FIC: Fallen Night ~ Chapter Ten ~ Harry/Jack ~ T

[batsutousai]

Title: Fallen Night
Fandoms: Harry Potter & Radiata Stories
Chapter: 10 of 11
Author: Batsutousai/batsutousai
Beta: Shara Lunison/tsuki_no_suzu
Rating: T
Pairings: Harry/Jack
Warnings: OoC, AU, slash, non-human arc
Summary: Harry slipped when he was standing a little too close, and the next thing he knew, he was far away from everything he'd ever known, with something like eternity waiting for him.

Disclaim Her: This story uses characters and settings owned by J.K. Rowling, her publishers, Square Enix and tri-Ace. No money is being made from the creation of this fanfic, and no copywrite infringement is intended.

A/N: Please note that this chapter contains mention of murder (on the battlefield, but still), blood and character death (not any of the main people on the fairy creature side).

To Anon (FFN), since you didn't tell me in an actual review who you were: Erm, no, definitely not from Algandars Castle. I've got a saved game right at the split with the orb, which is why I think it came from Earth Valley.

-0-
Chapter Ten - Blood-Filled Days
-0-

Jack probably wouldn't have bothered entering the strategy room, choosing instead to eat lunch with the dark elves he'd been training with all morning, but Harry's raised voice had him curious and he peeked in.

"No. Absolutely not," Harry snapped. "I will not let you send him–"

"We need more allies, and with JJ and his people hiding in the Elf Region–" Zane shot back, looking more amused than angry.

"Send a light elf! Send someone who knows–"

"No one else will manage to get the green orcs on our side, and you know it," Zane insisted. "They don't like light elves, they think dark elves are weak and that goblins are idiots. To be fair, goblins are idiots–"

"No!" Harry shouted, making an angry motion with one hand, which Zane ducked, just in case. "Send Gawain, or...or... Ridley! He's not the only human in this fort!"

"They seem to be talking about you," Gil commented as Jack pulled his head back out into the hallway. Inside the room, the argument continued, Harry sounding progressively more ticked off while Zane just sounded like he was trying to avoid getting killed until the dragon gave in.

Jack gave his light elf friend a curious look. "Green orcs?" he wondered. "I remember Harry mentioning them once. He said they got kicked out of their home, right?"

Gil smiled. "Borgandiazo," he agreed. "Green orcs are a bit more peaceful than the blood orcs, but they still honour brawn over brains, though they're more likely to stop and think about things than their mad cousins."

Jack nodded and glanced back at the open crack of the door. Harry seemed to have calmed down a bit – he was no longer yelling – but he had yet to give in; Jack wondered if the dragon ever would. "Do you think we could get the green orcs on our side?" he asked Gil.

Gil shrugged. "I don't know. Orcs generally avoid the battles of other races, thinking they're too pathetic to really worry about. I mean, to someone whose average day involves beating their friends around with a club, I suppose our wars would seem tedious and pointless." The light elf general paused and considered Jack for a moment as the teen peered into the strategy room again. "Of course, I never thought the goblins would join us, either. I think you could get the orcs to join us. Somehow."

Jack nodded and stepped fully into the strategy room. "I'll go see JJ," he announced, making Harry turn to him with a shocked look and Zane almost seem to... breathe in relief? Jack wished he could find a way to use that against the light elf. "You said he's in the Elf Region?"

Zane nodded. "Past the City of Flowers."

"Okay." Jack turned to leave, already trying to decide who to ask. If the orcs didn't like any race, he supposed that anyone he asked to come with him would lower his chances, but he wasn't about to go into potentially hostile territory by himself.

Harry shot Zane a venomous look, which the light elf ignored, then hurried over to stop Jack just before he left the room. "Jack, it's going to be dangerous. Are you sure–"

Jack gave Harry an irritated look. "Harry, come on. You know I can't just continue to sit around here until the humans make their move. It's driving me crazy, just working with the troops. I want to be useful, and if it's dangerous, then it's dangerous. It's not like waiting around for the humans isn't potentially hazardous, right? And I won't go meet with them alone."

Harry bit his lower lip, looking a little helpless. He didn't like how attached he was to Jack, not if it twisted his heart every time the human was about to be in danger.

Zane huffed from his seat next to the map. "Lord Harry, if you're so worried, why don't you just go with the boy? It's not like you can't immediately return if we need your assistance."

"Huh..." Harry looked at Jack, who was grinning at the suggestion. "I suppose I could."

"Cool!" Jack nodded and grabbed Harry's arm to lead him from the strategy room. "Well, first, some lunch, I think. And I'd like to see if I can bring a light elf with me, since that's their territory. Gob will probably want to come – he usually does – but I think it's best that I leave him here this time. I could ask Gil if he wouldn't let the green goblins train with the elves for the next couple of days, that would make Gob happy. And I'll have to see if Clarence is okay with taking over the training with the dark elves until I get back..."

Harry chuckled to himself, amused by Jack's list of things to do. Yes, going with Jack would be nice.

-0-0-0-

They ended up taking Fan with them, since she knew where the green orcs had set up camp. Jack had spent the trip from the pig statue to the camp asking about green orcs. For the most part, everything Fan and Harry knew, Jack had already learned from Gil. Because orcs mostly avoided the other races – well, avoided them unless they wanted to kill something – not a whole lot was known about them, especially the green orcs, who were even more inclined to keep to themselves than the blood orcs.

But, still. If Jack had learned anything about treating with other races, it was that every little bit of knowledge helped. The orcs respected physical strength, and Jack was the strongest in their party, if one discounted Harry's dragon form. Green orcs really didn't like blood orcs, something Jack had in common. Green orcs also liked to stop and think a bit, which meant bringing Harry was probably to their advantage, since the dragon was wise enough – as far as Jack was concerned – that he could probably reason with the green orcs if brute strength didn't work.

JJ was waiting for them when they reached the edge of the camp. He watched Fan suspiciously for a moment as she settled onto the ground just behind Jack's left shoulder, then turned his attention to Jack, who was obviously in the lead, for all that it had been Fan giving directions. "Humans!" JJ snapped. "What want? Why here?" His eyes flicked back towards Fan. "Why with light elf?"

"I'm allied with the light elves," Jack replied, shrugging.

JJ looked even more suspicious. "Human ally with light elf. You up to something."

"I'm here to ask your help in the war," Jack replied.

"War against humans?" JJ asked and Jack nodded. "We busy. We protect ourselves from blood orcs. We have no time helping others. But..." JJ trailed off, looking almost more curious than suspicious. "You human. Why you fight humans?"

Jack grimaced. Why did everyone need to know that? "You and the blood orcs are practically the same race, why do you fight each other?" he asked.

JJ blinked. "Blood orcs greedy. They strong. They attack because can, we attack back because have no choice."

Jack nodded; that actually made some sense, considering what he knew about their people. "Humans are very much the same," he offered. "We're greedy, and the stronger ones attack the weaker ones just because they can. Except, humans don't just attack other humans, they attack dwarves and elves and goblins too." He glanced behind JJ to where the other green orcs were watching the discussion with wide eyes. "You're strong, right? So you protect those who are weaker?"

JJ nodded. "Correct. Me strongest green orc, turn away enemies. You strongest human?"

Jack smiled at that. "I'm one of the strongest," he agreed, which was true, in the physical sense. Plenty of the light elves could take him down with a well-placed spell, but when it came to a contest of brute strength, he could easily take down most of the fairy creatures and all of the humans in the fort but Gawain.

JJ frowned. "If one of strongest human, why not protect other human? Why protect fairy creatures?"

Jack took a deep breath, frowning. "The humans started this fight with the fairy creatures and left them to find their own champions. A lot of my friends are fairy creatures, and I wasn't about to make them fight alone. The humans have plenty of strong fighters, they don't need me."

"This true," JJ agreed.

"Anyway," Jack added, "humans are idiots."

The green orc leader let out a surprised laugh and considered Jack with new eyes. "Me like you, little human. Maybe me help, but there is condition."

"What sort of condition?" Jack asked, suspicious.

"Like me said, we have problem with blood orcs. Blood orcs kidnap my friends... us too weak to do anything." JJ looked ashamed. "You help us?"

Jack felt like his heart had just jumped into his throat. Face down blood orcs? If JJ, as huge and strong as he was, couldn't take down a couple of blood orcs, what chance did Jack have? For all that he liked to boast about his strength, he wasn't at all sure he could take down a blood orc.

Then Harry was standing in front of him, hands on his shoulders. "Hey, breathe," he ordered.

Jack nodded and took a deep breath, already calming at the reminder that Harry was there. Whether Jack was strong enough to face a blood orc or not, Harry could. "We'll do our best," he told JJ.

JJ considered the mage. "Not-human mage," he said. "Me know of you."

Harry smiled. "Yes, I thought you might."

"Is there anyone who doesn't know you?" Jack wondered, amused. Sure, he knew Harry was a couple hundred years old, but it always surprised him how much travelling the dragon did.

"Not-human mage cheat," JJ insisted.

At Jack's curious look, Harry explained, "I use magic, which orcs can't do. They consider it a cheat to use magic in a fight. It's one of the reasons orcs don't like elves and humans, since they can use magic, and often do."

Jack shrugged. "I'm kind of with JJ, Harry. Sorry."

Harry chuckled. "Magic is a cheat," he allowed. "But I'm not physically strong, so it's all I've got. Sorry, JJ."

JJ grunted. "Me be happy when friends back, cheat or no cheat."

"That, I think, we can manage."

-0-0-0-

" 'Not-human'?" Jack asked once they'd entered the Ocho Region and left the human guards behind. Fan had returned to the City of Flower before Jack and Harry took the pig to the Aiden Region – which was the closest pig to the Desneuf Region, where they needed to go – so that left just the two males to travel together.

"I look human, but use magic like an elf," Harry explained, shrugging. "The green orcs decided a long time ago that that made me 'not-human', no matter what I said to the contrary. My long lifespan just gave them more reason for the name."

Jack snorted. "So the green orcs figured out what you were before anyone else did."

"Oh, they were the closest," Harry agreed. "The rest of us just thought I was a very strange human. And, by 'the rest of us', I mean the elves, the dragons and myself. Didn't visit the dwarves enough for them to decide on a theory, and the goblins are always too drugged to care."

"And you avoided the humans when it got to the point that they might catch on," Jack added, still a little sore at the reminder that Harry had been intending to do the same to him. All things considered, he was glad he'd followed Ridley to the City of Flowers, even if he'd had to earn the respect of the light elves the hard way.

Harry shrugged. "Yes, that too. But, as you yourself proved, I've been known to get close enough to a human to make them wonder. Ray, the Institute president, is always trying to get me to tell him why I can perform some spells he can't, and the first time I lived in Radiata, people did wonder about my not ageing."

They were distracted from further discussion by a couple of twin horns, which they took down without too much trouble.

When they reached the bridge, Jack turned to Harry with a frown. "I have... a request."

Harry cocked his head to one side. "Okay."

"You're not going to like it," Jack added, looking a little worried.

Harry sighed. "I have found that many requests aren't particularly something I would enjoy."

"Oh, yeah. I suppose that's true..."

"Jack."

Jack grimaced. "When we get into Borgandiazo, could you... try not to use magic?"

Harry scowled. Not use magic? Against blood orcs?

Jack read his expression and hurried to explain, "It's just, orcs think using magic is a cheat, right? And I know JJ doesn't care what we do in there, but I'd sort of like to try and get some blood orcs on our side, you know? Zane's expression would be awesome."

Harry sighed and rubbed at his face. Yeah, Zane's reaction to having blood orcs join them would be pretty priceless, but not at the cost of Jack's life. "You expect me to go in there and just sit back and watch–"

"No!" Jack cut in, shaking his head. "No, not at all. I know you've got some non-magical tricks up your sleeves, and if it gets to the point where it's us or them, blast them back to Fire Mountain. I just..." He shifted. "I want to try."

Harry shook his head. "Jack, who are you trying to prove yourself to?"

"Right now? The blood orcs," Jack replied, managing a weak grin. And you, Harry, his mind supplied, but the human ignored it.

Harry sighed. "Yeah, okay."

Jack's grin widened and he turned to make the way across the bridge. "Thanks, Harry!"

"Humans," Harry muttered to himself as he followed the teen.

-0-0-0-

Their trip through Borgandiazo was hardly uneventful, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as Harry had feared it would be. Jack had improved a lot in the months since he'd last faced a blood orc, and Harry hadn't really noticed how much stronger the teen had gotten. He'd noticed to some extent on their trip through the Ocho and Aiden Regions, sure, but he'd been using magic then, too, which made things go that much faster.

The most interesting part of the entire trip was when they finally reached the bottom floor and met Galvados. The leader of the blood orcs had easily towered over the two visitors, but Jack didn't back down when Galvados refused to free the green orcs they'd captured, instead demanding they fight to see who was the stronger.

Jack won the fight, by the skin of his teeth and Galvados promised to free the green orcs, as well as join the fairy creatures in their fight.

Before Harry would let them leave the relative safety of Borgandiazo, he forced a couple of potions down Jack's throat, shaking his head. "I don't know if you're mad, or just that amazing."

"Just that amazing," Jack declared, grinning madly. "I beat a blood orc all on my own," he added, clearly proud of the fact.

"You didn't just beat any blood orc," Harry pointed out fondly, "you beat the blood orc. The bloody leader."

Jack just kept grinning.

Harry rolled his eyes and tugged the teen to his feet. "Oh, come on. Let's go let JJ know his friends are on the way and go see Zane's expression when you tell him you got the blood orcs."

At the pig on the surface, Jack said, "Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks. For, uhm... For letting me fight my way."

Harry sighed and drew the teen into a one-armed hug without even really thinking about it. "You're one hell of a fighter, Jack Russell," he murmured. "I'm sorry for ever doubting that you could take care of yourself."

Jack relaxed into the hug and smiled. "You weren't the only one doubting," he commented.

"Hm. Well, no more doubting. From either of us," Harry decided, leaning over and kissing Jack's cheek.

Both males froze for a moment, shocked, then Harry pulled away and apparated, leaving Jack standing next to the pig alone.

Jack swallowed and reached up to touch his cheek. Harry had kissed him. And then immediately run off. That wasn't promising.

"Damnit," Jack whispered, dropping his hand. "No time to think about it, Jack," he ordered himself, "you need to go see JJ, then Zane. And then I can sit down and think about things." He reached out and touched the pig, mentally envisioning the Elf Region.

Moments later, Jack was meeting up again with the green orcs, all of whom seemed impressed that he'd managed against the blood orcs. He was actually welcomed into their camp and offered food, which he kept turning down. Finally, after a good ten minutes of laughing away the attention, he managed to find JJ. "There you are!"

"Here me is," JJ agreed. "Not-human mage is gone?"

Jack shrugged, uncomfortable. "He had something to take care of elsewhere, so he went on ahead."

JJ considered him for a minute. "You is upset," he offered. "Is upsetting celebration?"

"Erm, no. It's... something else. Sorry."

JJ nodded. "Is upsetting not-human mage."

"He isn't upsetting me!" Jack argued, but JJ just looked at him and he sighed. "It's something between him and me, something we need to work out. Something he... Well..." Jacked sighed again and shook his head. "Forget it. I should head back to the fort. If you want to move your camp over that way, you can. We've got a couple of dwarves who'll make weapons, and fighting drills every day, for those who want to join in."

"Us think about it," the green orc replied.

"Okay. I'll be seeing you." Jack waved over his shoulder, then made his way back through the camp, putting a smile on his face for the green orcs who tried to stop him.

Finally back at the fort, Jack waved towards those who were training out on the lawn and made his way towards the strategy room. A part of him wanted Harry to be in there, arguing with Zane, but only the light elf elder was there and he looked a little surprised to see the teen.

"I wasn't expecting you to ever come back," Zane said, smirking a bit. "Usually you're so much better at getting other races to join us. Losing your touch?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "No, sorry. Figured I'd look into getting the blood orcs on our side while I was working on the green orcs."

Zane blinked.

"The green orcs might be moving their camp over here sometime in the next couple of days, and the blood orcs sounded like they intend to stay in Borgandiazo, which might be the best for all involved." He turned away from the shocked light elf leader, not really feeling the sense of joy he'd hoped for at his reaction. "I'm going to get some food and maybe go to bed. It's been a long two days."

"You made allies with the blood orcs?" Zane finally croaked.

Jack shrugged, not bothering to turn around. "Yeah. I just defeated Galvados. Easy." Then he left the room.

Zane shook his head and turned his attention back towards his map. "Easy, he says," he muttered, marking the blood orcs and green orcs as allies. "Cursed human."

-0-0-0-

The green orcs had moved their camp by the next evening and joined in on practise the following morning. Incidentally, it was during that morning practise that Adele finally asked the question the entire fort had been wondering, "Jack? Where's the mage?"

"I don't know," Jack grunted, swinging his father's old sword at the dummy in front of him. He'd decimated three of them the afternoon before and was well on his way to doubling the number by the end of the day.

Adele shrugged at Ganz and Ridley, who were standing off to one side, frowning.

"Lord Harry vanishes sometimes," Franz offered, looking up from his spar with Gil. "He'll just go off into the forest for a couple of days, or go searching for ingredients. He always comes back, though."

"Isn't he supposed to be one of your leaders?" Adele demanded, scowling. "What sort of leader vanishes on the cusp of a war?"

"Leave him alone, Sis," Jack ordered, turning away from what was left of his dummy. "The way this 'war' is going, he could probably be gone for another month before we see any action. Harry'll be back by then." He sheathed his sword and started towards the fort.

"Something happened," Ridley murmured, watching the young human's retreating form. "Between him and Harry."

"If that mage did something to my brother–!" Adele snarled.

"Jack's not angry," Gil pointed out, trading Franz to another light elf. "I doubt Harry did something harmful. I will go speak to him."

"I can handle my own brother!" Adele snapped, frowning.

"When Harry is involved, you get angry," Gil replied calmly. "You won't be much help to Jack until you can move past whatever it is that makes you hate Harry so much." Then he continued inside to Jack and Harry's room where he found Jack sitting on Harry's bed, knees to his chest. The light elf pulled a chair over to sit on, then asked, "Will you tell me?"

Jack glanced up at his friend and sighed. Gil was the only one he'd admitted his feelings for Harry to, and the light elf had seemed pleased by them at the time. And Jack did want to explain what had happened to someone. "When we finished with the blood orcs and were getting ready to leave, Harry kissed my cheek," he admitted, making note of Gil's pleased smile. "Then he looked all freaked out and disappeared."

Gil sighed at that and rubbed his hands roughly over his face. "Stubborn idiot," he muttered, surprising a laugh out of Jack. "I'll bet he's got a list of six reasons why he shouldn't start any sort of relationship with you and he's off trying to make himself see sense or some nonsense."

Jack snorted and tightened his grip on his legs, pulling them closer to his chest so he could rest his chin on his knees. "I'm a human," he offered. "I'll die soon enough, never mind the age difference."

Gil nodded and opened his mouth to respond, but they were cut off by the sounds of shouting and running out in the hallway. Both of them jumped to their feet and rushed to the doorway. Gil reached out and grabbed Coco as the dark elf ran past. "What's going on?"

"The humans," Coco gasped. "They've started attacks in the Nowem Region and at the gates. Reports also of some at the City of Flowers."

Gil nodded and let the boy go, then started out towards the back exit, Jack falling in next to him. "We need to find out how the goblins are doing," Gil said.

Jack nodded. "Fan should still be around, and she's the fastest flier. Send her out to the Nowem Region, then take a group to the City of Flowers to check on that. We may also want to send some people to the Forest Metropolis and Shangri La."

"You think they'd attack the Forest Metropolis?" Gil asked.

Jack shrugged. "If they're in the Elf Region, they're probably using the pigs, and the Forest Metropolis is a good place to hit. It's right in between Goblin Haven and the backs of the black goblin forces."

"Good point." Gil grimaced. "What about the blood orcs? You said they'd help?"

Jack nodded. "I can pig down there and ask them," he offered. "I don't know how many of them can make it up here, but they can always head towards Shangri La. Dragons know the green goblins will need the help."

"Good luck," Gil offered as they reached the gathering point out in the courtyard.

"You too," Jack agreed, then hurried off towards the dark elves, dwarves and goblins while Gil made for the light elves. "I need volunteers to go to the Forest Metropolis and check there," he said as he reached them.

Clarence stepped forward, expression grim. "If it's all the same, Jack, I can lead those people."

Jack nodded. "You know the area the best," he agreed, then listed off another twenty-six dark elves who wanted to go with. "Okay, go for it. Once you're sure Forest Metropolis is secure, I want about half of you to join the black goblins in protecting the Tria border. Some light elves will be heading there already, but they could always use more back-up."

"Understood," Clarence said for all of them, then led the way out to the pig statue.

"Gob, I need you and your friends to make for Shangri La. If the humans are attacking here, they're probably there too. I'm going to go to Borgandiazo to get the blood orcs and send some of them to you. I need you to be ready to take charge of them when they show up."

Gob swallowed and nodded, determined. "Gob won't fail," he insisted before leading his party of twelve green goblins out to the pig.

Jack looked over the rest of the fifty or so dark elves and dwarves. "Everyone else, your job is to hold this fort or provide back-up if the call comes for more people elsewhere. The humans will lose today!"

They all roared their agreement and approval and Jack grinned at them, pleased. He couldn't ask for a better army.

"FORT DEFENDERS! TO ME!" JJ roared from the main door.

"Go, and stay safe," Jack told his people. He stayed where he was as they flowed past him, many pausing to touch his shoulder to wish him luck. Only once they were all filing out the opened gates did Jack rush towards the pig and zip away to Borgandiazo.

-0-0-0-

Harry leaned back against a stone column in the centre of the Dragon Lair Cave, tossing stones at the door behind which Parsec slept.

"How much longer are you going to mope around here?" Radian asked, coming out of his room and leaning against a pillar next to his doorway.

"I'm not moping," Harry muttered, casting around for more stones. He'd considered tossing stones at the other doors earlier, but he didn't know the other dragons half as well as he knew Parsec and Radian, and if he started tossing stones in Radian's direction, the 2D dragon would beat his arse.

Radian huffed. "Not moping, indeed. Well, then, surely you've sensed the battles going on?"

"Battles?" Harry repeated, head shooting up from his collecting of stones.

"The humans attacked the fairy fort almost two hours ago," Radian agreed, looking pleased as Harry's collection of stones dropped to the ground. "Now, if you weren't moping–"

"Shut up, Radian," Harry hissed, jumping to his feet and apparating with an angry crack.

The dragon chuckled to himself and returned to his room and the nap Harry had interrupted almost three days ago.

-0-0-0-

Jack paused to wipe the sweat out of his eyes and glance around the battlefield. He'd returned to the fort almost an hour ago, once they'd been sure the humans weren't about to attack Shangri La. He'd left a platoon of blood orcs there to help the green goblins hold their home, but word from the fort wasn't so good; the humans had sent people to both the City of Flowers and Forest Metropolis, as well as their attacks on the goblin force in the Nowem Region and at Fort Helencia. The fairy forces, for all that they were massive in their own right, were stretched too thin, and it took too much time to send reinforcements to help the goblins.

Jack grunted as he brought up his sword to block a swing from a new opponent. Where are all these humans coming from, anyway? he silently complained, ducking a second opponent who was trying to flank him. With our luck, Vareth figured out how to clone people.

A scream from nearby distracted one of the men flanking Jack and he darted forward to run the man through, turning to face his first opponent as soon as his sword was clear. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Jack was curled up in a ball and crying for all the humans he was killing, but he didn't have a choice. He'd chosen this path, consequences be damned, and he was going to help his friends win this fight. His first look at the battlefield had helped firm that resolve when he came across a young dark elf he'd taught some swordplay to just last week who had been run through.

There was a sudden pain in his shoulder and Jack gasped, ducking a swing from behind made with a giant axe that would have taken his head off, silently cursing himself for his moment of distraction. Once again, he found himself facing two opponents, one of which had a greater reach. He felt a momentary sense of loss for his old lance, but in this close-quarters fight it would have been more a hindrance than an advantage.

Never mind that Jack didn't particularly want to see the weapon that had almost killed Gil again.

"Jack!" someone shouted in warning and the teen just barely managed to dodge a third person. But this third one was quick and spun almost as soon as he'd stumbled, bearing down on Jack again.

"Shit!" Jack whispered, catching sight of the man's eyes. They were glowing red and absolutely crazed, as those humans he'd seen suffering from algandars had been. He wasn't sure he could win this battle, not with two other fighters flanking him while the crazy man rushed him again.

Jack got his sword up just in time, grunting under the strength of the other man. Brute strength wasn't going to work here, just as it hadn't with Galvados. That meant Jack would have to out-last the plague victim, but he wasn't sure if he could. He grunted again as the other's blade met his.

Out of nowhere, pain blossomed in his side and Jack gasped, fighting to stay on his feet. The plague victim took his chance, however, and forced Jack to his knees. A glance showed him the axe man's blade was now covered in blood and he grimaced.

So, this is how I go. Trapped between a madman and an axe murderer. I'm sure there's a joke in there. Somewhere.

Just like the last time he'd faced death on his knees, a flash of light intervened, sending the madman flying backwards. The man with the axe was suddenly crushed flat as a pancake and the last swordsman just keeled over, eyes glazing with death.

Harry caught Jack as the teen fell over, dropping his sword so he could clutch at the slash in his side. "Jack," Harry whispered, fumbling for a potion. "Here, drink this. No, come on, leave that alone and drink this potion."

Jack hissed through his teeth at the pain, but moved his hands away from his wound and let the dragon pour the potion down his throat. By the time Harry was pouring a second potion down his throat, the pain had subsided to a dull ache. Shortly after, the dizziness from blood loss receded and the teen looked up at his saviour's scared eyes. "Hey. Didn't think you'd come."

"You stupid human," Harry whispered, wrapping his arms around Jack. "Of course I came. I wasn't going to leave you here to be killed."

"Oh, good," Jack mumbled, relaxing against Harry. "Glad you came."

"Me too," Harry agreed, glancing around the battlefield. His earlier fear for Jack's life may have had him focussing on the men surrounding the human, but his magic had reached out and shoved the other attackers away too, giving the fairy creatures a much-needed reprieve.

Gawain and Ganz approached Harry and Jack while Ridley stayed to help a light elf she'd been fighting with back-to-back. Adele wasn't too far, but her scowl promised that she wouldn't be coming near Harry anytime soon. The dragon briefly wondered what he'd done to raise her ire that time, but honestly didn't care.

"Is Jack okay?" Ganz asked, kneeling next to them on the blood-soaked grass.

"Just tired," Jack mumbled.

"He'll survive," Harry offered, unable to hide the relief in his voice. He glanced around again, grimacing. "I should probably see how many others need my help," he commented.

Jack shook his head and tried to look more alert. "The goblin troops in the Nowem Region need you more," he insisted, still sounding tired. "They're caught between the forces from the Tria Region and those who took the pig to Forest Metropolis."

"The last update from them was almost twenty minutes ago," Gawain agreed. "There's no telling how they're fairing now. Let the elf healers handle the wounded here."

Harry chewed his lower lip and glanced down at Jack, who looked back at him pleadingly. "Okay," the dragon agreed. "Okay, I'll go to the Nowem Region. But, Jack, you'd best be in bed by the time I get back. Understood?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, okay."

Ganz leaned down to help his friend up, taking most of Jack's weight without complaint. "I'll see him to bed," he promised.

"Thanks, Ganz," Harry replied, then vanished with a crack.

"Come on, Master Jack," Ganz ordered, turning them towards the fort again while Gawain went off to see what he could help with. "Sleep for you."

Adele met them at the doors, eyes worried. "Hey, kid. Feeling okay?"

Jack managed a grin for his sister. "Just tired, Sis. Hey, could you go get Dad's sword for me? The Captain is dragging me off to bed. Harry's orders."

Adele grimaced at the mention of the mage, but had to admit that he was the best healer she'd ever met; if Harry was prescribing bed rest, it was what Jack needed. "Sure. I'll bring it in a moment."

"Thanks," Jack replied, letting Ganz lead him into the fort and to his bed without a word. He stumbled out of his filthy clothing and managed a slurred "Thank you," before his eyes slid shut and he was off to dreamland.

-0-0-0-

When Jack woke, he found Harry dozing next to his bed. The dragon was covered in mud and some splatters of blood, and his robe was ripped in at least three places. He also looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept in days. But, instead of sleeping like he should, the fool mage had pulled over a chair to rest in.

Jack leaned over and touched Harry's knee, smiling when he startled awake. "Hi."

Harry relaxed and offered a tired smile. "Good evening. How are you feeling?"

"Better," Jack decided, levering himself into a sitting position. "You look like you should be the patient, not me."

Harry grimaced and glanced down at his ruined robe. "Goblins don't have healers," he commented, "and the dark elves that were providing back-up were mostly too wounded to be much help. It was a couple of hours before I could get out of there."

Jack nodded, having figured as much himself. "How bad was the damage?" he asked, not entirely sure he wanted to know, but not knowing was almost worse.

"Not as bad as it could have been," Harry replied, running a hand through his hair and grimacing at the dried mud that the action disturbed. "They'd only just let the algandars victims into the fight when I showed up, so there wasn't time for them to do any serious damage. Not that regular humans can't do their fair share of damage, it's just that it could have been worse."

Jack snorted. "Tell me about it. But, no, really. How bad was it?"

Harry sighed. "Out of the six hundred-something that took up arms, we lost just over two hundred, most of them black or green goblins."

Jack winced and rubbed at his face. "Damn."

Harry shrugged. "From a quick count on the battlefield, the humans lost just as many, if not more. I'm not one hundred percent certain how their medical practises hold up to ours..."

"They have potions," Jack offered, shrugging, "but no real healers like the light and dark elves. Well, and you."

"My mere existence is a cheat," Harry pointed out, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, they've got Aphelion on their side, for all they don't know it. We're allowed a dragon."

Harry smiled. "This is true."

"Of course it's true, I said it," Jack replied, looking smug and scooting over on his bed. "Now, you. Bed." He pointed at the space he'd just made next to him.

Harry blinked, expression blanking. "If it's all the same, I'll take my b–"

"It's not all the same," Jack snapped, scowling a bit. "You're dead tired and your bed's on the other side of the room. Mine's closer, now come on."

"I can sleep in the chair–"

"If this is about you kissing me, shove it!" Jack half yelled. When the dragon frowned, Jack lowered his voice, but added, "Dammit, I love you, okay, and I don't really care if you kiss me. Wish you'd do it more often, honestly. You can make up excuses about why we shouldn't be together later; for now, you're obviously exhausted and my bed's closer. Get in."

Harry blinked again, stunned. Jack... loved him?

"Harry," Jack said again, using his 'I'm the general and you're going to listen to me or I'll beat your arse with the flat of my blade' voice.

Harry sighed and, deciding he really was too tired to worry about this, magically removed all his clothing except his y-fronts, then climbed into bed with the human.

Jack smiled and settled back down next to Harry, closing his eyes to go back to sleep himself. He was still a little tired, after all.

Jack's smile widened when Harry's arm snaked around his waist and pulled him closer. "Shut up," Harry muttered, face half hidden in the pillow. When Jack snickered, Harry pinched his side, making him shout in surprise. "Go to sleep," the dragon ordered.

Jack sighed and wrapped his own arm around Harry's back. "Okay," he agreed.

-0-0-0-

Harry woke to a hand on his shoulder. Gawain looked down at him with a raised eyebrow and the dragon rolled his eyes, then slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake his bedmate. "What?" he whispered as he slipped into a pair a trousers.

"I need you to come with me," Gawain murmured.

Harry nodded and finished getting dressed, then walked out of his room with the human. Out in the courtyard, another human was packing the last of her things into a bag.

"Ridley?"

The girl turned and looked over at where Harry stood with Gawain. "Oh, hi." She straightened from her hunched position, fingers twisting nervously in the cord of her sack. "I didn't think anyone would be up."

"You know us older folks, we're up with the sun every morning," Gawain returned.

Ridley looked to where the sun had yet to rise with a frown.

"Quasar is calling you," Harry murmured, smiling grimly when the girl flinched. "You can't expect to get to the tower by yourself," he pointed out.

Ridley shook her head. "I have to go–"

"You don't have to do anything," Harry shot back, grim smile replaced with a drawn mouth. "Humans make their own fate, it's one of their gifts."

"I'm part light elf," Ridley pointed out.

"You're predominantly human." Harry sighed and glanced over at Gawain, who seemed content to let the dragon lead the conversation. "Ridley, what do you want to do? The human in you, not Hap."

Ridley bit her bottom lip and took a moment to think about it, then looked straight at Harry. "If you were in my place, what would you do?"

Harry sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I don't know," he admitted. "Being a dragon is a blessing and a curse. I've seen some wonderful things and met some amazing people, but I've also seen tragedies and met cruel people. Living on while your friends die is... It's painful, but knowing them has been worth it." He met eyes so similar in colour to his own and shrugged. "If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now, I would have done the same thing, I think. It's been painful, but I wouldn't miss this life for anything." And, thinking of Jack, that hurt to say, because the boy would leave him one day, whether he intended to or not, and it would hurt more than anything.

Ridley nodded and picked up her sack. "I will do this. I must."

"We will accompany you," Gawain insisted, as Harry had known he would.

Ridley frowned, looking past Harry to the rooms in the fort. "But Jack..."

"Jack is plenty capable of taking care of himself," Harry cut in. "He's more than proven that. But you'll be vulnerable while communing with Quasar."

Ridley nodded. "Okay," she agreed and turned to lead the way from the fort.

Gawain and Harry traded looks, almost having expected for her to argue with them more, then fell in behind her.

-0-0-0-0-0-

-0-0-0-0-0-

A/N: Next chapter will be the last. Just, you know, a heads up. ^.^"

And, yes, for those of you who agree with Shara, Harry is scum.

~Bats ^.^x

Chapters:
Prologue - Falling
1 - Elves ||| 2 - Humans ||| 3 - Let It Go
4 - And If It Returns ||| 5 - It Was Meant to Be ||| 6 - Ways of the Dragons
7 - To Build an Army ||| 8 - Power Over Life ||| 9 - Arbitrator
10 - Blood-Filled Days ||| 11 - Hic Sunt Dracones

...