Volume 3 - Chapter 08
Before leaving Edoras, Faramir pulled Harry aside to speak with him. The new Prince of Ithilien thanked Harry for suggesting that he speak with Luna. The two discussed options for a new warding scheme for Minas Morgul, or rather Minas Ithil since Faramir intended to go back to using its old name. Now that Luna knew what Faramir hoped to accomplish, she promised that she would work on the runes for Harry to implement.
Éomer and Éowyn gifted Merry with a silver horn to remind the hobbit that he would forever be honored as a squire of the Mark and, if he ever chose to, Merry always had a home among the Eorlingas. The armored hobbit wore his silver horn strapped across his chest to hang at his hip, much as their friend Boromir had carried his Horn of Gondor. Merry looked rather dapper and quite formidable.
Arwen spent quality time alone with her family members in order to say her final farewells. More than that, no one knew for certain, because everyone respected their privacy and gave them a wide berth.
The reported sighting of Saruman was days old, the trail had grown cold. The disgraced wizard had most likely performed more mind magic to throw others off and slipped away again. Since the travelers were moving again, Harry joined them with hopes of hearing more news of Saruman while they journeyed. The group was still large, but their number was cut by more than half. All humans - with the exceptions of Harry, the king and his guards - stayed at Edoras or returned to Gondor with their new queen. The rest were advancing to Isengard where the group was set to split once more.
It was well before the traveling companions reached the city the next day that the elves began their farewells. The group came to a stop where the trail forked. One direction went towards Isengard and on to Bree while the other would skirt around the Fangorn Forest to Lothlórien. From there the First Born of Imladris would head home. It was Harry's turn to say farewell to his family and he found it to be quite difficult, more so than he had thought it would be.
"Honana!" Elladan and Elrohir called out in unison. Harry looked up upon hearing his nickname and smiled at his nephews.
They had not known each other long, but Harry had become rather fond of the twins. Elladan held out his hand, silently asking and receiving Harry's in return. The two clasped forearms then pulled each other into a one-armed hug. Elladan held on tightly and spoke softly to his honorary uncle, "[Thank you for all you have done for our world. You did not have to come, and yet you did. Risking much for this realm.]"
Harry chuckled. "[My sister asked me to come; how could I possibly say no to her?]"
And was soon handed over to Elrohir for another hug. Elrohir asked, "[Do you require our assistance? Grandfather says you are not done with your prophecy?]"
"[I will be fine. We have to find the man first.]" Harry gave Elrohir a gentle squeeze before releasing his hold.
Elladan frowned as he asked, "[Will you be going back to your own world once your undertaking is complete?]"
Harry shrugged. "[Is there a way to get me home? None have mentioned it.]"
"[I am sorry, Harry. I hope someone figures out how to get you home. Are there people there that will miss you?]" Elrohir asked.
"[I have no living family I care to speak of. I do have a few friends, and they have each other. But…]" Harry sighed "[…there is someone I forgot about. Teddy is a baby right now, but one day he will not be and I hope he can forgive me if there is no way back for me.]"
"[You knew nothing of your return, yet you came to our realm anyhow?]" Elladan was stunned. "[Your sacrifice is greater than I had realized.]"
"[Honestly, I did not think to ask if there was a way back.]" Harry shrugged sheepishly at his oversight. "[I messed up. There is nothing I can do about it now seeing how I am here. Thankfully, this world is fascinating and beautiful in its own way. I have friends and a family that cares for me as if I were their own. What more could a person wish for? I will just make my home in this realm… somewhere…]"
Harry stepped back as others greeted each other, saying their farewells. Some partings were forever, others were only until they would meet again. It was a sobering affair for the young wizard as Galadriel gently kissed her son's forehead and spoke softly to him, "[I understand why you must do this. Though I wish it were otherwise. We are scheduled to leave for the sea at the end of autumn, before the first snow.]"
Celeborn pulled Harry into a hug next before he asked, "[And you, Son what will you do when we go to Valinórë? Will you join us or stay here with your sister?]"
"[Is that an option for me?]" Harry asked in surprise. "[I am not a Firstborn. I… Well honestly, I had not thought that was a future for someone like me. I guess somewhere in my mind I am still hoping I can be sent back to my own world once this was all over.]" Galadriel inhaled sharply at his statement, and Harry grimaced. "[Sorry, Mother. At least we have our mirrors in the meantime.]"
Galadriel sighed sadly. "[I understand. Just know I hold you in my heart always.]"
"[As you are in mine,]" Harry said as he gave his mother another hug.
Harry bid farewell to his mother, father, and elven friends. Luna stood beside Legolas and waited for her brother's attention. When it was finally her turn for farewells, Luna stepped forward and hugged Harry tightly. Harry squeezed her back and then eased his hold, "[I have something for you.]"
"[You do?]" Luna asked in surprise, "[When did you have time to make something? Or did you purchase it, or more likely you bartered for it? Where did you shop? Where would you get the money to buy something?]"
He didn't bother to answer her - not that she gave him much chance to speak. Besides, Harry was too busy laughing. He simply removed his mokeskin pouch and summoned the pendant he had made. "[Not bought, not bartered. I made this with you in mind using nine very precious items to forge one - belated - heartfelt gift.]"
The pendant was woven onto a braided leather strap that Harry promptly tied around Luna's wrist. His sister gasped in surprise and smiled up at him. "[I can feel your magic.]"
"[It is imbued with pure intent: love for my sister and the desire to keep her safe from any harm that I can.]"
When Luna held her wrist up and saw the pendant was in the shape of the Deathly Hallows, she laughed joyously. "[Oh, Harry. It's perfect!]"
"[Just make sure it stays with you in order for the magic to work. In contact with your skin is preferable, but not necessary.]"
"[I love it.]" Luna reminded him, "[I will contact you when I've traveled to Minas Ithil and worked out the warding for Faramir and Éowyn.]"
Aragorn called for the riders' attention and began moving the group forward towards Isengard. Harry gave his sister one last hug - and a manly one-armed hug to his new brother-in-law - before hopping on his horse and following along behind the hobbits. The young wizard was a bit surprised to see Gimli heading off with Legolas and Luna, but then again... Harry didn't know where the dwarf lived.
It was nearing nightfall before they arrived at their next destination. Tents were once again being pitched outside of a city's gates. Only this city was more reminiscent of a huge lake with a black tower in its center than somewhere humans once lived and, at twilight, it was not an inviting sight.
As was his practice, the young wizard pulled his tent from his mokeskin pouch before magically setting it up. Harry looked around at the number of tents pitched and mentally compared it to the beginning of their journey. Before they had first left Minas Tirith there were several hundred tents. At the gates of Erados there were nearly one hundred. Now in front of the gates of Isengard there were only twenty tents total. Harry knew that when they left for Bree, there would be but one tent remaining as he would travel only with Gandalf and the hobbits.
There was a bonfire that night, with food and drinks. One of the warriors pulled out an instrument of sorts, one with strings similar to a guitar and began playing softly. Conversation was light and laughter could be heard throughout the group. Harry was amused to note that Pippin refrained from drinking anything stronger than water.
Harry finally asked him, "Pip, what were you drinking at the coronation that had you so pissed? I've never seen you sloshed before."
"I was what?" Pippin looked flummoxed.
He realized his mistake using British slang and rephrased, "What made you so drunk?"
Pippin crossed his arms with a harrumph, but the other three hobbits were laughing uproariously. Harry's eyebrow rose in question and the hobbit sighed while deflating. "I can drink mead and ale without issue. Gimli gave me something called whiskey… something. It looked like juice. Not sure where he got it from, but it was strong."
"Firewhiskey?" He asked. When Pippin's eyes grew wide in astonishment. Harry coughed in his hand to keep from laughing and asked, "Did smoke come from your ears?"
The hobbit's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the other three continued snickering. Pippin's word was elongated with a distinct hiss at the end when he responded with, "Yeeeesss…"
"Huh. Yeah, no idea where that came from." Harry excused himself and completely ignored the knowing looks from Frodo and Sam.
- - - - MoD-V03 - - - -
The next morning saw the friends saying their farewells once again. Harry busied himself with collapsing his tent and general cleanup of the area. He didn't know many of the men staying behind, except for the king, and Harry waited until Aragorn had a free moment to speak with him.
"Harry, I want to thank you," Aragorn started, but the young wizard tried to wave off the gratitude. Aragorn huffed in amusement and reminded Harry, "You and I both know that the death toll could have been much higher."
Harry admitted, "The thought crossed my mind. Though I had no idea things would come to such an abrupt halt once the ring was destroyed. Still," he shrugged, "I'm glad I could help."
"You've done so much for our world." Aragorn gave the wizard a grateful smile.
The pair looked at what once was an old lush forest. It was hard not to see the tree stumps and the abused grounds where trees were brutally torn up by their roots and Harry sighed sadly. "There's not much I can do about the trees, unfortunately. Magic can't solve all problems and Herbology was never a strong suit of mine."
"While I admit that it would be a true boon if you could, I have seen what you've done with Pelennor Field. You have done more than we could have hoped for."
"Maybe," Harry rubbed at his tired eyes, "but I can't help feeling that there are so many more things that need doing."
Aragorn hesitated as if choosing his words carefully, "Sometimes I forget that you've seen war before. You're just so…"
"Young?" Harry prompted and shrugged when Aragorn nodded. "Yes, well… It's been a long time since I was a child regardless of my age. I was raised to be a weapon against the dark… against evil. That's all I really know."
"There's so much more to you, Harry." Aragorn said earnestly, "You're a good man… a good wizard and a good friend. You're not just a weapon to be wielded against the dark in this or any other world."
Harry looked at Aragorn in surprise and just stared for a moment, a smile slowly formed. Not many had that point of view. Harry had been a weapon or a tool his whole life. Someone always wanted something from him. Here in Middle-earth was the same with the small exception of his family. Though even with them Celeborn once used him like a pawn while on Earth to try to get Luna back. Harry's voice cracked with emotion when said, "You truly believe that."
It wasn't a question, yet Aragorn answered vehemently, "Yes!"
With a soft chuckle Harry nodded. "Well, thank you. Perhaps I can be something more than a weapon once this prophecy is fulfilled."
Timeline:
TA 3019, Jun 3 Leave Edoras
TA 3019, June 6 Arrive at Isengard cross road
TA 3019, June 9 Arrive at Isengard
TA 3019, June 10 Leave for Bree