Harry, Morticia, and Goruk continued to walk down the path towards the tower. As they got closer to the intricate ebony doors he noticed four figures standing there. Two were tall but thin, almost skeletal, cloaked in black tattered hooded robes. The other two were large in every way, with bluish skin, and four extremely muscled arms. They wore something close to a toga in a charcoal gray color, with silver accents on the hem and belt that was tied loosely around their waists.
What was the Bowguard doing here? He sighed, the Deoguard probably told them about it and brought them along. It didn't matter either way he had guards, that should be enough. Before he could even acknowledge them they came forward, positioning one bowguard and one Deoguard either side of the group. Clearly they knew what their role was so Harry wasted no time explaining anything to them and walked forward.
The doors swung open revealing the library atrium bathed in the midday sun. The librarians had clearly been waiting for their arrival since they were lined up either side of the door creating a pathway into the center of the atrium, where Melia was standing waiting for them. She seemed to be haloed by the light streaming through the ceiling, making her auburn feathers and hair look fiery in the light.
As the seven of them stepped over the threshold all the librarians present plunged into deep bows, their wings spread in a way to mimic the positions of their arms. Harry stepped forward swallowing hard at the sight of these beings all bowing to him.
Theoretically Harry had been aware that this wasn't, as death called it, some casual meet and greet, but he hadn't truly understood the consequence that one single offhand comment about meeting their suzerain would have. He had merely asked in passing if he could meet her so he could learn about the internal workings within the Seligen court, and now this was happening.
Hadrian suddenly felt the weight of what his titles truly ment in that moment. It wasn't a heady feeling making him feel giddy or excited about the power he held, but rather like a burning in his throat. The kind you would get before you were sick. He refused to show his discomfort on his face though and didn't falter as he walked towards Melia.
"Your highness, I am tasked today with leading you and your contingency through to the entrance of the canyon. From there the guards shall escort you the rest of the way." Harry nodded and began following Melia through to the very back of the library, where the doors to the librarian's quarters were. He tilted his head to the left slightly, seeing Goruk cataloging the entire place. Harry might allow him to spend a bit of time in the library after the meeting depending on how all of this goes first.
Finally they reached a set of plain ebony doors that swung open as they got close. It led out of the tower and on to one of the bridges that connected the side towers to the main tower. Scattered along the path in intervals were arches of purple wisteria, it created a beautiful contrast of purple and green against the brilliant white of the marble that was harshly reflecting the midday sun. Harry suddenly frowned at a realization.
"Melia, do you know if the tower's wards include weather and season manipulation?" Melia smiled.
"They do indeed. Alexia was an incredible witch. She set up several greenhouses using her impressive weather manipulation skills to make the perfect environment for all kinds of plants to flourish. For the towers she made it always be the perfect season for the extensive flower gardens to always be in bloom. In doing so she actually forced the plants here to evolve slightly differently to their usual counterparts."
"With it always being optimal for the plants to bloom, they slowly developed in a way that the plants would constantly be producing new buds. Instead of only producing buds at the start of spring and blooming in late spring early summer, these plants continuously produce buds allowing for all the plants to continuously be in bloom."
"The same has happened with the greenhouses, as far as I'm aware. But that's the Epimelides domain so we do not go there. We have amicable enough relations but we agree to not intrude on the others' space. They do not come to the canyon or the library therefore we do not venture to the greenhouses." Harry thought that that was a lot more to take in than he had originally asked for.
"The epmlades?"
"Epimelides, your highness. They are a subsection of the land or earth nymphs. You have the Dryads, the Epimelides, and the Oreads. All are regarded as land nymphs or to most wixen Earth nymphs. There is also a lone Dryad who decided to live on through the forest here. If you ever look at the trees surrounding the towers you will find one that stands out slightly. That is her tree. Her name is Trillis. She's… not very social." Melia grimaced
"Noted." they reached the doors that let in to the side tower and stepped through. Harry was a little surprised to find the back wall of the tower just missing. The thing was completely open with only a few pillars to keep the ceiling from falling down. They were led closer to the edge and Harry gasped at the sight in front of him.
The massive stone cliff face opposite him had been dug out in a way that resembled the hallway of an apartment building, ledges sticking out indicating just how many floors there were. Every rock face was carved out to create homes and shops. Throughout the whole canyon harpy's were moving around doing daily tasks, flying from one ledge to another carrying their children in fabric slings as they got their work done. It was always interesting to him that their wings weren't connected to their upper back like the usual depiction of an angel, but to their lower back right behind their stomach.
He was so engrossed in watching the daily happenings of the harpy's that he completely missed the arrival of several guards until a throat cleared and he whirled around. Standing next to Melia were six harpy's clad in silver coloured armor with gold detailing. The fabric parts of the outfit were all a deep turquoise and even Harry was able to discern their position as a royal guard. He looked over slightly at his own guards wondering if he should create some kind of uniform before dismissing the thought immediately. They looked fine and Harry had no doubts that they would destroy anyone they wanted to, fancy armor or no.
"We have prepared a platform for you." She gestured over to what looked like a palanquin and Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable. It was a small platform with cushions arranged on the space so they could sit comfortably. There was light frame work around one end of the platform allowing flowy turquoise fabric to be draped over to create a canopy of sorts. Once they were on it the entire thing would be lifted and taken to wherever they were going. Harry assumed that they needed to use this because it was the only way to get them there since the harpies flew everywhere. He turned to the being who appeared to be in charge before asking his question.
"Would you mind if I followed you? I haven't been flying in a little while and I would appreciate the chance to stretch my wings." The guards looked at him curiously before giving one short nod. "Bowguard if you would stay with Gold tooth and… Morticia. Deoguard if you would follow me I would appreciate it." The first bowguard climbed on to the palanquin and stretched out a hand for the goblin to take as he climbed the stairs and settled in the middle of the platform looking wary. Death smirked, having no problems with sitting on the edge of the platform and draping her legs over the side like an empress of old.
As the palanquin was lifted, Harry transformed into his phoenix form and rose into the air. He resisted the urge to fly in loops and instead slowly followed the parade from above. The deoguard were trailing either side of him as they move towards a tower about the same height as the library, which was saying something considering this tower also went all the way down to the bottom of the canyon. The thing had at least thirty floors and was made from the same white marble as the library.
They began flying higher and higher until they were now level with the top of the tower. It appeared to be an entirely open floor with only evenly spaced pillars around the sides holding up the piqued roof of the tower. There was a large semicircle platform not sheltered by the roof, where he watched the guards land. They slowly lowered the palanquin and Death gracefully stepped down while Goruk looked ecstatic to be on solid ground once more. They moved forward together and Harry flew between them, transforming back gracefully stepping in time with Morticia as they walked forward.
The space was rather sparse with it only holding one massively long, perfectly polished rosewood table and nothing else. He flicked his eyes over to the people he was clearly here to meet and he felt his throat go dry. It was clear to him who exactly was the most important person there out of the three women greeting them.
To his right was who he guessed was the canyons suzerain; she looked around forty with delicate laugh lines surrounding her turquoise eyes. Her hair and feathers were a rich chocolate brown and she wore a carefully embroidered, flowing, cyan dress accessorized with bronze jewelry. She was beautiful and elegant with an aura of 'dont fuck with me' surounding her.
To the left was a taller woman with dark skin and darker feathers. She had a scar running down the left side of her face and through her eye that was a milky white. The other however was a vibrant gold that matched the chest plate and arm bracers she wore over a thin flowing cream dress, that would have probably been a little scandalous if it weren't for the brown leather shorts she was wearing beneath it. There were also several sheaths on her person that Harry had no doubt held weapons as intimidating as she was.
In the center however stood what looked like a child. She was small with fair skin, pure white feathers and eyes that were too green to call yellow but too yellow to call green. They were perfectly inbetween and looked at you like she could see your soul. They were not the eyes of a child, similar to his own in the way they didn't match their childlike appearance. She wore silver from the delicate but extravagant crown on the top of her head to the hem of her skirt at her feet. It was only broken up by the small patches of white embroidery scattered throughout the silver fabric of the dress.
The one in turquoise stepped forward with a perfect bow, "I am Hellynea, Suzerain of Morsgrave Canyon and the left wing of the Sheynia Court, may I introduce Sylophis head of the Royal Guard and Right wing of the Sheynia Court." the woman in gold bowed as she was introduced, but otherwise stayed silent. Then the girl with pure white hair stepped forward.
"I am Zeliene, Queen of the Sheynia Court. I bow to the Imperial Prince of the Seligen Courts." Oh fuck harry didnt know what to do, this was way too formal. What the fuck is he supposed to do? Introduce us! Gold tooth first, then me. Then yourself!
"This is Gold Tooth member of the British goblin hoard." Gold Tooth dipped his head slightly and Harry was just about to panic at his lack of courtesy when death calmed him. She is not his superior, he need not bow. They bowed to you as their superior. He showed enough respect to someone not of his nation. It's fine. Harry let out a relieved breath.
"This is Morticia…" Member of the Vuscal Court. "Member of the Vuscal Court." 'Death what the fuck is the Vuscal court?' It is one of the Unseelie courts and is ruled by the vampires. 'That did not help.' Death smiled and dipped her head. "And I am Hadrian Potter-Black, Imperial prince of the Seligen court." He bowed briefly to the Queen before straightening and Death moved forward presenting the boxes of cakes and pastries.
"His imperial highness arranged these for you today. We hope they are to your liking." She passed the boxes off to one of the guards who brought it over to the queen. Upon opening the first box the girl's eyes lit with excitement and they finally matched her childlike appearance.
"The gifts are much appreciated. Please come sit, we'll have drinks brought out to accompany these delicacies." she gestured to the long table and as she turned Harry caught sight of her wings. They lay limpley down the back of her dress creating a train of white feathers that drug softly against the floor. He quickly averted his eyes and walked to the other side of the table. After they were all seated Harry decided to talk.
"I do apologize for causing such a fuss, you see, there is very little written in regards to the Seligen court and I was hoping to only have a small conversation to correct my lack of knowledge. I asked this of Melia without fully grasping what exactly I asked for."
"Your business here is to increase your limited understanding of the Seligen court? Why?" The queen's eyes were back to the calculating sharpness he had seen before.
"You're asking why I want to know?" She nodded and Harry knew this was a test, he just didn't know what she was testing. "If I don't know how the court functions, how am I supposed to become a part of it? I don't even know who all are in the court." she smiled something sweet and sharp.
"Does it matter?" Harry frowned in confusion but before he could ask she elaborated. "What does it matter how it functions at the moment? All you need to do is come in and tell it how to function, no? That's what I did with my throne." Harry barked out a laugh. He had known this girl less than five minutes but he could tell that what she said was a lie.
"Someone with eyes like yours doesn't grow up ignorant. You grew up watching and learning. Maybe you did change everything when you took that throne but you did it after watching your predecessor or the people around you. You knew what you were changing and why. I'm not saying that I won't change anything. I'm saying that I'll change the problems I find, but I can't do that without knowing anything." she glared at him for a long moment before tilting her head.
"Pretty words for someone who only seeks power. We know of you, Harry Potter, and we've heard the whispers. I will say that I am less than impressed by what I've heard. I hear a lot of things you see and I think out of all of them the worst is what you've done here, within Alexias library itself. Though having met you, seeing your eyes with my own I can't help but wonder. You appear to be a contradiction." She picked up the cup of tea in front of her and sat back in her chair sipping daintaly while eyeing him like a particularly hard puzzle.
"What have I done within my own library that you disapprove of?" Harry was thrown by the sudden shift in mood. It was obvious that she didn't like him, but why? What did she think he had done? She raised a single eyebrow at him while gently placing her cup back on its saucer.
"You seek more power, more power that will do nothing but cripple you." Harry blinked at her, utterly confused. He didn't want the power he had, he wasn't trying to get more. He thought back to what he had done in the library while sipping his tea. All he had done was read, he didn't even branch out that much, he always read the same books on… he choked violently on his tea.
"I'm not looking to make a horcrux!" He blurted, still half choking on the tea he had inhaled. He looked up, finding the Queen now frowning at him skeptically.
"You're not?"
"Merlin, no. There is someone who made them and I want to put them back together again and I can't do that without understanding how they function among other things. Please believe me when I say that I am not dumb enough to do that. Nor was the person I'm helping. If someone hadn't spelled him to do it then they wouldn't exist." Finally the queen looked satisfied, like all the pieces were now slotting together.
"Harry potter, as the public knows him, doesn't exist, does he?" Harry pursed his lips and took a sip of his tea, not answering the question. She smirked at him, his actions clearly an answer in itself. There was a moment of silence before she spoke once more. "So you truly only set up this meeting to learn the workings within the court?" Harry nodded and she hummed in thought.
"Well honestly the court is… how do I put it... stagnant. The courts themselves thrive but the council is… I don't wish to call it pointless, but with the damage done by Nimue…" She trailed off and most of the table seemed to understand but Harry didn't.
"I've heard that Nimue wanted peace so allowed the wizarding world to walk all over you, but I don't know any specifics about it." Zeliene huffed, placing her cup down a little forcefully.
"One of the biggest things is the lore that once you enter a court you can't leave it without special permission. There are many races that people now deem extinct but in reality are confined to the courts. All those folklores about people entering the fay courts only to be stuck there are true. The only ones untethered are the members of the council. The magic of the council nullifies the restriction. Everyone else is magically bound to the courts." Harry gaped at her in horror.
"The places that were created as a safe haven became a prison?" In what universe did Nimue think that was remotely reasonable. Zeliene pursed her lips.
"Not exactly. The people inside aren't the problem. Of course there are some who want to leave but mostly the problem lies with those who need somewhere safe but don't want to abandon their world. Who would want to go somewhere if they were told they could never leave. There aren't many who would make that choice, especially if they had family that weren't in the courts. The few people who do decide to come to the courts often have trouble adapting. Only about five percent of those people end up having a full life in the courts." The queen was no longer looking at harry. her eyes had shifted behind him and her eyes had glazed over.
"The harpy nations will forever be grateful and loyal to the Peverell family for giving us this canyon and hiding us within their wards. The court thrives but the canyon is… Etrua… There are very few races that have a safe place to call their own outside of the courts. This canyon is considered one of the largest after Liqilean." her eyes focused back on Harry and only now did she seem to register his confusion.
"What of that did you not understand?" She asked not unkindly as she picked up a peach coloured macaroon and placed it in her mouth. Harry saw her eyes light up as they flicked towards the box of macaroons with an intensity that made him feel like a voyeur.
"Well I don't know what liquilin is or what you called the canyon." her eyes snapped back to him as she pondered what he had said.
"Liqilean is an underwater city that is home to a large number of merfolk. It's honestly rather funny. As I understand it, the mundanes are constantly perplexed by it because of a small mistake when it was originally warded. They forgot to add a mundane repellant ward,and since it was warded almost a thousand years ago, when few people went anywhere near it, they didn't notice the problem until about two hundred years ago. The warding knowledge used to ward Liqilean was lost a long time ago as such a Mundane repelling ward can't even be added. The mundanes now call it the bermuda triangle or the devil's triangle." she giggled and Harry gaped.
The bermuda triangle was created by faulty warding… that… actually makes a lot of sense. He wonders what Theo knows about it. he should ask when he gets back. "Umm what about the thing you called the canyon?" she smiled at him softly.
"Etrua. You'll find that most of us will refer to this place as Etrua. It doesn't have a direct translation. It's from the old tongue. It roughly means heart, home, safe place, mother, or comfort. It's hard to describe. It is the feeling of belonging. Many harpies within Sheynia express their wish to see it for themselves." she sighed.
"I believe we have gotten a little off course. The problems Nimue caused are numerous. She crippled the court making it so that they couldn't overthrow her decisions and in doing so she removed our power to govern the courts even in her absence. The rule of the Seligen Monarch is absolute." Harry grimaced, there went his hope that the council would run itself and that they didn't need him.
"Thank you for explaining all of this but could you tell me the structure of the Seligen court. I don't know what races are a part of the court or anything about it really." Zeliene looked at him in disbelief and Hellynea cleared her throat before speaking.
"There are 25 courts that make up the Seligen Courts. 13 Seelie Courts, and 12 Unseelie Courts. The courts were created using the same wards that Albion utilizes to keep itself separate from the mundane world. The council however is made up of 20 seats in total. The nymphs have eight courts but three seats split between land, water, and sky. Everyone else has one court to one seat on the council."
"The 13 Seelie courts consist of the eight nymph courts, the High Elves, the house elves, the Kitsune, the fairies, and the Satyr. The 12 Unseelie courts belong to the Arachne, the Centaurs, the giants, the Goblins, the harpies, the Leprechauns, the merpeople, the naga, the sphinx, the Vampires, the Veela, and the werewolves. Each race holds a seat on the council."
For the rest of the day Harry learned about the internal workings of the Seligen court that boiled down to every court having its own internal lores and politics governed by the head of every court. Their lores however didn't expand to anyone not within the courts and that was what the council was there for. But because of Nimue they can't pass laws without a monarch but instead all lores passed in Britain's Wizengamot automatically become written lores within the Seligen courts because that's how Nemue set it up. After all this Harry had one question.
"How did Nemue die?" Everyone at the table stiffened.
"Officially she passed away from old age. Dryads are not immortal and must bond themselves to a tree to continue living." he raised an eyebrow.
"And unofficially?" Death was the one to answer him this time.
"She was forcefully bonded to a tree which was then burned to ashes by unanimous vote by all governing members of every court, including the ones not directly on the council." Harry nodded. It was harsh but she had ruined the lives of every creature governed by Seligen lore. Harry suddenly had the thought that Nemue and Dumbledore were very similar. Two people who think that they know best, to the detriment of everyone around them.
"I appreciate the time that you made in your schedules to see me today. I'm sure you all had far better things to be doing than explaining the basic running of the court to me." he stood from the table, making it clear to all that the meeting was now over, the queen quickly followed, raising gracefully from her seat.
"I am glad to have been of assistance, after all, ignorance is the privilege of the masses. A privilege neither one of us is entitled to." She watched him with calculating eyes and Harry realized that she had somehow gained something from this meeting also. He didn't know what it was but she hadn't seen this as a waste of time, which he was glad for.
As they were about to leave the Queen stepped up to him and took his hands gently in hers. In one swift motion she lowered herself to her knees pressing her forehead against his knuckles and causing every other harpy present to kneel with her.
"I Zeliene, Queen of the Sheynia Court, am happy to serve his Imperial Majesty Hadrian LeFay, the first Imperial King of the Seligen court. I promise my loyalty, service, and sword to his reign. So mote it be." a rush of magic encased them and it felt natural as he spoke his response.
"I Hadrian LeFay accept your pledge and make my own. I promise my respect to you always, to defend our people from harm, and support the courts for which I am responsible. So mote it be." the magic swirled around them before wrapping around their wrists and sinking into their skin. There was no visible mark left but Harry was able to feel the pull of magic between them.
Queen Zeliene slowly pulled herself up, staring at him with wide eyes. "I am honored by your Pledge, my King." Harry was a little taken aback by the awe in her voice, looking behind her he found that everyone seemed to be staring at him in some form of shock and he couldn't help but wonder if he had done something wrong.
It is uncommon for someone to reciprocate a pledge like this one. It shows that you respect them. It's not a bad thing but wizards don't exactly have a reputation for treating creatures with basic decency let alone respect. Harry felt himself calm down at the explanation, happy that he hadn't somehow messed everything up.
He nodded to everyone and ushered Death and Goruk on to the palanquin. Goruk looked like he would rather do anything else, but grudgingly he got on. It wasn't long before they were all standing back in the library. Just as Harry was about to ask if Goruk wanted to have a look around he pulled out what looked like an emerald.
"Hadrian, if we're done here, I should really get back to the horde. Am I able to use portkeys here?" Harry didn't actually know the answer to that. Lucky for him Melia did.
"Portkeys can be used outside the tower only. The tower itself is warded against all modes of travel." and didn't Harry know that already. He couldn't shadow step in the building and it was infuriating. Now that he thinks about it maybe he shouldn't rely on that so much. Goruk said his goodbyes and was quickly gone leaving Harry to think over everything he had learned.