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It was a sad thing to realize that a child could be afraid of an Elf.
Elves had long cherished childhood, though most of them could not remember their own. Perhaps that was the reason they had forgotten that there were sorrows as well as joys.
For Elves thought of children as happy and innocent, always eager to play or dance or sing; quick to explore and investigate the world around them, open with their emotions and freely expressing their love and affection.
The young Harry came as somewhat of a shock.
The child was quiet and withdrawn, choosing to spend his days following at the heels of the Grey Wizard. He had yet to speak with anyone else since arriving, he had not yet been seen to play and frolic; and he watched the Elves with a wary, distrustful and frightened eye.
It was heart-breaking, and something must be done.
The Lord of Imladris sat at his desk in his study.
He was concerned for the child. He was not so naive as to think all children had a happy carefree life; the hearts of men could be black and hateful, and it was easy to imagine that one so unique as a boy possessing magic ability would be ostracised, or punished for magic he could not control – perhaps that was even the reason magic had delivered him into the Greenwood.
"It is clear that the child is frightened, and that we Elves, as a people, intimidate him. We must find a way to set him at ease and come to accept this place as his home."
Elrond rose from his chair and walked towards the balcony. There in the garden he could see the child and the Grey Wizard where they were sat side by side beneath a tree. Gandalf was pointing at something and speaking softly.
"He clings to Mithrandir as the only familiar thing he knows, and he is wary to set out of his own."
He watched as the red squirrel that had made itself at home in the garden leapt upon the Wizard's hat, startling the boy and drawing chuckles from the man. Gandalf gently removed his hat and set it upon the floor then attempted to coax the boy into greeting the animal.
"I worry where this fear to trust will lead him."
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It had been three weeks since Harry had arrived in the Elven realm and two days since Mr Gandalf had departed.
The Grey Wizard had remained Harry's companion throughout the first few weeks in this new environment, showing him around and helping him get the lay of the land. In truth this had been because Harry was so reluctant to part from him. Mr Gandalf was the one familiar thing to him in this place and the only one he felt even remotely comfortable around.
It had been a chilly morning when Mr Gandalf had left.
He had woken Harry just as the sun had begun to rise and led him down into the garden. There the Grey Wizard sat cross-legged on the ground beneath a tree and beckoned the boy to sit beside him.
The two sat in silence as the sounds of the world waking in the new morning drifted across the valley.
"Rivendell is a wondrous place, in its way"
Harry turned his gaze up at his companion as Mr Gandalf spoke. He remembered hearing that same sentiment back at Rhosgobel and wondered why the wizard was repeating it here.
"Yes…a wondrous place, yet some would call it isolated, distant…perhaps forgotten."
The Grey Wizard stroked his beard and kept his gaze upwards through the trees.
"There are some who believe the Elven people a myth - a children's story – seems strange to think of that here doesn't it?"
Mr Gandalf smiled down at Harry as the boy nodded.
"Yet it goes to show how withdrawn they have become. Once the great Elven Kingdoms spread across the land and had no equal amongst the free peoples, now they dwindle and fade, and not even the glory of Imladris or the beauty of Lorien can match that which was lost."
He sighed and turned his gaze once more to the trees.
"All things fade in time. All things end."
Mr Gandalf seemed sad as he sat there in the gardens of Rivendell, watching the waking world. Harry wondered the reason why. Mr Gandalf had always seemed so certain, so sure of himself and his purpose, that it was easy to forget that he was an elderly man, yet here and now it seemed as if the ages had caught him and worn him down – for the first time since their meeting the Grey Wizard seemed truly old to the child.
After some time Mr Gandalf smiled down at the boy again and patted his head.
"I had hoped to stay longer, to help you adjust, but duty calls me elsewhere and I must travel."
"B-but…why…you, you're leaving?"
"There are many things I must do in this world, many people I must watch over, many friends I must tend to. I regret, truly, that I could not stay longer."
"B-but, I, I don't know anyone here! A-and they all look at me, and, and…"
"I am not abandoning you, and I will come back soon as I am able. It will take time for you to adjust, I know, but remember that you are safe here, and the Elves mean well. Try to be patient with them, as I hope they will be patient with you in turn."
"I-I'll try, Mr Gandalf"
"Good lad."
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"Come Harry! 'tis a fair day, the sun is shining bright and the air is clear. There are adventures to be had!"
The golden-haired elf named Glordindel appeared one morning in the days after Gandalf's departure as Harry sought refuge in the shade of the gardens from the watchful interested eyes of the Elves.
The gardens had become somewhat of a safe-haven from prying eyes for the child, as Eucephalus had settled himself amongst the trees and he did not welcome trespassers to his domain. It was frequently an amusing sight to witness an Elf hurrying away from the gardens as the little red squirrel pelted nuts and berries at them.
So Harry was surprised by the sudden appearance. The Elf-Lord had dropped from the trees and landed by his side.
"A-adventures?"
"Verily! The whole valley is yours to explore, every nook and cranny, every secret yours to discover! Why waste the day lurking in the shadows of the garden when the chance to discover the unknown lay at your fingertips?"
"…but I like the gardens"
"And beautiful they are too, but one can spend too long within them hidden from the world…or hiding from it, perhaps?"
"…I, er, well, I didn't mean to…"
"'twould be a surprise if you did not. A new place full of strangers, 'tis no wonder you feel out of sorts and overwhelmed. Such is the manner of things. But one cannot hide away from the world forever. The world is full of wonderful things to discover, and interesting people to meet, you need only take that first step outside to begin your journey."
"I-I don't know. I…I don't want to be any trouble…"
"Why ever not? It is the privilege of the young to trouble their elders. Be brave young one. Do not fear the unknown or worry for the consequence. I shall be your friend and we shall learn together."
Harry hesitated for a moment, uncertain. The gardens were his sanctuary in this new place, the only area of Rivendell where he did not feel out of place or constantly under watch, and he was reluctant to move away from that.
If Glorfindel sensed that hesitance he made no sign of doing so for he remained still, smiling in his hopeful way and holding his hand out for the boy. Mr Glorfindel was so earnest and keen that Harry could not help but smile back and take the elf's hand.
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Author's note:It's been a long time since I updated this story and, to be honest, a long time since I wrote that part that appears in this chapter. I've sat on it for years, constantly going back trying to get the next part to...develop, but it's never really worked, so I thought it was high time I shared the little bit extra of this story that I've had finished.
Not to get hopes up on regular update with this, because its not likely to happen, but I am still trying to finish this story, it's not and never has been abandonned, I'm just despressed and not really getting anywhere with it.
Maybe one day the Muses will bless me and I'll push through to the end, but until then you can at least have this little update.