Elemental Genesis

Chapter Three: On the Shores of Eternity

Where was he? How did he get here?

This place couldn't possibly be real. It gave him the feeling of the impossible always happening and the things that he himself considered normal were rare phenomenon.

Pearl-gray mist floated eerily above the tall green grasses. Some had flowers, but they were small and nothing spectacular. Going forward, he found himself on the shore of an extremely ocean, at the mouth of a very wide river. Oddly enough, it looked like it was barely flowing. A branch of it further up meandered lazily into the east, in which he could only make out tall mountains in the obscure fog. The water was dark, but the ribbons of bright color streaked the black in several places. Gazing up at the sky, he beheld what the river was reflecting: the aurora blazed across the inky heavens.

A stray breeze blew some black strands into puzzled green eyes, distracting his attention to the sky to look west. Swaying in the gentle breeze was a lone tree, far away from where he was, near the coast. Its dark shape was the only visible detail he could see of it in the serene evening. There were no other structures or trees for what appeared to be miles. Deciding he had nothing better to do, he set out towards it.

Bare feet crunching on coarse gray sand (where did his shoes go? He knew he was wearing them before he woke up here.), he walked on the ocean's edge to the west. However, he avoided the black water. Call it instinct: he had the distinct feeling that he shouldn't touch it. As he neared the tree, which took less time than he thought it would, he began to see other shapes...people!

Spying a woman that seemed to be around forty or so, he ran up to her. Speaking shyly, he asked, "Excuse me, but do you know where we are?"

She didn't reply. He tried again, but he was still given no response. Then, he noticed that the woman's brown eyes were blank and empty. Ignoring the boy before her, she continued to make her way to the tree. When he attempted to engage in conversation with an old man a few meters behind her, he had the same result. The same went for the small child close to him. Everyone was blindly walking to the tree, as if there were nothing more important in the world than to get there.

Finally, he was at the tree. It was situated on top of a rocky hill of stone. There was a large basin around it, which filled with the mysterious water every time the waves crashed onto the shore. There seemed to be several canals that led to the river around it, wooden docks with boats waiting. As he watched, the woman and the other people he had seen marched to the one of the boats, getting in. When she was inside, it sailed onto the river. The same went for the countless others who were around here, each one boarding their individual vessels. All went in the same direction: the distant east.

When he looked out to sea, he saw more boats, but they were filled with many people instead of one. Wait...they weren't like the others. These people were happy, talking gaily to the other passengers as if there were nothing wrong in the world. Then, he noticed with disappointment, that as soon as they set foot on dry land, they too became zombies. It was hopeless.

That mysterious something alerted him to the tree again. Am I supposed to go there? There it was again. Evidently, he was. At the edge of the basin, he noticed several tall stone pillars that rose above the waves that he could easily use to jump to the hill. Leaping to the island from stone to stone, he noticed the silver emblem of a dragon with feathered wings on stone's dark blue surface.

It was an easy climb despite its steep appearance. The rocks had gold veins that formed web-like patterns over them. At the top was the same tall grass, broken only by one more dragon stone, much bigger than the others at the foot of the tree. Standing on that seal, he looked up at what he had been journeying for.

Large, graceful branches spread far above his head and into the color-splashed sky. The leaves were strange: in various hues of blue and purple, lit by a strange light. The illumination came from the flowers that grew all over it. They were like lilies, but they weren't, and were gathered together in large clusters. Reds, golds, silvers, and oranges were some of the few colors that there were. The smell from it was deep, fragrant, and heavy. The tree was clearly ancient and beautiful, but he couldn't grasp why he was drawn to it. Nor did it help him figure out where he was at any rate.

"Well. I didn't expect another one like myself here."

He turned abruptly at the smooth tenor voice. It had the same quality as the Lady's, possessing that same mysterious lilt. However, it belonged to a man, sitting a little ways from where he was. He was looking at him with blatant curiosity, while the waves lapped at his feet when it came into the basin. The man's appearance also strongly reminded him of the Lady: dark blue eyes, messy hair an unusual mix of dark brown and black, and similar facial structure. He seemed unthreatening, looking well in probably his twenties. But...why was he the only one here that wasn't out of it?

The man beckoned to him. "Come here, don't worry. You're the only person not in a blasted trance and I need some decent two-way conversation." At this, he laughed: a harsh sound in this place's oppressing silence.

Seeing he wasn't in any danger, he sat down next to the man in the long grass by the shore. "Who are you?"

"Me? My name is Tom. Tom Riddle. How about you?"

"I'm-." He stopped. What's my name?! He was launched into an undeniable sense of panic. "I," he stuttered, "I don't remember!"

"You don't remember?" Tom thought for a moment, and then sighed. "Figures, I guess, considering where we are. Something was bound to go if you ended up here."

"What do you mean? Where are we?"

"This place is known as Lethe, land of oblivion and forgetfulness. At the moment, we're sitting on the edge of Lethe, on the shores of Eternity."

"What?! I don't understand! Oblivion?!"

"It is a pretty hard concept to comprehend, so I don't blame you for your confusion. This is the land of oblivion, right next to the huge ocean of Eternity. Lethe is one of the dark realms, the one of the nearest to the lands of the living."

"Is that why I can't remember..." He left his sentence hanging here, waiting for the dread answer.

"Probably. You were very near Annuvin, land of the dead, when you arrived. Yes, I've been watching you. It's kind of hard NOT to notice you. Annuvin is the place in the east. You are one of the few people that escaped death. If you had landed there first, that means that the way you died was extremely violent."

"So, why are those people going there?!"

"Because, young one, they are dead. In Annuvin, those souls will either stay there and be reincarnated, or they will be given their final judgment: to go to Heaven or Hell. Those who take the other river," Tom pointed to the mouth of the river that he found himself at before. "They will return to the living world as ghosts. Annuvin won't accept those who are in denial about their place in the world. I haven't been there, being stuck in Lethe, but I know how the system works."

"Then why are we still ourselves? Why aren't our souls being drawn to Annuvin?"

"Simple, we are still alive. Our bodies, I mean. While our bodies still live, our souls somehow ended up here. We just have to wait to return."

"Like a coma or something?"

"Yes and no. Those suffering from a coma would have been like you, somewhere wandering between Annuvin and here, asleep. You woke up, so you should be returning quickly. Hopefully."

"Who decides that?"

Tom chuckled to himself. "We are a lot alike, young one! Forever asking and challenging the unknown. The sad truth is that our mortal minds will never know everything. They were wired that way to protect us from some great epiphany that the gods themselves don't even know. We even look something alike, but bearing in mind that we ARE distantly related, it is something to be expected."

He frowned. Something triggered in his head about the concept of "related". It was a bad feeling. It was extended to something else, not at Tom, though. He rather liked the older man. "We're related?"

"As I said before, very distantly. You'll find out in time. But back to your first question-"

"Yes, who decides?"

"The Dark Lady. In her castle of twilight in the eastern Annuvin, she judges the fates of all beings, human or otherwise. She most likely sent you here. Don't worry, she'll explain. She did to me."

"Oh. Tom? How did you get here? What happened to you? From what little I can recall, I remember being in a lot of pain. It hurt...a lot..."

"I can relate. My childhood wasn't exactly pleasant." He focused is attention to the skies. "The orphanage I grew up in was horrible. But that obviously isn't why I'm here. I was kicked out of my own body."

"What? Like possession or something?"

"Exactly. Normally, it would've been easy to take care of it. Something though, something really strong, was helping it! While the demon was gaining control of my physical self, that something was trying to drive me insane. It all started was I was ten or so and when I went to school, it was much worse. It would've killed me if the Lady hadn't saved my soul in time when I was twenty-five."

"That's why you're here. The demon is still using your body!"

Smiling contritely, Tom nodded. "Right. I should physically be in my late sixties, early seventies. Had some kids, maybe grandkids your age. But, no. My soul is trapped here while my body is killing countless innocent people. A few years ago, many of the people who came here were killed by that demon." Glancing at him and in particular the strange lightning scar on his forehead, Tom next remarked, "Fortunately, it will end soon."

A familiar silvery voice said out of nowhere, "Now Tom, you cannot tell him everything." Both Tom and himself stood and turned around immediately to address her. Standing there in the light of the Tree was the Dark Lady, even more striking in a dress of black and silver. Speaking directly to him, she said, "Young one, it is time to go back."

He nodded. There was a sort of finality in her voice that he knew he shouldn't question. But..."Lady, what about Tom?"

The Lady smiled brilliantly at him. "Do not worry. He will return soon and his wait here in Lethe is shortly ending. Tom, by the way, do wish to tell the young one anything more before he leaves?"

"Yes, I do." Kneeling down to his eye level, the taller man said in a serious tone, "One, don't be afraid of fear, it's what makes you human. Two, your name doesn't matter, YOU do. I learned that the hard way..." He drifted off here with a pained expression before continuing. "Third, if you need any help or just someone to talk to, don't hesitate to call me. I'll find a way. I swear it on my soul. Lastly, good luck."

He nodded back at him. He knew Tom was going to be important to him. "I'll do that, don't worry."

The Lady cleared her throat. "It is time."

"Bye, young one."

"See you, Tom."

<><><>

He and the Lady stood in the pitch dark, though he could see her as easily as if it were noon. She said to him, "Young one, remember my words. If you need help, don't fear to call Tom or myself. We will help you. Before I leave you, I will give you a gift."

His eyes widened. He didn't wasn't worthy of receiving a gift from her. "Lady, I don't deserve-"

She hushed him with a look. Extending her bare right arm, she made a sharp whistle. A white glowing shape with wings flew to rest on her arm. It was an owl, a white owl with black wingtips. Throwing the owl into the darkness, it returned to rest on his shoulder. When he looked at it, it returned his gaze with affection. He found comfort in its warm weight.

"Young one, this is Hedwig. You knew this owl before you awoke in Lethe and she will be yours again. She was dead, but she is alive again. Take good care of her. You see, not only will she be your friend, but also your spirit guardian. If you are in any danger, Hedwig will protect you. Her name means 'refuge in battle' for a reason."

"Thank you for giving her to me. I appreciate it."

"Think nothing of it. Now I leave you to a new world and destiny.'

He called out, "Wait!"

The Lady, about to disappear into the fast fading shadows, regarded him with question in those blue eyes. Now that she fixed him with her all-knowing gaze, he lost his courage. "Yes? What is it?"

Biting his lip in nervousness, he quietly asked, "Will I ever see you again?"

She smiled at him. "That was a given, young one. I will always be with you. Now, you must go back to the living world. I wish you the best."

Then she was gone.

Turning to the owl on his shoulder, he said, "Well, Hedwig, it's time to go back." The white guardian hooted in reply.

He opened his eyes to the light of the living once more.

***

Thanks for reading this and please let me know what you think of the story so far.

When Harry arrived in Lethe, he just missed landing in Annuvin. Tom explained that meant he was in a coma and almost died. Tom was a sudden inspiration for me, all alone stuck in Lethe, forced to watch the people his body killed make their way to the land of the dead. Yes, he and Harry are distantly related (VERY, VERY distantly), but how they are isn't relevant at the moment. Tom will help Harry a lot in his new life and will play a large role in the future.

The Dark Lady will watch over the future events and over Harry. She is the person behind the scenes, pushing pieces in their places.

Yes, I brought back Hedwig. I hated the fact that I had Vernon kill her off so horribly. However, she won't contact Harry's friends. And that is the real meaning of Hedwig's name. I checked.

-Raven Dragonclaw

Reviewers:

Saruman the White: Thank you.

Lady Phoenix Gryffindor: Thanks for reviewing and I'll try to update fast. The next update should be the 19th.

Nabiki: Thanks for letting me know what you think. We will get what happens to Dudley very soon. I'm thinking maybe the fifth chapter or so. I will include Draco, but it will mainly be of how he views Harry being missing and other things. This is only of the summer. The sequel I might put up with this if I continue would probably have a lot more of him in it.

Rachel A. Prongs: Thanks for reviewing again, I appreciate it.