Chapter 395: Preparing for War
After the council in Rivendell ended, the Ringbearer expedition split into two.
One group, with Frodo at its core, along with Sam, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, slipped into Lothlórien in secret. They stayed there for the time being, waiting for the right moment to move on to Mordor.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli then set out ahead of the others, reaching Gondor first to stand against Mordor's invading army.
The other group, led by Gandalf, included Bilbo disguised as Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Boromir. They served as the expedition in the open, traveling west with little attempt at concealment to draw Mordor's attention, and Sauron's gaze, away from the true Ringbearer.
Gandalf's party traveled from Rivendell to Hogsmeade. But the ship bound for Valinor had not yet returned, and the Grey Havens had been attacked by Umbar pirates, so they temporarily remained at Hogwarts.
Inside the Headmaster's office, Kael and Gandalf watched the Marauder's Map as Sauron and his army advanced swiftly toward Hogwarts.
Both of them wore grim expressions. They had anticipated this situation, or rather, it was part of the plan they had set in motion.
Even so, when Sauron truly appeared, the pressure became crushingly real.
Sauron now seemed to have regained the power of his prime, and he had a physical form again. For Kael and Gandalf alike, that meant a battle of staggering difficulty.
Gandalf said to Kael, "Now that Sauron has entered Eriador, Frodo and the others can begin moving. We must do everything we can to hold Sauron here and buy them more time."
Kael nodded. "And with Sauron this strong, even the two of us together may not be enough. We need more allies."
He took out a two-way mirror and spoke into it. "Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, Sauron has revealed himself in Eriador. We may need your help."
Only a few minutes passed before green fire flared in the office fireplace. Elrond stepped out first, Galadriel close behind — and Glorfindel with them.
Kael rose at once. "Lady Galadriel, Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, thank you for coming."
Galadriel gave a slight shake of her head, her smile gentle and calm.
Elrond lifted a hand. "No need for thanks. Opposing Sauron is the responsibility of us all. Hogwarts has already shouldered the greater part of the burden and done well. What matters now is how we face Sauron."
Everyone agreed. Time was too tight for pleasantries, and they went straight to the point.
On the Marauder's Map, Sauron and his army were no longer far from Hogwarts.
At their current pace, in only two or three hours, they would be at the gates, reaching the areas around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
With that in mind, Elrond spoke first. "We cannot wait here and let the flames of war spill into Hogsmeade and the castle. The best course is to intercept them on the plains east of Weathertop and hold them in that region."
He continued, "Lady Galadriel, Glorfindel, Mithrandir, Kael, and I will take responsibility for Sauron. We will bind him down and hold him there. As for Sauron's servants, your wizards will handle them."
Everyone showed agreement.
Kael nodded. "I will rally every wizard we have and prepare for what is coming."
He immediately notified all professors, ordering the students to remain inside the castle and not wander. He instructed Deputy Headmaster Edward to keep the students under close watch, and if the castle itself came under threat, to evacuate them through the Vanishing Cabinet.
At the same time, Kael activated every defensive system in the castle.
All statues stirred to life, marching out of the castle to guard every entrance and exit.
The suits of armor that usually stood motionless turned razor-ready, spears and blades in hand, stationed throughout the corridors. The moment an intruder appeared, they would strike without mercy.
A thunderbird seemed to sense danger drawing near. It circled above the castle with sharp warning cries as electricity flickered, storm clouds gathered, and the air thickened with the promise of rain and lightning.
Deep in the Chamber of Secrets, the basilisk was awakened. It slid through the castle's twisting pipes like a hidden assassin, ready to deliver a fatal blow to any invader who stepped too far inside.
Down in the Black Lake, the great kraken churned the water, poised to summon towering waves and drag any enemy who tried to approach Hogwarts into the depths.
While everyone worked in a frenzy to prepare, a weak dragon roar drifted in from far away.
Smaug, dragging a grievously wounded body, wobbled through the sky as if he might fall at any moment. At last, he reached the air above the castle, then finally lost all strength and plunged downward.
Kael had already seen his condition. He raised his staff and cast the Levitation Charm, Wingardium Leviosa, slowing Smaug's terrifying fall until the dragon drifted down and settled onto the broad lawn beside the castle.
Then Kael Apparated to Smaug's side.
A black spear had been driven deep into Smaug's chest. Scalding dragon blood streamed from the wound like molten rock, scorching the grass wherever it splashed.
Worse still, an intensely evil, dark presence seeped from the injury. It prevented the wound from closing and steadily gnawed at Smaug's life.
Smaug forced open his eyes, weak and heavy-lidded. "Master… Sauron's power is terrifying. I was never his match. You must be careful."
"Smaug, do not talk. Drink this first," Kael said, cutting him off. He pulled out several bottles of advanced healing potions and poured them into Smaug's mouth one after another.
Then Kael looked at the black spear and felt his stomach tighten. It had been too close.
Smaug had barely twisted away from the truly fatal point at the last instant, letting the spear scrape past his heart. If he had not, he never would have made it back alive.
But even now, the situation was still grim.
Kael reached toward the spear, intending to pull it free, but the instant his fingers touched it, a surge of evil power tried to burrow into his body.
He snatched his hand back at once, shaken, staring at the spear as if it might bite.
That sensation was the same as the One Ring and the Rings of Power. It was corruption, raw and invasive.
Smaug was strong, and as a creation of Morgoth, he possessed an innate resistance to dark power. If any other race had been pierced by that spear, even if they did not die immediately, they would have been corroded by Sauron's will and fallen into servitude long ago.
Even so, Smaug's condition was not safe. If the spear remained inside him, it would keep devouring his vitality, and sooner or later, it would corrupt him completely.
Kael did not hesitate.
He engaged Occlumency, shutting his mind against the spear's influence. Then he conjured a thick rope and looped it around the spear's shaft, securing the other end to a massive stone statue.
The statue came alive, grabbed the rope, and heaved with all its strength.
Smaug let out a roar of agony as the enormous spear was yanked free, nearly five or six meters long. Scalding blood erupted in a rushing spray.
Kael immediately applied Essence of Dittany and other potions to the wound.
But dark power still lingered inside the injury. The flesh refused to knit, and the blood that continued to spill carried streaks of black, faintly tainted with shadow.
At that moment, Elrond, Galadriel, and the others arrived. Seeing Smaug's condition, their expressions tightened.
Kael seized on Elrond's presence like a lifeline. "Lord Elrond, you came at the right time. Smaug was wounded by Sauron's spear. The wound is infected by evil power and cannot be healed. You are the greatest healer in Middle-earth. Can you treat him?"
Elrond did not refuse. He nodded once. "I will try."