Child of the Stars

It felt nice having someone who wanted to work with him, rather than either try to take over or tell him that he should just leave it. Hermione, as much as he loved her as a friend, did have the tendency to take charge and try to dictate who did what. Adults in his past had dismissed his concerns. Or, like now, expected him to already have all the answers. None of which actually helped Harry resolve an issue. Sure Hermione’s research often did help the situation, but it often didn’t help him learn how to do things for himself. At least not research type learning. Maglor wasn’t doing that.

Instead, the tall elf was reading through the journals and gathering more information that they would discuss together. Already he pointed a few things out to Harry. Apparently what he saw as an immortal soul, was more meant someone that couldn’t stay dead. Someone that death did not take away. Which fits the whole thing that happened to Harry. An immortal soul was someone that just couldn’t die at all. Maybe a small difference but perhaps an important one.

He also promised when the research he was requesting from Gringotts came they could study it together. Inclusion, communication, giving him interpretations but letting him make up his own mind. It was all things he wished for from the adults in his life growing up.

Molly certainly meant well when she tried to keep him out of discussions and protect him from the bad things going on in the world. But it ended up doing more harm than good as it forced him to act on little information which often put more people in danger than needed. He couldn’t trust that anyone would be there to help. Which is probably why it didn’t occur to Harry to let Maglor know about this little experiment he was going to try.

While he hadn’t touched the other two hallows, the invisibility cloak was a treasured possession. Nothing really odd had happened in the past, but it might be different now that he more or less had the other two items. It was supposedly part of the Veil which was in turn possibly a passageway. Could it possibly show him things, without actually going through the Veil?

One of the brothers had believed that the proper title might be Balance Keeper. Now he had been learning about the various wizarding holidays and such as part of his side research. Today happened to be the fall equinox. Which was equal parts day and night. There were other things involved, but that is what he chose to focus on for right now. The whole balance between light and dark, day and night.

This also wasn’t the day that was believed to be the veil between the dead and the living was the thinnest. Harry wasn’t trying to reach out to death, or anyone dead. He was more looking for answers? Possibilities? Maybe a way to bond more fully with the hallow he already treasured? While there were many possible outcomes, this also included the fact he might just get a good night’s sleep. So it may accomplish nothing, no reason to get anyone’s hope up if it proved to be a pointless experiment.

As to not alarm anyone by showing up as a bodiless head, he tucked the cloak under the blanket he usually slept under. This was by no means a method of concealing what he was doing. Of course not. Just because of the fact that adults in the past have tried to shut down his ideas had nothing to do with it as well. Okay there may have been the faint tinge of guilt when the fae settled in around him as he got ready to go to sleep. And when Maglor checked on him. Not enough to actually deter Harry from this course of action. He wanted more answers. Closing his eyes, he let himself drift to sleep.

At first there was just the feeling of sinking into the soft warmth of sleep, it did not stay that way. There was a tugging. Gentle at first but then more insistent. Then the feel of being pulled along and traveling. Color color started to streak through the darkness. Deep purples and blues, just a shade above black with streaks of lighter colors through. When the feel of traveling stopped, well, Harry just didn’t have the right words to really describe what he was ‘seeing’.

It was like one of those pictures he’d seen in a science book when he was younger of a nebula. Only a thousand times better. Swirls of color and a million little lights. Harry floated in the middle of it just drinking in it all. It was moving in slow circling spirals. He couldn’t call it a living space because that wasn’t exactly what it felt like to him. It was utterly real and vibrant in a way he had never felt before in his existence. Now he felt a bit guilty that he didn’t tell Maglor or anyone else what he saw here. Maglor was a bard, he could perhaps put it in better words.

After starting to process what he saw, he started to pick up on what he felt. He was not alone there. While he couldn’t see anyone, he could certainly feel a presence. Unlike anything Harry had ever felt before. While it wasn’t a physical touch, he very much felt like something was gently holding him in place and examining him. Memories of his life flipping rapidly in his mind. Lingering on Grandfather, Maglor, Elured and Elurin.

To his surprise, the presence seemed amused by him. A wave of warmth washed over him erasing some hurts he hadn’t even realized they were there until they were gone. Making Gilriant feel lighter somehow. How long this all took he couldn’t say. This was a place beyond time. Everything here simply was. Then he was released from the hold and he found himself moving again.

Through a doorway and pausing before a rather started looking tall being. There were more presences here but his was far stronger. While there was some neutrality to it, to Gilriant this felt like a masculine entity. There was a second more feminine appearing person with a more melancholy air. She too seemed surprised by his presence. He could feel something from them reaching towards him as well as the curiosity of multiple far dimmer presences compared to the two. He couldn’t put a number to it, and he couldn’t quite tell what exactly the two strong people were trying to convey to him. There was some sort of barrier or veil that kept him apart. Before he could really try anything else, something off to the right caught his attention.

Moving once again, he could pick up on more of those really strong presences. It was clear that none of them expected him there, nor knew what to do about it. Another time the bafflement on their faces would be highly entertaining, and something he would try to resolve. The gentle push though was urging him onward. It didn’t have the outright strength of the being from his first stop, but something or someone was in control of this journey. It certainly wasn’t Gilriant. Later, much later, he would be alarmed by that fact. For now he could do nothing but travel with the pull.

It was a blur of motion with pauses. He could tell he was traveling rapidly over water. Then slowing slightly when he hit the land. Here, unlike before, it appeared relatively empty of any presence. No animals, or people, or any other sign of life other than the plants that grew. It was obvious that wind was blowing as he could see the effect it had on the landscape, but he didn’t feel anything. Just the sensation that he was moving. Decidedly odd

He didn’t have too much time to dwell on it before Gilriant was gently deposited into a place that reminded him a bit of the style of the Room of Stars. The same arching architecture. The white walls and he could hear water rushing someplace near. Everything seemed huge though. A larger scale than the memory he had visited. The stone was cool under his feet. Wait, under his feet?

Before he didn’t feel as solidly there as he did right now. More vague sensations and pull. But if he looked down Gilriant could see his bare feet, even if something looked a little off. Definitely not the clothes he remembered putting on. The simple tunic and trousers fit well enough. The necklace with his pendant was still around his neck, if hitting far lower on his chest than it typically did. Odd. Oh well not a priority at the moment. Wrapping a hand around it and taking comfort in the cool metal feel he started to explore.

Other than the sound of water rushing it was oddly silent. Like no one actually lived there. But all the signs of people were there. Furniture, ornaments, books, even odd decorative things he couldn’t figure out. Maybe there were no people here for some reason? Maybe this was like his dreamscape but not?

Just when he thought there couldn’t be anyone here, he heard it. Voices! As he listened to them he could make out that they were talking in Sindarin. Two voices he did not know, talking in the language his relatives were teaching him. Ever curious, Gilriant moved towards the sound, feet slapping softly at the stone. There was a pause in the speakers, but by then he found a room that he looked into that was not empty of people. Two tall elves, one dark haired wearing a circlet thing and one golden haired. While they did not have the strength of the other people he had first seen, they were very much there. No odd barrier between them and him. The golden haired one was almost too bright to look at. Why the heck was everyone so very tall?

***

Elrond had learned long ago how to more or less use his limited sight and shut it when he did not want to actively use it a long time ago. Today, however, he felt oddly on edge. Like something important was about to happen. Though what, he could not tell. He tried to conceal it to others as he did not want to alarm the residence of Imladris. Which would undoubtedly happen if he acted as twitchy as he felt.

Though it appeared he was not the only one feeling the disquiet when Glorfindel appeared in his office. The captain of the guard studied Elrond. “You are feeling it as well.” A statement, not a question. Having known each other long enough, the other’s tells were evident.

Elrond inclined his head, waving a hand towards the empty chair near him. Taking the invitation for what it was, Glorfindal sat down in the chair even as he gave the lord of Imlandris his full attention. “While it is nebulous, it does not feel ominous. More anticipatory and,” a faint smile settled on his face as Elrond explained, “Insistent on having my attention.” They had both fought in the great conflict and knew the importance of that kind of distinction.

“Yes, however it only started a short time ago for me.” Glorfindel tilted his head. “It would appear much longer for you?”

The advantages and disadvantages of old friends. Knowing more than you were trying to reveal at the time. “Since I started my day,” Elrond admitted.

The golden haired elf hummed. “I would say then whatever it is, only just happened. You are the one with the gift for foresight, not I. It could be that whatever that is happening would –” His train of thought was interrupted by a sudden and odd tugging. Wordlessly he looked at Elrond only to see that the other elf felt it too. He arched an eyebrow. The dark haired elf cocked his head to the side and then inclined it. Both sat back and closed their eyes.

There was a soft pull and then a ripple in their awareness. The background noise of the population of Rivendell went silent. Yet there was still noise and their eyes opened to see they were both still in Elrond’s office. “Curious,” the aforementioned elf commented. “It feels like some dream state, yet we have not moved locations.”

“Indeed.” Glorfindel got up and moved to the window looking out. “It would appear on the surface that nothing else living is here.”

“Yet the day does seem to be as it was.” Elrond got up from his chair and then paused. He caught the light sound of bare feet on stone moving closer. “Or perhaps we are not as alone as we first thought.” He turned towards the doorway.

A moment later, much to their shock, a young child peeked through the doorway. The graceful points of their ears poking through inky black hair. An odd silver streak in the young one’s hair started at the temple above his right eye. Not something either elf expected as no elfling had been born in Middle Earth for some time. Both noticed that the youngling had the end of a necklace, likely some sort of pendant, clutched in one hand.

Elrond went to one knee as to not loom over the young one even as Glorfindel stayed standing behind him. While neither elf had felt anything malign yet, it did not mean this was not some sort of trick. So he would guard his Lord’s back. Even though he very much wanted to get closer. “Hello there little one.”

In response a sigh escaped the elfling. “Why everyone always tall?”

Elrond gave him a small smile. “Perhaps for the opposite reason for why you are not?”
The young one’s head tilted a look of intense focus on his head. After a moment it cleared and he gave Elrond a dry look which made the older elf suppress a chuckle. He waited as the young one looked up and around his office.

“This look like memory Grandfather show me, but not.” He frowned in concentration. “This not Lindon.”

This response surprised both elves, though they did well to keep such surprise from their expressions. Both also noted his somewhat stilted manner of speaking. Having been around rangers that had chosen to learn the language but were not native speakers. “This is Imladris, also called Rivendell.” Elrond responded.

Taking the chance the elfling had learned a different language first, Glorfindel questioned in him queyna. “Where are you from, child?”

Squinting at Glorfindel the elfling responded. “Not know all those words.” The young one continued, “You very bright.”

At that a soft chuckle escaped Elrond. “They have you there my friend.” He turned back to the elfling. “I would have to agree with you that Glorfindel can be quite shiny at times.”

“Glor-fin-del?” The young one tipped his head to the side, eyebrows scrunched in concentration. “Know that name.”

“Oh?” Elrond asked with a casual air. “Who told you about Glorfindel? Where do you come from little one?”

The elfing opened his mouth before shutting it again. An expression of frustration on his face. “Not here.” The healer in Elrond noted in alarm that the young one was starting to look drained.

“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.

“Tired.” The elfing removed their hand from clutching the pendant in order to hug themselves. The blue and silver heraldic device swung free, clearly visible. Elrond sucked in a breath. Before he could ask more questions though the image of the young one flickered. “Going home now. Try visit soon.”

“Wait, please.” Elrond put his hand out but it was too late. The young one had faded out of sight. A moment later the adult elves ‘woke’ in their seats in the Lord of Rivendel’s office.

“By the Valar, what was that?!” Glorfindel looked at Elrond, utterly at a loss over the situation.

“An elfling, visiting us in some sort of dreamscape, not completely fluent in Sindarin and not knowing Queyna, wearing the device of the last High-King of the Noldor.” Elrond summed up. Glorfindel didn’t exactly give him a dirty look at the statement of the obvious, it was a close thing. “Where could they have come from? There has been no elfling born in Middle Earth for centuries. If one was born in Valinor, they would be fluent in Sindarin or Queyna, at the very least. How did they get here even in some version of a waking dream?”

“Gil-Galad died during the siege of Bara-dur.” Elrond’s expression was pained. As the high king's herald and cousin, he knew him very well. The loss was devastating to all. It also enraged those battling there. “Yet the elfling wore his device. If he had somehow survived, why would he have hidden from us?”

Sitting forward,Glorfindel braced his elbows on his knees, folding his hands together. “Why were both of us pulled into the dream?” He shook his head. “Many questions, few answers. If the young one does indeed come back, perhaps we will get more then.”

Elrond looked pensive. “I will try to seek what answers I can. Perhaps I will be shown something more.”

The golden haired elf got up and clasped him on the shoulder. “And I shall make sure none disturb you.”

***

Harry cracked open his eyes to see a rather concerned looking Maglor kneeling by him. “Mmmph.”

A relieved expression crossed the tall elf’s face. “There you are hinya, where did you go?”

No yelling, no accusations, just a simple question. Unfortunately for them both Harry’s thoughts were moving rather like glue. The entire experience was very draining for him. More so than he expected. It could have been due to where he went. Or perhaps how he went. Definitely due the part he automatically didn’t slip into sleep after. “Go?” He tried without much convincibility. “Was sleeping?”

A soft huff escaped Maglor. “Alright you seem to be safe now. Perhaps you should get some rest and we can talk about it when you wake up and are more clear-headed.”

He struggled to sit up. “No, no, I might forget some details if I got to sleep.” There was a soft pop and then Kreacher was handing Harry a cup of tea. Not black, something floral and sweet that helped clear his head. He didn’t feel wired up on caffeine or anything like that. Just more able to process his thoughts. Maglor moved to take a seat near him, waiting for him to gather his thoughts.

“So,” Harry stared into the teacup. “Um, I know I’m supposed to try and understand more about the Hallows before using them. But I know the invisibility cloak. Been using it for years.” Out of the corner of his eye he could see Maglor nod in understanding. “Since it supposedly came from the veil, and the whole balance thing and today being the day of balance I decided to see if it could show me anything if I slept under it.” He pulled the silvery cloak out from under the blanket he had used.

“I see.” At the neutral tone Maglor was using, Harry looked directly over to him. The elf looked thoughtful rather than angry or accusatory. “Since you have used it before I take it, it would seem to be a calculated risk.”

The young wizard perked up at that. “Yes, exactly that.” Harry was glad Maglor seemed to understand. Though it seemed the tall elf was not yet done. “However, next time please tell me first. It is safer to experiment if you have someone watching your back.”

“Kreacher was watching!” The house elf piped up defensively with a scowl at the bard. “Young Master only think he being sneaky. Kreacher knew what he was doing.”

“Still,” Maglor calmly pointed out, “If he had told both of us his plan we could have come up with contingencies in case something untoward happened.”

The little being harrumphed, arms crossed across his chest. “Kreacher could have rescued Master.”

While he appreciated the house elf’s defense of him, “Maglor’s right Kreacher. I was not really in control of what happened.” He shot the tall elf an apologetic look. “Next time I’ll tell you first.”

Maglor looked relieved and shifted over to next to him in order to put Harry in a sideways hug. “That is all I ask. I want to work with you young raven. Not clip your wings. Did you think I would refuse you?”

Harry played with the cloak in his lap. “I didn’t want you to worry when nothing at all could have happened.”

Humming slightly Maglor considered fora moment before replying. “I am here for you. My experience, what I have learned over the years both good and bad, can help you reach your goals. However it does neither of us any good if you do not talk to me.”

Now Harry felt a bit guilty. The tall elf had essentially dropped everything else he was doing to be here with him. “I wasn’t trying to shut you out. I just, didn’t think about it? I’ll um, try to next time.”

Maglor squeezed the arm around Harry, letting the young one lean into him. “That is all I ask hinya. I do not expect you to tell me everything. You are allowed to have some secrets. It is just less worry for me if I know you will come to me for something like this.”

Well, THAT Harry could understand. If people in the past just told him about things he’d be less likely to run off. It was just difficult to adjust to the fact that an adult cared and wouldn’t brush him off. Explaining that would involve confronting emotions and memories he really didn’t want to deal with right now. “I get it. I’m sorry for not telling you.”

“Forgiven,” Maglor answered easily. “Especially as you are willing to try to remember to tell me next time.” He waited for a beat. “So, what happened?”

“Well, it was weird, I was like traveling somewhere, but not really in control of it?” Harry explained slowly. “There was this in between place, it was absolutely beautiful. I don’t really know how to explain it but I think I have a picture somewhere that was sort of like it that I can show you later. There was someone there, not sure who, just they were there and were amused or something about the whole thing?

Then I went through another doorway, there were a bunch of really tall and strong people. Well two, one was a male I think and another a lady that I think was sad? Lots of less strong people around. Then I went by more strong people and then out across a whole bunch of water before I got to land again. There was nobody again until I got to this place. It looked a lot like the memory Grandfather showed me of Linden but it wasn’t.”

Listening patiently, Maglor didn’t interrupt but let Harry continue the explanation. Listening patiently to the young one’s account. “There was no one there, but then I heard a couple of people speaking Sindarian and I followed the voices until I found them. There was like this really tall golden elf who was apparently called Glorfindel. I think Grandfather mentioned him at some point? And there was a dark haired elf with a circlet. I forgot to ask him his name. Anyways he said that I was at Imladris, or Rivendell was its other name. I think they tried to talk to me in Queyna but I told them I didn’t know all the words yet.” He stifled a yawn.

“Anyways, I need to study more Sindarin before I try to go back. I understood most of what they were saying but I didn’t have all the right words to explain things to them. I was getting tired so told them I would try to visit again. And that’s when I sorta woke up here.”

“I see.” Maglor did his best to refrain from reacting from any of the information for the moment. Not enough to know everything that happened, but since the young one didn’t understand it all, that was understandable. There were several very noticeable pieces of information. That he would have to think about.

“Mmhmm.” Feeling his eyes grow heavy, the young wizard leaned more heavily into Maglor’s side. He found himself shifted to lay down with his head on the tall elf’s lap. “Go to sleep now little one. I will guard your rest just in case.” At the sound of a throat clearing, the bard amended with a chuckle, “We both will.”