Harry's knees ached from the fall. The mud clung thick, and his robes smelled of wet moss. He pushed himself up, dagger still glued to his palm. The glow had dimmed a little but it was there, faint, like a heartbeat he couldn't get rid of.
The elves didn't lower their bows. Not even a twitch. Eyes sharp as knives, voices quiet between them, words he didn't understand.
Naruto whispered, "They don't like us."
"No kidding," Harry muttered back.
Kakashi hadn't moved. He stood still, hand near a pouch, eye unreadable. Harry wondered if the man ever got scared, because if he did, he hid it better than anyone.
The lead elf finally spoke again, slow, like his words were weighed. "The blade you carry does not belong here."
Harry glanced at the dagger. "You think I asked for it? Believe me, I'd drop it if I could." He tried to loosen his grip just to prove the point—his fingers didn't obey. The dagger hummed. The elves' bows tightened.
"Harry, maybe don't argue with them," Kakashi said low, calm.
Harry swallowed and nodded.
The elf's eyes narrowed. "You are strangers. And strangers do not enter Lothlórien without permission. The Lady will decide what to do with you."
The words didn't sound like an offer.
Naruto muttered, "Sounds like a drag," but went quiet when three arrows shifted toward him.
Harry tried to steady his breathing. Something felt wrong again. Not just the elves. Not just the forest. It was the air. Too still, too quiet, like sound itself was being smothered.
His scar itched. The dagger warmed.
He whispered to Kakashi, "Do you feel that?"
"Yes." Kakashi's tone didn't change but his hand moved slightly, ready.
The elves motioned them forward. Surrounded, no choice. Harry walked, mud pulling at his boots, bowstrings creaking faint each time he stumbled. The forest pressed close, trees ancient, silver light dripping through the canopy.
Naruto kept whispering things like "we could just fight them" and "I bet I can take two" until Kakashi finally said, "Quiet," and he shut up.
Harry's mind wouldn't stop racing. The dagger pulsed every few steps, each beat making his scar ache sharper. He wondered if the elves noticed. Judging by the way their eyes kept flicking to his hand, they did.
They crossed into a clearing. Lanterns hung in the trees, glowing pale gold. Wooden walkways curled up the trunks, bridges stretched like webs. It looked unreal, like something out of a painting Dudley would've called boring.
But under the beauty, Harry felt the weight. Like the forest itself was watching.
The lead elf raised his hand. The group stopped. "Wait here," he said. His voice was like iron wrapped in silk. He vanished up the walkway without another word.
The silence after was heavy.
Harry shifted, trying not to grip the dagger tighter but failing. "So… what do you think the 'Lady' will do?"
"Depends," Kakashi said.
"On what?"
"On whether she thinks you're worth killing."
Harry stared. "That's… comforting."
Naruto snorted. "Bet she'll like me."
Harry almost laughed, but his scar flared again. Hard. He staggered, clutching his forehead. The dagger throbbed in answer, light spilling faintly from the markings.
The elves hissed, bows snapping up. One shouted something sharp in their tongue.
"I didn't—!" Harry started, but the words tangled in his throat.
Whispers filled the clearing. Not from the elves. From the trees. The sound crawled over his skin, faint and wrong, voices layered on voices, too many to count.
Naruto looked around, wide-eyed. "Okay, that's creepy."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "Harry. What do you hear?"
"I—" Harry blinked hard, sweat in his eyes. "Voices. They're saying… nothing I understand. Just noise. Like—like water rushing but twisted."
The dagger pulsed brighter. The whispers got louder.
One elf stepped forward, face pale now, bow shaking. "That blade should not be in this realm," he said, voice low, almost breaking.
Harry's scar burned white-hot. His knees buckled. He barely caught himself. The whispers swelled into a single word. He couldn't tell if it was in his head or outside.
"Open."
The clearing blurred. Trees stretched tall, lanterns smeared into lines of gold. The elves shouted. Naruto yelled something about "not again!" Kakashi's grip tightened on Harry's arm—
And the ground fell away.
They landed in darkness.
Cold stone beneath him, damp air thick in his lungs. Harry coughed, blinking fast. No trees. No sky. Just a cavern, huge, black walls glistening with moisture. Faint blue light flickered from crystals in the rock.
Naruto groaned. "I hate this stupid dagger."
"Agreed," Harry whispered, voice hoarse.
Kakashi crouched, scanning the shadows. "Quiet. We're not alone."
The cavern breathed. Not literally, but it felt that way. Harry's scar still ached, but quieter now, like it was waiting. The dagger stayed warm, silver glow dimmer, but steady.
From the far end of the cavern, something shifted. Stone grinding. A shape peeled out of the dark. Too big. Too many legs. Eyes gleaming faint, catching the crystal light.
Harry froze.
Naruto swore. "That's a spider. That's a HUGE spider."
The dagger pulsed again, almost eager.
Harry's throat went dry. "Brilliant. Just brilliant."