Chapter 8 is here! Including visitors and Harry revealing a few truths about his life before coming to Middle Earth 3 Enjoy!
Chapter 8
Harry took a tiny step closer to Legolas under all the scrutiny and the dark-haired elf raised an eyebrow at him.
He felt a subtle push against his mind and realised that his shields were strong and that someone was attempting to probe his thoughts. He swung around face twisted in anger, for perhaps the first time since his arrival in this place.
Thranduil stood abruptly from where he had been lounging on his throne and Legolas gasped and dropped to one knee before him.
"What's wrong?" he asked seriously.
"Someone is attempting to read my mind" he hissed, green eyes flashing in anger as he thought back to all his lessons with Snape.
Everyone swung around to stare at a tall blonde elf, who was fairly glowing as she gazed down upon him.
The probe got more insistent, and he growled in anger.
"Stop that right now, my thoughts are my own!"
She bowed in acquiescence, "I apologise young one."
Harry said nothing, merely crossing his arms over his chest and frowning.
Legolas looked between the pair unsurely.
"I have never known of someone able to feel your gift before" Legolas said, his voice questioning.
"Or one who can stop in" she murmured back, and Harry didn't like the way she was watching him.
"What are you?"
"I'm an elfling" he said shortly, turning away from her, his body thrumming in annoyance.
Legolas reached out to touch his shoulder in comfort and he cursed himself as he flinched away.
"You have travelled long and far" Thranduil said in a stern voice. "I will have elves show you to your rooms that you may refresh yourself before supper."
Many of the elves looked down in chargin, some looking worried and upset and Harry began to feel embarrassed by his outburst.
He turned and threw himself into Legolas' arms, shaking slightly as the blonde elf scooped him up into his arms.
"I'm sorry" Harry murmured.
"You have nothing to be sorry for" Legolas said as he held him close. "Come let us visit the gardens, it will revive your spirit."
Legolas was right as usual and he felt much better after some time in the gardens, even if he wasn't working on the garden, he was getting ready for Legolas.
"Did you want to talk about it?" Legolas asked after a while and Harry knew that if he said no, Legolas would respect that.
He sat back, wiping sweat off his forehead and accidentally smearing dirt on his face instead. He didn't want to get into the whole Voldemort, mind connection thing but he did want to share something.
"One of my teachers, he was supposed to teach me how to shield my mind but mostly used the lessons to tear it apart. Forcing me to relive horrible moments from my past over and over again" Harry had very mixed feelings about Snape.
Legolas stilled beside him, in a way only elves could do. He glanced up, trying to understand what the other was thinking, but Legolas's face was completely blank.
After a moment, Legolas responded. "I'm sorry that happened to you," he said with a frown. "That someone who was supposed to help you, hurt you so."
Harry looked so sad and forlorn that Legolas' heart nearly broke in two at the sight.
"That happened to me quite a lot" he said quietly.
That sat quietly, both lost in their own thoughts before a throat clearing behind them had them swinging around.
"Why did I even think to check your rooms when I knew I would find you here" Thranduil said, looking between the pair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Do you feel up to returning for supper?"
Harry nodded, looking down in embarrassment. "Yes of course, I- I'm sorry about before."
"You have nothing to be sorry for" Thranduil frowned. "As much as she is kin, she is far too used to doing as she pleases. I have warned her against such transgressions during her stay here."
"Oh" Harry said, surprised. "Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. Now, you both need a wash if you are to be presentable."
Harry chuckled, looking down at his now dirty clothes, "alright."
The room was sombre when they entered it an hour later. Harry was relieved they were in the small dining room and that only a few select elves from the arrivals were now in attendance. Open tension ran through the room and Harry frowned knowing he was the cause of it, still he chose to sit as far away from the attempted to read his mind elf as he could, sitting up as tall as he could in his highchair between Thranduil and Legolas. The two forming an impenetrable blonde wall between himself and the others.
"Harry, I'd like to apologise for earlier" the elf said softly, and Harry turned green eyes on blue. "The fact that I do it almost without thought is no excuse."
"You're right that is no excuse. But I will forgive you, as long as it doesn't happen again."
She nodded in agreement.
"I'm sorry we got off to a bad start, please let me introduce myself. My name is Galadriel."
Harry felt some of the tension that had been running through his shoulders release a little.
"Hello, Galadriel."
She smiled at him, her eyes shining and the others around the table began to introduce themselves as well.
There was her husband as well as Elrond and his children and some important people from their homes. Harry tried to remember all their names but struggled with the unusual pronunciations.
"It's nice to meet you all" Harry said, and the gathered elves smiled warmly at him.
"So, tell us how this came to be" Elrond said as they started eating.
Thranduil glanced down at Harry, and he knew the older elf was giving him the chance to tell his own tale if he wanted to.
"Well, there isn't too much to tell really. I was killed in my old life but blessed by the Valar with a new life here." Harry said it matter of factly. "I awoke on the outskirts of this forest and stumbled upon some elves on patrol who brought me here."
The elves looked thoughtful. Elrond spoke up. "I wonder why you were sent here and not one of the other elf homes. I wonder if there is some purpose the Valar want you to serve here."
Harry blanched at the statement, "what?"
Elrond shrugged elegantly, "I am merely thinking out loud. It just seems curious that you were sent here of all places. I wonder if it was random or by design."
Harry felt ill at the very thought that he'd been sent here with some grand plan that he was going to have to complete.
He turned a stricken face to Legolas, who reached out to soothe him.
"Harry has led a difficult life before he was sent to us. I think the Valar knew we were the best ones to take care of him. His only purpose" Legolas scoffed scornfully before continuing, "is to grow and be happy."
Elrond nodded. "Forgive me, I did not mean anything by it. I was simply curious."
Harry still felt uneasy, but one of Elrond's sons spoke up, obviously trying to change the topic.
"Were you an elf before coming here?" one asked, though he wasn't sure which. He was reminded of Fred and George, simply because they were identical twins and the thought made him smile a little.
"Oh no, I was a wizard."
All heads swung to him, eyes popping open in surprise.
"A wizard" Legolas asked in surprise, looking as though he wanted to scoop Harry up and run off with him.
"Ah, yes?"
"What kind of things could you do?" One of the twins asked.
"Oh, the usual sort of things, stun people, make things float, change objects from one thing to another. When I had my broomstick, I could fly, and I had a cloak that could make me invisible" Harry said, thinking back to how amazing it had been to learn he was a wizard.
"I bet you got up to some mischief with that" Arwen laughed.
"Of course," Harry joked back.
The tension broken; more relaxed conversation broke out around the table. Harry could feel eyes on him but didn't let it worry him, instead talking to Arwen about the antics her and her brothers got up to as elflings, while Legolas groaned about not giving him ideas.
The twins introduced themselves to him again and he spent a fair amount of time studying both and noticing small differences so that he could tell them apart. Elladan's hair was a shade darker and Elrohir's eyes were a little wider. Elladan's shoulders were broader while Elrohir's lips were fuller. He only realised he had been staring quite avidly between the two when Elladan winked at him, causing Harry to startle slightly and swing his attention back to Arwen.
"Of course, these two were an endless source of trouble" Arwen laughed as she nodded to her brothers. "Still are actually."
Harry giggled, "they certainly look the type. I never had any siblings and my cousin who I lived with only use to chase me around to hurt me, but my best friend was one of seven and I would visit there house in the summer when I was older. They had a flying car, a ghoul in the attic and a garden full of gnomes, we would go flying every day and Mrs Weasley always made enough food to feed a small army."
Harry smiled warmed by the memories and tried to hide the yawn breaking through.
"Time for bed, I think" Legolas said with a fond smile, before he lifted Harry up into his arms. Harry reached out and patted the side of Thranduil's head gently before he was moved.
"Good night" he said softly, before waving goodbye to the room at large.
The room quieted as Harry and Legolas exited but as soon as they were gone talk resumed immediately.
"There is power in that one" Galadriel said and Thranduil narrowed his eyes at her. "He may be better suited to live at Lothlorien where his gifts can be nurtured."
Thranduil's lip curled in a snarl. "Any attempt to take him will be met with extreme force."
Galadriel smiled slightly, "I would never try to take him, that doesn't mean that Lothlorien wouldn't be better for him."
Thranduil shrugged nonchalantly but inside he seethed and made a mental note to have Harry closely watched while their visitors were with them.
Harry glanced at Galadriel, who had been watching him throughout breakfast. She was beginning to unnerve him. He looked back to Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen, trying to focus on their conversation instead.
"Our home is surrounded by large, beautiful forests and home to many elves" Arwen said with a smile.
"I will have to come visit one day" Harry said warmly.
"Oh, you should," Arwen said enthusiastically. "You would be most welcome."
Legolas let out a noise of derision and Harry's eyes flicked to him.
"Legolas?" he asked uncertainly, unused to the look marring the normally kind face.
"It is nothing, little one. Just amused at the blatant coercion taking place trying to entice you to one of the other elven havens."
Harry blinked, trying to process exactly what Legolas was talking about.
Legolas let out a deep sigh.
"They all feel that their own homes would be a better place for you to be raised."
Harry frowned deeply at that. "My home is here" he said forcefully, causing everyone at the table to turn and look at him. "It is the first home I have ever had, and you will not take it from me!"
Arwen looked distressed at upsetting the elfling. "I'm sorry," she said apologetically. "I just wanted you to know you have options out there if you wanted them. You don't have to stay here."
"And why wouldn't I stay here?" He asked incredulously, green eyes blazing as he tried to stand up in indignation but finding himself unable as he was strapped into his highchair. "The elves here have been nothing but kind and welcoming. They have ensured I have everything I could ever want, in a way that I have never had before in my life. They are a strong, fierce people who fight everyday for the safety of their home. What place could possibly compare!"
He stared at Arwen, but let his gaze travel the table, making sure there was no confusion as to where his loyalties lie. This was his home, and no one was taking him from it.
"Ignore our sister" Elladan spoke up from beside Arwen, who was looking stricken. "It is clear to anyone with eyes that you are settled and happy here."
"I am" Harry agreed.
"The problem with being thousands of years old" Elrohir continued, "is that it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know what's best for everyone around you."
"Unfortunately, it's a trap many elves are guilty of" Elrohir said, holding up his hand to his mouth as though sharing some great secret with Harry and Harry couldn't help but giggle.
"But not you?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh, we don't even know what's best for ourselves, let alone anyone else around us" Elladan smiled.
"That would explain the hair" Harry said seriously, before breaking out into uproarious laughter as both twins reached up to touch their hair self-consciously.
The twin's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before they too started laughing.
"Would you like to come and see the gardens with me this morning?" Harry asked as he looked at the twins. "I work in them nearly every day."
"Of course," they both agreed and Harry turned to look at Legolas.
"Is that OK, ada?"
The table froze, but Harry was oblivious to his slip, looking at Legolas imploringly. The blonde elf sat immobile for several moments mind reeling and his eyes prickling slightly.
"Of course," he murmured, the words coming out hoarse.
Harry's eyebrows furrowed, "are you sure? I don't have to?"
Legolas cleared his throat, visibly reeling himself back in.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea. I know Elladan and Elrohir are both keen gardeners and will enjoy seeing all the things you have been working on in ours."
The twins glanced at Legolas, but turned their gaze back to Harry when he started speaking excitedly.
"You enjoy gardening as well?"
"Amongst other things" they said with a smile and Harry smiled back.
"I never really liked gardening that much before. My Aunt and Uncle used to force me to work in their garden for hours in the boiling sun, locking me out of the house so I couldn't get any food or water. But since I've come here, it's felt so natural. It's my favourite thing to do."
Legolas supposed he was lucky they were sitting at a table of well-trained elves, who knew better then to show most reactions, with the truths Harry was dropping over the past few days. His heart ached and he blinked back tears, forcing a smile on his face when Harry turned to look at him.