Rhosgobel

Gwaihir had flown over the remnants of Dol Guldur, and told Severus on the history of the Hill of Dark Sorcery. He told that it was founded more than two-thousand years ago by Sauron, when he was known as the Necromancer. It was built upon the hill of Amon Lanc, where once been the capitol of the Silvan realm under the ruling of Oropher, Thranduil's father. It had been Oropher who had brought the Silvan elves safely to the North after the Fall of Númenor – and which marked the time of Sauron's return.

Rhosgobel was not far from it. Gwaihir circled lower and lower until a small clearing came into view, in which in the middle a large Elm tree stood firmly rooted to the ground. He released Tilion from his talon, and landed softly beside the tree, which he gazed at with a particular sense of wonder.

Severus jumped off Gwaihir's back and looked around. Even at the borders of the forest, it felt very dense. No snow covered the ground here. Dark firs stood around them, shielding them from the Brown Lands that lay beyond. The very air was thick with moss and moisture, and the few rays of the sun that made it through the canopies shattered into drops of light onto the damp soil by their feet. It's was beautiful, and yet it could be felt that something was lurking in the dark. No matter which way you looked, it felt as if eyes were watching – and not all were innocent.

'He is here,' Gwaihir said as he looked deep into the woods. 'The protector of all those who move, and all those who stand rooted to the ground.' From behind a fir tree, a pair of soft brown eyes peaked out, and looked at them with wonder. His hair and beard were various shades of grey, and his robes were the colours of the ground he walked on.

'It has been long since I've had visitors that walk on two legs,' said Radagast as he stepped into the clearing. 'And Gwaihir, I have yet to thank you for saving Gandalf. If not for your kin I would not have known of Saruman's betrayal.'

Gwaihir bowed deeply. 'It is an honour, to be friends with a pupil of Yavanna,' he said, and turned to Severus. 'It is time for me to take my leave, child of Rowena. And remember, when all light seems to have gone out – all you need to do is follow the flame.'

'Thank you,' said Severus, and figured it won't do to question the riddles. 'For everything. I hope we will meet again.'

'For as long as Arien may sail the vessel of the Sun,' said Gwaihir, 'so long shall the eyes of the Eagles be ever watching. I wish you both farewell.'

Severus and Radagast watched Gwaihir taking off. With his wings he brushed along the highest branches of the Elm, and disappeared through the canopy of the trees.

'What have you named him?' It took Severus a moment to realise Radagast had already turned to Tilion, and was petting him gently on the head.

'Tilion,' said Severus.

'A beautiful name for a beautiful horse,' said Radagast. 'He is telling me that you saved him from his enslavement of the Nazgûl. He will forever be in your service if you want him to.'

'He has been a good companion through it all,' said Severus. 'Is this where you live?' he asked as he looked up at the Elm tree.

'It is not the tree that I live in,' Radagast answered with a smile, 'but it is the tree that I serve. Come with me. I shall take you to Rhosgobel – my home.'

...o0o…

For a short while they wandered into the woods. Gadagast had told him much of its beauty, but also of its dangers. The spiders were hard to keep at bay, and they weaved their gloom and sorrow like a net on all living things in this forest.

Radagast's home turned out to be a two-story cabin. Partially built around a tree, and had become one with nature rather than made from it, which was not unlike what the Elves of Rivendell had done with their homes. Birds and beasts, from hares and hedgehogs, to thrushes and kingfishers, all scavenged and flew around the premise. Undisturbed, and most of all safe, for they did not look up when the two men arrived by the front door, and Tilion, after being released from all the baggage he was carrying, joined the other woodland critters by the trees.

With Radagast's permission, Severus opened the door and found a cosy candlelit place. A cauldron was bubbling over a hearth, and dried herbs were hanging from the ceiling beams. The place smelled of sage and sandalwood, and reminded him of Slughorn's classroom in the dungeons at Hogwarts. It brought his mind back to his love of potion brewing, and to the castle that had served as his home away from home.

Radagast gestured towards the kitchen table, and Severus took a seat as he continued to look around. 'Do you brew potions often?' he asked by means of starting a conversation.

'Mainly for healing the wounded and sick,' Radagast confirmed. 'Do you enjoy brewing potions?'

'I think it's one of the greatest forms of magic,' Severus answered with a nod. 'It is subtle – and it requires patience. Something that many of my former classmates seemed to lack.'

'You will have your chance at brewing things if you so wish,' said Radagast. 'You must forgive me for my bluntness, Severus. It is not often that I have visitors here, and the way of men is rather strange to me. If you are thirsty, pour it. If you are hungry, eat it. If you are tired, then just go to sleep. You are here for one reason, and for one reason alone.'

'To awaken,' said Severus, 'though I'm still not sure what it means to do so.'

Radagast took a hold of Severus' hand and held up the Ring to his face. 'By the will of the Valar we were brought to Middle-earth,' he said. 'We took on the shape of wise men, so that we may not rule, but to serve those in need of knowledge and protection. You, Severus, need to awaken like we have awakened, for a Wizard you may be called where you are from, and yet you are powerless here.'

'I'm well aware,' Severus said flatly, and pulled his hand way. 'I just need to know how.'

'It is not me you should ask,' said Radagast with a nod towards the Ring. 'It's her. Nine days you will need – starting now.' He stood up from the kitchen table and rummaged around the kitchen until he pulled out a wicker basket from a cupboard. 'Here,' he said as he handed Severus the basket. 'Better start collecting Helga's Hats for the big day.' Promptly he turned around on the balls of his feet, and made his way up the stairs, leaving Severus feeling weird and confused.

'What exactly are Helga's Hats?' Severus called out towards the stairs, but no response came from the Wizard. 'Anything else you need me to get while we're at it?' he added bitterly.

'Oh, yes,' Radagast called out from the top of the stairs. 'I nearly forgot. Did you bring fireweed by any chance?'

'Fireweed?' Severus asked, now more confused than ever. 'Well – yes. Goldberry gave me some from the Bonfire Glade.'

'Good!' Radagast called out. 'Excellent! Just hold on to it for now. You will need it when the time comes. Now, off you go!'

Severus noticed he was still holding up the basket, as if he was somehow expecting something to magically drop inside of it. Not sure what to do next, he got up and made his way outside. Helga's Hats. He figured it must have something to do with Helga Hufflepuff, knowing now that she was once a woman of Rohan, but that still didn't bring him any closer to what he was meant to look for.

He walked a circle around the house, pondering on everything that he'd been told. The fireweed. Someday, the darkness will need to be burnt. Goldberry. Nine days. All you need to do is follow the flame. Kémya. It is the tree that I serve. He looked at the Ring again, and the memory of finding it at the bottom of the Great Lake resurfaced. Looks like elm leaves. Lily trying to stop him from taking it. Too late.

He traced his steps back to where Gwaihir had landed, and found the clearing where the Elm tree stood. He took a better look at it this time, and realised that it was easily the largest tree around. It towered over all the firs nearby, and its branches reached high in praise of the Sun. Unlike other deciduous trees at this time of year, it still bore all of its drop-shaped leaves, and it left Severus to wonder.

With his Ring-baring hand he reached out to touch the bark of the tree. He felt the coarse structure against his fingertips, and he half-expected something to happen, like a hidden door opening up to the inside of the tree – but nothing happened.

Feeling somewhat disappointed, he looked around the clearing. The ground was elevated here, and reminded him of the ancient burial grounds in England. From this perspective the clearing was a wide circle, and along its edge he saw a familiar sight. Liberty Caps were sprouting out of the ground in abundance. Though the fungus was nothing pretty in particular to look at, the fact that he was standing in the middle of the largest fairy ring he had ever seen, was. He remembered finding them with Lily. It was on Hallowe'en during their third year, and they had spotted them growing around the gamekeeper's hut. They had picked them, knowing fully well what the Liberty Caps were capable of, and brought them to the school's kitchens where they spent the remainder of the feast. The Liberty Caps wound up lying forgotten in a basket among the herbs.

Believing that he may have found what Radagast had meant with Helga's Hats, he walked up to the edge of the circle and started pulling them out of the ground, and tossed them into the wicker basket. It took a long time, but eventually the basket was filled to the brim, and the circle around the Elm tree was gone.

Taking a breather, Severus sat down by the roots of the tree and leaned against its trunk. It is the tree that I serve. Radagast's words from earlier that day echoed in his mind again. 'Who are you?' he asked as he looked up at the tree. 'Are you Yavanna?' But the wind merely rustled the leaves, and no response came. Nine days. In nine days it would be his birthday, but he also thought about another significance that nine days held. It came from the stories of his father's world. The Navratri festival. For nine days and nine nights the people honour the goddess Durga for defeating Mahishasura the demon. Lord Brahma had once blessed the demon with the gift of immortality, but under one condition, and that condition was that he could only die by the hands of a woman. Mahishasura, in his arrogance and pride, believed that no woman would ever be powerful enough to defeat him, and so he gladly accepted the condition that came with his immortality. Mahishasura and his band of evil men grew stronger and stronger over the years. So strong, that they started attacking the people of the Earthly realm, and no Gods were able to defeat him. To put an end to the demon's terror, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva created the mighty goddess Durga, and with her came nine avatars. For nine days Durga fought against the demon, and on the tenth day she defeated him. Dussehra, the celebration and triumph of good over evil.

But the days of celebrating the divine feminine had yet to come, and so he put the story in his mind to rest.

...o0o…

Radagast had taken the Helga's Hats to dry. In the days that followed, Severus figured Radagast liked his peace and quiet as much as he did himself, and very few words were exchanged between them. He ate, drank, and slept whenever he pleased, and would often return to the Elm tree to simply sit down and think.

He found himself thinking a lot about the Obscurus inside of him. Mindlessly he kept chopping up herbs he had gathered in the woods, and thought about that day at Malfoy Manor when the Obscurus had fought off a Dementor. With his fingers he traced the faint outline of the Dark Mark on his arm. It seemed like ancient history now, so far away were the troubles of his life in the other world. 'Radagast,' he called out. 'What else can you tell me about Unlight?'

'I was wondering when you would bring it up,' said Radagast as he joined Severus in the kitchen, and hovered his nose over the cauldron. 'And that soup smells divine. But yes – Unlight. Something much darker than the spiders of this forest can form.' He paused for a moment, and a shadow fell over his eyes. 'Ungoliant, the primordial spider, was an ally of Morgoth,' he said. 'Not even the Valar know why she came into existence, but we do know that she came crawling out of the Darkness – the Void. She would feed herself on any light she could find, and from it she spun dark webs of gloom that strangled all passing light, and it was called Unlight. It is this same web that has been cast over your own heart, Severus.'

'We call it an Obscurus where I am from,' said Severus. 'And that would make me an Obscurial. But it's something that formed inside of me, and it's a part of me as much as my need to breathe is a part of me. Without it, I would die. Or so I have believed for a long time.'

A faint smile appeared through Radagast's shaggy beard. 'In the End, Severus, all must die,' he said. 'Even me. All great things big and small will some day cease to exist. he last acorn shall fall from the oak, and the last raindrop shall fall from the sky. There will be no more joy nor happiness to be found. But remember, that things such hurt, and fear, and anger, they too shall die. Come, follow me.'

Severus followed Radagast into a backroom. He opened up an old dusty wardrobe, and revealed robes made of dark green velvet. Its thread was of silver, and coiled around like snakes across the fabric. 'Only a Wizard can cloak another Wizard,' said Radagast. 'It will be yours, once you have made it through your awakening.'

The robes reminded Severus of the expensive fabrics sold in Diagon Alley. Worn only by those of great importance due to their great deeds. In a way he felt a bit undeserving of it, but decided not to dwell. 'These are beautiful,' he said as he touched one of the sleeves. 'Thank you.'

...o0o…

All things must die. Severus was a mere day away from whatever Radagast had in store for him. He rode around the edges of the forest with Tilion, and had seen the Brown Lands to the East. There was no scrub nor grass to be found on its barren, withered slopes. Death had come here before. Radagast told him that the land was once a fertile garden, planted and maintained by the Entwives. All was ruined during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Perished under bloodshed and trampling feet.

He had wanted to see more, but he dared not leave the safety of the forest. He had seen black swans flying to the West, which Radagast told were spies of Sauron. Far to the South lay the Emyn Muil, which he remembered from the maps he had studied in Rivendell. The Emyn Muil had once marked the northern borders of the kingdom of Gondor at its height. A seemingly impenetrable maze of crags, with shadows lurking in every corner. Beyond it lay the Dead Marshes, which bordered the Ered Lithui, the Ash Mountains that formed the Northern border of Mordor. He thought about Frodo and his Ring, and how his journey would inevitably lead him there.

...o0o…

In his heart he knew he was ready. With the fireweed held up in his hand, he followed Radagast towards the Elm tree. Radagast had made a small pit for a fire underneath the tree, and placed the wicker basket with the Helga's Hats beside it.

Severus leaned up against the tree as he had done so many times in the past few days. 'Are you ready?' Radagast asked him.

'As ready as I'll ever be,' said Severus. 'Now what?'

Radagast shrugged. 'Who knows,' he said. 'It's your journey to make. Start by lighting the fire. Take a handful of Helga's Hats – and no more than that. Eat them as fast as you can or you might vomit. Add the fireweed to the fire, and then you'll see it.'

With his tinderbox Severus set the dry blocks of wood ablaze. He took a handful of the mushrooms and took them all in at once. The taste was far worse than he had expected, and gagged as he struggled to keep it inside. Once swallowed, he took up the fireweed and tossed it into the fire. The smoke from the wood turned into waves of red and gold, and for some strange reason he could smell a faint hint of lavender in the distance.

'I will leave you to it,' said Radagast.

Severus had wanted to say something back, but all he saw was the shape of Radagast vanishing among the trees. His eyes shifted their focus to the fire, and he felt his body growing heavy. Something was pulling at his arms and legs, and it dragged him down into the ground. Deep in his mind he knew he was meant to be frightened, but all he felt was a feeling of serenity as the tree's roots coiled around him. The soft earth covering him like a warm blanket in the dark, putting him under in the peace of eternal slumber.

A veil of light made him aware of his surrounding, and felt the comfort of a familiar hand running through his hair. I found you. A little flame was kneeling beside him, and he felt a gentle kiss being placed upon his brow. Just as I promised you I would.

Lily.

He opened his eyes, and saw nothing but light peeking through the roots that were holding him. Carefully he crawled his way out of the dark, and kneeled down on the soft ground beside the tree. He turned around and saw that the Elm tree had vanished. Before him stood a tall woman robed in green. Her long hair was made from the colours of spring, and her eyes shone like gentle falling rain. She smiled kindly, and she held out her hands for him to take.

'You must be Yavanna,' said Severus as he rose to his feet with her help. Her hands were warm and comfortable to the touch. 'I knew it had to be you.'

'I am indeed Yavanna,' said Yavanna. 'Queen of the Earth. The giver of fruits and creator of all things that grow. I have looked forward to our meeting with great joy, Severus of House Slytherin.'

'You've never been far away,' said Severus as his mind turned to Kémya. 'Where are we, exactly?'

Yavanna gestured towards all around them. 'Tell me, Severus, what do you see?'

Down the hill Severus saw endless plains adorned with the wild flowers of the world. All was lush and green, and the scent of orchards in bloom filled his nostrils. A faint light shimmered in the distance, and he felt that he must go to it. 'These are your pastures in Valinor,' he said as he remembered reading about it in Elrond's library. 'What happened to Lily? I know she was here. I can feel it.'

'She has awakened, and you needn't worry,' said Yavanna, and took Severus by the arm. 'Let us go towards the Light, shall we?'

Severus felt like he was floating, so light was the ground he walked on. They waded through fields of flowers when the orchards came into view, and giant trees were tending to the apples. The Entwives from Radagast's stories. Their enormous stature did not frighten him, as all the tending appeared to be done in peace. He asked no questions, and he received no answers.

The webs of light around them started to fade, and all turned to phosphorescence. The light at the end of the orchard grew bigger, as if it were the Light at the end of a tunnel. The Stars of Varda followed them, and the gentle breeze felt like music to the ears. An Ending was near.

By the End Severus found that the light had come from a hooded figure. In red and gold she was cloaked, and her face was invisible in the shadows. She was holding up a large burning torch, and before her stood a pile of wood, stacked up in orderly rows so one could lay down on it. 'A funeral pyre,' he whispered to himself. 'Is this how I meet my end?'

'This is how it will meet it's end,' said Yavanna. 'Go on and lie down. There is nothing to fear.'

Severus found that there was only truth to her words. Carefully he laid down on the pyre, and closed his eyes and rested his arms beside him. If this is how he was going to meet his End then all is good in this world.

He could feel the heat rising as the cloaked figure walked around the pyre, setting it ablaze. But he felt no pain. From the very depths of his soul something came crawling out of him. A darkness longing for the cold came pouring out of his eyes like a stream of tears, and bled down into the palms of his hands.

He knew that the hours were passing. He felt less and less of his body, and slowly bits and pieces of him sank down where it became one with the earth, until only his mind was left to be at peace.

...o0o…

Severus opened his eyes and found the Sun shining right above him. He could feel that he was lying on a bed of flowers, and felt his life flowing back to his fingers and toes. 'I see you have Awakened,' said a familiar voice. 'Come, it is time for us to return.' He rose to his feet, and found pride in Yavanna's eyes. As he turned around he saw that the hooded figure and any remnants of the pyre were gone, and he wondered if he would ever feel such peace again. He followed her out of the orchard back towards the hill they had started on. 'What exactly happened?' he asked. 'What did I just leave behind?'

Yavanna smiled and shook her head. 'You will see it when you see it,' she said, and continued to walk back in silence.

After a while they made it back to the hill. 'I recognise that mirror,' he said. Where first Yavanna stood in her tree form now stood the Mirror of Erised. Its golden frame shone brightly in the light, and in the mirror the reflection of the pastures could be seen. 'I've stood in front of it before.'

Severus saw himself appear as he stepped towards it. In its arch he read; Ishow no tyo urfac ebu tyo urhe arts desire. At Hogwarts the words had been reversed, and he knew that he was meant to see that he was on the other side.

'What do you see?' Yavanna asked as she stood beside him.

'I see myself cloaked in green,' he answered truthfully. 'I'm holding a staff made from a branch of your tree.'

'And what do you see beyond that?' she asked.

For a moment all he saw was his own reflection, but then he saw his hand reaching out to his pocket, and pulling something out that was darker than a black hole. Unlight, contained into a vessel, now being held up in the palm of his hand. The Unlight from inside of him was gone. The dark feelings that it had stirred up for so many years had vanished. The thing to be weaponised had seized to exist. 'I wield its power now,' he said.

'You are standing at the mere beginning of your story, Severus,' said Yavanna as she placed a hand on his shoulder. 'But know this. I will grand you a staff from my branches, but know that nature cannot give without taking. So what is it Severus, that you will give in return?'

From under his sleeve Severus felt his wand tightly strapped against his arm. Although it couldn't serve him over the past few months, it was still a beacon of hope to him. The last thing that connected him to his home. He pulled it out and held it up for Yavanna. 'It is yours to have,' he said. 'It has served me well.'

Yavanna took the wand into both her hands and smiled kindly. 'I accept,' she said. 'now – go.' With a gentle push she nudged him against the mirror. As soon as he hit the surface the reflection of the pastures behind him vanished, and he fell down the frame and into a Void where everything seized to exist. He didn't know if he were falling or rising as he tumbled around. He could smell the scent of damp earth all around him, and the roots that had taken a hold of him coiled around his body to soften the landing.

With a loud gasp he opened his eyes. The fire that was burning before him was smouldering, and the Moon shone high above him. 'Welcome back,' said Radagast. He was standing before him, holding up the green robes he had showed to him before. 'She is ready to give you what you asked for.'

Severus stood up from the ground and look up at the Elm tree. A branch had lowered itself down, and all he needed to do was to reach out and take it. Its dark wood was slender and comfortable to the touch. It broke off with ease, and in its crown twigs were twisted into the shape of a flame. In his pocket he felt something that wasn't there before. He pulled it out, and found the vessel that contained the Unlight that the mirror had shown him. Feeling it was the right thing to do, he placed it inside the crown of the staff. The twigs twisted around it, trapping it forever to do his bidding.

Radagast put the cloak around his shoulders, and nodded in approval. 'To these lands you shall be now be known as Severus the Green,' he said. 'Come – and step forward. You know what you must do.'

Severus remembered the prophetic words from Glorfindel all too well. The very reason why his journey had led to Rhosgobel, and not to Isengard despite his longing to be there instead. A guardian of the forest will save her from the highest tower.

He knew he didn't need to say the words out loud. Lily had already awakened, and she never needed for him to come to Isengard at all. He raised his staff up high, and felt the words flowing through his mind.

Expecto Patronum!

A/N Simply put, Kelvar = fauna, and Olvar = flora. The Great Eagles are considered the highest of all Kelvar, as they were inhabited by spirits around the time of the Awakening of the Elves. Trees are of highest rank among the Olvar. They were planted by Yavanna, but much was destroyed by Melkor. With the creation of the Dwarves she feared for the safety of the trees and sought advice from Manwë, who allowed spirits to walk among them, giving rise to the Ents.

A/N In chapter 4 Severus described Kémya as being decorated with small silver Elm leaves. In chapter 25 (and others) I chose for his wand to be made of Yew (which we don't know canonically). In Celtic mythology both tree types are associated with death and the transition into the Underworld. A lot that happens in this chapter refers back to chapter 24 (Beyond the Veil). It's been a while since I posted that chapter, so perhaps you'd like a reread. :)

A/N Goldberry gave Severus the fireweed back in chapter 8.

A/N In nine days it will be Severus' birthday, but 9 days is also a small nod towards the Navratri, which is a Hindu festival that celebrates the goddess Durga and her nine avatars. The celebrations last for nine days and nine nights (usually in October), and on the tenth day Dussehra is celebrated.
I mainly found the parallel between Éowyn slaying the Witch-king and Durga slaying Mahishasura quite fascinating.