Chapter 4
The first thing he became aware of when he woke up was movement.
It felt like he was being carried, and the one carrying him was moving.
He opened his eyes and looked up at the one carrying him, it was one of the men, probably Elladan since he remembered that he was the one that picked him up.
Elrohir was walking besides Elladan, they both seemed focused on the forest around them.
He moved around a bit, trying to get a better look at where they were going, but stopped quickly when the wounds on his side and back flared with pain at the movement.
Elladan looked down at him at the feeling of the movement, not faltering in his steps.
“Hey little one it’s good to see you awake, you had us worried when you passed out so suddenly.” He had a soft smile on his face as he spoke.
Harry looked down at his hands that were resting on his stomach, a sudden feeling of guilt making him unable to look Elladan in the eyes.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to pass out on you…” He mumbled, barely audible.
“Oh little one, there is no need for you to apologize, it is not your fault that you are injured.
But we are almost at Imladris. It won’t be long before we can get you treated, and then we can find your home too.” Elladan answered, his voice was also low although not quite as low as Harrys, as though he was trying to make Harry feel more comfortable by matching him.
Harry carefully moved his head so he could watch where they were going.
The look of the forest combined with the sound of footsteps and the slight rocking had him dozing before long, not quite asleep but not awake and aware either.
It was a nice feeling, to just let the world move around him and feeling a sense of safety he doesn’t recall ever truly feeling before.
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Someone was talking to him, trying to wake him from his dozing, it sounded like it was the one carrying him, he thinks it might be Elladan.
He’s not sure how long it’s been, but he sees quickly why he was awoken.
The sight in front of him is beautiful, it’s enough to make him feel kind of breathless.
Nestled in the forest along the edge of a narrow gorge, in such a way that it seemed like it was natural, was the most gorgeous city he could have ever even imagined.
A river was flowing beside the city emerging from a series of waterfalls, and at points integrated to be a part of it.
Intricate stone structures, pillars and arches and decorated walls, demanding respect and awe from all who saw them.
The sight of it filled him with a sense of wonder in a way that rivaled how he felt when he first saw Hogwarts all those years ago.
Elladan and Elrohir had kept walking while he was taking in the sight, and now that he was no longer distracted he noticed the people standing by an archway that seemed to be the entrance into the city.
As they got closer the people at the gate noticed him.
‘They were staring at him, why were they staring, make them stop!’
He turned and hid as much as he could of his face into Elladans chest, the sudden panic of strangers looking at him overtaking all rational thoughts.
He felt Elladans arms tighten around him and heard his calm voice.
“It’s okay little one there is no need to fear, no one will harm you here, I’ll introduce you to everyone at a later time for now we must get you directly to the halls of healing and get you fixed up.”
He managed to relax at the words and moved just enough so he could peak out but it would be difficult for those around to see his face or eyes properly.
He managed to just see the back of a person running around a corner away from them.
He thinks the person was saying something about a Lord but he wasn’t sure.
Considering the fact that not one person has recognized him yet, he was fairly certain that the Lord wasn’t Voldemort, so he decided to just let it play out, and not expect the worst yet.
He was carried down a multitude of hallways, with plenty of turns, he tried to remember the way but kept getting distracted by the pretty surroundings and the pain in his body.
They entered a large open room with soft looking beds placed with regular intervals.
Was this an infirmary of some kind, it must be.
He was laid down on one of the beds, Elladan who had carried him stood beside the bed, but he saw Elrohir had stayed next to the door and was looking out, he seemed eager? Or maybe anxious, he couldn’t tell for sure.
He hadn’t been laying in the bed for very long before someone new came through the door, he was about the same height as Elladan and Elrohir with long dark hair and he was wearing some kind of ornament on his head, he seemed hurried as he entered, walking fast but not quite running.
The new man spotted him in the bed right away and came over to him.
The man was talking, but it was the language Elladan had tried too, the one he couldn’t understand.
“Ada, the little one doesn’t understand Westron, he speaks Sindarin” Elladan interjected quickly.
“How unusual” The man said under his breath, “I am Elrond, Lord of Imladris, I am going to treat your wounds child, and when you are feeling better we can see about finding your family.”
The man, Elrond, had a determined but kind expression on his face.
For some reason Harry felt calmed by Elrond’s presence.
“Okay” He said softly while giving a nod.