I See in Moonlight

Of Wormtongues and Sassy Queens

~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* CHAPTER VIII *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~

They spent the next month mourning, training and gathering their strengths. With the new knowledge they had of Harry, each member made sure to spend at least a few hours one on one with the young man. Harry happily lent them his books on magic, rituals and the like, while none of them could preform any of these magics, they wanted to know what to look out for, what was dangerous to interrupt verses what can safely be interrupted (not that they wanted to, but if there was an emergency, they wanted to know for safety reasons, especially Harry's). They learned of the sway the moon held over certain spells and magics, understood that Harry's abilities were near limitless and yet were limited in a dangerous way due to his blindness.

Aragorn, Haldir and Legolas took this time to begin courting the young Wizard. They spent time together as a group, one on one, and two on one. Harry spent most of this time getting to know Haldir and Legolas better. All three were very calm, which he valued over the chaos his normal day to day life seem to throw his way. Haldir was the clear Alpha of their group, he was the leader and defender, Aragorn was the healer and the voice of reason, while Legolas was the warrior and mischief maker (he didn't believe it at first until he heard Legolas playfully baiting Gimli and even getting Haldir on his younger brothers cases). They balanced one another out and had quirks that Harry found endearing. All three were protective of him, natural worrywarts, but they seemed to understand when Harry needed to be coddled and when he did not.

He lent the group his Occlumency books, teaching them as best he could how best to protect their minds from invasion, be it friend or foe. He worked especially with Frodo and Boromir. Death had visited him and they had spoken at length. Boromir was destined to fall to the Ring. This would lead to the deaths of thousands because his father, who's already grown ill and insane, would send his men to slaughter and nearly kill his only remaining son. Harry asked what would happen if he saved the man, Death merely shrugged, it ultimately mattered not to him, eventually all would die. However he did mention that they could cut a good chunk of the overall death toll of innocent lives by saving the young Captain.

Harry knew Death wanted something in return other than one of his pies, Death had a sweet tooth, which was quite shocking given he does not need to eat in order to survive. When he asked what he wanted in return, Death merely spoke in riddles, leaving soon after as Harry wondered, who he meant. He knew only time would tell. When he wasn't teaching or on little outings with his mates (his inner Omega refused to call them suitors, they were mates damn it!), Harry took the time to brew, finish crafting a few new wards and spells. He also trained with the others on how to better use a sword and dagger, though he made sure to stress that no one touch the Sword of Gryffindor least they nick themselves and die. They remembered from the battle in Moria, though they were still lost on how such a pretty blade was so strong and so deadly.

Aldeztaile enjoyed their down time, getting herself back to her fighting form by practicing on the magical dummies Harry enchanted to help the others train. She wasn't as out of shape as she thought, but still it did not do to get dull either. She was quick, struck with a precision and crushed the dummies to dust. This impressed and frightened the Fellowship knowing that if she could do this in her smaller form, she was even more deadly in her full size. Galadriel spoke with them, planning the best route to continue on their way as well the best time to leave. She was also commissioning gifts for them and needed the time to have them finished, hence the long delay.

So now it was time to go and they were ready to move on. Today, they were being seen off by Lady Galadriel and her people, not unlike their send off in Rivendell. They were each gifted a gift, to the Hobbits Elvin cloaks with a Lothlorien Leaf pin to hide them when they could not hide themselves. Though, Sam and Frodo were also given Elvin rope and a vial of liquid starlight for extra protection. Legolas was gifted a new bow made from the golden wood of the trees of Lothlorien as Aragorn and Boromir were given Elvin daggers. Gimli had whispered in her ear and she had smiled secretly before she turned to the last member. She could not give Harry much other than her promise to answer his call for aid.