AN: I'm so excited for this chapter and it was fun to write! And this is the first new chapter since I've rewritten the story so I want to thank everyone again who's read, reread, followed, favored, and left a review. It means a lot to me. Read and enjoy! BTW, I've been thinking of drawing a map of Haldórer so that ya'll have an image of where Harry and Hedwig have traveled so far. Let me know what you think.

The Osthato Chetowä breached dramatically from the blue-green waters of the inland sea. The large sail ship listed heavily from side to side until it steadily balanced itself atop the rolling waters. An anchor on portside plummeted into the waters, further steadying the enchanted ship.

Warm lights shone through the portholes and slowly, seamen trickled onto the deck, surveying for any damage that might have happen while traveling submarined. The routine of the men and women abruptly disrupted by the commotion of an overzealous dragon.

The snowy dragon eagerly ran about the deck, knocking people left and right off their feet. So zealous in her excursion, Hedwig had even managed to topple over an urgal. And right behind her trail of destruction was a young boy apologizing profusely to every person.

"Sorry! Sorry! She's normally not like this." Harry said frantically. "Hedwig no!" Harry cried.

Hedwig had scaled up another urgal and jumped onto the nearest mast until she reached the lowest perched. The snowy dragon crooned contently and stretched out her wings. Leaving her Rider to deal with the fallout.

The sailors weren't amused and the glares from the tough-skinned urgals was most disheartening. "I..uh, I didn't know she would act like that. Sorry." He said and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. None of the sailors were appeased and Harry feared he wasn't going to get out of this situation entirely unscathed. "Thanks a lot, Hedwig." He muttered angrily.

"Be at ease, the boy already apologized." A calm voice called from within the cabin. Kolur had entered on deck. Followed closely by the reserved Captain Rílvenar and Rider Dumbledore. The younger elf smiled impishly between Hedwig to Harry. The boy felt his face grow hot.

"Tend to your stations, we'll be arriving shortly." Captain Rílvenar commanded. "Leave the boy to manage his dragon."

The sailors acquiesced, though unhappily, a few of the dwarves gave Harry the stink-eye while muttering in Dwarvish. One human, fair-skinned with light brown hair, grumbled to another human with tanned skin in their language and gestured from Hedwig to Harry.

His dragon, still perched atop the lowest bar, watched the sailors raptly. Her tail swishing side to side. It was only when it was just Harry and Elder Dumbledore standing in the immediate vicinity that her muscles loosened around the shoulders and hips.

"Great, now everyone thinks I can't control my dragon." Harry muttered.

"Hmm…there are some that also share some concerns regarding your age." Said Dumbledore.

Harry looked at Dumbledore sharply. "They think I'm too young and immature, don't they?"

The Elder answered affirmatively. "Great." Harry muttered. "It's gonna be like school all over again. No matter how many times I would tell people, they never believed me!" he nearly shouted. Harry sighed heavily and ran a hand through his shaggy hair, he would need it cut soon. "I don't want them to think about me like that…what should I do?" he looked up to Dumbledore's eyes.

"You want my advice?" the man asked curiously.

"Yes."

Dumbledore leaned down until his lips were right next to Harry's ears. "Let them think so." The man whispered.

"What?" Harry asked appallingly.

"Let them think what they want of you."

"B-but then they'll always think I'm some puny boy who can't control his dragon! And who's too young to even be a Rider!"

"Firstly, no one can "control a dragon". Like you and I, a dragon chooses when to listen and ignore their Rider. You must remember, Harry, Hedwig is not your pet. She is your partner, your other half, your Heart. Together you stand as equals and the sooner you realize this, the stronger the Bond. The sailors and other non-Riders can be ignorant of this fact, but you don't have such a "luxury". Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." Harry replied meekly.

"Good. Secondly, you should not care what strangers think of you." He held up his hand forestalling Harry's outburst. "It's easier said than done, I know. But Harry, if you spend your life convincing others of your worth, they'll only see an insecure boy. And you'll be pandering to the power they hold over you.

"There will always be people who'll doubt you, but you must never doubt yourself. Harry, in the past week we've traveled together I've seen not an immature goy too young to be a Rider, but a caring, responsible young man with a strong moral fiber…with a tendency to quip sarcastic remarks." Harry smirked. "You have a good heart Harry, don't let others change that in you. Never doubt your worth."

"Thanks." Harry smiled wanly. They were nice words, but the boy had difficulty believing what Dumbledore said.

"You're also never alone. Even if there are those that will never believe you, there will be just as many that will always stand beside you. Your family, friends, and even me." Hedwig squawked angrily from her post. "Of course, you also have Hedwig." Dumbledore chuckled. "My apologies, Hedwig."

"Thank you." Harry said with more heartfelt. The small doubts that were niggling to return were put to rest and Harry breathed deeply. He could do this, it was just another adventure. Yes, the circumstances were different, but it was an adventure nonetheless. If he could face the past three years of Hogwarts and live, he could handle Dragon Rider training.

"Now then Harry, I suppose you're wondering why we've anchored out in the sea." Dumbledore asked.

"It did cross my mind once or twice." Harry wisecracked. Elder Dumbledore chuckled. Harry looked out to the sea, hoping to get his bearings back. He'd lost them completely once the Osthato Chetowä sank beneath the waves of Areion Sea; it was also then that Harry discovered Hedwig had a strong aversion to being underground (or in this case underwater).

The enchanted ship was anchored hundreds of meters from the rocky cliffs and sea stacks of the enormous dark mountains. Even from where they stood, the boy heard the thunderous crashing of waves against the rocks. The mountain chain stretched from north to south far beyond the young Rider's sight. And the mountains alone, made up the jagged coastline, not a beach could be seen in the waning light.

There were no other ships, no settlements were situated on the mountains, no floating towns in the waters. And if the silence from underwater in the past hour was anything to go by, there wasn't even a merperson settlement nearby. In all aspects, they were in a desolate area of an unknown sea.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"I'm not surprised you don't recognize these mountains. It is very rare for those of our kind to be on this side of the mountain chain. The mountains you out there make up the western side of the Black Mountains."

"The Black Mountains!" Harry exclaimed. "We're that close? I thought, Deorcwuld was far away on some island?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Most, if not all, think so. We neither confirm nor deny their assumptions."

"So we're somewhere in the Havelok Sea?"

"Precisely." Havelok Sea was a wide inland sea that separated Alagaёsia and Haldórer. All along the eastern coast of the Havelok were the famous Black Mountains. The mountains themselves curved around Diagon and made up the country's western and northern borders. Hogsmeade was the sole city of Diagon that rested on Havelok's eastern shores. And, apparently, the land of the Dragon Riders was hidden somewhere within those mountains.

"How do we get to Deorcwuld?" Harry asked. "This boat doesn't fly right?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No, it doesn't fly. We'll be taking a more direct route. If you could call Hedwig down from her post."

"Hedwig, get down from there. Rider Dumbledore wants to speak to us."

Hedwig sighed and tared up at the sky forlornly. Fine. The snowy dragon gracefully glided down from her perch and landed lightly next to her Rider. Crooning, Hedwig brushed herself against his thighs and pushed her snout into his marked hand.

"All better then?"

Never want to go underwater, or underground.

"It really bothers you that much?"

Yes.

"Then I'll make sure you never have to go underground or underwater again."

My Harry. She crooned in gratitude.

"Before we continue any further, I need to know for certain if you have any doubts or reservations on becoming a Rider." The twinkles in his eyes vanished and the jovial tone of the man's voice turned somber.

"What do you mean?"

"Every potential is given a final choice. Right here, at this very spot by an Elder of the Council. To join the Riders, become keepers of the peace and the freedom of knowledge. Or to forge their own path, their own meaning out within the world."

"I can do that?" Harry asked incredulously.

"But of course! You always have a choice Harry it is part of our given right to free will and never let anyone else tell you any different. But all choices have consequences and should never be made lightly.

"In this instance, I only offer this to both you and Hedwig once. Once your decision is made, there is no going back. If you want to take a few moments to discuss this with Hedwig, I'll leave you alone."

What do you think Hedwig?

…I want to stay.

Me too. "You don't have to Rider Dumbledore, Hedwig and I already made up our minds. We're going to see this through."

Dumbledore blinked. "That simple?"

The young magus shrugged. "If we didn't want to, we'd have never left Godric's Hollow with you. We're not quitters or oath-breakers." An even bigger insult amongst the nobles in Diagon. "We won't go back on our word just because it's hard."

The tall Rider nodded firmly and a proud smile from crossed his face. "Indeed. Then that leaves only one thing left. How much do you know about the Ancient Language?" he asked in a tone that Harry dubbed his "Professor Voice".

Harry shrugged. "It's ancient?" Hedwig snorted, and the Rider chuckled.

"Good one! Commonly it is the language used by the Elves. It holds much sway over the people of Alagaesia and is the language of magic much like Latium is to us. But unlike our magical language, the Ancient is a language of truth. You cannot lie, and your words can be as binding as an Unbreakable Vow." The boy's eyes widened. "Magic in this language is not to be taken lightly even if you and I cannot use it. We can, however, speak it and we cannot lie in this language as well.

"In time, you will be able to speak this language just as fluently as speaking Diagonese. You would also need to learn fully Latium to expand on your own type of magic." Harry didn't know whether to be excited or mortified. He had to learn two different languages?

"Not to sound rude, Rider, but what does the Ancient Language have to do with finding Deorcwuld?"

"An excellent question, Harry! In the Ancient Language, every person, animal, objects, and even lands have a True Name. A True Name for a person, defines all who they are in a couple of words in the Ancient Language. Apart from elves, it is often difficult and takes many hours of soul searching to discover your True Name. The same can be said for lands.

"Usually True Names only influence people and lands born or are founded in Alagaёsia as the magic is tied intimately to the land.

"Deorcwuld, is the only country outside of Alagaёsia that holds a True Name. We've bonded the knowledge of the lands whereabouts to the Deorcwuld's True Name. It can only be seen by those who have spoken it clearly."

"But aren't you afraid of people, not riders" here he gestured to the sailors tending to their work "will spread this around the world?"

"Quite keen, are you?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily. "The knowledge of Deorcwuld's true name can only be passed by members on the Elder Council. I must warn you, once you and Hedwig utter the words you've taken a magical binding oath to follow the ways of the Dragon Riders. Should either of you break your oath, the consequences will be severe."

Harry shivered. For once he held in his curiosity. Some questions were better left unanswered.

For now. Hedwig replied.

"Are you both ready?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." Harry answered. Hedwig nodded her head surely.

Without further prompting, Dumbledore knelt to Harry and Hedwig and spoke strongly the True Name. Harry and Hedwig shivered from the rush of power that swathed them. The power a True Name had…it daunted him. Dumbledore had carefully repeated every syllable until he was confident that both Harry and his dragon were able to correctly pronounce Deorcwuld's True Name.

Dumbledore led the pair closer to the railings and had them face a specific section of the Black Mountains that Harry found hard to focus on. With Dumbledore's approval Harry whispered the True Name and lost his breath from the wave of foreign magic rolling over his body.

His snowy dragon reacted differently, she stood firm and proud as the strange magic roiled with her own. She flexed her wings and tilted her head to the darkening sky, crooning a mournful melody that left Harry and the crew of the Osthato Chetowä mystified.

"What were you singing about?" Harry asked in awe.

Home.

Harry looked up to the older Rider and was perplexed with the knowing look on his face.

"Every dragon that has felt Deorcwuld's True Name for the first time has made the same song." He gestured out to the sea. "Look to the mountains, Harry."

Harry did, and his jaw could have fallen to the deck for all he knew. The view before him certainly merited the reaction. A large section of the Black Mountains had disappeared. And in their place were two megalithic monuments. Taller than even the tallest tower from Hogwarts were two dragons' statues made of white stone. The statues mirrored one another with the dragons sitting on their hind legs with their tails wrapped around the base. Their maws were wide opened, showcasing sharp teeth, and something was held between the jaws. To Harry it looked like colors one would see in a rainbow, changing interchangeably.

It almost looked like the dragons were holding fire.

"You are one of the privileged few to feast your eyes on the Dragon Gates." Said Dumbledore.

Harry nodded absently. The ability to speak had left him. His dragon was equally in awe as they sailed closer to the twin megaliths.

The closer they sailed, the more details Harry saw. They were a mastery all on its own, surpassing even the most extravagant architectures Diagon harbored. The details were so intricate that Harry could see scales carved into the surface, resembling greatly dragon skin. The tails had spikes, the feet sharp claws. Harry suspected there was magic at play as he saw the waves crash against the bases yet there was no sign of weathering or age. In fact, the statues looked like the stone masonries had just completed their project.

He craned his neck to get a better view of the dragon's head, but the marine layer had started to settle, and the magus could see nothing past the stomach. The changing colors of the dragon's "fire" glowed eerily through the fog. "Did the dwarves make these?" he asked.

Dumbledore hummed. "It's possible. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that question. No Rider or those associated with the Riders hasn't a clue who created the Dragon Gates."

Harry stared at Dumbledore in disbelief. "What?"

"The statues were estimated to have been here long before Head Rider Shadeslayer and his company discovered Deorcwuld."

"How long?"

"Hmm, I would safely guess centuries at the least. The land of the Riders holds many secrets and mysteries regarding it's past. Even the oldest of Riders discovers something new every few years." Harry found that unbelievable.

Having safely passed the Dragon Gates, another wave of magic rolled over Harry and Hedwig. The sensation so powerful, it nearly bowled the young teen over. Breathless Harry graciously accepted the cup of water and chugged it down in one gulp.

"W-what was that?" he asked shakily.

"The magic of Deorcwuld." Dumbledore sighed in bliss. His posture was laxed and he leaned against the wood railing a contended smile crossed his lips. "In time, the magic will become familiar to you and will greet you like a long-lost friend."

"Is…is Deorcwuld alive?"

"In a way." The Rider answered cryptically, eyes a twinkled.

It's ancient.

Harry agreed. The magic of Deorcwuld was ancient, it felt alive in a way. And to Harry, and of course Hedwig, the magic didn't feel as strange as Dumbledore intoned. It was…familiar.

Silently basking in the strange atmosphere, the bonded pair watched as the ship sailed through the towering mountains. Harry stared in wonder when the Osthato Chetowä passed by ruins of a medium sized fortress carved into the mountain. Unlike the Dragon Gates, the ruins were in such a state that it looked like a strong gust of wind could topple the fortress off the cliffside.

Dumbledore explained that the fortress had once belonged to a long-lost civilization that created a kingdom high in the Black Mountains. It wasn't as old as the Dragon Gates, but Dumbledore speculated it was perhaps the first kingdom to reside on Haldórer after the disappearance of the people who made the Dragon Gates.

Had Hermione been here, she would have been salivating at the mouth from just the two ancient sites that possibly belonged to two different civilizations. Harry himself was impressed and wanted to explore more the fortress in the mountains as well as the dragons at the entrance of Deorcwuld. If this was what could be found shortly after entering the mystical land of the Riders, what else laid beyond the mountains and into the heart of the country?

A half hour passed when Harry saw his first set of trees. The ship had followed the riverbend and had left the last of the western chain of the Black Mountains behind them. In the cover of darkness Harry couldn't make much detail of them only that they were big and dwarfed over the tallest mast of the Osthato Chetowä. Yet the forest wasn't silent. With the sun having set, nocturnal creatures began frolicking the thick forest.

Harry felt like he was being watched by something beyond his line of sight, a sentiment Hedwig returned, and for a better peace of mind the bonded pair left the railings to where the rest of the crew had congregated.

The fireless lanterns, called Erisdar, of the of the enchanted ship had changed colors from a yellow to a soft green to further blend into the surrounding forest. The voices of the crew were calm and low, and many had taken to relaxing and nodding along with the somber melody played by a reedpipe. Harry was surprised to learn it was the Captain playing the music. The tune he played resembled greatly to the song Hedwig had sang earlier.

Hedwig must have thought so too, for she began "singing" alongside the Captain, enrapturing all the crew. Harry was swayed into the music's magic and found himself humming from time to time. He was mystified at the dragon's singing and didn't even know Hedwig could make such a sound. Towards the end, a many of the elves, and even a few of the other species, had wept unashamedly. Dumbledore's eyes appeared wet underneath the green light. But they were not tears of sadness but of joy.

Harry had to blink his eyes rapidly to avoid crying. He wasn't sad. But the intensity of his joy and happiness overwhelmed him.

With the mournful melody ending, the musicians began to play something more upbeat and soon a few of the sailors began to dance. As did Harry. However, he was more of an unwilling participant as Kolur dragged him to the foray, all the while Dumbledore and Hedwig chuckled at his plight. Thankfully the dance was quick and Harry all but ran to the side with the other viewers.

"S'not funny." He muttered while Hedwig made her strange chortling sound.

It wasn't long before Rider and dragon caught their first sight of civilization. In the center of the river, now widened, was a rocky island with only one tree. Like most of the trees of the forest, it was grand in size. But it differed greatly than the ones in the dark forest. It was surely a tree, for there were branches full of leaves and a mighty trunk, but the shape was peculiar.

Warm light shone through large gaps that resembled the floor to ceiling windows of Hogwarts Castle. Stairs grew out of the trunk and spiraled upward. "It's…a treehouse! An actual treehouse!" he said disbelieving.

"That would be an elf's doing." Dumbledore supplied. "With their magic, they can sing any plant into the shape they desire. There are many "tree-buildings" here in Deorcwuld.

From his spot beside the wheel, the Captain made a series of chirps and whistles like he did earlier this morning; and hadn't that seemed so long ago. The Captain's birdcalls (as Harry decided to call them) were met with two humanoid beings silhouetted by the light waving to the passing ship with set of chirps and whistles of their own. Judging from their height, they were possibly elf or human.

"Nearly there now." Said Dumbledore. The excitement heard in his voice only increased Harry's eagerness. It was like traveling to Hogwarts for the first time. Harry didn't know how much longer he could wait.

He didn't have to wait long.

A high screech filled the nighttime sky. Hedwig stood alert, pupils shrank to slits and shoulders hunched as she eyed the skies warily. Harry, and presumably the others, looked up to see a group of large creatures flying passed them. Their shapes looked familiar but to Harry it only added to his confusion.

"Pygmy wyverns." Dumbledore answered his unasked question. "The smaller, domesticated cousins of the large wild wyverns to the north. They are ridden only by non-Riders. What you saw was a patrolling party leaving the city. We're close."

"Are there many non-Riders here?" Harry asked.

"More than there are Riders. Most are descendants of Riders whom married to mortals. What was once a castle home only to Riders and dragons has evolved into a city-state. Why more than half the crew here can trace their lineage to one or more of the older Riders."

Harry's response was lost just as the ship passed a cluster of trees and the river opened to a lake. Breathless and stupefied the boy and his dragon watched the enchanted view unfold before them.

Buildings made of trees and stones, all gargantuan in size, hugged the shores. Wide walkways on elevated levels connected the buildings like bridges, strong enough to support fully grown dragons. Lights of all colors emitted from the city and glittered on the lake's surface. The docks were still filled with merchants. The city rested at the base of the valley spreading upward and outward toward the hills, and possibly the waterfalls.

The faint noise of waterfalls blanketed the city, blending melodiously with the cacophony of multiple languages. While the roars of dragons were heard over all.

And there were dragons. Many dragons! Dragons were everywhere. In the skies, on the streets, and even a few swimming alongside their Riders. They were of all shapes and colors, from the size of houses to the size of horses, from dark blues and purples to bright reds and yellows.

"Welcome to Dras Bjarstál." The Rider gestured grandly.

Our new home. Said Hedwig.

"Yeah, our new home." A wide smile crossed his face.

The ship pulled alongside a vacant dock and was moored safely by ropes. The Riders and dragons bade Captain Rílvenar and his crew farewell and have given their deep gratitude for their safe journey. Kolur stood to the captain's left and offered the young Rider a mischievous grin as his way of farewell. Something told Harry it wouldn't be the last he saw of the elf.

"Come along Harry, time is short!"

Obediently the young Rider followed Dumbledore away from the docks and further into the city.

Dras Bjarstál, translated to Brightsteel City in Diagonese, was built to not only accommodate the largest of urgals but also fully-grown dragons. The streets and elevated walkways were wide enough for four dragons to walk side by side comfortably. Buildings made of wood and stone had high archways for dragons at either the base or the top of the buildings. There were two types of stairs. One set was often at the sides of the streets and was used by humanoid beings and smaller dragons will larger stone steps were used by the maturing dragons.

Despite the difference in architecture and the occasional dragon or Rider that welcomed Dumbledore (and stared curiously at Harry and Hedwig) Harry found Brightsteel City resembled greatly Lynden. Like the capital, it appeared the Rider city never truly slept as the walkways and storefronts were still active with people going about their lives.

There were many stores Harry wanted to visit but with the way Dumbledore walked determinedly to their destination he knew a tour would have to wait. It still didn't stop his head from swiveling from left to right. He couldn't read the names of much of the storefronts as they were written in different glyphs than Latium.

He and Hedwig decided to make a game of guessing which store sold what. Much of them were like the ones found on Diagon Alley in Lynden. Apothecaries, linens, pets, even flying broomsticks. They had passed the last of the stores, to which a woman with thick, curly brown hair and flashing eyes winked at them, and were now crossing a bridge over a wide trough that had a stream at the bottom.

The area they crossed over to was considerably quieter than the rest of the city. Most of the trees in the area were unenchanted. And the few that were, were dark or emitting blues and greens of light. The atmosphere was calmer, less hectic than the city (even though the city was much calmer than Lynden ever was).

The trio passed by an oval shaped garden with a fountain statue in the center. Harry could only catch a glimpse of the statue's profile before he was ushered onward by Dumbledore.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"These are the training grounds of the Apprentices. It is here you'll be learning and living for the duration of your studies. The main building is just a little more ways. That's where you and Hedwig will be staying until she grows bigger and you need a home all to yourself."

Harry opened his mouth to reply and was surprised by the loud yawn that came from him.

Dumbledore nodded knowingly. "You've had a long day. And tomorrow you'll be busy attending your first training. We've missed evening meal, but the Headmistress knows of our arrival and will have a meal ready for you and Hedwig."

"Thank you." Harry mumbled. His body was becoming sluggish and his eyes began to itch. He hadn't realized how tired he was until now. Hedwig was feeling lethargic as well, if the stumbling over a tree root was anything to go by.

Fatigued Harry didn't pay much attention to the main building of the academy, only that it was multiple stories with one tower made purely of stone with vegetation crawling up the walls.

They walked through the large courtyard before the main archway and there stood a woman. She had copper hair braided back with cool gray eyes and oval shaped face. Her attire was made up of dark leather and clothing and her sword hanged off her right hip.

Her neutral face broke out into a wide smile the moment her eyes rested upon Rider Dumbledore.

"Albus!" she called out excitingly.

"Ismira, my dear." The man greeted in kind. The woman embraced the taller Rider strongly and the two exchanged short phrases in her native tongue.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and looked apologetically at the young boy and dragon. "Forgive me, I'm being rude. Harry, Hedwig it is with great honor that I introduce you to Headmistress of the Academy and Elder on the Council of Elders, Master Dragon Rider Ismira Stronghammer."

Rider Stronghammer rolled her eyes playfully and gently swatted the man's shoulders. "You'll have to excuse this one." She said in a slight accent. "He's a flatterer." Harry and Hedwig chuckled.

Dumbledore held up his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged."

Stronghammer moved forward until she was standing directly in front of Harry and his dragon. She smiled in a way that reminded Harry of his pseudo-aunt Andromeda and held out her hand. "Good evening Harry and Hedwig. Welcome to the Academy."

Smiling widely, despite his fatigued, Harry took the proffered hand and shook it. "Thank you, it's great to be here."