Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling, Joss Whedon, and JRR Tolkien
A/N: Stuff almost happens, really, almost!
Chapter 10
"There are – holes – in what I can see within Mordor," Luna had told them, and Giles and Apolline had done what they could to prepare to fill those holes should the need arise. So had Buffy and Harry.
"Winky, don't you think that sword is sharp enough?" asked Buffy.
"Swords is never sharp enough, Mistress Buffy," Winky promised her, and she kept right on honing her blade.
"Right then," Harry said as he handed Buffy the Sword of Gryffindor, "better in your hands than mine."
"But, this is yours," protested Buffy.
"Who between us is better with a sword?" asked Harry. "Weapons should go where they will be most effective, you gave Faith the Scythe." Unable to escape this logic, Buffy drew the sword from the sheath and admired it. Winky tossed her a whetstone.
"You strokes into the edge," she advised, "no matter what those wankers on the telly does." Winky pulled a hair from her head and dropped it onto the blade of her sword, where it parted with scarcely a pause in its fall. She resumed her honing, but with a lighter touch. Buffy set to work.
"Yes, Rupert my love, I am certain that I can do it," assured Apolline for the nth time.
"Of course dear, forgive me, it's just nerves. Have I mentioned that you might not be able to understand me in Mordor? And – and – that I shall be rather spectacularly ugly?"
"I do not need words to understand you, and you will still be you, n'est ce pas?"
"In essence, yes. But…"
"Come to bed, Rupert. You worry too much," she took his hand and pulled him from the room.
Dagger flitted through the trees of Lorien, enjoying the clean, cool air of the place. There was something in the very soil here that spoke to his soul. "Kindred" the elves had called him, and he supposed that he was. He thought of Cornflower, and his promise to return to her. The shadow fell over his heart again, though he could put no name to it. He continued on, lost in his reverie, until the sound of the Anduin roused him from his thoughts. He saw Draco sitting on the bank, his knees drawn up with his arms resting on them. Dagger settled down beside him.
"Penny for 'em, partner," he said in greeting.
"Can you hear the river singing, Dagger?" asked Draco.
"I can hear it right enough, wouldn't call it singin' though," he answered.
"Nor would I, just now," Draco responded, "but it sings to Luna."
"Does it now? Still, why not? Mistress Luna is worth a song, I reckons." Draco nodded in agreement, and the partners sat together in silent fellowship for a time.
"Think we'll come through this alright, Draco?" Dagger asked at length.
"I really don't know," Draco said as he put his arm around his friend's shoulders, "I really don't know."
Angel found Spike sitting on a flower-covered hilltop, there was no sign of Fidget.
"Have a fight with your girlfriend?" Angel said as he approached.
"Wut? Oh, niblet. Nope, she said she had to go somewhere, likely off to see Luna." Angel sat down with his back resting against Spike's.
"Who would have ever thought the two of us would wind up here," murmured Angel.
"Bit of a poser alright. You and me, we've seen a thing or two in our day. Done a thing or two. Bloody ibeen/i a thing or two. But this…" Spike's voice trailed off.
"Yeah," whispered Angel, "yeah."
"Still and all, I'm glad it's to be you by my side when we go in, Angelus. A child of the darkness never had a truer friend," Spike said casually.
"Me too."
"It's sad, this place," mused Spike, "it's beautiful, and it's ancient; and it's sad." Angel only nodded, but Spike sensed his agreement. "This is apt to get ugly, innit?"
"Yeah."
"Chatty are we?" chided Spike as he took a deep drag on his cigarette.
"Huh? Oh, no. Sorry, just thinking."
"Bout what?"
"I always liked your poems."
"You two be careful while I'm gone, okay?" Faith demanded.
"Us?" protested Hermione, "you're the one going into Mordor."
"And you're going to be here with Luna, doing something I couldn't understand if she explained it to me, which she won't. Shit happens, okay? I just don't want it to happen to you, that's all."
"True, we cannot know the outcome," Fleur agreed, "but I trust Luna. I think that if there were no chance that she would have told us that."
"I guess so," admitted Faith. "I don't exactly get her, but you kinda have to trust her. If she comes back and says this is a bad idea, we ain't going, and that's flat."
"Do you think Ada will return with us?" asked Hermione.
"I do," Galadriel answered, being a bit more forthcoming with her mates than her subjects. "She has been alone too long. She needs the company of women." For once, Faith made no bawdy reply.
"Yes, she does," Faith said, "and somehow I think she'll fit in just fine."
"Who will she be, on the other side, I wonder," Hermione whispered.
"Herself," answered Fleur.
"What part shall we play in this?" Lofar asked the other elves of Lorien.
"Whatever part the Lady commands," replied another.
"As like as not," agreed a third.
"And after?" Lofar asked further.
"As your heart commands, my brothers, as your heart commands," Ada told them.
The shadows beneath the trees were lengthening, and Alpha, Hermione, Fleur, and the elves, were all seated around the fire having a light meal of fruit. Except for Angel and Spike, who were discreetly swallowing Vampire nutrient. Spike had "Greensleeves" playing softly through his magical iPod.
"Hullo, niblet!" Spike exclaimed as the sprite resumed her perch on his shoulder.
"It is time," announced Luna.