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.}