully intend to do that. From here and into eternity." Ranni took in a deep shuddering breath to his words.
[-] [-] [-]
A while later Harry called out, "Cumming!" as he thrust hard again and blew his final load deep into Ranni's cum hungry pussy.
Ranni let out a far too cute and sexy moan as her body shook and she squirted on Harry. Harry held tight as her body seemed to spasm while drinking in more of his cum.
When Harry pulled out, a final splat of cum landed on Ranni's pussy and dark blue pubic hair. He then fell back on to their bed as he caught his breath. He took in everything that had just happened and found it all incredible.
Ranni was an overly pleased, extra messy, cum covered, puddle of pleasure as Harry finished inside her. She could barely keep her eyes open. She could not believe how amazing that had been.
If this is what sex was like between Elden Lord and his Lunar Princess… It was going to be a very wonderful and enjoyable eternity for them both.
[-] [-] [-] (A/N: Main part of chapter starts here.)
Harry and Ranni were visiting the Potter Family Accountant, Gold Pike. Their first meetings with him had been very business-like and to the point. This was due to the sheer amount of business that needed to be tended to for the Potter Vaults. Luckily, Harry and Ranni were easily given access to the ample amount of funds in the main family vault. The other assets needed to be properly accounted for before Harry and Ranni could enter the vaults at their leisure though.
"What seems to be the issue?" Harry asked as he and Ranni sat across from the goblin.
"It's just... Your titles. Well, mostly just one that is an issue. And it is only because it has a very deep meaning to us Goblins," Gold Pike said. He was more than a bit worried about this whole thing.
His clients didn't seem to be worried though. "Which title?" Ranni asked curiously.
"The ummm... Protector of Haligtree," he said with a very slight hint of worry.
"That's the one they're worried about?" Harry asked rather casually.
"Yes. It is a title that means a lot to goblins. It goes back very far in our history," he said.
"I'm more surprised they even recognize the name," Ranni said.
"I am too. Why is that?" Harry asked.
"The Goblin King refuses to let me tell you details. He wants to do so himself," Gold Pike replied.
"I'm guessing he isn't going to just tell us over tea," Harry said as Ranni gave a slight giggle.
"You have to prove yourself worthy of the title in combat. Not intentionally a fight to the death, but it will be tough," Gold Pike said.
He was not happy about this development. He finally got to meet Harry Potter and do some actual work with the accounts. Now, there was a chance it could all end because Harry could die, even if that wasn't the goal or intention. He looked up and was surprised by Harry's expression. He expected any number of emotions to cross Harry's face. Fear. Worry. Resignation.
However, excitement mixed with confidence was not one of them.
"I'm sure you can tell that won't be a problem," Ranni said with a knowing smile.
"I'm more than fine with this," Harry said as his eyes seemed to glow for a moment.
"You will be put up against our top warriors," Gold Pike said looking shocked, an expression rarely shown on goblins. He was wondering if Harry didn't fully grasp the situation.
"I mostly hope they will be a decent enough challenge. Make no mistake. That isn't me being over confident," Harry said with a grin that was less blood thirsty and more eager for a good fight.
Gold Pike shook his head. He didn't know what to make of this. There was a part of him that almost believed them though. He sighed and took a moment to collect himself. He then nodded and stood up.
"On the bright side, I can tell you this. If you pass this trial, the Goblin Nation will always be allies to you and your family. If you really are the Protector of Haligtree, no one will ever turn us against you. Even if you openly challenge the entirety of the magical world," Gold Pike said.
Harry gave a nod in understanding. "I will make sure all of my descendants understand the weight of such an alliance. I know not if they will ever get to the level I am, but I will train them the best I can and make sure every future member of my family does the same," he said.
Gold Pike looked him over again. That part of him which believed Harry knew what this meant grew. "I'll inform the King immediately. You might as well wait here. This is a matter of the utmost importance to him," Gold Pike said as he left to inform the King.
"I'm rather looking forward to watching you face a mighty Goblin warrior," Ranni said looking to Harry.
"Why is that?" Harry asked looking her over in return. He would never tire of her beauty.
Ranni almost blushed a little. "I'm hoping they prove a good challenge and cause you to actually sweat," she said. She really liked the idea of a sweaty Harry and the many fun things they could do together. Some of them were simple and sweet. Others were in league with their recent bedroom activities.
Harry gave her a charming smile as he said, "It sounds like I should get a reward from you in thanks if that happens." Ranni blushed a little more noticeably and Harry's smile grew. He had a very lovely and enticing vision in mind of Ranni sweating while they again thoroughly enjoyed each other as man and woman.
[-] [-] [-]
Harry looked over the arena below in a sunken area. It was a good size with plenty of space. It was flat with nothing to hide behind.
Harry liked it.
It made for a true challenge. You could say using the terrain to your advantage was a skill, and it was, but this was better suited for the situation. There were no rocks to hide behind. No corners where you could get stuck. It would test your pure skill and strength as a warrior. It was exactly what was needed when proving yourself in such a setting.
He looked to the gathered crowd. It was a very mixed group of goblins. Some were curious. Some were in awe. Some were barely keeping themselves from shouting at Harry. It was clear they did not believe he could be Protector of Haligtree and were offended he would dare claim as such.
"It would be nice to know what that title means to the goblins," Harry thought to himself. He knew he would get answers after this. He still wished to already know those answers. It was obvious it meant something important. He wondered what that something was though.
The Elden Lord looked to the goblin in front of him. He was young for a goblin. Harry doubted he was the best warrior they had, but it was clear he was close to it. "He probably just needs more experience to truly earn such a title. Guess they saw this as the perfect chance for him to get some," Harry thought to himself. The goblin was someone who would be perfect for an opening challenge.
"You dare try to claim such a distinguished title?!" the young warrior shouted in indignation. "A human? A wizard? I didn't realize wizard arrogance had grown this much," he said as he jumped down into the arena holding a halberd with ease.
He then pointed his weapon at Harry. "I, Shatter Shield, will put this foolishness to an end," the goblin warrior swore to all present and earned cheers from the watching crowd. He was then surrounded by light. Once the light faded, he was in full goblin armor.
"So magic is allowed?" Harry asked in confirmation.
Shatter Shield grinned. "You don't even have a wand," he said.
"True. Is armor also allowed?" Harry asked again for confirmation.
"It is. This is a full battle, but not to the death," Goblin King Ragorn explained. Harry would still be an important client to Gringotts, one best alive regardless of his claim to such a title. The blood test never lied and each goblin understood this. It was just too hard to swallow a wizard, who disappeared as a child over a decade ago, earned the right to be called Protector of Haligtree.
Harry nodded and gave a slight grin. He got an interesting idea. He jumped from his side of the arena and landed below. Dust arose around him with the purpose of concealing him briefly. When the dust cleared, Harry was standing tall wearing the refitted but otherwise unaltered Royal Knight Armor he got after defeating Loretta at the Haligtree. He was holding his ever-trusty Bloodhound's Fang over his shoulder with one hand. He had many other weapons he could use, but this one had a certain place in his heart you could say.
Harry didn't notice Goblin King Ragorn's beady eyes widen at seeing the armor. The King recognized it. He was too stunned to stop this fight though. Shatter Shield was very talented and gifted, but he would be no match since Harry could wear that armor.
There was only one way to get it.
"Ready?" Harry asked as he used one hand to point his weapon at Shatter Shield.
Shatter Shield seemed to regain focus. "I am," he replied.
Harry charged forward faster than Shatter Shield could keep up with. Next thing the young goblin warrior knew, Harry did an upward slice with his sword and jumped back as Shatter's guard broke. As soon as Harry landed a short distance away, he disappeared only to reappear right in front of a surprised Shatter Shield.
The young goblin warrior's eyes widened. He had never faced a human like this. He hadn't even faced goblins like this. He didn't want to die yet, but it seemed he just might. He only wished he could have fought better against such a strong opponent.
"Stop!" called out King Ragorn once he regained his composure.
Harry stopped, his blade not even an inch from Shatter Shield. The young goblin warrior felt the displaced air blow past him as he stumbled backwards and landed on the ground.
Harry jumped back and stood at ease.
"Shatter Shield," the Goblin King started.
Shatter Shield barely realized he was still alive. He wasn't sure what to make of this. He stood and looked to his King expecting disappointment. He did not see such an emotion though. King Ragorn was gazing at Harry with calculating but impressed eyes.
The Goblin King spoke again to the young goblin warrior. "You are strong. You are talented. But you still need experience, Shatter Shield. You will reach your full potential. There is little doubt you will be one of our greatest warriors in time. But this opponent… is well beyond you."
He then gave a nod to the goblin knight on his right. The goblin nodded and appeared in the arena below. Shatter Shield let out a defeated sigh and left the arena. He felt a little disappointed in himself, but he would watch this fight. He could tell it would be a good lesson. Maybe even the greatest lesson he would ever experience.
The goblin knight stood up and summoned forth his weapon. It was a giant axe he used two hands to hold. Harry looked at it with narrowed eyes. It seemed very similar to a weapon he faced not too long ago. The goblin looked to Harry and said, "I am War Smash of the Golden Clan."
Harry gave him a slight nod. "I am Harry James Potter. Elden Lord. Protector of Haligtree," he said as he got ready to fight. He noticed no one seemed to deny his use of the title this time. Perhaps he passed the test already, but they still wanted to see how strong he was.
War Smash lunged forward at Harry. Harry side stepped before dodging the follow up attack. Harry then back stepped a few times. War Smash was already decent. Harry felt there was more the goblin knight was yet to show though.
Harry slashed at the goblin a few times which the goblin blocked. Harry then used a powerful attack which caused War Smash to be blown back a few steps. The goblin warrior wasn't young and inexperienced though. He made a mighty stomp on the ground as several sharp rocks blasted upwards in front of him in a small cone.
Harry used Bloodhound Finesse to get some quick space between them. Instead of waiting to land and use the follow up attack, Harry held a blue lightning bolt in his hand before thrusting it at the ground.
The goblins watched in awe as electricity raced forward and struck War Smash. The Goblin Knight was stunned in place, and then it was as if his armor shattered like ice. War Smash himself was shivering from the cold as he fell to his knees.
Harry looked to him seriously as he said, "I might have gotten a little carried away there. Your attack style reminded me of someone I defeated. He was one of the toughest fights I experienced over there. His prowess as a warrior was more than worth immense respect."
War Smash was too cold to say anything. He then felt warmth coming from nearby. Harry held a fire ball in his hand before he set it in place. "The frostbite aliment will clear out soon enough," Harry said.
The Goblin King was the first to break the silence from the crowd. "You are indeed the Protector of Haligtree! The Goblin Nation will always walk by your side, Lord Potter," he proclaimed to all gathered.
There was a silence of awe for but a moment.
Then, the gathered goblins let out mighty shouts, but now their shouts were in cheer, not indignation. They were all familiar with their ancient myths and lore. But never had they thought to see for themselves one who claimed the title Protector of Haligtree.
Harry raised his weapon in honor. The fight had made him sweat a bit, but it most likely had been due to remembering his fight with Hoarah Loux, Warrior. It was still a good fight by this world's standards though.
"I take it you will now explain to us how you know of the Haligtree and what this title means to your people." Ranni said to the Goblin King after a moment.
"I too am curious how the Goblin Nation knows of anything regarding the Lands Between," Harry added.
The Goblin King gave them both a nod but first said, "Tonight, there will be a feast to mark this occasion!"
The gathered goblins cheered again.
"This day will henceforth be known as The Day of the Returned for all of Goblin kind," he said.
More cheers in answer to this.
"I trust you two will honor us with your attendance?" he asked.
Harry looked to Ranni and she nodded to him in agreement. He then smiled and said, "A feast with the goblins of Gringotts? Sounds enjoyable enough."
Yet even more cheered as many goblins started to depart. They were eager for the feast on short notice, and all the more excited. Much needed to be done though. There was also Gringotts' business to attend to as well.
"Then we are honored indeed! Until the feast is ready, we can discuss many things and I will answer your questions," King Ragorn said to them both.
Harry then offered a hand to War Smash who had thawed out but was still on his knees. War Smash took it and stood again. Those still gathered cheered for this exchange as well, before the remaining goblins left.
"War Smash," the King started.
War Smash looked to him.
"Lead our guests to The Founder Parlor," he ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty," War Smash said in response.
[-] [-] [-]
Hermione looked around the office where she sat. She was currently at Gringotts for business. She had been here many times before and knew the goblins she worked with as well as any magical business associate could expect. The place was always humming with an air of business and profit. This time though, there was a different buzz to it.
"Things seem more lively than usual here," she said. It had been this way as soon as she arrived.
"Yes. Yes. It is a very important day today. Something major has happened in the Goblin Nation. Luckily, my shift is almost over," Shine Rock said. The festivities would continue on for a good while. Pretty much every goblin would get to enjoy them, but the earlier ones would always get the best experience.
"What happened?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.
Shine Rock looked up and gave her a shrewd goblin grin. "I'm afraid that's not for me to share, Miss Granger," he said to her smugly.
Hermione sighed and looked away. "How do the documents look?" she then asked causally.
Shine Rock might have blushed, if that was something goblins did. He was caught getting side-tracked. "Fine work as usual. I'm almost finished here," he said.
Hermione hid her smile at getting back at him. One surefire way to stop a goblin from having too much of a go at you was to get back to business first. The sooner you did so, the better. She did plan to find out what had happened though.
She had a feeling if it was something this important to the goblins it was something worth knowing. She had little doubt the wizarding world would learn of it as well. However, she intended to be one of the first outside of the goblins to know what it was.
[-] [-] [-]
The Founder Parlor was a sight to behold. It was grand and richly decorated but not overstated. It was very clear this was an important place for goblins. The parlor was rather spacious and more a hall rather than a parlor. It was also both comfy and regal at the same time.
Harry and Ranni were more focused on the giant tapestry hanging behind the main table. It had the symbol of the Haligtree on it in the middle. The left side showed a being shrouded by light offering a gold needle to a suffereing goblin surrounded by an aura of red and black. The needle looked similar to the one Harry collected after defeating Malenia, but it was different. The right side showed the same goblin now seemingly cleansed and no longer suffering.
"This tapestry is ancient. It has been with the goblins since well before Gringotts was founded," King Ragron started.
"I see," Ranni said aloud in thought. Time itself was rather odd and difficult to grasp, especially when it came to Miquella.
Dreams did not flow the same as the passing of time did. While in slumber and in the realms of dreams, Miquella could be in the future or past. He could even be in both at the same time. With his cursed condition, he was trying to use that as a possible solution.
If Miquella were to ever awaken, it could be well into the future when all that she and Harry accomplished in the Lands Between no longer mattered. At the same time, he could awaken sometime in the distant past. So far into the past, that he no longer could exist in the present ever again.
"King Grock the First, suffered an unexplained affliction. He was powerful, but the power corrupted his mind and body. He was then whisked away into a dream. In that dream, several beings were offering these needles to others. They said the instruments could possibly cure them of outside influences and other ailments," King Ragorn explained.
"Seems Miquella was experimenting with an earlier version of the needle," Harry said mostly to Ranni as they listened.
"King Grock was cured. He was still as powerful as ever, but he was more intelligent and cunning than before. He was able to lead his tribe to victory with plans and tactics unlike any goblin kind had seen in battle before," the current Goblin King said.
The story reminded Harry a little of Millicent. It seemed Grock had a proper needle though. Probably helped he didn't have a "Gowry" mess with it first. Millicent said she felt better than ever before and her skills were even sharper after using the needle. Little did the two know at that time she was also a ticking time bomb of rot set to "bloom" in place of Malenia.
Harry wished he could have truly helped her. She was as much of a friend as you could find in The Lands Between. She didn't deserve such a horrible fate. Forced to fight against her own sisters. Forced to choose between becoming someone else unrecognizable or suffering unimageable agony to retain who you were before you died.
There was little doubt Harry took far too much glee in permanently ending "Gowry" after that.
"King Grock could not fully explain all that happened in this dream, but he mentioned a place called the Haligtree. That there was a strong knight protecting it and those giving out the needles. That is how we know of this place you called the Lands Between," The Goblin King finished.
"I wonder if that was Loretta or her predecessor," Harry mused.
"Predecessor most likely. It is hard to fully grasp, but much time and many years have passed since The Shattering. This seems to have taken place before then," Ranni said.
"True. I always did have a feeling I was… late to the party as they say," Harry said.
"A curious phrasing. It wasn't much of a party," Ranni said.
"It is just a saying. It may not have been a party, but I was still rather late in being summoned compared to the others, especially the other Tarnished," Harry said.
"You always were a very curious and different Tarnished. Perhaps that is why you succeeded greatly where they did not. Before you the most successful Tarnished only had two great runes," Ranni said.
Harry nodded. "I fought Vyke twice actually," he said.
"And managed to collect not one, not two, not even three, but instead nine Great Runes. Something unheard of and never thought to be possible. You once told me Rogier called you a scary tarnished. He did have good reason to call you such, even if you weren't the bad kind of scary," Ranni said. It was one of the many discussions they had when she was in her miniature form and traveling with Harry in the Lands Between.
"It seems you truly are a warrior without equal, Lord Potter. On behalf of the Goblin Nation, I am relieved it was such a warrior who bested our best," King Ragorn said.
"And as far as I'm concerned, the Goblins are the only ones in this world who I will regard as warriors. So far at least. Though I doubt wizardkind has much to offer in that matter," Harry said.
"You again honor us with such words. I shall make sure we can live up to such high praise," King Ragorn said in full sincerity. The phrasing he used could easily be used mockingly and probably would be in most cases with a goblin, but that was not the case here. It felt more like a promise, perhaps even to the level of an oath.
"As I said before, I will do what I can to make sure the Potter Family going forward will fully know what our standing with the Goblin Nation means. And that it should never be taken for granted," Harry said.
"Given his words are those of an Elden Lord, they have great weight," Ranni said.
"Perhaps one day you two will help us to better understand what it means to be Elden Lord," King Ragorn said.
"Let our alliance be forever prosperous," Harry said.
"And our relations ever beneficial," the Goblin King replied.
"A toast then," Ranni said raising her glass.
"Indeed," the two replied together as they did the same.
"To a future of our choice," Ranni then said.
Harry nodded to that and smiled. The Goblin King gave a wide grin as well. He loved the choice of words. It seemed the Lord of House Potter again proved their excellent choice in the witch to take as wife.
Many thought the Potters didn't have much political power. They were wrong. The Potters just didn't always choose to use it. When they did though… They rarely had any one close to an equal. They could even make the likes of the Malfoys seem little better than children playing at lord when they were truly serious.
Things looked to be exciting in the future.
A/N: I believe there are a total of eleven Great Runes, but one of them is Online play specific and the other is from fully completely Dung Eater's quest. That's why Harry only has nine. There is no "Online Play" in this story. He also chose to kill Dung Eater instead of completely his quest fully.