Chapter Notes: We're finishing the set-up in this chapter and sending them off to explore Westeros. Much later in the story they'll settle down, (not telling you where just yet), but for now, enjoy their meandering journey and adventures. Suggestions for Dobby related antics are always welcome.

Chapter Synopsis: Our intrepid duo gets a history lesson. Harry's not surprised to learn there's a clearly magical enemy he'll have to deal with down the road. The duo also gets tasked with a crucial quest for the Thenns. Possibly even the basis upon which Harry will start his new kingdom (but you didn't hear it from me). Ultimately, they finish fixing the village, set the elves up, and head off towards the Wall. 

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Last Time: 

... "If you want to go exploring the world, we may be able to help beyond pure travel for travel's sake." 

 "Torvald and some of the others have spoken of the tribe's hunt for safer lands, and especially warmer lands, but they have some sort of trouble with a wall, and the people further south." 

"Maybe we can find a place suitable for all of us to settle. Ourselves, the Thenns, and the elves" 

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Chapter 5: Westeros History - The Thennish Perspective 

Later in the day, upon receiving an invitation from a messenger, Harry and Sirius made their way through the village to meet with the Thenn Elders. Harry had asked for some time to share their plans, but more importantly, to get a deeper understanding of the history of this world, hoping it would help in planning their travel. 

Harry and Sirius were guided into the main wooden hall of the village. Harry marvelled at the craftsmanship of the hall, noting that in the daylight he could see every surface was carved with intricate patterns and reliefs.  

As had been the case when Harry first arrived, the elders were gathered around a small fire pit at the end of the hall. The low flames cast a comfortable warmth in the area, something both Harry and the wizened looking elders seemed to appreciate. Sigvald and Torvald, the Magnar and his son sat among the elders as well, distinct in their more youthful warrior physiques compared to the elders around them, though all shared similarly friendly expressions. 

"Please come, join us," Sigvald gestured to an open place for them to sit at the fire "I hear you've come to share your plans with us, and maybe hear some of our histories. We, of course, are always happy to share the history of our people" 

"Thank you Magnar," Harry said as he took a seat, "I am also interested in understanding why the Thenns are on the hunt for a new place to settle; assuming Sirius has actually understood your intentions correctly."  

Harry wasn't necessarily surprised they would be looking for somewhere new. After all, the land here was definitely cold, and not the easiest place to live. However, the settlement itself sat within a slightly warmer valley, nicely sheltered from the harsh winds, and helped immensely by the ancient wards. He wouldn't be surprised if there was more to their desire to leave 

The answer came pretty quickly, and left Harry a bit shocked. "White Walkers, and the Long Night".  

Harry sighed. He wasn't surprised per-se, this fit comfortably in his usual pattern of finding new and unlikely foes around every corner. But it would have been nice to land in a completely peaceful place instead. 

The Elders spoke of the Long Night, an ancient winter that had once enveloped the world in darkness. The White Walkers had nearly wiped out all life before a great alliance of the First Men and the Children of the Forest managed to drive them back. 

Harry could imagine the Children of the Forest would have been powerful allies if they were truly the same as his elves. 

"It may have happened thousands of cycles ago, but the White Walkers are not just a legend," an Elder warned, his voice grave, seemingly thinking Harry wouldn't believe such an old tale to be real. 

Harry didn't need to be convinced though; a horde of inferi seemed pretty par for the course in his experience of evil wizards. The ice affinity seemed unusual, but he'd seen stranger.  

"They are a dormant evil, waiting for the right moment to return and unleash their icy wrath upon us once more." 

Another Elder spoke up, his voice filled with the weight of years. "We have enemies to the south, but the White Walkers are the true threat. They will return, it is inevitable. We've noticed that each winter seems to be growing colder, and we believe it may be less than a dozen more winters before they make their move from the Lands of Always Winter." 

Harry furrowed his brow as he considered this. The strange cycle of long winters and long summers seemed unnatural to him. They weren't just insanely long, but of inconsistent length, it made no sense if you understood how a planet's rotation affected seasons. Harry strongly suspected it was all connected to whatever magic was going on to raise these inferi 

Harry and Sirius exchanged glances, this seemed like the sort of disaster a wizard should deal with, not bronze age warriors. Harry sighed. "We can't ignore this, and we won't ignore it" Harry reassured the elders. "I'm honestly glad we're learning of this now and not later." Harry took a moment, then continued. "I'll not leave you to deal with this inferi problem alone, but I do feel you're on the right track with the ideas to move anyway. Not only is it cold here, but you risk your people's lives by staying." Harry paused, then added gravely, "you'd be the first line of defence, and inevitably, the first people to fall in a battle your. And it doesn't sound like those to the south would care all that much."  

Sirius chimed in, his voice thoughtful. "It's likely there's some powerful magic at work here, Harry. These White Walkers remind me of some of the ancient necromantic catastrophes I studied in our magical history lessons. It might even be possible that a powerful necromancer was thrown through the Veil and found themselves in this world at some point in the past." 

Harry slumped back, it seemed the problems of the wizarding world would follow him even here. "If this is a problem from our lands, then we have an even greater responsibility to deal with it" Harry sighed. "Though I'm glad it's not an immediate problem, if these White Walkers have been dormant for so long, I imagine we've got a fair chunk of time before we really have to take action."

The Elders nodded along to those conclusions, some of them contemplating this new set of theories on the origin of the problem. Some of them were fairly convinced the problem arose from a ritual gone wrong in the war between men and Children of the Forest, but it barely mattered, they'd take the help of two wizards regardless. The elders exchanged glances, considering the implications of this additional support, many felt a bit of the weight lift off their shoulders.

"It is true," one of the Elders mused, "that our legends speak of a time when the White Walkers first appeared, emerging from the Lands of Always Winter. If what you say is correct, then the Veil could have been the means by which this great evil found its way to our world. Or it could have emerged for other reasons, but we welcome your help either way." the elder concluded sagely. 

"It's said the White Walkers cannot be felled by mundane blades, and that they are as immortal as the winter found in the far north." 

Sirius' eyes widened. "Liches, definitely liches" he whispered. "Necromancers that have performed abominable acts to separate their soul from their body and store it in a golem. It's not impossible they chose a golem of ice."  

Silence followed his pronouncement and Sirius took the opportunity to continue. "There's not much known about them, as Liches have been gone from the world for millennia.  They've not really been seen since the fall of the ancient Egyptian Empire of Magic." 

Sirius scratched his head, trying to recall his readings, "Even the Black family library only held mentions. They were considered difficult to destroy because of their soul magic, and they would stay eternal until destruction found them. They can't be undefeatable though, because there certainly weren't any around in the modern era. I seem to recall they had fairly specific weaknesses to certain materials, I'll have to look into it."  

Harry's mind was reeling as he thought back to the difficulty they had destroying horcruxes, which were undoubtedly a similar kind of soul magic. His mind drifted to the sword of Gryffindor now thankfully sitting in his trunk. 

Harry was extremely proficient with the sword, having received swordsmanship training from a goblin master as thanks for helping them restore Gringotts bank after the defeat of Voldemort. 

The Goblins had been very receptive after hearing the truth behind the horcrux hidden in their vaults and the betrayal of Griphook, which they considered a stain on Goblin honour.  

The Goblins considered it only right to make Harry into a more deadly warrior worthy of wielding the Gryffindor's legendary Goblin forged blade.  

Harry was confident he would not come across any sword-masters in this world that could best him. Particularly after the application of a few charms and internal magic techniques he'd come across which enhanced his speed and endurance.  

He'd found internal body-magic techniques written down in some of the journals in the Black library, he doubted they'd been common knowledge even in medieval Wizarding society, so he counted himself lucky to have stumbled across them. 

Though he imagined it was for the best. Battling a thousand year old lich or 'white walker' would likely require every advantage he could muster. Of course, the basilisk venom imbued in the blade was one hell of a trump card. Now Harry was convinced he should start carrying the sword so it would be close to hand if needed.  

Another Elder chimed in, bringing Harry out of his thoughts. "This all seems like solid theory, but in the end, it doesn't really matter, we don't have the numbers to fight, and if the winters keep getting worse, we won't be able to survive here anyway. " 

The room fell silent at the weight of this observation. Harry saw the cold logic in what he was being told. If they couldn't grow crops, or hunt, they'd all starve. Longer, colder winters suddenly sounded like a greater risk than even the White Walkers. They'd all be dead before the enemy even arrived. 

"We will help you find a new home," Harry declared to the slightly surprised Elders, breaking the heavy silence.  

"I obviously have no idea what we'll find on our travels, but Sirius and I can more freely explore with our magic to lean on. We might not immediately find anywhere to settle, but we will make it one of our highest priorities as we explore."  

Sirius nodded along, "The elves will be able to keep in contact with us, and we will keep you posted on what we find. I'm just thankful you're not in a rush, this could take us years." 

The Elders nodded, and many smiled, pleased with the young wizard's resolve, and even more pleased to finally have a possible solution to a nearly unsolvable problem. With that damn wall in the way they had no way to flee south, and there was no-where left to go in the True North, but with Wizards on the case, it felt like they'd find a way eventually. 

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Deciding to put aside discussion on the White Walkers and that emerging disaster for a bit, Harry brought up another question he'd been keen to ask the elders. 

"Would you be able to share any insight on the other peoples in the 'True North' as you call it? Are there any other cities like the Thenn Valley that we might visit before we continue our journey further south? Or any other magical people?"  

This led the Elders to recount the tragic tale of Hardhome, their only port north of the Wall. Once a thriving harbor, it was destroyed by dragons and their riders in a single night of flames and terror, leaving behind a desolate and haunted landscape. Leaving the Thenns with no choice but to retreat further north, cut off from the rest of the world. 

Both Harry and Sirius were shocked to learn that these dragons had human riders. "That was certainly unheard of in the Wizarding World." Harry commented, "It has been tried for sure, but it usually resulted in a crispy wizard." 

"No one has ever truly tamed a dragon. In-fact, I was among the rare few known to have survived even attempting to ride a dragon, and that was purely by accident!" Harry noted in an offhand manner, wincing slightly at the memory.  

Sirius joined the Elders in throwing Harry an incredulous and somewhat concerned look at that comment. He'd have to get that story from Harry later. Just how does one 'accidentally' ride a dragon anyway? 

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The Thenn Elders continued with a detailed account of the people and cultures north of the Wall. "The Free Folk," one Elder began, "are a diverse group, but they have mostly forgotten their First Men roots. They have developed their own customs and ways of life, which we Thenns often find savage and distasteful." 

"However," another Elder interjected, "not all Free Folk are hostile. Many simply wish to survive in this harsh land, but their lack of connection to their First Men heritage sets them apart from us. We try to maintain our distance from them, lest we become entangled in their conflicts and disputes." 

"They do, however, have Wargs amongst some of their tribes." Sigvald added. "This is a magic allowing the melding of your mind with an animal, enabling control over the animal" he explained after noticing the confusion from the two Wizards. "It is incredibly rare these days, but we come across them from time to time. You're unlikely to stumble upon any on your journey though, as they tend to keep their abilities to themselves. We can always gather some of the more amenable among them for you to meet when you eventually return." 

"That would be excellent" Harry agreed, quite interested in this completely foreign magic.  

"We'll send word through the elves before we return, so you can gather your contacts. I'm always happy to learn new magics." Sirius could see the gleam in Harry's eyes when hearing about this hitherto unknown field of magic. He felt sure this wouldn't be the last time Harry went in search of new magics to learn during their travels. 

Sirius was quietly pleased with Harry. He seemed to have really grown into the intelligence Sirius always suspected was hiding beneath the surface. 

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Eventually, the Thenn Elders turned their attention to what the trio would need to know as they began their travels. So naturally they started with the Crows, or the Night's Watch, their expressions growing more solemn as they spoke. "If you're to cross the Wall, you'll inevitably encounter the Night's Watch." The others nodded gravely.  

"In the beginning," Sigvald continued, picking up the story, "the Night's Watch was established with a noble purpose. They were meant to be the shield that guards the realms of men, protecting the people from the White Walkers and other threats beyond the Wall." 

"But as the centuries passed," another Elder continued, "the Night's Watch forgot its original mission. The men who serve now are often criminals or outcasts, sent to the Wall as punishment rather than out of a sense of duty. They've become hostile to anyone from north of the Wall, viewing us all as enemies rather than potential allies." 

"We've seen their oppressive presence firsthand," the first Elder explained. "They are quick to judge and condemn us, even though we, too, are descendants of the First Men who fought alongside them in the Battle for the Dawn. They have lost sight of their true purpose, and it has driven a wedge between our people." 

Harry and Sirius listened intently as the Thenns shared their experiences with the Night's Watch. They could sense the frustration and disappointment in their voices, and they couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the Thenns' plight. 

"Approach the Night's Watch with caution," the Elder warned. "Though some of their members may still believe in the original purpose of their order, many are quick to anger and slow to trust. It would be wise to tread carefully around them and avoid any unnecessary conflicts." 

Harry nodded, "We will definitely keep your words in mind. We'll be prepared to handle them with magic if necessary." 

Sigvald continued. "Beyond the wall to the south, you'll find the land of the Starks." He paused and gestured to Harry. "You mentioned earlier that you are a descendant of Ignotus Peverell," he said, looking at Harry. "That means you share a connection with the Stark family, as Ignotus's daughter married into their line." 

Harry nodded, having mulled over this piece of information since the first day in the village. "Yes, it's strange to think that I have distant relations here in this land." 

The Elder smiled. "Indeed, it's a remarkable coincidence. The Starks, like us, are descendants of the First Men. Despite intermingling with the Andals over time, they have managed to maintain some of their ancient customs and traditions. It is said that they might still possess some of the magical abilities passed down through their bloodline." 

Sirius chimed in, "It could be worth trying to make contact with them directly. They might be more open to helping us, and through us, you, given our shared heritage." 

The Elder nodded, though his expression remained serious. "It is possible, but you must approach the Starks with caution as well. Best not to mention your connection with us at the outset, they have faced many challenges from the nomadic Free Folk tribes over the years and will likely lump us in with them." 

"Over the centuries, there have been several instances when a powerful leader, known as a King Beyond the Wall, has united the Free Folk. These kings have been a source of great tension between the people north of the Wall and the lords of the North, especially the Starks." 

"This tension," the Elder continued, "has unfortunately severed our previous ties with the Starks and other Northern families. They have come to view us as no different from the Free Folk, even though we have retained much of our First Men culture and traditions. We have been unfairly grouped together with our more wild counterparts." 

Harry and Sirius exchanged glances, having seen the behaviour of some of the less developed nomadic tribes firsthand. "Good to know.  We'll keep that in mind," Harry assured him. "We'll make the connection anyway, these Starks could be valuable allies, and I'm woefully short on family, no matter how ridiculously distant the connection." 

The Sigvald smiled again, "We are glad you see the potential in forming such an alliance. May the wisdom of your ancestors guide you as you navigate these complicated relationships."  

Harry & Sirius took that as a bit of a dismissal, it seemed the Elders had much to discuss among themselves. 

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Later that evening, the village gathered for a feast, anticipating some important news from the elders. The atmosphere was buzzing