Chapter 1
Willow Ceredwyn Potter had defeated Voldemort, but at a personal cost, she was dying. Those that loved her gathered round begging for her to fight as darkness slowly took her sight, she smiled sadly at them as she took her last breath on Earth, and she knew no more her body vanishing as everyone cries out in shock. She awakens with a moan in a large open room with many open windows in the softest bed she has ever been on, three chairs sit around the bed, the center one holds a man that is gray skinned, white hair, and electric blue eyes, on the left sits a woman that is pale, blonde, and blue eyed, and to his right is a woman with black hair, pale, and hazel eyes. She studies them curiously.
The woman with black hair looks up from some embroidery she is doing, “Oh you’re awake now.”
The man stands and sits on the edge of the bed and looks at her, “Do you know who I am?”
Willow looks at him and whispers in a rough voice, “You are Death, and we meet as friends.”
He smiles, “Yes and no, I am Death but here I go by the name of Mandos. We do not meet as friends though. To my right is my wife Vaire the Weaver and on my left is my other wife Elswyth Peverell mother to Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus.”
Willow sucks in a deep breath, and Mandos chuckles, “Yes we are meeting as grandfather and grandchild.”
She looks around for the rest of her family but doesn’t see them, then to turns to Mandos, attempts to sit up and asks, “Where is the rest of our family?”
Mandos gently pulls her up while Elswyth levitates pillows behind her, Mandos leans her back, and says, “They are resting where my family dwells within my halls, you will see them soon, but first we must speak of things that are important about your new home.”
Willow relaxes into the pillows and nods Mandos smiles at her a begins to tell her the history of Arda and Middle Earth, “Then one day Vaire spoke to me of a child of my blood that would not only save the world of their birth but Arda as well. So, I traveled the cosmos until I set foot on earth and met Elswyth by a river near her home, she slipped and fell into it, I knew that no one would survive that river, so I saved her. As soon as I glimpsed her face and spirit I fell in love with her, and we courted. We married after a year and had three children Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. When my children were grown, I had to leave to continue my duties, but someone from my line was meant to do great things. I didn’t know who it would be and so I came up with a plan. I created three artifacts and whoever combined all three and bonded to them would be the one to save both Earth and Arda. I gifted them to my sons for safe keeping and to pass them down from generation to generation with specific instructions on what to do with them. We created the story for The Deathly Hallows, but my sons were less than intelligent with them as you have heard. It broke my heart when I had to collect the souls of my two eldest children. I will not tell you the details of our family line because you already know it. What you don’t know but need to know is that James never let Dumbledore borrow the cloak he took it from Potter Manor before sending your parents to Godric’s Hollow, he knew that Sirius was innocent, and you were never meant to be raised by Petunia. Your mother was descended from Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff, your father from Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor, and they are descendants of Merlin himself. The artifacts that belonged to them had powers that bonded to you when you destroyed the Horcruxes that were inside, all you need to do is call upon them and they will respond. As for the Hallows they are bonded to you as well the Elder wand fused with your Holly wand, the Resurrection stone sits upon your hand it can never be removed, and the cloak will always hang from your shoulders. You can never be parted from any of these family heirlooms. They not only make you the Mistress of Death as many believe, but also the Mistress of Life.”
Willow looked at him, “How is that possible, we destroyed them, they were broken, well except for the sword? What does that mean?”
Elswyth, “The items of the Founders of Hogwarts all have magical properties to them the Hufflepuff Cup has 2 functions the first is that it will always refill itself and will have the drink of ones choosing when it does so, and the second is that it heals all those that drink from it, to access the cup just concentrate on it and it will appear in your hands. The Sword of Gryffindor is Goblin made silver, it will never break or tarnish, it absorbs that which makes it stronger, like the Basilisk venom, and it will impart on you the knowledge to wield it, it will always be at your side in a sheath you never need to call it forward. The Ravenclaw Diadem enhances wisdom and for those of the Ravenclaw line it will pull forth your ability as a seer, I only warn you because where it is bonded to you, I don’t want you to be surprised if you develop the ability suddenly, the first time you call on it or see the future it will appear and never go back. Last of all the Slytherin Locket as you know it can only be opened by a Parselmouth, the wearer will also have best strongest potions, and it will always be at your neck.”
Mandos looks at her, “You can’t die like mortals do. You are the only one of our descendants that all three Hollows bound themselves too. You know the abilities of the Deathly Hollows except one and that it the Elder Wand, yes it can be deadly, but healing spells cast by it will also be stronger,” he grins, “because the wood isn’t from an elder tree but an elderberry.”
Willow laughs at that but then states, “However I did die I felt my last breath being drawn and coldness taking over my body.”
Vaire, “Your body disappeared from Earth when you died there so you theoretically didn’t die. They will search their records and it will show you are alive still.”
Willow sucks in a breath as things start to sink in, “I won’t ever see them now, this is all Dumbledore’s fault!”
Mandos looks confused, “Who won’t you get to see again?”
Willow, “My parents, and the others.”
Mandos looks at her curiously, “Child why do you say that I have told you that they are here in my halls, I am death, and the dead reside here, even the ones from Earth, and you can see them anytime you wish.”
Vaire chides him, “You expect her to remember that after dropping all of that information in her lap? Shame on you, my love.”
Willow sniffs, “I can?”
Mandos nods, “Yes, my dear.”
Willow sniffs, “Can I see them now?”
Mandos, “We will join them soon, but first you need to know why you are here. Someone is messing with the natural flow of life and death on Arda, Vaire has begun her weaving several times only to have to stop at the fate of the line of Durin, three of his heirs are not meant to die but their deaths keep showing it is most unusual. Something is happening and we do not know what it is. I would not ask this of you, except you are the only one that can help in this instance my dear Willow you are special the Valar cannot walk amongst the inhabitants of Arda, but you can and with your abilities you can heal or destroy. In your hands the healing properties of the Elder wand will shine through.”
Willow tilts her head surprised, “So you need me to heal them or something?”
Vaire, “That we are not sure of, but we need your help. Your magic is so very different than what we can grant to our Maiar or Wizards because they are limited. Even the Elves do not have the powers you have.”
Elswyth, “You will not be alone, Nienna is eager to meet you and has promised to put you in the path of someone that will give you the family that you need, one that comes with three older siblings.”
Mandos looks at his wife, “And just who is my sister sending her to?”
Vaire, “Elrond.”
Mandos nods, “He is a good Elf and would be able to help her with learning more about Arda.”
Vaire, “He will also be able to give her the family that she will need while there.”
Mandos, “Except a mother, Celebrian has already left Middle Earth and has been in healing in Valinor since healing physically from her attack.”
Elswyth smiles, “We know that dearest.”
At that time two women come walking in one with white hair and blue eyes, and the other with blonde hair and blue eyes. Willow watches them curiously as they get closer.
One of them stops in front of them and looks at her softly, “I am Nienna the Vala of Mercy and sister to Mandos. We have another brother Irmo who is the Vala of visions and dreams.”
Willow looks at them, “Wait so you are gods and goddesses?”
Nienna, “In a sense we are but we are not, we are the spirits of Arda created by Eru Iluvatar. Enough for now though, your soul is weary please lets join your family in their hall.”
Mandos nods and leads the way the ladies following him. Elswyth links arms with Willow and talks quietly to her about the Peverell line. The others listen to them talking about their family line. Elswyth shares stories of her Hogwarts years. The lady that had come in with Nienna is Celebrian wife of Lord Elrond and she watches Willow with sadness, like her mother she is gifted, but her gifts are being an empath and aura reading, and she can tell that Willow is in great need of healing. She squares her shoulders knowing what she must do for the broken child before her. Vaire smiles as she sees her weaving will begin to go in the right direction. Nienna smiles as Celebrian’s spirit truly begins to heal. Mandos opens up a door where loud happy noises are heard from inside. James and Remus were laughing about a story that Lily told from when they were in school.
Mandos blinks, “You inherit a powerful magical item from the Lord of the Dead and use it to pull pranks?”
They all look up and over Mandos to see Willow. James and Lily are the first out of their chairs and move past the Spirit of Death and to Willow pulling her into a hug. Willow burrows into her parents embrace and cries at finally having something that she has always wanted to have.
Remus smiles as he and Tonks approach her, “Hey Cub.”
Willow wipes her eyes, “Remy, Tonks I’m so sorry I know I was supposed to care for Teddy…”
Remus cuts her off with a hug, “It’s okay Cub things are as they are meant to be, all will be well.”
Tonks nods, “Mom’s got him don’t worry.”
Mandos looks at them, “Let’s sit, Willow is still recovering, and we need to talk.”
James and Lily lead her over to the table the others following them. They all sit at a circular table filled with food and drink. Once Mandos begins to eat the others begin to eat as well. They make small talk asking Willow about herself and answering questions from their youth. It is a very relaxing time for them all. Eventually dinner came to an end and Mandos called everyone to attention.
Mandos looks at Willow, “Your tasks will not begin until the time is right, which means that you need to be healed and learn about your new home. Lord Elrond of Rivendell will teach you all you need to know and more. I will tell you this though why I believe the Line of Durin is in danger, currently in their previous home sits a sleeping dragon, they are destined to reclaim it with Thorin as king, but here lately his death and those of his heirs are what is showing up.”
Willow tilts her head, “Why is he and his mountain so important?”
Vaire looks at her, “He is the king of all Dwarves, and he can unite them all for the peace of Middle Earth. Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, has a strategic importance for the future and it cannot enter into the hands of Sauron. He is a dark lord, and his minions cannot be allowed to have a foothold by living in the mountain,” Willow sighs and Vaire holds up her hand, “this dark lord is not yours to defeat, that destiny belongs to another, but your role will be important. We have Maiar, you would consider them angels in a way, but they are limited in what they can do. You will not have those limitations being who you are, and you will have full access to your magic.”
Willow nods, “This is a lot to take in and I’m sorry if I’m asking the same things twice. So, I am more going to be a healer, protector, and support person?”
Mandos nods, “Precisely.”
Willow grins, “I can do that, when do I start?”
Mandos grins, “You will be sent to Rivendell to begin learning about Middle Earth, be careful of whom you let know about your task, there are those that would interfere with it. You will know when you met them.”
Willow snorts, “That is nothing new.”
Mandos nods, “Elrond will gladly welcome you into his family, and I am sure his daughter Arwen would be glad to have a younger sister, so she no longer has to be the youngest anymore, and gets someone to spoil.”
Willow, “Are you sure?”
The pale blonde-haired blue-eyed woman spoke up for the first time, “He will if he knows what is good for him,” she smiles at Willow, “I am the Lady Celebrian, wife to Elrond, and I will accompany you to Rivendell, if you allow it Lord Mandos. I will enjoy having a new daughter,” looks at James and Lily, “as long as you two are okay with it.”
Lily smiles and nods, “That is fine with us.”
James grins, “She can always come and visit us, and with what she has been through our girl deserves a big family.”
Mandos nods, “It will be allowed, you will be similar to Glorfindel your tasks will be as a mother to Willow but also her advisor and my emissary. Do you except these responsibilities?”
Celebrian bows, “Yes, my Lord Mandos
Willow sniffs and hugs both of her parents to her and looks at Celebrian, “Thank you for being another mother to me.”
Celebrian smiles and hugs her, “You’re welcome precious one.”
Nienna grins, “Wonderful! Elrond is expecting Willow and Celebrian will be a wonderful surprise as well! I was hoping you would return.”
Mandos, “Come say your goodbyes and lets send them to Middle Earth.”
They all hug and say their goodbyes, promising visits in the future. Celebrian takes Willow’s hand, and they gather around the Valar, Mandos smiles, and Nienna covers them in a soft light to transport them to Middle Earth, to Rivendell.
Unbeknownst to them Melkor watched and sent a shadow that knocked the two off course and separated them. Willow landed closer to Mirrormere and Moria, Celebrian landed close to the border of her parents realm in Lothlorien. Celebrian ran into the woods of her parents’ home, the first Elves that she encounters are the brothers Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin. Not giving an explanation she grabs two of the three and runs off causing the other to follow and leaving the three of them shocked as she drags them towards Moria.
Willow groans as she stands and looks around taking in her surroundings. She is surrounded by seven grotesque creatures that make the Goblins on Earth attractive. They are all staring at her swords in their hands. She stands and flicks her wrist causing her merged wands to fall into her right hand and pulls from its sheath the Sword of Gryffindor into her left. They laugh at her and charge. She grins and sends out a Sectumsempra at the closest Orc severing its arm at the shoulder causing it to stumble back. The sword shines brightly and guides her left hand to thrust up and into an approaching Orcs head. She casts Incendio on a third orc while stabbing a fourth in the eye. The one that lost its arm has another Sectumsempra cast at it which severs its head while a fifth is stabbed in the stomach. The last two are caught in the Bombarda spell and blown away. Willow stands panting looking around her and turns as she hears her name being called.
Celebrian yells out, “Willow!”
Willow spins around and Celebrian sees her sighing in relief. Willow waves and Celebrian makes her way over with the three Elves following. When she gets closer her new daughter collapses against her panting in exhaustion. Celebrian wraps her arms around the younger woman holding her close while the others make sure the Orcs are dead.
Haldir, “They are all dead, come we need to return to Lorien and the safety of your mother’s realm.”
Celebrian nods, “You are right Haldir we must get into the woods.”
The three warrior Elves lead the way the two ladies following. Willow leaning more into Celebrian as they walk. Rumil slows down to be beside them and lifts Willow into his arms as she starts to collapse. They continue to walk to the city of Caras Galadhon, where Celebrian leads them to the Halls of Healing surprising everyone and sending a few off to their lord and lady. Rumil lays Willow in the bed and steps back allowing Celebrian to get to work on the young lady. The healers stared at the daughter of their lord and lady in shock while she tended to whom they assumed to be Arwen. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel rush in and are shocked to find their daughter.
Celeborn, “Celebrian what has happened? How did you get back here? Why is Arwen so small?”
Celebrian, “This isn’t Arwen, but she is my adopted daughter. The other questions can wait until after I make sure she is fine,” she looks at the healers, “don’t just stand there I could use some assistance.”
That causes the healers to jump into action and work on the wounds that Willow had sustained in the final battle of the world of her birth. Haldir and his brothers tell their lord and lady all that they know and the last of the battle that they had seen. Celebrian sighs in relief as the last of the wounds are treated and her daughter is sleeping due to mainly exhaustion. Celebrian looks up to find an audience waiting for her explanations to be told to them.
Galadriel opens her mind and seeks out the mind of Elrond, “Make your way to the Golden Woods with your children straight away something has happened, I do not know all of the details.”
Elrond who is in Rivendell searching for the child that Irmo sent him dreams of answers her, “We are searching for a child…”
Galadriel, “There is an unknown child here in strange clothing.”
Elrond turns his horse with his children following his actions, “We are on our way.”
“Yes, I am back, I am better,” she smiles slightly, “and this is my adopted daughter. Her name Is Willow Ceredwyn Potter, she was not born here in Arda, she is a sorceress, and she is a daughter of man. She is more than that though, she is a grandchild of Mandos and Elswyth, a wife he took from a realm called Earth. She is here for a reason, but I will not share it at this time, because we don’t know her exact purpose. I have adopted her as my youngest daughter, but I am to also be her advisor and emissary to Mandos. Her injuries are not from the Orcs she fought but from fighting in a war against a Dark Lord that she was prophesied to destroy. Once her fate there was over Mandos called her here to fulfill her destiny for Arda. The Lady Nienna brought me with her to speak with the child, but the pain in her soul cried out to me, and I knew I would come with her,” she smiles, “I believe that Nienna planned for that to happen. We were supposed to be taken to Rivendell for her to learn from my beloved, but a dark energy knocked us of course and separated us, I am glad I was able to see where she fell. I came upon Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil and drug them with me to find her, and you know the rest.”
Celeborn, “That will be quite the story to tell when she awakens, rest well, and worry not about Elrond, we have already sent word to him.”
Celebrian, “Thank you father, mother.”
Galadriel, “There is no need to thank us, but you are correct she does need you, for one so young her soul is very old and troubled,” smiles softly, “and we will provide the family that she needs. Elrond and your children are on their way as we speak, he was out looking for someone that Irmo spoke with him about.”
Celebrian smiles, “Willow is who he is looking for, you didn’t mention me did you?”
Galadriel smiles, “It is more fun this way.”
Celebrian laughs, “That is true.”
Celeborn shakes his head and has some of the Elves make sure that the rooms for his family are ready for them. The home of the Galadrhim is bustling with activity of the return of a renewed Celebrian. The cooks are planning a feast. All the while their lord and lady are reconnecting with their daughter and the rest of their family is heading to Caras Galadhon with a surprise waiting on them.
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In Rivendell the group that is with Elrond when he turns and rides in the opposite direction is surprised but they follow his lead. His children look at each other in curiosity because this is the quickest way to their grandmothers home. They catch up to him and his twin sons look at him the eldest of the two calling out a question to him.
Elrohir calls out, “Father where are we heading?”
Elrond, “The one I’m searching for is in your grandmother’s home.”
Elladan, “I wonder how that happened?”
Arwen, “We just need to get there, we have a responsibility to the Valar.”
Elrond nods, “Your sister is right, and all of our questions will be answered when we get there,” he turns and sends an Elf back with a message to have Lindir and Erestor watch over Imladris until his return. The Elf nods and rides back to inform them. They turn and ride towards the Golden Woods followed by Glorfindel and a small group of warriors. They travel until nightfall, stopping to let the horses rest and eat. They break out some Lembas the warriors checking for any signs of Goblins or Orcs in the area.
Lachon returns to the others, “There are no signs of Orcs or Goblins my Lord.”
Elrond nods, “Thank you Lachon. We will rest here until morning.”
Those that need the sleep lay out bedrolls to rest, the others split watches for the night. They watch the stars and moon in the sky. Glorfindel sings songs from his youth during the Years of the Trees. The others listen to the songs of old letting stories of their people lull them to sleep and rest. The night passes uneventful for the group. The next morning, they wake and take off again after breakfast. They hold this routine for almost three weeks until the reach Caras Galadhon.
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While they are travelling Celebrian is reuniting with her parents and her parents people. She never leaves her new daughters side though, and four days after they arrive Willow slowly opens her eyes. Celebrian smiles as she moves to her bedside.
“How do you feel little one? I am glad to see you awake,” she sits on the large bed.
Willow looks around, “Tired, but better than I did. Where are we?”
Celebrian smiles, “We are in Caras Galadhon, the home of your grandparents, my parents, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel.”
Willow, “I thought we were meant to be in Rivendell?”
Celeborn walks in, “You were, but something happened that threw the two of you off course. Your grandmother has been consulting her mirror but has not been able to determine what took you from your course. I am Lord Celeborn, your grandfather,” smiles softly, “I am glad to see you awake.”
Willow looks at him, “I’ve never really had grandparents before, the parents of my birth parents all passed before I was born.”
Celeborn sits on her other side and takes her hand, “I will be honored to be your grandfather.”
Willow sniffles and wipes her eyes, “Truly?”
Celeborn nods, “Truly.”
“I will also be honored to be your grandmother,” a voice calls from the doorway, “I am the Lady Galadriel, welcome to my home Willow Ceredwyn Potter.”
Willow tilts her head and smiles, “You remind me of my friend Luna.”
Galadriel smiles back and sits beside the bed, “I am glad that I remind you of someone precious to you. Your new father and siblings are on their way here, so you have plenty of time to rest my dear one.”
Willow’s stomach rumbles and she blushes, Galadriel smiles, “Of course food comes with the rest as well, something light would be good,” she looks around, “Gostel some soup please.”
A female Elf bows, “Of course my lady,” leaves the room.
Willow fidgets with her fingers, Celebrian, “What is it dear one.”
Willow, “I am not used to being cared for like this.”
Celebrian squeezes her hand, “We will help you, but I believe you would probably prefer to tell all of us your story all at once, so if you wish, you can wait until your father and siblings arrive.”
Willow lets out a sigh in relief and nods with a smile on her face. Soon a few servants come in carrying trays of food and soup. They leave allowing their lord and lady’s family to eat and talk. Willow finishes her food soup and lets the soft voices soothe her into a peaceful slumber. For another week she stays in bed resting and gaining strength, as soon as she can stomach richer foods, she is allowed out of the healing wing which makes her very happy. Once out she spends her time exploring her grandparents home, learning about her mothers people, getting fitted for properly fitting clothes, and relaxing without a war looming overhead. She passes her time in peace waiting for her new family to arrive. She learns that the year is 2980 of the Third Age and the 2980th year in the Years of the Sun and that the month is Ivanneth and the day is the 20th, and the rest of her new family has just arrived.
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In the Shire it is the 20th of Halimath 1290 Shire-Reckoning or Ivanneth 2980 TA, and in the smial of Bungo Baggins he paces as his wife Belladonna Baggins nee Took labors to bring their first child into the world. After hours the cries of a baby are heard, and Bungo relaxes going to see his beloved. She holds the baby out to him so he can get a good look at the babe. Bungo rocks his new son gently as Belladonna gets freshened up.
Bungo smiles and rocks, “Welcome to the world my son, Bilbo Baggins.”
Belladonna smiles, “He will do great things my love.”
Bungo nods, “Yes, he will do great things.