imortalwizardpirateelf-fan: Hey thanks for reviewing, I'm really glad you liked the interaction. If you felt sorry for Angel in chapter 9, you'll definately feel sorry for him now.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Glad you enjoyed it. In answer to your question, yes the ring has been destroyed and it does seem odd that Angel's dreaming about it. But think about Angel Season 5 and some characters in it and their interaction with Angel, it'll become clearer in time.

Now on with the story!

Buffy forcefully slammed Angel up against a wall and held him there. He freed himself just as forcefully.

'Ok, what the hell has got into you? What have I done?' Her eyes were narrowed dangerously and he hadn't seen her look quite this fierce since he'd watched her slice Caleb in half. He gulped.

'I can't believe you haven't noticed!' She cried and began pacing. 'But no, Angel you wouldn't notice such things, not at all, not even if it's as clear as day that my little sister's got a major case of the hots for your bonehead son!' She rounded on him her arms flying wildly in the air. Angel blinked.

'She does?' Buffy screamed in frustration.

'You're what? Like nearly 300 and you can't see the signs of a girl with a crush? Didn't you know that girls flirt by arguing? You should know, you're dating Cordelia!'

'Well not technically dating…'

'Shut up!' He obeyed and she took a few visible deep breaths.

'I want you to talk to him.' Now he was scared.

'Buffy come on, Connor's only just been on speaking terms with me for a month, I can't start talking to him about who he dates!'

'Why not? You're his dad, read the manual pal!' She jabbed his chest and he winced a little, her nails were quite sharp. He tried a different approach.

'Well so what if she does, would it be so bad if something happened between them? They're both decent kids.' By the stiffness of her body he could tell he'd said something seriously wrong. She advanced like a deadly snake.

'So what? So what?' Her voice was full of volatile anger that he could tell she was finding hard to keep from releasing. 'Your son obviously doesn't like her like that, otherwise he wouldn't be such a prat,' Angel met her gaze.

'That's my son you're slagging off Buffy.'

'That's the point,' she replied in a slightly quieter voice. 'And I will not just sit by and watch my baby sister have her heartbroken,' there was a pause. 'Like you broke mine.' Her anger had left her now instead replaced by sadness from bitter memories.

'Buffy,' he broke off; he had to admit she had a point. She sighed.

'Just, please, talk to him ok?' Angel nodded,

'Yeah, sure,' they stood in silence for a while longer. 'Um do you want to go back to breakfast?'

'No,' she answered, 'I think I'll go for a walk.' He nodded and turned back to the hall as she made her way out of the building.

She walked for what seemed like hours, and found herself out by the Citadel. There was one lone tree planted in a mass of luscious grass, gnarled and ancient looking. She found herself drawn to it and stood gazes up into its leaves feeling slightly more relaxed.

'It is the White Tree, symbol of Gondor,' came the King's soothing voice. She broke out of her trace to see him casually leaning against it. 'It is a symbol of life and hope for my people and for many a year no leaves graced its branches. Yet now its life is renewed along with the spirit of Gondor.'

'It's beautiful,' she replied sincerely reaching out to touch the textured bark feeling its cool roughness against her fingers. Aragorn moved so that he stood next to her.

'Aye it is.' They stayed that way for quite some time, neither saying anything, just looking up at the tree lost in their own thoughts until Buffy broke the silence.

'I'm sorry about my sister and Connor, they fight way too much.' He smiled at her and she was taken aback at the warmness that she saw.

'Arguments are good for the soul, although do not need to be quite as vicious as the ones I have witnessed between them,' she grinned. 'You have nothing to apologise for.' She stepped away from the tree and he mirrored her movements. Together they began to walk done the long stretch leading to the edge of the Citadel.

'I'm just not sure how to handle things,' Buffy confessed. 'So as always I blame someone else, even though Angel's about as clued up on teenagers as I am on hot-wiring a car,' at his puzzled look she elaborated. 'Not very.' He laughed, a pleasant male sound coming from deep in his throat, his grey eyes twinkling. She felt herself grin too. He shot her a sideways glance as they reached the edge of the Citadel.

'It was only a natural reaction of you to blame Angel. He is, after all, his son's guardian and responsible for his actions, towards your sister or otherwise.'

'It wasn't right of me to blame him completely,' she contradicted. He could see that her spark was coming back to her quite quickly and he knew that the easy, calm moment they had shared was abruptly coming to the end. Yet he still wanted to ask his most pressing question.

'You were in love with Angel?' As he suspected her eyes blazed.

'That's none of your business!' She began to walk away from him but turned and came back. 'And you were eavesdropping?'

He shifted uncomfortably.

'Maybe a little.' She folded her arms and glared at him. Despite her small stature she seemed quite ferocious, like a wild animal waiting to be let out of its cage, but still slightly restrained. He mused that if her full rage were released he'd stand more chance against a Balrog than the elusive, beautiful woman before him.

'Seeing as this is your turf, and you're putting us up I'll refrain from kicking your arse,' she said. His eyes shined with merriment ignoring the dangerous ground.

'I am much obliged My Lady.' She shot him a piercing glare that only made him begin to chuckle and turned on her heel, stalking back towards the building. He watched her go, feeling strangely at peace, a feeling that he hadn't felt for quite a long time.

Dawn was encouraged to come to the meeting by Willow but spent the entire proceedings determinedly not looking at Connor, and he followed the example. Willow placed herself and Faith in-between them to prevent any more fights. Angel sat to one side of Connor, Buffy next to Dawn, and Spike next to her. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, Gandalf, Eowyn and Faramir sat opposite. Both groups were silent, and seemed to be waiting for the other to speak until Gandalf cleared his throat.

'Although it is probably wise not to rush this, our guests will be arriving shortly and it would be advisable to solve this matter as much as possible before they arrive.'

'You are entirely correct Mithrandir,' agreed Legolas carefully avoiding the filthy looks being sent his way from the very jealous Connor. Faith, paying no heed to manners, placed her feet on the table and leaned back in her chair.

'Nothing to it, we're here, you're girl's a slayer, we're gonna train her, simple as.' Eomer's upper lip curved into an obvious sneer. In return she provoked him by provocatively licking her lips. Buffy wasn't sure but she could've sworn she saw the wizard hide a laugh.

'If I may ask,' everyone's attention instantly turned to Eowyn the focus of their discussions. 'What exactly is a Slayer?' Buffy quickly described the Slayer duties and history and Aragorn watched carefully enough to see a light of excitement brighten Eowyn's eyes. She always had been a restless one.

'I am not sure if I want my wife involved with something so perilous,' said Faramir firmly. Buffy shot him a glare.

'Well tough luck buddy, she is involved whether you like it or not, just be glad she isn't fifteen, that's how old I was when I became a Slayer.' The room was silent.

'I think there is only one logical conclusion,' said Aragorn. He waited until the newcomers were looking impatient. 'Eowyn shall be trained in the ways of a slayer for as long as you all wish to reside in my kingdom, then we can reconvene over what is to be done.' Everyone seemed satisfied with the decision, which was a good thing as Aragorn could hear horns signifying that his guests were approaching. He leapt from his seat.

'I will have someone escort you back to your rooms, and lunch will be served there, I trust you will want time to prepare for the feast. You will met our guests tonight.' With that he left in a flurry of activity causing Legolas to grin widely as Gimli said,

'If that isn't nerves at seeing an old flame may my beard never grow any longer!'

The party was too preoccupied with their own personal issues yet Gandalf wryly noticed the visible paling of Buffy as she heard of Aragorn's old love. Interesting, he thought, and perfect. That is exactly what our King needs.