Author's Note: This will likely be the last update for a while because I'm struggling with how to progress from this point. I need to work out how to introduce Estel and I'm not sure how to do that at the moment. I have no beta reader and no one to bounce ideas off so I'm at an impass at the moment. I'd welcome any suggestions about how to introduce Estel but bare in mind that I might not use them.

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"I cannot tell the whole tale for I do not know it all"

Elrond's study was a large room which opened up onto a balcony overlooking the pond created by the waterfalls over which the moon now rose. Its walls were stacked with shelves filled with books and ancient tomes. A desk stood almost isolated in the centre of the room upon a platforms raised by three circular stairs and illuminated by numerous candles which stood on sticks like those found within a church. Towards the balcony there stood a table and chairs.

Gandalf stood at the opening to the balcony, he spared a glance down to his side when the young Harry sat – the boy had seemed reluctant to even touch the furniture and now sat upon the floor with his back to an arch, almost huddled into himself – it was…concerning.

"And, in truth, I am not sure if Harry knows it either."

He turned back towards the room where Elrond and Glorfindel waited. Each had watched the boy as they had journeyed to the study. They had no doubt noted his reluctance to stray too far from Gandalf's side – another worrying development – but what thoughts they had about this they kept to themselves.

"So I will tell you what I know."

The Grey Wizard patted the boy's head gently before walking into the room and drawing a chair. Harry stayed still as the wizards moved across the room but scrambled after him once he had sat down. Now the boy sat at the wizards' feet like a puppy brought to heel.

"A little over two months past I received a message from Radagast. It came as something of a surprise as he has become reclusive of late, yet more concerning was the content. He seemed to have discovered something but wasn't exactly clear on what and did not know what to do with himself so was asking for my help. Well, of course, naturally I was only too willing and made my way to Rhosgobel immediately."

"The journey itself was uneventful, and I made good time, yet the weather had begun to turn against me and the rain began to fall as I entered the forest. It was a dark day, made darker still by the leaves of the trees, yet a candle burned in the window of Rhosgobel so I assumed Radagast was at home. I approached the door and announced my self by knocking, yet no answer came. After three knocks the door was opened and I was greeted by a child."

His gazed swept down to the boy at his feet before he continued.

"I had not expected to see a child at Rhosgobel and I'm afraid I did not react all that well. I frightened the boy and he ran back into the house. I followed, concerned for his safety, yet he had vanished. A loud noise, something like the crack of a whip, had sounded and he was no where to be found."

"I searched that house as thoroughly as I was able yet I could not find the boy. It was at this time that Radagast returned from the forest. He had been foraging for supplies to refill his food stores and so had been absent when I arrived. I explained to him what had happened and he was beside himself with worry, so much so that he could not think clearly."

"As we continued our search for the boy within the house the weather outside worsened and soon it became a thunder storm, yet despite our combined efforts the child still eluded us. All hope seemed lost but then a sparrow flew in through the open door. It told us it had seen a child running into the forest and that it could lead us to it."

"In haste we readied his sleigh and followed the bird deep into the heartland of that forest. Were fortunate that night to find him so swiftly for the spiders had come upon him, and had we been but a moment later then I fear he would not be here now."

Another lingered gaze fell upon the boy as Gandalf contemplated just such an outcome, and dreaded it. He turned to look at the Elven Lords and saw that they, too, wore a look of concern for the prospect.

"That night I discovered that the boy was the reason Radagast had sent for me. He had found him alone in the Greenwood, frightened and weeping, and could not leave him there. Over the weeks that followed he had learned that the boy had come to the forest through some magical means, seeking to escape someone who had hurt him, and had no means to return home."

"Given the events of the night as they had unfolded I felt perhaps the magic that had brought him hence had been his own and said as much. Radagast had promised to help him return to his home, and I had committed myself to helping him fulfil that promise, but whatever magic was the cause of his journeys I had never encountered it, and thus could offer no assistance."

"It was clear that the Greenwood had grown far more dangerous than even Radagast has suspected, yet he blamed himself for the events of that night and knew he could not ensure the boys safety should he remain at Rhosgobel, and with no means to return him from whence he came the only alternative was to find a safe place for him to dwell."

"That is what I have come. I ask for safe haven for the boy here within the walls of Rivendell."

Elrond and Glorfindel had sat in silence throughout, both had learned long ago the value of patience, yet now they sat disturbed. The golden-haired Elf looked at the boy in pity and compassion yet the lord of Rivendell was troubled.

"I have never heard of a child of man to possess the kind of magic of which you speak, indeed its like is unheard of even amongst the Maiar. How came this to be?"

"I cannot say. I have never known its like myself, and it would concern me more if the boy knew of it."

"You mean he does not?"

"Hmm. He seems unaware of the ability, and unable to call upon it at will."

"But surely that is of greater concern. If he is not able to wield it then he cannot master it, and if such is the case he may lash out unintentionally and harm those around him."

"I do not believe so. It seems to be triggered by moments of great stress or strong emotion, and thus far has only been used in defence of himself. I do not think he would harm others, intentionally or otherwise."

"Do you understand fully what you ask of me Mithrandir? You ask that I bring a boy, a magical child no less, into my home when you have no guarantee that he will not be a danger to those around him."

"I am fully aware of what I ask, and I would not do so if there were another option, but I see none. All I can say is that I will never cease looking for a way to return him to his home and hope that his stay here would be temporary until that time."

"But it may not be."

Elrond rose from his chair and approached a window to gather his thoughts. He was not without compassion, and sympathised with the boy, yet the fact remained that he possessed a form of magic that he did not control and could potentially bring harm to others, and, as Lord of Rivendell, Elrond had to weight up whether he could accept that risk. At length he turned back to the room and spoke.

"I do not appreciate the manner in which you have brought this before me Mithrandir, nor am I pleased with the trouble you have delivered to my door, yet I cannot fault the child. He cannot change what he is, and if what you say is true, he does not even know what he is."

The Elf-lord spared a glance at the boy.

"He shall have safe haven here, for however long he needs it."

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The first thing the Elves did with Harry was to bathe him.

He was filthy from dirt and dust accumulated on the travel and, truth be told, from his stay at Rhosgobel – Radagast was many things but hygienic was not one of them – his clothes were ragged, sodden, stained and somewhat beyond re-use, so they were taken from him.

He found himself in the most exposed bathroom he had ever experienced.

It was a large white room with the arches and floral motif which the architect had favoured decorating the surrounding walls. The arches on three sides opened up to the surrounding world – though, thankfully, not as entrances but windows – allowing the light to shine through the thin pale curtains. The last wall lead back to the main building and supported an oaken door.

The bath itself might have been a swimming pool - it was bigger than the Dursley's living room!

There were two circular basins which filled the majority of the chamber and a smaller basin on a lower platform. It drew water from a hot spring and tempered its heat by adding water from the waterfalls; these were channelled into the smaller basin as required.

It was elaborate and ostentatious, and Harry was a bit reluctant to use it for fear of damaging it, but the potential embarrassment over having someone bathe him won over and soon he was clean, and slightly damp.

That night he slept in a proper bed for the first time in his life, listening to the rumble of the nearby falls.

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