For Death & Glory (BTVS & LOTR crossover)

[Galuwen]

by Galuwen & Linwelos

Chapter 1

It was a cool evening in Sunnydale, just after sundown. Giles had taken several groups of potentials for a training session, and at Buffy's request Dawn had gone with them. At the Summer's residence, Williow was working on one of her latest powerful spells.

Pouring sand in a counter clock-wise direction around herself. The spell she was doing was an attempt to locate the first. For safety purposes, Buffy had only assembled the core group, minus one who was running late. Buffy, Xander, and Anya stood around the room watching the process of spell casting. Candle light danced around the room as Willow said, "Okay, I'm ready.", reaching for a jar of sand that sat nearby.

"I'll need help from all of you," she began to say when a sudden knock at the door broke into the conversation.

Crossing the room towards the door went Buffy, as the rest of the group watched from the other room. After letting Spike in and returning to the living room and taking her seat once more Spike said nonchalantly with a cocky grin on his face, "I hope I interrupted something.", being cut off by a chorus of ssh's and quiets.

After he'd taken his place in the room Willow began once more. "Each of us will take a handful of sand and at the same time, throw it into the air."

Willow began the process of pouring some sand into each of their hands. Everyone stood in the candle lit room as flame light danced throughout. Standing in the center with her eyes closed, Willow began to chant with conviction, "Nec Preve Abigt qurad predigium."{I shall not rest until the demon is vanquished.}

"Ashes to Ashes, Spirit to Spirit, take this soul, Banish this evil!"

At those three words the group threw the sand into the air. A large blue orb formed on the floor and mysteriously began to levitate into the air till it was positioned well over the tops of their heads. Lightening crackled within the orb when it suddenly burst through, striking each and every one of them. One by one each of them began to disappear just seconds after being struck, leaving the room empty.

On the shores of the falls of Rauros Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin had just climbed from the boats that Lady Galadriel of the Golden wood had given to them. Frodo had wandered off for some solitude amongst the trees. Watching nearby, Boromir headed in the opposite direction to feign picking up firewood but intercepted the young hobbit with the hopes of getting the ring to use in Gondor.

Flashes of lightening tore across the sky as Legolas and Aragorn stood on the western shore, the elf's eyes piercing the woods. "Something's coming I sense it throughout the forest, " the elven prince said.

"What is it that your elven-eyes see?" Aragorn asked.

"The Uruk-hai have come but so do some unseen force for the sky is alight with energy." Legolas replied looking towards the lightening strewn sky.

In a different part of the forest lightening hissed to the ground, striking it in five spots. Where each bolt struck apperared Buffy, Williow, Xander, Spike, and Anya.

Looking around, everyone was confused. In just two seconds they had been transported from Buffy's living room to, a forest? Xander was the first to break the silence, "Buffy I don't think we're in Sunnydale anymore."

"Willow what just happened?" Buffy asked.

The look of shock crossed her face an the only response Willow could give was, "Oops."

"Oh, great Red now you've done it," Spike replied.

"But maybe, the first is here. And that's why it took us here." Willow said trying to cover herself.

Aragorn stood with Frodo after having told him that he would have gone with him to the very end, deep into the heart of Mordor. Realizing he must do this alone, he prepares to leave when Aragorn notices the hobbits sword is bathed in a blue light.

"Orc's now come. Go!" he shouted, racing up the leaf covered stone steps and being greeted by a whole host of Uruk-hai.

Frodo ran in the opposite direction towards the waters edge to make his way to the southern shore as the sound of swords clashing echoed through the wood.

Still unsure as to where they were, the group from Sunnydale looked around the unfamiliar land they were in till Xander chimed in by saying, "Man, doesn't this forest make you want to roast marshmallows over an open fire and sing Kumbaya?"

Not getting any response from the group other than the blank stares of confusion. Anya stood with her back to the group, looking in the opposite direction from everyone else. Seeing in the distance a large group of something that was racing in their direction. As the group of unknown travelers moved towards them she was able to make out what was racing towards them. A great horde of things clad in battle gear with swords continued to thunder in their direction.

"Uh guys, we might want to move." Anya said hesitantly as the grisly creatures continued their quest in their direction. Not getting a response from the group, Anya finally screamed, "RUN!!!!"

The group moved just as the horde came storming through where they had just been standing. Arrows began to whiz over their heads and strike the Uruk- hai and one even hit Spike in the upper part of his left shoulder. With a groan he pulled the arrow out from his shoulder and said, "Why is it I am always the bloody pin cushion!"

As more Uruk-hai swarm into the area; Buffy, Spike and Willow take up stances against the black armored creatures while Xander and Anya try to stay out of the way. Looking at the battle that's going on as their friends begin to take out the warriors ever so slowly Anya says, "That is a lot of firsts!"

Willow begins to shoot fireballs at the uncouth creatures while Spike and Buffy spar with two of them to learn the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. After a few good punches that leave the two fighters senseless and took their swords and began to aim for the weaknesses in the shoddy armor of the creatures. After taking out quite a good number of the creatures they soon began to retreat deeper into the woods. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli began to follow them since Sam had gone with Frodo, Boromir had been slain by the captain of the Uruk-Hai and Merry and Pippin had been taken captive by one section of the roving band and carried off towards Isengard to the Orthanc. Coming into a clearing, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stopped dead in their tracks when they saw two young women and a young man fighting off some of the few remaining Uruk-hai.

Seeing Willow shooting fireballs at some of the fighters unnerved Legolas slightly while Aragorn and Gimli didn't know what to make of the sight before them.

"Are we just going to stand here and not help them?" the master dwarf asked.

After exchanging looks with Legolas, Aragorn charged forwards, raining down devastating blows with his sword as Legolas followed with his two elven blades and Gimli with his axe. The remaining Uruk-hai scattered and fled which left the two groups standing face to face. Buffy broke the silence between the two when she said, "Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

A moment of silence passed by once more before Aragorn replied, "Ladies do not speak with such a tongue..." before being interrupted by Xander cutting in and saying with a confused look on his face, "Uh, when was Buffy a lady?"

Buffy turned her back to the three strangers and cast a long cold glare in Xander's direction after the out of place comment he'd just made.

"You are in the mountains of Emyn Muil in Rohan." Aragorn said, looking at the strangely clad group of people infront of him.

Willow looked at the three strangely, not having even heard of the area before and asked curiously, "Is that in California?"

Looking at the red headed woman who had just spoken, Legolas was just as lost as they were and said, "What is this California you speak of?"

After some deliberation, the ranger from the north, the master dwarf and the elven prince agree that the five traveler's can accompany them across the gap of Rohan. On their way up a rolling hill, Legolas spots trouble in the distance.

"What is it Legolas?" Aragorn asks, standing beside the elf, looking in the direction of his gaze.

"Riders come on Wargs with great haste." he said, drawing out his bow.

The group, led by Spike, climbed the hill to where the two are standing, they have no clue what they are speaking of. When all of a sudden cresting the far hill come more black creatures upon steeds that resemble a mixture of a werewolf and a hyena. His eyebrows seem to lead into the expression soon to come from his mouth when he says exaspiratedly, "Oh Bloody Hell!!!!"

[Galuwen]

Chapter 2 ;D

“Take cover!” Aragorn yelled, pulling out his sword while Gimli grabbed his ax and held it with both hands. Legolas had an arrow pointed at one of the riders and the Sunnydale group stood there, too surprised to move.

“Move!” Aragorn yelled again, and the group quickly dived out the way of an oncoming warg. Legolas shot an arrow straight at one of the warg, the creature gave out a loud scream and dashed away.

“Oh God, what was that?” Anya asked, gripping Xander so hard that he yelled out in pain. “Take it easy with the merchandise, An.”

More wargs came swiftly, and Willow threw a fireball at one of them, hitting the rider as well as the warg. Both creatures hollered in pain. Another one was circling the group, and Legolas fired off three arrows in close succession. Gimli hit one square in its middle and Aragorn stabbed his sword at another. More screams were heard before the hill was finally cleared of all wargs.

Buffy pushed her hair back, wishing that she had put it up in a ponytail or something. “What were those things?”

“Those were the black riders,” Aragon answered. “They were once men, kings even. Now they work for Sauron.”

“They were men?” Willow questioned, “and who is Sauron?”

“Sauron is the dark lord of Mordor, the evil that is threatening Middle Earth, my lady.” Gimli smiled, “Forgive us for our lack of manners, let me introduce you. I am Gimli, son of Gloin. This is Aragorn, son of Arathon, the heir of Gondor. The Elf is Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood.”

Willow looked at her friends and cleared her throat, “Eh, I’m Willow, daughter of Ira and Sheila Rosenberg of Sunnydale.”

Buffy followed her lead, “I’m Buffy, daughter of Hank and Joyce Summers of...oh forgodsake, I’m Buffy, that’s Anya, Xander and Spike, we are all from Sunnydale.”

Aragorn frowned, “May I inquire what brought the five of you to Rohan?”

“The witch screwed up. Again.” Anya said, pointing to Willow.

“Witch?” Gimli frowned.

Willow shrugged, “Eh...a spell-caster?”

Legolas nodded, “A wizard, just like Gandalf. That's why you were able to create fireballs.”

“Gandalf?” Buffy asked, perked up quickly. If there were as wizard, maybe he can help fix the spell and get them home.

“Yes, Gandalf the Grey was our companion, part of our fellowship. Unfortunately he fell into the mines of Moria and is no more.” Legolas said sadly.

The five from Sunnydale looked at each other before Spike said, “So the only guy, a real wizard who might have been able to help us, kicked the bucket. Is there another wanker who can wave a wand and chant at the same time?” The three from Middle Earth frowned at him, not able to understand such strange language. Spike sighed loudly, “Listen here, mate, obviously we traveled to another time and perhaps even another dimension. Fact is, I don’t bloody well care, I just want to find the bloke who can get us back home.”

Willow elucidated, “What he is trying to say is that we are not from around here, and by your weapons and clothes, I think we are from the future. Way, way, way into the future.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Willow, but we do not have the time to assist you. Two of our companions had been taken by the Orcs, we were tracking them when our paths crossed.” Aragorn said.

“And I’m sure these Orcs are not the good guys?” Xander asked.

“No, the Orcs were sent by the white wizard, Saruman. They killed one of our companions and kidnapped the two hobbits.” Aragon clarified.

“Okay, I know we are like so different, but what are hobbits and why would this Sardine guy want to kidnap them?” Buffy asked.

“Hobbits are halflings, Lady Buffy. There were four of them, set out from the Shire,” Aragorn explained. “Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck. Frodo is the ring bearer, the one chosen to take the ring to Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed. Although we had all sworn to protect him, the ring is evil and all those who come within close proximity of the ring is affected by its evilness. There were nine of us when we set out from Rivendell; we already lost two along the way. Frodo had decided to go alone to save us from temptation. Sam had gone with his master. Pippin and Merry were taken by the Orcs, on their way to Isengard. That is where we were heading.”

“Hey, Frodo is a chosen, just like Buffy.” Xander said excitingly.

Buffy glared at Xander before explaining, “In every generation, some lucky girl gets to be the chosen. We fight evil. We kill demons. We are gifted with super powers. I’m this generation’s lucky winner, the Slayer.”

“So, that is why you were able to fight so well, and I thought you must have been a descendant of dwarves,” Gimli said.

Buffy rolled her eyes, “I don’t think so. Listen, since we are here and well, can’t go anywhere, let’s go find your friends, I’ll slay these Orcs for you, and you help us get home.”

Legolas turned to Aragorn and said something to him in Elvish. The two conversed briefly before the Elf turned around to address the slayer, “Although I do not believe your assistance is necessary for us to locate the hobbits, it is not safe for you and your companions to wander on your own. Our journey is perilous and we cannot guarantee your safe arrival, but you are welcome to travel with us.”

“What if...what if I didn’t mess up and...we were meant to be here?” Willow asked suddenly.

Spike snickered and Willow glared at him, “Listen, we are also trying to vanquish a very powerful and very evil demon, The First.” Willow stammered, “Supposing...just suppose the first is somehow connected to this Sauron. I mean...he’s evil, right? And we know The First is just plain evil. Maybe, I mean what if we were send here to help get rid of him before he ever reaches Sunnydale... in the future.”

[Galuwen]

Chapter 3 ;D

"I am hungry." Xander complained.

"You are always hungry." Buffy said. The group was traveling in a single file with Aragorn leading the way, followed by Buffy, Xander, Anya, Gimli, Legolas, Willow and Spike.

"When are we stopping for lunch?" Xander asked.

"When we travel, young Master Xander, we do not stop." Gimli told the youth. "We were running for two whole days and nights without even a drop of water."

"You're kidding me, right?" Xander said, horrified.

"Look, you guys might be use to roughing it, but we are not. We need to stop and eat, and rest." Anya said, glaring at Aragorn. "Now would be a good time for a break."

Aragorn sighed and motioned for everyone to sit down. "We will take a short break, but we cannot linger long. The riders will be back, and we must keep moving if we want to find the hobbits alive."

"Good, what kind of food do we have?" Xander asked.

Legolas handed Xander a little square packet, "Lembas. You can share this with your companions."

Xander looked at it and frowned, "That's it. This little piece of what it is? And I have to share?"

"They are very filling." Legolas explained.

Buffy sat down next to Willow, "These guys are real hotties. I wouldn't mind being stuck here for a while."

Willow smiled but didn't say anything.

"I mean, look at Aragorn, he's all rugged and the whole take charge kind of vibe is a real turn-on." Buffy whispered. "And the Elf is a dreamboat. Damn, why can't we find guys like them in Sunnydale?"

"I think compared to the Black Riders, anyone would look hot."

"You are no fun," Buffy pouted. "Hey, do you really think that Sarong is the first?"

"Sauron," Willow shrugged, "I don't know. It just seemed like we were sent here. I don't see how a blotched spell would take us all the way to Middle Earth. You heard them, this is prehistoric, before the Dark Ages."

Buffy took a bite of the lembas, "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough."

[Galuwen]

Chapter 4

The Uruk-hai traveled swiftly across the plains of Rohan in the direction of Isengard, carrying the two small hobbits on their backs, their wrists bound together with rope and placed around the necks of the warriors carrying them. The stopped momentarily when some Orcs sent by Saruman appeared from behind a rocky outcropping to check on the safe delivery of the two halflings they had taken from the shores of the Falls of Rauros. The leader of the Orcs and the captain of the Uruk-hai have argument over who will be the ones to return the halflings to Isengard and to their master.

"We've come to take these two to Saruman." The Orc leader said, eyeing the two bound prisoners.

"The Uruk-hai do not take orders from Orc maggots!" the captain bellowed as cheers rose up from behind him at his defiance.

Sniffing the air, the captain picked up scent that spelled trouble. One of the others in the horde asked, "What is it?" as he searched his captains face for an answer.

"I smell man-flesh! We are being followed!" The captain shouted, getting everyone to their feet once more and picking up a stiff pace across the plains.

Pippin overhears the orders given to move out and figures that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are following close behind, not knowing about the others that were with them. Pulling off the brooch on his elven cloak, and dropping it to the ground as a symbol that those behind them were on the right track and that they were still alive thus far.

Aragorn leans next to a rock and listens to the earth momentarily as the rest of the group watches, Legolas and Gimli understanding what he is doing and the group from Sunnydale unsure of what the purpose of it is for.

Anya asks Xander quietly, "What on earth is he doing listening to a rock?"

Xander shrugs his shoulders in reply when Aragorn stands up and says, "They move quickly now. They must have caught our scent."

The group sets out at a fast pace in the direction that the Uruk-hai had traveled. The large racing band of creatures left an unmistakable trail upon the ground of flattened grass in only a way a dark creature could do. The brief break had helped the five from Sunnydale to recoup but still the amount of distance they were covering in such a short amount of time was almost mind boggling.

Outside of the Fangorn forest the Uruk-hai made camp for the night and enter the wood to collect fuel for the fires that were to be lit. A deep guttural sound rose up from the wood, echoing throughout the area around them. Merry and Pippin looked at each other in a state of confusion and fear when Merry recalled the trees in legend that grew tall that was spoken of in the Shire. Nearby some of the Uruk-hai began to complain about the stale bread they had been eating for the past three days and wanted to once again taste flesh instead of the measly morsels they had been stuck with eating thus far.

"All we've had to eat for three stinking days is stale old bread! I want to taste man flesh!" bellowed one of the Uruk warriors.

Great cheers and bellows rose from his comrades in agreement as one of the Orcs looks upon their two captive prisoners, not caring whether or not they were for consumption said, "Why don't we eat them?", pointing at the two hobbits.

The massive Uruk-hai captain stood before the smaller Orc and said viciously, "They are not for consumption! Our orders were to bring the halflings back alive and unspoiled and that is how they shall be delivered!"

The hobbits now felt the pressure they were under, being surrounded by a whole pillaging horde of meat craving Uruk-hai and Orcs was not in their idea of a safe thing but in their present situation it was beyond their hands. An Orc came up behind them, and silently drew a knife as he crept towards the two prisoners. Chaos erupts and the captain turns in time to see the Orc lunging at them. Swinging his broad sword swiftly he decapitated the Orc by cutting off its head. The hobbits stood unmoving like statues as the head fell to the ground, landing at their feet. A great roar erupted from the horde of Uruk-hai as the body fell to the ground behind the two prisoners. Being shoved out of the way, the captain's voice boomed, "It looks like meat is back on the menu boys!"

Crawling away from the feeding frenzy of Uruk-hai the hobbits made their way towards Fangorn forest. One of the other Orcs not in on the frenzy followed them, placing his foot upon one of their backs to stop their movement. Brandishing his blade he pinched the face of one of the hobbits and said menacingly, "Go ahead and scream. No one will hear you now!" In a sudden flash of movement the Orc screamed as a spear was thrust into its back. The Rohirrim had attacked the camping horde in the middle of the night catching them off guard, slaughtering them all but one, which escaped.

The band of travelers went on throughout the night and as dawn approached, the clouds were a hue of red.

"Blood has been spilt this night," Legolas said, looking at the horizon of red around them.

Hearing a sound almost as if a bird were chirping the group took cover in a rocky area, the group from Sunnydale close to the ground with those in Elven cloaks standing in front of them. The thunder of hooves approached and helmets and spears glinted in the light the Rohirrim rode past, not noticing the group hidden amongst the rocks. As the last of the horseman rode past, Aragorn stepped out and addressed the riders, "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"

The riders wheeled about such that a large school of fish in the ocean would do and headed towards where the group of 8 now stood. Encircling them in a wall of spears and horses. The leader of the Rohirrim rode forwards and dismounted from his steel gray mount to stand in front of Aragorn. Speaking just loud enough so the tall man in front of Aragorn could hear, Spike said jokingly, "Not only are they dressed, in full regalia but they look like a mixture of Robin Hood and a medieval knight with hair sprouting from their helmets. To top that there is the sudden resurgence of testosterone coursing through them. Which one's more dangerous? Spin the bloody wheel to find out.

Éomer, Captain of the Rohirrim's eyes were ablaze with fury. Granted the words just spoken were of a language he didn't understand the fact of the matter being anything could go for the treachery of the Dark Lord of Mordor or of Saruman the White.

"You there!" The captain commanded getting Spike's attention, "Who are you to speak to the Riders of the Riddermark in such a manner!"

Spears were now aimed towards Spike and the group from Sunnydale as Éomer strode towards him, drawing out his sword. Legolas quickly drew up his bow and aimed it at the Captain saying, "You would be dead before your stroke fell!", as the spears of the riders of Rohan now turned to him.

Aragorn moves forward slowly, placing a hand upon Legolas' arm, causing him to lower the bow and defuses the situation in a peaceful manner.

"My name is Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. The others behind them we happened upon at the Falls of Rauros, they were under attack from Uruk-hai. The same group that took captive two of our companions." He said to the captain standing before him.

Éomer said to the group before him, "We ambushed a party of Uruk-hai last night near Fangorn, leaving none alive.", pointing towards the smoke rising from the west not to far in the distance.

"There were two small hobbits with them, no more than children to your eyes if you saw them." Aragorn said.

Éomer shook his head and said, "We killed all that was there. I do not recall seeing anyone fitting that description among them."

The captain whistled and called sharply, "Arod! Hasufel!" and two horses, one chestnut and one dapple gray trotted forwards. Following them were five other horses whose former masters fell in the battle that had occurred the previous night.

"May these horses bear you to good fortune unlike their former masters." He said after having remounted his own horse. As the Rohirrim rode north, the group headed in the direction of the smoldering remains of the Uruk-hai. As they neared the pile and the smell of burning flesh became unmistakable. Around the area were spears, stuck into the ground with heads of some of those slain mounted on them. Gimli took his axe and sifted through the pile, coming across a leather belt.

"It's one of their wee belts," he said with a sad voice as the group from Sunnydale watched, seeing the grief etched on each of the three people from middle-earth's faces at the discovery. A great cry of anguish came from Aragorn as he fell to his knees in front of the pile feeling as if he'd failed the hobbits in protecting them.

Buffy looked at Willow who had a sad expression on her face, the only one not making that big a deal of it being Spike. The group watched in silence as each of the three handled their grief in their own respective ways. All of sudden they noticed a change in Aragorn's behavior. Touching the ground, he said quietly, "A hobbit lay here."

Legolas and Gimli stood behind him as he touched the ground once more and said, "The other one lay here. Their hands were bound. They crawled away from the battle." Moving in a direction away from the carcasses. Coming upon an axe imbedded in the ground he carefully touched its edge and said, "Their bonds were cut. They fled but were followed." Ending up standing upon the edge of the dark forest he said, "They fled into Fangorn."

Gollum leads Sam and Frodo into the dead marshes as he takes them to the Black Gate of Mordor. Carefully maneuvering their way through the swampy terrain they cross the foul smelling bog. Half way across the three stop to take a break. The sky is dark as they sit and eat some of the lembas bread. All of a sudden a piercing cry fills the air.

"Wraith!" Gollum shouts, "Hide!" as he takes cover in some underbrush.

Sam goes to take cover but sees Frodo clutching his shoulder, the one he'd gotten stabbed in at Weathertop by the Morgul blade. Sam grabbed his friend and drug him to the underbrush as a giant black winged creature flew overhead making several passes over the area they were hidden in. Sam looked at the giant creature and said, "I thought they were dead."

Gollum looked at the young hobbit and replied, "No, never dead are they."

The wraith king sat upon his flying fell beast, making several swooping passes over the dead marshes on the outer boarders of Mordor, feeling the power of the ring growing closer. After several passes over the area he flies back into Mordor, his mighty fell beast unleashing one last piercing cry before leaving the area.

The group of eight heads into Fangorn to try and find the two hobbits who had escaped from the Uruk-hai during the Rohirrim's attack. Aragorn was leading the group followed by Buffy and Willow walking along side by side, Xander and Anya walked with each other behind them, with Gimli and Legolas and following the two being Spike at the back. Gimli finds blood on the leaves of a plant and checks it, determining it is Orc blood. The group presses on when Legolas senses someone else in the forest with them.

His blue eyes scanning every inch of the forest around them as Aragorn stumbles upon a set of tracks that he has never seen before.

"Mani naa ta?" Aragorn asks. {What is it?} The rest of the group stops behind them and listened to what the two say. Anya looks at Xander as Buffy and Willow come over to where they are and she says, "I wish those two wouldn't go off on speaking whatever gibberish that is. The rest of us would like to know what's being said too."

Buffy looked at the brunette next to Xander and said, "Relax Anya, even if they spoke in a tongue we could understand chances are it still wouldn't make any sense to us anyhow."

Willow stayed quiet and looked back to where Aragorn and Legolas were, still speaking in a foreign tongue.

"I' istar tula." He replied, glancing to Aragorn. {The wizard comes.}

Aragorn withdrew his sword and Legolas removed a bow from its quiver, gently stroking the feathered end before readying his bow. Willow looked at the two and knew something was going on and said, "Hey guys, I think something bad is happening."

The group turned to see the two making ready their weapons. Willow heard the two speak in a normal tongue and heard them say, "We must be quick for he can not speak. He will put a spell upon us."

Legolas spun around and behind the group of five from Sunnydale stands a man, whose face can not be seen because of the shadow cast upon him. Releasing the arrow from his bow, it sails over the heads of the Sunnydale group, towards its target but it is deflected and Anya lets out a shriek of surprise. Aragorn charges towards the figure but as he nears the wizard his sword becomes too hot to touch and drops it to the forest floor causing Buffy and the rest to jump back.

"Show yourself!" Aragorn commands, moving those from Sunnydale out of the way as Legolas takes up position beside him.

An echoing voice travels throughout the forest as the wizard begins to speak and then steps out from the shadows revealing his identity. Legolas dropped to his knees and said, "Forgive me, for a mistook you for the white wizard after seeing that the figure before them was that of Gandalf." The group from Sunnydale stood flabbergasted when Buffy finally broke the silence and said,

"Did he just say Gandalf? I thought that he was dead."

The wizard looked at the group of five behind them and said quietly, "Who are they?"

"We ran across them in the woods at the Falls of Rauros under attack by Uruk-hai. They have three strong fighters with them." Aragorn replied.

The group of nine moves through to the edge of the forest where the horses are still standing. The hobbits are safe within Fangorn and in the care of Treebeard, one of the Ents. As the group mounts up Gandalf whistles a loud melodious tune, echoing across the lands. A piercing neigh replies as a great white horse gallops towards them from across the plain. As the nine prepare to ride off Gandalf says, "We must ride to Edoras, where the King of Rohan is for his mind has been poisoned by the words of Saruman's puppet Gríma Wormtongue.

Riding swiftly across the plains they stop upon a hill from which the city of Edoras is visible. The great city built atop a jagged hill lay before them, on the very top stood a large wooden building a golden horse's head crowning its entrance. Making great speed the nine ride towards the buildings gate where a banner comes floating down, riding the breeze ever so gently to the ground. Buffy looks at the piece of fabric as it rests momentarily on the ground and sees a background of kelly green and burgundy with a white horse galloping in the center the edges of the banner trimmed in gold thread. Slowing their horses to a walk, they ride through the silent city. Townspeople were about doing various chores, looking at the riders as they passed by, uttering nothing. Spike looked around him at the faces of the Edorian people and said, "You could find more cheer in a graveyard."

Stopping in front of the large Golden Hall of King Théoden the group dismounts and climbs the stairs to the landing. One of the Kings guards comes out and says, "None may enter armed before the King." Pausing momentarily before continuing his statement. "By order of Gríma Wormtongue."

Other guards came out to collect their weapons. When the guard came to Gandalf, the wizard said, "You would part an old man from his walking stick?"

The guard stands down and lets them pass, Legolas walking alongside Gandalf, Aragorn walking with the five from Sunnydale and Gimli into the intricately carved hall. At the end upon the throne sat King Théoden and to his right sat a man dressed in black with a pale face, piercing eyes and long raven hair. As the group walk in Wormtongue feeds the king false truths about the group approaching the throne. Tempers flare between Wormtongue and Gandalf and fight ensues between some of the guards whose minds have been poisoned by Wormtongues lies. Aragorn, and the rest handle the guards while Gandalf approaches the King and begins to rid his mind of Saruman's evil influence. The king's niece Éowyn enters the throne room and begins to race towards her uncle stopped by Aragorn. She stands with him and the group, watching as Gandalf is casting out Saruman's control of the King of Rohan. Upon the completion of the purging of the evil of Saruman the real King of the Mark returns.

Tossing out Wormtongue from the Hall, Théoden walks down the stone steps, his burgundy and green cape billowing behind him in the strong wind that blows across the mountaintop. Preparing to put an end to the poisonous tongue of Wormtongue, the King raises his sword but Aragorn steps forward and says, "Enough blood has been spilt upon his account. Let him go." Open war was coming to Rohan, it was inevitable. The King even though back to himself now his kingdom was weak. Close to 3,000 of his men who had been banished when he was under Saruman's influence now rode north. Making the best decision he could he made the choice to travel to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan.

Wormtongue rode to Isengard and began to tell Saruman of those with Gandalf. Describing the Ring of Barahir that Aragorn wore and the group of five strangers with them. "So he thinks that he has found Isildur's heir... The fool!" Saruman began to say, "That line was broken long ago."

"Théoden will expect an attack on the city, but will not stay there. He will go to Helm's Deep with his people." Wormtongue said in reply, "The way through the mountains is dangerous and slow. There will be women and children with them as they flee."

Saruman turned his gaze towards the man before him; a spark in his eye at those words gave the indication as to what was coming next. The two of them walked to the deep caverns cut into the grounds of Isengard where Orcs were busy at work making supplies for the campaign of battle. Approaching one of the Orcs standing above a pit he commanded, "Send out your warg-riders once more, the people of Rohan make haste to Helm's Deep. We shall catch them off their guard."

It was a long trek from the Golden Hall at Edoras to the Fortress of Helm's Deep. There was plenty of time for conversation amongst the group as they rode forth together. Éowyn is walking alongside the horse that Gimli was upon as he spoke of dwarf women and how people could not tell the difference between the two when his horse broke into a canter, throwing the dwarf out of balance and causing him to fall to the ground. Many in the group began to laugh for the sheer fact that nothing thus far had happened to warrant such emotion. Aragorn rode next to Théoden as he saw a smile cross his face as he said,

"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time... She was only a girl when they brought her father back dead, cut down by Orcs."

Aragorn looked on, his face etched in sadness at what the young woman had been through thus far, seeing her family destroyed by the enemy as well as by the impact the events had taken on those remaining as Théoden went on, "She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then was left alone to tend to her King in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have lover her as father."

As they stopped to make camp for the night the group from Sunnydale were at first just sitting around not doing anything. Xander began to complain about being hungry, again. So Buffy and Willow set off to see what they could scrounge up to fix to eat. Going through the supplies the people of Edoras had brought with them they found enough to make a small batch of stew, probably only enough for the eight of them. Buffy considered herself an okay cook, but in the circumstances anything would be better than nothing. Upon the completion of the stew, she and Willow went around to the group and served up what they had cooked. When Xander saw her coming he asked, "Who fixed this?"

Willow replied, "Buffy fixed it."

"Buffy's cooking, I'd rather take my chances on that lembas stuff." Xander said, not seeing Buffy behind him.

"Hey! I'm not a bad cook. Remember when I cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner on my own?" Buffy said in response to his comment.

"And we all know how that turned out." Xander said in return, getting up to find some of the lembas bread.

When she and Willow went around to Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli their reactions were somewhat different. Willow took some to the elven prince, who was sitting against a rock with his cloak drawn around him. However he did not taste of the stew until Willow had left and found it beyond his liking but tried to eat what he could of it. Gimli didn't seem to mind the taste of it either and took the approach of Legolas, eating what he could. Buffy took some over to where Aragorn sat quietly, obviously in some sort of daze. Calling his name quietly he didn't answer until the third time she'd spoken. After handing him the small container the stew was in she asked, "Where exactly are we going?"

"To Helm's Deep my lady." He replied after trying a bit of the stew and almost choking, "The great fortress in the land of Rohan."

Buffy turned to leave and when she had her back to him he went to dump the contents on the ground without her noticing. As he tilted the container towards the ground Buffy turned around to ask, "Is there a battle coming?"

Rushing to right the container and spilling the hot contents on him in the process he replied, "Indeed there is. Saruman's forces are on the move."

She stood there for several more minutes asking questions related to Saruman as he forced himself to eat what she had given to him. When she left to rejoin the group of others from her home he puts down the container and began to eat a small amount of the lembas bread. As darkness falls over the camp he sat smoking a pipe, watching the wind blow the grass of the plains to and fro when he hears Arwen's voice in his mind.

{Go to sleep.} her voice called out to him.

{I am asleep} he says in return, when he opens his eyes and sees that he is back in Imladris.

As he looks at her standing next to where he now lies he says softly, {This is a dream.}.

{Then it is a good dream,} she replies, a gentle smile forming on her face as she leans down and places a tender kiss on his lips.

Standing up once more she goes and looks out onto the lands of Rivendell in all its beauty. The thunder of the crashing waterfalls, the sweet song of the forest birds and the trees as their leaves change color to brilliant hues of red and orange.

{Minlû pedich nin i aur hen telitha.} ::You told me once... this day would come.::, he said as she turned to face him as he spoke. {Ú i vethen nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go Frodo. Han bâlin.} ::This is not the end... it is the beginning. You must go with Frodo. This is your path.::, she replies gently.

{Dolen i vâd o nin.} ::My path is hidden from me.::

{Si peiannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe ú-dhannathach.} ::It is already laid before your feet. You cannot falter now.:: Arwen says in return, as their foreheads touch momentarily.

{Arwen,} he said quietly, but being silenced by her gentle touch.

{Ae ú-esteliach nad, estelio han, estelio ammen.} :: If you trust nothing else... trust this... trust us...:: she replied, placing the palm of her hand over the Evenstar jewel he wore around his neck.
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[Galuwen]

Chapter 5

The next morning the group continued on their trek to Helm's Deep. Their trip had been met with no trouble or surprise attack thus far. From afar a cloaked man looks on at the processional of people seeing five individuals that stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the caravan. Dressed in a forest green cape and black and silver vest with silver embroidery he watches the trek quietly from a distance.

Two of the King's guards rode ahead slightly, going down hill past a rocky outcropping and cliff. The two horses suddenly balk, planting their forelegs into the ground not moving forward despite their riders urging to go on. The horses sensed something that their riders did not. Tossing their heads and moving backwards, neighing in alarm the horses wouldn't continue forwards. The rest of the people were still on the other side of the hill, unaware they were about to walk into an ambush. From up above sat a warg- rider scout, looking down upon the two riders below him. The creature beneath him stood looking down as well at the two, looking for only one thing... a meal.

Needing little encouragement from its Uruk-hai rider, the warg bounded down the cliff, knocking over one of the two horses and sending its rider sprawling to the grass. The warg circled around and came at the fallen rider on the ground as the other man on horseback charged towards him. The rider who'd been knocked from his horse by the warg met his fate in the creatures jaws as the other rider reached where the Uruk-hai rider was, drawing his sword and killing the creature that it rode. Legolas had heard the fallen riders scream and raced in the direction of the noise and withdrew one of his elven blades and slit the Uruk-hai riders throat. Aragorn too heard the comotion and raced to the top of the hill overlooking the valley in which the surprise attack had just occurred. Legolas raced to where he was standing and said, "A scout just ambushed us, there are probably more coming!"

Aragorn raced back to where Éowyn was leading both her horse and his and told the King of the ambush. As those who could fight raced towards the oncoming battle, Buffy was going in the direction of those who were to fight when Aragorn said, "My lady this is no place for you to fight with us. Many will not survive it."

"I can take care of myself, plus I imagine you all will need everyone person you can to take care of what's coming." She replied, spurring her horse towards the hill.

Spike followed her, as did Willow while Anya and Xander went with Éowyn and the rest of the people on another path to Helm's Deep. Using his keen eyesight, Legolas stood atop the hill and began to fire two arrows at a time at the riders coming at them in rapid succession, downing the riders heading for them. Hearing the thunder of horses hooves coming towards him he swung up in front of Gimli and charged into battle with the rest of the men from Rohan as well as three of traveler's who'd been riding with them. Xander and Anya looked back over their shoulders as three of their friend's rode into combat amongst a sea of green banners and continued on with the people of Edoras. The shadowy figure saw the attack happening and spurred his horse into motion, charging towards combat amongst the rest of the mounted men of Edoras. Never casting back his hood so that his identity could be known he fought with valiance and power, casting down the enemy at his every turn as he caught sight of a fair blonde upon a horse doing the same thing. Legolas took down many of the wargs with his bow when Gimli fell off the side of the horse to take on some of them on foot while Aragorn and the rest of the men of Edoras had begun to slay the creatures and riders with their swords.

Many horses and riders lay fallen and Buffy, Spike and Willow had managed to dodge the attacks of the creatures and slay many. Willow using her magical advantage to take them out at a distance while Spike and Buffy took them head on. Many wargs leapt like great cats chasing their prey as they went after some of the fallen riders. Gimli got the attention of one of the wargs who had been feeding upon one of the fallen Rohan horses and stealthily crept towards the small dwarf. Crouching as if it were going to pounce it failed to see the elven prince astride his great grey mount coming up on its left side. Getting pinned beneath the fallen warg Legolas had shot the dwarf tried to raise the creature up off him to no avail. The movement caught the attention of one of the Uruk-hai riders who proceeded towards where the dead warg lay. Peering over the creature's side and seeing the trapped dwarf, the rider drew his sword seeing this as an easy kill. Unable to get to his axe, all Gimili could do was snap the Uruk-hai rider's neck in order to stay alive and goes back to trying to lift the creature and the now dead rider up to free himself. This time drawing the attention of a warg, not a rider at the movement of the dead carcass.

The creature stood in its back feet, its front paws resting on the side of the downed warg and the back of the Uruk-hai rider. Opening its mouth and emitting a rumbling growl at the trapped dwarf. All Gimli could think of was that he was going to die at the hands of this foul creature. Hearing the growl Aragorn turned and saw what was happening and wheeled his horse around to race towards the dwarf. Buffy seeing what was going on, urges her horse towards the creature and grabs a spear from the ground and reaches the dwarf before him and throws the spear into the lower left side of the warg's neck sending it collapsing on top of the other warg and rider.

A warg rider races towards Aragorn who charges towards the oncoming duo, sword drawn and ready. A swift blow to the chest from his sword kills the rider of the warg but in the process of this he fails to see the riderless warg sneaking up on him. The great creature leapt up and knocked him from his horse as another pair of warg and rider charge in his direction. Spike spears the one who had just knocked Aragorn from his horse and spun around to head towards the pair coming at the fallen member of the group he'd been traveling with. Managing to jump onto the back of the racing creature, Aragorn begins to fight with the rider when a glancing blow from one of the Edorian people cause the warg to veer to the left, causing him to loose his balance.

Quickly grabbing onto some of the leather straps on the creature's harness, his left hand becomes stuck. While being drug along by the creature, he reaches for the dagger that Lady Galadriel had given to him while in Lothlórien and plunges it into the chest of the Uruk-hai rider. Before the rider falls from its mount, he bends down and grabs Aragorn by the neck and takes the Evenstar jewel and falls off to the right side of the creature. Struggling to free his left hand, Aragorn tries everything he can when all of a sudden the warg hits stone and tries to stop but slides across the rock. Unable to get any traction it falls over the side of a cliff into a swiftly moving river below, bringing the trapped ranger with it.

As the battle with the warg riders winds down and those who are still mounted head back towards Isengard, those wargs or riders left are killed. Buffy, Spike and Willow look around them at the numerous horses and riders that lay fallen on the ground as a result of the attack as well as a fairly good portion of dead wargs and Uruk-hai riders. The shadowy figure retreats to a safe distance once the battle is over and looks on at what is going on below. His eyes focused in the direction of one of those who had survived the fight that many had not been as fortunate in doing the same.

Legolas calls to Aragorn but receives no answer. Gimli slightly confused as to why he is not answering calls out to him as well, catching the attention of the three from Sunnydale. The three ride in the direction of the two and proceed to try and find the missing member of their group. Legolas walks towards the cliff when the rider of the warg who'd gone over the edge of the cliff begins to laugh, drawing the attention of the five. Weapons drawn, Gimli is the first to speak to the rider while Legolas, Buffy, Spike and Willow listen to what is said.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." Gimli said, axe in hand as he stood over the downed Uruk-hai rider.

"He's... dead." The rider said slowly, "Took a little tumble off the cliff."

"You lie!" Legolas said angrily, gripping the sides of the leather vest the creature wore as Buffy dismounted from her horse and stood next to the elf.

" You're gonna die and it just might be me who kills you because I'm still in a violent mood. Tell them what they want to know!" Buffy demanded.

Legolas never loosens the grip on the creature's vest and it begins to laugh until it begins to choke as it dies, growing silent in a matter of minutes. Releasing his grip on the creature's vest and it sinks back to the grass he notices a chain hanging out of the rider's hand. Prying open its fingers Legolas discovers the Evenstar jewel that Aragorn wore ensnared in its fingers. Figuring there could be truth to what the rider had just said, he raced over to the cliff where King Théoden stood. Together they peered down at the swiftly moving river, a look of sadness appearing on Legolas' face as he looks at the jewel in his hand. Gimli joins him on the edge of the cliff as the King prepares to leave. "Put the wounded on horses, the wolves of Isengard will return." He said, as he began to turn to head back to his mount he added, "Leave the dead."

The words Legolas heard shocked him above all. Turning to face the King of Rohan his eyes were alight with anger. The King turned to look at the young elf and said gently, "Come."

Taking one last glance at the river below, Legolas reluctantly left with a heavy heart. The rest of the journey to Helm's Deep was one of silence over the loss of Aragorn during the attack of the wargs. What was even worse was the fact that somewhere lay the potential for foul creatures to scavenge upon him, if he were really and truly dead.

Shouts rang out from inside the fortress as the group returned and headed up the causeway the great wooden doors swung open to allow them to enter. Éowyn heard the shouts as people chanted 'Make way for the King!' and rushed to where her uncle and the rest of those who'd returned from the battle were. Looking at the small number who had returned she said to her uncle, "So few. So few of you have returned."

"Our people are safe." The King replied, "We have paid for it with many lives."

Gimli comes up to tell Éowyn about the loss of Aragorn since the two had talked briefly during the overnight camp enroute to Helm's Deep.

"My lady, " he said as dread welled in his heart at the news he was to bear. Looking towards the dwarf and the expression on his face she knew something was wrong and said, "Lord Aragorn... where is he?"

"He fell." Gimli replied, his voice cracking with emotion as a look of shock and denial crossed the features of the King's niece as the group from Sunnydale go in search of their companions who had come with the townspeople to the fortress.

Back at Isengard Wormtongue tells Saruman of the one weakness of Helm's Deep. Its walls made of thick stone, the only weak point was a small drain. Saruman stood filling a large metal sphere with combustible pellets while he listened to the information being told to him.

"But how will fire bring down stone? How will they breach the wall?" he asked curiously, leaning over the sphere with a candle in his right hand when Saruman grabbed the hand with the candle in it and moved it from within distance of the sphere, never answering the man's question.

"It would take an army of thousands to overrun the keep." Wormtongue commented as Saruman began to move towards a balcony, he quickly followed. The sound of a war horn blasted around Isengard as they stepped onto the stone balcony in the tower of Orthanc Saruman said, "Try an army of ten thousand or more."

Wormtongue couldn't believe the sight before his eyes. Below in the courtyard around the tower stood close to 15 to 20 thousand Uruk-hai soldiers all in full armor with shields and spears. Looking over at him, his mouth slightly agape, Saruman addressed his army.

"A new power is rising. Its victory is at hand!" he began to say as battle cries erupted like thunder below him, "This night... the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive!"

As he watched his army begin to march in the direction of the great fortress, he looked across the endless row of soldiers and said, "There will be no dawn for men."

Aragorn had drifted up onto the banks of the river, clinging to life by a thread. A voice echoed in his mind, an angelic sound bringing him back closer to survival. {May the grace of the Valar protect you.} came Arwen's soft voice resounding in his ears.

A great bay horse trotted alongside the pebbly banks of the river and came to a halt before the fallen man. Nudging him with his nose twice on the left side of his head and once on the chest, rolling him over Brego whickered softly to him, nudging him once more when he came back from the trance like state he'd been in.

"Brego," he said weakily as the horse whickered in response and sank to its knees next to him. Barely having enough strength to move, he manages to grasp a handful of the horses black mane and pull himself onto the horses broad back, clinging to the horses neck as he once again stands up. Riding slowly, Brego began to transport him towards Helm's Deep. Coming through a rocky outcropping he spots a great black mass of soldiers moving towards where he sits with great haste, the sound of battle armor echoing across the plain. Backing the great bay horse up he takes an alternate route to the great fortress, and entrusts the horse to pick the swiftest path there. As the crest a great hill later on that afternoon the horse stops briefly and looks towards the mountains. There nestled in the right hand corner was the great Rohan fortress of Helm's Deep. Looking at the keep and patting the bay horse on the neck Aragorn says softly, "Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn." {Well done, Brego, my friend.}

[Galuwen]

Chapter 6

Cantering up the causeway to the main gate of the keep the gates are opened and the horse trots into the courtyard proudly, coming to a halt before a crowd of shocked people of Edoras. Weakly sliding off the horse one of the others takes the horse to where the rest are being kept when Aragorn hears Gimli coming. The dwarf, shocked to see him is elated but all greetings must be kept short for he has to tell the King of the army marching for the keep. Breaking away from Gimli he heads into the main hall where he almost runs into Legolas.

"Le abdollen," {You're late.} he says, a small grin set upon his face when he begins to look his friend over, "You look terrible."

A grin forms upon Aragorn's face at the elf's response and then puts his hand on Legolas' shoulder when he opens his palm to reveal the jewel he'd taken from the Uruk-hai rider. Looking upon the jewel for a moment before he reaches to pick it up. Looking the elven prince he says, "Hannon le." {Thank you.} and goes off in search of the King of Rohan to tell him of the massive army on the move and begins to prepare for battle.

As nightfall comes the group from Sunnydale stands upon the upper wall looking into the darkness. The army was still a good distance away but they were coming and coming fast. Every man and strong boy who could fight were gathered and given armor and swords as Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas looked at them, knowing that things at that moment looked grim.

"Farmers, stable boys, farriers. These are no soldiers." Aragorn says quietly looking at the array of men and boys around them.

"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli replied.

"Or too few." Legolas adds looking into the eyes of some of those who would be fighting that night, "Look at them. They're frightened, I can see it in their eyes." Turning his back to his friends he continues on, "And they should be. Boe a hyn neled herain dan caer menig." {Three hundred against ten thousand.}

Aragorn turns to look at him and says, "Si, berithar hyn ammaeg naned Edoras." {They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.}

Legolas realizes the future of this battle looks slim and says, "Aragorn, nedin dagor hen û-erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!" {They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!"

Striding towards the elf he replies angrily, "Then I shall die as one of them!", the two of them staring each other down as the rest of the room grows silent, then turning to leave Aragorn goes to seek peace outdoors along the wall before the battle begins.

Later on as the time of the battle draws near, Aragorn began to prepare for what was to come. Donning chain mail and other battle gear that he would need. Reaching for his sword to fasten around his waist it wasn't there upon the table where he'd put it. He turned to see Legolas holding it towards him and as he said, "We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."

Shaking his head slightly, Aragorn looked at Legolas and then to the group standing behind him and said, "Ú-moe edaved, Legolas." {There's nothing to forgive Legolas.}

As they stood below, inside the keep a piercing sound rang through the air. Turning in the direction of the sound Legolas said, "That is no Orc horn." Turning and quickly racing up the stone stairs with Aragorn not too far behind him, and the rest of the group following out of curiosity. Willow looked at Buffy as they headed out to where the noise had come from and asked, "Do you have a clue what's going on?"

"Right now I'm as lost as you are. Whoever sounded that horn couldn't be the enemy because of they way they took off. But we will find out that’s for sure." Buffy said in return as they stood at the landing to the main hall of the keep.

The guards at the gate gazed out over the plain to see a great host of elven archers cloaked in royal blue marching up the stone causeway towards the gates. One guard went to fetch the King as the gates were opened at the archers began to file into the fortress four abreast in a line taking up formation as they waited for orders from their captain.

King Théoden descended the stairs of the main hall and stood before the elven captain as the archers continued to file in when their leader began to speak, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." Aragorn and Legolas reached the landing and were very much surprised to see who stood below them and as their captain looked up to the two concluded by saying, "We have come to honor that allegiance."

Aragorn and Legolas descend the stairs, Aragorn saying to the elven commander, "Mae govannen Haldir." {Welcome Haldir}, "You are most welcome." Legolas and Haldir place their hands upon each others shoulder and the large formation of archer's turns to face them sharply in a single fluid motion and stand at ease. With Legolas standing with his elven kin and Aragorn alongside Théoden, Haldir says, "We are proud to fight alongside men once more."

Elves and men alike stand along the walls of Helm's Deep, awaiting the arrival of the enemy forces. From afar the glow of torches illuminates the ground like a wild fire as it moved closer to the stone walls of the keep. Lightening tears through the sky and thunder echo through the mountains as rain begins to fall as the Uruk-hai army takes up positions in front of the fortress. The Uruk-hai commander stands atop a tall piece of rock as the great sea of soldiers parade past into line. Walking along the top wall with elven archers behind him and Legolas standing with his bow in hand waiting for the signal, Aragorn begins to speak, "A Eruchîn, ú- dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas!" {Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!"

Growls and snarls rise up from the Uruk-hai horde surrounding the wall of the keep, their breath visible in the cold rain coming from under their helmets. Looking upon the sea of Uruk-hai, Aragorn stares them down from above as they begin to bang the butt of their spears against the ground causing a horrendous racket. Drawing his sword and looking out from the wall the Uruk-hai captain gives a long mighty roar as men load arrows into their bows and await the inevitable battle that had come. The ever-growing noise made one of the soldiers of Edoras nervous and accidentally fires one of his arrows at one of the Uruk-hai on the front line. The elves seeing the shot fired are almost ready to begin to fire when Aragorn raises his left hand and commands, "Dartho!" {Hold!}.

A great howl escapes the struck Uruk-hai soldier as it falls to the ground. Another massive roar erupts from the captain of Sarumans army as his troops charge towards the wall. Readying the elven archer's Aragorn calls out, "Tangado a chadad!" {Prepare to fire!} At this command the elven archer's load their bows and stand ready to fire upon the charging enemy. Looking at the enemy fast approaching Legolas says to his kindred and to Aragorn, "Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc." {Their armor is weak at the neck... and beneath the arm.} Raising his sword into the air, Aragorn gives them the command to fire, "Hado i philinn!" {Release arrows!}

Théoden and the Edorian men volley after the elves and release a string of arrows into the air. Uruk-hai fall to the ground in great numbers as arrows rain from the sky but not to long after they too begin to retaliate with cross bows. Spike, Buffy and Willow stood in the lower level with another set of elf archers only they are awaiting the opportunity to fight hand to hand there were no extra bows in the fortress so that left them fighting with swords. The arrows fired by the Uruk-hai bring down archers of both the men and the elves and upon reaching the wall the vast horde begin to raise ladders to breach the wall. Seeing what was coming Aragorn cried out, "Pendraith!" {Ladders!}

As the long spears the warriors carried pushed the ladders up Aragorn commanded the elven archers to switch from bow to swords. As the first few breached the wall hand to hand combat ensued. To the right a battalion of Uruk-hai, five abreast march up the causeway towards the gate. The front five positioning their shields in front of them to block the arrows fired upon them and those behind carried their shields over their heads, leaving only their right and left sides exposed. Seeing the group advancing, Aragorn has archers on the sides of the keep to fire their arrows at their exposed points. More arrows rip through the air and hit their targets causing many to fall from the causeway but not enough damage was being done to the advancing group since they had to be hiding something under their shields.

From below at the base of the wall where the drain was located, the warriors began to fill the space with the metal spheres while they had a break from the fire of arrows. Three large spheres was enough to fill the space and instantly the host of Uruk-hai part and another comes running up the center with a sparking torch in his left hand. The light of the torch caught Aragorn's attention and calls to Legolas urgently, "Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dagon hon!" {Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him!}

Two arrows were not enough to bring down the torch bearer as he leapt into the space where the spheres were, setting off a cataclysmic explosion which took out one giant section of the main wall of the fortress. A host of Uruk- hai storm through the large gap as water floods out and King Théoden looks on in shock at what has just happened. The group along the causeway reaches the gate and unveils a battering ram concealed beneath the shields and sets into motion the process of bringing down the main gate. The group from Sunnydale is knocked back from the force of the blast and Aragorn who had been standing on one portion of the top wall was knocked to the lower level by the force of the blast. The archers and Buffy and Spike begin to face off with the warriors as they storm the lower level and Willow stands back unleashing fireballs and whatever else she can cook up to use on them. Gimli sees Aragorn lying still, not fully recovered from having the wind knocked out of him at the impact after the explosion and dives from where he is at into a large pool of water below right into the path of the oncoming Uruk-hai. Proceeding to fight off those coming until Aragorn is back on his feet. One final volley of arrows is unleashed by the archers remaining back as the rest fight with swords and Aragorn, now up commands the next move.

"Herio!" {Charge!}

He and the other elven archer's charge into the host of invaders raining down wicked blows upon them as the two groups clash with a great impact. Legolas grabs the shield of an Uruk warrior and uses it to slide down a flight of stairs to the lower level of the fortress. Unleashing a continuous stream of arrows from his bow in rapid succession and at the bottom brings out his two-elven blades and joins in the fight below. After having taken out quite a good number of enemy forces that were storming the courtyard, Spike changes modes and yells aloud, "Is that all you've bloody got! Why don't you try this on for size!"

A large group of Uruk-hai warriors were charging towards him when he roared, " That's right, Big Bad's back! And lookin' for a little action!" and instantly changed into his vampire self.

Spike felt his features change, marking him with the face of a demon and bringing forth all of his demonic strength and speed to the forefront. Which caused the once charging Uruk-hai to stop in their tracks and not move forward at all towards where he stood. The archers remaining back took advantage of the break and fired another volley into the shell shocked invading soldiers. Legolas reached where Aragorn, Buffy and Willow were at a complete loss for words at what was happening.

"He changed didn't he?" Willow asked Buffy over the clashing of metal from above.

"I think he did that’s why they are scared shitless." Buffy said in response.

Moving back to where everyone else was, Spike stepped backwards away from the motionless but falling Uruk-hai that were being bombarded by arrows and by Willow's fireballs. As Legolas sees why the Uruk-hai had stopped attacking he jumped back and took aim at him with his bow crying aloud, "Agaryulnaer!" {Blood-sucker.}

Buffy and Willow jump in between Spike and the elf to keep him from firing at Spike. If the arrow hit him in the heart chances are he would go up in dust, but they didn't know how much these people knew about vampires.

"Please stop, he's not a threat to us, just them!" Buffy called out, looking towards the dumbfounded warriors.

"Ro mori!" {He is evil!} the elven prince yelled as Aragorn stepped next to him and said, "Tul Legolas. Ro aa' na'ksh, nan ta moot a' dagon i' goth!" {Come Legolas. He may be evil, but it's working to kill the enemy!}

Théoden begins to call for both elves and men to fall back to after having had the wall breached by the Uruk-hai and their explosives. After defusing the situation between Legolas and the three foreigners to their lands, Aragorn calls for everyone to fall back.

"Nan barad!" {To the keep!} he calls out to the elven warriors as he makes his way towards the tower.

Seeing Haldir on one of the remaining portions of the wall he calls out once more, "Haldir! Nan barad!" {Haldir! To the keep!}

Commanding his kin to fall back, Haldir is attacked by an Uruk-hai soldier that charges suddenly at him. Quickly parrying the blows that are being delivered he kills the enemy by piercing the weak armor with his sword in the chest. Quickly following his kindred he is attacked once more but this one catches him off guard and slashes down his left arm with his sword. Stepping back the elf doesn't see the other warrior charging at him and comes up behind him, thrusting its sword into his back. Aragorn calls out to him and races up a set of stairs that leads towards the wall, fighting off Uruk-hai as he goes when he sees Haldir fall to his knees. Looking at his fallen soldiers, both those elf-kind and human, he is caught by Aragorn as he begins to fall to the ground in what ended up being his final battle.

A cry of rage left him as he charges at a small band of Uruk-hai heading towards them, raining down heavy revengeful blows upon them as he shouts loudly, "Lle dag!" {You shall die!} as he knocks down several of the ladders positioned upon the wall and sending them back to the ground taking out more of the enemy soldiers in the large sea below.

The force of repeated blows now breaks the main gate and those who can, make for the gate to keep it from falling. Aragorn and Gimli head through a secret door and around the side of the fortress undetected till they are standing near the causeway a gap separating them from the enemy and the people of Edoras who are beginning to barricade the gate.

Tossing Gimli first onto the causeway and then leaping the distance himself, the two begin to give the people time to get the gate braced by holding off the enemy attack while the repairs are underway. A catapult towards the uppermost portion of the wall launches giant grappling hooks with ropes threaded through them. Once the hooks were in place, the ladders that were large enough to reach the upper levels of the wall began to be raised with masses of Uruk-hai clinging to them as they rose. Legolas snaps one of the ropes being used with an arrow and sends it and those clinging to it plummeting to the ground. As the gate is repaired, Théoden tells Aragorn to get out of there and Legolas tosses down a rope to them. Grabbing a hold of the dwarf and the rope, they are hauled upwards by the elves above. More grappling hooks roar past them and ladders raised as the climb higher and higher till the reach the uppermost wall. Realizing the fortress is over run, the King orders everyone to fall back once more.

As the sun rises, the Uruk-hai go to work on the next gate to the innermost part of the fortress. Those upon the other side begin to brace the gate as best they could when Théoden says; "The fortress is taken. It's over."

Aragorn moves from the door to where the King was standing at and said with defiance, "You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They've died defending it!"

Buffy, Willow, Spike, Legolas and other men of Edoras continue to work on reinforcing the door as Aragorn paces to and fro asking, "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?"

Getting no answer he asks again, "Is there no other way?"

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains but they will not get far, the Uruk-hai are too many." One of the guards said at last.

Aragorn quickly responds, "Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass and barricade the entrance!"

Stopping briefly, Buffy says to Willow, "Go get Anya and Xander and have them join us up here.", getting a quick nod of acknowledgement from her friend as she departs, then swiftly returning with their friends.

Almost in a stupor Théoden says, "So much death... What can men do against such reckless hate?"

Quickly thinking, Aragorn replied, "Ride out with me and meet them."

Turning to look at the ranger the King replies "For death and glory!"

"For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn says back to the King.

It is then when the first rays of sunlight spill through the window and Aragorn begins to remember the words of Gandalf in the stables of Edoras. {Look to my coming at the first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.}

The King now prepares for one last battle and says, "The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep... one last time." Then crossing the room to where Aragorn stood he said, "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together."

Gimli races towards the giant spiral horn atop the tower and began to blow into the mouthpiece as a menacing sound echoed through the fortress and across the mountains. As they prepare to mount up, Théoden continues to speak and says, "Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath... Now for ruin and a red dawn!"

As the gate his broken down and the Uruk-hai begin to pour into the room, the King yells, "Forth Eorlingas!" and the group begins to charge at the oncoming warriors upon horseback. The horn still sounded as the horses charge through taking out numerous amounts of Uruk-hai with them and the riders downing even more with their swords. Going down the causeway the horses ride two abreast clearing a path and trampling any in their way.

To the east, atop a gravel like hill stood a white horse and rider looking down upon the valley below. A piercing neigh echoes off the mountains as the horse cuts the air with its front hooves. "Théoden King stands alone," Gandalf said looking upon the battlefield as Éomer, captain of the Rohirrim rides to his right side looking down below at what was going on.

"Not alone," he replies as he draws his sword.

As the two stand atop the hill, Éomer calls to the Rohirrim and they ride up and fall into line behind him and Gandalf. The King looks up to see his nephew as the Rohirrim thunders down the hill as Éomer shouts, "To the King!"

The great host of horses was lead by Éomer and his steel gray mount and amongst them was the same shadowy figure charging into battle as he had against the wargs. The Uruk-hai began to take up positions at the bottom of the hill; spears aimed at the charging mass of hooves and swords. As they neared the bottom a blinding white light filled the valley and weakens the Uruk-hai's vision, causing theirs spears to falter as a great sea of horses that had charged down the hill leapt into the vast horde of warriors as they headed towards their King. The fight soon shifted sides, the favor now turning to those from Rohan as they dealt devastating blows to the enemy. When the Uruk-hai began to flee the Rohirrim rode in behind them, herding them away from the fortress and drove them to the border of Fangorn Forest.

Buffy rode up beside the unknown individual who was cloaked in forest green, only his eyes were visible. But those eyes, she knew them all to well. Those deep expressive brown eyes that one could get lost in for an eternity. As the individual cast back his hood, revealing his identity to those around him, the shock of who sat beside her was almost too much. Willow rode up beside Buffy and saw the look of a thousand different emotions etched into her friends features when she looked at the rider next to her seeing a familiar face from home. His soft features and expressive eyes he was a carbon copy of someone they all were dear to, the only difference being that he now had long brown hair instead of the short cut look they'd seen him with before. Still in shock Willow gasped and said aloud, "Oh my god! Angel?!"
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[Galuwen]

Chapter 7 ;D

Buffy was still speechless as the morning sun shined bright upon her face. The smoke from Helms deep swirled through the mountains. For the battle may be over but war still rained heavy in everyone's minds. For the fate of Middle Earth now lay in two brave hobbits.

Angel looked into Buffy's eyes. "Nauth annen i ned ol reniannen (I thought I'd strayed into a dream.)" Angel's elfish words hit Buffy swirling realty from truth.

Angel and Buffy dismounted their horses. Buffy seemed to float towards him. Not drawn by darkness but by love. The same love she felt for him when he placed the claddagh ring on her figure on the docks of Sunny Dale. As if no time had changed between then and now.

Angel held her in his embrace. In all the world, Angel was the only one who could hold her like that, who could give her a safe harbor, a world in his arms. A world she could never have.

Angel whispered softly into her ear,"Naan e' olor, amin er ten-esta.(But in dreams, I still hear your name.)" Buffy felt his tender lips upon hers. His touch was comfort in a chaos filled world. Both in Sunny Dale and in Middle Earth.

Buffy found herself speaking the tongue of Elves, "Ar e' olor, by omenta en. (And in dreams, we shall meet again.)"

The swirling mists that had been clouding her mind were starting to go away as Buffy thought she heard Xander scream, "Buffy!"

His soft features and expressive eyes, he was a carbon copy of someone they all were dear to, the only difference being that he now had long brown hair instead of the short cut look they'd seen him with before.

Still in shock Willow gasped and said aloud, "Oh my god! Angel?!"

Buffy was still speechless as the morning sun shined bright upon her face.

Close by, one fallen Uruk-hai, reaching for his last breath, fired his arrow. The long arrow glided through the air and ran it's self through Buffy's left shoulder, throwing her from the horse.

"Buffy!" Xander yelled as he watched his friend collapse to the ground.

Angel quickly dismounted his horse and ran to her side. As well as the others who gathered around her.

"Ar e' olor, lyr omenta en. (And in dreams, we shall meet again.)"
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[Galuwen]

Chapter 8

Seeing a movement out of the corner of his eye, Legolas turned to see one of the fallen Uruk-hai still moving. In a single swift fluid motion he fires a shot from his bow, but it was not fast enough to stop the creature from getting the shot off. Never taking his eyes off the now dead warrior, he hadn't seen where the shot was aimed at. Hearing a shriek, he turned towards the sound as he watched the blonde from the group that was travelling with them fall to the ground. The one they called Angel rushed to her side and gently cradled her in his arms as the others rushed to them. He could see the terror in her eyes as they tried to keep her calm. Aragorn dropped to his knees to look at the wound and saw a greenish colored liquid on her skin, a sign that the arrow that had struck her was poisoned.

Remounting his horse, Aragorn said to Legolas, "Stay with the others and get Merry and Pippin then return to the keep!"

Legolas nodded his head in return as he watched Spike and the others place the wounded woman upon Angel's horse and the two of them raced towards Helm's Deep to treat the wound before the poison had a chance to spread.

Merry and Pippin rode high in the branches of the ent as they moved throughout Fangorn. Looking towards the direction of Helm's Deep they saw the host of riders riding forth as the Uruk-hai fled.

"Look Merry!" Pippin pointed as they watched the great sea of evil warriors scattering like the wind as the Rohirrim and others rode in behind them.

They saw the great white steed carrying Gandalf when Pippin exclaimed, "Gandalf comes!"

Treebeard came striding to the edge of the forest with the two hobbits riding amongst the tree herder's branches after the rest of the ents had obliterated the Uruk-hai.

The riders of the Rohirrim looked on as the tree herders took out the evil that had fled into their forest, the cries coming from the woods unnerving the horses slightly.

The group from Sunnydale stared in bewilderment at the site before them. None of them had ever seen a tree that could walk, much less actually be able to speak.

"Spike?" Willow asked, as she looked on at what was going on.

"Yeah," he replied, looking to his left where Willow sat on her horse beside him.

"Did you hear a really strange noise?" she asked, never taking her eyes off the treetops that were moving to and fro.

"Yeah, it sounds like a bunch of those circus freaks." He replied as the giant ent emerged from the treeline into view.

The giant ent placed the two hobbits on the ground as they walked over to where Legolas was, not having seen him since the last time they had come into Fangorn. Merry rode with the elf since Gimli was not with them and Pippin rode with Gandalf as they made the return trip from Fangorn to Helm's Deep.

Racing up the causeway to the Keep the two horses skidded to a halt just inside the gate. Quickly dismounting, Aragorn passed Brego's reins to one of those in charge of the horses and helped Buffy from Angel's horse. Her legs were starting to weaken from the poison so Angel quickly picked her up and carried her inside. Éowyn saw them coming in and quickly grabbed some clean bandages and lead them to one of the rooms away from where the rest of the wounded were being treated. Getting a pewter container and filling it with steaming water she carried it over to where the three were. Removing a pouch containing dried athelas leaves he poured some of them into the steaming water as a sweet aroma filled the air. Angel sat on her right side trying to comfort her while Aragorn and Éowyn were on her left side tending to her shoulder.

Turning her head towards Angel she tried to get her eyes to focus upon his face, but her vision was blurred. He quietly spoke to her while the other two removed the arrow from her shoulder and cleaned it with the athelas water. She focused on the sound of his voice through the whole thing since she could no longer make out his face. He felt her starting to shiver, as if she were freezing but when he laid the back of his hand upon her forehead he found it to be hot to the touch. Upon finishing dressing the wound, they placed several blankets around her as she began to rest after much urging from Angel as Aragorn and Éowyn left the room.

The sound of hooves could be heard on the cobblestone and Aragorn walked outside the citadel to see the rest of the group from Fangorn returning. Legolas approached Aragorn and asked, "How is she?"

"Resting at the moment. The poison was starting to take effect and hopefully everything will be fine." He replied as the two hobbits headed in his direction.

Legolas nodded his head in return and left, which surprised Aragorn because he could tell something wasn't right with the elf's actions. Showing the rest of the group from Sunnydale to the room where their injured friend was he went to find where the elf had gone. Noticing a blonde figure moving along the remnants of the wall that remained, he proceeded in that direction. Looking out over the wall and down to below the wall an endless sea of Uruk-hai corpses met his gaze. Moving once more to the edge of the gaping hole the explosives had hewn into the stone he flashed back to the memory of the previous night. He could still hear Aragorn's frantic shouts to him to bring the beast down ringing in his ears. {Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dagon hon!} (Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him!)

The rain had long since quit falling as he took aim on the moving target trying to stop it from reaching its destination. His mind focused on the events of the previous night he failed to hear the voice calling out his name behind him.

Aragorn walked along the wall towards his friend and saw him staring blankly into space as he called out, "Legolas?"

Not getting an answer he put his hand upon the elf's shoulder, getting his attention. Swiftly turning his head to look at Aragorn he asked, "You require something?"

"What is wrong Legolas? There is something about you that isn't right." The ranger replied, trying to figure out how to tell his friend about the loss of one of his close friends.

Looking into Aragorn's gray eyes he replied sadly, "Ta nîn úgarth ikotane uir arie." {It is my fault that so many are dead.} then looking out across the large break in the stone wall.

"Ta il lîn úgarth, Legolas." {It is not your fault, Legolas.}, Aragorn said in response seeing the sadness in his friend's eyes as he looked at his fallen kindred around him.

"Then whose fault is it? No one else was taking the shot except for me!" the elf replied, blaming himself for what had happened as he watched both elves and men being carried out of the fortress to be buried upon the battlefield.

"With war there comes a price. Many paid it this night, but for that we shall live on. To remember those who did not." He replied, hoping that Legolas would see to reason when something unexpected happened.

The crystal blue eyes turned from the direction they'd been facing to look square into his own gray ones, he saw a look of shock, disbelief and hurt as his friend raced from the wall to head out of the keep to where they were preparing to bury the dead. Legolas flew past those carrying out the men and elves and ran as hard as he could till he reached the long rows of fallen elven warriors. Looking upon the fair faces as he past until he finally stopped, staring down at one of those upon the ground, disbelief etched upon his face.

He had not seen one of his dear friends since he'd arrived at Helm's Deep the night before prior to the battle. Despair settled in his heart, not only for the one he stood next to but also for all his kindred who had not survived. Dropping to his knees beside them he remembered some of the times he'd shared with his fallen friend. On many travels between Mirkwood and Lothlórien that his father Thranduil had sent him on to keep up relations with Galadriel and Celeborn, they had traveled together. He had learned so many things from the fallen Lothlórien warrior that the two had become extremely close, a friendship that had existed for close to a thousand years. Looking into the silvery gray eyes that stared blankly up to the sky, the radiance they once held long gone. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes as he remembered one of the hunting trips the two had gone on in Lothlórien. Taking his left hand he gently closed the elf's eyes, the look of unmistakable shock forever etched into his fair face at the surprise blow that had taken his life. Aragorn finally saw where Legolas had gone to and stood behind him with his head bowed.

Angel still sat beside Buffy as she slept, her skin still burning hot to the touch. Spike and Willow sat side by side, unsure of what to say to make the situation any better. Xander and Anya sat not far from where they were, unable to do anything more than just watch and pray. Taking a rag and dipping it into the water he placed it gently upon her forehead with hopes of getting the fever to break. None of them knew anything of the toxin that the wretched creatures had created but they hoped that she would overcome the odds and be one of the few to survive it. None of them left from their positions as day turned into night, not wanting to leave incase something happened, whether it be good or bad.

"Great, the whole gang is here now," Spike said with anger.

"Spike!" Willow said, turning to look at him.

"Well I'm sorry but if it wasn't for Mr. Knight in Bloody Armor distracting Buffy maybe she wouldn't be like this." Spike growled.

Angel looked up with anger in his eyes and hissed, "Spike!"

"Why are you here anyway?" Spike asked, "We were fine without you. Now you're here and this happens!"

Xander spoke up and said, "And you think you're helping us any better?"

Spike stood ready to fight till Willow intervened and said, "Listen. None of you are helping Buffy by arguing."

Unable to take anymore of this Spike retorted, "I'm out of here," and pivoted and strode from the room.

His mind was racing as he glared at Angel from over his shoulder and then looked to Buffy as he left. He knew that with the brooding ex-boyfriend in the picture that she would chose Angel over him any day. What hurt him to think about the most was that she would throw away all the memories the two had started together to be with Angel who was mister sweet and romantic. Not even Willow's cry to stop could penetrate his thoughts as he left to find some solitude away from everyone.

After Willow called his name and he failed to respond, she cast a sad glance at Angel and left to see where he had taken off to. Hoping to try and defuse things before something bad resulted.

"You knew of this didn't you?" The elf asked quietly, looking towards the man now standing next to him.

"I knew." The ranger replied, seeing the mixture of emotions in Legolas' features.

"If the torch bearer had fell by my bow so much could have been prevented!" he hissed, rising to his feet after looking upon the fair face one last time and then to the fallen elves around him.

"There is nothing more you could have done. We all know that." Aragorn replied, seeing pent up feelings coming to the surface that turned his friends once normal kind blue eyes into those that resembled blue flames of fury and anger that he'd never seen come to light before.

"I could have brought it down and kept this all from happening!" Legolas ground out, striding angrily towards the fortress to be alone.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called out after him, not getting any answer he began to follow in the direction he'd headed.

He knew that Aragorn was following him, wanting to be left alone to come to terms with everything that's happened he spun around quickly and glared at the ranger before saying venomously, "Auta amin ereb!" {Leave me alone!} storming off once more. Aragorn knew that everything that had happened must have been having a profound effect upon the elf. Before he'd joined the fellowship he'd stayed in Mirkwood away from the effects of death. But having seen the death of Boromir, his first real experience with it he began to understand what it would be like to not be graced with the gift of immortality. But now seeing not only your kindred but a friend you'd known for such a long time dead were probably too much for him to handle all at one moment. He knew that whatever phase Legolas was going through would be temporary but in the state of mind he was in at that moment, it was clear he shouldn't be left alone. He stopped in to check on the injured Buffy to see if there had been any change. With no change in her condition he left to go find the elf, regardless of being asked to be alone.

Back upon the wall, Legolas found a broken bow. Blood stained the intricately carved weapon has he held it in his hands as he traced his fingers over the ornate designs. Upon hearing the footsteps coming towards him, he could tell by the sound of them whom it was and felt a resurgence of anger.

"Ava lle oio lasta!" {Don't you ever listen!} Legolas snapped.

"You can't blame all of this on yourself," Aragorn began to say, before being cut off.

"I could have saved so many last night by bringing down that Uruk-hai." Legolas began to say, turning around to face the ranger, "I can't even protect someone from a dying one for that matter."

"None of us could have predicted where that shot would be going. It isn't your fault that this happened." He said in reason to Legolas.

"Don't even try to tell me the shots I made last night were difficult! They weren't! Innocent people died because I failed at what I do best." Legolas snapped.

Aragorn knew the outburst was due to grief and the elf's inability to channel it into another form. But even in anger he was surprised that he had figured out what his next words would have been. But he had to get his friend to see the truth. That it wasn't his fault at what happened had occurred.

Willow tried to get Angel to get some rest, but he wouldn't. His main and only focus was that making sure Buffy would be okay before focusing on his own welfare. The others slept quietly as he looked upon their peaceful faces etched with worry. Buffy slept restlessly, her skin still hot to the touch, yet she shivered like a leaf blowing in a strong wind. Gently tucking the blankets closer around her, Angel fought off the urge to sleep and watched over her protectively, saying softly while brushing back a strand of her blonde hair, "You will be fine soon. You are strong, and that will be your strength to survive."

"Amin mere an tulu lle mellon nîn." {I want to help you my friend.} Aragorn said as he approached the Mirkwood prince who now had his back to him.

"Amin ú mere tulu! Amin mere an na ereb!" {I do not need your help! I want to be alone!} Legolas snarled, turning to face the ranger as the full extent of his temper came to the surface.

"I am not leaving until you calm down and realize that none of this is your..." Aragorn began to reply as he stood in front of the elf who suddenly lashed out and landed a punch that busted his lip.

It took several minutes for him to contemplate what had just happened. He was certainly shocked that Legolas had hit him as he wiped the blood off his face. The instant Legolas' fist connected with its target, something happened and the anger began to subside and guilt took over. Observing the look of shock upon his friends face at what had just happened, the prince turned and began to walk away, his golden hair billowing behind him as he hung his head in shame. Watching the golden head move away from where he stood, Aragorn called out, "Manke naa lle autien?" {Where are you going?}

Pausing midstride, he turned to look at the ranger as blood still fell from his busted lip and replied, "Amin lembien ikotane ar er eile na crone." {I am leaving so no one else will be harmed.} still feeling sadness as he grieved over the loss of Haldir, the Lothlórien Captain.

[Galuwen]

more chapters added everyday

[Linwelos]

Chapter 9

Written by Chelsea

“I have looked into the Stone of Orthanc.”

Legolas stopped and turned around slowly. His own tormented thoughts briefly pushed to the side, “Even Gandalf has fears of the stone. Why would you risk it?”

“I am the lawful master of the stone. I have the right to use it as I see fit.” Aragorn said. “Although it was indeed a struggle, but in the end, I was able to bend it to my will. I saw a great peril coming upon Gondor from the south. It will draw off great strength from the defense of Minas Tirith. I am afraid the city will be lost if help does not arrive swiftly.”

“Then lost it must be,” said Legolas sadly. “Even if we have help, we have no way of getting there in time.”

“There is a way through the mountains that will bring us there in time; it is the Paths of the Dead.” Aragorn said gravely.

“The Paths of the Dead? Can the living use such a road and survive?”

“The living had not used the road since the coming of the Rohirrim,” Aragorn stated. “But in this dark hour the heir of Isildur may use it.”

“Explain to me why we are taking the path. Even if it saves us valuable time, what good would it do us? We do not have the resources to ward off our enemies.”

Aragorn smiled, glad that the Elven prince had abandoned the thought of leaving, at least temporarily. “Understand this, my friend, I do not go gladly, but that way I must go, for there are no other living who can help me. The king of the Mountains swore allegiance to Isildur in the beginning of the realm of Gondor. When Sauron returned, Isildur summoned the men to fulfill their oath, but the men had worshipped Sauron and had broken their vows. A curse was placed on them, and they will find no peace until they fulfill their oath.”

“You are going to ask for their help?”

“I am going to make the demand on them to honor their allegiance. The journey is dangerous and I can not guarantee a safe passage.” Aragorn looked at his friend, “We had set out with such high hopes, Legolas, to aid our friend Frodo in returning the one ring to fiery depths of Mount Doom, sealing the fate of Sauron for an eternity. However, we are now traveling on a different path. Gondor cannot fall. If it does, Sauron wins. It would please me if you would travel on this perilous journey with me, my friend.”

“Amin n'sinta.” {I don’t know.} Legolas hesitated, still grieving over what he considered his mistake.

“Amin sinta thaliolle e dagor; lye nuquernuva sen.” {I know your strength in battle; we will defeat them.} Aragorn said with conviction.

Legolas finally nodded, “Amin khiluva lle a’ gurtha ar’ thar.” {I will follow you to death and beyond.}

“Good, let’s go find Gimli. I’m sure he would not forgive us if we don’t invite him to come. But first, we must check on our other friends.” The two headed back inside to check on the Sunnydale crew.

Angel was sitting beside Buffy, who was still sleeping and feverish. Angel would calm her down every time when she started to toss or turn. Eowyn had cleaned and bandaged up her wound, but the entire left side of her was a sickening blackish-green color, the poison was spreading. Xander had his head on Anya’s shoulder, apparently he had dosed off. Spike was leaning against the wall, watching Buffy and Angel. Willow was pacing back and forth until she saw the two men entered, then she stopped, looking up at them hopefully.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we have no cure here in Helm’s Deep. If only we were in Rivendell. She might have a chance under the care of Lord Elrond.” Aragorn apologized.

“Then we’ll take her to Rivendell.” Willow said.

Legolas shook his head, “It’s too far away. She would not last the long journey.”

All of a sudden, Buffy opened her eyes. She looked straight at Angel, “Mankoi naa lle sinome?” {Why are you here?}

“Ten’ lle sinome.” {Because you’re here.}

“Buffy,” Willow started to walk toward her friend, but Aragorn pulled her back. “She is still in a feverish state. I have seen it in people with poison in their system. This is just a brief moment of clarity before... I’m sorry, but I do not believe she will be with us for much longer.”

“She’s not dying. I won’t accept that.” Willow said, tears were not far away. “I’ve brought her back from the dead before, I’ll do it again if I have to.”

“Willow, calm down.” Xander was standing beside her. “We are not going to play God anymore, remember?”

“This isn’t happening. Nothing about this world makes sense.” Willow took a few long breaths before turning to Aragorn, “Can you explain how she could speak Elvish all of a sudden? Language was never one of Buffy stronger subjects.”

“That, Lady Willow, I have no answer.” Aragorn frowned. “Just as I have yet to receive a satisfying answer as to how the five of you had arrived in Middle Earth.”

Willow sighed, pushing a tired hand through her red locks, “I’m sorry, I’m not the best witch in the world.”

“But you are powerful, little one.” A gentle voice sounded from the doorway.

Willow turned around to see a man with dark hair dressed in an elegant blue robe standing by the entrance.

Aragorn smiled and stepped forward, “Creoso, mellonamin.” {Welcome, my friend.}

Lord Elrond smiled in return, “I am afraid I do not come bearing good news, my friend. But first, let’s take a look at your young friend.”

Elrond walked over to Buffy and tapped Angel on the shoulder, “Let me help her." Angel looked at Elrond, his hand still gripping Buffy's, but he refused to move.

'Angel, move," Anya said. "He's trying to help her, so get out of the way."

Angel hesitated, but he finally stood. He took two steps away but still hovered over Buffy. Elrond smiled at Angel and pulled out a small sack, which he handed to Angel, "Hold this." He knelt down besides Buffy and placed one hand upon her brow. The others gathered and watched quietly as Elrond’s face started to turn gray with weariness. Every so often, he would call out the name Buffy, but the sound became softer and further away each time.

“What is he doing?” Xander asked, unable to take the suspense any longer.

“He is in a healing trance. It is used to pull someone back from the brink of death. It’s a healing ritual peculiar to Elrond’s bloodline.” Aragorn said softly.

After several minutes, Buffy finally opened her eyes, “Angel.”

“Shh...we still have much to do, my lady.” Elrond said. He put his hand on Buffy’s wound, pressing down hard. The others watched as Buffy’s normal coloring started to return. Then Elrond beckoned Angel over and took a small amount of athelas from the bag; he blew on the leaves before placing them over Buffy’s wound. Angel took a wet rag and wiped Buffy’s forehead. Her fever was finally breaking.

“Angel,” Buffy coughed.

“Don’t speak, you are going to be fine.” Angel said. He turned to Elrond, “Diola lle” {Thank you}

“Ta nae seasamin, mellon en mellonamin” {It was my pleasure, friend of my friend.}

“So, she’s gonna be okay?” Willow asked.

“Yes, the worst is over, but she would need a fortnight’s rest in order to be completely healed.” Elrond answered.

“For the slayer, that would means two days.” Spike said, pushing away from the wall to get a better look at Buffy while wishing he had his cigarettes at the same time.

Elrond frowned at the vampire. “There are two of you?”

“What are you talking about, mate?” Spike asked.

Elrond looked between Angel and Spike, “Two without heartbeats.”

“You mean two dead guys?” Anya asked. “Yeah, in our world, it’s way too common.”

Elrond stared at Spike before turning to Angel, “But you are the one.”

“The one what?” Angel frowned, not really listening. His entire attention was focused on watching Buffy as she sleeps.

“The one to walk the Paths of the Dead with the king.” Elrond said.

“I do not understand,” Aragorn frowned. “I’m the heir to Isuildur, is it not my burden to bear?”

“Yes, but the dead would not take kindly to the presence of the King of Gondor. You will need a champion, one who will defend your cause and at the same time, understands the needs and demands of your adversaries. He will act as your liaison. He is not only a champion of the living, but also of the dead. The dead will demand the curse be lifted in exchange for their alliance. But, they will not bargain with the king. The demon with the face of an angel, they will see in him someone who is on their side, who will make sure you hold true to your promise.”

“I do not give my word lightly.” Aragorn said, feeling insulted.

“That I do know,” Elrond smiled.

“But he is not of our world. He does not owe me his loyalty.” Aragorn said, looking at Angel who still seemed to be in a daze.

“If Middle Earth falls, there might never be a world from where he came.” Elrond said. “These brave warriors from the future are here for a reason, which reason we have yet to find out.”

“It was my fault,” Willow volunteered. “Another one of my spells went wonky.”

“That has yet to be proven. Do not blame yourself, Arwen en amin {my lady}. It is very likely that you were brought here because you were fighting the same battle as we. You have brought us our champion, one who through the desire of his heart had followed his soul mate back to Middle Earth. Who would have ever thought that the fate of Middle Earth would one day be in the hands of two young hobbits? And just as our young hobbit friends, you too, will have a role to play in this war that we are heading.” Elrond turned to Aragorn, “And much of that will depend on the fate of your journey, which rests in the hands of one who is dead.”

Aragorn sighed and looked at Angel, “I can not ask of you to partake in such a dangerous journey. Only with your free will would I have you come.”

Angel was still watching Buffy, “I can’t leave her like this.”

Willow swallowed, trying to think of something diplomatic to say, but Spike beat her to it. “Stop being such a bloody idiot. If you don’t get your broody ass out there and go kick some ass, the whole soddin place is going to Hell anyway, including the slayer.”

Willow rolled her eyes, “She’s going to be fine, Angel. We’ll take care of her. You know she’ll never forgive you if you don’t go.”

“Willow, what can I do?”

“I don’t know,” Willow said gently, “but I believe in what Lord Elrond had said. There’s a reason for us being here. Yours might simply be to help turn the tide in our favor.”

Angel glanced at Buffy once more, “Take care of her.” Then he stood and walked over to Aragorn, “Amin naa tualle, heru en amin.” {I am at your service, my Lord.}

[Linwelos]

Chapter 10

Written by Sunni

"Angel," Buffy gasped for breath as she awoke.

"I am here," he replied quickly as he made his way to her bedside.

"I keep thinking I am dreaming every time I see you." Buffy said as she placed a hand on his cheek.

"I am real." Angel said as he grabbed her hand off his cheek and kissed it gently.

"How?" she asked weakly as her voice shook slightly, "How did you get here?"

"You. Buffy. I followed you in the spell that was cast. Because I am in your heart, it brought me here too. As your champion."

"Angel," Buffy said, still speechless and overwhelmed about all of the events that had taken place. Yet she felt a little at peace in Angel's embrace.

Leaning down, Angel gently brought his lips to hers as they rekindled a piece of there past relationship.

Spike was returning towards where Buffy was resting to see if by chance the brooding ex-boyfriend had left her alone for a while. As he neared the room he heard her speaking and heard Angel's voice in reply to her question. The door was cracked slightly so he peered in to observe what was going on. Silently watching the interactions between the two it was clear that her desire to still love Angel was there even though of the complications that always seem to arise from it the overwhelming desire between the two was still there none the less.

His blood began to boil as he listened to why Angel had been transported to Middle Earth with them and angrily thought, "Her champion?! What has his bloody soul ever done to help others!"

Watching with fury as the two kissed he finally couldn't stand it anymore. The evil side of his vampire nature was coming to the surface and as he stormed from the keep he said menacingly, "They can have their champion! But it is not over, not by a bloody longshot! If they can have a vampire then so can the bad guys!"

Striding into the barn he gathered the tack for one of the horses and prepared to leave Helm's Deep. The sound of small footsteps entered and Spike saw one of the hobbits enter.

"Where are you going?" Merry asked.

"None of your bloody business!" Spike replied angrily as he went about the task he was doing.

As he went to lead the horse from the stall, the hobbit would not move. The next time Merry saw the man's face it was contorted from its usual state. Looking into the demonic face, the hobbit could not move a muscle as the vampire approached. Quickly binding the hands of the halfling and placing a gag in his mouth, Spike put him up on the horse and raced out of the keep into the darkness.

Angel's voice turned cold as he turned his eyes to her and said, "I have to leave soon." Seeing the unsure look on her face he continued on, "You will be safe with Willow and Xander." and then began to kiss her once more.

Buffy looked into his dark piercing eyes and said softly, "I just found you again. I can't loose you. I will not let myself go through that again."

Brushing back a strand of her hair he replied softly, "I have to."

All was quiet in the forest as a blonde and a red headed elf sparred with weapons while things were still. The sound of metal sounded through the trees when a strange feeling came over the blonde. Stopping what she was doing, Linwelos said, "Im taure prestar. Han mathon." {The forest is changed. I can feel it.}

The two women looked deep into the woods as their keen eyesight scoured the landscape. Linwelos caught sight of a dark warrior with blonde hair riding through the trees. She noticed a companion with him but seeing the bound hands of the small one did not add up. Instantly before her eyes the man's face changed into that of a demon she had never seen in her long years. Swiftly firing two shots at the oncoming figure once he was within range; it seemed as if they didn't even affect him. Looking to Galuwen she said urgently, "Wanne quente I Haran! Uuve ulka tulya!" {Go speak to the King! Great evil comes!} after the shots fired failed.

As Galuwen disappeared a voice came from behind her. Nesteron saw Galuwen fleeing and headed to where Linwelos stood, bow in hand to see what was going and asked, " "Ya nâ martien?" {What is happening?}

Before she could respond the warrior appeared before them, his features still changed in their dark form. Immediately the two brought out their elven long knives as they prepared to defend their people from this intruder who dismounted and brought out a sword. The two began to fight to give Galuwen as much time as they could to reach the King.

The stranger dismounted, leaving his companion upon the horse to watch the events that followed. Unsheathing a sword he had taken from one of the other villages and headed towards the two standing before him.

"You know, you could make a break for it and save me the trouble of having to kill you." the stranger said, looking at the two taking up arms against him.

Spike walked a circle around the two elves, trailing a hand over Linwelos' shoulder saying, "Stay here and you will die love."

Her eyes gleamed of anger and drawing in a hissing breath she spat, "Im telitha gurth dagorad!" {I would rather die fighting!}

In a swift motion she whirled around to face the intruder at her back, with her right knife she sliced down the side of the warrior's face leaving a crimson trail to appear on his pale skin.

Not knowing what she had said in her tongue, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out she would rather fight to the death. "So be it," the vampire said as he brought all of his speed to the forefront.

Raining his sword down in an arc over his head, the elven maiden countered by breaking the sword's descent with her right blade and in a swift motion took her left and slit across the lower part of his abdomen. Nesteron came in from behind and swung from right to left two times at Spike, ducking when his opponent turned to face him and then sliced diagonally across his chest as the two blades acted as one. Swinging his sword from left to right and then kicking out with his right foot, tripping the warrior; he punched the vampire in the face, sending him to the forest floor and then took both blades and went to slam them downwards. Rolling in time, Spike moved out of harms way, but not before the metal of the left long knife pierced his side as he rolled. Almost seemingly forgetting about the woman he focused all of his attention on Nesteron, and the two began to face off.

Nesteron blocked each blow the man rained upon him and swiftly swung the right blade to the left and spun out of the way of an oncoming punch, retaliating with a diagonal slice from his left side with both swords. Spike struck out again with a punch and it was countered in the same motion as before. Except when he spun this time his right blade was extended and made a deep gash into the vampire's abdomen and followed through in a motion almost mimicking a lasso with each of the blades. While Nesteron held the creatures attention, Linwelos twirled the two long blades in her hands and swiftly crossed her arms at elbow level forming an X and swiftly sliced outwards.

"Now is not a good time love," the vampire hissed as he whirled around and struck the blonde with a powerful punch that sent her to the ground.

Nesteron swung with both swords diagonally in the direction of his left shoulder and then leapt into the air and brought the left blade down into the vampire's shoulder. Upon landing on the ground, took the blade in his right hand and rested it at the warriors throat, ready to slice across at a moments notice. Unable to match the vampire's speed, the slice that he cut across Spike's throat wasn't as deep as he'd intended it to be. "Oh, damn it, it looks like you can't kill me!" Spike mocked as he saw the woman rising from the forest floor.

As the two elves readied themselves for his next attack Nesteron asked, "Ya ro?" {What is he?}

Before she could answer, Spike said deeply, "It's kill or be killed here. Take your bloody pick!" as he charged at them one last time. He felt Linwelos' sword slice across his arm as his hand grasped a hold of Nesteron's throat and began to constrict the elf's airway. As the last bit of air left his lungs, he tried to make a desperate attempt to injure the warrior in some way as to warrant his release. Seeing what he was planning Spike tightened his hand even more around the elf's throat and said, "Not bloody likely mate," as the long knives fell to the ground from Nesteron's hands. Landing on his knees on the ground he coughed deeply as air refilled his lungs. Spike rested his sword to the left of the center of Nesteron's back while he was still down. Not focusing on anything other than what was before him he didn't see Linwelos coming up until he felt one of her elven blades resting along his throat, this one in a position to easily sever his head if he as much as moved.

Removing his blade from the elf's back, he allowed the elf to get to his feet, but the lack of oxygen made him somewhat unsteady on his feet. Taking several steps backwards he glanced behind him before turning his attention back to the two before him. Seeing Nesteron back on his feet, she slowly lowered the blade from along his neck when all of a sudden Spike hurled his sword like a spear at the disoriented man, striking him in the chest. In the blink of an eye he picked up one of the fallen elf's long knives and turned towards Linwelos. The two fought back and forth, blocking the others blows and sustaining many cuts as their swords cut into the others flesh. In one swift swipe Spike left a trail of blood appearing on a cut that surfaced on her left cheek. Her crystal blue eyes became those of blue flames as she charged towards where the vampire stood. Before she even realized it, the vampire was behind her, holding her head back with his left hand under her chin. When he was standing directly behind her she hit him in the face with the back of her head, turning around to face him. In one swift but powerful punch that connected with the elf's jaw, she sank to the ground in a daze. Having taken care of the competition, he proceeded forward into the wooded territory to seek that who was in charge.

Swiftly racing to the throne room where the King sat she carried the urgent news to him. Entering the throne room she said exasperatedly, "Heruamin! Ulka nâ mi i taure! Er tanya ilna harna ne philinn!" {My lord! Evil is in the wood! One that will not be wounded by arrows!}

"Ya tulie Galuwen?" The King asked her in return. {What comes Galuwen?}

"Atan o rauka anta. Linwelos nâ dagorad ho ikotane amin rakta le." {A man with a demon face. Linwelos is fighting him so I could reach you.} she replied swiftly, not knowing of Nesteron's arrival.

All of a sudden the sound of doors being thrown open reverberated through the hall. All eyes turned to the doorway when Galuwen said with dread, "Ro sinome." {He is here.}

The blonde warrior strode into the throne room; his clothes bearing the marks of the fight that had ensued to stop him. Galuwen turned and looked to this stranger as the man said, "So you're the one in charge around here." as he strode forwards towards the throne as he looked around the room.

"I am King Thranduil. What business have you in Mirkwood." The King replied, not taking to lightly to having this intruder in his hall.

"You know. The usual mate. Raid, pillage, destroy, taking over new territory." Spike answered as he began to size up his competition.

The King looked to Galuwen and said, "Le tuuva nîn yondo ar nyar ho ya marte!" {You must find my son and tell him what has happened!}

"Amin il lemb I Haran!" {I will not abandon the King!} she replied, looking from the King to the warrior that stood in the middle of the hall.

"Wanya yir yondo! Hir Legolas arauka!" {Go find my son! Find Legolas quickly!} Thranduil said as he stood from his throne and withdrew his sword.

Spike's features changed and shoved the redheaded elf out of his way as he stalked towards his target. Picking herself up from the floor, Galuwen stood at the doorway and watched as the two fought. Wondering what became of Linwelos as she observed the confrontation. The vampire's speed was no match for the elf's reflexes and eventually had his powerful hand around the King's fair throat. Watching in horror from the doorway, Galuwen watched as the warrior toyed with the King's life as if it were a game. Thranduil caught a glimpse of her in the doorway and yelled, "Wanya!" "Go!"

Then a sickening crunch was heard. Galuwen had turned away to leave when the noise made her turn around to see what had happened. As she faced their direction, she turned in just enough time to see the warrior release its hold on the King's throat and the body slump to the floor in a heap. Racing from the building she headed for the stables. Collecting her gray and Linwelos' bay mount she looked to him and said quietly, "Hilya amin." {Follow me!}

The bay horse tossed its head in response and when Galuwen thundered out of the barn towards where she had left Linwelos the bay followed. Nearing where she had left her friend she slowed her pace as she saw two people upon the ground. Leaping off of her gray horse she knelt next to her friend and said, "Linwelos!"

She heard her name being called and slowly looked to her friend beside her. Galuwen helped her friend up, observing the many cuts she had sustained from the battle with the stranger. They both looked to Nesteron who lay upon the ground unmoving after having been struck down in battle. Quickly remounting their horses they raced for the boarders of Mirkwood and out to the lands of Middle Earth in search of the King's son. As the two rode Linwelos asked, "Ya marte?" {What happened?}

"I haran nâ qualin." {The King is dead.} Galuwen replied, seeing the look of horror that was etched on Linwelos' face.

Angel, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas were riding through Drudan forest when the elf's keen eyes saw two figures approaching on horseback and said warily, "Atta rych tulya si wand." {Two horses come this way.}

The group proceeded cautiously forward as the Legolas' keen blue eyes never wavered from what he had locked on to in the distance. As Galuwen and Linwelos rode, their keen eyesight picked up on three horsemen travelling in their direction. Dismounting and letting the horse's wander not far from where they were, they took cover in the trees around them.

"Man cenich?" {What do you see?} Aragorn asked as Legolas halted his horse and drew out his bow.

"I've lost them," he replied, his gaze unwavering as a sudden flash of red caught his eye. Releasing the arrow in the direction of the movement he watched intently to see if it hit its mark. Seeing the look of concentration on the elf's face, Aragorn reached for his sword incase trouble should come.

The two in hiding heard the release of the arrow and Galuwen prepared herself for her next move. With split second precision she stepped out and caught the arrow in mid-air and looked at what she now held in the palm of her hand. Balancing it carefully as she looked at the feathers anointing the end of the arrow, she immediately knew who rode in their direction.

As he watched the arrow be caught in mid-air, he was speechless for as a look of shock passed over his face. Aragorn saw the expression and said, "What is it?"

"I know of only two people who can catch arrows in mid-air, myself being one." the elf replied spurring Arod forwards.

Linwelos emitted a low whistle and the two horses trotted back over to their masters. The two groups rode towards each other till they halted when they came together in the woods. Galuwen looked at the group before turning her attention to Legolas and saying, "Le anwain na ner tira mammen le nasta natea." {You should really be more careful where you point these things.}

Aragorn had to stifle back a laugh at what the woman had said to the elf prince and looked to his friend to see what his reaction to her statement had been. A smile appearing on his fair face, Legolas asked, "What brings you two out from the Mirkwood?" The two women looked at each other briefly as the memory of the nature of their journey returned to their mind. Linwelos looked to the prince and said, "We come bearing bad news."

"What happened?" he asked, his normal tranquil voice hinting with an edge of unrest.

"A dark warrior entered the woods, one that bore a demon face." Galuwen began to say.

Angel listened to the description of who the elf was describing and had a sneaking suspicion on who it was, but said nothing as she continued on.

"I ran to warn the others while Linwelos and Nesteron fought against him. Giving me as much time as they could to complete my task. As far as I know, there are two dead from their encounter with this stranger." She said sadly, pausing momentarily.

"Who?" Legolas asked as a feeling of dismay settled in his heart.

Glancing down for a moment, Galuwen mustered all the courage she could gather and locked eyes with the crown prince and said in a barely audible voice, "Nesteron and Thranduil."

His world reeled around him, almost as if he were in a never-ending daze when he heard that his father had died. At one point he wouldn't have even considered it possible that something like that could happen. But the world he saw after joining the fellowship changed all of that. He had just started to get over Haldir's death when he was struck with this burden to bear. Aragorn sat stunned at the news and Angel, even though he didn't know of the elf's relationship to the king realized that the impact hit home none the less. After the devastating news, they stopped and made camp for the evening so everyone could come to terms with the news.

Legolas sought solitude from the others as he tried to come to terms with this latest blow. Galuwen and Linwelos sat side by side, silent after having to bear such desolate news to one of their own. Aragorn looked off in the distance in the direction the prince had gone as he heard the sad drone of a lament, the lament that Legolas now sang for his father. Gimli paced back and forth beside the ranger, contemplating what had happened and said, "First he outdoes me at Helm's Deep, now he's going to be king?" getting ready to head in the direction of the sad voice that rode the wind.

"Gimli!" Aragorn called as the dwarf turned to face him, "Let him be. He needs time to himself right now."

After a gruff nod from the dwarf he walked off in the other direction and took a seat in silence. Aragorn looked at the two elves on the other side of the fire, knowing that their task weighed heavy on their hearts. Looking to the redhead first, and then to the blonde he noticed many cuts and bruises she bore, some that were still bleeding.

"Le agarien," {You are bleeding.} he said, watching the crimson line slowly move down her left cheek.

Not having even noticed the injuries she sustained during the fight during their flight from the forest she looked to where he sat, the firelight casting shadows upon his face. Back at Helm's Deep villagers from surrounding areas were flocking to the fortress after their homes had been destroyed. Buffy was moving about the keep when she overheard bits and pieces of what had happened. She hadn't seen Spike at all since Angel had left and wondered where he had gone. A particular conversation caught her ear and she stopped instantly and listened to a little child that spoke.

"We thought a dark army came riding in by night, but only a flash of lightening across the sky revealed to us that the one who came destroy us was an army of one. One stronger than any living man with a dark face of evil."

Getting up from beside Linwelos, Galuwen walked into the wood towards Legolas. He sat upon the ground, leaning against a tree as tears slid down his fair face, gleaming like small droplets of mithril in the moonlight. The impact this was having upon him was profound and it hurt her to see him in this state. Quietly she said from behind him, "Im niraetha im no kolindo le nyeere." {I'm sorry I had to bear you such grief.}

Turning around to see her behind him, he replied, "I just wish we had met again under different circumstances."

Moving to be alongside where he sat, she said, "Nîn indo ilya wandea lyaa, ar ernâ." {My heart was always yours and still is.}

"Gwenin telwa o-dagore." {Long years have past since we last fought together." Legolas commented looking to where she stood.

"Im na late an dagor o le nîn eldalie haryon." {I will be honored to fight with you my elven prince.} Galuwen said as she saw a faint glimmer of the old Legolas she once knew returning; "Le philinn maika I surko o lye kotumor." {Let our arrows pierce the flesh of our enemies.}

Looking up to Galuwen's eyes he replied, "Ve le gar maikae indo nîn." {Just as you have pierced my heart.}

Gimli and Angel sat sharing various tales while Aragorn helped tend to the wounds that Linwelos had received while fighting against Spike.

"Anda yanor yar wanwa nîn henio yar eleuva anta." {Long years have passed since my eyes have seen your face.}

"Im enyala. Im o i Dúnedain iire esta omente." {I remember. I was with the Dúnedain when we first met.} Aragorn replied as he tended to one of the deep cuts on her arm. The Evenstar jewel he wore fell out into view and her eyes looked upon it, knowing to whom it belonged.

"Nîn indo atar alar nyeere ne I enyalrim enwina." {My heart grows saddened by the memories of old." She said, turning her gaze to the fire that burned near by when he replied, "Im an lemb i. Im maure ne naan." {I had to leave. For I was needed by others.} as memories he had long since forgotten when he was at Esgaroth returned.

"Rato Endaambar ista ta le anwa Haran." {Soon Middle-Earth will know that you are a true king.} Linwelos said, as her crystal blue eyes met his silver gray ones and his expression change to a more solemn tone at her words. The memories of her many trips to their meeting place in the lake town when he had left came back. She remembered the feeling of hurt she experienced but soon put away to focus on her practice with weapons but hoped that one day the two would meet up once more, but this time under better circumstances.