Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Shadows of the Past	By : LadyLaran Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > Het - Male/Female Views: 12317 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer – We do not own “Harry Potter,” “the Silmarillion,” and “the Hobbit.” We don't make any money for this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
Author’s Note – I have to apologize for both of us. We have had a great many things going on, and real life has been a challenge. I think 2021 is not proving to be the blessing all of us were hoping for in comparison to 2020. I hope we are proven wrong, but we ask that you all keep our fellow human beings in your thoughts and prayers as we fight our way through the darkness into a better tomorrow! Rogercat and I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer – We do not own “Harry Potter” or “The Hobbit.” We don’t make money from this story at all.

Chapter Twenty-Five - A Dream Brings About Revelations

The day passed pleasantly enough with a lot of laughter and merriment, and everyone went to bed in good spirits. Gandalf stayed by the fire while the company sought their beds, content in the protection their host provided as he patrolled his lands in his massive ursine form. Thorin and Fili slept close to the women, who had continued the habit of sleeping beside each other that had been started when Hari had joined them after departing Rivendell. Both males were pleased to see the bond the pair had formed, knowing how isolated Acacia had been in the Shire as well as Hari’s having to find her own path in regards to past friendships now that she was back in Arda. It was a friendship both women needed, and it was good to see the happiness blossom in the duo.

A soft sound of distress pulled both Thorin, Fili, and Hari from their rest, and they turned to spy Acacia writhing slightly in her bed. The moonlight lit up her face, showing tears sliding down the pale cheeks as the hobbit whimpered. Whatever it was she was dreaming about had wrecked her emotions, and it worried the trio as they sought to wake the hobbit.

“I hope that she is not sensing any ghosts around. That ability is both a blessing and a curse at times,” Thorin whispered to Hari and his sister-son, sitting up and gently poking Acacia to try to rouse her from her nightmare.

“Begone...you foul one…” the female hobbit muttered, waving a hand in front of her face without waking up. “Leave the little one alone!”

Much as he disliked it, Thorin had to use a slightly more dramatic method that had worked in the past whenever she had been stuck in a dream that she couldn’t be roused from. He used the sharp end of a sewing needle that he’d retrieved from her small sewing bag to poke his wife’s arm.

“Ow!”

Acacia proved to have learned a few swear words from her future in-laws as she woke up. Thorin was caught between laughter and concern at the creative curses spoken in his native tongue. He didn’t speak until she’d stopped swearing at him, letting her vent her irritation first before asking what had troubled her sleep.

“What did you dream of, my flower queen,” he asked in a soft voice, making Fili stare at his uncle when he heard the endearment. It was not something Thorin used around the hobbit.

It took Acacia a moment to be able to form an answer, knowing this would upset her husband and nephew. Pain for the ones she’d dreamed of colored her gentle tones, speaking of the grief she felt.

“I saw the dams and children who could not evacuate when the dragon attacked,” she whispered, eyes full of tears. “Thorin, they’re in agony and so confused. They’re screaming for help.”

Thorin paled in horror when he realized what she had seen — the missing dwarrowdams and their pebbles, who had not been found among the survivors when they had escaped from Erebor. Could it be that the terror of the dragon was so great that their souls were trapped in the dwarven city that once had been their home?

If this was the case, his future queen would be facing a very difficult challenge with her gifts. She had the ability to help spirits pass on, but he knew it took a lot out of her to do it. Considering the sheer number of souls lost during the sacking of both Dale and Erebor, he worried that Acacia would make herself sick in doing the duty handed to her by the Valar with the gifts she had been given.

Hari had the same thoughts as she looked sadly at her friend. She had a feeling the Valar had planned for this so that the souls lost that horrible day would be able to find their way to Mandos’s Halls with her help. The witch just hoped she’d be able to help Acacia with the burden, even if it was just lending power or a sympathetic ear.

There was another question that lingered in her mind, and she had a feeling that the question was one that had an answer she would not like. Why was her friend dreaming of the souls while the company was so far away from Erebor? Granted, Acacia was powerful but there was still quite a bit of distance between Beorn’s home and the Lonely Mountain. It didn’t make sense to her that the hobbit would be able to be visited in her dreams by these poor lost souls.

An idea occurred to her, and it lingered in her thoughts until Hari had no choice but to rise from her bed. She needed to speak with Gandalf and, knowing her friend would not be able to rest easily, she looked to the smaller female.

“I need to speak with Gandalf,” she told Acacia. “Do you want to come with me?”

Acacia was quiet for a moment before murmuring for Thorin to try to rest again. She needed time away from her bed, and a conversation might just help clear her thoughts before she tried to return to sleep. She rose, still a bit shaky, and she followed her friend to the fireside where the wizard was sitting quietly with his own thoughts.

What the two women didn’t realize was that Fili and Thorin had accompanied them, worried for the hobbit lass. Both ladies were a bit ashamed of themselves for the lack of attention when they spotted the two dwarrow stepping even with them as they approached the hearth.

“You are up late,” Gandalf said softly to them, wondering what had disturbed their slumber.

“There is something we must speak of,” Hari said, taking a seat in one of the chairs that were near the hearth.

Thorin helped Acacia into one before he and Fili settled into chairs as well; both males were wondering what it was that was worrying Hari.

“What is it that is troubling you,” the Istar asked once everyone was settled.

“Acacia had a nightmare; her gifts were activated but shouldn’t have this far from Erebor,” the witch began. “I believe I know why. You remember how she and I were separated from the company while in the Misty Mountains?”

The males nodded, not saying anything and listened while Acacia quietly explained what she had seen in the mountains as well as what they had found. Once her portion of the recitation of events was finished, Hari explained her reactions to the ring and that she believed it was the one Annatar had created to control the rings he’d taught Celebrimbor to craft.

“Are you certain of this?” Gandalf asked in a sharp tone of voice.

“There is a way to be absolutely certain,” she said flatly, struggling to push back the wave of emotions that threatened to overtake her. “My reaction to it was one sign, but there is a sure fire way to determine it. Acacia, drop the ring into the fire and let it sit there for a moment.”

Not questioning her friend, the hobbit lass did as she was instructed, letting the ring sit in the flames. Once it had been resting in the fire for a few moments, Fili got up and pulled the ring out by using a set of tongs their host kept on the hearth. He handed it to Acacia, who frowned as she examined the item.

“That’s odd; this was once a plain band, but there’s engraving here now. It looks like a form of elvish but not one I can read.”

“It is a language I dare not utter here,” Gandalf murmured, looking incredibly ancient as the realization settled on his shoulders. “This proves that Hari is right; this is the ring that belongs to the Deceiver.”

“What do we do?” Fili asked, voice heavy with the knowledge of what had been discovered. “There’s no way we can simply lock that foul thing up and pretend it hasn’t been found. Erebor would be an eternal target for as long as it remained hidden within our home; Sauron will continue to look for it as long as it exists. Can you take it, Gandalf, and keep it safe until a decision is made regarding the future of this thing?”

Gandalf shook his head, trying to determine a plan. He knew that the ring must be destroyed, but there was a definite time restriction due to needing to free Erebor from the dragon.

“I cannot take it,” he murmured, wishing he could ease the worries of his companions. “It would certainly try to ensnare and use me. So far, Acacia has proven to be resilient to it and we are fortunate that it has been dormant so far, only now strengthening her gifts. I believe we can determine the best plan of action once Smaug has been eradicated and we know what is darkening the Green Wood.”

“I dislike having that thing anywhere near my family, Tharkûn,” Thorin objected, having genuine worries about having the ring near them. “There’s the concern about the madness that has proven to lie in our blood. If the ring is already enhancing Acacia’s gifts, it could very easily try to influence those of us who carry the blood of Durin in their veins.”

Hari frowned; Fili had spoken of the gold madness, and she believed she knew part of the problem. The Ring of Power that had been given to Durin III and passed down to his descendants had to be the cause of the issue. Somehow, the ring had not been among the few pieces of jewelry saved by the royal family as they escaped from Erebor into a life of exile. If it was still among the massive hoard of gold and treasure, then it had to be destroyed before it managed to trap Thorin or anyone else into its whispers again. Dragon fire was one of the few things able to destroy those rings; if they were able the rings first before approaching the dragon, Smaug could be an unwitting helper in freeing the Line of Durin from Sauron. However, this was a problem that could be discussed later once their minds were clearer and could come up with a plan to handle all of this.

“I think the trapped souls are trying to reach out for anyone who could help them, and Acacia’s gifts are either growing due to her age or the ring we found is enhancing her powers. It is possible that the presence of the dragon is blocking their way to the afterlife or they are so affected by the terror of his arrival that they can not hear Mahal calling for them to rest in His halls,” Hari spoke in a quiet voice, then a deeper realization dawned. “There’s a large chance that the people who were killed in Dale could be stuck as well.”

Acacia looked pale but determined, knowing her family was worried about this situation as it could be detrimental to her until she’d managed to get enough rest after sending the trapped souls onwards. She would not walk away from the duties the Valar had given her when she’d been blessed with the gifts she possessed.

“It’ll take time, but I will make sure they make their way to where they need to go,” she vowed. “I’ll not let anyone suffer if I have the power to end it.”

“I will help you, Acacia Baggins, in any way you need,” the Istar vowed, showing his pride for his young friend. “You will not face this burden alone.”

“As will I,” Hari said. “My gifts aren’t good for helping the dead, but I can strengthen you by lending you magic when you need it. This will not be an easy ordeal for you, but you will have strength and support at hand.”

“And I will ensure you are able to rest and recover,” Thorin promised. “You will be taken care of; I promise you that.”

“Thank you, all of you,” Acacia said, blinking when Fili reached out to take her hand.

“You are family, Acacia, and we will do everything we can to ensure your health and happiness. Uncle and the rest of us will make sure you have everything we can possibly give to make sure you can recover after this ordeal,” the blond dwarf assured her.

She smiled, squeezing his hand in gratitude. The hobbit dreaded what she would have to face, but she took a great deal of comfort in the knowledge that her family would be beside her every step of the way.

Author’s End Note – I hope everyone enjoyed this. Rogercat and I are grateful for your patience with us. We will be working on the next installment as soon as we can. I’ve gone back to school, and she’s been busy with projects as well. However, we are both determined to finish this story. I know I’ve had a lot of fun working with my friend, and I hope she feels the same. Thank you all for reading and please leave a comment so we know what you thought about this chapter! See you all next time! ~ Laran and Rogercat
- 24
- 25
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Shadows of the Past