Warriors in love

Bèta’d by the very lovely and very talented miss Vittani.
She is one of a kind!
Thanks hun!

People, I know it’s been some time. However, when life interferes with fanfic,
you have to remedy it first, before fanfic can continue.
Sorry for the delay, now on with the show.

If all else fails

Professor Dumbledore was worried about Harry.
After Severus had floo-ed him to tell him of their plans, the old headmaster felt that it was too soon for Harry to be immersed in yet another war.
As far as he was concerned, they’d all been through enough battles to last them a lifetime and
then some, but Severus seemed to think Harry was safe enough, with his father around.
Still professor Dumbledore couldn’t shake the feeling something was going to go wrong.
It was Harry they were talking about, something was destined to go wrong.
All he could do was wait until Severus would contact him again.
“Well, my old friend. It seems there is nothing for it now” he said to Fawkes, his phoenix familiar and the bird let out a soft trill in understanding.
The headmaster left his office, in search of his beloved Minnie, to tell her what had transpired and after that he would stop by the infirmary.
Poppy was certainly going to be worried about the potions master.

**************************************

Meanwhile on the battlefield

After Malae had passed over their heads to take away the two young princes, the two groups of guards jumped at each other’s throats.
They were each blaming the other group for the disappearance of their prince.
Severus and Lucius weren’t able to stop the fighting, but refused to take up arms themselves.
Both kings were well protected, although their guards did not understand why the two men were not fighting, like their troops were.
Lucius and Severus were adamant though.
They had come so far only to be sucked into another battle?
Well, they would not fight, no matter what.
Certainly there had to be something they could do, to stop this madness?
After a few moments to collect his thoughts, Severus called upon their Watcher, Malae.
Maybe she could do something about this mess.
Malae appeared out of thin air and let out a threatening roar.
This got the attention of the fighting elves alright.
The White Elm warriors looked at the others with smug faces, this would certainly give them the upper hand, but before they could use it to their advantage, Malae had opened her mind and spoke to each and every warrior on the field.
“Nae saian luume' mellonea. Amin sinta thaliolle e dagor, mani naa thaliolle ale' lye tela?
Uuma ma' ten' rashwe, ta tuluva a' lle. Uuma dela Kotyaerea, Cormamin lindua ele lle.”
After Malae had finished, an unearthly music was heard.
It seemed to come from deep within the dragon itself.
The sounds were very beautiful and soothing and the warriors, though first in shock, relaxed after just a few moments of hearing it.
Some could swear they ‘heard’ a rainbow flow through the soft sweet tones.
Others thought they saw the most amazing colours appear in their heads.
The music lasted a full ten minutes, before it faded away.
The warriors were all at peace at that moment and Lucius thought it was a golden opportunity to finish the war once and for all.

He sent a message to Narcissa, he needed “the Great Mother” to settle this.
Narcissa appeared in an instant and the Blue Elm elves snapped to attention.
It was rare for the Great Mother to appear on the battlefield, so this had to be of great importance for her to come.
She stood there, amidst the most fierce and dangerous creatures that walked the earth, looking for all intents and purposes as if she was taking a stroll in the enchanted woods around their home.
Her regal face calm and serene, she spoke clearly:
“Amin merna quen. Detholalle a dagor tanya n’e farnuva. I'narr en mallinea glinuva nuinI'anor, manka lle auta fara. Tampa tanya dagor, ta na unguer.”
Many warriors looked at her as if she had lost her mind…hollow? This war?

She expected the elves to react badly to her words, so she did the one thing they would not count on…she invoked her magic as the Great Mother.
She stretched her arms out in front of her, her palms towards the skies.
After letting out a cleansing breath she sang in her warm voice:

“as within the hearts
so within our Realms
peace and harmony preside
on the inside”

“I invoke the spirits
of harmony
to release from the essence of these warriors
the power to protect”

The elves on the battlefield felt the tingling of magic.
To say they where shocked beyond belief, would be an understatement.
The warriors from the White Realm figured the spell would only count for the other Realm, as that…woman was not their Great mother.
However they hadn’t counted on Malae, the dragon looked at the beautiful elven queen and stated:
“As Watcher for our Realm I second the incantation, so mote it be”
There was a whirl of magic that combined with Narcissa’s and it spread throughout the entire battlefield, even reaching the Realms effortlessly.

******************************************
Eve felt the heavy magic swirling around her and smiled to herself.
It seemed that the Realms had finally come to an understanding.
The other Elders were divided, some were happy about the change, others had trouble coming to terms with it.
The Elders of the other Realm were no better off.
They all just had to wait and see what the new day would bring.

******************************************


FeyholdMairn


“Draco? Where are we?” Harry asked nervously.
Draco looked around and said “It looks as if we are at the Birthgrounds of our Founders”
Harry looked at Draco pensively.
He wanted something, but couldn’t really figure out what it was he wanted.
Draco was so close and the green eyed youth had trouble focussing.
It was as if Draco pulled him closer.
Harry felt light in his head, his stomach was doing somersaults and his palms got sweaty.
“Draco?” was that husky voice really his?
The blonde looked at Harry surprised, he had noticed the change in Harry’s voice too and it sent a tingling sensation down his spine.

So this was it then? Well, let the games begin, Draco thought to himself amused, but his amusement quickly changed into a sense of dread, when he saw Harry’s longing expression turn into a violent one, the green eyes suddenly glowing purple.
“Shit!” he thought to himself.
Harry jumped forward and grabbed Draco’s shirt in an iron grip, lifting him up effortlessly and throwing Draco away a few feet, only to come charging at him at full speed.
Draco barely had time to jump up and get out of the enraged elf’s way.
“Utinu en lokirim! Lle naa haran e' nausalle n’e lle naa mereth en draugrim , lire amin tela!” Harry screamed at Draco.
The blonde looked at Harry angry as hell. He was seething after hearing those words.
Yes, he could be considered a son of snakes, he had been a Slytherin for many years.
But he would be feast for the wolves after Harry was done with him?
Well, they would see about that, wouldn’t they?
Draco’s eyes turned just as violently purple as Harry’s and he sent out a powerful thrum.
Harry wasn’t the least bit taken aback by it, it only served to make the dark haired young man go
into a frenzy and he pulled out the sword, his father gave him.
Draco only had his bow with him and his mind was going into overdrive to come up with a solution.
The Mairn, however, seemed to know what Draco needed and a beautiful sword appeared in his hand, it felt as if it belonged there.
“It does” came the whisper from the trees.

Harry charged and Draco countered the rather brutal attack quite easily.
They went back and forth for almost an hour, neither really gaining ground on the other man.
They were sweating profusely and both had several cuts, but not deep enough to be life threatening.
Harry saw an opening, threw away his sword and pounced on Draco, before the blonde had time to realise what had happened.
Harry threw punches left and right rapidly, leaving Draco no room to counteract any blows.
Sensing that this was the moment where everything would either come together or he would lose his life, Draco took a great risk, pulled Harry to him fast, flipped him over and pinned the dark haired prince to the ground, not giving him an inch to move.
Draco did the first thing that entered his mind and he hit Harry on his temple with all his might, effectively knocking the other elf out.
Draco sat there, on top of Harry and let his go of the emotions he had been holding back.
He cried harder than he ever had before in his life.
Draco realized he had to hurt his mate, to save his own life, but that realization did nothing to ease his mind.
He rolled off of Harry and knew tomorrow they would do this again, until Harry deemed him worthy or until he would die, whichever came first.

Draco walked away from the unconscious man on the ground to calm down and look around.
Maybe he could find a place to sleep.
“Walk straight ahead and you will see a tree as old as the world itself. Go inside and rest. We will take care of your mate” came the whisper from the trees once more.
Draco didn’t even think about the voice, he was just too damn tired right now.

As Draco went inside the tree, Harry woke up with one hell of a headache.
What in the name of the Goddess has happened?
“Do not worry, young one. Look behind you, you will find a spring. Take a bath in it. It will cure you” a voice said, seemingly coming from the trees.
“Who are you?” the curious and very tired elf asked.
“Call us Mairn. We are many and one” came the cryptic reply.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, wincing a bit because he was sore all over.
He came to the spring, shed his shredded and bloody clothes and let himself sink into the surprisingly warm water.
This felt like heaven and he grinned to himself.
He had been right, it was paradise.
Easily ‘forgetting’ why his clothes had been shredded and bloody.

********************************

“Do you think they are all right?”
“Sure they are…they need to get better acquainted now, you know that, Severus”
The two kings were sitting in the music room of Malfoy Manor, after hours of debating with their respective Elders.
Of course there were a few who were opposed to the idea of peace.
Especially in the Blue Realm, for it was their prince that had died way back when.
Right now, however, the dust had settled a bit and the two friends had a moment to relax.
“Severus? Have you ever thought about remarrying?” Lucius asked softly.
Severus choked on his tea, when he heard the question.
He looked at Lucius as if the man had just exclaimed that muggle inventions were the best thing, after Ogden’s firewhiskey.
“What? Marry another woman? After Lily? Of course not! The mere thought is ludicrous!” he said, but a faint blush crept over his cheeks and it didn’t go unnoticed by Lucius.
“No? Are you quite sure of that, my friend? Because I seem to recall a certain redheaded beauty called Eve…” Lucius teased lightly.
The blush went from faint pink to deep red in just a few seconds and Severus looked away
embarrassed, because he knew he had been caught.
“Yes, well…we are only friends” he stated a bit too strongly.
“I see” Lucius said and made it clear he didn’t believe it for one second.
“It could be beneficial to both our Realms, if there were to be mixed marriages, do you not agree?” Lucius asked, his voice still holding a bit of the teasing tone of before.
Severus pondered the question a bit, before nodding his head in agreement.
It could be beneficial indeed.
If there were to be mixed marriages, both Realms would not be so quick to start this bloody war again, although there had been a few fights here and there already, to do just that.
If Harry and Draco made it, that might be the start of something much better for both Realms.
Severus felt he had mourned the love of his life enough, but the thought also brought forth a feeling of shame and betrayal to her.
Seeing the look on Severus’ face, Lucius said “No, Severus. Do not start with the guilt trip again. You know it was not your fault she died. You have a shot at happiness again, take it my dear friend” he admonished the dark man sitting across from him, softly.
He knew Severus had problems with letting the past go, but he wasn’t giving up on his friend that easily.
“How often do you think opportunity will knock? Let go of the past and start looking towards tomorrow. You have your son back, so you will always have a part of Lily around you. Be grateful for that”
Severus knew Lucius was right, but could he do it?
He felt he loved Eve.
Not the way he had loved Lily, Lily had been his mate, so the bond had been different.
Still, the calm and balanced Eve made Severus happy and he felt more alive around her.
Yes, maybe he should talk to her about this.
Severus stood up and bid Lucius a good evening.
He wanted to get home and invite Eve to his Realm, to talk it over.
Who knows…she might say yes, right?

************************************

FeyholdMairn

Draco woke up, feeling hungry and grumpy.
His entire body ached, but his cuts seemed to have been healed.
Standing up, he stretched cat-like and walked out of the tree in search of food.
He was mindful to not send out any signals whatsoever.
He did not want to repeat last night’s activities this soon already.
“Child, follow the path on your left. At the end you will find there is food on the tree stump that marks the end of the path. It is safe for you there, for your mate is not near and is still sleeping soundly, though he will wake up soon and find his own fast to break” the trees whispered.
“Thank you” Draco answered a bit sleepily and followed the path, until he saw the tree stump laden with all kinds of food.
He sat down on the ground and started to eat, thinking to himself he could never finish it all by himself, so it came as a big surprise to him that he had actually eaten all the food that had been there. Well, he had been very hungry after last night’s events.

He groaned when he thought about Harry and their ‘Ritual’.
If Draco remembered correctly, Harry would try different tactics and Draco had to see through them, or his life would be forfeit.
He wondered if they were going to fight again, or if it would be something else today.
Whatever it was, he knew he had to be prepared for the worst.
“Well, if all else fails, I could bind and gag him and be done with it” he thought.

That’s when he felt it…a gentle pull.
Nothing threatening or imposing, more like a caress.
It was oh so sweet and Draco was heavily tempted to give in, but he gathered his wits about him quickly enough to understand it was one of the other tactics Harry would use.
Groaning once again, he came to the conclusion that he’d rather they fought than be tempted by the forbidden fruit Harry was now offering him.
Deciding it would be of no use to postpone this, Draco ventured out into the clearing once again, only to be visually attacked by the most alluring site ever.
There was Harry, lying on a patch of green lush grass with nothing else on, but his boxers.
No! Nonononono….this could not be happening. Draco felt his blood pool in his groin and he wanted to jump the beauty in front of him.
He was sure he wasn’t going to make it this time. Harry was just too damn gorgeous for his own good.
He felt the shift in the air, saw Harry’s eyes darken with lust and the way he was posing.
Yes, there was no other word for it…Harry took on the most alluring poses to entice Draco.
He couldn’t do it, it was too much.
His mind was reeling and Harry’s scent was driving him mad with desire.
Trying to focus on the task at hand, Draco asked in his coldest tone
“What the hell do you think you are doing?”
Whatever Draco had suspected, he had not expected this. Harry purred, the effing git actually purred.
Draco decided that he had had enough, if Harry wanted it this way, then he would get it!
“So this is what you want? If I have you in my hands, you are not getting away anymore. You can fight, growl, lash out or do whatever you want to. Once I have you, I am taking what is mine. Now decide!” Draco said dangerously soft to the purring elf on the ground.
Harry’s eyes flew wide open and jumped up, ready to run for it.
He had wanted to excite Draco, but not like this.
Before Harry could even take one step, Draco tackled him to the ground, saying softly
“You are mine now. Take your best shot, it’s the only one you’re going to get!”
Harry’s eyes turned lavender and started to struggle.
When he couldn’t get away, his eyes turned purple.
He was still a bit in control of his emotions, but he was losing the fight against Draco and himself rapidly.
He struggled more forcefully, but Draco was not about to let him go.
Harry started to panic and his eyes began to glow a radiant violet, fighting for all he was worth, but Draco had anticipated that and held the man in an iron grip.
He was not letting go, he had something very different in mind.
Harry got one arm free and took a swing at Draco, but the angle was wrong and he only scraped his knuckles slightly over Draco’s jaw.
Draco chuckled and grabbed Harry’s arm again.
“Are you done yet?” Draco asked softly, his breath tickling Harry’s ear slightly.
The enraged elf hadn’t expected that, he was so stunned that his rage subsided a bit.
Once again his eyes changed, now back to purple, more in control of his emotions, though not by much.
“That’s it, love. Calm down. I want you to enjoy what I have in mind for us, just as much as I want to enjoy it myself” said the blonde, placing butterfly kisses on Harry’s neck.
The eyes changed from purple to lavender and from Lavender to dark green, while Harry sighed happily, being completely content in Draco’s strong arms.
Should he fight more? He didn’t know. He did know he wanted Draco as his mate.
But had the man proved himself worthy to Harry?
Harry had to make sure this elf could take care of him and the children they might have.
As Draco just thought he had won Harry over, the dark haired beauty turned in his arms, knee’d him in the stomach and the rage returned full force.
“Did you think I would give up that easily? Lasta lalaitamin” Harry said and started to laugh tauntingly.
“What do you mean ‘hear my laughter’. You dare mock me?” Draco asked incredulously.
“YOU WILL BE MINE” he bellowed.
He had been so close, or had he?
Had he been wrong in his assessment of Harry’s capitulation? Well, it did seem like it.
He had no more time to think, for Harry was running away.
Now he had to run after him.
So Harry wanted to play catch? Draco would show the cheeky son-of-a-…
He had been in Slytherin, so being sneaky came as natural as breathing to him.
He would trap his mate and force him to surrender.
Harry laughed again and said from afar “I was supposed to be in Slytherin too you know, but I asked the hat to place me somewhere else. You might find it more of a challenge to catch me, than you had anticipated. Oh, and by the way…shield your thoughts ‘dear’ everyone around the globe can hear you when you rant like that in your mind”
Draco was quite fed up with this whole situation.
“Hell and damnation…what do I have to do to show you my worth?” he yelled towards the place where Harry’s voice had come from.
He almost jumped out of his skin, when Harry stood right behind him and whispered
“Catch me if you can”.
Draco turned around, to see nobody there. Where the hell did Harry go?
He had to think about this and the most brilliant idea popped up in his head.
He ran a few feet and acted as if he had fallen, making sure Harry heard his ‘surprised’ cry and a groan of pain for good measure.
Of course Harry would be concerned about Draco, he was a bloody Gryffindor, wasn’t he?
Draco lay on the ground for a few minutes and then there Harry stood, grinning like a mad man.
“Do you really think that is going to lure me to you?” Harry asked, not sounding concerned at all, as Draco had expected him to be.
“Well, sorry to be a spoil sport Harry, but I think I broke my ankle and it hurts like hell” Draco ground out, like he was in great pain.
“No you didn’t and no it doesn’t, you git”
“I can feel your emotions and I did not hear your ankle snap” Harry said a bit angry.
He could not believe Draco would stoop this low, but then again…it was Draco he was speaking to, the epitome of Slytherin, right after Severus.
Harry had been too deeply immersed in thought to notice Draco move and was quite surprised when he felt strong arms circle around his waist.
“You did not ‘hear’ my ankle snap?” a husky voice whispered in Harry’s ear, making the young man moan softly.
“Erm…ever since my change I-I…am able to hear much better than the ‘average’ elf, although all elves have a keen sense of hearing. It is a-a trait I inherited from my dad. My mother was an empath and I inherited that trait too” Harry said, his voice trembling, because Draco was rubbing his abdomen with his strong hands, meanwhile placing little kisses everywhere on his neck and shoulders.
“Mmmhmm, does that mean you can sense what I’m feeling right now” Draco asked lazily, still drawing circles on Harry’s stomach.
The Boy Wonder blushed fiercely, he knew exactly what Draco was feeling.
“Y-yes” he stuttered, making Draco chuckle.
“Then why do you resist, when you know it is going to happen anyway? Don’t you want us to be together? Don’t you want a family of your own? It is yours for the taking, you know?” Draco murmured softly in Harry’s ear, continueing to place little kisses on his neck and shoulders.
Harry surpressed a shiver running down his spine.
He was so very tired of it all and Draco was right, he did want a family of his own, and with that thought he made his mind up.

“Draco? I am done fighting with you” Harry said softly.
He unlocked himself from Draco’s arms, turned around and sank to the floor on his knees.
He bowed his head, stretched out his arms, palms up towards Draco and spoke the words that would grant Draco the rights to do with Harry as he pleased:
“Amin lava” meaning “I yield”.
To an elf in Draco’s position it was the biggest treasure to receive and the biggest responsibility, for Harry would now be bonded to him and it was Draco’s task to take care of not only his mate, but the Prince of another Realm, the bearer of his heirs and the only heir of another clan all in one.
Draco gathered Harry in his arms and lifted him off the ground, to take him to the hollow tree.
Harry shook his head and said: “Take me to the spring, I have something to do”
Draco’s brows went up, he hadn’t known about any spring.
After arriving at the spring, Draco put Harry down and the dark haired elf asked in a clear voice “Mairn, are there rules concerning the Bonding?” as he looked up at the trees.
“Yes child, there are some rules. The Bonding must take place with all living Elders and parents present. It is also necessary for both of you to be bathed by two female Elders from your own Realm. They will know what they need for the bathing ritual. The both of you should be separate for exactly twelve hours, that is the amount of time it takes to get all preparations in order. Whether you want a small ceremony or a big one, is up to both of you. That is all, child” the Mairn answered softly.

Harry thanked the voice and looked at Draco.
“What do you want, Draco? Is there someone special you wish to include?” Harry asked.
Draco thought about it and said he wanted Gabriël and Eve to be present, but nobody else.
Harry wanted to include Malae and surprisingly Poppy Pomfrey.
He asked the Mairn if that was a possibility and the Mairn answered it was, as long as she went through the bathing ritual too.
It seemed the bathing wasn’t only meant to be a ritual, but also a necessary precaution, to block the scent of the subservient elf. Otherwise there could be another dominant trying to fight, to gain access.
Subs gave off a powerfull scent when preparing for the bonding.
It was to make sure that their dominant would be ‘saturated’ with that scent.


The ritual would make sure the scent was dulled, so that it would not draw other dominants towards it. And since Poppy was a human and not bonded or married, this could make her vulnerable to the other dominant elves, who being present for the bonding ceremony could scent her.
An altercation that could arise from this might result in Poppy’s death.
Still Harry wanted the medi witch to be there, because she had always been there for him and his father, to patch them up and nurse them back to health.
Harry also knew his father would very much like her to be there, so the precautions didn’t weigh up to the happiness her presence would bring to them.
Harry sent an image to Malae and the dragon appeared in an instant.
“Mighty Watcher, I wish to inform our Realm, that I have decided to take Draco as my mate. Will you grace us with your presence, when we Bond?” Harry asked seriously.
“I know we have to stay here for two months, until my rage is satiated, but I thought it would be prudent to ask you for your blessing first” he added quickly.
Both elves were surprised when Malae started to laugh, sounding like thunder was rolling right over their heads.
“Young Prince, do you not know about the different time speed in FeyholdMairn? What feels like one day here, actually compares to ten days in the human world. You have been here for twenty days already. At the end of your sixth day, we will all gather here to hold the ceremony, if you like. I will pass on your wishes, if you so desire. And, my Prince? You have my blessing” the dragon said knowingly.
The elves were stunned, they had been there for twenty days already?
How long would they have been fighting then?
Draco calculated it fast in his head and decided it had been too long at any rate.
They both made their wishes known and Malae took off, after winking to the young men.
Draco turned to Harry with a mischievous glint in his eyes and asked: “So, what shall we do to pass the time?” making Harry blush a deep red.

Translation of Malae’s words:
It has been too long, friends. I know your strength in battle, what is your strength after this is over? Don’t look for trouble, it will come to you. Don’t worry hostile ones, my heart sings to thee.
Translation Narcissa’s words:
I wish to speak. Your choice to do battle will not suffice. The bones of our friends will gleam under the sun, if you keep hunting. Stop this war, it is hollow.