Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Today Harry had was wearing the traditional Shadowmage colours as today he was going as the King of the Dark Elves rather than the Light. The Dlartanseers clan colours may be blue and gold but the Shadowmages were black and green. Harry felt that he suited the Shadowmage colours better with his dark hair he had inherited from his father and emerald green eyes he had inherited from his mother.
Harry was wearing the same black leather boots and breaches that he had worn to the interview with Skeeter at the Daily Prophet. Over the breaches was a silver tunic. Over the tunic was emerald robes inlaid with Celtic patterns made of bright silver silk glowing in the candle light.
At his slender hips Harry wore a black belt inlaid with emeralds and his sword. It may look ceremonial but you wouldn't want to be on the opposite end of Harry's blade. Harry had trained for a long time to become as deadly as he knew he could be with the blade.
There was a reason even pure humans knew of the elves reputations as warriors. Today it was even more essential that elves know how to defend themselves. Between wizards and their own civil war not knowing how to fight with both magic and blade was a death sentence or an enslavement sentence at least.
Harry who had been little more than a slave during his time at the Dursleys would pick death over slavery any day. Dumbledore may be a corrupt fool but he was right that there were some things worse than death. At least Harry thought so.
Harry knew that the Dark Lord would becoming alone for this meeting which was beneficial to Harry considering that after eight years of being lost he may have to reveal himself as the Boy Who Lived but if Dumbledore did what Harry had Seen him do it wouldn't come to that. Voldemort was going to make a mistake that no species would agree to; especially not one looking for freedom from centuries of slavery. Harry was hoping for the latter as he didn't want people knowing he was the Boy Who Lived just yet.
It would mean that Voldemort would find them a greater threat than Dumbledore and the Ministry. The Elves had been neutral from years. If he realised that he had been responsible for their late uncrowned King and Queen's death he would know nothing short of his death would appease the elves.
Harry only had a skilled elfin healer with him. Fekidor Bullcaster was a well known Healer who had done in courses in Avalon, American and the Muggle world. Bullcaster specialised in rehabilitating the few elves that the warriors managed to save which was why Harry had brought him along. The warriors may work tirelessly to hunt down any elf that had been taken, slay their masters, thus releasing the bond but getting through the family wards that housed the wizards and not getting caught and getting sentenced to the Kiss was almost impossible but sometimes in less well warded houses they were able to save their children.
As soon as Harry had this idea he had commissioned a Rehabilitation Centre to be created. The one before would be too small to handle the number of elves that would be coming in from these dealings with this wizards. The combined physical and mental affects of being a House Elf meant that they needed a lot of help especially if they had never known.
The healer and Harry arrived half an hour earlier than needed so he didn't have to worry about any nasty surprises that Voldemort might set up whilst alone in the room. Just because neither of them could use magic didn't mean that there were no other ways to harm each other, hence, why Harry had brought his sword. Harry knew that despite how the Dark Lord tried to keep his childhood a secret Voldemort had grown up in a rough area of Muggle London. The idea that Voldemort hadn't picked how to fight without magic was quite simply ludicrous.
By the time that the Dark Lord arrived exactly on time Harry was comfortable. The Dark Lord took the seat opposite him. Harry couldn't believe it when he realised that the Dark Lord had another idea once the alliance was sorted.
He planned to brand Harry and those who worked for him. Harry repressed a sneer at this. The Dark Lord may have presented this to the wizards who followed him as a useful way to stay in contact with each other at all times. What they didn't know was that the Mark was actually a Slave Bond.
House Elves would have the same somewhere on their small, deformed bodies. It was why it caused so much pain to the make and part of the reason that Voldemort was so powerful. The Dark Lord could utilise the power of his Death Eaters if he wished.
'Lord Voldemort,' Harry said coolly.
'King Shadowmage,' Voldemort said sibilantly.
'First things first my people,' Harry said.
Voldemort clicked his fingers. Several hundred elves of different ages in different forms of rags appeared before Harry. The ritual for their deformation hadn't been reversed even if they were free and their magic no longer suppressed. Harry nodded knowing that they had just been freed on Voldemort's orders. Voldemort was planning to allow his servants to bind Muggles, squibs and Muggleborns as their slaves.
'Healer Bullcaster,' Harry said.
Harry waited until Bullcaster had lead the masses of elves out. Harry knew that he had set up a magical carriage that would take the elves straight to the hospital where the ritual would be done to give them their true forms back or give them their true forms for the first time in their lives. They would then be put on a strict diet to bring their malnourished bodies up to standard. They would be healed of any physical injuries.
The lengthiest and hardest bit was getting them through the mental trauma that they had undergone. They had to learn to think of themselves as more than slaves. Never mind the elves who had reached maturity then been forced to either rape another elf or been raped by another elf who had to live with what had happened.
After the physical treatment was finished depending on their psychological evaluation they would either be told they had to remain in the rehab centre or their Clans would be contacted. Harry knew that Draugdhuddon would be there tonight. Harry could only hope that they would be able to take the small child home. He hoped that Draugdhuddon's rescue would at least begin to put his broken family back together.
'I believe that is the terms you agreed to before we win King Shadowmage,' Voldemort said.
'Indeed,' Harry said.
'All that remains is that you take the Dark mark,' Voldemort said coolly.
Harry could almost see the Dark Lord dancing at the idea of having the King of the Dark Elves becoming his slave. The stupid human had no idea he was walking right into Harry's trap. Harry stood up hand on sword.
'How dare you!' Harry hissed enraged. 'I agreed that this venture would be as allies!'
'The Dark Mark is a tool I created to contact my followers when needed,' Voldemort said.
Harry laughed coldly, 'do you take me for a fool! I have ancient tomes that your Ministry long ago burned as Dark. I know exactly what your mark is. It is a slave bond. I have no idea how you came across that ancient and forbidden magic but you did. I wonder how your followers would take knowing that you bound them as slaves!' Harry turned on his foot. 'Do not expect us to contact you Remember this Tom Marvolo Riddle it was you who broke your end of the alliance!'
Harry turned on his heal very glad with the way that today had gone. Voldemort really was as foolish as any other human. He knew Voldemort would be furious with them but nobody with human blood was able to reach their shores so he knew they were safe. Few apart from warriors left Avalon in Britain because of the persecution they faced and if they did it would be with a glamour on at all times so he didn't need to worry about that. Well no more than usual at least.
Harry arrived at the new rehabilitation clinic on the north coast of Avalon overlooking the sea. Harry found the receptionist with a mass of files from the multiple new patents that had just arrived. Your majesty she bowed.
Harry quickly waved the bow a way, 'how are things going here?'
'We've placed them in hospital wards – six to a room, four rooms to a ward, with six healers to a ward,' the female elf said. 'There are four ritual rooms that the Ritual Masters are making through the patients. The Healers will then work on them. The warriors will then speak to them to see if they know the Clan they are from and if not a healer will do a blood test, your majesty.'
Harry nodded, 'how many have had their rituals performed?'
'Two Dark Elves, a Fire Elf, a Light Elf, a Water Elf, and a wind elf, your majesty,' the elf said.
Harry nodded, 'where's the Light elf?'
'The ground floor, ward two, room one, your majesty,' the receptionist said.
'Thank you,' Harry said politely.
Harry didn't know if it was his cousin but he could hope. Harry hadn't said anything to either Uncle Undion or Hadian. He knew that if he was wrong then it would make their feelings even worse if he turned out to be wrong.
Harry entered the ward to see a young, female dark elf healer. Harry was quite surprised at this. Most healers were Light, water or forest elves as healing was Light magic. It was very rare that a Dark elf would become a healer.
Harry saw the black haired elf boy's back which was covered in welts, burns, scars old and new. Harry could remember when he had looked like that. The child was only three or four years old but really was closer to seven years old. Not even old enough to start the junior section of Avalon.
'Will he be okay?' asked Harry.
'Do you know him your majesty?' asked the healer.
'I think he's my second cousin,' Harry said softly.
'He's in good hands your majesty,' assured the Dark elf.
'Thank you,' Harry said quietly. 'When will I be able to check that he's Draugdhuddon?'
'Soon as I have finished healing him I can do a Blood Test to check, your majesty,' the healer said. 'He's going to be out for a while.'
'I'll wait,' Harry said.
'Of course,' the Dark elf said briskly.
Harry conjured a black leather chair to wait in. It was Draugdhuddon unless his dreams had been wrong or he had the wrong child but he looked exactly like he had in his dreams last night. Draugdhuddon was dark haired like Harry's father, Jamiel, and Uncle Undion. But so were a lot of elves so that didn't help any.
'He'll be asleep for a few days, your majesty,' the Dark healer warned.
'What were his injuries?' asked Harry.
'I've had to break and re-set half the bones in his body, his body has forty percent scarring, I am going to have to re-grow the skin on his hands its so burnt,' sighed the healer.
'Was there any sign of anything sexual?' asked Harry.
The healer sighed in obvious relief, 'no thankfully he is too young to breed from. Now would you like the blood test, your majesty?'
'Yes please,' Harry said.
Harry watched as the healer took a sample of the dark haired child's blood before placing it on parchment. Harry watched as words formed from the elf's blood. The healer passed it over to Harry for Harry to read.
Draugdhuddon Dlartanseer
Harry breathed a sigh. He wasn't sure it was relief or sadness. Harry was relieved that he had found his cousin. However, he hated the fact that his cousin had been tortured by the wizards. Harry's dark side came out when he thought of the vengeance he was going to visit on those who had harmed his light cousin. And for what it's worth Harry was sure Harry's Light uncles would agree.
'Thank you,' Harry said. 'I have to speak to my great uncles. I'll have warriors posted on the door.'
As the second cousin to the King of both the Light and Dark elves Draugdhuddon would always be a threat to any enemies of Harry's. The fact that he was the third in line to the elf throne didn't help any. Harry would have to make sure it was warriors he trusted. Harry's family couldn't survive loosing Draugdhuddon again.
'Of course, your majesty,' the dark elf nodded.
In the corridor outside Harry found Avola Diveflute who was clearly going to find out which clans the elves in the room belonged to. Harry knew that the he'd have to arrange meetings with the Elemental Elf monarchs. The rescue of several hundred elves was a huge boon to any of the elven nations.
'Avola,' Harry said authoritatively.
'Your majesty,' the Welsh Dark Elf inclined her head.
'I want you to remain in Room One,' Harry ordered. 'Protect the Light Elf child at all costs. He's Dragdhuddon returned to us.'
'Yes, your majesty,' the Dark Elf inclined her head once more.
Harry left the hospital to the Apparation point outside the hospital. The hospital was warded against magical entry and physical entry for anyone who meant harm to the patients or staff inside. That meant that Harry couldn't just leave to get his Uncles.
Naturally it was Undion who was Harry visited first as he practically lived in his workshop in the Dlartanseer Palace. Harry knocked but as usual got no answer. Undion spent all his time with his inventions nowadays since Draugdhuddon was kidnapped.
'Uncle,' Harry called.
Harry found the black haired elf with the innards of a clock spewed out on the table. Harry sighed it was days like this he wanted to just leave the wizards to destroy each other for what they had done to his family by taking Draugdhuddon. Harry had to remind himself that not all wizards were like the slave traders.
'We successfully freed hundreds of House Elves without swearing the Nation to Voldemort,' Harry said.
Unsurprisingly Undion didn't say anything. Undion rarely spoke to anyone. He and Hadian rarely spent more than an hour together, never mind mating. Children to elves were important. Loosing a child, especially their first was horrific on everyone.
'Draugdhuddon,' Harry said simply.
Undion jumped up at the mention of his lost son's name. Harry saw the grief and pain flash across those dark blue eyes so unlike Harry's. Undion may be a Dlartanseer but his grief had clouded his visions. You needed a clear mind to be able to concentrate on what the Goddess Scathach was telling you and Undion hadn't had a clear mind since his son was taken. Not that it was his fault.
'How dare you bring him up,' whispered the man.
'We found him,' Harry replied.
Undion froze, 'n-n-no it can't be.'
'It is Uncle,' Harry said softly.
Harry put his hands on his uncle's hands. Green eyes met dark blue and blue crumbled. Harry held the older elf whose pain had caused him to age more than elves ever aged. Elven aging wasn't to do about physical age but about the state of elf's subconscious. Once they reached fifteen of course. The same was true about born vampires and other immortals.
'Where is he?' demanded Undion.
'The Rehabilitation Clinic in the North,' Harry replied. 'He's safe. I've got a warrior on him. She knows how important he is.'
Undion made the move to Apparate out as only one of the royal bloodline could. Harry stopped him as only the monarch could. Harry had to warn him about what had happened to Draugdhuddon. If Undion went to see Draugdhuddon and found out there of his sorry state it would destroy him.
'Your going to keep me from my son,' snarled Undion.
'Wait,' Harry said.
'He needs me!' Undion said.
'He's unconscious,' snapped Harry.
'What happened to him?' whispered Undion.
'I can't let you find out like that, Uncle,' Harry said quietly. 'H-h-h-he's been tortured for years. Whoever had him makes the Dursleys' look like saints. I was there when the Healer was performing the procedures even now he's badly malnourished and magically exhausted. When they brought him in almost every bone in his body had to be regrown or reset, and the skin on his hands had to be regrown they'd been burnt so badly. He's still covered in scars. They will give him potions to go in his bath to remove the scars as well as nutritional potions.'
Undion whimpered, 'oh Draug.'
Undion was the only one who called Draugdhuddon Draug. It wasn't surprising considering that Undion was the Bearer. It was also why he was in so much pain. The magical connection between an elf parent and child wasn't comparable to anything.
'Undion, he needs you, and Hadian,' Harry said. 'I want you to put your issues away for Draugdhuddon. I know the last five years have been hell on our family but we need to pull together for Draugdhuddon. You remember how I was when I first came here … and Draugdhuddon's had it so much worse than I.'
'What wizard,' he growled the word as an insult, 'did this to my son?'
'I don't know,' Harry sighed then his eyes flashed with fury and power. 'But soon as I do I will hunt him or her to the ends of the earth and beyond if I have to.'
'And I will be there to visit the pain on the monster who tortured my son,' Undion agreed.
'Go,' Harry said. 'I'll speak to Hadian.'
Harry watched as his uncle left. Harry knew that Draugdhuddon would be asleep for a few more days but at least he would be there when he woke up. Harry didn't know if the same could be said for him. Between dealing with the Ministry and Dumbledore, working out proper alliances with other Beings, and sorting out Warrior task forces to bring those who abused his kind to justice it was going to be a busy few weeks.
Harry was warming more and more to the idea of getting a tutor for next term. Harry barely had time in the day for everything he had going on without trying to fit it around school. Hopefully when his temporary truce with the wizards ended it would change.
Harry took the next Portkey to Magic Alley where Uncle Hadian had his Wands & Staffs shop. Hadian rarely went back to Avalon nowadays and certainly not to the palace where his son had been born and taken his first steps. Harry didn't even know the last time Hadian and Undion had spoken and for two mates that was very sad.
'Uncle Hadian,' Harry called.
'Don't tell me you've broken another staff,' groaned Hadian.
Hadian hadn't broken at least not in the same way as Undion. Hadian had pretty much devoted his time to wandcrafting. Hadian didn't speak about Hadian, Undion or Harry. The only thing Hadian could deal with was his wands and staffs.
'You have to come back to Avalon,' Harry said.
'I will not go back there, not again!' Hadian scowled.
Harry understood Hadian's reasons for not wanting to go back to Avalon. It reminded him too much of Draugdhuddon. Harry understood that only too well. It was part of the reason Harry had thrown himself into his studies so much.
'For your son,' Harry said quietly. 'We found him.'
Hadian froze, 'due to the alliance with the Dark Lord?'
'We're not allied with the Dark Lord,' Harry said. 'That was a set up to make Voldemort give us our people back. He then tried to mark me which gave me every reason to terminate the alliance as part of the alliance stated we were to remain as equals.'
'Let me guess you predicted that,' Hadian said.
'Of course,' Harry said simply.
'Did you know that we'd get Draugdhuddon back?' asked Hadian.
'It was a possibility,' Harry said. 'I didn't say anything in case anything went wrong. False hope is worse than no hope.'
'You've become wise,' Hadian sighed. 'I suppose that's our fault too consumed with our own grief to think of you.'
'It's the wizard's fault,' Harry corrected. 'He was one year old. Of course, hid kidnapping was going to throw our family into disarray.'
'How is he?' asked Hadian.
Harry sighed heavily, 'not good. He's still unconscious, scarred, magically drained and malnourished. They fixed his broken bones and have him in burn paste. He's likely going to need a healer for months.'
'He can come home,' Hadian decided. 'Do we still have the court physician in residence?'
'Of course,' snorted Harry, 'I wasn't going to get rid of him and neither of you were exactly looking after the estates.'
'How are they?' asked Hadian.
'Pretty good,' Harry admitted. 'Considering nothing's changed for the last five years.'
Harry and Hadian made their way back to the porkey station where they got the next portkey to Avalon. Soon as Harry and Hadian arrived on Avalon Harry immediately apparated himself and his uncle to the new rehabilitation clinic. Hadian seemed amazed at the size.
'How many did the Dark Lord return?' asked Hadian.
'Hundreds,' said Harry grimly, 'and that's only one faction of wizards. 'Come on we're on the ground floor.'
Harry lead his uncle through the corridors ignoring the bows that he got as they approached. When he was seven years old the bows had unnerved him but after eight years of being treated as royalty he was more than used to it. Harry may not particularly enjoy it but it was necessary.
Harry found Undion and Draugdhuddon still being guarded by Avola. Undion was clutching the pale child's hand. The boy was still unresponsive. Harry and Hadian both dropped into seats beside the Bearer of the family.
Their family was back together again for the first time in five years. Harry had always imagined it to be a happier occasion when Draugdhuddon was found. He supposed that was a naïve thought. But he wished it wasn't.