We're A Miracle

Chapter Five: Bears and Elves

Parvati opened her eyes. Sitting up, she looked around to see Harry and Kodac checking their supplies. Hermione was coming to, while Ron was standing up. She stood up and dusted herself off.

"You alright, Parv?" Kodac looked up at her, before turning back to his pack.

"I'm fine...Where are we?" she asked.

Hermione looked over the map. "We're about fifteen kilometers north of the town of Lesklicove."

Kodac's head shot up. "Oh no..."

"What is it?" Ron asked, catching the note of panic in Kodac's baritone voice.

"Lesklicove...is the town of...bear-men." Kodac replied hesitantly. Hermione's eyebrow shot up.

"Bear-men? What are-" she started, but she didn't have a chance to finish as a loud, ferocious roar sounded a short way away to the east, at the bottom of the hill where the five were throwing their packs onto their backs. The Hogwarts students started to draw their wands, but Kodac waved them off.

"Bear-men are vicious, quick to anger, and very protective of what they see as theirs, but they are none too bright," he warned them.

Sounds like Ron, Hermione thought briefly, chuckling to herself. She wasn't in the mood to chuckle, however, when the source of the roar topped the hill. He was a good eight feet tall, with powerful muscles rippling down his arms and torso. Dark brown hair sprouted everywhere. With a big, spiked club in one large hand and dressed only in what appeared to be slacks, the bear-man looked down at the friends around his short muzzle. When he spoke, his deep bass voice growled.

"What are you doing here, humans?" he thundered. The Hogwarts four took a few steps back, but Kodac stood firm.

"Greetings, friend. We sincerely apologize for trespassing on your private lands, but we have just stopped to rest, and did not know this was yours. With your blessing, we will gladly leave you to your business," Kodac replied smoothly, his lessons in charming the powerful bear-men clearly showing through the years.

The bear-man blinked. He wanted to punish these trespassers, but the way this one spoke, with confidence, while his friends backed away in fear, struck him as, well, weird. Trying to figure this out, he scratched his head with a claw on his free hand.

Kodac watched the man silently. When he scratched his head, Kodac smiled to himself. He had succeeded in stumping the bear-man (not that it was hard). As the part-bear, part-man puzzled over what Kodac had said, Kodac chanced a glance at his friends. Harry and Ron looked ready to draw their wands, Hermione was looking over the bear-man with an expression of curiosity, and Parvati stood there, shivering in fear, but trying not to show it. Turning his eyes back to the bear, he waited for an answer.

The bear-man looked down at the human who had spoken. He finally realized that these strange beings were there by accident, and not meaning to trespass. "Very well. Get outta my sight before I change my mind."

Kodac bowed to him, and, motioning to his friends, turned and walked east, towards the nearest border of Lesklicove lands. The bear-man turned back to his business, and resumed foresting berries, herbs, and other plants.

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Kodac led his friends over the border to free country. They stopped to rest, check their position, and plot a route to Seabring Castle.

Kodac looked at the map as they set down their packs to rest for a short while. He drew a finger along the shortest path, the safest path, and the happy medium between the two. As he pored over the map, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Parvati took a few sips from their canteens. Flashing back, Parvati looked over to Kodac.

"D'you remember that spell you used to bring us back to Hogwarts from the forest, Kodac?" she asked. "Why don't you use that to get us to Seabring Castle?"

"Because Seabring Castle has incredible protection against transportation spells. Not only are they nigh-impossible to break through, they also extend for some thousand kilometers. I think we're near the edge of those wards, and so we'll have to hoof it all the way to Seabring Castle," he replied. Hermione, ever the seeker of new knowledge, was interested in learning about these wards.

Kodac sighed. He knew they needed to get to the castle quickly, to see the King, who would be very worried when his most promising knight had disappeared.

Parvati came over to sit next to Kodac. "What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.

"I might be able to ask the Elves in that forest," he pointed to the southeast, "to let us pass through. The King has excellent relations to them, but they are nearly as protective of their land as the bear-men, and considerably smarter to boot. If they won't allow us to pass through their forest, we'll have to walk all the around it. If we must walk around, going north around it will be quicker, but the southern tip is much safer. I hope they will allow us to walk through their lands."

As they made ready to break camp, Kodac informed the rest of the group of what he planned, and hoped, to do. Satisfied that they were ready to go, Kodac led the way to the southeast, towards the Elves' homeland.

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A few hours of walking later, they reached the edge of the forest. Ron was about to walk right in when Kodac stopped him.

"Ron, don't take a step into the forest!" Kodac called.

Ron turned and looked back to him. "Why not?" he replied.

Kodac's expression turned serious. "You take one step, just one step, into an the home of any Elf without their consent, and you will be risking your life. Elves don't appreciate strangers on their land. I've been there many times, and I have seen what they do to those who don't ask. It was not very pleasant," Kodac answered, a rarely-heard tone in his voice. Ron gulped, looked back at the forest, and backed away towards the group. "So, now that we've sorted that out, we get to play the waiting game."

"Why? I mean, can't we go in to find one and ask? Or call one?" Harry questioned.

"They already know we're here, Harry. They have scouts along the edge of their lands, watching for travelers. Should they see one coming towards them, they hurry away to tell their King, who sends a messenger to speak with the travelers," Kodac responded. Harry thought this over for a moment, then nodded.

They didn't have to wait long. An Elf, bearing the flag of the Elfish King, came walking out of the forest, accompanied by two escort guards. Lithe and slightly built, the Elves looked formidable (indeed, they were). With their varying hair color and fair complexion, they were very dexterous, and quick with bows and arrows and long knives. Their pointed ears allowed them to hear things much farther away than any human, and their keen eyes could see farther than anyone without a telescope.

"Greetings," Kodac hailed them.

"Greetings, friends," the messenger spoke, his light baritone sounded beautifully. "What business do you have with the Elf King?"

"We are travelers from afar, and I am guiding them to Seabring Castle. If it is plausible, we would like to save many hours of travel by traveling through your land," Kodac asked humbly. "I am Sir Kodac Drache, and am good friends with many of your kindred."

The messenger thought this over. "I will present your request to the King. Good day, Sir Kodac, travelers," the elf bowed and hurried into the forest, his escort following him. One stayed behind, as Kodac expected, to make sure they didn't try to sneak into their land.

While they waited, they ate a quick meal. The guard politely refused when they offered to share. Soon after they had finished, the messenger returned.

"I have discussed your request with the King, and he will permit you to travel through our land," he bowed. "Come, friends, the King has offered you a night's rest as well."